Disclaimer: I do not own My Hero Academia/Boku No Hero Academia, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.

Toshinori's Choice

Chapter thirty-five: Investigation, part three

The heroes had just scored a very major win. Endeavor's group been bested for the most part; most of Endeavor's men, as well as the disgraced former hero himself, had been captured. Only a scant few known members of Endeavor's group, such as Burnin, were able to escape, but they are being tracked down at the moment, and with all of the heroes on the case, those scant few who were able to initially escape will be found soon.

Not only that, but all of Dabi's Crew, aside from Usagi and Felgrand, had been caught as well, and in the same incident where Endeavor and most of his followers were caught no less. This removes the two largest villainous group threats from the board that Japanese hero society is working with. It's also partly the fault of Dabi's subordinate Toga as well; she had acted too hastily when she saw that it looked like Dabi would lose out on getting to kill Endeavor, also Toga thought that the heroes were swaying over Usagi and Felgrand.

Due to Toga's act designed to keep this from happening, instead of keeping the allegiance of Usagi and Felgrand secured, Toga who was caught as she tried to act ended up making what she feared would occur come to pass, at least to some extent. Usagi and Felgrand, both beyond upset with what Toga tried to do to Tsuyu Asui, immediately turned on Dabi's Crew and helped the heroes not just with securing Endeavor and his men, but also everyone in Dabi's Crew.

However, Usagi and Felgrand, who are Tsuyu's little siblings Satsuki and Samidare, didn't immediately come over to the heroes. They are still wary, still scared to an extent. The heroes knew that making the kids feel at ease, making the kids trust them and letting the kids know that they can be trusted, was important here. It's no different from getting a scared kid in an emergency situation to trust a hero who came to save them.

What was especially important about saving Tsuyu's little siblings is that they have access to info that the heroes can use to help clean up the last of the influence of Dabi's Crew, as well as deal with what all Endeavor left behind. That info could be put to good use, to clean everything up and put all worries to rest for good. But the heroes all agreed that saving a pair of scared, wary, alone children was of far greater importance than any info on villainous interest.

As such, it was Shouta Aizawa who agreed that what Tsuyu said ought to be followed; doing things here on the terms that Satsuki and Samidare had set forth. Basically, Tsuyu and a number of others approved of by the younger Asui siblings would meet them at a location that Tsuyu explained was called Tsudrasill. Toshinori Yagi, aka the former Symbol of Peace All Might, actually knew of what the froggy girl was talking about.

When Hizashi asked what Tsudrasill was, Ryukyu also spoke up. There was a situation a few years ago where this one ideal picnic area in a forest was being threatened with development. Said area was picturesque; lush vibrant green grassy ground, clear skies over a forest top, pleasantly cool forest atmosphere, and a clean, crystal clear lake with an island in the middle that had an utterly huge tree growing on it.

One family who enjoyed taking picnics there was Tsuyu's family. Hearing that the picnic area was in danger, Samidare being a fan wrote a letter to Ryukyu telling her what was happening and asking for her help to save nature. Ryukyu brought this to All Might's attention, thinking the clout that he was able to command would help. Help it certainly did, as it had saved the area by getting it turned into a national park. Also, the lake was home to an endangered species of aquatic life form, so that had really helped save the area.

Given that he had set the process of saving the area into motion, Samidare was asked if he'd like to name the park. Samidare, who was eight at the time, wanted to name the park after the big tree on the island in the lake, which he had named Tsudrasill, a mix of his older sister Tsuyu's name and the world tree Yggdrasill from Norse mythology. This all also just so happened to have fallen on Tsuyu's birthday at the time, and Samidare who is into Norse mythology thought that his older sister would like a world tree for her birthday.

Thus the area came to be known unofficially as 'Tsudrasill Park', named partly after a girl and her world tree. The park's actual name is technically 'Asui Park', based on the Asuis as a whole, but the Asui parents thought that Samidare's gesture for his older sister was sweet. Tsuyu, for her part, was also touched, as she knows enough about Norse mythology due to Samidare's interest in it to know that the world tree is very important.

This leads to where Tsuyu and her group had to go; Tsudrasill was designated as the meet up spot, or at least the meet up would be along the shore of the lake the island where the world tree was located was set. Additionally, due to Satsuki and Samidare still being wary of the heroes, only a very few number of select persons could make up the group set to meet with the younger Asui siblings. It was just Mirko, Ryukyu, and their respective interns; Tsuyu was part of the group as she's one of Ryukyu's interns, but being the older sister of Satsuki and Samidare also helped.

Additionally, no other persons were allowed to interfere or try to force their way onto the task force. Mera, who headed up what was left of the HPSC which was kept on a tight leash by the Japanese government, gave full control of handling the situation to the heroes as he felt the heroes knew best and would not interfere. Aizawa, who felt getting the kids to trust the heroes was vital to the heroes finding success here, was glad for the cooperation from Mera.

This all led to Mirko and Ryukyu, with their intern teams, setting up a picnic lunch on the ground near the shore of the lake at Asui Park. There were a few picnic tables set up, and Ochaco who had covered the costs for all of the picnic goods was helping to get everything set up. There was quite a spread, including chicken tenders, baked beans, mashed potatoes, even some dessert items like cake. There was also quality soda, with at least a few bottles of the respective favorite sodas of Tsuyu's younger siblings.

"Alright Round Face, I gotta admit it," Bakugo said, an amused smirk on his face, as he and the others were getting everything ready, "You sure know how to cater an event."

Looking to Bakugo, Nejire with a mildly confused look on her face, said, "I thought her name was Uraraka, not Round Face."

"Nejire-senpai," Tokoyami spoke up as Dark Shadow who was out hung next to him, "Bakugo has dubbed most of our peers in Class 1-A with all manner of various nicknames, ranging from neutral to demeaning. He's also likewise dubbed most of our fellow students in Class 1-B. What few in Class 1-B who don't have some manner of nickname from Bakugo simply haven't been gotten to yet, and to my knowledge our only compatriot in Class 1-A not nicknamed by Bakugo is Kirishima."

"I call him Stupid Hair sometimes," Bakugo remarked.

Pointing at Bakugo, Mirko said, "Yeah, you're Mitsuki Bakugo's son, alright."

"So how do we know if and when Asui's younger siblings will come?" Todoroki asked, "We have no way to contact them to tell them we're here, so we could be waiting for-"

*ROAR*

Todoroki was cut off when he and the others heard a dragonic roar, coming from the direction of the island. They turned to look and saw Felgrand in his dragon form, holding something to his chest carefully, flying across the lake in a beeline for them. When he had crossed the lake, he set down what he was carrying, which was Satsuki with a backpack. Felgrand then transformed to his true form of Samidare. Both of the younger Asui siblings looked up at the others, although Satsuki was clearly trying to hold in her fangirl-ing because Mirko was right there.

"You kids were waiting on the island?" Todoroki asked.

Nodding once, Samidare said, "There's this one area we can hide behind so no-one can see us, and even if people would think to find us on the island they wouldn't be able to reach us easily."

Nodding once, Bakugo remarked, "Fair enough. Now we can get down to business."

"Not until Tsuyu's little siblings have eaten at least a little first," Ochaco insisted, drawing approving nods from Tsuyu, Nejire, and Ryukyu.

...

Everyone got to eating lunch, during which Bakugo asked if he had to share the ranch dipping sauce for the chicken tenders with anyone. Only Nejire expressed specific interest in the ranch dipping sauce, and Samidare stated that he actually doesn't like ranch. "Guess that means more for me," Bakugo replied, glad to see there was at least one person who had no intention of touching any of the ranch dipping sauce.

"So Satsuki, Samidare," Izuku began, "First off, we're all proud of the both of you, both for helping to bring in Endeavor's forces and Dabi's Crew."

Satsuki, after eating a steamed baby carrot, said, "Toga tried to put her knife into Tsuyu. She wanted to hurt me and Samidare's big sister, and trick us into thinking a hero did it instead. Toga and the others aren't our friends anymore, not after they tried to trick us and also try to hurt Tsuyu."

"Wait, did the kid just eat a vegetable?" Dark Shadow asked while pointing at Satsuki, "I thought that kids hated vegetables."

"I had Ochaco bring a few vegetable items for the picnic lunch because my little siblings need to eat some vegetables kero," Tsuyu explained, "Although getting Satsuki to eat vegetables had always been a bit tough. She at least is willing to eat carrots, although I'd have to say it's thanks to influence from Mirko who's known to love carrots."

"See? I told you all I can be a good influence on kids," Mirko said.

Bakugo rolled his eyes as Izuku went on. "Regardless, it's great that you kids are showing that you two want to do good," Izuku said, "Helping to bring in Dabi's Crew, as well as Endeavor and his men."

Samidare ate a piece of Brussels Sprout, and the Brussels Sprouts had a honey sauce glaze, before speaking up. "Endeavor killed me and my sisters' parents. Of course we weren't gonna let him get away with it."

"I miss mom and dad," Satsuki said sadly, "I remember when we had dinners, and mom insisted that I eat my veggies. Tsuyu having some steamed baby carrots put on my plate and then she insisted I eat them reminded me of mom."

"Now you see part of the reason why I insisted on some vegetable items for the picnic lunch kero," Tsuyu whispered to Ochaco.

Izuku could tell that, to the younger Asui siblings, their family meant more than anything. Their mom and dad and older sister; it was Toga attempting to attack Tsuyu that spurred Satsuki and Samidare to turn on Dabi's Crew and round all of them up for the heroes to capture. It was Endeavor being a reckless asshole whose recklessness got the Asui parents killed that spurred Satsuki and Samidare into looking to get revenge by any means necessary.

Which led to Satsuki and Samidare becoming Usagi and Felgrand respectively.

But now, due to the act that Toga attempted to carry out, the younger Asui siblings are aligned to no company. What's more is that they could make or break what's left of Dabi's influence, as well as help with rounding up what's left of what all Endeavor has left laying around. And who knows? The younger Asui siblings may also help with suppressing another large group of quirked individuals who are up to anything but good.

The heroes just had to work well with kids, and they'll have gotten everything tied up. "I know that no-one can ever replace your mom and dad," Izuku began as he addressed Satsuki and Samidare, "And no-one can ever expect either of you two to do so. But there is a home waiting for the both of you, there's a family waiting to take you in and give you both what you need, what you're missing. If you let them, of course."

Satsuki and Samidare perked up. "Someone wants to adopt me and Samidare?" Satsuki asked.

"Take you both in as foster kids at first kero," Tsuyu clarified, "The process of adoption isn't fast, even with all of the appropriate legal wheels greased. But you two do both have a home waiting for you, as well as a loving couple willing to be your foster parents until they can adopt you."

Ochaco nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's actually my parents," Ochaco began, "They've already taken in Tsuyu here, she's already my foster sister. And I'd love it if you two became my foster siblings as well."

"Will your mom make me eat my veggies?" Satsuki asked.

"Will they let me do my homework immediately when I come home from school?" Samidare asked.

"Will they tell me to keep my room clean?" Satsuki asked.

"Will your dad understand that I don't like ranch?" Samidare asked.

"Will they let me play with friends?" Satsuki asked.

"Will they let me watch the six o' clock evening news every night?" Samidare asked.

Together, the younger Asui siblings asked, "Will they keep us?"

Ochaco and the others smiled warmly, with Mirko finding some degree of amusement in how they had asked so many questions. It was actually rather cute, as well as tugging at the heartstrings, that for what all power the two kids both have, they're still kids. Ochaco herself chuckled a bit, in sincere amusement, before she began the somewhat lengthy process of answering every question that Satsuki and Samidare had just posed to her.

"Yes Satsuki, my mom as well as my dad will insist that you and your brother eat your vegetables," Ochaco began, "Yes Samidare, they will let you do your homework as soon as you get home, they'll insist on you as well as Satsuki doing so. Yes Satsuki, you will be expected to keep your room clean, and the same applies to your brother. Yes Samidare, my dad as well as my mom will understand that you don't like ranch, they won't make you have any if you don't want. Yes Satsuki, my parents will let you play with friends. Yes Samidare, they will let you watch the evening news although I'm a bit surprised any kid likes watching the evening news. And of course my parents will keep you."

Satsuki and Samidare both turned to look at one another, then back to Ochaco, then back to one another again, then to Tsuyu who they looked at as if expecting guidance. "Ochaco and her parents truly are a lovely family," Tsuyu said, "They can't replace mom and dad, but that won't stop them from at least trying to make things warm and safe for us."

The two younger Asui siblings then looked to everyone as a whole. "...I'm willing at least," Samidare began, "But I wanna be sure the heroes will work with what info Satsuki and I have properly."

"Well it depends on what info you have," Izuku said.

Samidare then reached into the backpack he and Satsuki had and took out a folder, handed it to Ryukyu. "This contains info on what all areas that Dabi and the others had sway over," Samidare said, "Including the whereabouts of a Dr. Ujiko who I feel ought to be tracked down and captured, although you may need to be careful as he's reportedly a slippery weasel of a man according to what I remember Dabi saying."

"Given me and Samidare rounded up Dabi and the others," Satsuki spoke up, "The doctor weasel man is bound to try to hide. Hopefully there's details in there that will help track him down."

"There's also info in there about a group called the Meta Liberation Army," Samidare said, "A group of quirked persons estimated to have a count that's at six digits. By all accounts, they have no good news planned for the pro heroes of Japan, and the culture and society we know right now."

Izuku and the others were surprised to hear the part about the Meta Liberation Army, as it sounds like a literal army of villains with at least one-hundred thousand members. The fact that the heroes had no warning of this until now was a major failing on part of the heroes, and the younger Asui siblings giving warning of the Meta Liberation Army now was as much of a blessing that the heroes could have asked for about the situation at this point.

"You... you kids certainly were right to inform us about this," Tokoyami said, both he and Dark Shadow looking like they were paleling out of shock.

"If there's anyone I can trust to lead the heroes to stop the Meta Liberation Army, it's Ryukyu," Samidare said, "It's why I handed the folder to her."

Ryukyu, looking touched and sincerely amused, remarked, "Well I'm certainly glad to have the confidence of a child I'm trying to help. Don't worry, the other heroes and I shall put this information you and your little sister gave us to good use."

As Samidare nodded once in acknowledgement, Satsuki said, "Oh! There's one more thing we need to tell you, something that we didn't put in that info folder because Samidare and I both forgot the person's name."

Samidare, looking like he understood what his little sister was getting at, remarked, "Yes. It's the identity of Dabi's spy at UA."

"So Dabi DID have a spy among our ranks," Todoroki said, his expression grim, "It would explain so much, especially with how you kids kept getting certain bits of information."

The two younger Asui siblings both nodded in agreement. "Yes, Dabi's spy was supplying us with the info," Samidare remarked, "I'm not sure why or how Dabi got the spy working for him, but their work proved very effective at getting Dabi info that he said would otherwise would not be able to get off of UA grounds."

"You said that you kids forgot the spy's name," Nejire began, "Can you at least describe what he or she looks like?"

Nodding once a few times, Samidare said, "Yes. It's that blonde sparkly boy who wears armor, speaks French, and fires lasers from his belly button."

"The spy is Aoyama?!" Izuku exclaimed.

"The spy is Aoyama?!" Todoroki exclaimed.

"The spy is Sparkles Fantastic?!" Bakugo exclaimed.

The rest of the Class 1-A students looked shocked to learn that not only was there really a spy among their number who was working for Dabi and his crew, but the spy turned out to be Aoyama of all people. They never would have expected that Aoyama had been working for the villains all this time. The betrayal was real.

Satsuki looked a bit confused. "Aoyama? That's the sparkly French boy's name?"

"Yes, Satsuki," Tsuyu replied, sounding a bit hurt and betrayed, "Aoyama is the name of the person that you and Samidare had identified as the spy."

A look of remembrance and realization appeared on Samidare's face. "Ah yes, now I remember who we're talking about. Yugo Aoyama. According to what little I know about Yugo based on what Dabi had told me, the potato faced grandpa man who Dabi was the successor of was owed a debt by the Aoyama family. My guess is that Yugo Aoyama was put to work as a spy."

Both Ryukyu and Mirko had no idea what Samidare was talking about when he said 'potato faced grandpa man', but Mirko saw a look on Izuku's face that made it clear he had an idea. "You know something, Broccoli Top?" Mirko asked.

"I believe that Tsuyu's little brother is referring to my dad's arch nemesis who he vanquished during the Battle of Kamino Ward," Izuku spoke up, "We'll have to bring this to dad's attention when we're down here."

"The villain that All Might slew in that catastrophic battle," Ryukyu said, "He's connected to the Aoyama boy and his family?" Most of the others at the picnic lunch lacked extensive knowledge of the villainy of All For One; only Izuku had knowledge as Toshinori shared with him, and Izuku gave a few details in secret to Tenya, Todoroki, and Shinso while stressing to them to not tell anyone. To this day, Izuku's friends had all kept their word and are still sworn to secrecy.

The interns and two pro heroes now had a lot of intelligence to work with, due to what all the two younger Asui siblings had provided. Aoyama being the UA Traitor aside, there's also info on what all Dabi left behind, as well as details on a doctor ally of the late All For One. There was also some info that could prove useful in helping to clean up the mess Endeavor left behind, and there was also a bit of advance warning on the Meta Liberation Army.

The heroes were going to be busy for quite some time yet, it would seem.

After the picnic lunch was done, Satsuki and Samidare took off; although they were willing to come in eventually, they didn't want to do so yet because they wanna see if the heroes can use the info they provided properly, the two younger Asui siblings wanted to be sure they could trust the heroes to be good. Given what all the heroes had on their plates, it was going to be quite the metaphorical meal to get through. But luckily, justice was the favored meal of the heroes.

Cleaning up the last of Dabi's influence was the easiest part; he had a few locations that were manned by minions ranked below members of Dabi's Crew. One of the places was a private hospital where the heroes discovered to their shock that Midnight was found there, kept in a medically induced coma while a small amount of blood is periodically taken from her. Later inquiry confirmed that Toga, whose quirk allowed her to turn into others by consuming their blood, was behind this.

When the ten students listed by Kaminari were being monitored, Midnight who was monitoring Aoyama was knocked out and captured when she visited the Aoyama family residence. Then, the eighteen only hero was taken to the private hospital, put into and kept in a medically induced coma, and a small amount of her blood was periodically taken from her for Toga to use to transform into her and infiltrate UA, effectively giving Dabi two spies working around on UA grounds.

Toga, taking advantage of Midnight's role as the Modern Hero Art History teacher, tried to set up the live nude model sketching assignment, as such an assignment actually does have some presence in the field of art, and tried to pass it off as Aizawa's idea. This was done in the hopes that Satsuki and Samidare, upon hearing that Eraserhead was planning to have someone be naked in front of Tsuyu, would seek to wreck the underground hero for 'having naughty stuff done around their sister', effectively removing a major threat to Dabi's efforts.

During a raid on a hideout that Dabi's Crew had, they found a journal of Toga's in which the crazy girl wrote about her times since joining Dabi's Crew. When the part covering the training camp attack was reached, Toga wrote about how she took blood from Ochaco although ultimately nothing came of it. According to a little bit of preliminary testimony from Dabi who was currently in Tartarus right now, Toga's a crazy bitch.

Also, Dabi upon learning that Usagi and Felgrand beat him and the rest of his Crew and turned them over to the heroes because of what Toga did, swore that if he were to ever got the chance to do so, then he'd kill Toga, consequences be damned. But that's besides the point.

The heroes as they cleaned up the last of the influence that Dabi's Crew left behind also discovered something about Burnin, one of Endeavor's followers and one of the few still at large. As it turned out, Burnin while still a villain was actually a spy as well, working for Dabi and his Crew to help them with eventually getting to Endeavor. It did explain how Burnin was able to get away from encounters, she was focused on it so that she could continue to do her job as Dabi's spy within the ranks of the Flame Villain.

Additionally, the heroes learned that Burnin was Dabi's spy because she was honestly, sincerely, irrevocably, head over heels in love with Dabi. The heroes were surprised to learn this, especially as they got it Burnin was actually doing spy work for Dabi BEFORE Endeavor's fall from grace; Burnin actually was one of the few sidekicks working for Endeavor who got the chance to continue doing hero work even after Endeavor fell from grace, but she chose to follow Endeavor into villainy as per Dabi's word.

As such, the info that Dabi's Crew left behind on what monitoring they were doing on Endeavor's forces allowed the heroes to track down and apprehend the last of Endeavor's men, including Burnin whose allegiance had shifted prior to Endeavor being stripped of his hero status. With that, both Dabi's influence and Endeavor's influence were in their respective entireties cleaned up and taken off the board for good.

There was also the successful tracking down and apprehension of Dr. Ujiko, the doctor friend of the late All For One. They also found his lab, all of the stolen quirks he had in storage, even a few nomus. Everything was destroyed, and Ujiko himself was taken into custody and made to spill what all that he knew. Ujiko, giving off an air of defeat, willingly talked, speaking like a man who knew that everything was over now.

Then there was dealing with the Meta Liberation Army; thanks to the provided info naming names, the heroes were able to capture all key players of the Meta Liberation Army, although said capture of the big playera in the MLA being announced on the national news first thing the following morning led to ALL of the soldiers of the MLA running wild and causing chaos all over the place, leading to a large chaotic mess that virtually every active pro hero in Japan, as well as a good many hero academy students who had provisional licenses, had to be mobilized for to deal with.

The pro heroes focused on the fighting while the licenced hero academy students focused on side work like getting civilians out of the way. The UA hero course students were surprised when Usagi and Felgrand showed up to help keep MLA members from rushing them, although the two elites simply by showing up and being there scared the MLA members into turning tail and running in the direction opposite of where Usagi and Felgrand stood.

Which led to those soldiers running into the pro heroes.

After about ten days straight of fighting the MLA soldiers, the heroes had them suppressed for the most part; a small fraction of the MLA soldiers' numbers managed to avoid arrest, but that small number was nothing the heroes couldn't handle after the holidays. Processing the sheer number of arrested quirk users was estimated to take so long that it'll go on into the next year, and some of the pro heroes weren't sure there's enough room in all of Japan's villain prisons for all of them.

But that could wait until AFTER the holidays. The hero students of various hero academies had a hell of a time at their various Christmas parties. The mood at the one on UA grounds was a bit on the down side as Aoyama and his parents were recently arrested for their connection to Dabi's Crew, but things perked right back up when Toshinori and Inko brought in Izuku's little siblings, Eri and Kota, both dressed in cute little Santa themed outfits.

As Eri and Kota mingled with the Class 1-A students, Aizawa followed by Hizashi and Nemuri who looked to have recently recovered from something, came in leading both of Tsuyu's younger siblings, who were both looking for Tsuyu. True to their word, Satsuki and Samidare, once they saw that the heroes properly handled things, came by so that they could go home to the home that Ochaco's family had waiting.

The Class 1-A students got a kick out of seeing the kids interact with one another, and the girls all gushed over it when Satsuki identified Kota as 'the cute boy' and said she needed to find where the mistletoe was hung so she could take Kota over and kiss him under it. There was also the giving of gifts being done, and as per Aizawa's word the random gift giving more or less had to be nixed. As such, specific people exchanged gifts with other specific people.

When the group of Izuku, Tokoyami, Ochaco, and Tsuyu exchanged gifts with each other, they all turned to look and saw Izuku's little siblings and Tsuyu's little siblings all looking up at them. Izuku and the others invited the kids to join them, an offer they all accepted. As the holiday celebrations went on, everyone felt that things were going to look up.

...There was still some clean up to do, though.

END, CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Author's notes;

This chapter sees the heroes successfully work with Satsuki and Samidare, getting info and trust from the kids that led to the last of known villainous efforts being cleaned up. Sorry if things were more telling at the end, but things are being wrapped up here; yes, I'm bringing this story to a close soon. I intend to tie up a few loose ends before covering the last main hanging line; what happened to the Yaoyorozu fortune?

You'll see that answered over the next few chapters here.