A/N: Hello readers! PsychoJack has arrived with another chapter of the action lemon series this side of the MHA fandom, Mineta the Mayhem. Last time, Mineta has successfully reached Monika and All Might, just in time to provide the much needed medical assistance that would save their lives. Despite this good turn of events, not all has been well. With Mineta at Hydra Prison and his classmates nowhere to help him, Deku had his single bout against the mind breaking elder terrorist that is Diamondeye. After enduring a battle that took through the streets and into the subways below, Deku was defeated. Though physically superior, the young and inexperienced hero found himself mentally outwitted and outmaneuvered by the insidious inmate. The fight led to the reveal of a horrifying realization. Diamondeye, whose time as a weapons dealer spanned through decades, was the one being that had ended the life of Nana Shimura, in pursuit of One for All. Now he has obtained it, and with it, Deku's heart flatlined. What will happen next during this time? There's so many ways that this can play out. Let's get to it!
(A/n: *Que Boku no Academia Ost- "Hirogaru fuan" (Spread Anxiety)
CLICK
CLACK
Lightweight footsteps echoed within the shadowed backstreets of Musutafu. Though the light of the neon lights were plenty and vibrant, their collective rays did not reach the obscure and untraveled corners or alleyways hidden between the crowded buildings of the city.
A silhouette stood in the alleyway, looking behind himself as two cars were seen driving by. Based on the rapid flares of blue and red lights, it was clear that these were police patrols heading to their next destination.
"I do not understand why you persist in resisting. There is nowhere for you to run, you don't even have a body for which you can hide…not any longer." A voice rang against the walls of the alleyway, haunting the alleyway in with a chilling tone.
With the speeding police cars away from sight, the lone silhouette continued with his trek into the unexplored darkness of the city.
The figure stopped before looking upward hearing the sound of a nearby plane that was making its way towards the nearest airport. Two gemstones that served for eyes reflected the sky, seeing in full clarity the small obstruction in the sky.
"Fighting for freedom is a fruitless endeavor, one cannot truly be free until they know purgatory. To never know restriction is to be without guidance, direction or even purpose. You never understood this…you were Skywalker, and thus never truly seen the world in all its ambiguity. I, on the other hand, have seen the underworld in all its forms, fires and all. It is a lesson you never got to learn."
The figure paused in place before turning around, staring at the nearby brick wall.
"War taught me this, there is no greater teacher than that. Especially the War of Masks, as well as the other factions who participated in the skirmishes that occurred there. Do you still remember Nana, your battle with One for All? Do you know what's become of that land since? As we speak, the very earth has turned against all those who step onto it. It is now plagued with constant hurricanes, storms that crack the landscape into two, and famine that never ceases. Your battle with One for All reduced it to nihility, nothingness incarnate. Even now, no one will go to the site of your demise…it is a literal dead zone. I only heard of one who might have been there…I hope to soon confirm this rumor."
The figure turned back, going back to walking along its intended path. He gazed at a shattered mirror before speaking again.
"For my purposes you are to remain an extended guest…there is no other meaning behind this nightly venture. I originally came for the boy, but with him now deceased you are the next best thing…no…even better…" An ominous voice bounced against the walls, as if the alleyways were haunted by something not of this world.
With a pause the voice continued.
"Behave…it wouldn't do well to spoil you as you are now. You are part of the damned now, and I have waited too long for this…"
Two diamonds shone past the darkness. It was Diamondeye, who appeared to wait in place before looking around. He then peeked behind him, as if there was something that had caught his attention without there being anyone physically present.
"There is no need for needless tears, the boy's suffering has finally ended. Had he been subjected to what you and your predecessors had planned, he would have lived with a lifelong crusade of being a hero, to a world that would easily forget him as it did All Might. In the end, much like most veterans who return home from a war, there is no grand reward for a life of servitude, only the echoes of war are left behind. Trauma, pain, resentments and regret. For Izuku…his quirk would have eventually maximized his strength…only for his weak bones to degrade and rot from the inside out during his elder years. I've heard of such ailments and let me tell you, that is no way for a hero to go…best let them die as they lived: young, purposeful and now…immortalized…"
Diamondeye looked at the sky again, seeing what appeared to be the presence of the moon that had slipped through the clouds. Its luminescent rays shone in the night. Diamondeye tilted his head as if analyzing something before turning back towards the darkness, pausing midstep.
"There will be statues, buildings, scholarships and books erected in the name of Izuku Midoriya…the hero of Musutafu 7th lane. Sad enough, mankind tends to respect that which is dead as opposed to that which is alive, to show them such reverence face to face and let them know their value. I believe it is because like everything else, mankind forgets to appreciate what exists until it finally ceases entirely. The very same for the land you and All for One left behind. There was history there…"
Diamondeye continued and moved aside some stray papers and carelessly placed garbage. Pausing in place, Diamondeye's optics shifted into a bloodied red.
(A/n: *Que Boku no Academia Ost- "Aku no Shinri" (Evil of Psychology)*)
"ThAt cAn nEvER bE rEpLaCEd."
All was quiet. After a second or two, one could hear the whimpering of a household pet dog from one of the faraway apartment buildings.
Diamondeye's red gaze shifted back into its normal blue tinted glare as he shifted a few more stray garbage bits before coming up on something metallic. It was what looked like a sewer grate. "However, unlike the people you protected, I actually respected you, in life and even more in death. And unlike them, I will be sure to grant you the fate which honors you most…"
Diamondeye stretched his bone coated hands towards the grate.
"But be sure not to wander too far until then…"
-Hydra Prison: Medical Wing-
A faint gasp was let free from a high rising chest, prompting a nearby Moe to almost rush in on impulse before stopping and letting Mineta have his moment with the girl. She didn't need to be a genius to know that Mayhem cared about this girl, and shouldn't intervene on such a heartfelt reunion.
Two vibrant azure eyes opened with intense strain, attempting to regain their focus after being in critical condition.
Hall Monika was awake. The raven headed hall monitor turned prison security guard looked around the room. Her eyes wandered with great strain before noticing the figure that stood in front of her.
Donned in purple, and with prominent dark purple mirrors that served as eyes, the young heroine recognized the person in front of her. With a dry throat, the girl rasped out.
"Minoru…" the girl weakly spoke, trying to retain her consciousnessa she hones in on the recovering pervert.
Mineta sniffled as his heart leaped, a sense of relief plastered on his face. "Hey Monika…I'm here…" his voice cracked as he deliberately kissed her forehead, thanking whatever god out there that enabled him to be here now. He was just in the nick of time to save her.
Papito had to wipe away his own slime tears as he witnessed the recovery of his future daughter in law.
Monika's eyes focused solely on her hero. She refused to look anywhere else, fearing that she might be dreaming. "I'm…not dead…am I?"
Mineta shook his head in the negative. He clasped her left hand tightly, making the brave whistleblowers' face tinge a faint red upon feeling the thick and protective hands of the boy. "No, no! You're fine! You're fine, and that's all that matters!"
Monika's face displayed gratefulness, managing to force out a small smile. One of her eyes appeared slightly bloodshot from the wounds she gained from the fight. It still didn't deter her from the slightest of gazing upon her hero with a warm gaze. "Minoru…"
Monika tried to move her left hand to reach for her face, but the fatigue was heavy on her arms. She let out a pained grunt as Mineta held her hand, caressing it with his thumbs.
Her eyes then watered, as memories of earlier rushed into her mind. The riot, the possession by Narcissia, the confrontation with Diamondeye, as well as her one on one fight against Harukaze himself. The most important thing to her however, what her mind focused on, was the failure of protecting All Might, as well as preventing the eventual escape of the prisoners.
Monika's small smile dropped at her memories of her inefficiency, her weakness.
Her eyes welled with tears that threatened to slip out, as her trauma came to the forefront.
"I'm sorry. I could have stopped them…I could have-"
"You did your best! You saved a lot of people. And you saved All Might." Mineta reassured her, caressing the right side of Monika's face as he consoled her.
'She is…blaming herself?' Mineta thought inwardly, saddened by the usually stalwart hall monitor, breaking down as a result of the weight of what she perceived to be a failure on her part.
Being the oldest child in his family enabled the recovering hero to empathetically notice the source of her breakdown.
'Just like me…she takes failure really personally. Even though failure is part of growing up, something I didn't learn until recently, thanks to Momo.'
Monika hiccuped. "No…I could have stopped Harukaze…but I…I used my quirk, without my whistles. I could have taken him down, but…I hesitated. I didn't…" Monika admitted, her voice shaking.
Mineta tilted his head in confusion.
He put it all together. The far reaching burn marks outside the facility. The damage that reached deep beneath the earth was because of her quirk without whistles? What kind of firepower did her quirk possess? At the same time, she felt guilty for not ending Harukaze when she had the chance.
'Harukaze…you caused all of this hell to begin with, and she's suffering because of your actions.' Mineta thought for a split second, clenching his jaw in anger towards the bank robber before focusing on the now. Right now he needs to tend to Monika.
That was more important in the eyes of Mayhem.
"Had I pushed a little more…I could have…but I…"
Her tears dripped as shame registered on her face. She avoided Mineta's eyes.
"I couldn't control it without…without taking myself with it…I was weak…*hic*" Monika admitted. Her eyes watered without restraint. Her already weary voice cracked as she sobbed guiltily.
"I didn't want…*sob* I didn't want to leave…I didn't want to leave you…I was afraid to die…" Monika admitted, shamefully looking away from Mineta before he turned her to face him. He gently kissed her, stopping her, reassuring her that he held no blame towards her with a physical gesture.
Monika closed her eyes tightly. Her weeps were caught in her throat as the young hero in training who inspired her relinquished her of the wave of guilt that gripped her fighting spirit, if only a little.
Mineta kept his eyes peering into hers, pressing his forehead against hers, ensuring that she couldn't look away even if she wanted to.
Much like himself, she was turning away in shame when she needed encouragement. She needed encouragement to beat this self doubt in herself, not isolation.
"You fought bravely. You fought like a true hero. No one could have done any better." Mineta praised Monika with a determined gaze, his purple irises unshakenly pouring his belief into her frost blue orbs. Her pupils widened, keeping Mineta in her gaze. He was after all the same small hero who saved her, the same boy who acknowledged her as she did for him, providing counsel when she needed it once again.
"You are a hero. And you fought for your life." Mineta said.
"I couldn't save everyone…I could have saved more lives…so many are gone…" The hall monitor said. Survivor's guilt weighed heavily in her mind.
Mineta interrupted. He wouldn't allow her to doubt herself.
"You saved theirs!" Mineta emphasized to Monika, making sure she understood just how much effort she put in, and the fact that she did more than enough for someone in her position. Looking behind Mineta, Monika saw Warlow and the guards who visited her. Behind their visors were looks of admiration and respect for the heroine who had faced death and lived through it.
Warlow simply said the truth. "We owe all our lives to All Might, Moe, and you most of all Monika."
The guards nodded as they had agreed with their superior.
"We were goners and you saved our necks. That's something you shouldn't feel any guilt for." One of the guards added.
The youngest prison guard proclaimed. "We love you Monika!"
Warlow chided the youngest guard. "You're laying in a little too thick there, recruit…no need to make us go soft…"
"Sir…you have tears in your eyes…"
Warlow shook his head in the negative. "You're dreaming!"
Though they were trained, they were still human and literally fought by her side, observing her bravery first hand when all seemed hopeless. Had it not been for her, Moe and All Might, these men's fates would have been sealed.
Mineta kissed her hand as she spoke.
"I still owe you a date at that amusement park, and I will take you there. You make sure you rest and get better, okay?" Mineta requested of the whistleblower, who let out a stunned wordless nod as small tears dropped down her face. These tears however, were not from despair, it was from the feeling of being freed of her guilt, of clarity that her actions held meaning.
"I…I will!" Monika said with a shaky, and yet relieved voice. Mineta pressed his forehead against hers again, nuzzling her head before kissing right atop the scar on Monika's head. This made her widen her eyes, surprised by the unexpected affection placed upon her forehead scar.
"Don't do that…it's ugly…" Monika mumbled.
"It's a part of you…" Mineta whispered back. Monika's pupils increased in size, engraving Mineta's face into her memory. The amorous and affectionate gaze of her chosen.
Her own blue eyes, dulled by sorrow were alight with the willpower that was absent seconds ago.
"Minoru…" Monika whispered before she pulled Mineta back to lay a big kiss on him.
Mineta's own eyes widened as Monika's kiss transcended the sun in terms of the heat that engulfed his lips.
Warlow and the guards sweatdropped before leaving them to it. Moe blushed before coughing into her hand awkwardly, not expecting the burst of affection from the otherwise wounded intern.
Mineta's eyes went to the side, seeing his slime dad blush and raise a slimy hand to give his son a thumbs up towards him.
'My son is one smooth operator! Just like his old man!' Papito thought before he decided to leave him alone, slithering past Moe.
"Let's give him a bit of privacy." Papito whispered to Moe who raised an eyebrow before blushing as Monika's kiss with Mineta began increasing in fervor, Mineta and Monika practically pressing tightly into one another. They breathed through their nostrils as they displayed their affections for one another.
The fire haired woman gulped before walking away.
'Didn't think that a small fry like that could be that good with his tongue…' Moe thought to herself as she walked away, shocked between the fact that Monika had apparently recovered and the fact that these two young heroes shamelessly made face. Her face was fuming hotter than her own quirk.
-Elsewhere: Underground-
A diamond gaze gleamed into the dark reaches of the sewer beneath the city streets. About a few minutes in, the husk took a left, ensuring each step made its placement on the concrete and nowhere near the infested waters. Following through, he took a right and followed the stream of dirtied water until it came upon a ladder leading downward.
"Ah…there you are." Diamondeye said to himself. Looking downward where the ladder led, the skull faced engineer tilted his head.
"Could use a proper platform. I knew this spot could use something more up to date."
SHATTER
In a large diamond transition, right before the walking husk, a platform appeared before him. It appeared sturdy, albeit slightly rusty. It appeared to be an advanced elevator, with safety bars and a wide enough girth to fit the half dead weapons specialist.
"Much better…" Diamondeye echoed before stepping into the platform.
The sturdy military-grade elevator strangely shifted in place, as if a great weight was placed onto it despite Diamondeyes' size. The platform shifted downward, enabling Diamondeye to reach the bottom without the need to use the ladder. With proper posture, the gem eyed escaped convict stood as the platform went to the bottom, making contact with a concrete platform.
Stepping off the platform, Diamondeye looked left and right, taking in the sight before him.
The once large section of the city sewer system, with enough space that would fit a few houses, was completely reinvented.
What now stood in place was what could be described as an underground base, one that was fully functional underneath the city limits.
The flow of the water was uninterrupted, however, there were grated walkways that enabled ones to easily cross atop the water without fearing the touch of stray fecal matter.
Small bunkers lined the dome shaped walls of this large expanse. If one were to notice they had numbers and codenames plastered on them. Some were banged up, whilst others were perfectly lined and untouched by damage. One could assume that each occupant treated their bunker as they would their own abode.
The base itself spanned three floors, held together by concrete and grates that served to support everything together in this sewer dome. The first floor was the actual entranceway, with a noticeable small group of inmates armed with rifles. They bore sickly excited facial expressions, seeking to fire at whatever were to enter this area.
"About damn time you showed up. Where have you been?" The slug mutant asked of the gem eyed engineer.
"Following orders…I had a bit of a detour before I was able to fulfill my assigned objective." Diamondeye said, leaving out as much detail as possible. Among the other organized prisoners, he was of the higher ranking members. He didn't need to inform them of anything, for they are merely grunts. Followers without any purpose other than to listen and carry out as commanded.
"Well whatever you did, Narcissia said something about you taking too long. She's getting increasingly impatient." One prisoner warned Diamondeye.
Diamondeye tilted his head in response. "Of course the belligerent narcissist would be impatient…anything else to report?"
A mutant stepped forward, a slug mutant type who jiggled with every movement.
"Lycant keeps asking for chains. I'm not exactly sure why, so if you can make a few for him that would help him. What's up with him anyway?"
"Nothing that concerns you for the moment, I'll be sure to speak to him soon enough. Anything else?"
"To be honest, other than that, not really. We seem to have everything we need, though I gotta admit, these bunkers you built for us before you left…they seem awfully familiar…where'd you get em?"
"They are familiar. They were your prison rooms after all…"
The slug guard stared at Diamondeye oddly. "What? Really? And how the hell did you do that?"
Another prisoner, a fly based mutant, tapped his partner's shoulder, concern apparent on his big eyed face.
"Never mind…sorry about that…you pass on through." The armed slug mutant said before slithering out of Diamondeye's way.
"Pity…I was just about to show you exactly how…I always was curious about your genetic makeup…besides rats…slugs are my favorite animal." Diamondeye stated before robotically walking inside, entering the makeshift base.
The guards collectively stared at Diamondeye as he walked away. A notable fear gripped their beings.
"Tell me you guys felt that just now. That guy scares the living shit out of me." The assigned slug sentry said to himself, sweating nervously as he felt the fatal aura surrounding Diamondeye.
"Best to keep it professional with him…as well as the other three from here on out. Follow orders and keep your heads down…they're a league all of their own." The fly mutant guard stated to his friend as a warning.
With Diamondeye, as he entered the sewer headquarters, the exoskeletal bonewalker looked at how the rest of the freed inmates were settling in.
The base was filled with inmates who went about setting up improvised targets and practice dummies, a training center was being established in the center of the sewer dome in the ground platform that floated to stop the surrounding flow of the sewer pathways.
Atop the training arena, at the second floor, lined with more box bunkers by the walls, was what appeared to be a central hub, with a few boards of information and documents. It included a city street map of Musutafu City, as well as highlighted key areas, including Musutafu Medical Center, U.A Academy, Tartarus Prison and other smaller areas. The purpose of these unnamed highlighted areas was currently unknown.
The top floor was where an armory was stored, lined with spare weapons, ammunition and storage rations were kept.
"I didn't think Kuro and his brother had hidden so many weapons…impressive…" Diamondeye said offhandedly, right before a large mutant crashed through a floorboard, landing with a pained grunt that made the other prisoners laugh at his expense.
Diamondeye tilted his head. "I should have collected more resources to make this place…stable…"
Through a flight of rusty metal steps, one would notice the prisoners stepping away from Diamondeye's path as he went upwards. Wherever he went, others avoided. It was a collective unspoken rule amongst the escaped inmates, one based on fear.
"Are you impressed? You shouldn't be…when I was in my prime, I used to build cathedrals out of boredom in the middle of the Sahara Desert, before dismantling it and redoing it over and over again. It's how I learned architecture, the best way to learn is through hands-on repetition. Unfortunately, years of incarceration while being fed quirk inhibitors have dulled my capabilities. As time goes by, I feel my strength returning…it is a slow process…too slow…" Diamondeye spoke to himself, ignoring the disturbed facial expressions and avoidant stares of the other occupants in this bunker.
As he went to the central hub, one would see that inside the room, there was a table with an assembly of photographs and pages, pinned down against the furniture through the use of shivs to force them down.
There were also only four chairs. A sign that only a select few were allowed in here.
Currently a hulking walking mass of matted fur was occupying the room. It was Legion Lycant.
"*Sniff* Diamondeye…you finished what you had to do." Lycant stated, turning his massive body towards the far smaller Diamondeye. Stepping into his personal space the large canine mutant sniffed him.
"You smell different…I almost skewered you when you stepped inside..."
Diamondeye looked behind him, taking note of one of Lycant's sentient Legion hounds staring at him, with a low grumble emanating from its throat. Yellow eyes peered into Diamondeye's whilst it's mandibles extended threateningly, baring two rows of carnivorous canines.
"I was wondering why one of your pack was following me. But I am still myself…if anything…I feel more like myself than I have in a long time." Diamondeye said before looking towards Lycant's wary gaze. The eyes of a hunter ready to strike.
A staredown occurred for a few tense seconds. Neither swayed.
SNARL
Lycant threatened Diamondeye. His fur puffed in response to his heightened aggression.
"Even now you keep me at bay. Good to know that your guard is still up." Diamondeye complimented in a neutral manner.
"Wouldn't you have your guard up if you had a trespasser trying to sneak into your mind…like a rat…" Lycant pointed out before walking away from Diamondeye.
"Among all mutants, your mind is the only one I have yet to figure out. Mutants possess strong identities, making mind sweeping near impossible…unless you find backdoors. You however, are a walking contradiction. You're too self assured for a wild animal…and yet too wild to possess rational thought. It's baffling to consider that a beast would possess more mental fortitude than the most esteemed scholars. What's your secret I wonder?"
Lycant growled at being called a wild animal before he let out a puff of air past his nose, relieving him of physical tension.
"No secrets, it's basic common sense. Every mutant born is forced to take behavioral tablets. It inhibits their hormones and natural instincts, practically chemically neutering them if you ask me. In their attempt to make mutants more 'civilized', society saw fit to break us in as infants with this method. I never took them, I prefer keeping my urges intact. It makes me strong and keeps my mind free of any needless…distractions…" Lycant said before grabbing a piece of food. A literal raw and still bleeding arm to be exact before he took a big bite into the disposable limb. The fingers moved as he salivated over the raw flesh. Blood dropped down Lycant's mouth as he chewed. He looked at the arm then at Diamondeye. Noticing Diamondeye's prolonged stare at his food, Lycant flashed his bloodied teeth at him.
"Get your own…" Lycant warned the walking carcass.
"By law in most countries, ever since the Bloodied Beast Crusade, you as a mutant would have been on mandatory death row for that action alone." Diamondeye commented, impressed by the act of blatant cannibalism.
Lycant grumbled before letting out a low pitched belch past his chest. "It's because unlike all the rest…I was unique. Pure, untouched mutant genes. That hasn't been around for nearly fifty years. I held value. Plus, they thought having me would force my litter out of hiding. They were wrong."
Diamondeye was curious. "I thought the HPSC killed your…litter…"
GRUMBLE
Lycant gave Diamondeye a silent glare before snorting. "They drew blood after we surrendered. To this day they act as if there is some great second mutant uprising waiting to happen…there isn't…they all are now nothing more than dogs on leashes. Only paranoia remains…and somehow my pups died as a result. It didn't help that during my stay in Hydra, by some miracle I lost the ability to spread my lineage. They want my line to die permanently."
Diamondeye looked elsewhere. Whispering to himself, Diamondeye echoed. "Illegal chemical castration…the next step would be…harvesting genetic samples…a fatal end…"
Lycant snorted in mild irritation before he continued.
"By the time I was taken to Hydra, someone had already gotten to me first…gave me a deal…my blood for the promise of my lineage being safe. Whoever it was used it to make a deadly quirk weapon that nearly took Musutafu a few years ago. It's why they held me for so long without euthanizing me. I can't say I blame them…I'd fear something that wants to eat me too…especially if I was too helpless to defend myself…"
Diamondeye whispered. "Trigger…you were one of the genetic anchors."
"The only one who still lives…who can still command respect among the true mutants who remain…" Lycant stated before continuing with his raw feast.
"I'm more shocked how Hydra Prison never got around to consider finishing you off. Quite thoughtless to keep you alive, beast. That wasn't one of our own was it?" Diamondeye asked the wolfman, curiosity fueling his question about the arm he was munching on, as if noticing something that was a mild inconvenience.
"So what if it was…it was the weakest one of the group…the omega…Tried to tell me a joke…asked me 'What is a catchphrase that everyone says without knowing.' He said 'Need a hand?'" Lycant said with a serious expression. His sickly yellow eyes glowed in the shadows of the room.
Diamondeye stared at Lycant for a silent three seconds.
"I thought the same thing. Wasn't a very good joke…I was hungry, and I made it funny by taking his hand. Next time, I'll bite off his head as payment. See if he grows that back…" Lycant said before taking another bite, breaking the bones within his carnivorous mandible.
"Melvin doesn't grow back his head…only his arms, you know that much. But that isn't on my mind…what is on my mind is you. Without the quirk inhibitors forced on us at Hydra, your hunger has returned full force quite quickly…" Diamondeye pointed before Lycant paused mid bite.
"Did you bring the chains?" Lycant asked Diamondeye before placing down his limb flesh. With a bloodied splatter the limb decorated Lycant's metal tray with the sickly red dye of lifeblood.
"Quite an odd request…you never needed them before." Diamondeye stated offhandedly, Lycant narrowing his eyes in response.
"You talk too much, boneman. Just bring me some fucking chains..." Lycant brushed off Diamondeye's statement. His fur puffed in response to his growing aggression. He gazed at Diamondeye with a cautious stare, ignoring his food as he consumed his hunt.
"I'll have them after I speak to Kuro. As for your…urges…try to keep it in check until then. We do not need a liability on top of an already dangerous situation. Speaking of which…I've been meaning to ask you, why did you throw the fight with Kuro so easily?" Diamondeye inquired, making Lycant let out a frustrated puff of air. Hot steam blew from his nostrils, displaying that his inside body temperature was quite higher than the normal human condition.
The mutant wolfman stood stiff for a mere second before snarling, as he was caught red handed. To an outsider it was like dealing with a feral beast. A second was all it took for him to shift between neutral demeanors and signs of hostility.
"It'd be pointless to lie to you, skull. It was to keep the pack together…these mutants don't like following a leader who loses too many of his own group. No one likes the idea of being someone's cannon fodder. I had to put on a show otherwise they would rebel against Harukaze for the losses in the riot. Harukaze would have killed them all if that happened. We spent enough years to know that going against him long enough will kill you anyway. We both had to make it look convincing. Besides, had they chose me as a leader, it would have been a waste. I can't lead them for long without eating them…"
Lycant took another bite of the raw arm, breaking off fingers and eating the flesh off the digits like they were chicken bones. As he consumed, sickening sounds of bone fractures and gory chews filled the room.
"Ah, so that's why you threw the fight. It would also explain your muscle build, you consume all your enemies, don't you? Your bladed hide alone requires a large amount of iron after all, combined with your muscularity, you would need enough protein just to keep you standing on two legs. Without enemies, it would be your friends who you hunt. You're a dog of war." Diamondeye analyzed, making Lycant growl in a bloodied show of fangs. He didn't appreciate being watched like an experiment.
"Don't analyze me like some frail hamster, boneman…but Kuro actually knows how to fight and lead. There is also his smell. It's different from most, and doesn't smell like your average citizen or half baked villains. At least with him I can pretend he's a mutant…otherwise I would have let him kill me. I refuse to follow humans…" Lycant said before taking a portion of the forearm, blood sprayed outward against a dirtied tray he had used to eat his uncooked morsel.
CHOMP
CRACK
"With your advanced senses, I suppose that is a testament to your respect for him…he isn't like any I've ever seen in all my years. He's like a shadow without a source. A denizen of the unknown." Diamondeye surmised, ignoring the fact that the wolfman was committing cannibalism before his eyes without a care.
"How poetic…you're also an odd one Diamond. You appear human with that half dead body of yours skulking about, but you also have an unusual smell. I never smelled anything like that before when we first met ten years ago. Was it because you were at the War of…what was it?" Lycant analyzed before needing to be reminded. As an animal his focus was on the now, not in past histories that held no meaning for him.
"Your memory is quite sharp to remember that discussion. The War of Masks? Yes, that is correct…but I never fought in any of the battles there, I merely sold weapon blueprints that…mostly weren't used. I was only there at its end." Diamondeye reminded Legion Lycant who was swallowing bites he took on the wrist, tearing off the stringy bits of muscle as he went deeper into the arm.
Lycant's eyes widened a few centimeters. "At the end? You've been there to that damned place?"
"At ground zero of the last battle. There was something I was trying to obtain there. I couldn't find it, it was a waste of time. But the experience was…unlike anything I knew possible…almost as if I'd have lost myself if I remained there. As for its fighters…I only know of two who still live. But Kuro I believe knows of this place as well. A little too well given his…abnormal disposition." Diamondeye stated robotically, lost in his mind as he gathered his thoughts.
"The two veterans you are talking about…is that including…" Lycant assumed, with his wolfine ears flapping attentively to the conversation.
Diamondeye nodded. "Yes…All for One…and an old man I saw earlier…but he left midway due to injury. That one doesn't truly know…but if I'm correct the Harukazes did."
"I don't believe in rumors, but I heard Kuro was born there in the war itself…as was his older brother, Shiro…" Lycant worded out before swallowing his bite in an audible gulp.
"Rumors are often mostly wrong if they ever held any truth…no life could be born in that area 'during' as well as 'after' the war. Before then, it was a land said to be blessed with plentiful life. Baron women were capable of a birthing they didn't know possible as soon as they made contact with the shores. Men who experienced dysfunction everywhere found their vitality reawakened on the fields. The few cancers we have left in our world were said to dissipate in minutes there. It was an honored place whose resources practically went on forever. It was an unspoken oasis. If these rumors are true, then Shiro was born before the war started, Kuro would have been born two years into the war, the rest surrounding his birth and his survival is all a mystery."
Lycant stopped eating as he listened. "There weren't many battles…"
"No…there were quite more than a few. Had the masses known, the world would have all roused together to preserve it. Or to claim it. Hiding the skirmishes was top priority. In fact I even hear that to speak of it would be a silent death sentence. The thing is, after the War of Masks, none can now enter it without losing something. When I first went…I had skin…staying would have been impossible."
Lycant let out a throaty gurgle. A single gargled chuckle emanated from the wild mutant's snout. "You never had skin…I smell the bullshit radiating off of you."
Diamondeye retorted. "That's why I never trusted rumors. You never know what's truth and delusion. It's all obscure…just as Kuro is…and my skin…"
Diamondeye looked to his left and right, finishing the conversation as it reached its end. "Where is the Narcissist? Usually she would be here by now…"
Lycant grumbled as he cracked the forearm and swallowed it after chomping the bones to bits in his large jaws. "Outside…doing her part for her assigned mission…wanted to get it over with…let's hope she doesn't screw this one up…"
"I've never known her to be interested in anything other than herself. If she is that eager to leave, she'll be motivated enough to do it properly, I suppose. Until then, all we can do is wait." Diamondeye analyzed before his eyes glinted with a quick reflective flare.
"Do we really need those young pups she's after?" Lycant asked the mind breaker.
"Yes…we do…especially now that things have become rather…complicated…" Diamondeye said in response to the wolfman.
SHATTER
A notebook appeared before Diamondeye. It was Deku's notebook, which he placed flat onto the desk.
"That book…ain't that the one Harukaze gave you. Did you lose your prey?" Lycant asked, noticing the book as he sniffed inward, gauging the smell of the book to know that it didn't belong to Diamondeye.
"Actually, in a manner of speaking…I did…permanently in fact. He is of no use to anyone, not to us, but most certainly not to heroes for that matter."
Lycant narrowed his eyes. "A mission failure…"
"But…in doing so I found something even better. A tamable apex." Diamondeye stated, making Lycant's ears flicker from this unexpected news.
"An apex is not tamable, boneman…and if you did…you'd be better off killing it…" Lycant warned Diamondeye who let out a small amused grunt past his lips.
"Not this one…she's far too valuable…even more than you…" Diamondeye stated before looking towards Lycant, making eye contact. Lycant had an inquisitive gaze, curious about this.
"A 'female' apex? Even worse…you have a liability. Keep the untamable bitch under your heel…and never show your back…she'll strike eventually…even if it means her own death…apex's tend to eat without thinking…they never needed to." Lycant advised Diamondeye in a manner only an animal could express. Harsh but honest due to his experience in the wild world. And the fact that he is in some ways similar to the description.
"Unlike you, physical chains are not what are needed. There won't be any need for that, I already have a failsafe prepared." Diamondeye stated, making Lycant shake his head in the negative.
"Do as you will…" Lycant said in disagreement, knowing well enough to not bother. With a single bite, Lycant literally swallowed the entire limb, pulling it out to reveal the bloodied bones of the limb he feasted on. He was only eating to drag out the taste of his snack, not really because of an incapability to eat fast.
CLICK
CLACK
It was then that the two noticed the sound of echoed footsteps walking the nearby hallway. The sound of desperately scampering prisoners was an indicator of who was entering the room.
Looking over behind them, by the doorway, was a figure with grayish skin. Marred by knife wounds, burns and other battle wounds, possessing pitch black chitin clad limbs, was the muzzled face of Kuro Harukaze. His entrance made the room darken like a walking blight.
The room was quiet. The two occupants did not utter a word as the pitch black orbs belonging to their de facto leader gazed into the room.
SFX: BREATHE IN
"Lycant…leave…" Kuro's garbled and horrifyingly wispy voice commanded his beast. The puffed out fur of Legion Lycant lessened their flared out appearance, trying to appear less aggressive now that his alpha is here.
Lycant grumbled before begrudgingly following the request. Leaving the room with his fur hound, Lycant left Diamondeye and Harukaze alone. He turned back towards Harukaze before continuing off, a suspicious expression appeared on the dog man's face.
"Kuro…" Diamondeye greeted Harukaze by his first name.
"Daichi…" Harukaze echoed back before he clicked his mouth. With the use of echolocation, Harukaze began stepping towards the table and gripped Deku's notebook in hand. Despite the long talons on his black chitin clad arms, he was able to avoid puncturing the notebook, careful in his examination.
He mildly craned his neck towards Diamondeye, narrowing his abysmally empty eyes towards the exoskeletal terrorist before him.
"I needed the book for my part of the plan. Without your sight, all I knew was that it was a boy who you took the book from. Narrowing down which one required a great deal of reading vulnerable minds. Unfortunately, despite making contact, it was a resounding failure…the boy is dead…" Diamondeye reported to Harukaze, making the pitch black eyed inmate look in his direction.
Diamondeye couldn't help but notice stray wisps of smoke emanating from Harukaze upon his input.
The smoke user took three slow steps towards Diamondeye. The living carcass stood still as Harukaze approached him. He handed him the notebook back.
"Good…" Harukaze hissed out as smoke pillowed from the small crevices of his mask.
Diamondeye tilted his head in response to the response he had earned from Harukaze.
"I'd have thought you'd be…more than disappointed." Diamondeye asked with a small tone of bewilderment, holding the notebook in his left hand.
Harukaze turned around before Diamondeye continued.
"You know more than anyone just how long All for One had been looking for All Might's prodigy. This development alone could make things quite unpleasant for you down the line."
Harukaze shuffled through some boxes before unveiling what appeared to be a medical tray with tools already aligned and ready. A syringe and some portable monitors were included in the batch of medical gear.
"The end of one pathway leaves many others yet unopened. This is for All for One's benefit…" Harukaze's words echoed in the room, smooth and wispy, as if his own words would dissipate upon release and yet lingering like a phantom.
SSSSSSSSS
Trails of Harukaze's quirk were oddly swirling within the room. Strings of black smoke curled and gravitated towards Diamondeye. Like a plague the weapons engineer had to consider the fact that this quirk was a slow killer among all others.
"No use in debating reality…We wouldn't have been able to hold him…" Harukaze finished before the pitch black smoke trails dissipated without a trace. Diamondeye's fingers were notably clenched tightly, with specks of diamond shrapnels piercing past the exoskeleton knuckles that covered his hands.
"He will not be pleased with this tactic...It goes against what was expected of us. Among all other objectives, his was the most valued. It's practically his life's work."
"All for One…his method is inefficient…too high a cost to emerge victorious…" Harukaze forced out from his tongueless mouth, making his smoky speech as short and concise as possible.
Diamondeye let out a faint sharp intake of air. He spoke with a whisper.
"You've noticed this as well…"
The mind breaker echoed before his stiff stance loosened, as if let free from a large weight.
Diamondeye and Harukaze shared eye contact for a still seven seconds before Diamondeye prodded a spot on a board with a bony finger, where the bank robber carved an x on what appeared to be a photograph of Deku.
"The monotonous repetition…" Diamondeye stated with a hint of irritation.
Diamondeye then prodded an area on a map.
"The aimless fool's game…" Harukaze voiced out as he placed a close up photo of Musutafu Medical Center.
"The constant failure…" Diamondeye continued.
"And the price we paid each time…" Harukaze finished Diamondeye's statement.
"His leadership…though valued…" The gem eyed weapons forger said.
"Is blinded by sentimentality…of a false promise of power…" The void eyed bank robber added.
"For All for One to live…One for All had to perish. Either he must change course and survive…" Diamondeye analyzed as he looked at the map, shifting some documents to the side, displaying pictures of notable heroes.
"Or face retribution…and die…by fate's will…or…" Harukaze's voice echoed, projecting itself next to Diamondeye like a proverbial angel on his shoulder.
Diamondeye's optics shifted into a green color before shifting back to their normal blue tint.
"Understood…When did you reach this long ignored possibility…" Diamondeye stated, forging a large portable generator inside the room. He handed Harukaze a wire, one that Harukaze plugged into a nearby electrical conduit that went past the sewers. A hydroelectric power line that went and provided power throughout the city.
With the plug inserted a large stream of flares ignited in the room as electrical circuitry made contact with the unspecified generator that Diamondeye provided.
"I noticed…with Trigger…with the fate of Number Six…with the Nomu…" Harukaze stated before he shifted his stump into a large smoke hand that lifted the desk carefully and moved it to the side.
"We need something truly tainable…a guarantee among all others…" Diamondeye finished. His eyes glinted with a small glimmer.
SHATTER
In a glassy transition, a large tube appeared before the two nefarious planners. Diamondeye stepped forward observing the liquid inside.
"Welcome to your new home…and the start of your new life…" Diamondeye whispered to himself.
Harukaze, who stood on the opposite end of the tube placed a syringe into a small insertion port along the glass of the large tube. The syringe was about as long as his forearm. Inside it was an odd black liquid.
"Did the messenger provide that to you?" Diamondeye asked in curiosity.
"He held it until I had need of it…Every bank…every vault…held a vial…a piece of a puzzle…spread all throughout the world. It wasn't merely money that we were after…there was something far more…valuable…" Harukaze explained as he tapped the syringe, making sure that the liquid was still fluid.
Diamondeye's jaw shifted downward. A small hint of surprise on his face.
"You were locked in Hydra…because you two were stealing from the HPSC's safety lockboxes, and that of other global hero organizations.
Harukaze nodded. "Each one harder than the last…the last required…a great sacrifice…"
"That…is suicidal. As for Shiro…" Diamondeye mumbled before Harukaze turned towards Diamondeye. For a few seconds the deathly empty gaze of Harukaze pierced into the all seeing gaze of Diamondeye.
"A spy…his torch…the one he was bestowed…long abandoned." Harukaze said with furrowed eyebrows, an indicator of resentment shown on his face.
"I suppose in this case, in regards to your brother, there is no honor among thieves. But you use the word 'torch'? An odd description? Are you reciting Torchbearer Theory? I didn't take you for a supporter of that glorified hypothesis. Diamondeye commented, receiving a small grunt from the blind bank robber.
"It's more than a theory…the War of Masks proved it…you and I…we both know it to be true. On the day of Nana's Shimura's death I found the very first piece…"
Diamondeye stiffened before craning his neck towards the dark henchman of All for One. "I see you were listening in on my conversation with the war hound…"
Harukaze echoed to the weapons engineer. "Silence is not the same as victory…it would do you best to practice the sermons you preach…All Might learned this the hard way…as did All for One…as will you before the end…"
Diamondeye let out a small amused chortle.
"Despite your lack of vision, you 'see' vastly more than most…you are a fast learner…" Diamondeye stated, mildly impressed with Harukaze's critique, before he inserted the syringe fully into the tube.
With the syringe now inserted into the port, Harukaze released the contents of the black syringe fluid into the large and spacious tube. A noticeable clump of black lumps appeared inside the glowing aqua tinted tube. It moved as ink inside water, a thick and dense wisp of black inside the surrounding vivid shade of blue.
He tapped his claw against the class. The black substance shifted to and fro in response to the sound emanating from outside.
"It's still fresh…good..." Harukaze stated as he pressed a button on a nearby terminal by the side of the large experimental tube. This caused the tube's water to begin increasing in temperature, making the black clump begin vibrating in response to the boiling heat.
"Send 'her' in." Harukaze commanded Diamondeye, who tilted his head as he looked at Harukaze.
"You are quite the nosy one, aren't you?" Diamondeye stated matter of factly to Harukaze before he turned towards the tube and placed his bony hand against the tube.
"Scanning Archive…Obtained…Send…" Diamondeye echoed before the black clump of mass began twitching and curling in what could be described as a physical indicator of pain.
BUBUBUBUBUBUB
The black mass began gathering into a more spherical shape, taking on a more dull black color as it literally solidified in place.
"Scanning…genetic stability obtained…" Diamondeye said robotically before Harukaze added.
"The body is next. The more compatible parts…the better…I know you still have it…"
Diamondeye stiffened in place before stiffly turning to Harukaze. His lower jaw was slightly downward upon Harukaze's insistence.
"Very well…Obtaining…Print…" Diamondeye stated as his eyes turned red in response to the usage of his quirk in this manner. However, it could also be in response to his current mental state. His left hand curled each finger tightly, spilling bits of bone sheddings against the floor in response.
SHATTER
THUD
Harukaze clicked his mouth as he noticed the shape that had landed in the middle of the room. Still fresh…and yet lifeless.
He brushed his hand through the hairs of a raven headed scalp. Diamondeye informed Harukaze.
"Before Nighteye found me and informed authorities about my location...I took a venture into the very spot I left her…everything is accounted for…head included…"
Feeling the smooth, youthful skin, Harukaze went downward. The bank robber found his blind eyes widening.
He felt the surgically placed stitches along the neckline.
"As if she never aged a day…perfect…" Harukaze stated ominously before scooping up the limp body and carelessly dumping it into the tube, splashing bits of the tubes' contents messily across the hub. The tube shifted into a red color as the black mass engulfed and swarmed the offering. Specifically, like a swarm of piranhas, the black mass had consumed the raven haired body.
"Scan…Save…Copy…Print…and send…Simple yet efficient…" Harukaze echoed as he began opening a few medical tools needed for overseeing this oddity they were brewing, including a few scopes and scalpels ready for sampling.
Diamondeye looked at Harukaze's back, boring his blood red gems into his back. As the liquid inside the tube became a violent crimson, the overcasting shadows darkened Diamondeye's body, obscuring his outer appearance. With the shift in lighting he appeared pitch black with nothing but his blood diamond eyes unearthed to the human gaze.
"Interesting deduction. At first it was simple things…but after decades…now honed and focused beyond recognition. Even now you have only chipped the surface…it's a world all of its own. Most wouldn't dare try to understand if they knew the cost to access it. But I won't deter you from trying. You are the only one who values secrets of the world as I do. When it comes to completing my ever expanding collection…mY WoRK iS NeVEr DOnE…"
*Que Present Mic Narration (Fearful Tone): "Daichi Furukawa, His Quirk: 'Omni Archive…' Based on current records…with his eyes he can scan, save, copy, print and send any concept he fully understands. It can be physical…mental…and some say…spiritual…With his vast information and blueprints he's been able to fuel wars for generations, causing the deaths of…millions. He's had many names in his life of crime and horrifying acts. After 88 years…no one truly knows for sure…what he is…"
HISS
THUNK
A low pitched hiss emanated from the blood red tube.
"Looks like it's developing quite nicely…" Diamondeye stated before leaning towards the tube.
THUNK
"Now we wait for is to stabilize all together. I will call her…STEM…" Harukaze warned the gem eyed felon who had leaned too close to the glass.
"STEM? Quite an odd name…" Diamondeye questioned, making Harukaze smirk in his mask.
CRACK
Diamondeye and Harukaze snapped their necks at the glass tube, noticing that it had cracked under the struggle of the black mass held inside.
"An overly active one…let me seal this properly…shock glass will not hold…" Diamondeye said before placing his hand on the tube. Harukaze only had enough time to click his mouth before turning around and noticing the mass that squirmed in place, literally shifting its malleable frame towards Diamondeye.
SHATTER
The black mass appeared to become smaller before rushing towards the glass, whilst it was in the transition of resealing itself.
Despite its unassuming appearance. The thing was very much mentally capable to time itself.
A momentary lapse in judgement, a mere split second. The smallest of cracks within the frame.
SHATTER
It has broken through. A mere tiny portion of the grander mass slipped through.
"Kuro!" Dimondeye called out.
BOOM
BASH
CRASH
The entire room had unexpectedly collapsed right on top of the weapons engineer and the enforcer of All for One. Neither has enough time to avoid the ensuing and far reaching shockwave that obliterated the hub.
-With Mineta-
Mayhem was currently holding Monika against his person, nuzzling her with small stray smooches as he placed his affections towards the hall monitor beneath him.
Despite his assurance that Hall Monika was alright, there was still something he couldn't shake off.
Mineta gave her one final closed eye grin before he leapt away from her bed, straightening out his cape before turning around from Monika.
"Wait…Minoru? Where are you going?" Monika asked Mineta as he took his half mask away from the bedside table, before placing his half mask on his face.
"I'm going to take care of business." Mayhem stated as he pulled out a support item he still had on hand.
It was the Loud Mouth he had taken from Aizawa during the Harukaze Massacre. Aizawa had forgotten to take this small frequency beacon, so Mineta kept it for safekeeping. For this moment this would be the tool that would enable outside aid to offer help. Being that it was set to a specific emergency frequency, this alone would serve as a well enough contact with the outside.
'I'm going to find you wherever you are, Harukaze. You…and everyone else who thought they would escape from what you did to Monika, to all the innocents killed in your madness. To all those people you slaughtered.'
"You rest easy Monika, I'll take the rest from here." Mineta said, lending her a closed eye smile from beneath his mask before heading out, his yellow cape flapping as he went off onto his journey.
As Mayhem walked off, Monika stared at his back. She let out a genuine smile at both his care for her as well as his can-do attitude.
By herself, Monika spoke in her high pitched girlish voice in a serene manner. Her joyous disposition was what made her voice change in tandem.
"I believe in you Minoru!" Monika said, making Mineta turn back with a bashful look on his face. A notable blush took his cheeks at being believed in, something he cherished more than anything. He lent her a smile back Monika said.
"No matter where you go, I'll be rooting for you. I'll be sure to catch up and stand by you when you need me."
Monika, as she smiled at Mineta, as she spoke, Mineta noticed that the area around Monika brightened.
It was like a beacon in the darkness. A warmth unlike any other he had ever known. If one could compare it to anything, it would be much akin to being held in the embrace of a caring mother, a guiding father, a loyal friend, and that of a lover.
The light that emanated from Monika brightened for only a mere three seconds, but Mineta had to admit.
If there was anything that could be a blessing. This was one that none would believe to have occurred.
Mineta had to blink. Upon doing so, the light surrounding the hall monitor was gone.
'It's way past the usual time I sleep. I must be…seeing things…' Mineta thought to himself before heading back to it. Walking outside the room, he found himself catching Burnin who was awaiting him.
Mineta looked towards Burnin and noticed the emotional distress. Whatever happened to the prison left its mark on her. She looked at him with a stunned expression. As if he were a miracle. The spheres worked their magic on bringing Monika back from the brink of death within a few minutes. When all seemed lost, the small hero pulled through.
Papito, who was originally out of site, came from past a corner.
"Just came from the restroom. How'd it go? Looks like someone had a good time. Mission accomplished!" Papito said whilst winking in his slime form. He had been resting on a waiting room chair alongside Burnin who was still a tad tired from the weight of all that transpired.
Mineta looked at her body and noticed fresh claw marks on her. They were stitched by purple strings, but it was clear that it was the work of the escaped inmates.
Papito mumbled to his son's ear as he perched himself on Mineta's back. "She must have taken one of Mira's spheres. No wonder she's still up and about. She's a lot tougher…and sexier than I thought."
Mineta clasped his left hand around Moe's right hand, shocking her by giving it a comforting squeeze that woke her out of her distress to pay attention.
"I promise, everything will be fine." Mayhem said as Moe's orange eyes connected with Mayhem's.
There was a glow that appeared to swirl inside the irises, making his usual dark purple eyes aglow with an indiscernible fire.
Moe found herself grinning again from the hopeful glare behind his eyes. He had enough willpower that it was almost infectious. "Mayhem huh? Hehe. The names Burnin. Wherever you're going, I'm going with you, it's time we get some payback on that bastard Harukaze!"
Warlow, who had overheard the conversation, stepped up as well. "As am I. I need to own up to my mistakes. I refuse to let him roam free without consequences."
One guard nodded. "For Monika too! I owe her one, we all do."
Moe gripped Mineta's hand in a firm handshake.
"Thank you shorty, for making her and All Might better!" Moe said with her usual grin, glad that something was done to help these heroes. It was a rare display for the usually professional heroine, but she was just that glad that her allies were alive.
Papito winked at his son. "Looks like you've been working on that charm huh little Mino?"
Warlow and his men collectively began heading out. Warlow commanded his men.
"We're gonna need some support to help us locate Harukaze. I think I know who we'll need for this, it'll require calling for hero aid."
Mineta handed Warlow his Loud Mouth. "Use this! Press it and you'll get a personal connection to Aizawa!"
Warlow raised an eyebrow. "That's old tech…but reliable for what we need. Without comms I'll take anything. We'll handle the rest from here. I would suggest you heading back to U.A and get some rest, you've more than earned it. If we're gonna prepare for a raid we'll need every hand available."
Mineta nodded. "That's where I was gonna head as well. My friends will be more than enough for what we need. They're the only ones I know who can help at such short notice."
Warlow agreed. "The more the merrier. Usually this would be contained with pro heroes, but considering how many inmates escaped, we'll need everyone at the ready."
Moe grinned as she scooped up Mineta. "Alright! Let's head out and get some more able bodies for this. It's about time we did something. And no offense but I'm more likely to convince them to take this seriously than if you were to go." Moe mentioned, making Mineta sweatdrop. She wasn't lying, hero agencies didn't take kindly to random people calling them, you needed to get through someone to vouch for you, which in this case would be the sidekick of Endeavor. She's the best voucher they could ask for.
"So, without cars, how are we gonna get the heck outta here?" Moe asked with an innocent expression making Warlow and the other armed guards sweatdrop.
Papito pulled out Mineta's emergency phone. "Already on it! My father in law should be here quick enough!"
Mineta widened his eyes he whsipered. "Dad! You mean grandpa?! At this time?"
Papito nodded with a gleeful expression in his slime face. "Yup! Today's about close to a full moon, and that means he and Grandma must be out for a 'nocturnal' stroll through the city."
Moe smiled with a beaming smile. "Terrific! Bring them over!"
"'Nocturnal stroll'? Ew…they still do that?" Mineta cringed as he walked off. He knew enough about his grandpa to know that he and Grandma weren't necessarily the most normal grandparents, especially on a Wednesday night.
Mineta, Papito and Moe were off. Papito was already dialing Mineta's emergency phone, as it was the only long ranged means of communication that was not yet fried by the riot. As they left, Monika herself watched Mineta's back, having left her bed and staggering over to hear what they were talking about. That and she couldn't help but admire the sight of the small hero amongst the stalwart armored guards of Hydra Prison, heading back into the field..
'Even now…you always inspire hope whenever things seem impossible. For you Minoru, I promise, I'll get better as soon as possible…I'll be there to stand with you in the gates of hell.'
Away from the sights of the boy, as well as the doctors and attendants she smiled warmly. She closed her eyes to rest as she laid back on her bed, humming to herself as she freed herself in the noise of her own tranquil tunes.
Her room however began glowing with an everlasting bright light as her warm feelings triggered this unexpected response. It lit her dark room, casting away the shadows that plagued her environment.
She had yet to notice this. Her eyes were closed after all, and it was a light that she herself had not known to possess, or controlled properly.
Near her, as All Might laid down in recovery, his left hand twitched the moment the light grazed his skin.
-U.A Academy-
Collectively, one would notice that class 1-A was stretching their bodies exhaustingly as they stepped out of the Super Cab. It had parked right at the front gates of the campus, with the many occupants scrambling their way out. The cab itself was coated in slushes and the residual sprays of thrown sodas.
Iida could be seen sweating profusely.
"That was just about the most dangerous ride I've ever taken…"
Ochaco was being carried off by Satou and Kirishima. It would seem that she was still stuck in her Deku-induced delirium.
"You're welcome…" Ochaco repeated as the two carted her stiff body off like a large piece of wood.
Kirishima whined. "I swear she is out of it…"
Satou sighed miserably. "At least someone is in love the right way…"
Kirishima raised an eyebrow, confused by his friends statement. "What do you mean? How can there be a wrong way."
Satou let it go. Kirishima didn't understand that there were some kinds of love that just could not be. He knew from personal experience. Looking at his left foot the sugar hero noticed the love note from Mimina, Mineta's perverted youngest sister, still glued to him.
The boy panicked and tried to peel the infernal love note off, dropping Ochaco on her head.
BONK
The lovestruck gravity hero had a pronounced red lump on the top of her head. Her eyes were dizzied from the impact.
Kirishima panicked. "Ochaco! I'm so sorry! Our bad!"
Meanwhile, Sero was guiding Tokoyami and Todoroki who were both stuck in overthinking of their own predicaments with the Raisinettes.
Sero sighed miserably. "Guys you're too slow, let's get a move on. At this rate we'll be up earlier than the roosters!"
Tokoyami gazed at Sero with red cracks in his eyes. "Who are you calling a rooster?!"
Sero sweatdropped. "I…I didn't call you that!"
Shouji shook his head left and right. "I think he's still messed up about the whole BA KAW!"
Tokoyami 's Dark Shadow went to the octo armed hero.
"Y-you taunt me!" Tokoyami accused Shouji who sweatdropped at Dark Shadow bearing fangs at him.
"No! I said you're still messed up about dodge ball!" He defended himself, making the crowd headed shadow user to let out a shamed expression.
"I…I apologize…I think I could go for some sleep…" Tokoyami said before walking off past the entrance.
Aoyama was carried on Bakugo's back after the aches he suffered from the Mineta family game.
"Don't fret Tokoyami, not all of us are meant to be in the proverbial spotlight." The vibrantly fashionable blonde said confidently, despite being too weak to even stand.
Mina and Momo however were whispering in a hushed manner.
"Before Minoru comes to his dorm, we have at least a half hour to prepare. I'll make you a reindeer outfit and I will dress as Santa Claus." Momo was whispering to Mina, whose face blushed like crazy.
"Momo…are you alright…ever since you came up with the whole 'surprise Mineta' plan, you have been making this a lot more…perverted…" Mina asked, lending her harem sister a strained smile.
Momo on the other hand had a dark lecherous expression. "Who said only Minoru has to have fun with it. Besides, I don't intend on holding back anymore, and neither should you."
Mina sucked in her lips nervously. At the same time she was interested in how this would play out.
"Can I be a sexy elf instead?" Mina asked before Momo and he shook hands in agreement.
"We don't have much time, let's go before anyone might get suspicious!" Momo said before dragging Mina by the hand, whilst the pinky was dragged.
Midnight came out of the car, waving at the driver. "Have a good night, and I do apologize about the mess!"
The driver just stormed off, making Midnight sulk in place. "Perhaps a twenty wasn't enough of an extra tip…but I didn't have anything else…"
Midnight then waved off her own sulky demeanor, as now, her duties went back to the campus as teacher.
She raised an eyebrow at Momo and Mina who were already speedwalking to campus. She let out a small giggle. "Oh my, those two must be really feeling in for their night with Minoru…best look the other way on this one and let them have some peace of mind."
Midnight walked past the checkpoint. Behind her were Denki, Tsuyu and Jiro.
Tsuyu's ears were red, overhearing her teacher. 'Why are my hands shaking!'
Her feet took one step after the other, however her gaze kept focusing on Momo and Mina.
'It's not my business what they do with Minoru…but I can't shake off this feeling. I should tell Iida and stop it but…I can't even speak! I'm tongue tied!'
Denki and Jiro looked at Tsuyu who walked off out of sight.
"You think she's okay?" Denki asked Jiro who was just as neutral as he was. Among the class, they were the only two still completely disoriented by Mineta family related issues. For Denki it was Minoru who made this black cloud of envy follow him like a plague. For Jiro it was another problem altogether.
Jiro shrugged it off. "She's fine…at least she's the only one that is not completely hopeless!"
Denki looked confusedly at her. "What do you mean?"
Jiro scoffed. "I mean c'mon! Tell me you noticed! Toru is now trying to make a reverse harem."
Denki's head snapped at the invisible girl who was currently walking alongside Ojiro. She was dragging him as he flared at Koda who was trying to avoid confrontation. You could literally see the animal tamer shift in every direction, only for Ojiro to glare at him threateningly, causing Koda to shift away.
"I'm not seeing it!" Denki said before Jiro grabbed Denki with a mad look in her eye.
"Are you blind?! Ochaco is even more of a klutz than usual. Momo and Mina are literally doing the three backed centipede with Minoru! Of all people!"
Denki stared at her with a sweaty forehead. Part of the reason was the fact that the girl he pined for was so close to him. The other part was from the fact that she appeared so…unhinged. He had never seen her like this before.
"And then to make it all the more depressing, a little baby has a crush on me! I'm so lame and flat I can't attract a boy's attention but I could surely attract a rugrat! Just my luck!" Jiro stomped away with rage as she stormed off.
She raised her arms wide as she stood in pathway leading to the dorms.
"DAMN YOU MINORU!" Jiro bellowed as she continued off, making her other classmates avoid her.
Bakugo, who didn't seem to say anything at first, was snapped free from his lack of attention, still reeling from his conflicted feelings about being dumped. He then stared at Aoyama confusedly, baffled that the stomach lazer hero was happily lounging on his back. "What the hell are you doing on my back?! When the hell did you even get there."
Aoyama paled in place. "Uh…well…you were helping a friend. Right?"
Bakugo placed him on the concrete and walked off with fury, forcing Iida to sigh as he picked up Aoyama.
"Don't take it personally Aoyama, he's still reeling from his breakup with Manumei."
Bakugo roared from afar, closest to the dorm room doors. "No I am not!"
From even further away, from the windows of the class 1B dorms, one could see a student peek their head past the now bright light. It was Ibara Shiozaki from class 1B. She yelled.
"Hey! Class 1A! GO THE FUCK TO SLEEP!"
Everyone was still and quiet from the aggressive tone that the most devout girl of class 1B used. It certainly shut everyone down. Class 1A was completely stuck in place, as all ambience had seized.
Even Midnight was stumped from the unexpected swearing from the religious vine user. Her body stiffly leaned like a walking stick insect after hearing such an outburst.
"Now I must pray for forgiveness again…oh Lord forgive me!" Ibara cried in shame as she comically weeped from her use of swear words in her sleep deprived rage.
As for Denki, who stood all the way at the back of the class, looked on in confusion.
"I swear ever since that family dinner…everybody has been acting weird…well…weirder than usual. It's like I'm living in a world not of my own!"
ZOOM
A red blur sped Denki with a speed that left him dazed. He was disoriented from the speed of whatever sped past him.
With dizzied eyes, Denki stumbled on his own legs before whining.
"At this point I can't quit now! I can't lose Jiro to…huh?!" Denki asked himself, noticing the small red sphered scalp of Minimu Mineta passing through on campus.
"Minimu?! What the hell?!" Denki said to himself before he tried to catch up. His other classmates had already entered the dorms, with Minimu following inside using the bushes to sneak his way through.
Despite Denki's personal feelings about the fact Mineta was accumulating girls, the electric user still couldn't ignore the fact that Mineta's little brother was wandering so far away from home.
Before he could make it through the the dorms he noticed a glint from atop the rooftops across the street, far off from the campus. It came from a random building in the city.
Upon squinting his yellow eyes Denki raised an eyebrow. "Is that a…person up there?"
GLINT
Denki's squinted eyes relaxed. His nervous and anxious body language had also relaxed. Craning his neck, giving it a few experimental snaps, the blonde shifted robotically towards the entrance of the dorms, now filled with the many hero students seeking their rest.
"Hmm…this school certainly has a life of its own…highschool was never this fun…"
Denki placed his hands on the handle of the door.
CREAK
The door moaned as he opened it. Taking one step inside and then another in absolute silence, the energetic blonde slid into the small crevice of the door, with flexible movements unseen by the electric boy.
"I always did like sleepovers…"
CHAPTER END