Mongolia - Ulaanbaatar Airport

Out in the Mongolian Capital, the once lively airport - the international connection to the rest of the world - was now filled with unused and unusable runways, with many of them destroyed, trashed, or just deemed too dangerous for aircraft to land on.

Yet now one of those runways was cleared of danger as one large commercial plane was seen preparing to depart for its first flight in over a few years. With its destination being the Japanese capital, Tokyo.

So that's why the sound of the roaring engines of one large commercial phone was heard and known throughout the entire country, the mighty vehicle slowly warming its large engines for takeoff.

Its destination?

The flight from Ulaanbaatar to Tokyo will leave in 10 minutes. I repeat the flight from Ulaanbaatar to Tokyo will commence in 10 minutes. Thank you.

A row of people was seen hastily walking toward the commercial plane with their tagged luggage. Most were Japanese citizens who were making their way back home after being trapped for a long time. All were enthused and relieved to finally be able to return home after so long, with tears, hugs, and goodbyes littering the once-silent station.

All save for one.

A lone figure amongst the small crowd stood quietly, his body wrapped in a dreary aura and his dark green raincoat. With his meager possessions crammed in a large duffle bag and his backpack, he could at least agree on one thing with the others:

The war was finally over, and he was glad that he could finally go home.

"Everyone, please move to your assigned seats..."

The dirt-covered passengers shuffled clumsily through the plane, silent save for the sounds of crying infants.

Eventually, the lone passenger made his way to the back of the plane right into a corner. He carefully pushed his large duffle bag into the bag cabin above him, before placing his backpack underneath his seat.

The flight to Tokyo will take an estimated time of six hours or longer. Please sit down and remain patient for the flight. All food and drinks will be provided free of charge after takeoff. Thank you, and please enjoy the ride.

Weak cheers and claps filled the cabin, but the passengers remained silent otherwise.

The young man slowly peeled his coat off, revealing a teenager who couldn't have been older than sixteen. His clothes consisted of a dirty white shirt underneath his jacket, a torn pair of cargo pants, and a cap to cover his hair.

Young age aside, he looked unremarkable, save for his once favorite pair of red high-tops with white soles and black laces - the last remnants of the old life he left Japan with.

"Time to go home…" the boy murmured before he finally allowed himself to sleep.


Tokyo - Tokyo Police Department

*Yawn!*

A blonde-haired woman dressed in a purple and pale, tan-colored skin-tight bodysuit with orange stripes let out a shameless yawn as she stretched her arms, flaunting her body carelessly like a peacock.

"I see you're ready, Yu," one of the other Pro Heroes snorted, sitting next to the drowsy heroine. "Try to not sleep through the briefing, will you?"

A long-time friend, partner, and companion of hers, this hero, in contrast in terms of modesty, wore a dark, blue bodysuit that included a wooden belt, wooden knee pads, and wooden shoes. A small bundle of roses hanging from the left side of his belt, Kamui Woods helped himself to a seat next to hers.

"Give me a break, will ya, Kamui?" Mit. Lady groaned as she cracked her neck. "I just finished up my night patrol and I'm suddenly called up here for an important mission. A lady needs her sleep, you know?!"

"Duty never rests," a large, muscular man grunted as he sat down behind them. "The police commissioner's received some important intel."

"About what?" Mt. Lady asked, looking uninterested. "What's so important that it interrupts my beauty sleep?"

"The end of the Gobi War."

Those words silenced the room in an instant, both police officers and Pro-Heroes facing the Chief of Police. A man in a suit who had a quirk that turned his head into that of a Beagle, Kenji Tsuragamae cleared his throat.

"I apologize for calling you all so early, but I just received confirmation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the Gobi War has just ended - a definitive ceasefire has been imposed with all parties in agreement."

This got everyone to turn towards each other to murmur around and ask questions, as some other heroes in the back were asking more questions.

"Chief, I don't see what's the problem for us being summoned here for," one blonde, sharp-toothed Ryuko Tatsuma asked. "Why are we called in for a foreign affair?"

"Because of the foreign fighters who are now returning home," Police Chief Tsuragamae answered while holding a piece of paper in his hands. "The UN ordered all foreign combatants to return to their countries of origin - one plane just left Mongolia heading for Tokyo."

That alone made the realization come to these Pro-Heroes, with some who were silent in the background, one with red wings on his back.

"So we're the welcoming party."

"In a sense, yes." The beagle police chief held up the piece of paper. "We're on the lookout for several men on this list who are expected to be on that plane. My officers will hand over copies to everyone in this room.

As copies were being given out left and right, one police detective received two copies and was then seen standing up to then leave through the back door, in front of everyone else to see it.

Including the few Pros in the back who watched him leave.


Naomasa Tsukauchi, a police detective, was seen exiting the building through the back door of the Police Department, moving to a dark corner where he was supposed to meet someone.

"Naomasa."

The detective turned around and saw the person who he recognized.

"All Might."

Coming out of the shadow was a blond man who looked anything but All Might. Skinny and frail and looking like the life was sucked out of him, the skeletal man was wearing a white t-shirt with green baggy pants.

"You made it in time, good." Naomasa handed the copy over to his friend. "You doing good?"

"Well, it can't get any worse if I'm being honest," Yagi Toshinori said, holding his hand over his mouth as he asked, "So, what is it you called me for? I'm kinda busy with preparing myself for my new job."

"It is something very important," Naomasa said, handing over the paper. "It's potentially a national security threat."

Accepting the copy, Yagi took it and began reading it through. The lower his eyes moved, the wider they got as curiosity and worry filled his heart. He was looking at arrest warrants, that much he was familiar with, but it was the title they all had in common that piqued his interest:

Potential Quirkless Extremists

"Are we dealing with the Steel Sabers?" Yagi asked worriedly.

The Steel Sabers - a group of infamous terrorists that prided themselves on hunting down heroes. Consisting of a shockingly small number of quirk users, they held a terrifying record of how many heroes - both Pro and in training - they had slain like animals. That's why when they suddenly went dark, the world rested a little easier.

There were rumors as to why they had ceased their attacks completely. Infighting was one of the popular theories, but there was a main one that the officials were going with.

"No, Kunstlers."

The Panzer Kunstlers - German for "Tank Artists" - were a mysterious group that seemingly rose from the ashes of the Steel Sabers. Whether that was their new name or whether it's a rival group that overthrew the Sabers - nobody knew. All they knew were two things:

1 - They consisted mainly, if not only, of Quirkless people.

2 - They somehow learned how to defeat someone as powerful as a Pro-Hero.

Even cyborgs - especially cyborgs - didn't stand a chance against these Kunstlers. Heck, there were rumors that some of the Kunstlers were cyborgs themselves, which could explain some of their mysterious abilities.

Cyborgs. Half-human, half-machines. Now that was certainly a shock to the world.

Somewhere in Europe, a villain was caught after assassinating a public official. But rather than being taken in for questioning, he took his own life, destroying his head beyond recognition. But the most fascinating part was his highly advanced mechanical parts. Initially thought to be illegal support items, it turns out that he had instead sacrificed parts of his flesh in favor of mechanical powers.

If you asked All Might, these Kunstlers were cyborgs in disguise. Even the most advanced martial art known to man couldn't possibly overcome the pure power of the most dangerous of quirks.

"So what, these are suspected Kunstlers?"

"These were issued by the Hero Public Safety Commission, so all hands are needed," Naomasa said, shuffling through papers. "Nothing too hectic – we just need to observe them while they come out of the plane and bring them to trial."

"Why not arrest them on the spot?" Yagi asked.

"Normally that'd be the procedure, but we heard these targets have just entered the plane without being checked in. Whether it was through either bribery or just the lack of cops there, I don't know, though I would go with the latter," the detective explained. "Plus the Commission wants to handle this as quietly as possible."

"Quietly?" Yagi raised his eyebrow at that, scoffing. "Now that's new coming from those suits."

"Either way, we're all expecting to keep an eye on the arrivals. But specifically, one person of interest who we know will arrive in a few hours."

"Oh? Who?" Yagi asked, pushing the paper away. "Some volunteer bandit of some sort?"

"On the contrary, according to intel, he's someone that was high up the list," the detective said, reading through the documents. "Not much is known about him except he was close to the rebel leadership, a volunteer from Japan, and was a member of the Assault battalions that regularly were on the front lines. A dangerous individual."

Hearing this just made All Might tense up even more, nearly buffing up out of reflex.

"How come there's not much known about him?"

"Who knows? Tons of Quirkless people disappear every day, and these Kunstlers usually keep to themselves. So we've got nothing on him; no name, no physical description, or if he'll even be there," Naomasa sighed, before he perked up. "However, we do know one thing to look out for."

"And that is?"

"He wears red high-top shoes."


Plane

The passengers squirmed in their seats, either trying to get some sleep or successfully falling asleep. Save for one individual, who has been awake since the flight began.

Sitting in the back and looking through the window, the young teen in the raincoat stared into the clouds that the plane was flying through, spotting the lights down below on the ground floor.

[Breaking news - The Gobi War has officially come to an end with the UN finally having put a halt to all hostilities in Mongolia with the rebels still having a hold on the capital. Ending this four-year bloody border conflict-]

Hearing this brought a smile to the young man's face, but then it turned back into a grim look, upon hearing the following:

[With the end of this conflict, many of the foreign fighters who had entered the conflict over the years, are now ordered to leave the country as a condition. With many of these fighters expecting to be arrested once they return to their countries of origin, the prospect of them being prosecuted for violating laws-]

*Click!*

Shutting off the news broadcast in front of him, the young man let out a sigh. Same story, the same outcome. Looks like he might be in for another fight.

No, fighting might not be the best tactical choice. Run? Would they still track him down? Hide? Unlikely. Fight? He'd rather not do that…

After four years…he's ready.

He pulled his backpack out from underneath his seat. Opening it up, he took out a notebook that read:

Hero Analysis for the Future

Grabbing for a pencil, his scar-covered skin tingled under the bandages as he opened the notebook.

With an empty page to his right, the left side was filled with a description of one woman whom he witnessed in one of the last battles he participated in.

"One more time, I guess," the solemn voice spoke. "One more…"


A few hours later

Tokyo International Airport

With the Pros having arrived with the prepared authorities, so had an unwelcomed third party of people.

The Press.

*FLASH!*

Like a swarm of locusts, they had arrived at the airport and spread around with whole teams searching for a good scoop. The local airport security were finding themselves overwhelmed by the number of people they had to keep back.

"Respect the order and get back in line!" one security guard ordered while making a wall with several other airport security. Dozens of other police officers moved tirelessly to stem the journalists away from the main income hall. "Move!"

A few photographers took the chance and started slipping through and running for part of the airport that was supposed to be closed off. But a situation like this was bound to attract them.

"It's Mirko!"

"Mt Lady!"

"Death Arms is also here!"

Then their attention turned to the Pro-Heroes who had now arrived, swarming them much to the nuisance of the Pros who were trying to reach the police officers.

But then one flaming man made his way through.

"Endeavor has arrived!"

The upcoming hero Endeavor himself had arrived at the airport, ignoring the flashlights of the journalists taking pictures of him while he reached the security forces.

"Who's in charge here?"

"I am, sir." One police officer got up before his men and saluted. "My men and I are ready, standing by for further instructions."

"The passengers of the plane from Mongolia."

"Plane has just landed, but we've got eyes on the docking areas."

Endeavor nodded and turned to the other Pros, having no need to tell them what to do as he just raised his hand and gestured for them to proceed.

"Let us arrest these individuals without incidents."

The heroes and the police officers made their way through the security checkpoints. The air was tense, almost as if the calm before the storm.

The docking area looked as quiet as ever. Passengers left or boarded planes, waiting for their trip, or just sat around eating, drinking, and talking. Unbeknownst to them, there were heroes and security officers among them, disguised as civilians or travelers.

"I'm surprised to see you here, All Might."

"I can say the same thing to you, Aizawa. Been a while."

The two Pro-Heroes, who knew each other through their mutual jobs at a certain academy, sat on one of the benches dressed up as civilians waiting for their plane to begin taking off. They were in the perfect position to watch the entrance/exit where the flight from Mongolia was expected to come in.

"What a mess…"

The short comment that Aizawa made just got good timing when a couple of plain-clothed police officers had arrived at a café just an eye distance away from the port. Among them are members of the main police force and even a few military officers.

"They even brought in JSDF officers here, thinking it will come to an armed confrontation or some sort," the sleepless Eraserhead pointed out with his arms crossed. "We got enough people in here and around the country to arrest any of these misfits."

"We need to still be sure to get the civilians out of the way. If these Kunstlers are about half as dangerous and unpredictable as you say, they might be above using hostages."

All Might was strong, but even he feared hostage scenarios. One wrong move and an innocent could die before he could even touch the villain - a scenario no hero wants.

"So what else is there about this guy?"

"Not much, except he left the warzone as the last member of his unit after it disbanded. Assuming we can get him to talk…" Aizawa said while he remembered the details of the report, "...he might have some information the Commission's looking for."

"You think we can get him to talk?"

"That I don't know, but I wouldn't think much about it," Aizawa snorted. "I mean, who in their right mind would come back home knowing he's got a warrant out on him for terrorism charges?"

Their thoughts were answered when the charter flight from Mongolia announced its arrival in Japan.

"I guess we're going to find out soon enough."


Inside the flight

"Look, mommy, police!"

A young teenager's eyes opened upon hearing this. A glance out the window confirmed this, and his teeth began to chatter as he began mumbling out a plan.

"What could they be here for?"

"Is there a villain among us?"

"We haven't done anything?"

"We just escaped a war zone!"

"They don't suspect us, right?"

Questions turned into demands, which turned into shouting as they now desired more than anything to get out of the plane.

Only two remained silent as one of them calmly grabbed his bag and zipped it open, pulling out his raincoat. The other just stood up leisurely, staggering out of his seat.

Ten minutes later

"Here they come," Toshinori whispered loudly. "Remember, red shoes."

The passengers burst through the sliding doors, swarming like angry bees as they moved to the check-out areas. The police and security did their best to reassure the crowds, but there were simply too many of them to try to tame and too many to sort out.

"Sir, hold it!"

Two of the security guards stopped a cloaked man.

"We need to scan you for potentially hazardous items. Please stand by."

"...*"

"I'm sorry, what was that?" one of them asked as the other took out their scanning rod and began moving it from top to bottom.

"...**st wanna-"

"Could you speak louder? It's too damn loud in here!" the guard snapped.

*BEEP!*

"-just wanna-"

"Just wanna what? Speak up!" he demanded.

*BEEP!* *BEEP!* *BEEP!*

"What the hell–?"

*BOOM!"

Everyone froze as a loud explosion echoed through the airport. The man that had seized his cloak froze, his head flying up in a thousand, bloody pieces.

"****?!"

"*** *** ** *** ***?!"

"**-ook out, young man!"

The other security guard found himself flying through the air, and for a second he thought he was hit next with the strange attack that just killed his boss.

It never registered to him that he was being saved by All Might, and how warm and comforting his presence was. All he knew was that he was away from his spot as chaos erupted in the room.

"All Might?!"

"No time for compliments, young man. Call in security and lock the whole airport down!" All Might told the guard. "Now!"

The cops in the area began to escort the civilians out of the site, some carrying even the wounded ones who couldn't walk anymore, with the smoke still present in the room, the Pros were the ones trying to search for one another.

"It's a fucking cyberpsycho!" one of the security guards shouted, and panic spread like wildfire. Civilians and police alike retreated quickly, parting ways around a giant man whose body was engulfed with his quirk.

"Stand down or be incinerated!" Endeavour roared, his flames blazing like wildfire.

"?-just wanna…"

*WOOOSH!*

Endeavour took a few steps back as a cloud of green gas erupted from his mouth. Covering his nose, the smell burned his nostrils - literally.

A gas emitter quirk! he realized before his eyes widened as he raised his transformed arm.

*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*

Endeavour grunted as he was bombarded with more cannon fire. He quickly dove out of the way, the large bullets missing him by a hair.

"IGNITED ARROW!" the pro-hero bellowed, and thin bursts of fire shot out from his hand. The cyborg moved in a blur, most of them missing, but a few scraped by his cloak, setting it ablaze.

The arm reconfigured itself – out of bullets, Endeavour figured – and suddenly, blades shot out of his limbs, granting him the look of a twisted, metal mantis that crawled out of the burning pits of Hell.

"…just wanna go home…" the man kept mumbling, his head twitching before he leaped at Endeavour at supersonic speed.

"FLASHFIRE FIST!"

A circle of fire erupted from the hero's body, blasting the cyberpsycho back. In perhaps what was a moment of clarity, he turned around and tried to run, only to be met with another hero.

"Not so fast, scumbag," Eraserhead growled. "Surrender now, and we'll go easy on you."

"**** ***t go ****," the cyberpsycho's head twitched uncontrollably before he let out a scream. Green smoke erupted from his mouth, the toxic volcano erupting out of control -

"Oh no you don't!" His eyes glowed red, and the green gas stopped immediately-

-just in time for Eraserhead to see the Mantis Blades hone in closer to his face.

Shit-! the underground hero thought. His scarves boosting him backward, he watched as his valuable equipment took the blades for him, stopping them for a moment before they were shredded to ribbons – a fate he nearly avoided.

"OUT OF THE WAY!" was his only warning before a torrent of flames nearly engulfed the both of them.

Goddamn Endeavor- Eraserhead gritted his teeth as the heat nearly suffocated him. Sweat was already pouring down his forehead, soaking his now-damaged scarves.

*CREAK* *CLUNK*

No way- Eraserhead's eyes widened as a metallic foot stepped out of the air, and, stepping out of the fire like The Terminator, was a metallic skeleton with flesh burning off his body. His eyes were even glowing red, his mouth open in a silent scream.

Even Endeavor was stunned, his fires flickering out as he stared in disbelief at the monster he had just uncovered.

*CLUNKCLUNKCLUNKCLUNKCLUNK!*

Without warning, the skeleton leaped at Eraserhead, its blades stretched out as it pounced for the kill–

*SLAM!*

Suddenly, a large figure barreled into the skeleton, the razor-sharp blades missing Eraserhead's throat by seconds.

*CRUNCH!*

The cyberpsycho let out a scream as one of his arms was blown off. Wailing, he took a swipe at this new assailant, but this mysterious cloaked figure flung off his cloak, wrapping it around the other arm with lightning speed.

With a mighty yank, the other arm dislocated, causing the cyberpsycho to scream even louder.

Thankfully, the screams would stop soon.

*CRUNCH!* *SQUELCH!*

With a well-placed palm strike, the cyborg's head blew off of his neck – a sight that made everyone take a step back from the two.

*THUD!*

The head landed on the floor with wide eyes of shock, with only blood coming out as no further reaction coming out until–

*BOOM!*

Without warning, it expanded and warped, the metal and flesh seed expanding until it exploded into a viscera of skin, bone, and arteries. It splattered against the walls and people alike, like Mt Lady and Kamui Woods.

"Ah! GROSS!" Yu retched, frantically swatting away the bits that landed on her clothes. "I THINK I SAW AN EYE!"

"How…?" Kamui was flabbergasted. Ignoring the horror and brutality of it, what sort of quirk gave one the strength and power to not only take out one's head but also cause it to explode like that?

"F-FREEZE!"

Their attention was returned to the other combatant, and everyone's eyes widened.

Most of his clothes were torn apart or burnt, alongside his cargo pants and coat, the other assailant was none other than a young man who looked very young but haunted.

But that's where some semblance of normalcy ended. In place of skin were metallic plates with exposed wires and complex mechanisms on his arms and chest – another cyborg.

However, it was his blood-red shoes that confirmed him as the target they were after.

Izuku Midoriya just looked at the police officers with unfazed eyes.

"...I've had a long day, and I just want to get my stuff and go–"

"I said FREEZE!"

More clicks erupted all around him as red dots trained all over his body. "On the fucking ground, now!"

Appearing out of the smoke were the heroes, including some U.A. staffers like Aizawa and big shots such as Mt Lady, Kamui, Endeavor, Mt Lady, and Ryuyku.

"ON YOUR KNEES!"

Midoriya's eye twitched as he moved away from his bag. Taking a fighting stance, he began to pick which one to attack first.

"He's trying something-"

"HOLD IT, OFFICERS!"

All Might suddenly appeared in front of the authorities, his bold presence seemingly illuminating the ash-covered space.

"All Might?"

"Stand back, officers!" Endeavor was the second voice to call the officers to stand down, having joined in the much-needed de-escalation. "We'll handle it!"

In seconds, Izuku found himself in the worst possible scenario. Surrounded by several pro-heroes and police officers who he knew were the best Japan had to offer, he wondered if perhaps more bloodshed would be inevitable, especially for some of whom he had just recently written analyses on his little notebooks.

"Alright kid, let's take it easy, okay?" That voice came from the most powerful heroine of Japan, a tanned woman with bunny ears and deadly legs known as Mirko. While usually the violent and aggressive type, it was quite surprising that she was trying diplomacy for once.

"I normally would just put the likes of you down fast, but you did help us with that cyberpsycho so I'll give you a chance – stand down."

"...I…just need to pay someone a visit…"

"Then just stand down and we can help you," Eraserhead spoke with equally as much restraint in trying to resolve this with the young arrival. "We just want to talk to you."

All Might felt hope that this could be resolved without further bloodshed. Still, his guard wasn't lowered, and, remembering just how much damage the now late-cyberpsycho had done, he wasn't looking forward to trying to take him down as well.

"You came here for a reason, didn't you?"

"Of course. I am a Japanese citizen, born and raised in Musutafu."

"And you came back for a reason, right?" All Might pressed on. "Family? Friends? Loved ones?"

"...Yeah…my mother."

All Might now stood within a breath's reach of the greenette, and one could hear a pin drop.

"Please…allow me to help."

"..."

"..."

"...Fine."

Izuku unclenched his fists and his form relaxed, a collective breath released simultaneously.

"So…where to, young man?"

They might as well have rolled out a red carpet as the crowd parted ways like Moses to the Red Sea. Except instead of cheering, there were lots of blank or tense stares as they watched the two in a quiet hush.

Quite the welcome party he got.


Tokyo Police HQ

*THUNKTHUNKTHUNKTHUNK* *THUNKTHUNKTHUNKTHUNK*

Izuku's fingers drummed the metal desk. No cuffs, as promised, but although the door just a few feet in front of him might as well have been made of paper, he still felt like a rat in a cage.

He resisted the urge to scratch at his ankle, the metal bracelet seemingly weighing a ton. They better keep their word after this bullshit was over.

"Izuku Midoriya."

The green-haired teen looked up to see two men going through the door. One was a police detective he identified as Naomasa Tsukauchi, and the other was a man in a suit that made his eye twitch.

Saying nothing at first, they shoved four pictures onto the table in front of him.

"I'd suggest you start answering the questions, Midoriya, because you're not making things easier right now," an official of the Hero Commission said. "Either you cooperate with us and tell us about your activities in Mongolia or you will be charged with acts of terrorism AND vigilantism."

The detective/policeman's eyes twitched. This interrogation was going nowhere and the Commissioner certainly wasn't helping.

Naomasa decided to give it a try. "Listen, kid, we want to help you-"

"But your silence will not help you," the official interrupted again. "I don't care what your American friends taught you, staying silent won't free you from the consequences-"

"Can you shut up?"

The two older men jerked back in surprise, with the Commission official looking like he just swallowed his tongue.

"Excuse me?"

"I mean, can you shut up for a moment?" Izuku spoke up to the suited man, "You keep interrupting the officer and it is getting annoying, sir."

The look on the official's face was a sight to behold, turning into an interesting shade of red as Naomasa looked divided between trying hard not to laugh and trying hard not to gape in horror.

The people behind the one-viewed window, meanwhile, had a variety of reactions.


The people who were watching from behind the window were some of the Pros who were present at his arrest, including Eraserhead, Mirko, Ruyuku, and also, surprisingly, the small version of Yagi Toshinori, who was there posing as a police administrative official.

Yagi was paying more attention to the whole scene than anyone else, given his friend was in that chamber trying to persuade the young teenager into talking while also trying to evade the wrath of the Commission.

Aizawa shook his head. "That kid is done."

"Hmm?" Ryuyku was confused, "How so? It's been only an hour since they began interrogating him."

"For normal cases, sure," Aizawa began, "but with the Commission here, they'll be harsher on him given the activities he's been accused of. Fighting in a war as a volunteer is something different from robbing a store like some ordinary villain."

The Dragon Heroine couldn't help but feel uncomfortable by what was being insinuated.

"Crimes that are above our jurisdiction…"

"You're talking about potential war crimes, are you not?"

The crowd inside the dark room suddenly turned to the light that came from Endeavor, who somehow managed to enter without even making a sound.

Aizawa nodded before he turned his head back to the window. "Who knows what that kid might've done over there."

Yagi just stayed silent during all of this. Sure, the assumption was understandable, but would they be so quick to judge?

Endeavor walked up close to the window and crossed his arms. He glared at the boy, not being impressed by his relatively small size.

"I'll wait until more information is made available to you, Eraserhead, because there is more to the boy than meets the eye."

"How so? You know something that I don't?" Aizawa asked him up front, narrowing his eyes at the flame-covered hero. "Because if you do, please elaborate…"

"Because our American colleagues have told me that this Midoriya kid was something else in that hellhole. Someone who stood out from all the rest."

"Like what?"

"They say that he was the reason the war ended," Endeavor pointed out, his eyes never leaving the interrogation room. "If you kept in touch with the news, you might've heard that he was the one that led the group that took down that warlord and his crazy scientist."

The heroes were stunned by this revelation, with Aizawa remaining the skeptic.

"That kid? No way…"

"Just watch and listen."


"Well, this takes me back."

Izuku stared down at the pictures taken of the Gobi Desert. He blankly reviewed the moments frozen in time: ambushed trucks tipped over and burning, torn up settlements, remnants of fights and civilians alike…

Yes, civilians. They weren't spared from the war either. Izuku's eyes lowered a little upon viewing a picture of what looked to be a dead family.

"Still can't believe it…"

"Can't believe what, son?"

"...After a while, you just…it just becomes one more dead body you're forced to see."

Words failed and died in everyone's throats.

"...Son, these are war crimes–"

"Not with those Sandevistans, they're not. It's quick, it's merciful. You won't get a chance to feel a thing," Izuku simply replied as his eyes remained glued to the photos. "That's Arasaka and Militech for ya. Say what you like about them, but they know how to build tools for war."

"Arasaka? Militech?" Naomasa's eyes widened upon remembering those names. "Are you–"

"Young man, they are high-known and respectable corporations you are mindlessly accusing," the official scolded. "You may want to rethink that statement–"

*SLAM!*

Everyone nearly leaped out of their skins as Izuku's hand was suddenly buried deep in the metal table. His hand was smoking, and his skin was torn and burnt apart, but in place of milky-white bones was silver metal – metal that was stronger than the plain, cheap steel that now had a large crater in it.

"...I'm done talking. Lock me up or get rid of him, it makes no difference to me."

"Alright, then. My work here is done." The Hero Commission official stood up and packed his things. "Detective, please escort Mr. Midoriya to his cell and prepare his transfer to Tartarus–"

*PING!*

The official's phone suddenly chirped. Saying nothing, he picked it up to read the text. Upon reading the text, his eyes widened.

"Something wrong?"

"...I need to make a call."

Leaving through the door, everyone from the detective to the ones behind the one-way window were left confused by what had just happened. The cop, now alone with the detainee, finally got to speak to him uninterrupted.

"Son, please think about this – we can work something out here if you decide to talk now," Naomasa pleaded. "The moment you're in Tartarus, I can't help you–"

"I'm already getting the help I need."

Noamasa blinked in surprise just as the door opened again. In returned the Hero Commission official, who looked like he was chewing on a lemon.

"Release him."

"W-What?"

"I just got word from the Hero's Commission: the boy is not to be apprehended for now, so release him."

Naomasa asked, "By whose authority? What happened?"

The official looked right at the boy, whose expression remained neutral as he told him what he was allowed to be told.

"The Americans called it in. The kid's been telling the truth about Arasaka and Militech. So he's free to go for now – under supervision, he'll be allowed to go back home."

To hear this would overwhelm any professional detective with questions, but instead, he turned to the boy who was holding out his hands to the officer.

"Can I?"


From behind the glass, the Heroes were the ones to be left to ask the questions.

"Uhm…" Ryukyu was stunned, "What just happened?"

"They are releasing him…" Endeavor was the first to speak. "Whatever that phone call was, it might've come from above."

"Did they just mention the Americans?"

"Yeah, I heard that too," Aizawa said, keeping his eyes on the green detainee whose cuffs were being removed, watching as the boy was officially let go. "Whatever is happening, we need to keep an eye on this kid, I don't trust this."

Yagi however had his questions reminded internally, watching this happening caused him to wonder if he should ask his American contact later on because now only more confusion was added to the pile.

"Is that kid…watching us?"

The room fell silent upon Mirko's question. All eyes returned to Izuku Midoriya, as he was suddenly looking right into their eyes.

"Something wrong, son?" Naomasa asked.

"...Kinda sad to know that Endeavor, Mirko, Ryukyu, and Eraserhead are all in that room. Wish I could've met them in better circumstances."

The Pro Heroes stepped back as they realized that the kid could not just see them, but identify them as well through the glass.

"...Let's just go."

Following the detective and Commission official, Izuku kept his eyes on the window as he slowly made his way out of the interrogation room, which was now an uncomfortable atmosphere.

At this point, Yagi made up his mind.


Musutafu

Three black SUVs made their way through the streets, followed by heroes both Pro and underground. This, of course, caught the attention of the civilians, who wondered if the president of a nation was being escorted through their streets, the tinted windows making it impossible to see who was in it.

Inside one of those SUVs was Midoriya himself, who was on his way back to his old home, albeit under the supervision of a few individuals, one of whom was sitting right across from him.

Her legs crossed and with narrowed eyes, Mirko kept her focus on the boy she was tasked to bring back home alongside Eraserhead and Kamui.

Silence being the overwhelming denominator in the room, it was only a matter of time before someone spoke.

"How did you know?"

"Excuse me?"

"Don't BS me kid, how did you know we were there watching you?" Mirko asked straight away, glaring slightly at the young man. "Some kind of Quirk or something?"

"...I'm Quirkless, remember?"

"We know, we know," Ryukyu began, trying to be more friendly to him. "What my friend meant was, how did you know specifically we were there, right Eraserhead?"

"...Well isn't it obvious?" Eraserhead grunted. "Your arms and legs aren't the only thing you replaced, right?"

"Right on, Mr. Aizawa," Izuku smiled. "Modified Kiroshi Optics. Scans people's faces and uses the hero, villain, and police database to help identify people based on facial recognition or something simple as a person's silhouette."

"...Better not go peeping on us," Mirko quipped with a smirk. Izuku snorted at this, but suddenly found himself unable to look her in the eyes.

"...So did you go full 'borg, or…?"

Izuku's face stiffened at this, before he let out a sigh.

"Partially. My legs, arms, and some of my organs are augmented, but I still have some flesh in me. What was lost in Mongolia was the only thing replaced."

"How?" Kamui couldn't help but ask.

"...Ever been on the receiving end of a rocket launcher?"

This shut the Pro Heroes up, images of disintegrated limbs and the cries and moans of war suddenly flashing through their minds.

"My…apologies," Kamui said awkwardly.

"Don't be, it wasn't your fault," Izuku said, giving a sad smile to the heroes. "I just got unlucky – or lucky, depending on the way you look at it."

Rumi and Ryukyu gawked at him, dumbfounded at how numb he had become to the various horrors he had lived through.

How can he say that so calmly? What has he seen there?

Huh, kid must be tough if he's getting through all that.

"Besides, I got help," Midoriya added. "Mind if I reach for my pocket?"

The four Pros gave him the go-ahead, but instead of reaching for his pockets, he opened a small hatch in his leg and pulled out a small, folded piece of paper that revealed to be a picture.

"Here it is. Taken a month before the war ended," Izuku said, staring at the picture as his expression grew cold. "...that was before it all fell apart…"

"Mind if I see the picture?" Ryukyu asked politely.

"Sure." Izuku handed over the picture, and the heroes leaned in to see who was in it.

"Oh my…"

The group photo consisted of a dozen individuals who were of different shapes and sizes. One towered over the Midoriya kid, one literally looked bright, and some just looked odd or creepy. Some were armed to the teeth, while some looked harmless as the average civilian.

But the ones they were more focused on were in the center. Izuku Midoriya squatted in the middle, surrounded by four girls who were either hugging him, just standing by him, or were giving him a noogie.

Turning the photo around, there was a rough handwriting that wrote:

From Gobi to Night City - friends forever.

Night City? Ryukyu wondered, thinking about that infamous city in the US, but before she could ask any questions, the car stopped.

"We're here," the driver spoke to his passengers. "You're home, kid."

"Here it is."

Izuku stopped, staring up at the door that led to what was his home. He stood there for a moment before he let out a breath.

*KNOCK* *KNOCK*

A silent minute went by before the door opened. Standing there in the doorway was a small woman with identical green hair who was holding onto a purse and some grocery bags. She blinked before her eyes finally settled on the one that knocked.

"Hey Mom–"

*GLOMP!*

Inko Midoriya, for the first time in years, finally saw her baby boy, and, dropping everything, embraced him into a tight hug.

"Are you…Are you really here?"

"...Yeah, I am." Izuku's voice quivered as he tried to keep himself together.

"You're alive…You're really alive…"

The two just knelt there, embracing each other for the first time in forever. The two green clouds were once again, finally allowed to rain.

"I'm back, Mom…I'm back…"