Chapter 4: Down the Rabbit Hole

They left at dusk on a Friday night, a week after they persuaded Neito to join them. As investigators would note in the coming months, by all eyewitness accounts, their day was entirely routine; they all attended classes as normal, ate lunch together as normal, went to their extracurriculars as normal. Shinso, Midoriya, and Monoma were all spotted training together in the gym during their free period, but that was nothing out of the ordinary- neither was the fact that according to her classmates in the Support Course, Hatsume had spent every available moment slaving away over a baby in the Development Studio, even staying two hours after school to complete the project while her friends waited for her. Power Loader would go on to comment in his testimony that despite the massive amount of time she logged in the studio in the weeks and days leading up to the disappearance, the number of support items that she submitted to him for grading and approval actually fell slightly below her average during the same period. This observation was ultimately overlooked, however.

According to witnesses, they followed their normal route at least half of the way home; the last confirmed sighting of the group placed them on a seldom-frequented side street just minutes away from Midoriya's apartment, newly refurbished after the forced entry and triple homicide that had bewildered police a month prior. When all four students failed to make it home that night, gang activity related to that incident was the first possible lead on their disappearance investigated by the authorities, at a tearful Midoriya Inko's insistence. But the trail of evidence for this theory quickly went cold, and over the following weeks and months, every probable cause from an underground human trafficking ring to an abduction by the League of Villains was considered and explored. Within two weeks, the search zone had expanded to nearly half of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, as a team of U.A. staff led by Hound Dog and groups of detectives alike combed dozens of square kilometers of urban sprawl from top to bottom. The search was always destined to be fruitless, though, from the moment it began. They had planned specifically for it, after all, studied police tactics and practiced how to avoid them, how to make themselves invisible in a crowd. The hair dye, colored lenses, and falsified IDs provided by Hatsume didn't hurt either, of course.

Once they'd stopped in a vacant alley a few blocks from Izuku's place to don their disguises, the group separated into pairs and took two different routes to the nearest train station- they rendezvoused two hours and 260 kilometers away in Nagoya, where they were currently debriefing in the back room of a run-down, otherwise deserted internet café on a remote side street, far from the bustle and crowds of downtown.

"Everything seems to be going off without a hitch so far," Mei was saying, her features illuminated in the dappled glow of neon signs from outside as rain pattered on the window. "My transaction spoofers worked perfectly for the train ticket purchases, and we have at least another day or two before the search actually begins, but I still doubt they'll think to look as far as Nagoya."

A train ride later, Shinso was still taken aback by how different she looked- her hair was dyed a deep blue and tied up in a ponytail, and purple contacts hid the distinctive crosshair markings in her eyes. Her trademark headgear was stowed in her schoolbag, along with all of the mechanical equipment and speciality components she could carry, collected surreptitiously and in small increments from the studio over the past month. It's a good look on her, but I still prefer the original.

Hitoshi's own disguise was just as jarring every time he glanced at his reflection, though: His wild blue hair was dyed black and slicked back into a neat wave with gel, and his green contact lenses were already starting to itch. Mei had tried to obscure the bags under his eyes with makeup, but no matter how much foundation she applied, the dark purple crescents still shone through to some extent. Midoriya and Monoma were both brunette and brown-eyed now, though by comparison their hairstyles were less dramatically altered. Their clothing was a hodgepodge of preppy and casual civilian wear, purposefully distant from any of their normal styles- Neito still looked genuinely uncomfortable in a nondescript graphic t-shirt and khaki shorts.

"Very good. If they do by some chance expand the search to here, we always have Kyoto and Osaka as our next fallbacks." His gloved hands clasped over the table, Izuku looked almost satisfied, a faint grin crossing his face. He was wearing a black blazer over a collared white shirt, an oddly formal look for the formerly meek and mild-mannered hero fanboy. "Most importantly, though, is your newest baby complete?"

"As ready as it'll ever be!" She beamed, reaching into her bag and pulling out a grey metal headband ringed with wiring and circuitry and fitted with diodes that reached down to the wearer's forehead and temples. Holding it in her hands like a delicate treasure, she turned to Shinso. "This is my pride and joy. Time to finally close the loophole, right, Hitoshi?"

"Remind me, what are the exact capabilities again?" He examined the device with one eyebrow raised. She'd spent most of the past month on this one baby, perfecting it down to the last detail, though even he wasn't entirely certain what it did- Hatsume wasn't very talkative when she was focused on her work, and had a tendency to go silent for hours at a time when she was in 'the zone'. A wide grin spread across her face, her eyes lit up, and she launched into an enthusiastic explanation.

"As far as I could tell, your quirk works by interfering with people's brainwaves, sending a powerful signal that overrides how they normally function. Now, naturally, people's minds don't like being messed with like that- they panic and try and stop what's going on, and the brainwashee instantly becomes aware that you're controlling them. This baby adds an enhancement to your powers that I'm gonna call 'Suggestion'- it stops that process by using a magnetic field to amplify the signal that you send, which should calm down the brain and trick it into believing the override is normal. Think of it like knocking out the cashier before he hits the alarm button under the register during a robbery- you still get control, but now that the brain doesn't go into panic mode, the victim thinks that whatever you're commanding them to do was their idea in the first place."

"Good, that's very good," Neito purred, a hand perched on his chin. "It's so brilliantly despicable. But what about after the effect wears off? Do they realize they were commanded after the fact?"

"That's where it gets interesting," Hatsume continued, waving her hands enthusiastically; as she spoke, Shinso glanced back at the door to ensure that their group was still alone. "So obviously, while the mind is malleable, you can only bend it so far. If you use Suggestion to brainwash someone into killing their best friend, for example, while they might believe in the moment that it was their idea, as soon as the effect of the quirk wears off, they'll realize that they had no motive to do it, and eventually that you were the one who forced them to. Essentially, once the quirk's effects ends, their mind is faced with a two way junction- if your Suggestion seems like something like something they'd hypothetically have reason to do, the brain accepts that the action was their idea, and the victim will go on believing that. If the Suggestion was something that fundamentally conflicts with their values, routine, or beliefs, the mind will reject responsibility for the action, and the alarm button gets triggered, albeit after the fact."

"So what's the use, then?" Monoma's mood had suddenly soured, and was sipping plaintively at his coffee. "It's not as if anything we would ever ask the police to do would align with their values, for instance."

"Oh, but you're missing so much of its potential." Hatsume's grin only widened. "Sure, you couldn't ask a cop to execute a civilian for no reason, but let's say you want to falsify an arrest record, or steal something specific from a case file. Managing records and files are part of a police officer's daily routine, so if you suggested to them that they should give you a specific file because their superior already granted permission, nothing would seem out of the ordinary to their mind- it could easily construct a motive and precedent for the action. If you asked them to light the record cabinet on fire, maybe not so much. At least, that's how it should work in theory. We still need you to perform the actual in-person test, Hitoshi."

Shinso nodded and slid the band over his head, throwing up his jacket's hood to conceal it. The diodes felt cool and strangely comforting resting on his bare skin.

"Well, the next phase of the plan depends on it. Time to find out, for better or for worse."

An hour later, they were standing in the cavernous marble lobby of an apartment complex Izuku had chosen as a testing ground for Shinso's newly enhanced ability, and Hitoshi was beginning to regret not testing Suggestion on the way over. He had considered trying it on the owner of the internet cafe, or a street vendor, but they were doing their best to limit interactions with others except when absolutely necessary, and the desire to be cautious had won out. His quirk was easily recognizable after the Sports Festival, after all- even this one planned use on a civilian was a risk.

As the others milled about near the entrance, he strode up to the attendant's desk, and let out a silent sigh of relief that the man sitting there was alone.

"Good evening, sir! Can I help you?" Short and bespectacled, the attendant gave Hitoshi a friendly smile as he came to a stop and rested his hands on the lacquered wood.

"Yes, in fact- my friends and I are looking to rent an apartment. Do you have any available units?"

He already knew the answer- Midoriya had spent weeks researching possible living arrangements in Nagoya, and as of this morning, this particular complex, along with an ideal location and access to amenities, had plenty of room to spare.

"Certainly! What type of lease are you looking for?"

"Long-term, six-month payment intervals. I believe that unit 516 is available."

"It is! Our standard security deposit for a room of that size will be-"

Shinso activated his quirk, and cut the man off midsentence. The headband and diodes began to thrum with a quiet, electrical energy as he spoke.

"You'll be letting us move in tonight. We've already made our security deposit, and the first six-month payment. You will make no further inquiries into our status- instruct the cleaning staff not to service our room. Use my name as the primary occupant." He handed the attendant his fake ID card, and waited calmly for his response.

The clerk blinked, confused, and fell silent for a moment; Hitoshi's heart seized in his chest, and their contingency flared in the back of his mind. Pretend it was a practical joke, get out of here as soon as possible. But then the man's smile returned, and he began to key a set of magnetic cards.

"Ah yes, I remember! You're all set on the first payment, the room should be ready at your convenience."

Past the first hurdle. Now to see if his mind accepts the Suggestion as natural.

As he reached out to take back his ID once the data was entered, Shinso let his hand bump into the attendant's, with just enough force to break his quirk's effect. The man blinked again, then quickly apologized and held out their room keys with his other hand, still smiling. Hitoshi allowed himself a triumphant smirk, and was about to take them when he thought of a better option.

"Could I ask you to make a minor adjustment?"

"Of course, sir!"

"I misspoke when I said unit 516. Our reservation is actually for the penthouse."

"We could be a highly useful asset to you. We have an established base of operations in Nagoya, and multiple sources of income, along with significant technical resources and black market connections."

Midoriya allowed himself a confident grin as he finished his pitch, and glanced around the dimly lit bar at the various figures watching his every move. He'd thoroughly researched every one of them before coming here, compiling at least a dozen pages worth of observations on their strengths and weaknesses in the notebook in his jacket pocket. A few months ago, the thought of joining the League of Villains would have been nothing short of repulsive, but now that he was sitting here among them, he couldn't contain the excitement rising in his chest, the desire to be part of something larger than himself, in an organization where his skills would be rewarded and appreciated.

Kurogiri stood behind the bar, idly polishing a sake glass with arms made of flickering black and purple light. Dabi was lounging on a stool, rocking it back and forth in boredom as he played with a ball of blue fire in one hand. Spinner loomed in the shadows at the corner of the room, flanked by Twice and Toga Himiko, a blonde-haired girl around Izuku's age, and the only one whose quirk he was still unsure about- he was aware of her fondness for the blood of her victims, though. His eyes lingered on her a moment when he realized she was staring back, her cheeks flushed red. That's… strange. Is she…?

Shigaraki Tomura rose from the table before he could finish his thought, though, his voice a ragged hiss.

"I already have all of that. What are you offering that I don't have?"

Izuku blinked, and narrowed his eyes. He's going to make this difficult, isn't he?

"As I said, we're constantly expanding our sphere of influence in the Nagoya area, and we have multiple ventures that-"

"You already told me all of that." Tomura interjected. "Remind me, what's your quirk?"

Despite his best effort to remain calm, Midoriya's cheeks flushed red, and his brows furrowed in anger.

"I already told you, I don't have one. I also already explained that my colleagues are all endowed with highly useful quirks which they've spent a good deal of time refining, and that my support items more than compensate for-"

Shigaraki laughed, a harsh, rasping sound.

"I don't care how good their quirks are- if they willingly chose to follow a powerless runt like you, then I've already lost interest in them."

"Aw, but boss, it couldn't hurt to have a few more recruits!" Toga spoke up from the back of the room, taking a few steps forward and balling up her hands in two slender fists beneath her chin. "Didn't the brainwashing kid place high in the Sports Festival? And it doesn't hurt that the quirkless one is… easy to look at." She made eye contact with Midoriya and grinned widely, running her tongue along her elongated canines. He couldn't help but flush even harder at that, confusion plain on his face.

"We have more than enough asking to join up after Endeavor torched Stain," Tomura replied, never taking his eyes off Izuku. "If we take in too many at once, it becomes harder for us to stay hidden."

"We can give you inside intel on U.A.," Midoriya offered, reaching for his notebook. He'd told the Tomura his group's real identities off the bat, hoping the gesture would serve as a show of good faith; it wasn't as if the League had any reason to turn them into the police.

"I already have that too." Izuku could practically feel the man's smirk from beneath the hand he wore as a mask. "You think you're the only ones from that school who sympathize with us?"

"I…" He didn't know what to say to that. A traitor explains the USJ attack, but how could someone have evaded detection for so long? "Who do you-"

"Wouldn't you like to know. Dabi, escort our guest out."

The black-haired flame wielder stood and stretched, then began to stride menacingly towards Midoriya, his expression deadpan. For a moment, Izuku's mind flashed to the plastic explosives woven into the fabric of his jacket, currently draped over his chair. Designed by Hatsume, they were a last resort in case the League attacked him- he could dart out of the room and trigger the blast within the span of a few seconds. But something told Izuku that burning this bridge so violently would risk throwing away potential future assets, and he reluctantly allowed himself to be led out into the hallway without resistance. He opened his mouth to fling a parting barb, but Shigaraki cut him off again as he closed the door.

"You're of no use to us, Midoriya Izuku. Run along now, before I get angry."

The night's objective was simple- capture Tokoyami Fumikage and Yaoyorozu Momo, alive and unharmed. From Shinso's Brainwashing to the custom-made tranquilizer guns and capture nets that Hatsume had equipped Monoma and Midoriya with, they weren't lacking a wide variety of ways to achieve their goal. A quick exfiltration following their targets' capture was the riskiest component of the operation, but with Mei waiting at the edge of the forest in a jeep that Hitoshi had acquired for them, they had little to worry about if they remained undetected.

So how did everything go so wrong? Midoriya wondered as he darted through the trees, toward the line of blue flames and expanding cloud of gas that were threatening to consume the forest. He'd planned the operation to coincide with the Hero Course's summer training camp specifically to avoid the possibility of outside interference, but in hindsight, Shigaraki's mention of a traitor at U.A. should have tipped him off that the League might also be aware of the camp's location. The school faculty had done an admirable job of keeping the exact coordinates a secret, to be fair, but Mei had planted hidden tracking devices in the costumes of every Hero Course student before their group left the school, using trace amounts of radioactive isotopes to mark Momo and Fumikage in particular for easy detection.

Izuku glanced down to his handheld tracker, which displayed two pulsing dots less than a hundred meters ahead on its radar- even if their targets weren't wearing their costumes, the radioactivity would still be lingering on their skin. After observing carefully for the past day, they'd chosen tonight for their time to strike, with the test of courage serving as a perfect cover. Apparently Tomura had the same idea. Tokoyami's signature was closest, and thankfully they encountered no direct resistance on the route toward him, though the forest still echoed with screams of panic. Midoriya, Monoma, and Shinso were all wearing black jackets and hoods on top of their disguised hair and eyes to ensure that there was no chance of accidental recognition if they were spotted by any U.A. personnel, and night vision goggles helped them navigate through the darkness with ease.

They were able to hear Fumikage long before they finally drew within visual range of him, though, as the snapping of branches ahead of them coincided with a bestial roar. Dark Shadow, Izuku quickly realized. It's being driven out of control by Tokoyami's fear and the lack of light. His theory was confirmed when the three of them reached an open clearing, and the full size and ferocity of the boy's rampaging quirk became visible. Dark Shadow stretched nearly ten meters into the air, its normally yellow eyes an angry red as its shadowed talons tore indiscriminately through the foliage surrounding it. Tears streaming down his beak, Tokoyami was suspended at the center of the shadowy mass, but before Midoriya could aim his air rifle, he caught sight of another figure down and to the left, partially hidden in the treeline. He recognized the student by their tentacle-like appendages as Shoji Mezo, and though Tentacole almost certainly couldn't see them at this distance in the darkness, he seemed to have heard their footsteps approaching, and turned in their direction.

"Who's there?"

"We're here to help!" Shinso called, stepping forward. "Are you hurt?"

"Yes, but not badly. Tokoyami needs more help than me, though, he-" Shoji's voice faltered as Hitoshi's quirk activated.

"Run away and find somewhere safe to hide until your teachers find you. We have the situation under control."

Good strategy, Izuku mused. He certainly has reason enough to do that. Mezo quickly complied with Shinso's Suggestion and darted off into the trees, leaving them alone with their target. On Midoriya's other side, Neito had taken aim with his own rifle, watching carefully through his scope as Dark Shadow began to take note of the new intruders and move steadily toward them. It was rearing its beaked head to let out another roar when Monoma fired; his dart struck home, plunging into Tokoyami's chest and delivering enough sedative to slow an elephant.

Dark Shadow growled in anger and charged forward, but by the time it reached them, it was already shrinking rapidly, receding back into its bearer. Even as Tokoyami faded into unconsciousness, though, it managed one final, desperate attack, slashing through the fabric of Midoriya's jacket and sending him careening back into the underbrush before he had time to dodge. By the time it vanished completely a few moments later, Midoriya was already rising shakily back to his feet, shrugging off his subordinates' attempts to help him up. That's the price for overconfidence, he knew, looking down at the three shallow cuts that Fumikage's talons had left him, steadily oozing blood. I should have known the tranquilizer would take longer than expected to subdue his quirk in that state. Hitoshi was prepared to call Mei to extract him, but Izuku shook his head.

"My injuries aren't serious- we continue with the mission. Monoma, get him back to Hatsume. We'll press on and find Yaoyorozu. She's not too much farther ahead."

"Understood," Neito called in reply, throwing his lanky, beaked classmate over one shoulder and starting off in the direction they came. "Contact us if you meet any resistance! And don't be afraid to rough up a few of those miserable Class A showoffs for me if you get the chance!"

"Only if necessary," Midoriya countered with a smirk, turning back to his tracker and plunging forward into the darkness with Shinso at his side. Momo's signature was around a hundred meters ahead, and moving rapidly- they broke into a run when they heard female voices somewhere ahead of them, and quickly came upon another clearing. Rather than Yaoyorozu, though, Midoriya found himself looking at Toga Himiko, currently attempting to pin Uraraka Ochako to the ground as Asui Tsuyu struggled where she had been pinned to a tree by her hair. Blood was flowing from a syringe in Uraraka's leg to a collector on Toga's back as they grappled with each other- every time Ochako tried to pull the needle out, Himiko caught her hand and wrenched it away.

"She's from the League, right?" Shinso hissed beside him. "They haven't seen us yet, let's move on before we get caught up in whatever they're trying to do here."

"No, you go ahead and find Momo," Izuku countered after a moment's consideration. "I'll handle this."

"What?!" Exasperation was clear in Hitoshi's voice. "Why? Do you know her?"

"No, but I think she wants to know me. This could be our chance to gain a contact inside their ranks. Now go ahead, find the target- that's an order." He laced the last few words with enough venom to swiftly spur his colleague to action; once Shinso had continued back into the treeline, Midoriya stepped out into the clearing and took aim with his rifle, waiting until Uraraka was firmly in his sights before firing a dart into her back. He planted another round in Tsuyu's side as Ochako slumped motionless to the ground, and within seconds, both of them were unconscious. Crawling out from under Uraraka's limp body, Toga eyed him suspiciously at first, but before he could explain himself, she stood and dashed forward. Swearing internally, Midoriya activated his gauntlets and braced himself for an attack, but instead of lunging with one of her knives, the Himiko wrapped her arms around him and squealed with glee.

"Oh Izu, I knew you'd come back for me!"

"I… how did you know it was me?" He finally managed, pulling back his hood and goggles. Her golden eyes were glowing in the moonlight, and he could feel the warmth of her body pressing against him.

"I recognized your smell," she purred, her cheeks flushing pink. "You smell even better when you're bleeding, Izuku!" Without warning, she ran her hand along his open wound, shuddering with pleasure when she withdrew it soaking red. "I love the way you bleed, baby. Can I call you baby?"

For a moment he was paralyzed, overwhelmed by the situation. He almost reverted to the nervous, stuttering fool too socially inept to even consider speaking to women who had occupied his body until a few months ago, almost mumbled out a stream of nonsense in reply to her advances. But then he remembered that he'd already killed that part of himself- it had died in his living room, along with everything else weak inside him. Instead of blushing, he grinned.

"You can call me whatever you like. Now I know I didn't get off on the right foot with the League, but I want to fix that. Maybe you and I can come to some sort of… private arrangement."

"Private arrangement…" She giggled, then pinned him against the nearest tree with one swift motion. "I think I like the sound of that. What sort of arrangement would that be?" She whispered the last few syllables in his ear, her breath hot on his neck.

Now it was his turn to shudder as she began to plant a trail of soft kisses across his neck and jaw. His bravado wavered slightly in the face of her intense affection, and he couldn't fully rid himself of the voice at the back of his mind screaming that he was about to kiss a girl for the first time. But he steeled himself all the same, and continued as steadily as he could manage.

"You could… ah… supply me and my group with information about the League's activities, plans, recruitment… and in turn, I could… oh… I could give you…"

Taking his face in both hands, she kissed him full on the lips, sliding her tongue into his mouth and grinding her hips against his at the same time. It was all Izuku could do not to faint then and there.

"That's what you're going to give me, baby. Deal?"

"Deal," He breathed, then winced as a river of white hot pain flowed along one of his arms. With a start he realized that she was dragging a knife across his skin, watching the crimson leak out of the shallow cut with awestruck eyes.

"I'm so happy, baby!" she squealed, pulling out a vial and capturing some of the blood before he could react. "But I'll be even happier if you bleed some more for me."

He opened his mouth to reply, but closed it again when voices became audible in the distance. More U.A. students, by the sound of it. Toga heard them as well, and loosened her grip on him.

"Aw, I wanted more time to play!" She pouted, pocketing the vial and giving him one last peck on the lips. "One week from today, the Red Crane ramen bar at the edge of Kamino Ward, 8:00PM. It's a date, baby."

With that, she darted off into the undergrowth, leaving him only a few seconds to collect his thoughts and pull his hood and goggles back on before the approaching students drove him in the opposite direction. Starting off down the path Shinso had taken, Izuku tried his best to focus on the mission again, but he couldn't shake one persistent thought.

Do I have a girlfriend now?

"Who are you? What did you do to him?!"

Yaoyorozu looked up in horror from Yosetsu's tranquillized body as Shinso emerged from the brush, shouldering his air rifle.

"He'll be fine, it's a medical sedative. Are you injured?"

Her hand shot to a bloody gash just above her hairline, and he swore internally. Shit, must've been that Nomu. The chainsaw-limbed creature had already been retreating by the time Hitoshi arrived, plodding off into the trees- the League must have recalled it when they finished their mission, whatever it was.

"Yes, but that's not-"

Gotcha. Was worried you wouldn't say anything for a moment there.

"Leave him for the rescuers. Follow me, I know how to get out of here safely."

Reluctantly, Yaoyorozu stood and turned away from her unconscious classmate, limping toward Shinso as blood continued to drip from her wound. He quickly rushed forward to help her, throwing one of her arms around his shoulder and setting off in the direction of Hatsume and their escape vehicle. As concerned as she seemed to be about Yosetsu, there was a decent chance that her mind would reject the Suggestion, but he'd cross that bridge when he reached it. Hitoshi gradually quickened their pace as much as Momo could bear; the screams and cries for help emanating from the other sections of the forest had largely died down, meaning that the situation had reached one of two resolutions- neither one was good for him.

Shinso's heart lifted when Midoriya emerged from the trees ahead of them, and the two exchanged a satisfied nod before Izuku radioed Mei.

"Second target acquired, Mr. Green and Mr. Blue are incoming- Mr. Blond should be arriving soon as well. Keep the engine running hot- all mission objectives achieved."

"I can't believe this freaking twerp," Tetsutestu groaned as they made their way back to camp, glancing back at the unconscious schoolboy dragging behind them, his cheek a dark purple now where Tetsutetsu's fist had shattered his gas mask. "He's not even out of junior high! How the hell did this kid even find them? What, is the League running around putting recruitment ads in Jump now?"

"He may be young," Kendo Itsuka countered, her gaze remaining fixed ahead, "but that doesn't mean he isn't dangerous. Who knows how many people that gas knocked out before we stopped him?"

"Too many," her metallic companion growled, shaking his head. He was about to say something else when a shrill scream cut through the air from ahead; they exchanged a glance and charged toward the source, leaving Mustard's motionless body behind. The scene that greeted them when they burst into a clearing froze Itsuka's heart mid-beat: Yanagi Reiko and Kodai Yui were cowering on the forest floor as a massive, wiry man with a shock of short blond hair and one artificial eye towered over them, his entire body covered in a rippling layer of exposed red muscles.

"Shhhh, quiet now, or you'll make me angry." Muscular was saying, holding a finger up to his mouth. "Don't be impatient, you'll both get your turn! As soon as you watch me squeeze the life out of your friends." He gestured to a group of unconscious bodies, victims of the sleeping gas, and Kendo's blood ran cold in her veins.

I have to stop him, she knew, and before she could think anything else she was running forward, leaping into the air as her fist swelled up to the size of a boulder.

"PICK ON SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE!" She screamed as she landed a right hook cleanly on his jaw, sending him stumbling backward and into a tree. In the brief span the villain took to struggle back to his feet, she turned to Tetsutetsu, Yui, and Reiko, and gestured to the gas victims. "GET THEM OUT OF HERE, GO!"

Then Muscular was charging toward her, his arms raised; she barely had time to dodge before he slammed them into the ground she had been standing on, sending clumps of grass and dirt flying with the force of impact. She swelled up her other fist and drove it into his side, but he braced himself for the blow this time, and it practically bounced off the hard shell of muscle fibers that he had encased himself in. Surprisingly fast and agile for a man of his size, he dodged or blocked the next few hits she attempted to land on him, then surged forward all at once, grabbed hold of her right fist, and twisted, a cruel sneer on his face. The twin cracks that echoed through the clearing as her wrist and lower arm broke almost simultaneously were enough to drive her to her knees in pain- when his next punch shattered the rest of the bones left in the limb and sent her flying into the bushes ten yards away, she wasn't quite sure how she managed to stay conscious amid the swirling torrent of agony. Her vision was fading in and out, but she forced herself to look down and assess the damage all the same; it seemed that her fist had shrunk back to its normal size out of reflex, but then she saw the jagged white tips of bone protruding from her skin just below the elbow, and before she knew it she was retching all over the bloodsoaked grass.

As Itsuka lifted her head again, she could make out the blurry shape of Muscular plodding slowly toward her, a sadistic smile on his face. He was calling out a crude taunt, but her ears were ringing too loudly for her to make out the words. When he was just a dozen paces away, though, shouts became audible nearby, and suddenly his muscles retracted back inside his body. Then Eraserhead was charging into the clearing with Vlad King and Pixie-Bob at his side, and the sounds of battle filled the forest once again. Two strong arms wrapped around Kendo's waist, and Mandalay's smiling face was the last thing she remembered before she drifted into unconsciousness.

If a pall hung over U.A. after Hosu City, the atmosphere on the first day back after summer break and the training camp incident was practically funerary. A hero course student abducted and two others missing, just a month after four vanished without a trace- it was almost unreal. The more Kendo thought about it, the more she didn't want to believe it had really happened. But every time she almost forgot, she saw the missing posters on the bulletin boards in the hallways, walked past Monoma's empty desk. Why did you go away?! She wanted to ask him, wanted to yell the words in his pretentious face. Not a day went by that she didn't hope against hope that she'd walk in and he'd be there as usual, spouting off some nonsense about the tyrannical rule of Class A. She'd have to chop him on the back of the neck to shut him up like always, and everything would be right with the world again. Well, the whole chop thing might be a bit more difficult right now, she mused, glancing to her right arm, still in a sling where Muscular had crushed it to a pulp. Recovery Girl and a team of surgeons had done the best they could, but it would still be a few days before she could use it again, and weeks before she could fight with it.

The move into dorms was a welcome one, even if not all of her classmates could enjoy it with her. Four first-year hero course students had dropped out of U.A. after the latest security breach, or been pulled out by their parents: Koda Koji and Sato Rikido from 1-A, along with Nirengeki Shoda and Manga Fukidashi from 1-B. Even among the students who stayed, the hallways were filled with whispers of transfer applications to Shiketsu or Ketsubutsu. The press conference held by Nezu and Aizawa and the successful rescue of Bakugo and defeat of All For One by All Might and the hero rescue team in Kamino Ward had lifted people's spirits to a degree, but even the Symbol of Peace hadn't been able to bring U.A. its missing students back. As ashamed as she was to admit it, Itsuka wished that they'd all been openly abducted like Katsuki- at least then there would be actual evidence to go on, leads to follow. Anything would be better than this hellish uncertainty, than the constant gossip that they had all committed suicide together, or run away to become villains. That isn't the Neito I know. He would never.

Frustration rising up inside her, Kendo slammed her locker shut, ready to head to the gym and blow off some steam on the treadmill when someone cleared their throat behind her.

"Sorry, but I'm busy," she muttered, barely casting a stray glance over her shoulder. Probably just Juzo or Tsuburaba asking for help with their homework again. It can wait 'til later.

"Not too busy for a brief chat, I hope, Young Kendo!"

Itsuka's eyes shot wide open, and she nearly dropped the P.E. uniform bundled up in her arms when she pivoted to find the Symbol of Peace standing before her, a wide smile on his face.

"A-All Might-sensei, I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there! Of course I have time!"

She tried to bow in apology, but he caught her by the shoulder and let out a booming laugh.

"There's no need, Young Kendo! Follow me- I have something I'd like to discuss with you."

She nodded furiously and quickly set off after him, struggling to keep pace with his massive strides as they made their way to his office. Maybe the rumors were right after all, she wondered, her eyes drifting to the floor. With two missing students, two dropouts, and one death, Class A had been reduced to just fifteen after Hosu and the training camp, compared to 1-B's seventeen; there was talk that the administration would be transferring one class B student to A to even out their numbers. I'd hate to leave all my friends behind at a time like this, but I'm sure it wouldn't be so bad. 1-A really needs support right now, and I could do my best help with that. They'd need to choose a new 1-B class rep, but 1-A is missing theirs too after Yaoyorozu vanished, so…

"Young Kendo? My office is over here!"

"O-Oh! Sorry!" Lost in thought, Itsuka had blown completely past All Might's open door; her face flushed with color as she turned again and darted inside.

"You seem distracted," All Might began, sitting down in a chair that looked entirely too small for his hulking figure as Kendo closed the door and took a seat across from him. "Are you holding up alright?"

His voice had taken on a softness and tone of genuine concern that surprised even her- she couldn't bring herself to lie to him.

"I… things have just been so hard lately. I miss Monoma. I miss my friends who transferred out. I understand why they did, but…" She paused, and shook her head. "You saved the day like always, you defeated All For One and rescued Bakugo, and the League is on the run, but it just… doesn't feel like a complete victory."

"Because it isn't one." All Might replied. "You're entirely right, Young Kendo. It won't be a victory until all the rest of the League is hunted down and brought to justice, and until all the missing students are found and reunited with their families. The more I search and fail to find them, the more I'm reminded of my own limitations- of my own shortcomings."

In just a few moments, the conversation had taken on an entirely different tone- Itsuka's brows furrowed in confusion.

"Shortcomings? Sensei, you've done more to help us get through this than anyone. No one has worked harder to defeat the League and keep U.A. safe with more success than you! No matter how dark the situation seems, you inspire all of us, including me."

A smile spread across her face as her thoughts drifted back to all the childhood hours she'd spent playing with All Might action figures instead of dolls, pretending she was there fighting alongside him.

"But I won't be able to inspire you forever," he countered quietly. "I have something to show you- please don't be alarmed."

Before Itsuka could say anything else, steam began to emanate from All Might's body, almost enveloping him in a dull white cloud. Then, all at once, he shrank, his well-defined muscles and chiseled jaw receding into nothingness, leaving behind a gaunt skeleton of a man, his blue eyes sunken into dark, hollow sockets and his striped orange suit hanging in folds over his thin figure. Even his trademark spikes of blond hair drooped down past his chin now. Itsuka practically leapt out of her chair in shock, her eyes wide.

"All Might-sensei?! Is that… you?" For a split second she thought this might be some kind of practical joke, but the punchline never came.

"Yes," he answered with a sigh, all the bravado gone from his voice. "This is me. And this is why I need a successor."

The next few minutes passed by like a dream. Itsuka listened the best she could as All Might explained his injury and the resulting limits on his abilities, how his quirk had been passed down generation by generation, a stockpile of power that increased with each bearer. But all the same, the more she understood, the more she felt like this couldn't be happening- not to her.

"You can't actually want me," she finally managed once he went quiet. "T-There are so many more qualified candidates, older and more experienced than I am. The Big Three, or Kamui Woods, or Hawks- I don't even have a provisional license yet!"

"That's exactly why I think you're the right choice." He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. Hawks, Kamui, even the upperclassmen here… they've had so much more time to practice with their quirks that they've already developed distinctive styles and techniques. Introducing One For All to that mix wouldn't just throw them off balance, it would be asking them to go back to the drawing board, revamp how they think about using their abilities from square one. But for someone in your year, now is the perfect moment for you to make it your own while still developing and refining your own quirk at the same time."

"Well that explains why'd you'd prefer a first-year… but why me? I don't understand." She looked up at him with wide eyes. "What makes me special, out of everyone here?"

He sighed and sat back down, leaning forward over his desk.

"I've been watching your year closely since the day I arrived here. There are many of your classmates who embody the values a hero should aspire toward- strength, devotion to duty, leadership, selflessness. But you, Young Kendo, rise above all the rest. You go above and beyond what we ask of you here at U.A., to protect your classmates and inspire them to strive for greatness. Along with serving as 1-B's representative, since the beginning of the year, you've acted as a bridge between the two classes, easing tensions and promoting cameraderie and cooperation- not because anyone asked you to, or because it was expected of you specifically, but because you knew that it was the best way to strengthen the first year as a whole. You truly convinced me of your worthiness, though, Young Kendo, with your actions during the training camp attack. Not only did you correctly deduce the source of the sleeping gas and brave incredible odds to help stop its production, you risked life and limb to protect your classmates in the face of overwhelming force when it would have been far safer to retreat. Remind me, what were the words you used in your official incident report?"

"My… my body moved without thinking," Kendo replied, thinking back to the testimony she'd given from her hospital bed in the days after her surgery.

"Yes, that was it." All Might's eyes shone with wistful nostalgia. "You have the spirit that this country needs, Kendo Itsuka. That's why I want you to be the next Symbol of Peace."