Siggimundo: Thanks! Glad you like it so far!
Boy on mobile: Er...okay.
Guest: I knew it wouldn't be permanent. That just isn't the tone of MHA. It isn't JJBA after all unlike my story. However...the circumstances are a bit odd.
Syrian Ken: She can pull it off with both fists and jacks simultaneously, with more training.
Death Omen Satr: Still finding a way to use it my friend! As for the Stranger, he might not be the gang's villain to fight.
Alexander Lawliet: Fair, I thought the whole rivalry would give Kyoka some development, but I can see why you think the way you do. I'll tone it down a bit. Also...I had to use the idea, it was brilliant!
*By the way, AL helped me create Katsuki's new suit, forgot to put that in the last chapter.*
Finch Flying Ace: There will be another confrontation with Johnny involved. Still brainstorming how it will play out/end.
Guest: I like that.
Kyeo307: Thanks! I'm glad it worked out!
Euphoria: I really wanted it to feel cathartic.
Jpx0999: To be fair, she knows Pony far better than she knows Kyoka. That doesn't justify it of course, but Pony has earned her trust. As for Kyoka learning Zoom Punch...let's just say it plays into a development later on.
Monster King: Thanks!
Bearticguy7: I'm pretty sure Nedzu has a Quirk, it's why he's huminoid. Nice idea though!
A/N: I apologize for not updating in a while, I've been super busy. Unfortunately, my schedule this summer is actually kind of full, so I have less time to myself.
In other news: I have a character analysis for you all!
Let's talk about All For One, and how he's actually the most pitiable character in the series.
One of MHA's core themes is to look past the Quirk and focus on the person. It's the whole reason people like Toga have been discriminated against. People focused on her Quirk and what it did to her, rather than getting her help. Endeavor focused on acquiring more power rather than morality...initially. What is AFO without his Quirk?
Really? What is he?
Oh.
He's...nothing.
He's literally nothing without his Quirk. He has no ideals, no real goal other than the standard "world domination" scheme, and he views people for their Quirks rather than who they are as a person. AFO just wants to be a supervillain...he's just playing dress-up while committing mass murder.
Out of all the villains in the series, this man is the only one without any reason to be one. He is shallow. The fact that people can like this...pathetic loser, is beyond me. I'm pretty sure Horikoshi made him this way on purpose too, once the facade of the "Demon King" is peeled away, this guy will just break.
The guy is literally an edgelord living out his power fantasy.
The only thing that makes him special is his power. Being powerful is the only thing that truly defines All For One, nothing deeper. He is the antithesis to Izuku, who makes OFA special instead of the other way around.
I'm going to write AFO just like that, he'll still be a threat of course, he's a powerhouse...but his ending in my story will focus on the man...and how he contrasts to a certain not-shallow Pillar Man.
...
"There she is, the woman of the hour!"
Gyro clapped his friend on the back, causing Kyoka to stumble. The purplette grumbled and shot her friend a glare. "Could you congratulate me gently?"
"No!"
Gyro put her in a headlock, ignoring her grumbling as he led her back towards the other Musketeers. Johnny, who had come out with his girlfriend, chuckled as he followed them.
"He's taking out his jealousy on you."
"Hey, Mr. Joestar offered to teach me Zoom Punch, there was no way I could refuse a move as cool as that! Besides... I'm going all in with Hamon, shouldn't I be learning all that I can about it? You've still taught me most of the material." Kyoka retorted.
"You learned it before me! You have to teach me!" Gyro said with his signature grin.
"I've only used it in combat once."
"You know it though!"
Kyoka sighed and patted her friend's arm. "Yare yare...fine ya needy bastard, I show you how to do it. Now let me go, I'm still sore from the Sonic Boom Overdrive."
"That was fucking epic." Gyro admitted, releasing Kyoka. "I can't imagine Johnny or I being able to do something like that."
"Your Hamon can't be carried by sound...mine can as long as it comes from my jacks." Kyoka replied. "I guess Sound Hamon...whatever it turns out to be...is going to be powerful. My jacks are still really stiff though..."
"Ice them." Johnny replied.
Kyoka took her jacks in her fingers and examined them. "They're changing...I'm not sure how just yet...but my Quirk is definitely evolving in some way. I think they're changing to accommodate for my Hamon."
"Two words."
"Don't you fucking dare, Gyro."
"Kyokus Jackus."
Kyoka walloped her friend in the shoulder. "NO. I'm not growing more jacks, and I'm certainly not going to turn into some weird ass jack monster!"
"I have a detailed drawing of the specimen in question." Gyro responded, pulling out a detailed drawing of Kyoka's face surrounded by a writhing mass of jacks. "It feeds off of the misery and despair of all who hear it's blatant sarcasm, and takes delight in the crushing of lizards. Don't be fooled by it's beautiful voice, it's pure evil!"
"JoJo, he's drawing me in an unflattering manner! Isn't this the part where you defend my honor?" Kyoka asked with a smirk.
"Nah, I don't really feel like it." Johnny replied, cheekily.
"Jonathan Joestar's descendant indeed...everyone else has friends that like to hang out, play games and stuff...mine draw me as part of the Cthulhu Mythos."
Gyro chuckled and put the drawing away. "You know I do it with love...as for your jacks changing, who knows what it might be? Maybe the tips will fall off and you'll grow new ones...like losing baby teeth."
"Please stop putting things in my head..."
"I'm somewhat serious. I don't want to scare you, but your Quirk is changing...significantly. Your jacks wouldn't be stiffening up if that weren't the case. That big Hamon blast you just pulled might have hurried it along." Gyro said sympathetically. "But hey...maybe it won't be so different, we just have to wait and see."
Kyoka looked bothered for a second, but then shook her head. "Whatever is going to happen, I'll embrace it. I'm going to be a hero regardless of how they change, that's the important thing."
"FUCK YOU, WE WON FAIR AND SQUARE!"
The trio collectively sighed as they all turned to find Katsuki screaming at Monoma. Even though the blond bomber was a lot nicer than he used to be...that didn't mean he kicked all of his bad habits to the curb.
"No! You cheated! Tokage couldn't have lost like that, especially to people like you! That team up with Jiro was a fluke, I'm sure of it!" The other blond insisted.
"The only fluke here is your brain, Blond Gambit." Kyoka stepped in, resting her elbow on Katsuki's shoulder. "People change...and this guy here is my friend now. Unless they're clinically insane of course...like you!"
"You made Tokage cry." Monoma muttered. "You know that right? She was sobbing...do you realize how hard she works?"
"I'm...somewhat sorry things turned out that way, but she lost fair and square...in more ways than one." Kyoka responded, biting her lip. "I'm not saying I'm blameless...but she only added fuel to the fire. I'm sorry I hurt your classmate, but it was inevitable with the way she handled things."
"Fair enough...but you really did break her spirit. That loss was a serious kick in the teeth...just to let you know." Monoma said, begrudgingly sticking his hands in his pockets.."So...just for that, I'm going to do my best to win in this next round, and I have Shinso on my team! Who's the team leader here? Midoriya?"
"Deku could kick your ass!" Katsuki snarled. "I'm the only guy who can beat him!"
Monoma smirked, looking between Katsuki and Kyoka.
"We'll see..."
Santana yawned, lifting up his t-shirt to check his side wound. Recently, he found that casual human clothing was more comfortable than the alternative. Loincloths, while utilized by his people, are the clothing of old, and business suits never stayed intact when Santana moved the wrong way.
His wound was never going away. Gyro Zeppeli had permanently crippled him in a way.
Truly, he is a worthy opponent. This scar, while detrimental, is also a badge of pride. I was scarred by a Zeppeli.
You see, the more hatred he felt for All For One, the less he felt for the Joestars and their allies. They were still his enemies, but they were enemies he had come to admire.
Hell...he didn't even hate Joseph anymore. He understood why he did what he did, and while he still mourned two of his masters...he understood that they had to go for humanity's sake.
Santana stole a glance at Kars, still on his podium, and shook his head.
In the end...he was pure evil. I'm aware that I'm a villain, but I am one by necessity. He was cruel and heartless, and he only ever cared about his own selfish goals. He doesn't deserve my admiration.
"Santana!"
The leader of the LOV turned around, and gave his surrogate daughter a warm smile as she came wheeling up to him in a wheelchair. The fight with Achilles had severely damaged her spine, she was very lucky it was something she could recover from.
"Yes Himiko?"
"We found it! The thingy you were looking for!"
Santana's eyes widened, and he quickly threw on a jacket and booked it to the intelligence room inside of the LOV mansion. Flinging open the door, he walked past a startled Mr. Compress and pressed a button on the large table in the middle of the room, pulling up a screen with a map of the world.
"Where is it?"
"Here." Compress pointed towards the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. "Tremors and quakes have been travelling across this region for days now. Heat signatures indicate that it's alive and out of hibernation."
"Holy shit...it can't be anything else." Santana breathed out, running a hand through his hair. "Now the only question is...what do we do about it? This thing is dangerous, even for me."
"Why do we have to be the ones to confront this thing?" Toga asked, wheeling into the room. "The heroes are the ones who save people, why are we doing their job for them?"
"They don't know about it...and this is something that I have to do to further accomplish our goal." Santana stated, staring at the tremors on the map. "Besides, it's a threat to anyone who wishes to travel by boat. Killing it will earn the trust of those who wish to invest in our more legitimate businesses."
"I'd hardly call working as assassins a 'legitimate business.'" Compress retorted. "However, there is no denying that it would put us on the market."
One way that Santana had used to accumulate wealth for his organization was by accepting contract killings. The LOV did much more than just scheme behind the scenes, they also owned a plethora of businesses.
A shopping mall that was recently trashed by Hot Shot, a popular strip club, a construction firm, they even managed to sway a chain of grocery stores over to their side, all to fund Santana and co.
To think, Shigaraki would've settled for lying in filth.
"We kill this thing, we earn the respect of the fishing companies, trading firms, and anyone else who has been impacted by this. We could expand our influence worldwide." Santana said, jabbing a finger in his target's last known location.
"Alright...I guess we're doing this...you know this thing is biblical right?" Compress asked.
"I do...it was put on this Earth by God, but a creature of it's magnitude and capacity for destruction would destroy the world if it was allowed to reproduce, so it is the only one of it's kind. Of course...that's the story, and the Bible is known to spice things up a little bit. In reality it's probably just a really large carnivore." Santana said, his lips tightening in a frown.
Toga frowned, looking down at her wheelchair. "I don't think I'll be of much help..."
"You help simply by being here, Himiko." Santana said, kneeling down and putting a hand on her shoulder. "I could never find the strength to fight without someone like you by my side."
Toga beamed, and nodded. "Okay!"
Santana turned back towards the map and smirked, a plan forming in his mind.
"Alright everybody...let's kill a sea monster."
Izuku adjusted his silver gauntlets, making sure that they would properly filter Thriller's energy into his body. Ever since Thriller found a home in Polnareff's old turtle body, the doppelganger of his old enemy made sure to toy with him every chance he got.
Even after death...the Necromancer still found a way to piss him off.
Truthfully, Izuku didn't like this side of himself. Bitter, hateful...it didn't suit him at all. Whenever he felt like that, he felt bitter towards other things.
Katsuki.
He was truly willing to become friends with Katsuki again, he was willing to from the very beginning. Now...however, he began to feel bitter towards his treatment back then, more so than he had before. He found himself wondering how he naively believed that Katsuki was still his friend...
No...Kacchan is my friend. We're both healing...both growing into better heroes. You saw how he was fighting with Kyoka, he's a team player now. He isn't even threatening me anymore...forgiving Kacchan is the best thing I can do.
I want to forgive him...but I thought I already did. This lingering bitterness...I don't like it, it's not me.
As hopeful and optimistic as Izuku was, there were some things that he just couldn't shake. Katsuki did tell him to kill himself after all.
He didn't mean it, but words have more weight to them than a Detroit Smash. He...must know how much a statement like that must've hurt me, right? Of course he does...Kacchan is smart. He's probably scared to apologize...suicide baiting me isn't a joke after all, he knows that it's serious.
It's funny...the Necromancer was my first encounter with pure evil. He is the one villain who didn't get an ounce of pity or respect from me...only hate. Now I'm a bit more cynical than I'd like to be. I never questioned Kacchan like this before...I've always looked up to him.
Izuku shook his head and turned his gaze over to Ochako, who was chatting up strategies with Mina. It was no secret that Ochako, being late to the Musketeers game, was trying hard to catch up to her friends. Just by watching her body posture, he could see that she was determined to prove herself any way she could.
She had been abducted by one of their "enemies" after all, if anything she probably felt the need to push herself even harder to make up for her defeat.
Uraraka...on one hand, it's touching that she's working so hard, but she has to understand that we're not above her. Everyone in the Musketeers considers each other equals, hell, we don't even have an established leader. She's already caught up...sometimes people are defeated, it happens.
Besides, we didn't grow and develop overnight, these things take time.
Izuku tilted his head, perplexed, as he continued to observe her. Ochako was his first UA friend besides Johnny, and she was the one that changed the cruel nickname Deku into a badge of pride. Her honest desire to help her parents out was something he couldn't help but admire, and it honestly showed that she was a hero at heart.
Why did she think she didn't measure up, when she clearly does? What did Ochako have to prove?
Was she trying to keep up with someone in particular?
If it was anyone...maybe it was Kyoka. Ochako had told him numerous times that she looked up to the purplette, ever since the Pluck mission. Johnny? She and Johnny hadn't really interacted much?
...
There's...no way it could be me, right?!
"Kyoka!"
The purplette turned to see Ochako waving her over, and she trotted over to meet her friend. "What's up 'Chako?"
"I was wondering...before we go in there, do you have any advice? You and Bakugo really killed it back there, and so-"
"Need some ideas for strategies?"
"Yep!"
Kyoka smirked and twirled an earphone jack, thinking. "Well, Shinso is probably the person you should watch out for the most. Izuku will probably have a solid plan, but misspeak once and it could all go to shit. Have we ever taught you Morse?"
Ochako shook her head, frowning.
"Shit...and you weren't at the Italy trip so you can't speak Italian...we're gonna have to bring you up to speed with this stuff. Is there any way you can communicate without speaking Japanese?"
"I mean...I know some English." Ochako said with a frown. "No...I'm afraid I don't."
"Hand signals then." Kyoka said, holding up an 'Okay' signal. She then proceeded to use a variety of hand signals to test out Ochako's knowledge.
"'I...can see your underwear?' Is that what you said or am I just bad? WAIT, CAN YOU ACTU-"
"It was a joke Ochako, don't worry. Mr. Polnareff taught me that one, although he seemed...sad when he did it. Hand signals might be good, I'm pretty sure Izuku knows them. You need some form of alternative communication so Shinso doesn't get the drop on you. Or just don't respond unless you see the person's lips moving."
"I bet Deku has probably already come up with that idea...Monoma could copy Shinso's Quirk too." Ochako realized.
"Well, it's best to avoid talking to that asshole anyway." Kyoka retorted, frowning. "He's the type that might say something to piss you off, like what Susan did to me. Keep an eye on Izuku, if that bastard says anything about one of his friends..."
Ochako nodded, and turned towards Izuku with a concerned look on her face. "He's different...not in a bad way of course, but he's a bit easier to anger than he used to be. Ever since he fought the Necromancer."
"Our worst enemies bring out the worst in us." Kyoka replied, remembering her fight with Susan. "The Necromancer though? That guy was a special type of cruel, all those deaths...we have over 80 confirmed now, and that's just in Japan. He even had the audacity to joke about them afterwards. You and his mom could've been among those numbers."
"I guess...I'm just worried he might do something stupid. Does...being a Musketeer mean that we lose our innocence? I mean...we're still kids...and if Deku of all people has become jaded..."
"Being a hero means making sacrifices." Kyoka responded, the purplette's face shifting to one of sadness. This was a side of Kyoka that Ochako couldn't help but notice now that her friend had stopped hiding it from her.
It was the face of someone who was forced to grow up, and was regretting not being able to enjoy her naivety when she had the chance.
"That includes any hopes of a normal teenaged life. I've come to terms with it...and in my opinion it's the right choice. That doesn't mean life is all doom and gloom...it just means we have to come to terms with the fact that this is a dangerous job. Putting on a cape and traipsing around the backyard isn't what we're doing here...we're risking our lives so that others can live theirs in peace."
Ochako nodded, and was about to turn away when Kyoka tapped her on the shoulder with a jack. "Hm?"
"I'm not done, because that doesn't mean you can't live your life the way you want to. Being a hero shouldn't take away from your personal goals either...and you know damn well what I'm talking about. You can't be afraid to take the next step when it comes to him." Kyoka said, putting her hand in one of her pockets and pulled out a familiar father blue hat. "I carry this with me sometimes...to remind myself what hesitation brings."
"That's JoJo's old Steel Ball Run hat." Ochako realized upon seeing the purple stars on the worn fabric.
"Never, ever hesitate to try and find happiness Ochako. It isn't healthy...and if things had been different, I would've lost him that day. JoJo...and what we have actually makes us better heroes and better people. It really is worth the risk." Kyoka said, glancing at Izuku.
"Look, I appreciate that you want to help me, but...these feelings have to come second."
"I'm doing this because you're my friend, and your happiness is important to me...but I'm also doing this for him." Kyoka pointed a jack at Izuku. "I think he needs you more than you know."
Ochako stared at her friend for a solid minute, and then at Izuku. "He does?"
The purplette smirked. "God, it's hard to believe I was once in the same boat...but we've all been a little dense now and then, we're teenagers after all. I'll leave you to figure it out on your own, I'm going to go and ice my jacks, because they really fucking hurt after that shockwave."
"Dense?!"
"One day, you'll know what I mean." Kyoka replied with a grin, and waved her friend off. "Good luck out there, I know you'll do great!"
Ochako stared at her retreating friend in confusion.
"How am I dense? She can't mean..."
The brunette shook her head and turned towards her teammates with a determined glint in her eyes. I can't afford to be distracted, we have a fight to win. After Kyoka and Bakugo put on such an impressive show, we have to keep up. We will win this, just like they did!
I'm a Musketeer now, so I have more to prove. You and me Deku...let's win this!
"What do you mean you won't rent me a boat?" Santana demanded.
"Sorry Lord Santana, I have a business of my own, and I'm afraid you might wreck it." One of the villains on his payroll, River Master, said with a frown. "This is my shop, and that means you're my boss anywhere else but here."
A normal fisherman by day, a water manipulating villain by night, River Master was a stingy man. His body bore scars from several battles with the heroes, as well as some of his seafaring exploits. This man was no nonsense, that much was clear.
The Pillar Man glared at his subordinate. "I. Need. It."
"Look, I like you, and you really are a swell guy to work for...but boats aren't cheap. You get into some really dangerous shit, I saw that fight with Achilles. I don't want my boat full of...space mice or something went you return it."
Mr. Compress stepped forward from behind Santana. "You dare-"
"It's fine Compress, he's a businessman. It's only natural to want to protect your assets." Santana replied with a slight smirk. "Allow Himiko to explain."
Toga wheeled over, her one eye already tearing up as she looked up at River Master. "Mr. River Master sir...I've always wanted to go fishing. My parents never allowed me, because they thought I was a freak because of my Quirk. I couldn't so things like that growing up...*sniff*...and...and Mr. Santana offered to take me fishing...please Mr. River Master, it's my dream."
Compress slowly put a hand to his mask. I swear to God if that works...
"*sniff* Your dream...*sniff*"
River Master was on the verge of tears, the normally intimidating sailor had changed into a blubbering mess by Toga's crocodile tears. "I...had a dream too...I wanted to be an exotic dancer, but my parents wouldn't allow it. You can have the boat, free of charge."
Well fuck.
"Thank you for your kindness." Santana replied, bowing his head in respect, and jerked his head towards the exit, his two compatriots following him outside the fishing shop.
It took a while before Compress finally spoke up.
"Exotic dancer?"
"Did you like my sob story Santana?! Was it good?! Did I cry right?!" Toga cut in, and her boss/surrogate father leaned over and affectionately ruffled her hair.
"You did wonderful, Himiko. Also...yes...apparently that's...a dream of his..."
"...huh..."
"We're definitely going to wreck that boat, considering what we're up against." Toga remarked, adjusting her eye patch while examining one of her knives. "I'm sure I could spin it so the heroes had something to do with it."
"I'll leave that to you." Santana said as he projected Genesis' helmet to protect his face from the sunlight. "Even if he does get angry at us, we'll have a significant cut of seafaring business once we take this thing out."
"What if the Joestars catch wind of this? Or Shigaraki?" Compress asked. "Both are still out for your blood."
"I'm not worried about the Joestars. Shigaraki...on the other hand...he's much more invested in our destruction. He and AFO...honestly, they're just gutter trash." Santana said with disgust. "AFO, as I'm told, had no real reason to become a villain other than he's a comic book geek. As if he wasn't pathetic enough..."
"Like...no tragic backstory? Society didn't reject him or something?"
"No...he's just a shallow geezer who is only defined by his power. Take his Quirk away and he's a pathetic old man with no meaningful values and beliefs." Santana said with disgust. "At least Shigaraki has a reason to be as malicious as he is."
"No wonder people actually respect you." Compress commented. "You're working towards the benefit of outcasts, people shunned just for being different. You rule through respect, and AFO ruled through fear."
"I fully intend to crush his pathetic dreams right in front of him." Santana vowed, clenching a fist in anger. "My empire will dwarf his...I'll make him look as pathetic as he is on the inside. I'll do it by killing Tomura Shigaraki...and saving Tenko Shimura."
"His other half that he keeps repressed? How can you kill one and save the other? They're two souls in one body." Toga asked.
"Something to do with souls, probably. I...can't help but see myself in Tenko." Santana admitted, sitting on a bench to ponder his new goal. "From such a young age, groomed into villainy instead of getting the help he needs. A child soldier...Kars did the same thing to me, and I was as loyal as I could be until recently."
"You don't really call him 'Lord' anymore." Compress said, crossing his arms. "Why?"
"I...read Robert E. O. Speedwagon's notes on Joseph Joestar's battle with my masters. He called me a guard dog, as if my service was nothing to him. He dishonorably stabbed Elizabeth Joestar in the back instead of giving her a proper fight...just like AFO, he only cared about power. Tenko is a victim of grooming and manipulation...just as I was."
Santana looked out towards the ocean, his mind made up. He had come to terms with it by now...
Joseph did the right thing.
Santana had been nothing more than a tool, a child soldier in Kars' war. Now, with his new outlook on humanity, his organization and surrogate family...he finally understood that Kars was nobody to be admired. Wammu was truly the only one he still respected.
Now, he was the Lord. He had his own independent goals to accomplish, and Kars was a rock. The ocean reminded him of his newfound resolve, as it was the next thing he had to accomplish.
He was going to build a world with no outcasts. No one was a "guard dog" or a "freak." He would resurrect his people in the form of Rock Humans (Toga approved), and guide everyone into a new golden age.
Santana would reshape the world, bringing about a new Genesis. No one would stand in his way, not AFO, not Shigaraki...
Not even Kars could stop him now.
Team Midoriya vs. Team Monoma:
Izuku pulled his cowl over his face, but didn't attach his mouthpiece. After all, his teammates needed to know when he was speaking, or they would be taken by surprise with Shinso's Quirk. However, the thermal/night vision lenses on his cowl would be critical in spotting the enemy team.
To his right, Ochako had her game face on. The brunette was as determined as ever, something that Izuku always admired about her.
She really takes this seriously. Uraraka's spirit is indomitable...having her on my team really gives us an edge.
Mina and Mineta were also on the team, and while he could count on Mineta's Quirk and it's versatility, he couldn't help but worry about the pervert's...well, perversion.
If he uses this battle as some excuse to touch the girls, I swear to God...then again, Kyoka mentioned that he was a good teammate during the Pluck mission...and those two can handle themselves. He'd probably get an ass-whooping.
"So...what's the plan?" Mina asked the greenette.
"Believe it or not, we're pressing the attack." Izuku responded, the glowing pupils of his cowl pulsating. "Shinso's Quirk is the biggest threat here, so our job is to seek him out and take him down first. What makes this difficult is that none of us have Quirks suited for tracking...damn, if only Kyoka was here...my special lenses should at least give us an edge."
"Monoma could have copied the Quirk too, don't respond to him either." Ochako chimed in, and Izuku gave her a nod.
"Right. Our target is Shinso, this is a sting operation. The others will be protecting him...so we need a plan to break through their guard...and I just might have an idea..." Izuku said, slowly turning towards Mineta.
"Er...Midoriya? You have a very JoJo-like expression on your face right now, and it's kind of scaring me..." Mineta said, shaking raising a finger in protest.
"Mineta...have you ever heard of a move used in comic books called the 'Fastball Special?'
Monoma grinned as he positioned himself on one of the pipes, waiting for Izuku's group to arrive.
It might be unheroic, but hurling insults is the best way to defeat Midoriya here. I heard he's childhood friends with Kujo and Bakugo...they're good targets...although Tokage would kill me if I insulted Kujo. I hope she's doing okay...
Either way, we need to make Midoriya angry so he snaps at us, and Shinso can use his Quirk. He's the predictable altruistic type after all, what's he gonna do?
"aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHH! COMIIIIIING THROOOUGH!"
"WHAT THE HELL?!" Monoma screamed as Minoru Mineta was thrown directly at him at the speed of a bullet. He barely ducked out of the way, only to find Izuku Midoriya readying an air bullet.
DID HE JUST THROW HIS CLASSMATE?! IS HE NUTS?!
Monona jumped off of the pipe as his classmate Yui Kodai used her Quirk to enlarge a piece of debris, stopping Izuku's attack, but the OFA user kicked the metal to the side, still aggressively pursuing Monoma.
"What is he doing?! Monoma, you said he'd go on the defensive!" Kodai shouted in a panic, only to be met by a certain Mina Ashido landing in front of her.
"Nope! We're going all out! Of course you'd think the green bean would hold back, he's too nice. However, flipping the script worked well in the last fight, why not this one?"
Shinso peeked out from behind a pipe, watching as the offensive his team had planned crumbled. So much for an all put assault, Midoriya beat us to it. Honestly...this is not the same guy I fought at the Sports Festival.
Aizawa's prodigy smirked. This just got much more interesting.
"Holy crap...Midoriya's relentless! He's barely letting the other team breathe!" Sero cried out, watching the fight with his jaw hanging open.
"Heh...the damn nerd's copying me again." Katsuki muttered with a smirk. "He threw the Grapist to disorient the opponent, since they'd never expect an attack like that from him."
"He's being unusually aggressive." Ida noted, frowning. "Midoriya has always been courteous, even in battle...well, at least with other students. He has really amounted quite the offensive. It appears as though defying expectations is a running theme here."
"Izuku understands that a good defense is sometimes a swift and precise offense." Johnny replied, crossing his arms. "Give the enemy time to think, you lose the advantage. Monoma was also planning an offense, but Izuku struck first. It was a good call."
"Shinso appears to be planning something." Gyro noted, pointing at the screen. "Monoma may have been caught off guard, but Shinso is the trump card here. Izuku has to know that...so why go after Monoma?"
"He has a strategy." Momo replied. "Izuku has only ever been reckless in his self-sacrificial moments. This aggression has a purpose...the question is...wait! He's drawing out Shinso! He's intentionally having his team ignore Shinso so he can bait him out!"
"That does seem like a Bakugo plan to me, Izuku has always had a habit of taking pages out of someone else's book. The way his teammates are postioned...Shinso would only be giving himself away if he made a move." Kyoka pointed at the screen. "Shinso ain't dumb though...he'll probably wait for an opening."
"Izuku's offensive is only the start of whatever he's about to do." Johnny responded. "He's thorough."
Kyoka narrowed her eyes when Ochako came onto the screen, and poked her boyfriend with a jack to get his attention. Johnny, recognizing Kyoka's "I want to talk" face, walked away from the crowd to duck behind an alcove.
The purplette arrived a minute later in order to not raise suspicions. "Okay...no one spotted us."
"What's wrong? Is this about what To-"
"Nah, fuck Tokage. This is about Izuku and Ochako." Kyoka said, leaning against the wall with a frown on her face. "Don't you think that something is a bit...fishy...about the two of them?"
"Do you mean their obvious feelings for each other?" Johnny asked.
"That...and something else. Something a little more concerning." Kyoka lowered her head, rubbing her temples. "Izuku hasn't been the same since the Necromancer fucked with him, we both know that. He's matured, but he's also a bit...pessimistic. It just doesn't seem like him, and that weird shit with One For All and dreams..."
"Something is happening to him." Johnny agreed, and Kyoka immediately recognized something as soon as she saw her boyfriend's expression.
"You're worried."
"Have been ever since he told me about the dreams. Quirks...don't normally do that, and they certainly have nothing to do with souls. Seeing the previous users of OFA...is it something supernatural? Or is it something about OFA that we have no idea about yet?" Johnny asked. "Either way, it leaves me with questions."
"What if his anger is tied to that?" Kyoka theorized. "Think about it. Before the Necromancer he was literally the purest form of life, but now he's had a shift in perspective, his Quirk may have reacted to it...like how mine is reacting to Hamon."
"It's possible...what's wrong with Uraraka?" Johnny tilted his head to the side in confusion.
"She's repressing her feelings...and we both know what can happen when you do that."
"We were both dense and confused teenagers. Repressing feelings, romantic or not, is one of the worst things you can do. I know that better than anyone." The former jockey remarked, recalling the many times he lied to his friends during the Steel Ball Run and the Eri situation. "Your inner darkness only grows...and you end up hurting the people you love."
Kyoka brought her hand up to Johnny's cheek, caressing it. "You know I've long since forgiven you for that."
"I know, but it's a mistake I'll keep remembering until the day I die." Johnny responded.
"Maybe...you're the best person to talk to her about this." The purplette realized.
"Er...Uraraka and I don't interact much outside of the group..."
"Never too late to change that. She's a Musketeer now-"
"I fucking hate that name."
"-so we really need her to feel like she belongs. JoJo...I'm really worried about her."
Johnny pressed his lips together and looked his girlfriend in the eye. She had the look on her face, a look that he couldn't stand. It the 'Johnny, please' look. He couldn't resist no matter how hard he tried.
God damn it...I'm caving...
"I guess...if I have a mission coming up...I can bring her along. That way I can talk to her, and she feels included."
Kyoka grinned and kissed Johnny on the cheek. "Thank you...y'know, for a depressing asshole...you really are a sweetheart deep down."
"You're lucky you're cute." Johnny muttered, and squeezed her hand. "Besides, if we're really going to form a hero agency in the future...it's best that we make the atmosphere inclusive. Now...I think we've been missing out on Izuku kicking ass."
"Think he's caught Monoma yet? I want to see that smug bastard get his shit rocked."
"Izuku could've caught him at any time, he's probably just putting Monoma in peril to trick Shinso into a rescue attempt." Johnny theorized as the couple began walking back to their class. One thing he noticed was that Kyoka wasn't letting go of his hand.
"Er...people mig-"
"I don't care." The purplette responded, her hand slightly tightening around his.
"You don't?"
"Nope."
"Why do I have a feeling you're doing this to spite Tokage?"
"...I'm sick of being afraid JoJo. I just lectured Ochako about how it is dangerous to hesitate with these kind of things, and I refuse to be a hypocrite. Yes, I am spiting Tokage...and standing up to her. I'm done trying to hide what we have."
"Are you sure?" Johnny asked, stepping in front of her. "I'm all for being open about this, but I don't want Tokage to influence that decision."
"This isn't really about her. This is about us." Kyoka responded. "So I'm gonna hold your hand, deal with it."
Johnny remained silent for a minute, and then smiled. "I'm proud of you, you know that?"
"I do...you big softie." Kyoka teased, playfully poking her boyfriend in the cheek with a jack. "I'm proud of you too."
Ochako grunted as she avoided a piece of debris that was chucked her way. Thanks to the grappling hooks in her anti-nausea wristbands, she had better maneuverability in zero gravity. The 1-B team had recovered from their sudden ambush, and had mustered up a decent counterattack.
Shinso is the target...but Deku's plan hasn't failed yet.
Wait...
Should I have made a plan? Am I relying too much on him?! His plan just seemed so good, but I'm a Musketeer now! I should be making plans!
Ochako shook her head. It was too late to take action now, Izuku already made a solid plan, and she didn't want to disrupt it.
"Why must I suffer?" Mineta asked, after recovering from his abrupt flight.
"You deserve it!" Mina hollered back, enthusiastic as ever.
Ochako chuckled as she redirected one of Yanagi's attacks right back at her, and for the most part everything was going well. They had a good chance of-
"DEKU! HELP! AAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGH!"
The brunette paused upon hearing...herself...screaming in terror. Obviously, she wasn't terrified or using her voice, so it had to be Shinso attempting to trick Izuku.
Ha! As if Deku would fall for...
"You are...however...special to Izuku Midoriya." The Necromancer/Thriller's maliciously gleeful voice rang in her head, and Ochako grunted in annoyance. Just when she had been managing avoid thinking about the annoying doppelganger's taunt, it came back to bite her in the ass again.
"No, we have a plan. Stick to it!" Ochako reprimanded herself. "Deku is smarter than that, he knows it's a trick."
A green bolt of light shot towards the sound, and initially Ochako was afraid she'd have to eat her words, but she quickly realized that there was no way he wouldn't have seen her.
He knew it was Shinso, and was heading towards the sound to complete the sting operation.
Right, Deku takes Shinso, we deal with the others until he does. Then, it's my turn.
Izuku's plan was just that, taking turns. Inspired by Kyoka and Katsuki's "Trojan Horse" manuever, Izuku wished to expand upon it by rotating leadership with every takedown. One would press the attack when the others provided support, and then it would switch.
It was brilliant.
But...why am I feeling uneasy? Like something bad is about to happen?
Izuku grunted as he chased Shinso around the pipes, trying to catch his old rival, but the purplette was quite skilled with the capture cloth.
"So, heard that you and Kujo are childhood friends! Is that why he beat the shit out of you at the Sports Festival?"
Monoma... Izuku growled to himself, but didn't respond. What Johnny did that day was to make him stronger, and the greenette had taken his friend's words about hunger to heart.
For this win...I'm starving. You won't shake my resolve Monoma, go waste your time somewhere else!
"Eh...can't really make fun of him. I have to admit his comeback was pretty badass." Monoma commented, giving chase with what appeared to be Yanagi's Quirk. Apparently he could also float himself. "So, what's the deal with him and Jiro anyway? Asking for a friend."
"Monoma, you're annoying me too!" Shinso grunted as he swung around a pipe and over Izuku's head. "Cut it out!"
"This is how we win, Shinso! Tell me Midoriya? Were you trying to be smart like your dear friend Bakugo? That little attack at the beginning just felt like something he would do." Monoma continued to taunt.
I'm not responding to you. I know what you're doing.
"Man, I'm surprised you don't hate him, considering he ended the Symbol of Peace."
...
The fuck did you just say?
"Poor wittle Bakugo, kidnapped by the viwwains! Has to rely on a second rate support hero to get things done!" Monoma said with a sly grin. "How can you idolize that guy? He's pathetic!"
What would you have done in that situation Monoma? What...WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE?!
KACCHAN WAS SCARED! AND...
KYOKA ISN'T SECOND RATE!
There was no way Izuku was letting those comments go unpunished. Making fun of his friends, especially as harshly as Monona just did, was where he drew the line.
Anger simmered as Izuku swirled around from chasing Shinso, aiming his silver Air Force glove at Monoma.
TAKE THIS YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!
Just when Izuku was about to fire...
A massive tendril of black energy shot out instead. Izuku blinked, his mouth hanging open, as he stared at the phenomenon that was occurring before him.
"What in the...?"
Then it exploded, and the tendrils were everywhere.
