Chapter 5: From Shadows

Age 12

Naruhata ward

Abandoned building

Throughout the streets, cold wind and snow fell even with the passing of a new year. Celebratory decorations were slowly removed as life returned to a normal one, night lights turning on as the sky slowly darkened itself.

At an abandoned building, surrounded by other more modern buildings, left behind as it was illegally built. The windows were long gone and winds howled, creating echoes and whispers throughout the skeleton building.

No one would be here, barring drug addicts, homeless people, and drifters. Rumors abound that the place was haunted or that a serial murderer lives there, tall tales alike which garner fewer people going there.

"Sure is a mess." A man looked at the destitute building, his face looking far more destitute and grim looking.

"Haha! Indeed, terrible, isn't it?" The air was filled with a burst of joyous and boisterous laughter even as a man dressed in a flamboyant dark suit, alongside a cane gripped under the arm, held a teapot and cup as they stood at the edge of a building. "No better place to meet someone in the cover of darkness."

The man slowly took a skin-tight grey and black mask before he wore it over his head. Immediately, his speech became more informal and brazen as he waved his hand apart. "Honestly, why can't he set this up in a pub or something? Can't even get a drink."

"Agreed with Jin-Twice, after all, how could my fabulous Gentle Criminal be seen in a dump like that!" A much more earnest voice came from a twin tail red-headed woman with dark eye-liners harrumphed at that, hands at their hips as she looked at the building with pouty lips.

"Haha, not to your liking La Brava?" Gentle laughed as he poured tea into the cup while failing miserably as hot liquid spilled everywhere but his cup. "Worry not, I shall bequeath upon you both a grand feast after this!"

"We are eating out tonight?" Jin's eyebrows rose in anticipation.

"Nay, we shall be having a hot pot together."

"Good enough for me!" La Brava smiled at that and hands clasped together while Twice raised his head up.

"Hot pot? We're running out of meat though-No wait, that's great!" Twice said contemplatively before switching his mood in a blink of an eye. As quickly as it came, he slouched forward and sighed. "Ah man, I really need to fix that outburst."

"Nonsense, it adds to your charm." Gentle chuckled before he took a sip from his cup, cold and less than a quarter filled.

"Haha," Twice rubbed the back of his head. "Thank you for that. Wait hold up, that's creepy, don't do that."

"Hmph! Aren't you one to talk?"

"Hey now, big sis Brava, isn't it true?" Twice pointed both of his fingers to her, much to Brava's own dismay.

"Either way, let's meet up with Bozu and get this over with then." Brava brushed it off quickly as she gestured her hands forward.

"Of course," Gentle finished his tea, kept it back before picking up La Brava in his hands and gesturing to Twice to follow closely. "Just focus on where I move, and don't worry, I'll catch you if you fall."

"Man, that's reassuring, not." Twice looked at the edge of the building even as the wind blew past him, making him shiver.

"Alright, let's go!"

"That's terrifying." Twice took a moment to focus on the solid floor that he stood on, the feeling of jumping onto an invisible pad rattled him. Taking multiple deep breaths as he tried to calm his head and the rush of blood.

Once he steadied himself and nodded to Gentle and Brava, they continued to lead the way through the dark building.

Looking towards the lights outside, Twice felt oddly serene. Dark and lonely places like this were calming as he adjusted the mask.

After all, it was the only way to stay sane. Not after what had happened, when he was tied-

No, it was all behind him now. He swore he won't be using his quirk to replicate himself anymore. He can't even trust himself now, let alone the numerous voices inside of him. A dark thought came to him as he once enjoyed the presence of others but now reduced to feeling calmer without anyone around him.

Not really. Twice eyes flicked to the pair in front of him.

Yeah. A grin formed under his mask.

"...So, what's the deal with this Bozu guy anyway? He's offering a job?" Twice broke the silence as he wondered what's the big deal, Gentle usually wouldn't be so focused on a simple meet up since Brava said that the two often met in this place.

"Well, he offered a job to me a long time ago." Gentle light-heartedly said with a smile, prompting a tilted look as Twice shared a glance to Brava. The latter of whom also shrugged her shoulders.

"Well, what kind? Come on, we're dying to know here!"

"Patience, patience." Gentle waved it off before mumbling under his breath quickly. "He never really told me the details."

Twice wanted to inquire more but up ahead in the hallway that they're walking, a room had light pouring out to the hallways. Outside hung an odd decoration. A charm, stuffed with tissue and cloth, smiley face drawn, was hung upside down as it fluttered in the air.

That alerted him immediately though Gentle and Brava continued on without worry.

"It's me!" Gentle boisterously said as he knocked on the door frame. "Gentle Criminal!"

"Now, hand over all your valuables!" He then struck a pose with all his might, coming across as corny but exuding such confidence and grace in his movement. It was followed by Brava, mimicking Gentle as she posed in her own way.

I wish I could do that. Twice thought as he wondered the myriad of poses that will fit him even as the two stood in front of the room.

"Sure, after you pried it from my cold dead body." A distorted voice replied back.

That snapped Twice attention immediately to the opposite room with its door gone and in complete darkness, soft footsteps can be heard. From the shadows, he could see a short figure joining them. His fingers moving to pull the metallic measuring tape at his wrist.

The long black pants, white shoes didn't stand out at all but the bright color of blue, red, and yellow, denoting the trademark design of an All Might hoodie clashed against it. Raising a hand and then two fingers denoting the victory and peace sign casually, the figure greeted them. "Happy new year."

"And happy new year to you too!" Gentle immediately bowed and then offered his hand, something that was reciprocated by the small figure before doing the same to Brava. "Haha, did you enjoy the holidays, Bozu?"

This is him? Studying the figure, he stands shorter than both Gentle and him but taller than Brava. Noting how he had one-hand in his pocket and that the lower chin of his seemed darkened as well under that hoodie.

But what stood out was the weird perpetual smell of iron that clung around Bozu.

Smells familiar. We smelled it before.

"Good, it's good. By the way, I saw your new videos. An art heist on a politician?"

"Of course, that man had unjustly countered reforms after reforms on supporting individuals with quirk mutations!" Gentle proudly said with a raised fist, passionately moving around with his words. "Such injustice cannot go unanswered!"

"Or that might just garner sympathy for him, and even make him dig his heels deeper, Gentle." Bozu reprimanded him as the latter leaned against the wall and hands in his pocket. "Well, at least you made it more of a show rather than a threat."

"A direct threat will simply be spun into ammunition for him to cover things." Gentle shrugged before casting a glance at Bozu and grinned even as he fanned himself with his hat. "So I simply took his most precious art piece first, and now, the media is putting a shine over the details of the large illegal collection he possessed when the police came in."

"Of course, none of this could've been achieved so easily if not for our new compatriot! Presenting!" With a swipe of his hand in an exaggerated movement, shifting Bozu's attention to Twice even as the latter gulped in anxiousness.

I need a good introduction, think, Gentle always said something awesome, same with big sis Brava. What can I say?

"Hey there, this is Twice! Who do you think am I, asshole!?" Snapping his fingers and shaking his hips, posing with all his heart out at the first thought that came up to him.

From the outside perspective, Bozu was greeted with an awkward sigh of Twice trying to mimic both Gentle and Brava while failing and meeting halfway.

"Well, he's...enthusiastic?"

"Haha, a little rough around the edges but he'll do fine." Gentle praised him which lifted Twice spirits immensely.

"So, what is the meeting about? I doubt it is just for pleasantries." Brava changed the topic quickly.

"Not really, I did call you guys because it's the new year greeting. Usually, it's just Gentle that I call but he insisted you two came." Shrugging his shoulders at that, leaving the two baffled and taken aback.

"I wanted to introduce you all to him and as well as him to you." Gentle followed even as Bozu stepped back into the darkroom before coming back with a plastic bag filled with items.

"Here, black tea, not the good stuff but it's decent enough." Bozu handed it to Twice nonchalantly, noting that it was store-bought from the local shops.

"Oh thanks man-Hold up, I thought you're here to give us a job so we can earn more dough." Twice shake it off while still accepting the gift, a sentiment shared by Brava.

"About that, uh..." Teru Bozu, or Kurono Tatewaki, rubbed the back of his head again as that awkward question popped up. Sure, he had an idea but he still hasn't gotten the money part to actually pay them properly.

"You don't have a job for us, do you?" Twice said with a deadpan look.

"Ey now, I do have a job for you." He defensively said before drawing the rest of the details out carefully. "It's just that-it will be available...in three years' time?"

"That's way too long!" Brava looked aghast at that as she stomped forward towards him. "We're not a restaurant, you can't book us for a job that we don't even have details about. Do you know how many subscribers and jobs we could earn in that year?!"

Kurono gurgled at that, no words to really counter that.

"Now, now. I'm sure he has his reason." Gentle, thank the man, decided to intervene on his behalf. "It definitely must be a big one, considering the last job you had me was infiltrating the National Quirk Registration department years ago."

That left a stunned silence between Brava and Twice, processing the information with a wide eye akin to owls.

"...You were the one who asked Gentle to do that?" Brava finally said, a nod from Bozu confirming it.

"Yes."

Her mouth opened several times, trying to word out multiple statements but kept quiet after a while. Failing to find the proper words as she looked at Twice but settled for a simple one with a nod of her own. "I see, very well."

Bozu waved it off, not really eager to talk about it. Sure, he suggested and knew Gentle would've done it but didn't think he would succeed on such a scale.

He was pretty sure Gentle never received a whole hour of discussion dedicated to him alone on national television in the original timeline, not even his stunt managed to do that.

For a world that's scarred by villains, the public sure love to hear about them. He chuckled at that, feeling right at home at that.

Still, his eye twitched and fingers tapped nervously as Crona's own apprehension built up within him.

I think we should tell them, Gentle helped out Twice after all.

Kurono can't deny that and he had to maintain Gentle on his side to avoid the fiasco with UA. More so now that he actually delivered his side of the bargain. Letting a long sigh, eyes closed, rubbing the back of his head and with the combined courage of two neurotic people, he opened up.

"Alright, I'll tell you a little bit about the second job then. Truth is, I got multiple jobs that year but I'll tell you the most important one first."

That had both Brava and Twice attention but none was as intense as Gentle immediately knelt down to their height, face to face and hat took off to rest against his chest. The wind seemed to pick up as it blew into the building, passing through and into the hallway, they're in.

"Bear in mind, this might change in between," A quick nod from Gentle was all that he received. "but the general gist is that I need you to keep an eye on one of the eight triads, the Shie Hassaikai."

"The yakuza?" Brava tilted her head at that even as Twice had his arm crossed.

"Those guys, man, what do you want to do with them? Hate those guys, let's rob them."

"My predictions say that they'll develop a… strain of drugs that somehow suppresses quirk in three years," Kurono said as he hoped that Nighteye could intercept it by then but just in case…

Besides, there's plenty of other scenarios where he certainly could use Gentle on his side.

Not to mention with Twice capabilities, even limited, was still a huge asset.

"So you want us to keep an eye on their development?" Gentle eyebrows furrowed, organized crimes have been a backdrop ever since the quirk upheaval and rise of even larger villains. So why the sudden focus on them?

Bozu wasn't one to give simple tasks, and this was due in three years.

Was there an event that'll happen, just like how he predicted Twice's own perilous situation?

Come to think of it, the recent instant villains were all done by some kind of drug named trigger. Already, multiple leads, contacts, and places where he could potentially investigate came to mind. Quickly putting a list together as he stood back up.

"Very well, anything to look out for?"

"I think it's an old man taking care of it but pretty soon, the new leader will be Chisaki or Overhaul."

Chisaki, Overhaul. Gentle mused to himself. Some of the jobs by Giran had targets on the yakuza and triads. No better chance than that, he never liked drug distributors anyhow.

"His quirk can disassemble and reassemble anything he touches, most of the time, he can disassemble someone but not put them back."Bozu rested a hand on his arm, gripping it tightly even as he looked up towards Gentle. "Be careful, alright?"

Quick as it came, that polite way of addressing quickly changed to a more informal one when he turned to Brava and Twice. "You too, watch yourselves and help keep Gentle out of trouble, alright?"

"Obviously."

"Damn right."

Kurono nodded before taking out a phone. "By the way, what's your number?"

"Oh, sure, it's-"

After a quick exchange of numbers, Bozu finally left after one last farewell. Leaving the trio with his gifts and to mull over the new task given to them.

"Man, the yakuza. Looks like this is gonna be a pain." Twice said before he leaned closer to Gentle and whispered. "You sure about this? The job seems suspicious, he didn't even mention any pay."

"Indeed," Brava crossed her arms before her eyes lingered on Gentle, shook her head, and continued. "Dear, I mean, Gentle-There's no need to accept it."

"No, I owe him a great debt. Without him, I would not be here." He looked at the two of them and grinned widely as he wore his hat. "Besides, I can talk about the pay with him later."

"You know, if you just send a message to him-"

"It'll be a throwaway number and there's no need to go that far." Gentle interrupted Brava before placing a hand on her head gently while turning his head to Twice. "Come, let's go home. That hotpot isn't going to wait for us."

Age 12

Tokyo

National Museum of History and Heroes

Sun high in the skies with birds flying through it, weaving between tall, urban buildings. The trees grew new buds and sprouts after the cold winter even as the temperature slowly dropped.

Down below at the streets, numerous people walked animatedly and poured to the open from underground train stations. The traffic police directed the flow of the vehicles to prevent a standstill, yet the traffic seemed to stretch onwards.

All this, going and directed at the center of the tallest building and floating stadium, called the Tokyo Sky Egg, posters and advertisement at the entrance depicting a large blonde man, flashy sunglasses, a large smile and initials of 'C.C'.

Similarly, in an area close to the Tokyo Sky Egg stood the National Museum of History and Heroes. Today, being the first early months of school and return, hosted an event opened for public schools.

Busses filed out in a line, as students from multiple schools came in batches. A particularly excited student that stepped out from the bus greeted the sight with a small, green hair flowing back and forth in front of his freckled looking face.

"It's the National Museum! I can't wait to see the number of heroes that's listed and named in the past-"

"Move it, Deku." A rough voice interrupted him as he was shoved out of line even as other students filed out from the bus.

"Ah, alright then-" Despondently moving to the sides even as others students joined the roughneck, some sniggering or not at all finding the interaction hostile at all. It was, after all, something the usual.

Izuku Midoriya, entering his first year of junior high school, could only sigh as he followed his class behind.

This entire study tour group was meant as a way to ease the students in as well as an ice-breaker for others.

Izuku shook his head even as he looked at the museum. It's not every day that he gets to visit a huge museum like this, not to mention it was also a good chance for him to further expand his notes on previous heroes' quirk.

Lining in, getting their pass, and then going inside for the tour, trembling and resisting the urge to squeal in delight as statues of heroes stood behind glasses, their history and story meticulously documented.

So much information on the previous heroes of Japan, all of them making their marks throughout history at the beginning of the quirk emergence. Soaking up every word their appointed tour guide extrapolated animatedly.

"And here is the first few vigilantes, later turned heroes after being recognized by the government after the first agreed on Rhode Island New State Statute-"

"I see, so due to the new institution and based on popularity. It's no wonder other vigilantes were labeled heroes while the rougher ones despite some being genuinely heroic-" Glancing to the sides, he took notes even as he slowly mumbled to himself, wondering and postulating just how the pro-heroes of yore would feel during that era. Not even noticing that someone else had their eyes on them.

"You mumble a lot." Giggling as the voice interrupted his thoughts.

"So if the-Eh, uhm? Who-?" Izuku turned to the source and was greeted by a blonde-haired girl chuckling at him, her short swept hair followed the motion. Heat burned at his face while flushing red when he realized his habit must've caught her attention.

It's not like it was weird, he just gets really excited when there's something that piques his interest.

"You're just like Kuro. He also mumbles a lot-" She continued on as she circled around him, tilting her body to the sides with an inquisitive look before grinning. Her different colored school uniform of white, red, and black contrasting against his navy blue,. "But you only talk to yourself."

What does that mean? Izuku shook his head at that, between that and the experience that a girl was talking to him, proving too much as his face grew red like a tomato. "I-er, I'm M-Midoriya Izuku, nice to meet you!"

"Ah, Zuku! Can I call you that? I'm Himiko Toga." She bowed back to his introduction before looking at his notes. "Oh, writing about heroes?"

"Yes and their quirks too, it's a hobby of mine." Rubbing the back of his head even as he tried to shake it off. "It's fascinating, to see what, how and the equipment they used to support their quirk."

"Can I see it?"

"S-Sure!" He quickly opened the book before a dread built up within him, wondering if his handwriting was neat enough or that his notes were organized properly so that she could easily read them.

Still, Toga scanned, paused a moment before quickly flipping to the next. Not saying or reacting much to Izuku's relief and discomfort. It was unusually focused before she closed and handed it back to him.

"It's really detailed." She grinned as she looked at the other statue of the heroes before turning back to him. "But why do they want to be heroes? You didn't write that down."

"Huh?" Eyes blinked owlishly at that question.

"Why do they become heroes? They're treated as villains afterward, why bother becoming a hero in the first place?" Her hands waved to the early examples of the vigilantes as Izuku followed her gaze.

"B-Because they wanted to help others?" Izuku answered as he blurted out the obvious.

"Hmm, are you sure?" Toga teased as she leaned forward, hands behind her back, and looked right at him with her yellow slitted eyes.

That struck a blow to him since he prided himself on knowing and finding details not just on quirks but also the heroes that wielded them. To think that he had forgotten the most important detail which was their motivation, he was simply a failure-

"Haha, just kidding." Toga patted his back several times good-heartedly. "I just want to know about them, their hopes, dreams, and even their reasons."

"...While some of them did it for their own personal interest and went too far, I believe most of them did it in order to help others." Izuku took a moment to recompose himself as he looked at the number of recorded vigilantes turned heroes. "That is why they become heroes."

That answer just got Toga to simply stare at the statues, eyes flicking to each of them as her smile turned wry. Just as quick as it came, she turned back to him and smiled back. "You're right, Zuku!"

"It's nothing." He bashfully said. "By the way, which hero do you like?"

"No clue." She deadpanned with a shrug of her shoulders.

"Uhm, excuse me?"

"Maybe All Might? He's amazing as a hero." Toga followed up with a finger poking at her cheeks, eyes to the side.

"I know right, he's the greatest hero of our generation!" Izuku said but despite that, was flabbergasted at her nonplussed response and nodding. "Just recently, he saved Kyoto from the rampaging turtle villain! Also, he was involved in the search and rescue-"

While listing the recent number of feats, Toga listened quietly even as she brushed her hair to the sides with a hum and nodded at his words.

"Midoriya, keep up with the class and don't lag behind!"

"Himiko, don't wander around and bother students from other schools!"

That snapped both of their attention back as their respective teacher waved them to get back to their group.

"Well, it's nice talking to you, Zuku! See ya soon." Toga said before giving one final farewell as she skipped back to her group as another male student with similar navy blue school uniform and pink hair from afar began to move towards her.

Huh, that was nice. Looks like this day isn't gonna be so bad. Izuku couldn't refrain from smiling ear to ear even as he felt his mood lifted tremendously.

Toga meanwhile widened her smile as she wrapped her arms around her friend despite the disapproving look but that quickly changed when he spotted the departing back of Izuku.

"...Who's that?"

"Oh? That's Midoriya Zuku. A nice and awkward person, also mumbles a lot like you!" She then had a Cheshire smile before faking a gasp. "Ah, could it be, you're jealous?!"

"T-That's not, I'm not jealous. It's just-well, Uhm." Face slackened before waving their hands as he quietly mumbled to himself but at the sight of Izuku, his focus changed, and whispered quietly to himself in a masculine manner.

"I just didn't expect to see him so...early."

At the outskirts of the Tokyo Sky Egg, a medical and pharmacist production building was currently loading cargoes across multiple trucks. Each of them is equipped with an automated driver to deliver the goods on time.

Each cargo was a huge wooden box, some range from the size of a car up to a van. Forklifts operated by workers moved back and forth as quickly as they could.

"Right, load them all up," The foremen clapped his hands together, the company cap covering his head as he directed the workers. "We're on a tight schedule here, once done, it's all celebrations!"

That lifted the mood as the workers cheered back despite suddenly receiving large orders for today, after all, it was also payday and the last work before they're off.

"That's it, that's the spirit!" The foremen shared this joyous spirit even as he looked at the tablet in his hands, making sure all the crates were sorted and sent out properly. He's been waiting for this day for nearly a month or so.

A grin from ear to ear came to his face, tucked the tabled under his arm, and started to head out of the area as the workers continued working blissfully.

Looking upwards to the skies, the foremen adjusted his cap and his face briefly changed to show a diagonal scar across his face. The bright beautiful sun greeted him in return.

"Yes, today is going to be a fine day." He chuckled darkly before a spark of lightning surrounded him and he disappeared like a flash. A second or so, he appeared at the roof of a nearby building and laid his eyes on the Tokyo Sky Egg.

He took his tablet out, flicked on the screen, and arrived at the security cameras to check on the worker's progress. He was in time for the last crate to be loaded and shipped off as the automatic driver started driving to their destination.

Slowly, twelve trucks indicated that they'll arrive at their destination in half an hour. Satisfied, he looked at the scenery before flashing off again to another building.

Got to find a good spot. He thought to himself as the world came to a standstill around him.

After all, this was a grand celebration for Captain Celebrity's final run in Japan and his homecoming to America.

And what celebrations would be complete without some fireworks?

Sorry, IRL cut into my writing time, FF being blocked, and forgetting my password to had this work slide off my mind. I'll try to remember to keep updating this.

If not, you can find me at Questionable Questing, a NSFW forum but it's where I post first for this story.