"Are you comfortable, Michiru?"
"Yeah, yeah, I am. Just go ahead and ask your questions Hitomi." An impatient Michiru confirmed as she sat across the from the brunette counselor in the common area of the lighter house, fidgeting about with her hands.
Emeralda sat in the loveseat off to the side, quietly watching on but otherwise, the room appeared to be empty on the late afternoon the day after Michiru, Emeralda and Zelgadis had been offered the chance to gather intel on where Xellos was hiding. Per Celty's suggestion, the trio had stayed up very late that night in an effort to get use to sleeping deep into the day for their night recon missions with the dullahan and gargoyle.
Jun was left passing on to Shouta that the three wouldn't be joining 1-A as regular students, something Michiru felt terrible about but she knew she, more than her two friends, would be very useful in the coming nights. She'd also been told if she wanted to go, she'd need to be evaluated by Hitomi, as all lighters are supposed to be before being allowed to act in the field or even go out into society. Hitomi was glad Michiru was getting a late start in the day herself because after the previous day of talking with Zelgadis and later Katsuki, she needed some time to decompress and gather her thoughts.
Unlike Emeralda and Zelgadis, Michiru had opted not only for a more public setting for the evaluation but she had also asked Emeralda and Zelgadis to be present. Zelgadis, still being even more antisocial than normal, opted out, leaving Emeralda to watch on as Hitomi replied "Rushing won't make this go any faster or slower Michiru. How long this takes will depend on you and the flow of our conversation."
"Yes, I get it. I'm ready." Michiru said again in a tone that made it clear she hadn't listened to a word the older woman had just said.
Hitomi sighed but kept her smile as she started "Alright then. I usually like to start with talking a bit about your past. You've said before that you have family back home. Is that right?"
At the mention of her family, Michiru's fidgeting stopped as she answered, her voice taking on a forelorn quality to it. "Yeah, it is. My mom and dad. They…must be worried sick. That is…if they even know I'm missing."
Hitomi raised an eyebrow, "Oh, why wouldn't they?"
"Well, not long before I turned eighteen, I ran away from home for Anima City. One of the reasons I left was to protect them, ya know? So I didn't reach out to them at first, then my phone got smashed and one thing led to another. It was months before I talked to them again. I guess they got used to not hearing from me, so unless Shirou, Nezuna or the mayor contacted them somehow, they might not know I'm gone." Michiru explained, guilt building in her voice the more she spoke.
Hitomi picked up on the tanuki girl's tone quickly "Michiru…you don't blame yourself for you're parent's worry, do you?"
The question seemed to hit Michiru like a truck as her eyes widened. She sat back in her chair, already wishing she'd never agreed to this. Hitomi pressed gently "Michiru? You know it's not your fault, right?"
That seemed to trigger something because Michiru bolted forward again and quickly said "What's not my fault? For leaving? For not reaching out sooner? For…not taking the cure and going home when I could of? I know being here isn't my fault, just like I know getting turned into a beastman wasn't my fault! But…they're my parents! They love me and they supported me, even when I hid myself and what did I give them in return? Nothing but silence and the worry to comes with not knowing if I was alright or dead in a ditch somewhere!" As she finished, Michiru buried her face in her hands.
"It…sounds like they trusted you, Michiru." Hitomi said as she leaned forward to make sure she was heard by the distraught tanuki girl. "I'm not a parent myself but I've talked to many and I can tell you, no matter what you do or don't do, your parents are going to worry. It…kind of comes with the job."
The talk had only just started, and Michiru had already lost her composure, something neither Emeralda nor Zelgadis did. Emeralda had turned to watch on, her face riddled with concern when she saw movement by the stairwell behind Michiru. Indeed Zelgadis was hiding there, his arms crossed as he leaned against the stairwell's wall where Emeralda could just see him because of the angle at which she sat. The nanomachine girl couldn't see all of him but enough to see that he, too, looked worried as the proceedings had quickly soured.
After a few very long moments of silence, Michiru finally spoke, though she kept her head in her hands, which muffled her voice as she said "You…think so? You think they…trusted me?"
Though she knew Michiru couldn't see it, Hitomi still offered a warm and reassuring smile as she replied "I know so, Michiru. And they were right. You made it through, didn't you?"
The tanuki girl took a long, deep breath as if she were fighting off the urge to cry. Once she was done, she sat back up, a sad smile on her face as she was clearly fighting back tears as she said "Yeah…Yeah, you're right, Hitomi. It wasn't easy and I had a lot of help but I did save the whole city, after all!"
"See, that's the spirit, Michiru. You're parents raised an amazing young woman. So, can you tell me a bit about these parents of yours?" Hitomi proudly replied, putting her hands on Michiru's for support.
Much to Emeralda and Zelgadis' relief, Michiru brightened up more as she answered "Yeah, sure! My mom, Izumi, she's always been outgoing and to the point. She never takes anyone's nonsense, but she has another side to her, very kind and considerate, at least to me and dad! And dad, well, he's the quieter of the two but he always works hard and no matter what he does, I always feel like he loves me…"
"That's so great Michiru, they sound wonderful! So tell me, which one was the athlete in the family?" Hitomi asked, sitting back once Michiru started flailing her arms out as she had talked about her parents.
The counselor's question caught the tanuki girl off guard "Huh? How'd you know I wasn't the only one?"
Hitomi chuckled "Just a hunch. If you look up to you're parents so much, I just guessed you picked up sports from one of them."
Michiru offered an impressed smirk "Not bad. Kinda feels like you've done this before. Well, the answer is, both! In high school both my parents played sports but by college, where they met, only my mom still played."
"So it was your mom who played basketball?" Hitomi ventured.
"Right again! You are good at this, Hitomi! Its like you're reading my mind." Michiru excited responded.
Hitomi smiled as she laughed to herself. Then, the brunette counselor leaned forward, resting her head on her hands as her arms rested on her elbows "Michiru, would you…like to see your parents again?"
Over in the stairwell, Zelgadis silently grinned, glad the counselor had made her move to offer his furry friend the same experience he and Emeralda had had. Emeralda, though, watched on with an unreadable expression, hiding her uncertainty that Michiru would agree to the vision. She need not have worried.
Michiru nearly fell forward onto the table as she responded, quite surprised "You can do that! How?"
Hitomi recoiled slightly in response to the tanuki girl's overabundance of enthusiasm as she replied, "It would just be memories but…yes, you could see them again, if you let me. I'd be using my power, just as I've done with Emeralda and Zelgadis. We can look at anything else you want to as well. Wherever and whatever you want to see."
For the first time, Michiru looked over at Emeralda, her eyes searching the other girl for reassurance. When Emeralda offered the slightest of smiles as she nodded, it was all the support Michiru needed as she furrowed her brow in determination before saying "OK! If…if it means I can see them again…then I'll trust you, Hitomi."
As she pulled her pendant up from under her shirt, Hitomi spoke again, "We'll only see what you want to see Michiru, I promise. Now, all you need to do is hold my hand. There will be some disorientation at first."
Michiru cocked an eyebrow as she reached out "Really, just like this?" Entirely unprepared, Michiru's clawed hand touched Hitomi's and before she knew it, light filled her vision and she was lost in a sea of nothingness.
To the two outsiders, everything remined still. Emeralda watched on as the two women appeared frozen in place with their hands touching. There was no flash of light, no anything to indicate anything had happened. And yet, Emeralda knew exactly what was going on in her friend's mind. Still, it was odd, if a little funny, to see her friend so still and quiet, effectively in a trance.
Then, confident neither Hitomi nor Michiru could hear, the tan girl called out "Why did you not join us when Michiru asked, Zelgadis?"
Emeralda could see the chimera twitch in response to her call and a moment later, Zelgadis emerged from the stairs trying to look as casual as possible before he said "I don't know what you're talking about. I only came down for some tea before I get back to studying, that's all."
If she hadn't of known better, Emeralda may have believed the sorcerer-swordsmen as he began brewing his drink. As it was though, the tan girl ignored his bluff and replied "Do not worry, it is as Hitomi said, Michiru is strong."
Still waiting for his water to warm, Zelgadis turned to look Emeralda in the face, his expression grim "Of course she is, but Hitomi will only see what Michiru wants her to see."
Emeralda crouched her eyes in confusion "I do not understand."
Zelgadis frowned, his fears confirmed "You're still young, as you've said so you might not realize that that strength of hers can be a trap. You remember how she reacted to hearing she may have a way to be a human again when Xellos told us about Eri?"
"She…didn't react at all." Emeralda recalled.
"Exactly. Michiru puts on a strong face and buries her feelings. That's not unusual. I do it, I suspect you do it too but for her…I think she buries it so deep she forgets she's even done it."
"So you are saying if Michiru is guiding things, she may not…"
"Confront what's really bothering her, yes." Zelgadis finished.
Looking back at the still pair, Emeralda starred at the tanuki girl's two-toned eyes as she almost whispered "I…hope you're wrong, Zelgadis."
"Me, too." Zelgadis added before he whispered to low for Emeralda to hear "But then, I'm no better."
(X)
"Hitomi? Hitomi, where are you?" Michiru called into the void of darkness, her voice carrying a hint of panic.
The counselor's voice came all at once and from nowhere "Its ok, Michiru, I'm here. Now all you need do is think of your parents. Anything at all and you will be there in that moment."
"Anything at all, huh?" Michiru spoke to herself before closing her eyes. Hundreds of memories seemed to swirl in her mind, so many wonderful and mundane moments through her life she could choose from. Then, without actually thinking or stating when she wanted to go, a moment just seemed to feel right. When Michiru opened her eyes, her young, brown eyes were alight with the reflection of the birthday candles in front of them.
An eight-year-old Michiru beamed a huge smile as she looked to either side of her birthday cake to see her two parents to either side of her as she sat at the head of a picnic table at the park she loved to go to so much. They weren't alone either, as a dozen kids about Michiru's age also sat at the table eagerly awaiting her to blow out the candles.
"Make a wish, honey!" Michiru's mom said as she held the camera at the ready.
"Anything you want, just don't say it out loud or it won't come true." Michiru's father advised with a knowing smile.
"I've got it!" Michiru excitedly proclaimed as she blew out the candles, much to the joy of everyone at the table.
The two doting parents swarmed their adorable daughter, embracing her in an embarrassing show of family affection. With both parents nuzzling the poor girl, everything seemed to freeze. After a few moments, the omnipresent voice of Hitomi chimed in "Are…you ok, Michiru?"
The brunette former fortune-teller already knew the answer but got further confirmation from the tears streaming down the very much human girl's face. After a few more moments, Michiru finally choked out in her child's voice "Please, just let me have this moment…for a little longer?"
"Of course, take all the time you need Michiru." Hitomi gently responded.
When Michiru finally calmed down, Hitomi decided to ask before the memory resumed "What makes this memory so special if you don't mind me asking?"
Still in her parents embrace, Michiru looked up, a far away look on her young features "I don't know…I guess, we were never a well-off family so all my previous parties were smaller since we could only afford to host a few of my friends doing one thing or another. This was the first time we had it here, so everyone could come and it made me so happy."
"Makes sense." The disembodied voice of Hitomi said. A moment later the memory resumed and the party continued with everyone enjoying the cake and the games that followed, Michiru always in the thick of anything that was going on, a ball of energy and sunshine that seemed to light up everyone around her.
Hitomi watched on, seeing Michiru's parents also watching their child with love and pride evident in their expressions. The park was a large one so the party could go on without disturbing others playing elsewhere. Hitomi could see this as Michiru and her friends played tag, another girl the same age seemed to be watching on from a set of monkey bars not far off. The girl had long orange hair with a red bang hanging down her forehead and red eyes. The girl sat watching the other kids forlornly, clearly wanting to join but held back for some unknown reason.
"Michiru, whose that girl over there, watching you all?" Hitomi asked as said girl was dodging a young boy trying to catch her.
The other kids continued to play as though Michiru wasn't there as she stepped forward to look at what Hitomi could be talking about. The future beastman's eyes widened as she realized "That's right…this was the day I met Nezuna!"
"Nezuna…she's your best friend, right?" Hitomi asked as her ghostly visage appeared beside the young-looking Michiru, startling her slightly.
After staring for a moment at the ethereal counselor, Michiru confirmed "Yeah, she is. I remember now, she was always kind of shy when she was young, just like you're seeing."
Hitomi disappeared and Michiru walked up to the nervous looking orange-haired girl. Nezuna seemed to shrink in on herself when Michiru smiled broadly and held out her hand "You…want to play?"
The shy girl blushed as she looked back at her mother, who frowned back at her. When Nezuna looked back at her she replied softly "Momma says I shouldn't go where I'm not invited. Its not...appropriate to go wherever I want."
Before she knew what was happening, Michiru had grabbed the other girl's hand and somewhat roughly extracted her from the toy structure as she declared "Well guess what? You're now officially invited! Come play!"
Nezuna stumbled forward as she desperately tried to regain her footing as she was practically dragged toward the other children. Despite that, she too had a big smile on her face.
All of a sudden, the whole scene was enveloped in light only to be replaced by a steady stream of moments shared by the two girls as they grew up. The two of them among friends in school, Nezuna introducing Michiru to music, Michiru playing basketball as Nezuna watched on, hanging out at lunch, more birthday parties, Nezuna telling Michiru she wanted to be an idol, it went on and on. Though the friends around them would change, what was always consistent were the two of them. Finally came the fateful day when Nezuna was nearly hit by a car and Michiru threw herself at her, saving them both but not without injury.
As the two sat in hospital beds side by side, they were both laughing as they were both hooked up to an IV. Hitomi reappeared between the two laughing teens and said "Was that it, Michiru? Is that the IV that turned you both into beastmen?"
Michiru suddenly stopped laughing, her expression much more somber, the rest of the memory freezing in place. "Yes," she said as she looked over at the counselor. "Something so small, so simple would change our lives forever. But you know what? I wouldn't change a thing! Nezuna could have died that day and it worked out in the end."
Hitomi nodded but looked contemplative for a moment before she asked "Michiru. I've seen a lot of memories now with you and…I have to ask, where are all the beastmen?"
Michiru titled her head slightly in confusion as she furrowed her brow and replied "Wha, what do you mean, Hitomi?"
"Well, you've said there is a whole separate species of people and I know you've said they are generally discriminated against, hated and even hunted but I kind of thought I would see at least one in passing as I've seen all these memories, you know?" the counselor answered.
Michiru's brow tightened as she appeared to be thinking about the question. Finally, the bed-ridden girl said simply "Actually, aside from learning about them in school and seeing them on TV here and there, I never really met a beastman before, you know until I…"
Hitomi looked taken aback by that admission, saying quickly "Michiru, that's…almost unbelievable. You mean to tell me-"
"Oh!" Michiru suddenly exclaimed. Cut off, Hitomi saw that Michiru was now staring at her best friend, frozen mid-laugh.
Not one to let her patient's rudeness get in the way of a possible breakthrough, Hitomi inquired "What is it, Michiru, did you realize something?"
"Its…something Nezuna said to me later, in Anima City…" Michiru replied. As she spoke, the surroundings again changed and the once again tanuki girl was standing in front of a much shorter young man who was talking about how great the bread he was eating was.
As the boy was joined by his friends in gathering around Michiru, a pink-furred wolf girl in a white cloak adorned with a four-pointed star at the base approached and spoke, her voice somewhat accusatory "I see you can still make friends wherever you go, Michiru."
Michiru turned to face the newcomer, her expression turning from one of strained kindness to joy as she called out "Nezuna!" But then, instead of responding, the wolf girl stood motionless as Michiru's excitement melted away.
"What is it, Michiru? What did you need to see here?" came Hitomi's voice.
Michiru looked absolutely stunned, her head slightly downcast as she spoke again "I can't believe it took me till just now to realize…Nezuna resented me. She was always shier than me, I always had friends around me but I was her only real friend. That's why she wanted to be an idol, why she went so far as to go along with Alan's scheme to make her a religious symbol for beastmen. She wanted to be surrounded by friends like I always seemed to be…"
Hitomi appeared in front of the tanuki girl, not as some ghostly apparition but as real as anyone else in the memory as she lent a supportive hand on the other girl's shoulder. "That may be true, but how do you feel, knowing that, Michiru?"
Michiru looked almost haunted as she replied "I feel, I feel so stupid. She was right, all along! This is what she meant when she said I forced myself on others! Back when I first invited her to join me…you know what I had wished for when I blew the candles out?"
Hitomi simply shook her head in the negative.
"That I wanted to be a hero!" Michiru almost yelled. "I thought I was saving her that day! Isn't that the most arrogant thing in the world? And now…Oh no! Hitomi, we need to leave! I have something I need to do!"
Although Hitomi was happy that Michiru had come to some sort of realization, she was very disappointed they hadn't gotten to explore what she felt was a much larger issue. However, given how urgent Michiru sounded, clearly it would have to wait. Smiling gently, Hitomi stepped forward and embraced the tanuki girl and whispered "Its ok, we can talk again another time, if you want. Let's go back."
At first, Michiru went stiff when the other woman held her. The moment she began to relax and close her eyes and return the hug however, everything went white once more.
Michiru opened her eyes with a start, standing bolt upright, quickly realizing she had awoken from the visions she had seen with Hitomi. The counselor herself looked a bit surprised at the tanuki girl's sudden movement as the brunette stared up at her. Michiru quickly looked around and found her target. Emeralda had moved to the couch in front of the TV and had gone to get a pad and pencils, no doubt unsure how long the session would last and had begun drawing.
Seeing how unrefined the portrait was, Michiru guessed the tan girl hadn't been at it long. Regardless, Emeralda had stopped and looked back over at the table when Michiru got up. When their eyes locked, Michiru flung herself forward, catching the normally nimble and still seated nanomachine girl completely off guard. The tanuki girl had lept at an angle toward the couch and was able to grab around Emeralda's neck with the rest of her body sprayed over the back rest, looking highly uncomfortable.
"Mi, Michiru? I do not understand, whats wrong?" Emeralda managed.
"I'm so, so sorry Emmy! I didn't realize until just now how I must of made you feel! I can't help but make friends with people, I forget it's not as easy for other people. I'm sorry if you felt left behind or lacking because of me." Michiru rambled apologetically.
Emeralda shifted to allow for Michiru to slide down on the couch's cushions while trying and failing to get her fur-covered friend to let go. Emeralda glanced over at Hitomi, who wore an empathic smile but otherwise only offered a slight nod to indicate everything was ok. Though reassuring, Hitomi didn't give the confused greenette any more information, which left her to ask again "I am still confused...what happened in there Michiru?"
Michiru finally let go, shifting to sit on her knees beside her friend as she replied "My best friend back home, she's was shy, like you, and I realized living through those memories again that a lot of the choices she made that drove a wedge between us likely stemmed from me always surrounded by friends. Especially since we joined 1-A, I feel like I've been doing that same to you and I'm sorry, Emmy."
Emeralda listened on intently, reasonably sure she understood what Michiru was saying. When the tanuki girl was done, Emeralda's expression remained serious as she answered "Michiru, I've told you before that I didn't have friends back home. Some people feared or hated me and others…had more important things going on. I do not resent you, Michiru. You have gifted me with something I hardly deserve. You're my first friend that I feel like I have made. I could never ask for nor do I think I would want many, just a few good ones." Then placing her hands on Michiru shoulders for emphasis, she continued "I'm a thing, Michiru. Things don't have friends, and yet, here I am, thanking you for trying so hard to make me feel like a real person. I-"
"Stop right there."
Michiru had pulled away, her apologetic frown replaced with a much harder one as she then grabbed Emeralda's hands in her own clawed ones, "I am so tired of hearing you put yourself down like that! You did it earlier too when that Tomaki asked you out!" At that news, Hitomi raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
"But…Michiru, its true. I have told you what I am. How can you think anything else?" came Emeralda's cold and logical response.
Michiru's eyes shone with passion as she retorted "What do you mean? It doesn't matter how you were made or what you are! You feel pain, don't you? You bleed when you're cut, don't you? You feel lonely, angry, sad and happy, don't you? How could I think of you as anything but a person just like me or anyone else? You're amazing Emmy! Sure, you're not the most outgoing but plenty of 'normal' humans aren't too! If you want to be more outgoing, you just need to practice, if you don't, that's fine too!"
Emeralda wanted to protest, wanted to repeat all the things her squad mates back home had told her, what she had told herself to justify the way she was because, ultimately, she had hated herself. Hated herself for what she was and for who she was. Just a failure who couldn't live up to her potential or her parents' hopes. It was enough to stay out of everyone's way, or so she told herself.
Now, though, with Michiru beside her, and in the face of everything that they had been through, Emeralda's stoic façade began to crumble as her neutral expression slid into a frown and tears threatened to build up in her eyes. Michiru saw this as Emeralda tried to form a response, only able to choke out "I…but I…I…" before the tanuki girl pulled her into an embrace.
"Emmy, we can only be who we are. There is nothing wrong with that. No matter what you tell yourself, you're as human as anyone I've ever met and I couldn't of asked for a better person to be stuck in another world with. So please, stop putting yourself down, ok?" Michiru pleaded as she continued to hold her friend tight.
Michiru smiled when she felt the nanomachine girl nod her head in response. After a few more long moments, Michiru pulled back, which allowed Emeralda to wipe the tears from her face. As the tan girl tried to regain her composure, Michiru spoke again "Now, you ready to go take down some yakuza?"
Her face still a bit of a mess, Emeralda looked no less determined when she nodded and said "Lead the way."
(X)
Chisaki stood in a run down warehouse, the filth of the place seeming to cover every fiber of his being just by standing in the cavernous room. He scratched at the non-existent film of dirt and grime he had already convinced himself was there as he stood alone in front of the League of Villains. He had come at the behest of one of its members, Twice, to talk with the group's leader about joining forces. Said leader, one Tomura Shigraki stood casually against a wall flanked by the members of his group.
Tomura wore a black coat, not an unusual choice. But was odd, even to a man who brandished a stylize plague mask, was the fact that Tomura was adorned in dismembered hands. The appendages covered his face, back of his head, one on either shoulder and three on each arm. At this moment, said leader of the League of Villains was more than alittle displeased. Chisaki had just indirectly challenged him for leadership of the underworld and called him out for not even having a plan while wasting top tier villain talent like Muscular and Moonfish followed by calling for Tomura and the League to follow him and his plan since he knew how to play the game and use tools properly.
Tomura's curt reply was simply "Leave"
Magna, though, wasn't taking the offer for subjection lightly, unwrapping her giant magnet and charging the upstart yakuza leader. It didn't go well. Using her quirk, Magne drew herself to Chisaki to smash him in the face. Instead, when the two made contact, the attacking league member found her entire torso exploded into a rain of blood.
"Just remember that it was your side that made the first move." Chisaki coldly stated as he looked over his rapidly staining cloths.
The top-hat and mask wearing Mr. Compress wasn't about to take his comrade's murder lying down, however, lashing out toward the yakuza boss intent on capturing Chisaki.
Tomura for once displayed a sense of rational restraint as he called out for the faux entertainer to fall back. His protests were too little, too late as Mr. Compress charged forward, heedless of his leader's command to wait.
It looked like he would succeed too, as his right hand got withing inches of Chisaki's arm, which the yakuza had raised in front of himself to defend against the attack. At the last moment though, a bullet-sized syringe buried itself in the attacking villain's outstretched arm so that when Mr. Compress did manage to touch Chisaki's arm, all he managed to do was cause the other man to break out in hives from his own distaste at being contacted.
In his rage, Chisaki grabbed his attacker's arm and caused it, too to simple explode into nothing more than blood splatter. As Mr. Compress fell backward in pain and confusion as to why his quirk had suddenly stopped working, Tomura took the opportunity to move forward himself, intent on ending this mess himself.
As he got closer, the psychotic head of the League of Villains noted a ping sound as something metal impacted the ground to his right. That momentary distraction was enough for him to miss when Chisaki called out for help and for a figure to appear in front of him. Wasting no time, Tomura pressed his hands in front of him, one on the interloper's chest and the other on his masked face. Instead of the person turning to dust however, the hand-wearing murderer heard instead "Nope! Sorry, you only get to turn me to dust once, Shigaraki-san!" as the mask he had touched began turning to dust but the face underneath remained unfazed.
Tomura immediately looked up and saw a person he thought he had killed weeks ago. When the purple haired man pulled Tomura's hand from his face and leaned in closer, Tomura leap backward, his lone exposed eye wide in shock.
A moment later the wall behind Chisaki and Xellos seemed to explode and what seemed like a small army of men wearing some variation of Chisaki's plague mask appeared amongst the smoke and debris.
However, Tomura didn't seem the least bit concerned with the sudden reversal in numbers. None of the league seemed to be, in fact. No, what held their attention was the purple pin-strip suited man that stood before them, a man they were sure had been turned to dust among the smoldering remains of Kamino.
Xellos seemed to be revealing in the attention, standing nonchalantly as he fixed his tie. Chisaki called out to his rival leader "What's wrong Shigaraki? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"What is this?" Tomura sneared, "I know I killed you. I felt you crumble way. How…"
"Oh, Metallum-san here is excellent with illusions, I assure you." Chisaki explained as several of his subordinates surrounded him.
Before any of the League could respond, Xellos added, appreciation in his voice "I really do need to thank you, Shigaraki-san. Without you, my 'death' would never have looked so convincing. You freed me to find my home. Truly, I owe you!"
Tomura looked about, his hideout ruined, one of his underlings dead and another bleeding out on the floor, a limb completely gone. If this was thanks, he shuttered to think what retribution looked like. Still, he couldn't just let this go. "It seems to me you owe me more than thanks for this whole mess!"
Xellos looked ready to say something but when Chisaki stepped forward, the mazuku bowed and stepped aside. "I suppose it's only fair. I do want you to seriously consider my offer, after all."
Then, Chiaki stepped in front of the bleeding Mr. Compress, Twice propping him up and trying to stop the bleeding. The replication villain at once looked terrified and burning with bloodlust as the yakuza leader reached down and grabbed the wounded shoulder of Mr. Compress. Within moments, the destroyed arm reassembled as if it had always been there.
Turning to leave, Chisaki calmly said "There. Consider that an olive branch. I'm not bringing back the other one, that was on them for attacking unprovoked. Lets cool our heads and try again later."
As the Shi Hassaikai made their exit, Tomura gritted his teeth as Himiko brandished a knife and begged "Let me cut'em, real quick."
Tomura's response was low and definite as he drawled out "Nooo".
Twice, still holding his mask wearing comrade, declared "It's my responsibility! I brought this on us!"
Any further discussion was cut off by the retreating form of the yakuza leader "I don't want to rush you but the sooner we talk, the better." Then, flipping a business card over his shoulder, added "Think things over carefully. Consider how your organization should be run. Then, when you've calmed down, call me."
Twice tried again "They've got to pay for what they did! Why can't I go after them?"
Mr. Compress kept opening and closing his right hand, as if to make sure it was actually there as he said, to himself as anyone else "Why wouldn't my quirk work?"
Himiko turned and looked out the massive hole in their hideout and remarked "Maybe there's still time. I could still make them bleed…"
"Another time." Tomura said, his voice trembling with barely controlled rage.
"But Tomura!" Himiko insisted.
"No! You saw him, didn't you? That smarmy-looking lighter was somehow able to avoid my quirk not once, but twice! And do you know what he whispered to me?"
The remaining league members looked at each other before looking back at their leader expectantly. "He asked me…if I wanted my master back…"
That was unexpected…almost as much as the fact that they had seen the supposedly dead man again. The three other members of the league of villains turned to look in the direction the yakuza had taken, sure things were about to get much more complicated.
(X)
"This is so boring!" Michiru whined into her headset, sitting atop a building not far from the Shie Hassaikai hideout.
"You heard what Shadow Rider said." Zelgadis replied, his voice carrying more then alittle condescension over the headset from his position on another rooftop some distance away, "Sir Nighteye and his team watch during the day and we get the night shift."
"Yeah, knowing our mission doesn't make it any less boring, Zel but thanks for repeating the obvious." came the tanuki girl's retort.
"With the fight between the Shie Hassaikai and the League of Villains earlier today, Shadow Rider and Gargoyle thought things would likely be quiet as the yakuza would liker to keep a low profile." Emeralda added, herself on a third rooftop, the three forming a rough triangle around the Shie Hassaikai compound.
"Not you too, Emmy! Come on, I was there, you don't have to talk like I wasn't listening!" Michiru pouted.
"Are we not supposed to be using our hero names?" Emeralda answered, the question serving to prove the tanuki girl wrong.
"Oh! Uh…yeah, sorry Crescens. Sorry to you, too Magus." Michiru said in an apologetic tone before muttering to herself "Can't blame me for forgetting names they just started using…"
Indeed, after getting approval from Hitomi, Celty arrived later to brief the three new heroes on what they would be doing. Before that though, the trio were told they would need hero names going forward. Michiru had already given hers weeks ago when they first started training with 1-A but Zelgadis and Emeralda had been silent on the subject till now.
The nanomachine girl had clearly been thinking about it because she had an answer ready as soon as the subject came up. Crescens as a name didn't really say much about Emeralda and when Michiru asked, Emeralda explained that if a hero name is a sort of alter ego then for her it could be no other name. It was, after all, the name of the massive mecha she had piloted and felt very connected to in her home world. If Emeralda was going to save people under any other name, it was going to be that one.
Zelgadis, however, didn't have a answer and put on the spot he was struggling to come up with a name. When Celty had suggested something related to rocks, it had set the chimera off as he made it very clear he didn't want his hero name to have anything to do with his appearance. It was then that Emeralda had suggested Magus, referencing his magic use while still being short and carrying a hint of menace to it. The man once referred to as the heartless sorcerer-swordsmen liked it immediately.
With that settled, Celty made it clear her expectations were high and she was trusting in her fellow lighters pre-arrival experience. She planned to leave each of them alone to serve as scouts while she patrolled from the ground on her motorcycle and Brooklyn from the sky. Based on their scores from the exam, Zelgadis was put in charge of the three of them and they were to report any unusual activity and not engage until support arrived.
That had been hours ago and Michiru, at least, was reaching the limit to the odd and/or unpleasant sounds she was picking up with her ears changed into those of a bunny. She, like the other two, had been issued night-vision goggles but even from a rooftop, one could only see so much. Desperate to do anything else, Michiru had called Celty to ask if she, too, could watch from the skies but had been denied. Being their first night out, Celty had wanted to keep it simple for the three of them, which annoyed the tanuki girl greatly.
Finally, some time after three in the morning, Zelgadis came over the intercom "Hey, I think I see something."
Michiru, who had taken to trying to count the number of rats she could hear scurrying about in the alley below, shot to attention. "What? Really? What do you see, Zel?"
"Two figures in a alleyway, one is showing off something he pulled from his coat to the other guy. Drugs would be my guess." The chimera answered.
"Likely not the Shie Hassaikai then." Suggested Emeralda, "Still, we should report it to Shadow Rider."
"She said they serve as middle-men in drug trafficking didn't she?" Zelgadis challenged.
Michiru didn't like his tone and quickly explained, "Yeah, but that means they won't be the ones in the-"
"They could know something. I'm going in." the chimera curtly cut in as he stood and cast Ray Wing, lifting himself into the air to shoot down into the alley.
"Damnit it Zel! Celty, I mean Shadow Rider told us not to engage!" When there was silence from Zelgadis, Michiru sprouted a pair of wings and spoke to her green-haired friend "Emmy, call Shadow Rider and let her know what's happening!"
"Shall I move to intercept after I've made the call?" Emeralda replied.
"No, someone's got to stay at their post!" Michiru answered as she took off, glad the cloudy night would help to hide her as she flew near the yakuza base.
(X)
"What do you mean the price has gone up?" a young man dressed in far more cloths than a warm summer night would require angrily barked at the other man dressed in a tacky blue suit and slicked back hair with a thin mustache.
"Kid, I don't make this stuff. I pay more, you pay more, that's how it works. Difference is, I don't need it to keep up the act at my little hero school. So what's it going to be, hmmm?" The dealer pressed, sure he already had the kid exactly where he wanted him.
The teenager frowned deeply as he cursed under his breath and started fishing for his wallet. His hand froze when a cold and deep voice made itself known from the entrance to the alleyway "Sounds like you have a supplier. Maybe you'd like to tell me more about that?"
When the pair turned their attention to see who had spoken, most of the interloper's form was obscured by darkness, his head covered by a hood. The sword he had pointed at them though stuck out into a ray of moonlight, giving the blade a menacing sheen to it. The dealer tried to calm his nerves and bluff his way past whoever this new guy was. "Hey buddy, this is my beat and I paid for it square, you got me? You want in on this action you're going to have to go through the family! Messing with me is the same as crossing them, ya hear!"
When a ball of fire seemed to ignite in the newcomer's hand, it at once brought sweat to the dealer's features but also illuminated the figure bearing the sword as he said "Oh? Do tell me more, and be quick about it, I've had a long night."
Getting a good look at the threatening figure, the boy nervously called out "Wait, he's a hero! Shit, we need to get outta here!" as he pulled at the collar of his jacket to try and hide his face.
At hearing the word hero, Zelgadis visibly cringed but said nothing. The dealer, on the other hand, stepped forward, hands out to show he was unarmed and a smirk on his face "You must be new in town kid. Listen, just let us walk away and no pots get stirred, ya got me? No transaction took place. Nothing happened here, we go home and you can finish your patrol on a nice, quite note. What do ya say?"
With each word spoken, Zelgadis began to feel dizzy and disoriented as he struggled to maintain his balance. His grip on his sword began to weaken and he found that he was struggling to hold on to his Fireball spell, one of the simplest in his arsenal. As the small ball of fire began to sputter and flicker, the dealer moved his left hand into his jacket pocket and pulled a rather large handgun as he spoke again "What was that? I couldn't quite hear you? You know, getting a closer look at you, I could guess you wouldn't normally be worried about bullets. But at this close range and this baby's stopping power, I'm willing to bet…."
"No! Don't kill him!" the boy shouted as the dealer cocked the hammer, sure the interloper in front of him was too disoriented to retaliate.
The dealer pulled the trigger, a shot ringing out in the night as the flash briefly filled the alleyway. Instead of hitting its intended target though, the bullet flew into the night's sky, Zelgadis allowing the disorientation to swallow him, falling forward. Letting go gave him just enough focus to toss the spell forward and up, catching the dealer's hand and throwing off his aim as he yelped in pain at the burn to his hand.
"You diluted asshole! You fucking burned my hand!" the dealer screamed as he stepped forward, standing over Zelgadis' prone form, passing the gun to his other hand and leveling it at the crippled chimera's head.
The wayward hero student had had enough, charging forward as he called "NO! You can't!"
For the first time in the exchange, the dealer actually looked truly angry as he turned to address his, until recent, buyer "YOU WILL SIT." He said with a finality that would give most people pause. Though the boy was not most people, he was, however, stopped in his tracks by the dealer's quirk, as the boy's ears began to bleed, his eardrums shattered.
"Whelp, looks like I'll need to scout another customer. Now, where was I? Oh yes…" As the dealer returned to lording over Zelgadis, he again raised his gun, aiming for the downed lighter's head once more.
Again, a shot rang out into the night. Again, the bullet missed its intended target. This time because as the dealer was firing, a pair of talons dung into his shoulders, yanking him up and backward, along with his arms. "Just in time!" Michiru exclaimed as she shifted her taloned bird legs into massive gorilla ones, instantly and greatly increasing her weight just as her victim's body had begun to arch backward, causing him to be smashed hard into the ground as the tanuki girl pushed downward. Hard.
The gun fell harmlessly to the ground as its owner lay prone and unconscious, his body lightly indented into the ground. Kicking the gun away as she stepped off the drug-dealing villain, Michiru rushed over to Zelgadis, still laying face first on the ground "Zel! Zel, you alright? "
"Do I look alright?" the chimera angrily replied, as he struggled to lift himself up.
Michiru frowned as she offered her hand, "You look like you just got your ass handed to you by some two-bit drug-dealer. See why you should have waited?"
Hesitating briefly before taking the offered assistance, the embarrassed sorcerer finally got to his feet and grumbled "Rub it in…at least we have someone to interrogate now."
"Is that what you think is going to happen?" came a voice from above.
The two rookie provisional heroes looked up to find Brooklyn perched on the edge of one of the buildings that made up the alleyway, looking none too pleased. "You have no idea what you've just done, do you?"
"Caught a villain engaged in dealing drugs…which is what the Shie Hassaikai is engaged in." Zelgadis answered, sounding like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Brooklyn shook his head, embarrassed he even had to explain this. "You have no idea how the Yakuza work, do you? You just took out, or rather, Animalia here took out saving your ass, a dealer on the Hassaikai's home turf. No matter what we do now, their alarm's going to raised and our job just got a lot harder. Nice going."
Zelgadis at least had the good grace to not say anything as he looked away, frustration clear on his face. As if to pile on to the sorcerer-swordsmen's embarrassment, Celty rolled up a moment later, her other-worldly motorcycle revving like a menacing beast as she got off. "What is the meaning of this? I thought I ordered you to call for us if you saw something, not engage yourselves!" the dullahan demanded.
"Its…my fault." Zelgadis volunteered, finding it difficult to meet the blackened visor of Celty's motorcycle helmet.
"You're damn right it is!" the headless hero snapped, "I don't think you understand how sensitive this situation is and clearly you don't appreciate the position you are in! You're lucky Animalia here can act calmly when her teammate decides to be a selfish fool!"
Zelgadis held his head low, his hands clenched tight as Brooklyn leapt down and said, "Well the night's a bust. Come on, I've called the cops, once we get these two into custody, we're done for the night."
"What? We're leaving? What if something happens at the mansion?" Michiru tried to reason, desperate not to waste the rest of the night.
"At this point, we're in damage control mode. We need to hide this ever happened, and us sticking around will look more suspicious if we're seen. We're done." Celty explained, her tone leaving no room for debate.
"And now we're going to need his help." Brooklyn added with clear distaste in his voice.
The two newer lighters looked over at the gargoyle, as Michiru asked hesitantly "W-whose help, exactly?"
Celty's helmet tilted a bit as she shoulders sagged as she responded "Yep…and that means you three are coming with us. This guy…has odd tastes."
Zelgadis and Michiru just looked at each other, a mix of confusion and fear playing on their features.
(X)
It turned out that whoever this person was that both Celty and Brooklyn seemed so apprehensive about wasn't a night owl like they were so the rookie trio of lighters were sent home to rest up while the dealer and buyer were taken in for questioning. The same cloud that had hung over the three of them as when Zelgadis had knocked out Bakugo had returned. When Michiru had tried to reach out and see if Zelgadis was alright, he had quickly shot her down, telling her he was fine.
Though she was clearly hurt, the tanuki girl bit her tongue and backed off, leaving the brooding chimera to his thoughts. As they got back to campus, Emeralda tried to make her fur covered friend feel better as she said "Zelgadis has much on his mind. One of my group from back in my world also had much that troubled him. He too would seek solitude, even when we tried to cheer him up. In the end, we stuck with him despite everything and it worked out."
Emeralda wasn't usually one to volunteer much about her past so Michiru was immediately curious about which of the portraits Emeralda had on her wall the girl was talking about and asked as much. "The man with the ponytail, Ki-I mean, Fei."
The slip didn't go un-noticed but instead, Michiru asked "And what weighed this Fei down? Anything like grumpy Zel over there?"
"He was the latest in a long line of re-incarnations and was fated to be the slayer of god…among other burdens that weighed on him." Emeralda answered, clearly unaware just how crazy that sounded.
Michiru nearly stopped walking as her eyes bugged out of her head and her shoulders slumped at such a ridiculous sentence. Emeralda raised an eyebrow, now herself confused by her friend's reaction. Finally recovering her composure, Michiru replied "You know Emmy, the more I hear about your world, the more I feel like my problems are pretty small."
"That…was not my intent, Michiru. I was just trying to say-"
"It's OK, Emmy, I get it. And I didn't mean what I said in a bad way, I just meant it helps to give me perspective is all." Michiru cut in before a mischievous twinkle flashed in her eye as she added "Speaking of burdens, were you one of them to this Fei, Emmy?"
Completely missing the faux accusatory tone, Emeralda answered seriously "I…tried not to be." as she looked away.
Seeing that the nanomachine girl had taken her gentle poking the wrong way, Michiru leaned forward to catch the tan girl's attention and said "Hey, sorry, bad joke. It's just I can't remember you ever telling me about your home and it be a happy memory. I guess I was just trying to make you smile is all."
Emeralda looked off in the distance for a moment, as though considering the tanuki girl's statement, her eyes widening. "I suppose you are right. I do have much I miss about home. I'm sorry Michiru. Remind me to tell you about the Captain someday."
Michiru raised a questioning eyebrow, glad the mood had lightened despite the perpetual cloud that was Zelgadis walking some distance ahead of them. "The Captain? What, that's his name? What's he even a captain of?"
Emeralda laughed to herself just thinking about the man as she said "He is a walrus demi-human who was the captain of the Thames, a massive salvaging ship and no one actually knew his real name, he was just the Captain. He always had a story for me or anyone who would listen. I may not be the best at retelling his stories but I think you will enjoy them. Just be prepared for his catch phrase a lot."
"Catch-phrase?" Michiru couldn't help but ask.
"For him, everything was about being…A Man. Of the Sea!" As she finished, Emeralda flung her arm out for emphasis. A gesture that made Michiru think of a sentai hero, over the top, and way out of character for the stoic greenette. Michiru couldn't help but laugh as they got to the house. A glare from Zelgadis was enough for the two girls to calm down as they entered, remembering everyone else was still very much asleep so late at night.
(X)
The trio found themselves with Celty in front of what looked like an abandoned warehouse, having arrived in an unmarked van that also had the two they had captured the previous night and several officers still inside. When Zelgadis had questioned whether he should be allowed to join them given his failure the previous night, Celty had replied that it was because of that mistake that they were even going so he, more than any of them, would be going. Still, without any idea where they were going or even why, the trio had spent the trip anxious about what, exactly, they were stepping into.
As they stepped up to a door around the side of the building, Celty turned to face the three and addressed them. "I've left you in suspense long enough. We're here to see a guy that a few of us underground heroes turn to when we need specific help."
The less than specific explanation did nothing to assuage the rookie lighters apprehension as Michiru asked what was on all their minds "Help with what? I still don't understand why the three of us are here."
"Zenchuu is his name, though he goes by The Wiper because his quirk lets him cause people to temporarily forget periods of time. Thanks to our rocky friend here, we have two people who, if we let go, will blow our investigation. If the dealer especially goes missing for too long, the Shie Hassaikai will know something is up."
"So, releasing them with their memory erased is the only other option." Emeralda finished, which earned her a nod from the dullahan.
"So then, what's the catch?" Zelgadis questioned, clearly aware there was one.
Celty sighed. "What he does is off the books, in part because of what he demands in payment." The trio stared at her expectantly before she continued, her voice a bit lower, "He has certain…proclivities. He has a thing for heteromorphs and those with quirks that change one's form. All three of you check that box and so…"
"So what? What the hell does this guy expect of us? I'm not a performer for some weirdo's kinks!" Michiru immediately shot back.
"No no, he'll likely just want to take some pictures of you, that's all." Celty pleaded.
"I'm leaving." Zelgadis declared, turning to head back to the van.
"You leave and we're done, you hear me, Magus?" Celty declared threateningly, making sure to use the chimera's new hero name.
"Zel, Iknow you hate making a spectacle of yourself but we need to fix this. Come on, we're going in, how bad could it be?" Michiru said, putting on the most reassuring smile she could muster despite her own misgivings.
They would find out soon enough as Zelgadis rolled his eyes and made an about face and headed in with the rest of them.
Zenchuu turned out to at least look like any other person you may see on the street. Of average height and build, with short-cropped slightly unkept black hair and basic white collared shirt and navy pants, he sat in a lone chair in the middle of the poorly lit warehouse slumped forward, arms resting on his knees. A camera bag sat on the ground beside him as he watched the four figures get closer.
"It's been a long time, Shadow Rider. I was beginning to think I'd never see or those shadows of yours you again. I see your partner sill hates the day." Zenchuu called out as he sat back and crossed his arms. "You sounded urgent on the phone, I have to assume you've brought me something of equal value to such a last minute request?"
Stepping into the small space around Zenchuu illuminated by a single light overhead, Celty calmly addressed the man "I'm well aware. Wiper. I've brought my three trainees."
With that, Michiru, Emeralda and Zelgadis stepped forward as well. Instantly, the serious mood changed as Zenchuu's brown eyes went wide with excitement as he shot bolt up onto his feet. "What's this! A racoon girl-"
"Tanuki"
"-And a blue-skinned young man with what looks like rocks embedded in his skin! How absolutely fascinating! The other one, her features are fairly exotic but still Shadow Rider, not really my lane." Zenchuu finished as he circled the trio and waved his hand dismissively when looking at Emeralda.
"Crescens?" Celty simply said. Emeralda nodded and instantly, her right arm shifted into a ball and chair, the heavy spiked sphere smashing into the ground while her left became a katana.
Zenchuu's mouth twisted into a smirk as he asked "I take it those limbs can take other forms?" Emeralda emotionlessly nodded and the memory eraser's smirk broadened as he snapped his fingers and declared "Then lets get this thing started!"
A moment later the whole warehouse lit up as far more lights came on and the once empty-looking and unwelcoming space revealed itself to have a whole photo studio in it, with lights, diffusers, reflectors and backgrounds in every corner.
Michiru inwardly groaned, as she got the sinking feeling this wasn't just going to be just a few snapshots. If this guy wanted cosplay, he was getting a punch in the face. She was just glad she hadn't revealed her own morphing ability, otherwise she was afraid she'd never leave.
So it was that the three of them were paraded about, asked to pose for Zenchuu to take what seemed like an endless stream of photos. When the man had asked Zelgadis if he could do anything besides brooding loner the answer had been a curt "No". Instead of getting upset and refusing to the deal, Zenchuu was so excited he just waved it off and kept going. The man went about his work with the excited glee of a first-time convention goer seeing his first cosplayer.
Poor Emeralda went through just about every weapon or tool she could think of before Zenchuu was ready to move on. Michiru watched on with a distinctly dirty taste in her mouth. Sure the guy hadn't asked anything untoward or perverted of any of them but somehow this just felt wrong to her. Still, a deal was a deal and they had gone through with it so that when Celty brought up their request, Zenchuu was more than happy to oblige.
Celty called for the dealer and buyer be brought in and in short order the two were seated in two folding chairs, cuffed, bklinjd-folded and mouths covered as Zenchuu turned and asked Celty "Ok, so how far back are we going to go?"
"Just the last twenty-four hours." came the answer as the two struggled about, still able to hear what was going on.
"Just the last day? And here I thought it might be something complicated! If it wasn't for the rush job I would have been happy just to see you again Shadow Rider! An easy job and three new wonders for me to admire! Man, what a great day!" Zenchuu explained as he spun about and placed each hand on the forehead of each of the two offenders.
A pulse emanated from Zenchuu's head before his eyes shown bright blue and two beams of light shot down from his eyes and down his arms and into the two men's heads. When Zenchuu let go, the two men's heads shot back before going limp as they went unconscious.
"Are…they alright?" Michiru couldn't help but ask.
Cracking his knuckles, Zenchuu replied "Oh yes, they'll only be out for a few minutes, just a side-effect of my quirk." The officers carried the two men out, after which Celty explained they were also given sedatives to keep them out long enough to be returned to their homes safely.
With the job done, the lighters moved to leave, but before they could, Zenchuu called out "You three can call on me any time, it was a pleasure!" before offering a wink.
Michiru managed to hold back a gag but did shiver, which distance was able to hide from the man. Celty called back as she held the door for her three charges "I'm sure they would be more than happy to call on your services in the future. You could even offer Animalia here a discount since you've only seen one of her forms!" as she shut the door.
A muffled "WHAT!" could be heard as Michiru shot the dulahan the dirtiest look she could.
Pretending no to see the death glare, Celty spoke again "We're lucky that's all it cost us to clean up this little mess. Michiru, you'll be in charge going forward any time I or Brooklyn are indisposed."
Michiru found herself unsure if she was happy to again be the leader of their little trio or weighed by its burden. Instead of settling on one or the other, the tanuki girl shifted focus, replying "So Zel, I mean, Magus can still go out with us?"
"Yes." Celty said a bit apprehensively before continuing with more confidence "I understand what its like to desperately want something that it causes poor decisions so I will forgive him just this once. DO. NOT. DO. IT. AGAIN. If you betray my trust one more time, Magus then you'll be forced to watch from the sidelines while we continue to look for a way home, you got me? No cure, no nothing. Got it?"
Zelgadis said nothing but nodded. As they got back in the van, Michiru couldn't help but wonder why Zelgadis was so driven to go off like that and if he wouldn't listen to Celty, would he listen to her when the moment came?
(X)
Several days later Izuku found himself walking the streets not far from where Zelgadis had his encounter in the alleyway. He was joined by Mirio, his new senpai at the agency of Sir Nighteye or Mirai Sasaki, former sidekick to All Might himself. Izuku had managed to earn a work study with the stern-looking hero after Shouta had allowed those in 1-A who could get them from a select group of agencies to seek them. After almost the entire class got soundly defeated by the phasing hero-in-training, Izuku went about trying to get that work study.
After the lighters had all but disappeared from their class to have their own work study, all anyone could talk about was either the work studies themselves or the disappointment at having new classmates seemingly ripped from them. Several in the class had seen Michiru, Emeralda and Zelgadis returning from or going to their work study in the last few days but aside from letting their former classmates know that 1-A would get the chance too, not much else was said.
Izuku's own path had been far less straight forward than he would have liked. First Gran Torino had turned him down, saying he was working on something and couldn't take him back on. On the old man's suggestion, Izuku then went to All Might himself in hopes that the former number one hero's own extensive connections might help. When All Might refused to directly assist him with Mirai, Izuku then met once again with the third year that had been in the running to succeed All Might instead of him, Mirio.
Mirio, ever willing to help, did connect Izuku with All Might's estranged former side-kick and after an…unconventional test, Izuku had been allowed to join his agency as a student side-kick along with Mirio and two other full time sidekicks, Bubble Girl and Centipeder. The stern head of the agency had then explained to the freckled boy the case they were working on, the Shie _.
Mirai had been at once impressed and annoyed when Izuku had shared that he was already partially aware of what was going on, having met Xellos and Eri already. A fact that Mirai had not been privy to.
So it was that Izuku was now part of the day shift patrolling where his three lighter friends ran the night shift, watching for any activity with the Shie Hassaikai.
Mirio was just starting to explain the day to day of actual patrolling, something Izuku had missed in his internship thanks to Stain, when, as the two passed by an alleyway, a small girl ran smack into Izuku, latching onto him and catching him wholly off guard. "What the?" he said as he looked down to see who was holding on to him so tightly. When Izuku saw long white hair, a small horn poking out of the forehead of a girl with pleading red eyes looking up at him, trembling, the successor of All Might knew instantly who it was. "Eri?! What happened? Are you ok?" Izuku asked, realizing this was the same girl that Xellos had used as a shield only a few nights prior.
Mirio stepped closer to see what was happening but stopped short of speaking as he tensed up, as he saw a taller man in an elaborate plague mask step from the shadows and spoke, his tone polite but barely concealing the menace underneath "Now did I hear that right? Did you just call this girl Eri? Tell me, young hero, how is it that you're acquainted with my daughter?"
(X)
I can't tell you how much I didn't want to end it here. I had planned to have this whole scene play out and end the chapter once it was over but I've just run out of time this month. Between the colds running through the house and the various family trips this past month, there hasn't been nearly enough time to write this time around. Worse still, April is the month of the big event I'm in charge of twice a year that just swallows up my entire life. There will, of course, still be a chapter but it will likely be shorter than I would like.
What it will contain is Hitomi's session with Bakugo, as has been requested. I hope you look forward to it. I also hope you don't mind the little trip to the memory eraser. I did want to flesh it out more but for the reasons stated above, couldn't. I saw a chance to expand and explore this world a bit and took it, for whatever it's worth. I hope you'll forgive my indulgence.
As with last chapter, we have just one review to share (though I consider myself luck to have it), from Eliphas-Chaos.
Right, sorry this review took so long, but life got in the way and I have only just gotten to reading the new chapter. I am glad that they were able to calm Zelgadis down for a moment though it doesn't seem to last long but as Bakugo did attack first it can be classed as self defence if extreme.
I do feel sorry for Midoriya having so much information dropped on him at once and of course there is the reveal of magic at that oh so inopertune moment where Jun and All-Might arrive, that is a fun one to explain.
Tamaki asking Emeralda out was sweet but her tuning him down is understandable, she isn't socially ready (?) to enter a relationship especially as she is from another world, that kind of long distance would be rather difficult.
Now we have Zelgadis' session with Hitomi, which is quite a lot to unpack, and that's just getting him to open up but eventually he is able to talk but it certainly was easy for either of them as Zelgadis doesn't like talking.
Midoriya talking with All-Might about what he has learned was interesting especially his own research before he knew the truth.
I am interested in seeing Michiru's session with Hitomi and I, personally, would like to see Bakugo's as well.
Finally we have Xellos and his integration/manipulation of the Shie Hassaikai and his growing attachment to Eri, which is definitely going to havecan effect on the arc.
Can't wait for the next chapter.
Take care. Eliphaschaos.
Yes, self defense is the only thing keeping Zelgadis from harsher punishment. I admit I've never been truly clear on how self defense really works in the MHA universe. It only makes sense to us to be able to use our quirks in public to defend ourselves but I kind of got the feeling the author has tried to steer clear of making hard rules about such things.
Yes, poor, poor Midoriya. So much put on his shoulders and then, within days, he is having to deal with knowing Mirio was likely going to be the successor and running into Eri. Thats alot to process for anyone, let alone a teenager with self confidence issues. We'll see what all this extra weight does to him going forward.
I've briefly touched on the idea that none of the lighters have gotten involved with anyone since coming to this world. Their reasons vary and I intend for it to an important point of growth for the trio, not to give too much away. Emeralda is the kind of person that doesn't like to do anything they aren't sure they will do a good job and dating is, almost by nature, about learning about someone else. That carries a degree of uncertainty she isn't ready for, or at least thinks she isn't ready for. It doesn't help that she takes most things way too seriously.
Zelgadis, like Emeralda, has only just started down a path of self reflection. Unlike Emeralda, Zel has a singular moment that he lets haunt him and he has to come to terms with that.
I suspect Michiru's session won't be what you expected but we'll get where we need to go eventually there. If you want to see Bakugo's, the opportunity will present itself soon. I'm afraid I won't have time to get into it this chapter but if you're sure you want to see it, I'll go there. It'll give me a chance to bring back something that's always bothered me about him.
You're not wrong about Xellos. He will definitely have an affect on the proceedings to be sure.
Ok, take care out there everyone! Look forward to next chapter, and I'll see you next month!