December 24 - Day 12
"Merry Christmas, Chisato!" Inko happily exclaimed as she arrived from across the street, her fully-covered son walking beside her. "Izuku told me you did another one of those 50K Shoowaysha challenges, yes? How generous of you!" she added before immediately going to Chitose's left side and giving her a hug from there.
Chitose's mind suddenly zoned out from the simple act, one part being unable to process the compliment and the hug itself, while another is just relieved that Inko did not go for a hug at the front. "H-hey don't think too much about it, it's the least I could do!" she replied, stuttering. "It only took me around one and half hours anyways!"
"Well actually it's just an hour and fifteen minutes," Izuku muttered as he passed by her to inspect the bookstore just behind them. "I think it's twenty minutes? Ok let's just go with thirty, I'm not good with time…" his voice trailed off as he turned around. "So are you going to tell Mom about the singed-up jacket?"
"Uh-" Chitose didn't get to finish when Inko immediately let go of her and asked her son as to what jacket is he talking about. But before Izuku could respond, she quickly butted in and excused herself before pulling the young man away a few meters.
"What? Didn't I say Mom can get your jacket and the torn-up dress patched up?" Izuku immediately asked. "Am I supposed to not say that or what? But don't you want it getting repaired?"
"No-no-no it's uh…" Chitose did a quick glance towards Inko some distance away, who just responded with a bright smile and a small happy wave, before going back to Izuku again. "Listen, I-uh… there's a chance that my guys will pick me up this evening and uh… I don't think I'll ever receive my patched-up clothes if ever I get them fixed now."
"That's okay I'll just hold on to them until you can properly return and claim them back, no biggie." Izuku nodded, his expression looking like he didn't fully believe everything the young woman said. "Why do you have to pull me away for this?"
"Because you said your Mom don't do well with farewells."
"Point taken. But still I really think you should get your clothes patched up. I mean there's nothing bad about it, and you can just go back here to get them back, right?"
Chitose sighed and planted both hands onto Izuku's shoulders. What should she say? Of course she can't just tell him that she can not return that easily since the Liberation movement is upon them-
'But what's going to happen to the Midoriyas by then?' Chitose shook her head at the sudden thought. She tried to get it away from her head, but it just kept on coming back. What would happen to the Midoriyas by then? What would they think of her once they figured out- 'Dammit… now I got two conflicting emotions on the matter… Nah I'll just keep moving on, I'll just cross the bridge when I get there…'
"Are you okay, Kizuki? Are your legs hurting or what?"
"No it's just…" Chitose sighed again. "Nevermind, I'll just uh… okay I'll get my dress patched up…"
"Is there something wrong…?"
"I'm sorry but uh… I can't really tell you that," she muttered before hurriedly re-composing herself and wiping off any sign of uncertainty off her face, but it did nothing to remove the now-concerned look of Izuku in front of her. "Now go tell your mother I agree to the patchwork offer," she added with a smile and a quick gesture towards Inko.
Izuku just stared at her for a whole two seconds before hurriedly re-composing himself as well and cheerily walking back to his mother to tell her about how she finally agreed to get her clothes repaired.
"So what happened?" came Inko's question, making a hand gesture in the shape of a jacket.
Chitose quickly thought up an excuse. "My dress got torn off for some reason from within my suitcase. And uh – one of my jacket's buttons flew off. Nothing is singed, Midoriya here is just joking around."
"Buttons? Flew off from what?"
"Kizuki tried to fully button one of her jackets up, and one flew off. Hit me square in the forehead too," Izuku butted in, one mittened hand coming up and pointing directly at his forehead, as to which Inko looked at it with a weird expression. "Yeah it really happened."
An annoyed look sprung up Chitose's face upon seeing Inko gesture towards her chest, as to which her son nodded. "Guys, it's because of my wide shoulders, okay? It's not… something else," she spoke out, turning the attention back to her.
"Kizuki just really likes the small jackets. And it just so happens that she has wide shoulders, I'm pretty sure there's a work-around for that, right?" Izuku commented, quickly tapping his mother on the back. "I'm pretty sure there is."
"How about I just whip you up a new one! One that actually fits! Once you get whatever book you're going to get here, come visit me at my workplace will ya?" Inko then lightly pushed her son forward. "Izuku knows where it is. Lunch break's actually all over and me spending time here and not working is not really going to look good for me sooo…" she then turned to her son. "Just take her there, okay?"
"Well actually I-" Chitose was cut off as Inko hastily just said her goodbyes before walking off, carrying the pizza her son bought for her.
"So you'll finally get an actual jacket that fits! How cool is that?" Izuku said, walking over behind her, faintly muttering something that he should have worn the hoodie All Might gave them this morning. "So what book are you going to get?"
Chitose thought for a moment, thinking whether it's alright to just blurt out 'Meta Liberation War'. While Izuku somewhat already figured out that she's part of a Free Quirk Use organization, the MLA is still relatively hidden from the world, so there's no chance of him figuring out that she's part of it. But then again, Izuku will likely see what book she's going to buy anyways so…
"Meta Liberation War. I need it for the club- I mean organization." Chitose said as she walked past and entered the bookstore, making sure to duck under the low doorframe.
"The MLW huh? That's an odd choice for a Free-Quirk Use inspiration book. I think more people are getting inspired just off of High-5's posts than that book," Izuku chuckled as he too, entered the bookstore. "That photo we saw of her on the beach earlier is already pushing 12000 likes, just saying."
"That's really funny, Midoriya…" Chitose rolled her eyes. "If only I look as a tenth as good as her I would also be making my own cult right now... But anyways, I'd like to be alone when picking up books, why don't you go walk around for a while."
"That seems reasonable to me." Izuku nodded. "If you need me I'll just be at the manga section."
Replying with a light nod, Chitose then made her way towards the 'Novel' section of the bookstore. Upon reaching the place, she wasted no time in looking for the distinct bright red books. She found a few, but none of it is the Meta Liberation War. She paused a bit and thought to herself, did she supply this particular bookstore? She can't remember but she's sure she didn't miss anything. She triple checks everything.
Setting her attention back to the rows of books, she decided to just scan them manually one by one, running her fingers ontop of them and pushing them about to check their covers (Maybe the bookstore changed their cover?)
Still nothing.
Chitose scratched the back of her head in confusion, immediately flinching in pain upon accidentally scratching over the swollen part. 'Dammit!' she swore under her breath afterwards. "Maybe I'm in the wrong section?" she whispered to herself and then immediately checked the labels around the bookstore.
There is a section on Fiction books. She went there. The MLW is nowhere to be found.
There is a section on Satire books. She went there as well. Still no MLW.
There is a section on Autobiographies. She went there too. But the copies of the MLW are not there either.
'What…?' she asked herself in her thoughts, utterly confused. Looking around, she then went towards the cashier and asked about if they have copies of it.
"Shoowaysha happened. Pulled out all the copies just over a week ago…" the cashier answered, her tone a little too much on the rude side. "I don't know much else."
"Pulled out- wait…" Chitose paused a bit, one particular thought of the particular date of December 12 suddenly surfacing inside her mind. "When? What date?"
"December 12. Truck came in here at around 9am. Recalled all the copies, saying something about too much grammatical errors, and then left," the cashier said with a shrug, not even once lifting her eyes off her phone. "Apparently they did that to other branches too…"
Chitose awkwardly replied with a small thanks, the rudeness of the cashier getting to her nerves, and then left. Within a split second her mind immediately shifted once again towards the particular date and time, December 12 at 9 in the morning. Why did so many things happen at that date? Is there something to it Re-Destro just didn't tell her about? Is it part of the plan? Then what does it have to do with her being suddenly younger and her bank account being emptied, among other things?
Chitose shook her head. Skeptic better answer her questions this time around…
"Hey Kizuki, I thought you'd be at the Novels section?"
The sound of Izuku's voice snapped her out of her thoughts, making her realize that she's already ended up at the manga section and reading the first Shoujo manga she saw. "I-uh… all the MLW books are recalled. Same thing to other branches too. December 12 9am, same time my bank account got wiped," she blatantly told him what happened, to which got a nod from Izuku, he already knew about it anyways. "Let's go," she added, making a small gesture towards the door.
"That date is becoming more and more suspicious, don't you think?" Izuku placed the manga he's reading back to the shelf at the same time Chitose placed hers back. "Are you sure it's already safe to contact your people?"
"My people have nothing to do with that date, Midoriya. It's very different."
A concerned look soon etched itself on Izuku's face as he slowly nodded. "Okay, let's get to Mom." He raised one hand and gestured for the young woman to follow him out the bookstore. "It's not far from here."
"I don't see any clothing factory, where does she work?" Chitose asked as they went out the door, making sure to duck again as to not bump her head on the doorframe.
"It's actually just the repurposed garage of some big house. Not really that much of a 'factory' feel to it. Companies just send raw materials there to get them patched up, and then have them re-shipped back to them. Catch my drift?"
"I guess so?" Chitose replied with a shrug. As a whole she didn't really understand, but just went along with it.
The overall trip didn't take too long. In a matter of around ten minutes, the two eventually reached the place. Chitose felt one single sting of pain on her right thigh, but nothing too serious. But still she found it odd since, based on her past experiences with anesthetics acting up and giving her unwanted (and oftentimes horrible) side effects, once the pain is gone once, it's truly gone.
"Told ya it's just some big ol' house, pretty neat huh?" Izuku tapped Chitose's back once. "Hold on let me go ring the doorbell."
Seeing the young man walk up to the huge metal gate adorned with intricate patterns built into it, Chitose took a step back to inspect the house. As with Izuku said it is indeed a very big house, designed with modern western architecture in mind, and painted with lovely hues of brown and white (which reminded her of that one multi-purpose hall in UA just this morning). She was about to inspect one odd Christmas decoration she saw up the roof when the voice of Inko calling out to her caught her attention. And there she was just peeking through the metal gate, gesturing for her to come in.
As she got close, she noticed that the built-in door in the huge metal gate is a little too small. But that doesn't matter, a little bit of ducking should-
"Ow!" Chitose let out a small yelp of pain. For some reason, despite ducking, she still bumped her head on it. Good thing it wasn't the swollen bit on the back of her head or else it would have been extremely painful. Either way she managed to pass through and saw the entire workplace – and as what Izuku said it's really just a repurposed garage filled with rows of sewing machines. In return she got some looks as well, but judging from the facial expressions of the workers (which are all middle-aged women at the same age range as Inko – as well as her own original age), they're mostly just curious to her absurd height.
"Hey Kizuki. On a scale of one to ten, how do you like being the center of attention?" Izuku randomly asked just as he pulled his mother back – who seemed to be seconds away from loudly introducing her to her co-workers.
"I'd rather go with the silent route, thank you very much," she answered with an awkward laugh. She then quickly glanced once more to the workers, some are still taking glances of her midwork-
"Okay silent route it is. Okay follow me," Inko did a small wave, getting Chitose's attention. Immediately she did a small nod back in response and then went on to follow her towards a particular machine located at the end of their path, all while Inko lightly explains to nearby curious co-workers who she brought in.
"Ever tried one of those, Kizuki?" Izuku asked, pointing towards the machine just up front.
Chitose immediately looked onwards and inspected the machine Izuku just pointed out. It's a simple circular metal platform on the ground, around 3 meters wide, with two raised poles on either side, with camera-like devices attached to their top ends pointing at each other. She tried to recall ever seeing something like those, but failed. Maybe she just forgot? Maybe she just haven't tried one before? She doesn't know. "Actually not yet. Or maybe I did but I just forgot. What does it do?"
"It's glorified measuring tape. You stand in the middle and the poles will rotate around you and get your measurements, even with clothes on. Other data can then be used for other stuff, like uh… I dunno, I don't really do tailor-talks."
Chitose responded with a nod, at the same time Inko tapped her back and told her to stand in the middle on the circular platform.
And as exactly what Izuku said, all she really did is stand in the middle of the pad with her arms out and let the poles rotate around her once– a process that would only take a full two seconds if it weren't for her long arms going beyond the measuring range and forcing Inko to bend the poles outwards just to fit her in. Afterwards, a nearby printer connected to the machine via cable then produced the results.
"I like getting scanned there." Izuku chuckled to himself, getting Chitose's attention to him. "You know? T-posing a machine and forcing it to puke out your measurements?" he added with a light snicker.
Chitose couldn't help but smile at the joke. Once again while she did found it cringe, but it was nonetheless funny-
"What…?"
Both immediately turned their attention to Inko, who's just staring at the paper the printer printed out, looking all confused. "These are really your torso measurements?" she asked.
Izuku hurriedly walked up to his mother and looked at the paper. "You have very wide shoulders, Kizuki…" he mumbled, his voice trailing off towards the end.
Chitose walked up to them herself to look at the printed paper as well. There were random data all over the top half, filled with random numbers, symbols, and letters as if designed to be read by another machine. But on the second half are just numbers she immediately recognized as her own measurements. "What is it about my shoulders?"
"N-nothing," Inko said as she placed the papers on a nearby wooden table. "So uh, you people got somewhere else to go?"
"We're going to Takoba Beach, to do some Cybersleuthing," Izuku responded. "Well not actual cybersleuthing and more like cyber surfing… at Cybersleuths."
"Oh, the Internet-Manga café! Stay safe, you two." Inko nodded and clasped her hands together. "I'll get this jacket done in a few days after Christmas, does that sound good to you, Kizuki?"
"That's fine to me," Chitose replied, even though there's a significant chance she wouldn't be able to claim it anymore anyways. But still, better to just keep agreeing to anything than to cause anymore drama.
And with that, the two left the place and set off towards their next destination.
Along the bus ride to Takoba, Chitose once again felt a sting of pain on her thighs, this time much more intense, not to mention happened to both at the same time. But luckily for her, the pain is just very much on the lighter side, she didn't even flinch from it all, but still it got her a little worried.
As for Izuku, aside from one question asking if she's okay, he stayed silent throughout the trip.
"Well that trip took too long," Izuku mumbled to himself in an annoyed tone as he got off the bus. He then said something about road repairs always taking days overdue, as well as some other things but became too weak and unintelligible to be able to be comprehended. "Times like these I wish Quirk restrictions are light enough so those that can make vehicles fly can use their powers to lighten up traffic…"
"Yeah I wondered about that for a long time now. It's just that no matter how harmless a Meta Ability can be, it's just their use are just always only limited to certified heroes." Chitose nodded in agreement as the two of them walked along. "Anyways so uh, aren't you going to buy replacement glasses?"
Izuku took one long look towards the towering sign of Cybersleuths Internet Manga café sticking out from behind some buildings before replying,"you know, Kizuki, I'm just wondering…"
"It's my young self, Midoriya, pay no mind to her-"
"I'm not talking about your 'Free Quirk Use organization family'. I'm talking about the made-up stories I'm telling to my mother. It's just making me feel strange that I'm technically living a 'double-life' right now. I mean I'm not complaining and all but uh… there's just something off…" he turned to face the young woman beside him. "What about the AM hoodies? Do you think I should keep the hoodies a secret? Should I tell her I'm AM's secret agent?"
"Midoriya you're not a secret agent…" Chitose jokingly rolled her eyes. "Although having a direct contact and taking quests from the literal Number One does give off secret agent vibes…"
"I told ya. Meanwhile you're the nosy journalist who keeps getting sucked into things. Those tropes just go hand in hand smoothly, don't you think? I should think up of an agent codename… what do you think of Detroit Smash?"
"Detroit Smash as a codename sounds very awkward when used in English…" Chitose's voice trailed off a bit as she caught sight of the actual Cybersleuths building just right around the corner. "It just sounds awkward going, 'Hey Detroit Smash, do you copy?' On the phone, don't you think?"
"Hmm… I guess I'll have to think up a better codename." Izuku quickly pulled out his phone from one of his sweater pockets and checked on it. "Dang it! All Might hasn't responded yet. I'm already ready for my next mission!"
"Give the guy a few more hours, it's not easy being the Number One, and the assistant to the Number One, you know?"
"Oh okay."
The two eventually reached their destination. As expected with the current date and time, Cybersleuth's very much leaning towards the 'full occupancy' side. But as an Internet-Manga café that doubles as a hotel, and is located just right in front of a high school, it's significantly larger than average, meaning there could still be vacant seats even at the current state it's looking right now.
"It's full," Izuku mumbled. But still, the young woman beside him walked on and entered the building, making sure she duck to avoid hitting her head on the relatively low doorframe like last time.
Almost immediately, Chitose received even more confirmation that the café is indeed, very full. But still, considering how the 'cubicled' seats are of comparatively higher price than the uncovered ones, there's always a chance that one of them is vacant.
"Man… Exergis is really ramping up in Japan huh?"
Chitose turned to Izuku upon hearing the odd word he just said. "Exer-what?"
"Nothing, just a First Person Shooter where every gun is a shotgun."
Chitose nodded. "Okay let's go find one of those covered seats-"
"Are your legs still okay?"
"Yes they're still fine," Chitose replied and kept walking. Soon enough she eventually reached the section of the ground floor where the cubicled seats are located. But unfortunately, all of them are occupied, forcing her to move out towards the second floor. As for the second floor, it's not much different, although it's quite visible that it's not as jam-packed as the ground floor.
After a bit of walking around, she finally found an empty cubicle. "Okay then, I guess this is it!" she exclaimed in a jokingly triumphant manner before turning to Izuku just behind her. "Why don't you go buy some sunglasses for a bit? This is gonna take a while."
"Sounds good to me, would you like some snacks? I mean Cybersleuths allows snacks in here riiiight…?" Izuku turned around, seeing quite a lot of people are having snacks of their own, just mindful not to spill anything on their computers. "Okay, so what do you want? There's an ice cream stall not far from here."
Chitose thought for a bit as she opened the door to the vacant cubicle. "I can't really think of anything at the moment. Why don't we just get some snacks after this?" she said, slowly turned around, a look of uncertainty on her face. "I think it's better we have snacks as we're doing some Takoba training."
"I guess that makes sense too. So uh… I'll be off now? I'll just go knock on the door when I get back?"
"Yep." Chitose took one step into the cubicle of her choice. "Do try to copy the All Might knock, will ya?"
"Are you challenging me, Kizuki? Are you saying I cannot do the All Might knock? Are you saying that me, the All Might secret agent, cannot do the All Might knock? How dare you!"
"Okay Small Might, whatever," Chitose giggled as she pulled the office chair provided in the cubicle and sat on it, immediately swiveling herself around to face him. "Now if you may excuse me, your nosy journalist side-kick is going to do a top-secret mission of her own."
"Okay, see ya later, Chisato," Izuku said in a strange manner as if he's impersonating a sneaky secret agent, before quickly walking off.
Chitose shook her head, chuckling to herself. There's just something innately silly about Izuku, and the multiple layers of thick clothing he's wearing, and how he's waddling through the masses, trying to impersonate a secret agent. But on top of being silly, she also found it extremely adorable-
'Wait…' the young woman's eyes widened, catching her cheeks randomly heating up alongside a significantly heightened pulse rate. In response she reached out and shut the door, making sure to lock it, and then double checking to see if she really locked it – which she did. In a few seconds' time, she swiveled around, took out her wallet from her Memory Purse, fished out some coins, slotted them into the CPU coin slot, and booted up the computer.
'Stupid young me and her stupid preferences acting up again…' she thought to herself, feeling her cheeks still somehow heated up even though a short while had already passed ever since Izuku left. She can't understand why it's suddenly like that, and only now. What's the big deal? Is her young self's random attractions getting worse? Shaking her head in annoyance, she turned her attention towards the computer in front of her, now booted up, and hurriedly typed in 'Shota Aizawa' on the search bar.
And within moments, various photos of Eraserhead filled the screen. And within moments her eyes started scanning all of them.
Just like the previous time she stared at them, not a single photo she found Aizawa attractive.
'Stupid young self and her stupid preference on giant adorable penguins… Dammit!' She shook her head, chastising herself further. But still, she's here for a mission, and not to stop unwanted and annoying attractions, and of course the mission must go first. The MLA must always go first.
She closed the webpage filled with photos of Eraserhead, and then opened a new one and began the long process of connecting to Skeptic's communications network.
While she waited, she opened a new tab and signed in to her GlobalConnect account, and from there she re-checked the message she sent to Re-Destro. Her eyes widened at what she saw, there is a small green dot right beside it, which means Re-Destro did, in fact, read it!
Joy welling up inside her, she scrolled down if ever she actually received something as response.
There is no response.
Chitose froze for a brief moment. The feelings of happiness quickly fading away as quickly as it came. She then refreshed the page, hoping that it's just an error on GlobalConnect's part, but no. There's really just no response at all. Re-Destro saw the message, but somehow didn't bother to respond. Furthermore, she still hasn't received any messages from a single member of the MLA.
'Why…?'
Almost immediately Chitose could feel negative thoughts bubbling up, but instead she just focused her attention on the 'loading screen' of Skeptic's communications systems. It did little to curb the negative thoughts, but nonetheless helped.
Soon enough, a chatbox appeared on the top left of the screen with a 'Who is this?' already pre-typed in it in a font only Skeptic is allowed to use.
Chitose's mind once again wandered a bit and thought if ever this Skeptic is an impersonator, but once again she just brushed the thoughts off. It's virtually impossible to break into the system, considering how many layers of security protocols it has. 'Hey Skeptic,' she typed in, immediately noticing that her message is still not in her intended font, 'there's a Nomu that attacked my waiting spot some nights ago. Also there's no speedboat. What's going on there?'
'What?! Blasphemy! How did you not get yourself split in two?'
'I managed to get out just in time and killed it. Who put that there? Isn't this system supposed to be impenetrable?'
'Whatever it is that happened. It must on your side. Such mistakes could not be attributed to me.'
'What happened to the speedboat? I thought there's supposed to be one? No one came.' Chitose typed in, suddenly feeling an urge to look around. Could the League be snooping on her side and that's how they sent the Nomu? But whatever it is, with All Might currently within her general area, there's no way she's being snooped now. All is safe. Hopefully.
'That Nomu must have scared them off from making a clear landing. Foolish cowards all of them! It is of no wonder no report came back to me. It's good you managed to use a single brain cell to actually come contact me again, it's nice that people are actually being decent thinkers for once. Okay let me arrange another pick-up for you. Takoba Beach, same location, tomorrow.'
'No. I want it today. No more tomorrow. No more next tomorrow. Now. I want to be picked up as soon as possible. I'm reverting more and more to my younger self and soon I might forget everything about the MLA. That bit-complicated-but-already-there cure you talked about better be ready by the time I get there.' She entered, annoyed, and deliberately omitting the fact that she tried to see if the heroes can fix her earlier today. It didn't end up nicely but it's better to just not say anything about it.
'Maybe Curious you should just forget us the same way we all forgot about you.'
'What?' the young woman raised an eyebrow at the strange reply.
'I am just throwing out what regular useless humans call a joke. But since your brain had always had a hard time processing the correct information, I can understand you did not comprehend it.'
'Skeptic. All I want is a ride home. I have no time for insults.'
'But you are literally inviting them to your direction.'
'I'm sitting here contacting you. I'm not inviting insults. Can you just hurry up already and get me back there so I can just get all the answers I need for myself since you're too much of a stuck-up bastard who thinks he's better than anyone else?' Chitose grit her teeth in frustration, mind already swirling with thoughts as to what insult she can further throw out. It took a brief while, only to find out she can't really think of much. As annoying and insulting as Skeptic is, he's basically the MLA's de-facto leader at this point: Re-Destro's right-hand man. His skills have proven far more valuable and with far more worth than any of her contributions combined. She gave up eventually.
'It is always so uplifting seeing people try to insult me but can not find any REAL dirt to throw at my direction. My superiority still remains unchallenged. It was nice of you to try anyway, Curious, I appreciate that.'
'Okay that's enough, can I talk to Re-Destro now?' Chitose typed in, feeling utterly embarrassed that Skeptic saw through her insults.
'Our Grand Commander is too busy ignoring your lack of presence here, do try not to disturb him, yes? In fact, we're all having quite a grand time here with your total absence. Everything is just so much better, and I certainly agree on every aspect on it! No seriously Curious, everything is much more pleasant without you here. You are the purest definition of the word – dead weight.'
Chitose swore under her breath, feeling Skeptic's words rapidly triggering her inferiority complex, something her young self has in spades. Fingers trembling and feeling a sharp sting in her chest, she began typing back, 'Skeptic, enough jokes, can you just either get me shipped up there or at least let me talk to Re-Destro?'
'Oh no no no Curious I am most certainly not joking!'
'What the hell is wrong with you?!' Chitose typed in with trembling fingers, barely resisting the urge to make them all capitalized. At the same time she could feel her eyes starting to become watery, making her instinctively wipe it with her left arm. She then mentally chastised her young self for being so easily affected by mean words – which is to be expected whenever she is talking with Skeptic. 'Just get me home!'
'Fine fine fine. Takoba Beach. Same location. Tomorrow evening.'
'Now. Skeptic. I want NOW. I want to get back NOW.'
'Being pushy are we? Okay fine. As much as we're currently having the time of our lives here throwing the grandest party to celebrate your death, looks like I will have to obey your orders this time. But only this time.'
'Skeptic. I swear once I get back there I'm telling Re-Destro about this.'
'Oh yes do tell Mr. Spineless Longnose Freak about all our lovely conversations!'
'Did you just call him Mr. Spineless Longnose Freak?' Chitose typed in, one eyebrow raised. While it's certainly in-character for Skeptic to call everyone names, he never did that to Re-Destro in all these years, not even once.
'Yes I did. But let's not dwell our minds on that. Let's talk transport. You want out in less time as possible, yes? How's your opinion on Geten?'
'You mean you could've just sent him to pick me up all this time?! No more need to wait for a speedboat needlessly endangering myself on the beach and getting almost killed by a Nomu?!'
'Yes.'
'Skeptic… don't test me…'
'Ooooh, hollow threats. Very hollow. I'm shaking right now, Curious. But anyways, I'll be sending Geten to your location tonight. How does that sound? You're currently at Cybersleuths near Takoba, yes? I'll get him to pick you up. Although one thing, I want you online as he arrives. I want to make sure he succeeds in his mission, unlike those fools that went joyriding in a speedboat.'
Chitose wiped off some tears by her left arm again. 'What time would he arrive?'
'By my superior researching skills and vast intellect, I say that the best time for Geten to pick you up would be around fifteen minutes before 9 in the evening. But you must be talking with me by 8:15, got it? I want you early there.'
'Why the very specific time?'
'Curious you are NOT in the right position to demand things from me. You're the one currently not with us. I am. You're the one who needs my help. You follow my rules. You follow my word. Got it? That's literally all you have to do. Why so many questions? Why so many demands? Why so many requests? Why can't you just use that minuscule brain of yours? Stop making demands. Stop annoying me. I'm out here doing my best effort to getting you back so just please SHUT YOUR WHORE MOUTH AND LET ME DO MY THING YOU USELESS PIECE OF TRASH!'
Chitose was flabbergasted at the response, leaving her staring into the screen, mouth agape. While Skeptic may have a habit of demeaning everyone, but he never went to the level of disrespect he just showed now, especially to her and other high-ranking members of the MLA.
'With that said. I'm glad we had this chat. Do continue this conversation tonight if you ever want to return. Goodbye,' he added.
…
There was silence for a brief while, with Chitose just staring into the blank white screen after Skeptic closed the chatbox.
'I'm just trying to get back… no need for the stupid insults…'a thought went up her mind as she wiped off some more tears that welled up after the conversation ended. Soon enough she felt an overwhelming amount of frustration at her young self, and her complete inability to handle any criticism and other various negative comments. But then they're eventually replaced with thoughts about never being appreciated as part of the MLA for over two decades.
Sighing, Chitose closed the webpage used for Skeptic's communication attempt and did one last check of her GlobalConnect account.
There are still no replies, or anything at all.
'Everything is much more pleasant without you here!' A brief memory of the online conversation earlier flashed in her thoughts. It certainly did affect her much more than she expected. After all, it did sound highly similar to what her mother-
Chitose shook her head, getting the thoughts out. Whatever happened during her childhood is a thing of the past. She should not be remembering those anymore. Turning her attention towards the bottom left part of the computer screen, she then hovered her mouse cursor there, clicked a few buttons, and finally turned off the computer. There may be a lot of time left, but her dominant young self's conscience is already bugging her at full force and she had to get her attention someplace else or else she would have random rambling thoughts all over again.
'I am important the Liberation Army. Skeptic is just being Skeptic. That's just how he talks. Him insulting Re-Destro out of nowhere is obviously just a joke, like the rest of the insults he hurled at my direction.' She kept thinking as she lightly pushed herself off the computer by her wheeled office seat. The moment she stopped, she could feel negative thoughts starting to well up again, and once more it's proving to be extremely annoying.
'Takoba Training!' Chitose's eyes widened as an idea suddenly popped into her head. Takoba Training! Of course! That could get her mind off of things! Now if only Izuku could get back here sooner, and judging by the wall clock hanging on the cubicle wall just beside her, it seems that she won't be waiting any longer. He should be arriving in any minute now.
And as expected, there is a series of knocks on her door. There was a pattern to it, a very familiar rhythm.
The All Might knock.
And Izuku just simply can't replicate it.
Shaking her head, a faint smile slowly coming up her face, Chitose reached over and opened the door. At the end of the day no one can really replicate the knock anyways.
And Izuku was indeed there, carrying a small bright green plastic bag. He seemed like he was about to say something but quickly leaned sidewards. "You didn't turn on the computer?" he asked in a curious tone. "Is it broken?"
"No, it's just that I'm done." Chitose nodded, quite relieved that her black sclera hid any signs that she teared up from Skeptic's insults. She slowly stood up and dusted herself, making sure her Memory Purse is still slung over her shoulder. "I'm leaving tonight."
Izuku stepped back to allow her to exit the cubicle. "Tonight? Is that a joke or what? I hope it is because it's making me nervous again!" he stammered a bit, muttering something afterwards about the statement 'giving him the Nomu creeps'.
"No Izuku I assure you there are no more Nomus this time- WAIT…" Chitose suddenly blanked out, her saying Nomu made her remember something from her online conversation with Skeptic just a while earlier.
'What?! Blasphemy! How did you not get yourself split in two?' the memory of the words etched on the computer screen flashed inside her mind.
…
Split in two? How did Skeptic know what the Nomu did when the only thing she told him is that her waiting spot got attacked?
…
"Kizuki? Hello?"
Chitose snapped out of her thoughts as the mittened hand of Izuku went waving in front of her face. She was about to respond when her thoughts rapidly went to Chikazoku's words again. Her eyes definitely did not deceive her on that one, Skeptic really just somehow knew what the Nomu did.
She paused a bit, and slowly started walking towards the exit afterwards. She could hear Izuku saying something, but her mind is just too focused on something else to comprehend whatever he's talking about. 'Skeptic somehow knew…' a thought played out again, and then a second time again as she made her descent towards the ground floor. Her mind was just about to repeat it a third time when another thought entered – yet another of Skeptic's words back when she first managed to contact him.
'Hmmm… you do sound like Curious. Hold on, I'll send a file,double-click that and it'll automatically install...'
The words played out in her mind, complete with an imaginary voice of Skeptic reading them. And just like what happened just now, Skeptic also somehow figured out that she's Curious on the sole reason that she complained about herself suddenly becoming younger and her bank account being empty.
It's clear. It's happened a second time now. Skeptic just somehow keeps knowing information he shouldn't even know about…
As if he had a definite hand in causing them in the first place.
…
In the midst of thinking about Skeptic, the thought about the particular photo used in the news about her supposed death suddenly resurfaced inside her mind. She remembered easily recognizing the photo used as the one where she's standing beside Trumpet confronting the League. Out of all photos she has, why that? She doesn't know why, but one thing is for certain – only Skeptic has cameras pointing at her at the time.
Her thoughts then went back towards her empty bank account, fully remembering how Skeptic outright praised the hacker that supposedly stole her money despite him tasked to defend it. A very strange thing indeed when not only he never praises anyone but himself, but he's also somehow not all too perturbed by that specific failure.
Making her way towards the exit, her thoughts then went towards the hacker behind the Deika Bus Bomb incident that caused public and private vehicles to stay out of Deika for a while. That suspiciously adds up to Skeptic insisting blocking all access towards Deika City during the Revival Party – a certainly weird choice considering the League only has six people and Geten could just easily finish the fight if he wanted to.
There was a brief flash of Geten's mocking salute in her mind but she quickly got the thought out almost as immediately.
…
Something is not right. Something is definitely not right. Notable events have started connecting with each other, and Skeptic is in the middle of them all. And if he's the one behind the disappearance of the bank account, then it wouldn't be too far off that he's also the one responsible for the rest of the strange events that happened in December 12: Saitama University closing off its U-Aid course, the MLW books being recalled… everything.
'But why would he do it?'
That question puzzled her. What would Skeptic gain by backstabbing her (And even going as far as trying to kill her off)? She's not the leader, nor the right-hand man. And while she's the one who contributed the most in terms of monetary value, she's far from the richest high-ranking member there. Even Trumpet has more money in him than her!
She's just the publisher of the MLW book. That's basically the summary of what she does! What would killing her off accomplish?
?
She exited Cybersleuths. All the while Izuku is talking with a concerned tone in his voice. She just ignored him, her mind still focused on Skeptic and trying to answer her own made-up questions about him. But what if Skeptic is just mind-controlled all that time? That's why he's acting strange? That would certainly make sense, but judging from the date and time of all the strange events of December 12, it all happened even before the actual Revival Party – so the chances of the League mind-controlling him is already out of the picture. Not to mention, if High-5 did in fact chase them up a mountain, then they don't really have any mind-control Metapowers on them.
So what now…? What really happened…?
Is it really Skeptic? Or he's just mind-controlled? Did someone force him to kill her off? Did someone pay him…?
?
But what about tonight? Is that going to be yet another assassination attempt too? Is Geten going to assassinate her…? Chitose instinctively gulped in a sudden rush of nervousness. One part of her thinking of having Izuku call All Might to protect her just in case, yet another part is telling her don't do it and risk Geten being caught by All Might and the entire MLA being found out as a result. Skeptic is the only problem (and maybe Geten too),there's no sense to bring everyone down due to one person alone, especially not the only family she's got at this point.
'What to do-?!'
"Kizuki? Are you okay there? I got some ice cream here and uh… they're kinda melting."
The voice of Izuku snapped her back to the present, finding herself already tying her jacket to her waist, her facial expression blank. "Sorry I just uh… I zoned out for a while," she awkwardly chuckled as she took the ice cream Izuku is reaching out to give her. It gave her mixed feelings once more, but still her thoughts just slowly faded back to Skeptic – and his supposed 'crimes' against her.
"No more Nomus, right? I hope everything's fine?"
Chitose nervously licked her lips, mind racing with so many thoughts she can't even make a single coherent one. With a visibly trembling hand holding up her ice cream, she replied, "Y-yes… e-everything's fine…"
...
