Welcome back to A Hero's Creed! FF is on the fritz and has been for the last couple weeks, so I don't know how make people have been reading the last few chapters I've put out, but that hasn't stopped my muse. I've discussed the entirety of my plans with a friend and added some after, so I have so much lined up for you all in the coming 3-4 chapters this arc will have. Since I still can't see the View count, leave a Review so I know you enjoyed it and so I can answer any questions you have. Speaking of...
CallMeCayde: She might be, she might die. Playing it by ear, like life.
Gamelover41592: ;P
LEGOBRICK13: Momo really isn't subtle, is she? Sorry, but this chapter is a lot of set up with NotSoSubtle!Momo being, well, not so subtle. Still, it is a set up chapter and I hope it gets you hype for the next one, because I have SO MANY PLANS.
Monkey D. Conan: Things will be so different this time because we don't have everybody from 1-A inexplicably on the island at the same time. Sir Nighteye has not been confirmed to be anything, it was only mentioned that he had his eye on the Shie Hassaikai, like he did in Canon. As for Melissa, my plans for her are [REDACTED].
Pirohiko-Baltazar: I suppose I did, but that chapter was sad enough without a whole funeral scene. Bakugo currently knows nothing about the fight, he's just the same asshole he is in Canon. Also, Animus training was more of a Templar thing since they had the tech and money to fund it. (There was actually a pitched PVP game that was a whole bunch of Abstergo employees in a mass training program, taking assassination contracts on other 'players' while being targeted, but it got scrapped for focus on other, more mainline games before any official announcement. I learned that yesterday.)
Anyway, that's all for these responses! On to the Chapter!
Chapter 34:
I-Island
Izuku was a nervous wreck, but that was nothing new. Rather, his mother twiddling her fingers at his side had him more ill at ease than anything else, his discomfort only compounded by the knowledge that he would be on his own in a much larger den of Templars than a simple restaurant like last time.
Worst of all, he was taking his mother into what amounted to a den of Templars.
"Oh, Izuku," Inko muttered, wringing the handle of her purse. Her Quirk was active, the handle of her roller bag rising and falling in time with her tensing fingers, the green glow around it brightening and dimming with each rotation. She was dressed a simple —if elegant— teal dress that she hadn't had reason to wear in several years. "Are you sure this is ok? Did I pack everything right? Did I forget anything? Do we have enough clothes for the trip? Are you sure you want me—"
"Mom," Izuku interrupted, putting a smile on his face in the hopes that it would come off as true through his lie. "I'm glad you're coming along. If it was just me and Momo, I'd feel so bad about breaking my promise to you. At least this way we get to take a vacation, right?"
"I suppose that's true," the woman sighed. "Still, I feel bad tagging along for my baby's second date."
"I-I-It's not a date, Mom!" the boy insisted.
"Are you sure? Why else would a girl invite you on a getaway to the premiere research showcase in the world?"
"Probably because she knows I'm a nerd," Izuku chuckled, scratching a cheek with a finger. "I wouldn't be surprised if she just hopes to use my analytic skills to network with big names around the world. She is a company heiress, after all, and I'm just a boy from Mutsutafu."
"I don't think that's it, Izu," Inko teased with a grin. "Isn't this the same girl that gave you a suit? What's her name again?"
"Momo. Momo Yaoyorozu. She's the eldest child of the head of the Yaoyorozu Group and the one who won the UA first-years' Sports Festival. That's actually how she got the tickets to attend the I-Expo."
"You did pack your suit, right?" his mother questioned. "I don't have the money to buy you something new once we get there and I refuse to let you impose on that nice girl even if she is rich. We are not a family who asks for charity."
"I know, Mom," Izuku chuckled. "I know. Trust me, I've got it and my Hero costume, too. There's no need to worry."
No sooner had the last word come out of his mouth than a limousine pulled around the corner, coming to a stop before the mother and son. The same chauffeur from before—the one with the horns— stepped out of the driver's seat and made his way to the rear passenger side. He offered Izuku a glare as he opened the door, prompting the pair to get in. The man moved past them, already grabbing their luggage.
Momo was waiting inside, the heiress comparing dresses as she looked in a full-body mirror. The dress in her left hand was red with white trim while the other was the reverse. She turned as they entered, a smile coming to her face.
"Ah, Izuku," she said. "Good morning to you. I hope you have enjoyed the first restful days of our break. And you must be Izuku's mother. He's mentioned you once or twice, you know. Izuku says you're his motivation for wanting to become a Hero."
"And you must be the Momo my baby's mentioned," Inko replied, easily ignoring the indignant "Mom!" that came from her son. "Thank you for inviting us along for this trip. I know it can't be cheap."
"Not at all; it's my pleasure," Momo insisted, setting the dresses aside. She was wearing a white blouse tucked into a plaid skirt supported by a simple belt, showing off her figure. Her hair was down, flowing over her back like a dark waterfall with a shiny sheen, a single hairclip of red holding in out of her eyes. "Izuku has proven to be a hard-working and clever student and I still have yet to properly thank him for saving my life. Consider this a step toward that."
"I saved your life?" Izuku blinked, but his question didn't get an answer through his mother's excited squee! "Mom! No! Stop! No crying! You'll ruin the limo's rug!"
"Sorry, sorry," Inko muttered, dabbing at her eyes with a hand towel. "It's just… I'm so glad to see my little Izu making friends."
"Mom!" Izuku bit his tongue, lest he proclaim, 'You're embarrassing me in front of the Templars!' Wouldn't that be the worst way for a secret to come out?
Momo covered her mouth with a hand, stifling her giggles. She smiled, studying the pair. "I am glad to have you both here. My parents had some sudden business that required their attention, so it would have been just me going to the I-Expo had you not agreed to join me." Momo reached across herself, rubbing her arm and glancing away. "I'm… really glad I'm not alone."
"We're glad you asked us to join you, Yaoyorozu," Inko replied.
"You don't have to be so formal with me, Mrs. Midoriya. Please, call me Momo."
"Then you can call me Inko. I've never been Mrs. Midoriya."
Izuku fell onto one of the limo's cushioned benches, his face in his hands. He didn't say anything as the conversation between his mother and his classmate shifted to fashion and materials. This shifted into talk of Hero costumes, which led to school and some of Izuku's more outlandish stunts during classes. Baby pictures were mentioned at some point, Izuku instantly jumping in to redirect the conversation away from that landmine. There was no way he would allow his mother a chance to offer a likely Templar entrance into their apartments and the ability to see him at his youngest.
"So Momo," the verdet said quickly. "You have a brother if I remember right. Why isn't he coming along?"
"I'm afraid Kyo's elementary school is not out for their break until the middle of next week," Momo answered. "He really did want to come along, but father refuses to allow him any absence. Father says we must act like there is always a camera watching us, and Kyo skipping school —even to go to the I-Expo— is not something approved of."
"That seems rather harsh," Inko commented, thinking back to all the times Izuku took a sick day when he was younger. She knew he'd faked being sick nearly half the time and she'd allowed it, if for no other reason than to baby him before he grew up. "I would think a chance to visit the I-Expo would be a good enough reason to miss, especially if the final days of the term are as slow as I remember them being from my own school days."
"Excused absences still count if you're going for perfect attendance," Momo shrugged. "Kyo says I set too high a standard he needs to live up to since I was the first one through the system, but he wants to prove to our father that he has what it takes to succeed him as the next head of the Yaoyorozu Group."
"Didn't you just say your brother is in elementary school?"
"Yes. He is eight."
"That's far too young to be worried about such things," Inko declared. "When my Izu was eight, he was just running around with the other kids pretending to be a pro Hero."
"Mom, please," Izuku begged.
"I suppose you could say Kyo and I were raised with a different timetable," Momo explained. "Being the children of the Yaoyorozu, we were raised to understand that people who knew of our position may try to get close to us just because of our parents' connections, so we were unable to cling to our childhood whimsy for very long. That is why we were enrolled in Eden, where everyone is of the same standing, so no one is ostracized or chased. There may be some sublet politicking in the junior high grades, but we're normal there for the most part." She chuckled. "Actually, my choice to become a Hero rather surprised my parents, but I think they have come to support me. It may be different if I were an only child, but with Kyo to inherit and run the business, I can focus wholeheartedly on my own studies."
"That's wonderful, Momo," Inko nodded. "Ah, speaking of studies, do you have a schedule for our trip? I'm afraid Izu didn't tell me if he was made aware. We don't travel much."
"There is no reason to worry," Momo insisted. "We will be taking one of my family's private jets to I-Island, so we will not need to go through customs' more lengthy processes. The trip itself will take around five ours and getting through I-Island's abridged customs another half, so we should be settled in our hotel by three in the afternoon at the latest. That should give us considerable time to explore and have dinner before the gala at eight. Lunch will be provided on the plane."
"This is all so fancy," the older woman muttered. "I'm not use to all this."
The limo came to a slow stop, the door opening to allow Momo and her guests to exit the vehicle. The horned chauffeur bowed to the heiress as she stepped out and gave an indifferent yet polite nod to Inko, but Izuku received nothing but his normal cold stare. Deciding he didn't care for the treatment, Izuku gave the man a glare of his own. The eyes of a killer stared into the chauffeur's soul. The man's eyes widened, his legs stepping back unconsciously as his hand went to the back of his waist. Izuku chose to ignore him after making his point, following his mother and classmate to the private plane quickly.
The plane ride was nice, having offered a lunch fancier than any Izuku had had since La Croix de la Sagesse and enough area for him to take a comfortable nap. He would have partaken of the latter if he wasn't so on-edge about being a guest on a Templar plane, so he opted to fake one to avoid unnecessary and tedious conversation. Inko and Momo carried on a conversation for the first hour —He was unable to avoid the baby stories at that point— before the verdette's nervous energy bled away and she succumbed to her own tiredness. When Momo made no moves toward either him or his mother's sleeping form, rather opting to sip her Gold Tips Imperial tea and watch the clouds out the window, Izuku decided she wouldn't do anything on the trip and relaxed.
The remaining stress of the day and the situation, however, could do nothing to diminish his first look at I-Island. For all their security, I-Island's private customs were a simple and quick process to get through, he and Momo waved in with their Hero costumes and luggage and Inko only taking a minute longer. There were buildings of all shapes, colors, and cultures, each proclaiming their purpose with their unique architecture. One was the center point of a waterpark, someone with a water manipulation Quirk fashioning fountains' spray to spell out WELCOME for the arriving tourists. Another was a massive harp, its strings seeming to puck themselves and light up in time with a symphony orchestra playing a classical piece at its base. Everywhere Izuku looked was another marvel, whether that be another building, a demonstration, or an international Hero signing autographs.
He pulled out his Hero Analysis #15 notebook and all but abandoned Momo and Inko, his old habits resurging with a vengeance at his chance to meet well-known pros from around the world. All they saw of him were the green coattails of his Hero costume disappearing into the crowd.
"I suppose I should have asked this before," Momo commented, directing her words to the woman watching her son flint from Hero to Hero with a smile on her face. "Inko, how is your English?"
"I don't really know any," the woman admitted. "I can identify the sound of it from those old interviews Izuku would watch, but I never learned it well. Izuku's father tried to teach me a long time ago, but I never needed it."
"I see," Momo noted, rubbing her chin. "Though there is no official language on I-Island, most everyone speaks English as their common dialect for the sake of convenience. It can be a bit of a pidgin, or so I've been told. Perhaps we should see if a vendor somewhere has a universal translator for sale?"
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to look, but you will not be buying it for me."
"But—" Momo tried, only to be silenced with The Look, one universally used by mothers everywhere. Momo swallowed heavily. "Very well. Let us find some money changers, then. I-Island uses its own currency, the iz."
As it turns out, there were universal translators for sale for 90 iz (around nine US dollars or somewhere close to 900 yen). Inko donned one shaped like a pair of reading glasses, preferring that style to the darker sunglasses models. They tested it quickly, Momo speaking in English and then having Inko repeat back to her what she'd said, before paying for the tech and going off to track down Izuku. They found him staring up at a passing Hero, Godzillo stomping through the streets while waving down to fans.
"One of his benefactors must have paid to fly him out," Momo commented, Izuku barely jumping at her sudden voice. "I hear he's one of the most famous Heroes from America's west coast."
"There are a lot of international Heroes here!" Izuku agreed, showing his notebook. "Look. I've gotten autographs from Heroes like Takahiro, Bluegrass, and Lady Liberty from America, Moose Man and Snowshow from Canada, La Cucaracha Roja from Mexico, and United, Powerjump, and Jaunedarc from the UK and Europe! I also got Big Red Dot and TriBel from Africa, Great Sydney and Barrier Shark from Australia, and—"
"Yes, I think we get the message, Izu," Inko insisted.
"I know!" Momo offered. "The technology showcase is open to the public. Why don't we visit there and see what there is to see?"
"I think that sounds like a great idea," the older woman agreed. "Maybe Izu can find some inspiration for armor or tools to help keep him alive. And you, Momo. You must be cold with that much skin exposed."
"Ah, but—!" Momo blushed, suddenly self-conscious and trying to cover herself in her own Hero costume. "I have to do this for the sake of my Quirk. If I wore any more, my creations might rip through the fabric."
"Surely one of the island's scientists has some gear for that," Inko commented. "At least buttons? Maybe Velcro?"
"Both of those already exist," Momo pointed out. "Also, both would be very inefficient for Hero work where speed and efficiency can mean the difference between life or death, either your life or the lives of the ones you're trying to save."
"Still, that tight clothing can't be comfortable." Inko blinked. "Speaking of clothing, maybe we should drop our stuff at the hotel before going anywhere else."
"That's probably a good idea," Izuku agreed, accepting the handle of his luggage from his mother. "The showcase won't close until seven tonight, right?"
"It will actually be open until eleven," Momo corrected, pulling a small booklet from her luggage. "Not everyone who got tickets to the showcase were invited to the gala, which is more prestigious. It will be mostly the top Heroes and scientists on the island, or those that accepted the invitations, anyway."
"Oh, I'm getting nervous," Inko admitted. She started twitching her fingers, the leaves of nearby plants jerking toward her with each movement. "I don't think I've even been to anything so fancy."
"You'll do fine, mom," Izuku insisted, resting a reassuring hand on her back. "Let's go to our rooms and settle in."
"Our hotel is this way," Momo said, leading them down another street. They came to a large building of marble and onyx, its entrance a grandiose archway without any doors. The inside was polished, a red carpet dividing the room in quarters on its way to a fountain in the center of the room. Hovering over the founts was a recreation of the artificial island, a ring around an area like a three-pronged snowflake. Statues of various international Heroes from when the island was first built 30 years ago ran around the room, some of which were signed by the men and women in question. There was even an All Might statue, Izuku unable to fight the urge to take a picture of it.
The Midoriya's couldn't help but gawk at the extravagance of the place. Momo, in contrast, strode into the building as if she'd been there before was not impressed by the opulence. Actually, she probably had been here before and probably had been in places far fancier. Izuku and Inko followed a few steps behind her after they recovered their wits.
The woman behind the counter was typing on a computer as Momo walked up. She had hair the color of dark wine, flowing around her slim shoulders and around her olive-skinned face in a constant breeze. She looked up as Momo approached.
["May I help you?"]
["I have a reservation,"] Momo replied. ["Two rooms for three people?"]
["Name?"]
["Momo Yaoyorozu."]
To her credit, the receptionist barely reacted to the name, simply typing it into her computer. She nodded.
["Here it is,"] she said, reaching for a pair of keycards she offered to the Hero student. ["Your rooms are on the tenth floor. If there is anything we can do for you, please let us know and we'll be happy to help."]
["Thank you."] Momo accepted the keycards, turning to offer one to Izuku. He blinked, taking the card with 1037 stamped on its side. Still awestruck, Izuku and Inko followed Momo to the elevator, through the gold-decorated hallways, and to the doors marked 1036 and 1037. Momo stepped into her room, offering to meet them in the hallway in an hour.
The first thing Izuku did was set his luggage by one of the two beds. His eyes scanned the room, searching for locations where bugs could be hidden. Watching Momo's mannerisms had reminded him what Master Aizawa had said, that I-Island was a Templar stronghold in all but name. He moved to the other side, opening the full-length curtains to reveal the sliding glass door and the balcony beyond. The door moved without a sound, a gentle sea breeze blowing in to run through his hair.
He glanced back to see that his mother had set her stuff down and disappeared into the bathroom. Seizing his chance, Izuku activated his Eagle Vision and scanned the room properly. Three blips of golden light appeared to him, one under the bed, another behind the complementary coffee machine, and a third hidden in the shadows of an upper corner. He also revealed several red, humanoid outlines from the floor as well as those above and below and the blue outside of his mother. Momo's outline, he noted, was a weak red, moving as if she were pulling items out of her skin with Creation. Shaking his head and moving as casually as he could, for he did not know if these bugs were cameras or simply microphones, Izuku shifted what would most likely be the corner bug's blind spot. His rope-dart shot upward, skewering the device and bringing it back to him. His worries were unnecessary, however, as it was only a microphone.
The other two were easier to deal with, Izuku disposing of all three before his mother had finished cleaning up. Sure, the loss of the bugs would be suspicious to those eavesdropping, but whomever they were could not say anything lest they reveal themselves. Even if they did, Izuku could blame paranoia from his Hero classes at UA. He deactivated his Eagle Vision, but the moving outlines remained.
"Izu?" Inko questioned as she stepped out of the bathroom. "Are you going to keep wearing your Hero costume? It must be hot under all that dark cloth."
"Oh no, I'm fine," the boy insisted. "Hatsume, a friend from the Support Course, made this with a temperature-regulating fiber that reacts to heat. It insulates if the surroundings get cold and aerates if they get warm. Hatsume says UA's budget for everything is massive, so the Support Course gets to play with the nicest materials."
"If you say so." She sat heavily on the closest bed, eyeing her son. "Izu, are you sure you want to do this?"
Izuku blinked. "What do you mean?"
"All this Hero business," she clarified. "I watched the Sports Festival and you did so good, but Izu, you're practically Quirkless. I'm afraid you're going to get yourself into a situation you can't get out of some day and that it will cost you. And with Villains like the Hero Killer still on the loose…"
"Mom…" Izuku sat on the other bed, his eyes staring into the distance. He wanted to reassure her that the Hero Killer would never come after him —that he'd met the man personally and had the same loyalties— but he couldn't assuage those worries without revealing too much. "I know this is dangerous, but I want to make a difference."
"You can do that in other ways. You could be a doctor. Or a Quirk councilor. You've always loved analyzing Quirks, so why not make a living doing it?"
"Anyone can be a Quirk councilor, Mom, and maybe I'll do that if I have to retire early, but they don't save lives. You know I've always wanted to be someone others can look up to. Someone who people can point to and say 'he's the reason I feel safe.'" Izuku paused. "I want to keep you safe."
"Oh Izu," Inko sniffed. She reached over, taking one of his hands. "I want you to be safe. You mean more to me than anything else in the world, and it breaks my heart to know that you're constantly preparing to throw yourself into danger. I still haven't gotten to meet any of your teachers and there's been no news about the group that attacked you and—"
"I know, Mom, but you can't make me change my mind. I worked too hard to get into UA just to drop out. If I quit now, all that time will have been wasted and I'll never know how many people I could have saved. That's why I'm focusing on being a Rescue Hero. I can leave fighting the strongest Villains to others like Bakugo or Todoroki."
"…Ok." Inko could barely speak through the lump in her throat, tears building in the corner of her eyes. Izuku reached forward, using his sleeve to gently dab her tears away before they could build to something that would ruin the décor. She sucked in a breath. "So… Momo gave us an hour."
"I was thinking we could scope out the island," Izuku suggested, pointing a thumb behind him toward the balcony. "I only got a glance, but the view from up here is amazing."
"That sounds nice." Inko stood, catching Izuku in a bone-crushing hug before he could go anywhere. He smiled, leaning into it and hugging her back. Between school and training, he really hadn't been spending enough time with his mother. Maybe this trip —this pseudo-vacation— really was exactly what they needed despite the location.
"Hey, Mom?" Izuku asked as she started to settle into a chair. "There's something I want to try; something my teachers told me about. They say the rush is amazing, but I don't want you to freak out."
"You're not going to jump off the balcony are you?"
"No," the boy insisted, biting his tongue about all the times he'd done something similar. "Nekoi-sensei once said that surveying a city from the top of a building is a feeling like no other."
"Well, I'm sure they have elevators that—"
Izuku didn't let her finish, already climbing up the wall. Inko gasped as she watched her son climb up the side of the building with an ease that spoke of countless hours of practice until he was a speck by the 15th floor.
As for Izuku, he felt the blood in his veins, his heartbeat pounding in his ears, and the wind whistled past him. The stone was decorated with waves and patterns, giving him plenty of hand- and footholds for his climb. The top of the building was lined with stone eagles, each one staring out over the artificial island. The young Assassin Initiate balanced himself atop one, the sight of the island so far below taking his breath away.
Committing the layout to near-perfect memory, Izuku checked the area directly below him. There was a swimming pool far below, his analytic mind calculating that he could survive landing there if he used his rope-dart to swing some of his momentum away with a light post. Nailing such a Leap of Faith would be a rush unlike anything he'd felt before, but that would probably give his mother a heart attack and tip his hand to Momo when she inevitably heard about it. Opting for digression as the better part of valor, Izuku climbed down back the way he'd come, his mother glaring at him as she tapped her foot.
"I hope that rush you talked about was worth it, Izu," she said, "because I am not happy with you."
Izuku could only chuckle weakly, cowed but unrepentant.
The pair sat on the balcony for half an hour after the verbal tongue-lashing he received, admiring the scenery and talking about everything and nothing at the same time. From the tenth floor, there were very few buildings tall enough to obstruct their view of the rest of the island, the people looking like multi-colored ants far below. I-Island's Quirk laws were far more relaxed than Japan's, so residents and tourists alike used their Quirks freely for everything from movement to novelty. A crowd gathered toward the gate closest to them, the booming, familiar laughter of All Might echoing loud enough for them to hear as he was swarmed by fans.
"I didn't know All Might would be here, but I guess I shouldn't be that surprised," Izuku commented as they noise died down. "This is the largest exhibition of Quirk tech in the world. As the world's Number One Hero, he's probably got a lot of friends he expects to see here."
"Perhaps he will be at the gala tonight," Inko suggested. "You and Momo can see him then."
"Yeah, I guess so. You did say you wanted to start meeting my teachers."
The pair lounged for another few minutes before there was a knock on the door. Izuku answered it, Momo on the other side asking if they were ready to go. They were, stopping only long enough for Inko to grab some water bottles lest they get dehydrated.
The expo itself was like a museum, countless one-of-a-kind machines on display with small, electronic diagrams of how they worked. Izuku could barely contain his excited vibrations as the group moved from exhibit to exhibit. They varied wildly, from multi-person transport to a single-person diving suit and capture weapons of all sorts. The trio were admiring a red, two-person vehicle Izuku explained had been a staple of All Might's early career in America.
"—Apparently, All Might nearly failed his classes because he and his Sidekick were late so often because they kept running into Villains on their way to class!"
"You sound like you really know your stuff," someone said in accented Japanese, Izuku, Inko, and Momo spinning around to see a beautiful, blonde teen a couple years older than the students. She was dressed in a red vest over a white blouse and her blue eyes seemed to shine behind her glasses. "Those costumes. Are you both Hero students?"
"Yes, we are," Momo answered, offering a hand. "I am Momo Yaoyorozu, and these are Izuku Midoriya and his mother Inko."
"Melissa Shield," the girl replied.
"Shield?" Izuku questioned. "Are you related to David Shield, All Might's former Sidekick and the creator of all of All Might's Hero costumes?"
"Woah, slow down," Melissa begged. "Japanese is my second language and there aren't many people to practice with other than Dad, so I can't understand it that fast."
["Oh, sorry. Would you prefer English?"]
"No, it's ok," Melissa waved off. "I could use the practice. Anyway, I heard you say All Might's name and mentioned a Sidekick. I'm the daughter of David Shield. I know how you all aren't as formal as us Americans, but you can just call me Melissa."
"So you are related!" Izuku grinned. "Does that mean you know All Might?"
"Of course I know Uncle Might. How do you?"
"Izuku and I are his students at UA," Momo offered. "I won the Sports Festival and chose to bring Izuku and his mother along with me since he is my Vice-Representative. All Might is our primary teacher of Heroics."
"Wow!" Melissa grinned. "I bet you two learn a lot from Uncle Might!"
"It's definitely a lot of work," Izuku chuckled. "We actually have an American in our class. Her name is Pony Tsunotori. Do you know her?"
"Izuku, America is a lot bigger than Japan," Melissa pointed out. "In fact, my father and I moved here when I was four, so I don't really remember California. The odds of me knowing that American is pretty slim even without that, so the answer is no. I haven't met her."
"Oh," Izuku deflated a little. "I guess that makes sense. Sorry."
"Say, are you all going to the gala tonight?" Melissa asked.
"We are," Momo confirmed. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, if you're so interested, I could introduce you to my father. You're Hero students under Uncle Might, so maybe he'll give me permission to play around with some gear for you all. Dad is Uncle Might's chief tech, so maybe I could become yours. It's always good to get a head start, right?"
"That would be great," Momo grinned.
Wolfram took in the sight of I-Island, the men under his command flanking him. He was a tall man, red hair combed back save for two stray strands. His face held a serious frown as his dark eyes studied the people below. His two top men stood on either side, one with pink hair and rosewood-colored markings under his eyes and the other with white hair and a surgical mask. The one with pink hair reached upward to pull the cigarette from his lips, blowing out a puff of smoke.
["Is everything ready, Tapper?"] the leader questioned in English.
["It will be by tonight, sir,"] the white-haired man answered, typing away at a handheld communicator. ["Our spies say the system's reprogramming is ready at a moment's notice and no one seems the wiser to our plan. We'll contact the man to let him know we're here and he'll give us the local. We just need the Heroes in one place."]
["And the coordinates are still accurate?"]
["Yes,"] the man with pink hair said. ["I-Island hasn't moved a foot in the past 24 hours. It's here."]
["Well, let's get this shit over with. Everyone, you know your rolls. We move tonight."]
["What about our payment?"] a voice demanded. The redhead turned, glaring into the crowd where the voice had come from. He swung his hand outward, a thin spike of metal coming from under his sleeve to point directly at the throat of one of the lackies.
["You'll get paid when the mission's over,"] the leader growled. ["I beat the last guy, so this is my company now. If you don't like it, then you can try to take it from me. Please, try. I'd welcome the chance to put down a whiny bitch before it annoys me more. Now shut up and do your part or we'll leave you behind. Am I clear?"]
The man didn't respond, only nodding minutely so the metal at his throat didn't cut him. The redhead pulled the metal back, returning his gaze to the sights.
["Fuck me,"] he muttered to himself. ["This is gonna be chaotic. I'd rather be home."]
Melissa took over the role as the group's tour guide, leading the three Japanese natives through all the attractions I-Island had to offer, giving her own commentary as a long-time resident. Izuku had discretely glanced at her with his Eagle Vision, confirming that she was not a Templar, or at least bore no ill-will toward him or the Assassin Brotherhood, remaining a dull, neutral white. Eventually, it came time for them to part ways. Momo assured Melissa they would meet again at the gala that night before she, Izuku, and Inko returned to the hotel to prepare for the party.
A shiver when down Izuku's spine as his mother stepped into the bathroom. He activated his Eagle Vision, confirming that the bugs in the room had not been replaced, but still something felt wrong. (It was not the red outline of Momo changing on the other side of the wall, Izuku having to turn away while cursing this new aspect of his Isu sight.) Feeling that it would be better to ere on the side of caution (and needing something to distract him until the outlines faded away), he quickly removed one of his rope-darts from his Hero costume and strapped it to his wrist, hiding it under his suit's long sleeves. It wasn't much in terms of weaponry, but it was better than nothing and did wonders at calming his nerves.
Momo met them in the lobby in a long, seafoam dress that left her back and shoulders bare, the hem of it just barely touching the ground. The had also styled her hair, pulling it into a French braid while leaving a single lock to frame the left side of her face. Inko had packed a light blue sundress and pulled her green hair into a simple low ponytail, a flower pin holding her bangs out of her face.
"You two look wonderful," Momo said as they approached. Izuku swallowed, reminding himself that she was a Templar to force down the fierce blush that tried to overtake his face. It still managed to claim his cheeks, however.
"And you look beautiful, Momo," Inko replied. "Thank you for Izu's suit, by the way. It must have been expensive."
"It was nothing," the ravenette insisted with a wave of her hand. "I'm simply glad we found occasion for Izuku to wear it again. He cleans up nicely, doesn't he?"
"I'm right here," Izuku commented. As if in response, Momo stepped toward him and grabbed his tie, readjusting it. Izuku swallowed.
"There. Shall we get going?" Momo asked, ignoring Izuku's raised eyebrow as she sent his mother an expression he could not read. Inko grinned, forcing Izuku to follow behind as a nervous sweat rolled down his neck.
The gala was a fancy affair, as they'd expected it to be. Heroes and scientists milled around the ballroom on the second floor of the lab building, talking with each other in English of varying accents or in clusters of other languages. The verdet recognized the sounds of French, Spanish, Chinese, and something that may have been a mix of English and Gaelic, but that last one was so fast and garbled that the boy had to chance of ever deciphering it. It did, however, recognize one of the speakers as a tall man with blue face paint and a kilt, a Scottish Hero called Claymore.
The first familiar, and most surprising, thing Izuku and Momo noticed was the tall student with dark hair, his posture rigid as he spoke to All Might.
"I agree!" All Might laughed, slapping a hand down on Iida's shoulder. "I suppose, as Ingenium's younger brother and chosen heir, it makes sense you would be here, Young Iida."
"Iida?" Izuku questioned, stepping into the conversation. "All Might-sensei. It's good to see you both."
"Young Midoriya?" All Might blinked as Inko and Momo joined him. "Young Yaoyorozu. Welcome to I-Island. What are you two doing here?"
"I won a ticket with my win during the Sports Festival," Momo explained. "I asked Izuku to accompany me. Ah, and this is Izuku's mother, Inko."
"It's nice to finally get to meet one of my son's teachers," Inko said, offering her hand. All Might took it politely, being careful to regulate his strength.
"The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Midoriya."
"Oh, I'm not married," Inko corrected with a dusting of red across her cheeks. "Never have been. Izuku's father died in a Villain attack before we could even get engaged."
"Ah, I am sorry to hear that."
"It is wonderful to meet you," Iida said, bowing deeply. "Your son is proving to be an inspiration to the class and an excellent leader. His showing in our finals proves that he has the drive to become an excellent Hero."
"I quite agree!" All Might laughed. "And though he is strict, I daresay Eraser Head is the perfect homeroom teacher for a Quirk like Young Midoriya's Empathetic Eye. I only hope that my tactical and practical lessons are half as useful as his advice."
"Such humility, even from the number one Hero," Iida whispered under his breath.
Inko grinned. "I'm just glad my little Izu—"
"Mom!"
"—managed to fulfill one of his childhood dreams of learning under you, All Might. You know, when he was four, Izu—"
"It's been great talking to you, All Might, but we have to get going!" Izuku insisted, physically pushing his mother away from his teacher. It was like she was determined to embarrass him at every turn. "I'm sure you're busy and have a lot of people who want to talk to you! Bye!"
All Might just let out a laugh, allowing his students to wander away to other corners. Once they were a safe distance from the man, Izuku turned to his mother.
"Mom, why?"
"But Izu," she smirked. "For the first time in a long time, you have friends and teachers who care about you. I have a lot of catching up to do when it comes to teasing. It's my motherly duty."
"I can attest to the apparent drive," Iida commented. "I endeavor to remain removed from my mother at such gatherings lest I suffer a similar fate. You have my sympathies, Midoriya."
"A mother's teasing is universal," Momo agreed.
"Say, Iida," Izuku said, eager to change the subject. "I'm surprised to see you here."
"As a renowned Hero family, the Iida's received an invitation," the speedster explained. "Unfortunately, my brother Tensei had an appointment our parents wished to be there for, so I was asked to represent our bloodline tonight."
"I would have had the same had I not earned mine," Momo commented. "My father is one of the primary investors of I-Island, after all."
["Speech!"] someone in the crowd called, more picking up the chant. ["Speech! Speech!"]
"[Alright, alright!"] All Might laughed, waving the people down. The Hero turned to an average man with brown hair at his side. ["You should have warned me, Dave."]
["You should have expected this,"] the man shrugged with a grin. ["Go knock 'em dead."]
Though he rarely drank, All Might accepted a flute of champaign, since holding such was integral to any toast he'd want to make. Making his way to the stage, the man smiled and tapped the microphone, ensuring it was on.
["Hello, all! It is my honor to—"]
Red lights flashed, alarms buzzing to cut off All Might's speech. The doors flew open, kicked by a man in a metal mask, his red hair just visible under a dark sweatshirt's hood. He raised a remote, a press of the button on its surface causing holes in the floor to open, something like blue tape coming out to wrap around and immobilize every pro Hero in the room. Izuku instantly grabbed Momo and Inko, pulling them backward toward the wall.
["So sorry for the interruption!"] the man said, though there was no sign of remorse in his voice. ["This here is a robbery, and if everyone plays by the rules, then no one needs to die. And if you Heroes think about getting any smart ideas, my men have hacked the island's security system and a single order can cause them to see the citizenry as violent Villains."] He gave a too-wide smile. ["Everyone on the island are now my hostages."]
End of chapter 34
And so the Two Heroes movie begins! Some stuff is the same, some of it is different, but that's the start of every arc that begins is a new location. The only UA students on the island are Izuku, Momo, and Iida, all the rest not having reason or invitation to be there. That is the only big change that has been revealed to you so far. Oh No! Momo seems to be winning over Mama Midoriya! What can Izuku say or do to get out of this mess? How will our heroes deal with this attack when there are far viewer of them in this reality? Who will rise up to counter these terrorists? I hope you all look forward to the next chapter, because that is when shit will REALLY hit the fan! Until then:
Read and Review!
-SwordOfTheGods