[Chapter 11]

Miracle descended through the clouds and into a bustling city, occasionally checking her phone's inbuilt GPS and Coogle Maps app. After a while she found what she was looking for, gently floating downward until her heels met the road with a soft click.

The crowd ahead gasped and began taking pictures, parting while she walked forward nervously. Aside from a few smiles and waves the Magical Girl mostly ignored them, focusing on the task at hand. Once she made it past them her objective was easily spotted; the creature sitting in the river patiently while more civilians watched it with interest from the artificial riverbank.

It was a frog. The massive, bus-sized amphibian stared at Miracle impassively while she approached, not seeming to care about a thing in the world. In fact, it looked… content? There were even some children who were wading around in the waters near it, occasionally poking the giant creature with childlike wonder.

"Oh dear…" Izuku hurried ahead, worried that it might hurt them. "Excuse me! Please don't get too close, it's dangerous!"

Thankfully the children backed away after her warnings, scampering back to their parents to watch from a distance. Izuku drew closer to the Frog Angel carefully, trying not to startle it. Slowly moving back and forth, she quickly realized it was watching her every move. The creature was clearly wary of her, but didn't seem to have any malicious intentions.

"Um… hello there!" Miracle began.

KERO.

The Frog Angel croaked out a greeting. Unlike all its brethren who came before it, this one was unbothered, moisturized, and happy. Practically flourishing in its newfound surroundings until people noticed and started gathering around it.

"Alright." The girl took a deep breath to steady herself. "Um, Mr. Frog? Sorry, but I'm gonna need you to go home."

Giant, reddish-yellow eyes blinked, powerful muscles rippling under the creature's green skin. Izuku soon understood what it was doing when it wiggled its hips a little, stubbornly burying itself deeper into the riverbed.

"Come on, man. You're making everyone nervous!" Izuku paused. "Well, they're not afraid of you now, but you know what I mean. A giant frog monster isn't something you see everyday."

Another loud croak was sent her way.

Miracle scratched her head, perplexed. This was the first Angel that didn't seem to do anything at all. It was just… relaxing, like a normal person would. Despite that, Izuku knew she had finish things fast before the heroes showed up and made a mountain out of a molehill.

"Alright, look. What will it take for you to go home?" she asked.

A long, pink tongue extended from the Frog Angel's mouth and licked her entire face, causing the girl to back away while coughing and sputtering.

"Bleh!" Izuku gagged, wiping off the horrid slime off herself. "Ew… What was that for? Are you hungry?"

The creature said nothing, leaving Izuku to throw her arms out in exasperation. She should have bought Pinky here, but he was busy keeping an eye on Inko for the time being. Without him acting as an interpreter, it was much harder to understand what an Angel actually wanted.

"Okay." Izuku breathed. "[What do you need?]"

That caught its attention. The giant amphibian immediately rotated its bulk about to face her once she made the broadcast, signaling its intentions and emotions back to her in Quirk-speak. It turned out that the Frog Angel was indeed hungry, simply taking a break to feast on the emotions around it. Izuku frowned and made a ring with her index finger and thumb before bringing it to her left eye, activating the new ability granted to her by the Needle Angel just a day prior.

True Sight.

Rainbow hues dyed the edge of her vision, and Izuku began to see. Blurry figures appeared behind each person in the gathered crowd, multicolored streams of light radiating off them like heat off an engine. Wisps of fragmented light peeled away from the streams and into the Frog Angel, the creature gorging itself on emotional energy. Izuku winced and stopped soon after, the strange new power being rather taxing both physically and mentally. She'd need more practice to improve.

"[So… you'll leave after you're full?]" Izuku tried hopefully.

To her relief the Quirk nodded in response, not at all bothered that its mealtime was being interrupted. After a few more minutes of feeding it actually stayed true to its word, dissipating into a whirlwind of multicolored particles and returning home. It worked. The Angels could be convinced to go home! Izuku supposed its host was a patient one, thankful that the entire incident had gone off without a hitch.

Unfortunately, that was also when the heroes decided to finally show themselves. They popped out of the crowd like termites out of woodwork, support items raised and Quirks flaring. Izuku wasn't surprised, having been aware of their communications from the moment they arrived thanks to her superhuman hearing. What did surprise her, was the man with red wings hovering right above.

Number Three Hero, Hawks.

He was a young man with hair the color of spun gold, boasting a smile that could melt women's hearts. A part of Miracle, the part that was boy-Izuku, wanted to punch that smug expression right off his face before quickly collecting herself.

"Hi, little lady." Hawks greeted her with a smarmy grin.

"Hello, Mr. Hawks." Izuku said in a little voice, keeping her guard up.

"Please. Mr. Hawks is my dad." Hawks smiled. "Just Hawks is fine. Heard you like autographs, so here."

A flat sheet of paper was carried over to her upon two of Hawks' crimson feathers, Izuku gingerly picking it up and inspecting it with a raised eyebrow. It was a signed photo of Hawks posing for the camera like a supermodel, complete with his trademark cocky grin. Izuku's eyebrow twitched. In the past she would have been overjoyed to receive a treasure like this, but now it just felt like a bribe.

"Um, thanks. But what do you really want?"

"Quid pro quo, Miracle. I'm technically supposed to be arresting you, but eh," Hawks shrugged nonchalantly, but she could see the gleam in his eye. "I'd rather we just talk."

Izuku knew she had to act fast. Both of them knew the plan to charm her had failed completely and utterly, so now Hawks was just trying to buy time for whatever scheme the Hero Association had cooked up.

"What am I being arrested for?" Izuku asked.

"Vigilantism, mostly." Hawks said. "Along with treason, conspiracy, and vandalism."

"Vandalism?" Izuku repeated, doing her best to hide her fear.

"Mt. Fuji is a world heritage site. You and Mustard did quite a number on it in your little catfight." Hawks told her. "Where is she, by the way?"

The man was as subtle as a sledgehammer, but Izuku supposed he was eager for answers too. Behind her she could sense the heroes edging closer and closer, tensing by the second.

"I don't know." Izuku said.

"You don't know?" Hawks asked, folding his arms. "Or are you not willing to tell me? Come on, don't make this any harder for yourself."

The heroes stepped closer. Some civilians could tell that something was up and they began backing away nervously, not getting very far due to the crowd who wanted to get a better look at Hawks. The majority of them were too enthralled by the man too fast for his own good, his popularity and magnetic personality drawing them in like groupies to a rockstar. Izuku's eyes narrowed when she realized what was going on.

"You… you would use these people as human shields?" Izuku whispered, disillusioned. "Did you really think I would attack you?"

"Mustard certainly did. Our intel says you don't hurt civilians." Hawks shrugged. "All of this is just a happy little accident. Let's not call them human shields, they're more like... innocent bystanders. Don't try anything funny. You're the bad guy here, Miracle. We're here to protect everyone from you, not the other way around."

"You—" Izuku began floating, glittering particles flaring from her body in a threat display. Some of the gathered crowd gasped.

"Ah-ah-ah." Hawks raised a finger, a dozen feathers now circling the Magical Girl's neck and poised to spear through her throat. "Let's not get too hasty now, kid. Come on, we just want to talk… You want to be a hero, don't you?"

Izuku's only response was to feel around the photo Hawks had given her, tearing it in half to reveal a flexible, paper-thin microchip hidden within. She purposely brought the chip to eye level before crushing it between her fingers right in front of him, signaling that the jig was up.

"So much for Plan B." Hawks said, his fellow heroes readying themselves behind him. "Alright, Miracle. Just talk to us, and we'll try to figure out a way to minimize your sentence. We can do this the easy way, or the hard way."

He wasn't even going to pretend that they didn't want her imprisoned. A few months ago Izuku would have believed him, trusted him with her life. Now she didn't know what to believe in at all. Just as the world wasn't black and white, heroes were neither all good nor all powerful. They were flawed people, and Izuku recognized that most feared her power. Others coveted it, jealous of her might. She could see it even without her True Sight, their want and greed apparent in the way they looked at her.

As for Hawks, behind that warm, charming smile was a deadly cold intent that chilled her to the core. Those were the eyes of a soldier. This man was under orders and would do anything to complete them, watching her like the animal he was named after. He was a predator among the other small fries, and he knew it.

But there was always a bigger fish.

"Yeah, nah." Izuku scanned the area and found her escape route. "I'd rather do it my way."

The air beneath Miracle's heels distorted as she finally unleashed the power she'd been charging up, rocketing upwards with a sudden burst of speed. To his credit Hawks reacted in the span of a microsecond, blood-red feathers chasing after her like flying daggers.

Izuku wanted to escape to the stratosphere, but was still tired out from the race with the Needle Angel. Hawks was relentless, being one of the few heroes capable of nearing her cruising speed while able to attack with his feathers. Though they failed to puncture her glitter the feathers clung to Izuku's body like wet leaves, sticking out to create massive drag and slowing her down significantly.

Behind Hawks the other heroes were catching up, bringing with them nets and chains. Izuku even spotted an Iron Maiden containment device propped up on one hero's back, reinforced just for her. They were dreaming if they thought something like that could hold her, but she wasn't going to take any chances.

Growling, she quickly thought of a plan to lose the pursuers. The only real threat here was Hawks. No matter how much she zigzagged through the city he always seemed to find her again, somehow able to track her movements. Izuku looked down and realized it had to be the feathers, theorizing that the man could somehow see or sense things through them. Judging by the info she had written on him in her hero analysis notebook, he was probably telepathically connected to them too.

"Get off." Izuku spat, pulling the feathers off her one by one and snapping them in two.

She knew Hawks could regrow the damn things but hoped it wasn't hurting him. The rest of the feathers clinging to her immediately let go and started harassing her instead, only for Izuku to destroy them with a series of well-placed punches and kicks. A final feather darted for her head and tried to slink its way into her hair, but Izuku spun about to crunch down on it with her teeth.

With all the tracking feathers destroyed Izuku made a tight turn and slipped into an alley to escape the pursuing heroes, dusting herself down to make sure no feather fragments remained. If her data was accurate, Hawks could even control his down feathers—

"There you are, brat!" A voice yelled from above, causing Izuku to look up. "That ten million yen is mine!"

A lone hero was hurtling down at her, greatsword in hand. Izuku simply raised her hand and caught the massive blade, the shockwave throwing her attacker backwards. Just as he was about to charge in for another swing something red and black pounced down on him, smashing the hero's face in and knocking him out cold.

Izuku put her arms in a guard stance, only to drop them immediately when she noticed the mysterious figure drawing a combat knife to plunge it into the unconscious hero's neck. She darted forward and stopped the attack only inches before it hit the man's artery, the blade breaking against her palm instead.

The assailant hissed and kicked off her guard in a backflip when Izuku shoulder-charged him, putting herself between him and the downed hero.

"W-what do you think you're doing?" Izuku demanded.

Steel rasped as the man drew a jagged katana, bringing the frayed blade up to the light. Even in the shadows Izuku recognized the unkempt, disheveled visage of the man before her, having seen his silhouette on the evening news one too many times.

"A frayed katana. Red and black. Bandages." Izuku mumbled and took a step backwards, eyes widening in terror. "Y-you're…"

"Hero killer Stain." the man introduced himself, advancing with a glare. "Pleasure to finally meet you, Miracle."

The Magical Girl squeaked in fright when Stain's katana lanced forward, stopping only inches from her throat. Still, she refused to back down, knowing that doing so would result in the death of the downed hero behind her.

"Step aside." Stain demanded, lips narrowed to a thin line.

"N-no." Izuku shook her head, gulping. "No, I won't! I won't let you kill him!"

"That scumbag you're protecting is a known corrupt hero who's been known to look the other way for money." Stain edged closer, causing the blade to tickle her neck. "Even now he plans to capture you for the ten million yen bounty on your head."

"Ten million yen bounty?" Izuku repeated blankly.

Stain let out a snarl of disdain, pressing his katana against her. Miracle still refused to back down, shaking in her shoes but standing defiant in the face of certain death. Up close, he was so much taller than her, stinking of blood, sweat, and grime. Izuku trembled on the spot like a frightened little girl but held her ground. The villain eventually huffed and stepped away, sheathing his weapon while Izuku looked on in bewilderment.

"I was mistaken. You are no true hero… not yet. You're still so young. All that power, and not even an inkling of how to use it properly." Stain said, disappointed. "Why would you protect him, even after he attacked you?"

"Because he doesn't deserve to die." Izuku replied. "Even if he is a corrupt hero, he's a human being. Just like you and me."

"You're unbearably naive." Stain just looked annoyed now. "You hold the ideals of a true hero, but only because of your childish optimism. Your inexperience. This man and heroes of his ilk are nothing more than dogs of the state who chase after fame and fortune, a plague on true heroism. A standard must be upheld, and he shall make a fine example of what happens when one strays from the path."

"N-no!" Izuku stammered. "This isn't right! You can't just go around attacking people just because they don't agree with you! Please, you don't have to do this!"

"I thought the same once when I was younger. These people aren't heroes. They're fakes, pursuing money and power instead of being the paragons of justice society needs them to be. They are a corruption, a perversion of everything the heroes of the golden age stood for. All Might is the last true hero who upholds these ideals, a shining example of heroism." Stain ranted like a madman. "Heroes shouldn't seek compensation for their acts—they're supposed to be the embodiment of self-sacrifice for the greater good. Is that not why you fight, girl? To protect the people you love, for the greater good?"

"I—" Izuku tried to say.

"These 'heroes' don't care. You know that, I can see it in your eyes." Stain whispered. "Modern heroism is a sham. A disgrace to the word 'hero'. Just look around you, and you'll see countless advertisements featuring heroes promoting products and services."

The man spat the words as if they were poison in his mouth, the pure vitriol in his tone almost causing Izuku to flinch.

"They've infected every level of society to the point where they are seen as rockstars, celebrities, supermodels. Everything and anything that they need to be in order to obtain more money and power." Stain continued. "They are nothing more than glorified law enforcement officers, a reactive force rather than an active one. Hypocrites who wear the title of hero like a flag upon their backs, hiding beneath a veneer of patriotism and goodwill; they are divided, disloyal, undisciplined, unfaithful. Valiant before the public and cowardly before enemies. They don't seek to improve society but instead maintain the status quo, keeping their pockets full at the price of blood spilling in the streets."

"You're the only one I see spilling blood here!" Izuku shot back angrily, nearly in tears. He was tearing down her entire worldview, and she refused to admit he was right even if some of his words made sense. "Just who do you think you are?! You call them fakes, but you're no hero yourself!"

"You are mistaken. I know I am no hero. I am but a reflection of this corrupt hero society. A reaction to ruin. That's the difference between you and me—you insist on maintaining the status quo. I wish to overthrow it." Stain answered honestly. "The unworthy must be culled for the sake of a better future, and someone must stain themselves with blood."

"You're just an extremist." Miracle argued. "A fanatic."

"Perhaps. But what are you, Miracle?"

"M-me?"

"You fight on despite it all. What will you do, when the world turns against you?" Stain's crimson eyes seemed to glow in the dark, boring into her. "Will you fight for what you believe is right, even if everyone says you're wrong?"

Izuku thought back to the Angels invading Earth, to her own vigilantism. Mustard was right about one thing. With all her power she could do anything she wanted, be anything she wanted. A lesser person would have the country, maybe even the world eating out of the palm of her hand. For a moment a treacherous little thought bubbled to the surface of her mind; a vision of herself sitting upon a glided throne with everyone who ever hurt her begging for mercy below, bowing to her strength. With this power she could rule as a tyrant.

But Izuku wasn't that person. She was Midoriya Izuku, and all she ever wanted was to be a hero.

"I'll continue to do what I think is right." Izuku answered, eyes flashing with determination. "No matter what everyone else says about me."

"Then deep down, you and I are the same." Stain said, satisfied with her reply. "I keep my ideals, and so do you."

"I-I'm nothing like you!"

"Is that so? Just you wait, Miracle. Soon you'll see hero society for the farce it truly is." Stain countered. "Despite everything you've done for them they will hate you, because you are something that will threaten the power they've hoarded for themselves. You represent change, and that is something these so-called elites cannot accept. Maintaining the status quo will do you no good. It is better to overthrow it and start anew."

Izuku was silent but Stain's words wormed themselves into her brain, digging in with mental fishhooks and claws.

"No… that's not true! I—the heroes just need some time to get used to me, that's all! They know I'm only trying to help."

"And help you have. You just haven't helped them. They would throw you under the bus for the sake of their lofty goals and ambitions, just as that one has." Stain pointed at the unconscious man behind her. "They are afraid of you, girl. People always fear what they cannot control. And what they fear, they must destroy. Mark my words…"

Stain turned to leave, looking over his shoulder with those frightening, intense eyes.

"They'll never stop coming after you."

He leapt upwards and kicked off the alley like a ninja, jumping from wall to wall before finally disappearing over a rooftop. Izuku was left there with the downed hero to contemplate his words, making sure to check the man's pulse before making her own exit.

"I'm not like you." Izuku sniffed, fists tightening around her fluffy skirt. "I'm not… All I want to do is help people…"

Shaking her head only reinforced the man's venomous words, and they continued to persist like a stubborn stain.

[x]

Aizawa Shota's right eye twitched as his best friend Yamada Hizashi yawned for the umpteenth time. To be fair he couldn't blame him since the meeting they were in was terribly boring, but the least he could do was cover his mouth.

"—this is outrageous! The girl cannot be allowed to roam free unchecked!" one man was saying, ranting and raving at the round table before him. "We must bring her under our control, or risk another Musutafu!"

"And how, exactly, do you propose to do that?" Another man countered. "Need I remind you that your efforts to bring her in by force have done nothing but antagonize her."

"That was before we knew the full extent of her powers—"

"Rubbish! You're just unwilling to admit that you were wrong, that your so-called hit squad you keep in your back pocket failed miserably. What we need here is diplomacy, and I propose starting with the girl's family to bring her over to our side."

"H-how dare you accuse me of—"

"If the shoe fits, minister…"

"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the war room!"

More arguing ensued between the politicians and Aizawa massaged his temples. With all the politicians, Hero Association higher-ups, and some rear-echelon military personnel, the meeting was turning into more of a massive pain in the neck with every passing second. Beside him the other top heroes shifted uncomfortably in their seats, save for the number one and two heroes.

All Might wasn't smiling. If anything, his expression looked a little… strained. Aizawa put the thought aside as a new voice took the floor, the man standing to catch everyone's attention.

"Nevertheless, something must be done about Magical Girl Miracle. My sources have provided me with some interesting new information. Observe." The man pushed a few buttons on a handheld remote, causing the table's holoprojector to flicker to life. "This was taken by a farmer in Mongolia."

Confused, foreign chattering echoed from the hologram recording, the cameraman pointing the viewfinder skywards just in time to catch two streaks of black and green race past. The sonic boom hit only moments later, causing the video to shake.

"Kazakhstan." the thin man continued, pressing another button.

The scene switched to a group of people riding camels in a convoy, looking around at the sky as a horrific screaming noise cut through the air. The same streaks of black and green zoomed across the sand, skirting the edge of a massive sandstorm.

"Miracle." Someone breathed. "What does she think she's doing?!"

"Chasing after an Angel." The thin man replied curtly. "The governments of those nations have expressed concerns about one of our citizens casually violating their airspace, even if it was to chase down that mysterious creature. Nevertheless, the situation is rapidly devolving. Korea has begun conducting increased aerial exercises, while China has recalled their 5th fleet back to the South China Sea. Our informants tell us that they're even considering using their SAMs if Miracle or any other Japanese Metahuman should encroach on their airspace."

"What?!" another man thundered. "This is ridiculous. That girl has no affiliation with the Japanese Government!"

"That may be so, but the other countries don't see it that way." A woman coughed, adjusting her spectacles. "Even if the official announcement hasn't been made yet, many nations around the world are aware that Miracle is considered to be an S-Class Metahuman. This, in their opinion, cannot stand."

"Why the hell not?"

"It's simple. There have only ever been a few S-Classes ever since the advent of the exceptional. The ones that aren't clinically insane or drunk with power are few and far between." The thin man from before said. "Even now, these individuals are pivotal in determining the delicate power balance of our world. America has Star And Stripe. Japan has All Might. Germany has Pixie. Et cetera. Miracle represents a paradigm shift, a fulcrum to tip the scales in Japan's favor. Korea and China are anticipating a full-blown invasion of their territories the moment we get her on our side."

A quiet chill ran throughout the room. There was no doubt that some people would actually consider that, especially when scientists predicted that dwindling resources would become a major issue in the next half-century.

"Miracle is a citizen of Japan first and foremost, and the world has taken note of that. The first ever unaffiliated, S-Class vigilante. The mere thought of it sends shivers down my spine." An old politician said. "She may be a great boon, but in her current state she is a disgrace to our nation. An asset that we cannot control is akin to a liability. Until we find a way to bring her to heel, the girl is comparable to a walking atomic bomb."

"Appealing to her peacefully is no longer an option. She often flees at the sight of heroes now—" someone else chimed in.

You people did that. Aizawa thought, scowling to himself. She was willing to talk before.

"—she must be convinced to turn herself in, or we must capture her by force and make her see the error of her ways. Additionally, the other nations are also nervous about the 'Angels' that have been appearing throughout Japan. If these creatures truly are connected to her, a thorough interrogation to shed some light on their nature might prove useful."

Aizawa's eyes narrowed at the military officer's words but kept his mouth shut. Judging by the greedy glint in the officer's eye he could tell that the man was planning on either using the Angels or Miracle herself as weapons. The room was doused in the ambitions of men and women who sought power above all, and it disgusted Aizawa. He didn't sign up for this. Though a few noteworthy heroes had been called to this meeting, none of them had spoken. It wasn't their place, and politics was never Aizawa's strong suit.

"That's why we had our best strategists concoct a plan to neutralize Miracle. Our thinkers have determined some critical points to be exploited, including her apparent weakness to electricity—"

Aizawa tuned them out. They were talking about the poor kid like she was a thing to be acquired, a tool to be utilized in some scheme or power-grab. A quick glance around the room revealed that a few of his fellow heroes thought the same way, but they could hardly do a thing about it. It was simply above their pay grade. Endeavor, however…

Eraser Head frowned. He didn't like the look on the number two hero's face, not one bit.

[x]

Aizawa swung through the rainy night, his binding cloth latching onto lamp posts and rooftops.

Much to his displeasure, the Association had him play an important part in the plan to take down Miracle. Operation Guillotine, they called it. Apparently the main gist of it was to lure Miracle into a trap, using his Erasure Quirk to stop her from flying. There would be other heroes to catch her before she fell, and without her Quirk she would just be an ordinary schoolgirl. The entire area would be enveloped in a lightning cage to stop her from flying off, while the other heroes would box her in until Aizawa had her in his line of sight. On paper, Aizawa knew it seemed like a foolproof plan to whoever.

But no plan survives contact with the enemy.

He could tell Miracle was a smart girl from their short interaction, and doubted she'd actually fall for whatever trickery the Association would pull. Then again, the Association was a pit of vipers in Aizawa's opinion. Scheming, slippery snakes that would utilize every loophole available to gain an edge and get what they wanted. They were merciless hyenas, and Aizawa knew that there was something fishy going on. The only way they would enact such a bold plan was if they knew one of Miracle's weaknesses, whether it be physical or mental. Even with the apparent threat Miracle represented, she was still a kid. There had to be a way to talk to her and get her side of the story, but the higher-ups were too stubborn to even consider giving an inch to someone they considered a mere child. Aizawa knew that deep down, they were afraid of her. Afraid of what she could do, and the fact that they couldn't seem to control her. In the end, it was only ever about power and control. Lady Nagant had proven that much.

"What was it all for, Shirakumo?" Aizawa whispered under his breath, wondering how they'd gotten to this point.

Swinging around a corner, something caught Aizawa's eye and caused him to pause. Right there, on a sheltered rooftop…

A girl no older than fifteen sat, her feet dangling over the edge precariously. She was staring wistfully down at the streets down below, sipping at a bottle of Super-Cola.

Aizawa moved. He made sure to land as softly as he could, trying not to startle her. She heard him anyway, looking over her shoulder for a moment before focusing back on the streets below.

"Hey." The Erasing Hero began.

"Hi." the blonde girl replied. "You're… Eraser Head, right?"

"Yes." Aizawa said, approaching slowly until he was right next to her. "May I sit here?"

"Sure." she gave him a quick glance as he did.

The two of them stayed in that quiet silence for a few seconds, the pitter-patter of rain echoing all around them. Aizawa kept his binding cloth at the ready just in case she jumped, but it didn't seem like she was suicidal. She just looked tired. So very tired. Aizawa thought that those eyes didn't belong to a child, having seen that same gaze in the mirror everyday. His work as an underground hero made him see things that could never be unseen.

"What's your name, kid?"

"I'm, um, Mikumo Akatani." she said in a small voice.

"Nice to meet you." Aizawa said curtly. "Mind telling me what you're doing out here?"

"I just—I just needed somewhere to think." Mikumo admitted, sipping her cola again. "Everywhere else is too noisy, so this is the only place that helps."

"Not exactly the safest." Aizawa looked down at the busy streets far below them.

"It's okay, I can float." Mikumo demonstrated by rising an inch off the edge before sitting back down again. "Thanks for your concern Mr. Eraser Head, but I'm fine. Really."

"You don't look fine. Do you need someone to talk to?"

Mikumo flinched and looked away, Aizawa narrowing his eyes at the odd reaction. He'd seen it before, in troubled youths who didn't trust adults. Taking a page out of Yamada's book, he decided to try and establish a rapport with her.

"You can call me Mr. Aizawa." he said. "I was like you too, once."

"Hmm?"

"Sitting on the edge of rooftops, brooding…"

"I wasn't brooding." Mikumo sulked childishly. "I'm just thinking."

"Penny for your thoughts?" Aizawa offered.

The rain pelting their cheap zinc shelter turned to a more gentle, soothing patter when the weather calmed. Mikumo sipped at her cola, and Aizawa couldn't help but notice how small her hands were. She was petite even for her age, clearly growing more in her front than vertically.

"What would you do…" Mikumo began carefully. "If you felt like you were doing the right thing, but everyone tells you that you're wrong?"

"I ask myself the same question sometimes."

"Do you really?"

"More than you think." Aizawa retrieved a flask from his pocket and took a sip. He cocked an eyebrow when the girl gave him a suspicious look. "It's water."

"If you say so." Mikumo mumbled. "Everyone, even the people I look up to, says I'm wrong. But I know in my heart that it's the right thing to do, even if it makes some people really, really mad."

"Is whatever you're doing actively hurting anyone?"

"No. It's the opposite. If I don't do it, things will get, um, super-messed up." Mikumo looked away in embarrassment. "I can't exactly tell you what it is, though."

Aizawa resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Teenagers and their drama. Still he sat and listened to her worries, knowing the alternative was much worse. Some people often said that the new generation was far too soft, too sensitive, and prone to a multitude of mental illnesses at the drop of a hat. Aizawa knew better. The generation before him said the same things about him and his friends, calling them soft, spineless weaklings who couldn't handle even the simplest problems.

The old generation always looked down on the new, an eternal trope that stretched across human history. To criticize what they couldn't understand. Times had changed and this was a brave new world, with new challenges and threats. It was ludicrous how fast the world changed thanks to Quirks, with never before seen socioeconomic problems rearing their ugly heads. With each new generation being stronger than the last, some interesting times were ahead. Miracle was proof of that.

"It's just that… someone told me something recently that made me question myself." Mikumo squeezed the cola bottle until it creaked. "All this time, I've been trying to do my best to help people. But things never seem to get any better. One bad comment drowns out a dozen good ones. Some people hate me. Like, really, really hate me."

She stopped to catch her breath and Aizawa simply listened.

"Am I really making a difference here? Or am I just another… another menace?"

"Why would you say that?" the older man asked.

Mikumo looked away, ashamed.

"One of my friends did something horrible." she whispered. "Something unforgivable. All because I was too stupid to notice she was hurting. And I… I feel like it's all my fault."

Small droplets appeared on her lap and Aizawa groaned internally. He was never good with crying girls, let alone children. Thankfully Mikumo let out a loud sniff before collecting herself, wiping away her tears with her sleeve.

"What if I end up doing something horrible too?" she looked up at him with those large, worried eyes. "How do I know if I'm doing the right thing?"

Aizawa matched her gaze evenly before replying. "You don't."

The girl blinked, confused. Aizawa opted to elaborate.

"Here's a secret, kid. No one ever truly knows what they're actually doing and are just doing the best they can to get by in life." he said, causing her to tilt her head. "What happened to your friend wasn't your fault, and you can't control what someone else does. It's easy to look back and think about 'what-ifs' and 'if-onlys'. But the past is like a rearview mirror; you can either look back once in a while for introspection, or you can stare at it and crash again. There's no point in thinking about what could have been, when what will be is right in front of you."

Mikumo fiddled with her thumbs nervously, seeming to agree. He glanced down at her, gaze softening.

"Doing the right thing isn't always easy, and sometimes it means you have to stand up for what you believe in, even if it's hard. If you truly believe in something you'll be willing to fight for it, and if things don't go your way you will at least know in your heart that you did your best. You have to do what you think is right, not what's popular. Be smart, follow your heart."

"Follow my… heart." Mikumo said slowly.

"You've still got a long life ahead of you." Aizawa said, standing and preparing to leave. "Don't waste it. See you around, kid."

"O-oh! Um, thanks for taking the time to talk to me, Mr. Aizawa." she said meekly, bowing. "It means a lot to me."

Did it really? Aizawa doubted it. He swung off and continued his patrol, looking back just once to make sure that the girl was okay.

Mikumo waved goodbye to him from the rooftop, so very small against the inky night sky.

[Chapter 11 End]

Thank you for reading!

Next chapter: Operation Guillotine.

Saiko makes her move.