In the future...
Uravity had her eyes glued to her phone when she walked into Hatsume's lab. She received urgent messages, written in bold and in caps lock. The message read: COME TO THE LAB!
She looked up to see Hatsume, Abigail Winters, and another familiar face when she walked in. "M-Melissa?" Uravity wondered.
The blonde, Quirkless genius turned to the anti-gravity hero with a smile on her face. "Ochaco! I'm glad you got our message!" She said as she rushed over to hug the pro hero.
Uravity smiled as she returned the hug. "It feels like forever since I last saw you. How are things?" She asked.
Melissa made a 'so-so' hand gesture. "Busy. I've been doing a lot of traveling to clean up the I-Island incident 12 years ago. Some countries are still a little wary of working with a company that worked with villains," she admitted. "But I just finished my tour a few days ago, so I came by to see if there was anything I could do to help with Deku."
Uravity's smile narrowed. "Thank you." She gestured to the two young tinkerers beside her. "Did they fill you in?"
Melissa nodded. "Time travel is a risky endeavor. Never mind the massive amount of energy required to punch a hole into the universe; you need something to contain that energy so it doesn't create a wormhole that'll destroy the Solar System. Once you figure out containing the fracture, then you have to worry about somehow going to the right time," she said. "It's risky!"
"I agree, but Deku and the Chaos King somehow did it. One for All doesn't have a time-jumping Quirk, nor does the King. Whatever happened was some cosmic fluke that we need to repeat," Uravity said.
Hatsume turned away from Abigail and inserted herself between the two ladies. "And you picked the right gal to repeat the cosmic fluke!" She grabbed Uravity and Melissa's hands before dragging them further into the lab. Abigail followed close behind.
"When we finished the raids against the Discorders, Abi and I started to dig into quantum theory, and we knew right off the bat that creating a time machine would be impossible if we started from scratch," she said. "We don't have the power capable of punching a hole in the universe and digging our way to Deku, so we got stuck for a minute."
"Then we remembered that she had done it before," Abigail said.
Melissa looked at the young tinkerer. "Wha-really? She never mentioned that, and we worked together for years!" She exclaimed in disbelief.
Hatsume chuckled. "That's because the project...well, it caused the very problem I tried solving," she admitted. "See, Greenie and Ocha were teleported to another universe one night, and for over a month, I was looking for a way to bring them back. I eventually created Baby #142, which has the capability of punching through one universe and into another."
Melissa's eyes widened. "Goodness...how was that possible?"
Hatsume shrugged. "I just took samples from the rift that opened above the school, worked my magic, and eventually built my Interdimensional Cannon. I presented it to the teachers one day and fired into the Multiverse," she said. "Unfortunately..."
"That shot made its way into the universe we were trapped in, but when she recalled it, it reappeared in a different time," Uravity said. "It opened the very rift that sent Deku and me across the Multiverse."
"A self-fulfilling prophecy..." Melissa mused.
Hatsume clicked her tongue. "Correct! So...we got to thinking about how that happened. Abi and I were pulling all-nighters trying to figure it out, and then..."
"We figured to try something out by sending a drone into the rift above U.A. to test a theory. As it turns out, the Multiverse is carefully woven together like a spider web. Each universe is carefully connected by strands of energy that we guess was either the work of interdimensional travelers or just part of the Grand Design," Abigail said.
"YEP! But that's not the best part either. Check this out: the Multiverse is moving!" Hatsume exclaimed as they approached a large object draped in a tarp.
Once they stopped moving, Melissa stared at Hatsume. "E-Excuse me?"
Hatsume smiled. "YEP! MOVING! Like the planets orbiting the Sun, all universes are constantly in motion. They seem to be falling through this...void of nothing! No universe is where it's always been, but the connections remain the same. Those connections don't break!" She exclaimed.
Uravity could only stare as Hatsume realized what Uravity had been trying to tell her for 12 years. On the other hand, Melissa was silently contemplating the information. "I-It makes sense, sort of. Currently, the Earth is falling through space at an incredible velocity, but since the planet is massive compared to us, we can't feel the change. For the universe to be moving through space at a similar method; however, that would imply a conscious design choice, especially with it being a web-like structure," she explained.
Abigail waved her off. "We can go over the Metaphysical implications later, but what we're trying to say is that the Multiverse is a legitimate concept, and we can use that to find Deku," she said.
Melissa blinked. "So he's in another universe?" She wondered.
Hatsume shook her head. "We were hoping that was the case a month ago, but things have changed. We've been monitoring U.A. records as well as yearbooks, alumni testimonies, and our memories. Uraraka helped us out, but Momo has been the most helpful," the pink-haired tinkerer said.
"Momo? How?" Uravity wondered.
"Well..." Abigail reached over to a countertop next to her and grabbed a clipboard. "She had the most interactions with an older Deku back in high school. She confessed to learning a lot about the future, including the Siege of Tokyo. She spent more time around him because of the subject, quietly demanding more to save lives."
Uravity pursed her lips. "I...I see."
Abigail looked at the anti-gravity hero. Her expression remained neutral, prompting her to continue. "Well...it seems like Deku also involved her and several others in a Bootcamp training session for a month. While Momo's combat ability hasn't changed since we discovered that, the timeline didn't change. His actions may have become a part of history," she said.
The anti-gravity girl crossed her arms. "Abi, the recap is nice and all, but were you going somewhere with this?" She asked.
The healing hero nodded. "About an hour ago, we were going over our invention when something happened. Our monitor lit up, and recorded footage of a battle in Minato appeared. It was covering the action after heroes secured the area, and going by the timestamp on it, the video is roughly 12 years old," she said.
Uravity uncrossed her arms. "Minato...that sounds familiar..."
"It should...because you were there 12 years ago. There was you, Momo, Kyoka, Eijiro, Denki, and the others, including Deku and Midoriya," Hatsume said.
Uravity shut her eyes for a moment. "I can't place it. I might need some time to remember that day," she said.
Abigail and Hatsume glanced at each other. "The thing is...you guys weren't the only ones there. The Discorders introduced themselves as an independent criminal organization that day too," Abigail said.
Uravity and Melissa's eyes widened. "H-How? They loaned extra villains to other corps before flying solo. What changed?" Uravity wondered.
Hatsume walked over to a computer monitor and pulled up the archived footage. "The Chaos King happened," she said.
The old news report started to play, and the anti-gravity girl could already recognize herself talking to a younger Deku behind the reporter. She saw Mr. Aizawa walking away from a tent propped in the middle of the street and out of frame. Abigail talked as the footage played. "To us, this never happened before the footage popped up. Not only was the Chaos King there, but a few Nomu as well. An eyewitness on the ground said that two people were drugged and transformed into those monsters, which can only mean one thing..."
"The Instant-Nomu...the Chaos King took some with him," Uravity said through a glare.
Abigail nodded. "It's become more important than ever to get to the past and bring them back before the timeline changes. If the organization gathers more power, they could rival or team up with the Paranormal Liberation Front. In either instance, Tokyo may end up having a worse outcome than it originally did," she explained.
"So now we're trying to rescue Izuku and the timeline. I didn't expect this when I applied to U.A.," Uravity said.
"None of us did," Hatsume mumbled.
"I should've stayed on I-Island..." Melissa said.
Abigail waved them off from their thoughts. "Regardless, we need to get them. Thankfully, we have an answer," she said. She gestured to the tarp by the wall. "So we figured that time travel would require a ton of energy just to break through the dimensional barrier. Thankfully, we have a workaround," she said.
She removed the tarp, revealing a strange vehicle. It was a chrome mono-cycle with two leather seats. The cycle had one large headlight with a glass case with a familiar gemstone inside."Behold Baby #1963, otherwise known as the Time-Cycle!" Hatsume exclaimed while she waved her hand over the vehicle.
Uravity and Melissa both felt their shoulders slump. The anti-gravity hero gingerly pointed at the mono-cycle. "W-What's that?" She asked.
Hatsume looked at the mono-cycle, turned back to Uravity, and smiled. "It's a time machine...why? What's wrong with it?"
"W-Well...I don't know if you noticed, but it has two seats..." Melissa stated.
Hatsume nodded. "And?"
Uravity gestured to herself. "Someone has to go back in time, grab Deku and the Chaos King, and somehow come back to this time, right?"
Hatsume nodded. "It sounds like you're not getting something," she admitted.
Uravity glanced at Melissa. The blonde tech genius shrugged and stepped closer to the mono-cycle. "Well...I don't imagine either of them would appreciate sitting on each other's lap. What gives?"
Abigail sighed. "I told you she would ask that," she said.
"What? Greenie can sit on her lap. That's why I made the back seat a little bigger," Hatsume said, defending her baby.
Melissa ran her fingers across the handles of the mono-cycle. "It's...it's a real time machine?"
Abigail nodded. "I petitioned for a time machine with enough room to fit a lot of people, but THIS one," she gestured to the pink-haired tinkerer, "wanted something sleek and fast. We figured out an answer to the multiple people issue, though."
Abigail revolved around the mono-cycle. "The Time-Cycle is a combination of some of science's latest work, including Baby #142. The Dimensional Cannon possessed technology capable of punching through the universe and connecting to another universe using a genetic lock. That same lock creates a pathway, so traveling between universes isn't as risky as it sounds," she said.
"We also used the Janus Stone you got from the other universe to make the trip easier. These two components allow for easy travel in time and space. While the space is small, we managed to utilize the Janus Stone's ability to make a portal that connects two universes without issue, unlike the Dimensional Cannon," she continued to explain. "Our two tests have confirmed that time travel is finally doable."
"But don't you worry! We didn't gamble on any sporting events or accidentally kiss our younger moms," Hatsume interjected.
The statement caused Uravity and Melissa's eyes to widen. "Well...there's an image I didn't need," the blonde inventor said.
Uravity shook her head. "So we can create portals?"
Abigail nodded. "The portal would be a pathway between the time you came from, so at this exact moment, and wherever you end up. The machine will secure the connection, and instant travel will make sure that reinforcements are ready at a second's notice," she said. "Travel in a pair and return as an army."
Uravity surveyed the mono-cycle. The dashboard had the Janus Stone inside a glass case and a few sets of buttons. Abigail gestured to one of them. "Press this one to activate the Janus Stone. Flip this switch to activate the portal that would bring reinforcements. These switches activate an auto-balancing system in case the ride gets a little shaky," the tinkerer said.
Uravity nodded. "Okay then...I'll let the rest of the Agency know. I know Mina wants to help, and Kirishima is raring to follow as well," she said. "I think I'll bring Bakugo with me, and we'll open the portal to let everyone else come through."
Abigail nodded. "Perfect. Give us a few hours to prepare for the trip. I want to run a few more tests to ensure it works. Maybe we can throw in an extra seat," she said.
"I feel like the two seats were enough," the anti-gravity hero said.
Hatsume smiled. "Oh, honey...do you know who you're talking to?"
Uravity groaned. Hatsume only smiled and turned to her lab partner. "Yep, she knows!"
In the present...
The police had isolated the street as soon as Kirishima and Mina came back. Kaminari was helping assess the Tesla Nomu, and as soon as it was safe for the officers to get closer, they secured the body and pitched a large tent over it. An ambulance and police transport vans were also on-site as the villains were loaded up and prepped for transport. The two civilians that transformed into Nomu were sitting in the back of an ambulance. The medics were checking them over. Reporters and curious civilians tried to get answers, but the police and the remaining pro heroes kept them from getting too close.
Iida and Midoriya were helping the police by moving foot traffic along. Bakugo was talking to the detective on the scene. Uraraka was also talking to the officers while gesturing to the damaged buildings in the fight. Thanks to a few quick-thinking teens, the civilians inside the buildings managed to escape when the fighting happened. While they were not licensed to use their Quirks, the police gave them a pass considering the circumstances.
Near one of the growing crowds, two police officers stood guard with a few wooden barriers. The officers stepped to the side when a man rushed past them. He wore a beige coat and hat with a worried look on his face. "Makoto? MAKOTO!" He screamed.
The woman sitting in the ambulance perked up at the mention of her name. She stood up and looked around, and when she saw the man in beige running toward her, her eyes widened. "Naomasa!"
Naomasa Tsukauchi ran up to her and hugged his little sister. Makoto tightened her hug with strength rivaling All Might. Tears start to fall as she starts to shake. While he was trying to hide it, Tsukauchi let his tears fall as he began to console her.
While this was happening, a small group of adults had convened near the tent where the Tesla Nomu's body was. Deku, All Might, Principal Nezu, and the police commissioner talked about the situation. From the tent, Mr. Aizawa emerged while shaking his head. He joined the group. "Well?" Principal Nezu asked.
Mr. Aizawa sighed. "It doesn't make sense. A Nomu changed with just a few chemicals doesn't seem possible. From what we know about them so far, the process is lengthy, and the person has to be dead to be transformed," he said.
Principal Nezu sighed. "It appears that some things from the future cause us more harm than good," he said.
Deku nodded. "And there is only one group responsible for the Instant-Nomu. A group you've dealt with before, sir," he said.
Mr. Aizawa's eyes narrowed. "The Villain Factory..."
Principal Nezu turned to Deku. "Have you dealt with them in the future?"
Deku nodded. "I led the raid that shut down the Factory. Without All for One and Doctor Giraki, the Factory ran under the Chaos King's orders. He supplied the Quirks, and they provided the drugs. They developed the Q-Series rifles, allowing the Discorders to steal and sell Quirks. The best Quirks go to the Factory, and the cycle continues," he said.
The commissioner glanced at Deku. "So you know where they are?" He asked.
Deku shook his head. "They move around a lot. We managed to pinpoint their location by chance," he said. "In this time, I have no idea where they are. It's likely they also have a head's up of where not to go in the future."
"Changing history in the process?" All Might wondered.
Deku nodded. "Thank you for bringing the rest of the cure, by the way. With the full dose, they won't transform back," he said. "But the Instant-Nomu serum existing in this time is concerning."
The commissioner nodded. "How can we get it off the street?"
"Well, assuming the Chaos King doesn't have the contacts that he has in the future, his web of connections must be small. He's likely consolidating strength to take me down, but I'm not the only threat to his organization. Underground heroes have been striking against the Discord Organization for years, not to mention the other villain groups out there. A villain crew rising suddenly is sure to make enemies," Deku said. "Out of all of them, the Paranormal Liberation Front would be the deadliest against the organization."
"Really?" All Might wondered.
Deku nodded. "One brave idiot with a Q-Series Rifle can take down Shigaraki. One Q-Series Rifle can kill the Demon Lord," he said.
All Might glanced at Principal Nezu. "I'm conflicted..." The former Symbol of Peace said. "If the rifle existed about ten years ago, All for One would not be the problem he is today, but it's a villain's tool for controlling the world."
Principal Nezu nodded. "A weapon like that changes the game. I'm relieved that you have your Quirk intact," he said.
Deku rubbed his stomach. "It's been used on me. Due to the nature of my Quirk, the rifle needed a constant connection to force it out," he said. "It only happened once, and it'll never happen again."
All Might and Mr. Aizawa glanced at each other. The police commissioner crossed his arms. "Well? What do we do?" He asked.
Deku glanced at the police transport van. "The Discorders are small in numbers, but they're strong. If the Chaos King is consolidating strength, then arresting him would bring any vials of the serum into the light. He wouldn't put it on the street, so he'd likely have it at his base. That means that he could have powerful Instant-Nomu ready to defend if an assault occurred. The Villain Factory has also made strides in their scientific talent, but they're primitive compared to the future. Any serum he tries to make will ultimately grow weaker with every batch. It's best to crack down on any Trigger dealers on the streets. That'll demoralize any future dealers while also shrinking the Factory's distribution network," the Symbol of Peace said. "Search industrial zones for any unauthorized traffic. They're out of the way and are perfect testing grounds for the Instant-Nomu."
The police commissioner nodded. "I want to patrol the coast, but I also want to escort the kids back to campus. I'm afraid that the Chaos King will target them next," Deku said.
Mr. Aizawa nodded. "Please. I'll round up any Underground pros to search the city. There are plenty of heroes in Tokyo that can help," he said.
Deku glanced at Principal Nezu. "Sir?"
Principal Nezu looked at All Might. "Your Tower isn't far from here. We can coordinate with local heroes to find the Discorders," the Chimera suggested.
All Might nodded. "Commissioner, it's safe to assume that there are more Nomu out there. All heroes need to be on ready alert. We will send a message through the Hero Network when we're ready to coordinate," he said.
The commissioner smiled. "That's why you're still the Symbol of Peace to me," he said. "We're with you."
The commissioner saluted at the heroes before turning and walking away. Deku watched the man leave and sighed.
"Young man, are you okay?" All Might asked.
Deku nodded. "Ever since the Seige of Tokyo, I've been picking up the messes that villains have left behind. I inherited the title of Symbol of Peace that day, but it took a long time for villains to see that I was not like Endeavor," he said. "The Chaos King is one of the many villains actively pushing back against our campaign."
"You say that like there is still a war to be fought," Principal Nezu commented.
"Well...one war ended in a victory, but I pray for those who sit on their laurels and grow fat from their spoils," Deku said. "Some of us never stopped fighting for a better world after the P.L.F. collapsed."
Principal Nezu kept his gaze on Deku. His face was neutral, masking any emotion or indication of his thinking. After a moment, however, Aizawa was the one to speak up. "Problem Child...what's the Seige of Tokyo?" He asked.
Deku paused for a moment to register the question. After a minute, he felt the hairs on the back of his head stand up. Pins and needles crawled up his head as he felt his heart rate pick up. "U-um..."
All Might glanced at his successor. "Young man, is everything okay? What's wrong?"
Deku turned to his master. "N-Nothing. I'm sorry for bringing that up. I'll escort the kids home," he said. He turned on his heel and walked away.
Once out of earshot, Principal Nezu rubbed his paws together. "I have a bad feeling about the future..." he said.
Mr. Aizawa nodded. "All Might...why do I have the feeling that something big is about to happen? A siege? Only one group could be responsible for organizing an attack."
The former Symbol of Peace nodded. "We have to focus on what's happening now. We have work to do," he said.
The pros reluctantly nodded before separating.
When the group boarded the train bound of Musutafu, Deku made sure he got a private room. The room had a sliding door and glass walls, so while privacy wasn't an option, he was disconnected from the rest of the train. The others had followed his example, so now everyone was in the private car and their rooms. He noticed his younger self sit with Bakugo, Uraraka, Yaoyorozu, and Kirishima. Mina, Jiro, and the rest of the group were in a different room.
While waiting for the train doors to close, he watched the people boarding. Danger Sense allowed him to detect malicious intent, so he could tell if someone had any when they boarded. Unfortunately, he had run into a problem with the Quirk early in life: some of his enemies had calm demeanors and could hide their emotions well.
Danger Sense wasn't omnipotent. If someone didn't possess those emotions, he couldn't sense any danger, even if they attacked him. The Chaos King had slipped by him several times in his youth, and each time had been costly. Keeping an eye on his surroundings had become more critical than ever.
After a few moments, the train doors closed, and they were off. The bullet train system was relaxing, and the gentle rocking tempted Deku with some sleep. Fighting against the Instant-Nomu had sapped him of energy, so now he wanted to sleep. Of course, he still had to be on guard, so he settled for a compromise.
Deku flexed his fingers and stretched his body, releasing the tension between his joints. He brought his feet up, so he sat cross-legged on the seat. Bringing his hands to the space between his legs, Deku shut his eyes and bowed his head.
"Enhanced Senses: Enhanced Touch. Enhanced Hearing," he muttered.
With his Quirk active, Deku allowed himself to drift. He felt the movement of everyone in the car and could hear a few conversations. He sighed as he filtered out the conversations that the kids were having. After a few minutes, he found that everyone else's conversations didn't hint at any malicious intent.
The gentle rocking of the train eventually lulled him into a small nap. The ambiance around him faded into the background as he found himself dreaming of a family outing with Uravity and the kids.
The dream started with an afternoon at a nearby park. The family had opted for a picnic before leaving the city for a short vacation. Both pro heroes had found gaps in their schedules to enjoy some time off, but years of being a pro meant that you had to be ready regardless. Both pros carried their suitcases with their hero costumes inside.
Deku smiled as the dream played out. The city was quiet, and the park wasn't too crowded with other families. Koda argued that he was too old for a picnic, but he couldn't hide the smile on his face as he enjoyed the day.
The dream-Eri had sparkles in her eyes as she enjoyed the picnic. Uravity had a smile that outshone the Sun, and Deku couldn't feel happier.
Unfortunately, dreams never stayed happy. Deku surveyed the dream, and he found the world grow cold. He turned to dream-Uravity, and she was covering Eri in a hug. "Izuku, come quick! It's Eri!" She screamed.
"PAPA! PAPA!"
Deku clenched his fists. "HELP ME, PAPA! HELP ME!"
Deku's Enhanced Senses faded as his eyes snapped open. His eyes locked on Uraraka and Bakugo as they poked their heads into his room. The two young heroes leaped out of their skin once Deku's vision cleared.
"What. Do. You. Want?" Deku seethed, shaking from the nightmare.
Uraraka's eyes were wide. Bakugo's was about the same, but he fought through the stunned silence that gripped the Anti-Gravity hero. "D-Deku? What the fuck...?"
Deku clenched his fist. The sensation of his nails digging into his skin made him calm down to see what he was doing to the young heroes. He turned to the window, and he saw his reflection. His eyes had changed color.
Panic set in. He slapped his hand over his eyes and lowered his head. "I-I'm sorry..."
Uraraka eyed the explosive young hero. She then moved past him and sat opposite Deku. Bakugo took the seat next to her, but he left some space between them. "Deku? Are you okay?" Uraraka asked.
"I thought your eyes changed to blue. What the fuck was that?" Bakugo asked.
Deku shook his head. "Just a side effect of Paraly-Stare. Don't worry about it," he muttered.
Bakugo crossed his arms. "Bullshit..."
As soon as the explosive young hero said that word, he felt a shiver run up his spine. Deku peeked through his fingers to look at Bakugo. His eyes returned to normal, but the glare was intense. "Excuse me?"
Bakugo refused to answer. Uraraka sighed. "Deku, what happened earlier?" she asked. "That villain knew about One for All?"
Deku lowered his hand and eyed the young heroes. They both held a serious look as they stared him down. The Symbol of Peace cursed under his breath before he leaned close. "There's a lot to discuss, and the train isn't a good place for it," he said.
"Bullshit. Start talking!"
Deku shook his head. "We'll talk later," he said.
"Deku, we need to know. He revealed it to everyone. Those pros back there will be asking questions, and those villains now know that there's a Quirk he can steal. A Quirk that has had nine wielders before him," Uraraka said.
"But-"
"No but's. This is important," the Anti-Gravity hero said. "You know I don't like agreeing with Bakugo, but we're both concerned. We want answers."
Deku cursed again. "I supposed you're right. Getting you two to agree in the future is as impossible as breathing in space," he said. "My primary concern is Jiro listening in on this, though."
"Why would she be listening?" Bakugo wondered.
"Because I just had a nightmare, and my heart was racing. It's likely she picked that up and is still listening to satisfy her curiosity. Am I right, Jiro?" Deku asked.
The two young heroes turned to glance at each other. After a minute, Uraraka's phone pinged.
The Anti-Gravity hero checked her messages. "She says sorry," Uraraka said.
Deku nodded. "Look, there is too much in play right now for me to open up about the future. Yes, the Chaos King knows about One for All. You can thank All for One for that," he said. "I assume you're also curious about the Instant-Nomu serum."
Both young heroes nodded. "Well...what I can tell you is that this sort of thing happened before. I assume you are well aware of the villain Number Six, right? The only visible associate of the Villain Factory," Deku asked.
Bakugo nodded, but Uraraka shook her head. "Who is that?" She asked.
"An older version of what Shigaraki is. You can ask Aizawa about the Trigger and Instant-Villain situations back when he was younger. The Instant-Nomu is an improvement on what the Factory was doing. With those drugs on the streets, anyone can become a villain and be a nasty piece of work against the heroes. The Instant-Nomu, however, is worse. You can beat back an Instant-Villain without any issue compared to an Instant-Nomu," Deku said. "People can live long after being transformed into an Instant-Villain, but the Nomu? It can't be done."
"Like that zappy Nomu earlier?" Bakugo asked.
Deku nodded. "He was like that for a while. You've seen their brains before, right? For the Instant-Nomu, the transformation is only complete when the brain breaks through the skull. If that happens, all of the victim's humanity is destroyed with no way to recover it," he explained. "Thankfully, the two civilians weren't permanently transformed."
Bakugo scoffed. "Have you ever tried using that cure after the brain pops out?"
Deku turned to the window and sighed. "I have. I wouldn't make that claim if I didn't try," he said.
Silence filled the room. The countryside had opened up, giving them a view of the dark landscape being blanketed by the light of the moon. "Everything I do and everything I say has meaning, Katsuki. I tried using the cure, but the Nomu refused the drug. I pumped nearly a hundred doses into a Nomu to test it, and the results were disappointing. We tried rehabilitating the Nomu in the hopes to reverse the transformation, but it escaped custody and nearly wiped out Aldera while class was in session," Deku said.
Bakugo gripped his pants. "Damn..."
"But you stopped it, right?" Uraraka asked.
Deku nodded. "From then on, fighting the Instant-Nomu became tricky. How do you fight a living bomb when any punch can set it off? That's why I wanted you to stop attacking it with your explosions," the Symbol said. "An explosion could've doomed that civilian to a lifetime of being one of those monsters."
Bakugo leaned back in his seat. "So, how the fuck do you fight those things?"
Deku huffed. "It's challenging. Paraly-Stare is partially helpful, though it helps when the target's mental state is weakened. A strong, structured mind is hard to pierce, but not impossible," he said. "Of course, One for All mixed with a powerful version of the Quirk makes it stronger than it was before."
Uraraka nodded. "We still need to know why he knows about One for All, Deku," she said. "That's my concern."
Bakugo grunted in agreement. "Look...it's no secret that I possess One for All in the future. All for One revealed it to the public and promised peace if someone came forward with my head on a plate. Instead of outright revealing my identity, he caused mass panic and discourse within the country. Neighbors turned against each other, and heroes lost faith in themselves and their comrades," Deku said.
Uraraka started to fidget with the hem of her shirt. "So...people know about One for All?"
Deku nodded. "For the most part, people know that I have a unique Quirk. Most don't care since I use my Quirk to help others. There are a few villains that have tried taking it, but that's never worked out well for them. But-"
His train of thought had ended. He suddenly got up, and walked out of the room. "What the-?"
"Deku? What's wrong?"
The Symbol of Peace didn't answer. He scanned the hallway. Everybody was in their seats and talking. He saw Midoriya poke his head out of his room and do the same thing. The two Midoriyas locked eyes, causing Deku to turn to the doorway leading to the next car.
Deku suddenly felt an itch crawl up the back of his head. As he reached for it, Danger Sense flared. His heart stopped as he turned to Midoriya. He was feeling the same because he was clutching his head.
Time stopped. "NO!"
Deku and Midoriya fired Blackwhip. The Quirks wrapped around anyone it could find. A second later, the pin on the grenade was pulled, and the reaction was immediate.
Two explosions rocked the train. Both explosions originated at the doors leading to other cars. The car leaped from the tracks and tumbled into a ditch. The engine stopped and derailed along with what was left of the caboose.