AN: Thanks for the interest and reviews everyone!
Ricardo Valencia - ask and you shall receive. I've been revealing Ochako's timeline as we go, mostly as different things come up.
Naruto30 - you were asking for butterflies, and they're starting to pile up.
InfinityMask, SwordOfTheGods - Nagant should be in prison, but she isn't.
Mew-the-Dark-Matter-buster1 - they laid low for a bit but now they're just kicking up all sorts of butterflies. I'm sure questions will get answered as time goes on :)
"I'm glad you could meet with us on such short notice," Toshinori said. His friend, Naomasa, entered the teacher's lounge.
Naomasa sighed as he looked at the occupants of the room. In addition to Toshinori, Izuku and Ochako sat there with a notebook borrowed from Nezu. "I wish this was under more pleasant circumstances, however."
Toshinori gave a guilty laugh. "I should have you meet Inko sometime. She has been helping me learn that there is a life outside of All Might."
Naomasa noticed Izuku's face turning bright red at the mention of his mother, but he couldn't help but smile. "I'm just glad somebody is finally doing it. You've spent too long as All Might, my friend."
"Agreed, but sadly that is a matter for another day. We have more important matters to attend to."
"This Hero Killer…" Naomasa secured the door and sat next to Toshinori on the couch. "Are you sure he's the one behind the deaths at Tipoca City?"
"Almost certainly," Ochako answered. "He has a pattern where he targets four heroes that he sees as corrupt in a city before moving on."
"Unfortunately, his standard for what qualifies as a true hero is extremely high," Izuku added, looking at Toshinori. "Very few people can meet those standards, and if they don't…"
"He kills them," Naomasa finished. "I've watched the news."
"He kills them here," Ochako said. "But his methods are different. It's almost like a combination of traits from each of our timelines?"
That caught the detective off-guard. "What do you mean?"
"Where I come from," Izuku began. "The Hero Killer simply killed his victims with his blades. There was nothing special about his methods. He would simply lure his target into a back alley to isolate them, use his quirk to paralyze them, and then finish them off."
"For me, it was much more complicated," Ochako explained, her lips set into a hard line. "While Izu's Hero Killer was quite literal in his actions, in my time, the name 'Hero Killer,' was much more metaphorical. He would leave his victims alive, but their careers were over by the time he was done with them."
"I seem to recall this in the notes," Naomasa said, eyeing the notebook on the table.
Ochako nodded. "He would actively seek out corrupt heroes. However, rather than kill them, he would expose their corruption to the world. It rocked hero society with scandal each and every time and caused several heroes, such as Yoroi Musha, to retire early rather than accept he may come after them."
"You make it sound like he was almost a positive force in your time."
"If the era of peace lasted longer, perhaps he could have been," Ochako admitted. "The scandals were bad and led to many people distrusting heroes. After all, if one man was able to uncover all of these scandals, what else was under the surface?" She let out a frustrated sigh. "And it's possible they were right! If Japan had more time, perhaps, it could have properly shined a light on the problems with the system. Then the problems could have been properly dealt with, and we could have rebuilt people's faith and emerged stronger for it. However…" Her eyes drifted guiltily to Toshinori.
"Japan didn't have that time."
Ochako swallowed the lump in her throat before continuing. "And then, in the wake of All Might's death, Stain realized heroes would lose their way without someone to guide them. So he decided to emerge from the shadows and become the vigilante, Stendhal. He hoped to lead by example, but instead, he simply furthered the division between civilians and heroes."
"I can imagine," Naomasa said. "The source of many scandals in society, suddenly appearing and trying to become a leader."
"Indeed. It took me years to fully understand the implications of what my actions as All Might meant to people, and I intentionally started down that path before even attending high school. For someone as careless to try and fill that role…"
"Even if he had a point, his methods were flawed," Ochako chimed in. "His standards were so high, even the real All Might wouldn't meet the standards he had in his head." She quickly held up her hands defensively. "No offense, of course!"
"None taken," Toshinori chuckled lightly. "As we have all learned, All Might isn't as perfect as he appeared to be."
"Because his views were so twisted, he ended up sowing division among many of the lower-ranked heroes. At a time when Japan needed unity, he caused chaos. While I can't say he was the sole reason for the rise of the PLF, he certainly gave them a lot more breathing room to grow than they could have had."
Naomasa reached out and picked up Nezu's notebook, flipping to the notes he had taken on the Hero Killer from Ochako's timeline. "As much as I'd like to address the deeper implications of what you told us, that is a matter above my pay grade." He looked at Toshinori.
"You mean the scandals?"
"Yes." Naomasa frowned. "Even if the Hero Killer's methods have changed, that doesn't mean that the scandals he caused didn't just disappear."
Ochako got a sour look on her face. "That's a much bigger problem than what we can handle."
"Indeed." Toshinori rested his hand on his chin as he thought about it. "But perhaps the solution is tied to our future plans."
"What do you mean?"
"The idea of multiple symbols," Toshinori explained. "In many ways, as you have shown me, Japan has grown complacent on one man as the symbol of peace. It isn't surprising that some would take advantage of the times we live in."
"But if there are multiple symbols…" Izuku's eyes went wide. "That would encourage heroes to do better!"
"Indeed" Toshinori smiled at the teenagers. "It won't solve the problem completely, but if heroes have something to aspire toward - a position that anyone can achieve, unrelated to the billboards, then perhaps they would have second thoughts about their actions!"
"Yeah!" Ochako's eyes lit up. "It doesn't solve everything, but it's the first step!"
The three heroes looked at each other with excitement until they heard a pointed cough. "While it's all well and good that you are looking to tackle the larger problem, we still have the more immediate problem to deal with."
"R-right," Izuku said apologetically. "The Hero Killer himself."
While the heroes discussed the issue of corruption amongst themselves, Naomasa opened up the second notebook from Nezu and had both opened in front of him. "While we may have dodged the worst-case scenario with how the Hero Killer operates, we are left with a different problem. He doesn't follow either of the patterns the two of you describe."
"No, he doesn't," Izuku agrees as he pulls out his notebook. "He is killing his victims, but instead of simply stabbing them to death, his methods seem to be related to them somehow."
"It's how we missed him up until this point," Ochako admitted. "Once Izu saw the news about Catalyst, he began to suspect Stain was behind it. After all, why would a hero die from a Trigger overdose?"
"I remember the notes you sent me," Naomasa said. "And further investigation on my end proves that there is credence to your theory. Each city has four heroes dying, each one a week apart with a different method. All of their methods are seemingly unrelated, however, each one seems uniquely tied to the individual. Until now."
"We don't really understand why both heroes died from Trigger overdoses yet, but it gives us a start."
"I can explain that," Naomasa said, turning to Toshinori. "To All Might."
"Not to us?" Ochako asked.
Naomasa let out a weary sigh. "Despite your rather unique circumstances, the law is the law. Since All Might has volunteered to assist in the investigation, I am allowed to share any sensitive information with him. However, the two of you don't even have your provisional licenses yet, and therefore are not part of this investigation in any official capacity."
Ochako sighed before standing up. "I get it. C'mon Izu, we'll wait outside."
Naomasa waited for the two to leave the room and secure the door before turning back to Toshinori. "I'm surprised that they came to you for this."
"You expected them to go after the Hero Killer on their own?"
"Honestly? Yes."
"I am inclined to agree. However," –Toshinori smiled–. "I will continue to encourage them to seek out our help for now."
"Well, fortunately for them, coming to us was the right answer this time." Naomasa set his briefcase on the table and opened it, removing a manilla folder. "It turns out there is a clear link between the two heroes that were killed, and that same link tells us who the next target will be."
"Really?"
Naomasa nodded and offered the folder to Toshinori, who quickly grabbed it and began flipping through it. "It turns out that there is a task force in Tipoca City trying to get to the source of the Trigger smuggling that passes through the city. I'll let you guess two of the members of the task force."
"Catalyst and Alakazam."
"Precisely. They were engaging in a deep-cover operation trying to build up trust with the local gangs, hoping to eventually find the source or the buyer. My guess is that Stain caught wind of this and decided they weren't any better than the villains they were tracking."
"How unfortunate," Toshinori said as he looked at the file. "And that leads to the final target."
"Agent Ice. The third and final member of the task force."
"Has he been warned yet?"
"Not yet, no. I have only received the files this afternoon, and it would be hard to explain how we came to our conclusion so quickly without revealing our young friends."
"Indeed." Toshinori flipped to the page detailing Agent Ice. "I will wait another day and contact him then. He should be aware of our plans as well."
"Do you think he'll go along with it?"
"For the sake of the heroes in Tipoca City, I hope so." Toshinori wore a grim look on his face. "If Stain decides to change his target, then nobody is safe. And we won't know when or where he will go after Tipoca."
"I wish there was another way," Naomasa sighed.
"Me too, friend."
Izuku and Ochako kept themselves busy watching videos on Ochako's phone until they heard the door open behind them. They spun around to see Naomasa standing there, briefcase in hand.
"I'm done with my meeting, so you can come back in now."
"Aren't you going to join us?" Ochako asked, eyeing the briefcase.
"No. Unfortunately, I have more business to attend to. But don't worry, we'll be seeing each other again soon."
Saying his goodbyes, Naomasa departed. Izuku and Ochako returned to the room. Sealing the door, they once again sat down across from Toshinori.
"So how'd it go?" Ochako asked.
"Better than I expected," Toshinori replied. "We know his next target. A hero by the name of Agent Ice."
"Agent Ice…" Izuku put his thumb to his lips as he tried to remember any details about the hero before shaking his head. "The name doesn't ring any bells.
Ochako let out a dramatic gasp. "You? Not knowing about a hero?"
"I know." Izuku rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment, grabbed his phone, and searched the web. "A local hero who tends to stay within his district. He uses his ability to freeze water to help with smugglers using the ports in the city."
"I don't see why Stain would go after him?" Ochako asked rhetorically.
"It's due to a police operation," Toshinori answered. "It appears that he and the others have done their job too well if they have convinced the Hero Killer that their actions are genuine."
Both kids let out a soft 'oh.'
"So that's why we couldn't be in the room," Ochako observed.
"Indeed," Toshinori said. "What's important is that we know who the target is, and thanks to your knowledge, we have a good idea about when and how he will strike. Now it's simply a matter of catching him in time."
"Stain's preferred methods are ambush and backstabbing," Izuku observed. "To maximize the chance to draw blood and use his quirk. If you know he's coming, he loses some of that advantage." He frowned. "Unfortunately Agent Ice's normal methods would put him at a disadvantage. There is no way Stain would engage him near a source of water."
"That's where I come in!" Toshinori exclaimed as he bulked up to his muscle form. "Don't worry, I will stop the Hero Killer!"
It was late in the evening when Kaina Tsutsumi returned to the abandoned apartment she currently lived in.
"I can't believe how late he was out tonight," Kaina grumbled to herself. "Must be looking for his next target already."
Despite her complaints, the energy and persistence of the hero killer were the exact reasons she had grown interested in him. He was a man dedicated to his cause, seeking to kill unworthy heroes. Much in the same way the HPSC used her to clean up their own little messes.
She dropped her bag of food on the table before collapsing into a chair. After unpacking the food and breaking apart her chopsticks, she reviewed what she knew about him while she ate.
The Hero Killer, known as Stain, was a former vigilante. Knuckleduster refused to tell her more than that; however, knowing Stain's extreme methods made Knuckleduster's refusal to deal with him a promising sign.
She needed a partner like that. One who wasn't afraid to get their hands dirty.
After all, her target was nothing less than the HPSC itself. With everything they've put her through, everything they made her do… every time she closed her eyes, she could still see the blood on her hands.
They told her they would turn her into a hero and instead made her into a monster. She could never forgive them for that.
And she would make them pay for their mistake.
Stain was fast and strong. He trained himself to near-peak physical condition and could handle himself in a fight. If she was to approach him, she needed to make sure she kept him at a distance. She would need time to stop him if it came to that.
Due to his quirk, his preferred tactics were to ambush a hero and paralyze them in one swift blow. She didn't know the exact nature of it, except that after striking his foes, they seemed to be afflicted with paralysis. Some sort of paralytic agent applied to the blade? Or something else? Another reason to keep her distance.
And then there was the nature of dealing with heroes. This is the part that truly drew her interest in him. After paralyzing his opponent, he proceeded to kill them in a manner that fit their perceived unworthiness. Such as the hero Alakazam, whom she watched Stain handle personally. He suspected the hero had ties to the Trigger smuggling operations. Because of that, he executed them by injecting the hero with a lethal amount of Trigger, and then escaped while their quirk tore their body apart, their body's internal limiters completely overridden by the drug.
A rather gruesome way to go, she had to admit. But perfect for the kind of partner she was looking for.
Swallowing the last bite of food, Kaina stood up, threw the empty containers into the trash, and walked to her makeshift bedroom. There, she stopped in front of a table and looked at the photos she had taken.
Several photos of Mirror Girl were on the table, shaking hands with members of the Yakuza. Kaina looked at one photo of her opening a briefcase, revealing that it was full of money before she looked at the next photo in the sequence of her walking off, a smile on her face. She let out a loud sigh.
There was, of course, one major dealbreaker. The primary reason she hadn't approached him yet and was waiting to see what his next move would be.
"You're focused on the wrong targets."
AN: Hope you enjoyed the chapter!
And as a head's up, after next week I will be taking some time off for the holidays, so won't be posting chapters for a week or two.