Author's note : Now, the scene is set, we know most of our actors...
and we have two breathers episode before the Triceps corporation followed by Hoshu.
Once again, thanks for the reviews. It is always nice to read them.
To answer a few :
- Yes Izuku and Tomura are both Nana's grandson and therefore cousins. Also, yes, I plan for Tomura to grow in a very different way than canon (chapter 29 will show some of it.) and yes Mistral's song will probably his.
-A lot of people killed Hisashi that day.
- Thanks for the compliment about the song. I need them for writing. One of my favorite scene for Endeavor was written wit "Kakkusei" in mind. (one of promare song).
Anyway, here is your chapter.
Chapter 26: Tipping the axis of the world.
The festival went on for two more days after the first year's event.
During it, Nejire managed to get more food from Tenko and made him cheer for her with Izuku and Toru. She finished second, behind Mirio, after a long fight and Mirio somehow riding on her energy wave.
Izuku and Toru took the opportunity to spend time together, even if Izuku couldn't use his quirk, thanks to his last stunt against Katsuki. Toru might have yelled at him a bit (lot) for being such an idiot before saying something about "boys being boys". Nonetheless, they had fun taking pictures together in some photo booths and simply being teenagers.
Katsuki was hunted by his mother for answers, all while Katsuki swore vengeance against Izuku and all potential descendants he might have. Yui took her time with him to watch the others' fights, and both commented how they would have fought against them. Yui really appreciated having someone who perceived her emotions despite her face not telling much and Katsuki someone who was calm yet as infatuated with fighting as him. He was truly looking forward to their sparring matches.
Monoma, Mei, and Momo had a surprisingly good time together, especially once Monoma managed to let his passion for quirks get the better of him and discussed how they could create the craziest things with the two girls. It included the idea of using Momo to create parts of machines in specific alloys that would be way outside of Mei's purse otherwise.
Finally, the most important thing was clearly that Atsuhiro and Inko's wedding was nearing and Izuku looked quite forward to becoming Izuku Sako.
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"Good morning, and congratulations on winning the festival."
The class erupted in joy as they got Aizawa's praise, who quickly calmed them down.
"However, I have an announcement: Today, we need you to choose your hero name. Don't worry, because it is supposed to be a temporary one. However, you should take it seriously."
Izuku nodded his head furiously.
"Yes, I once heard that a student told another one to choose his name. And that he could never change it after that!"
If eyes could say "fuck you", Aizawa would have expelled Izuku with extreme prejudice.
"… It is the name that is going to be used for your internship. So, let's study them. The winner in the number of offers is… Katsuki. Who actually got two top 10 invitations, Miruko and Best Jeanist."
Katsuki, unusually calm, got up and went to a window to open it. He then yelled, full force.
"FUCK YEAH, BITCHES!"
"Sit down or it is a detention."
Without a word or excuse, Katsuki sat down. To be fair, he had every right to be that happy.
"Second we have Izuku, who got a proposal from Best Jeanist and a few top 100 heroes. However, I also know that All-Might wants to talk to him about something."
Izuku nodded, while he observed his smaller stack of proposals than Katsuki's. Still a good amount.
"Third is Todoroki."
Unlike the others, Todoroki's internship was decided beforehand. If Aizawa had anything to say, he would have been against him meeting his father so soon, but the teenager insisted. Something about not leaving his mother alone with his dad without supervision or protection.
Aizawa let the students chatter a bit before coughing, silencing them. It was nice to have a class that obeyed. He wondered if in some other universes; he had a class that was batshit insane, pulling tanks out of nowhere or things like that.
——————
In the support course tech-lab, Mei was working on a tank. Yui had convinced her to build one and somehow managed to get it approved as support equipment. Oh, it was going to be so fun to make that and Itsuka's gloves! And thanks to Momo and Monoma, Mei could actually create her own line of tanks! She wondered if she could sell a few of them or the patent to U.A?
———————
"Anyway. So, since I am bad at naming things, I asked Midnight to help you do it. Have fun and don't pick a dumb name."
——————
The session went pretty much as it did in canon, except for Izuku who had already chosen "Joker" as his hero name, thanks to the USJ Attack.
None of them spotted Iida choosing Manual for his internship.
——————
Izuku wondered, as he waited in the classroom, what All-Might had to offer him for his internship. He knew, along with everyone else, that All-Might never took interns and he would certainly not begin now that he was a teacher.
Still, he was surprised when the number 1 entered the room, with a special internship form…
"Young Midoriya! I was looking for you!"
"Thank you, sir!"
More than one session with the man as a teacher helped Izuku idolize him less than before. Sure, he was still his #1 fan, but he saw enough of the hero bumbling as a teacher to understand he wasn't perfect.
"I have a special internship for you. However, be aware it is totally optional."
Izuku nodded, wondering what it was about.
"It… It isn't a well-known thing about my past, but the hero Floaty was my first mentor and my role model."
Izuku arched an eyebrow, as he read pretty much all of All-Might's biographies and that name never appeared in any of them.
"… Floaty's true name was Nana Shimura, and she was…"
"My grandmother."
Izuku knew his mom's maiden name, and he quickly connected the dots as to why All-Might might feel very interested in his internship now. It wasn't really nepotism, but more along the lines of paying back a debt. All-Might sat down to Izuku's level and put his hand on his shoulder.
"The internship is for the hero Gran Torino. My second mentor and your grandmother's best friend. He isn't a well-known hero and it would be just for this week. For your real internship, if you feel the lack of notoriety impedes your odds to get a good one, I will write a letter of recommendation."
"And if I refuse?"
Izuku didn't plan to, but he wanted to know his options before making a choice.
"Well then, he would still very much like to meet you and your mom and might ask to see you if it isn't too hard. Also, I have talked to the hero Slidin'go and he seems interested."
All-Might observed the young hero, as he was thinking loudly and muttered his every thought. It made him smile, to see a young teenager think so much about his future. All he needed was a little push in the right direction to go even further.
"I think Gran Torino might be an excellent idea for you. While you clearly learned your tricks and how to control your quirk from someone, your fighting instinct could use improvement."
Izuku chuckled. All-Might was right. Despite his training, he was still taking too many hits while fighting. It wouldn't be enough at all if he planned to be a pro. Also, he only learned how to fight from Mr. Compress, and learning only from one source made Izuku too specialized against one kind of fighter.
"Also, if you want to know how skilled Gran Torino is… Well, he was my main teacher in the art of fighting."
Even if his teaching style could be summed up as "get good, bitch", and Izuku would probably be in a world of pain, the results were apparent: Gran Torino was an excellent, if sadistic, teacher. It convinced Izuku to accept the deal, as he was sure to have a lot of fun training with this Grand Torino.
All-Might was also secretly happy to not have to fear his next meeting with the old man. Besides fighting skills, having an outsider with experience on how to use a quirk would be beneficial to Izuku. The young man already knew how to moderate, but needed to maximize his energy output… Exactly like a certain blond giant years ago.
He couldn't help it, but All-Might felt it was quite cathartic. Also, if Nana was proud of him for what he did with his life and their quirk, he must also finish the job by finishing All For One.
—————
In the end, Katsuki chose to intern with Miruko, after he discussed it with Izuku, who pointed out Best Jeanist's policy on hair and his dress code.
Katsuki was fairly certain their styles would clash, and it was a no-no as a son of designers. It was better to go with Miruko, as she would most likely give him battle training and tips. He couldn't wait to fight her!
Besides, he was sure Yui would train even harder and he couldn't wait to smash her against a wall, until she could not move anymore despite a cocky grin he would imagine on her.
Wait, that sounded dirtier than he had intended.
—————
Tooru, to her great surprise, was given an internship under Midnight. She wasn't supposed to learn how to be sexier, though the teacher proposed to teach her a few tips on how to tease men, but to help her become stronger.
Despite what people thought of her, Midnight knew how to fight, even without her quirk. It was necessary, as she was the most well-known underground hero, who helped Eraser Head in his takedowns. She also approved a few ideas for support items Tooru asked for and a young support student confirmed she took the request.
Who would have thought about using their own blood to make invisible paint to make an invisible item?
However, Midnight was still going to teach Tooru a lot about close combat fighting.
—————
Yui Koda lost early in the finals, but she still managed to get an internship from a pro hero… And a big one! One that could actually help her improve and shape her into the fighting hero she wanted to be. Besides, if she wanted to pin down Katsuki on the ground again and pound him unconscious, she would need more strength!
… Why did that sound so weird?
—————
When Izuku went home this evening, he found his mom contemplative in front of the television.
Atsuhiro was there, serving tea and cookies for his wife, as she once again rewatched a certain sequence of the tournament. Izuku knew which one instantly.
Izuku quietly hugged his mom, as Nana saved him on screen.
"She seemed like an awesome woman, mom."
Inko didn't say a word, instead quietly hugging her son while Atsuhiro joined in the group hug.
"Izu? Can you do me a favor if you have rested enough?"
"Sure! Whatever you want!"
"… Do you have another Floaty card?"
Izuku smiled, before rushing to his room to take the card. He had several of her, as Nana wasn't a well-known Hero.
He took the Uncommon card and brought it to his mother. Then, in front of everyone, Izuku activated his quirk.
Unlike last time, this Nana didn't seem to have any personality, quietly waiting with a smile for orders. Nonetheless, Inko took a step forward and looked at the tall muscular woman.
"Hello, mom. I… I wanted you to know I understand why you did what you had to do. I am proud of you, and what you have done for everyone. Through and through, you gave more than anyone could have asked of you. I guess that's why I became a nurse: to help people."
"I know it may seem strange, but I wanted to introduce you to a few people. Atsuhiro, you never met him, but you would have loved him. Smart, loyal, and funny… I couldn't find a better husband."
Atsuhiro pressed Inko's hand in his, while the woman cried quietly, and continued.
"And here, your grandson Izuku. He is cuddly, a real hero in the making, he is a charmer and… And you would have loved him."
The Nana card looked at Inko, and for a second, it seemed like something passed by in her eyes, and her smile seemed sad and happy at the same time.
"… We are happy, mom. I know you are watching over us, from wherever you are. Just know… We love you."
Then the former single mother had her money senses tingling, while hugging and crying in her family's arms. Wait. Did that mean the Yaoyoruzu family owed them royalties for using Nana's pictures?
—————
Later that evening, Atsuhiro got another phone call on his "Mr. Compress Phone". He sighed in advance when he saw the number on the screen.
"Hello, Endeavor. Why are you calling…"
"Izuku Midoriya and his mom were once All For One's targets."
That actually shut up Atsuhiro, who was going to make a witty joke about Endeavor who should check on his family, but that comment stopped him. Especially as it implied…
"Yes, I know you are Atsuhiro Sako. No, it isn't because you didn't hide your identity well and the evidence that could link you back to my investigation was mysteriously burned by mistake."
Oh, thank god Endeavor was on his team now.
"I discovered that Hisashi Midoriya was formerly known as the Heart Stealer. I am half-certain he used his quirk on Inko to seduce her and…"
"THAT FUCKING SON OF…" Wait. Didn't that also mean that Magne actually got the right guy that day? She would be quite happy.
"Quite. Anyway, it seemed smart to warn you and tell you to protect them closely. As far as we know, his interest in them died with Hisashi, as AfO ordered his death."
Compress was an intelligent man and quite friendly with Giran, especially when they had drinks together (and he paid the broker really well).
"Luck Stealer?"
"Bingo. Anyway, Nedzu added me to your list of "clients". It will give us more reason to see each other for your update. By the way, I have been able to confirm the HPSC was linked to my son's disappearance."
Compress noted the choice of words and smiled.
"Disappearance? He is alive?"
"The person who helped fake his death gave me the information before he got killed. He seemed convinced."
"Very well. On a side note, my next target, next week, will involve the Triceps corporation. I have heard they took advantage of Mizunaka's temporary absence and as a result their human resources are soaring."
Translation: most likely implicated in the traffic of interesting quirks who come to them for special support items.
"I see. Don't forget to call me on the day of the big break. Be careful though. I have heard rumors from the HPSC that the owner, Deputy Kenchaki, was someone not in their pocket because he was too distasteful for them."
Compress shivered. Someone too corrupt for the HPSC and still standing? He must have excellent security and was tied to things worse than he thought.
"However, it also means his ring is important enough to at least know how they made Touya disappear."
Or at least tell them how deep and what could have happened to him.
"My team is on it. Oh, and Endeavor, for what it's worth, I am happy to know your son is alive."
"I am simply doing my best to unfuck as much as I can."
The call cut after that, while Atsuhiro saw his family, happy in the living room.
—————
Meanwhile, Endeavor was looking deeply at his bedroom ceiling, in his office. As far as he knew, Rei was now sleeping at U.A, and Shouto was close to her.
Natsuo had listened to him, over the phone, before ending the call. Endeavor didn't have any illusions on that side.
Fuyumi called him, to tell him she was okay. She… Actually accepted his apologies. She was surprised to hear he was the one who didn't want to meet her, because he felt as guilty for her miserable teenage years as for everything.
Honestly, he didn't know what he would do once they found Touya.
—————
In a certain bar, Tomura hummed happily after a few days of break. Anyway, it was also time to go back to work. In fact, he was browsing some documentation from Sensei and Giran, before he found a name interesting enough.
"Stain? Loonie? I have found a good target near Hosu!"
He specifically chose that place because it was the last hunting ground for Stain and after that, he would change it again.
The noseless man and the toon looked at their boss while they were playing cards. Apparently, the two of them bonded a lot over their training and sparring. Tomura decided to join them too, as he could use more exercise.
"Oh? Who's that, Boss?"
"I have found that a certain hero named Gust Duster was sponsored heavily by a support corporation, and that several vigilantes in his area seemed to disappear mysteriously after only one or two sightings. No police report on them, except that the man apparently managed to talk them out of doing that."
Stain, as a former vigilante, took a particular interest in the briefing.
"I… Still own a few favors. I can cash them in to know if they know anything about that."
Tomura thought about it and nodded. While Sensei covered his expenses with Giran, Tomura wanted to build his strength and not simply rely on his sugar daddy to provide for him.
When you were too used to playing with the bonus, you were often defenseless once you lost them after all.
"I would like you to ask your contact another question."
Stain looked puzzled, before Tomura added an excellent point.
"Why, if Gust Duster is such an excellent hero, so many vigilantes are sighted and why do they actually listen to him if it is the truth?"
"… No smoke without fire?"
"Exactly. We are the League of Villains because we oppose the current state of the Hero Industry. The fact that it is an industry is bad enough. What better way to do that if not by solving problems overlooked by the system and executing the culprit?"
Stain smiled, as creepily as he could. That was actually a good idea.
"Some divine retribution! I like the idea…"
The three villains took a beer (a ginger ale for Tomura) and toasted for their next mission.
————
"Is it the mission you promised me, Seijin?"
"No, sadly not, Dabi. You will have it next time, though. This mission is actually one that will let you meet your new teammates and learn how to work together."
Dabi sighed as he entered the room, before seeing a muzzled blond girl and a masked man in black and white.
"Everyone, meet Amaterasu. Amaterasu, here is Foxtail and Tanuki."
Seijin presented everyone, before Agent K coughed to catch their attention.
"For this mission, and the next, you will be under my control. If you need to talk, call this number. It is a secure line. You will use it to make your weekly report, or any urgent request. Please, remember it."
All agents nodded, before proceeding to memorize the number, before Agent K activated a powerPoint. It was a warehouse on a dock.
"In three days, you will have to destroy this warehouse. No survivors. No witnesses. It is the home of a paramilitary organization whose doctrine is close to the Destro's. They are currently owned by the Triceps corporation and this warehouse is their main HQ. You will attack during their big meeting.
The plan is as follows: Foxtail and two of Tanuki's clones will infiltrate the place. Make sure that all escape roads are destroyed. Once that is done, exit and signal to Tanuki and Amaterasu. Tanuki will then switch to creating two copies of Amaterasu. The three of you will annihilate the facility.
Any question?"
Everyone nodded their head, having understood the plan. Agent K then dismissed them with a gesture of his hand. Yey, nice promotion. He went from taking care of one individual to a team. Yey. Even if he didn't have any information about the next mission, except that it was supposed to be a deep and long one, undercover. God, it was going to be stressful, right?