Justice Across Space and Time
Chapter 38
Time to address a different issue going forward. As well as setting some more stages down the line. I'm gonna try and have Izuku doing a lot more compared to Jotaro and Saphentite. I felt like the two were taking too much of the spotlight when I wanted it to be shared better. On with the show.
(No POV)
As Jotaro was walking back in from talking with Itsuka, he focused in on his senses for something that had been bothering him. 'I never noticed because I was always checking elsewhere. But after being here and observing everyone closely… a lot of things start to add up.' He then walks over to where most of the group is gossiping and talking about the way each of their housemates' rooms look.
"Aoyama. Vous en avez une seconde? Il faut qu'on parle." Jotaro says to his French background classmate. Said sparkly teen is wide eyed before asking in French how Jotaro spoke the language. "I learned the Romance languages a while back. C'mon." Jotaro then gestures to Aoyama's room. Which the rest had just been making fun of for all of the mirrors and sparkly atmosphere. Aoyama just shrugs and agrees to talk with his classmate. "So, what can I help you with mon ami?"
"This is a bit awkward to bring up…. But I know you aren't what you seem." Jotaro says with a relaxed look at the blonde. Who freezes up with a panicked smile on his face. He tries to cover up what Jotaro is implying. Stuttering and stammering around, but Jotaro breaks the ice quickly. He grabs Aoyama's shoulders and tells his classmate, "Calm down. And don't do anything stupid. And by that, I mean try and shoot me with that little trick the monster gave you."
Aoyama gulps because of the intimidating size difference between the two and all of his plans for escaping go out the window. "How did you know?" Aoyama ask with a shiver. Jotaro gives a light chuckle before mentioning he had to pay attention. "I was looking everywhere for a possible traitor. Assuming they would be someone who had been at UA longer or out of sight. I didn't really want to think that they would be added to the first-year class." Aoyama nods before asking what would happen now.
"That kinda depends on you doesn't it? Before we go further with this, I gotta know: how and why did AFO give you a quirk?" Aoyama looks down before asking if Jotaro had plenty of time. And he began his tale. How his parents, fearing for their son being ostracized by the others due to not having a quirk of his own. How they had approached AFO in his childhood to gift the boy with a quirk.
"Didn't really think that one through, did they?" Jotaro quips with a raised eyebrow. Aoyama just gives a dry chuckle before agreeing. "It was a few years ago that AFO and his agents began threatening me, maman, and papan. Dropping dead people in front of us to demonstrate what happened to those who failed that man."
At this Aoyama started to tear up a bit, before continuing his tale. "I was given these instructions: apply to UA to infiltrate class 1-A. Keep an eye on the class and alert my contact when the class would be away from the main campus. I knew what it would probably lead to…. But-"
"You don't have to say anymore. Sad thing is, if I wasn't there for some of these instance's things would have turned out much worse. You have some blood on your hands….. but really compared to me, it's just a drop in the grand scheme." Jotaro says the latter half mostly under his breath before continuing.
"The fact is you are a multisided victim in this world. First of which comes from this morceau de merde world. Because of everyone's obsession with quirks, your parents were afraid for you given you didn't have a quirk." Jotaro says while looking down. He then notes that the sparkly teen was the victim of coercion. And that no one in his family's situation would be able to act rationally. "Which is an odd statement coming from me of all people." Jotaro quips.
This gets Aoyama to chuckle a bit in spite of himself. And Jotaro brings up the final part that Aoyama has to live with the guilt of everything that Jotaro himself, and hundreds of others went through because of his actions. "A few of whom I either care about or I'm growing to care about more."
"Mademoiselle Kendo, no? I've heard about how she almost died and now has no quirk. Let alone what happened to you. And you're right." Aoyama says before taking a shuddering breath as his eyes well up with tears again. He goes on to say he doesn't deserve any sympathy. How he was just a villain who put the lives of too many at risk. All because he was terrified of the repercussions. "And so many lost their lives or have been permanently scarred because of me! I don't know what… what I should do next." Aoyama says while crying curled up in a ball on his bed.
Jotaro had just stayed stoic standing across from the broken teen before him. Though he still doesn't break his silence, he walks over to Aoyama. And just hugs the boy. This shocks the blonde teen as he was sure that Jotaro would blame him for even more. Or threaten him. Or even beat him to death for what Jotaro had to endure, and what had happened to Itsuka. "Wha?"
"I said it before: you are a multisided victim. It doesn't make what you did or helped in doing right. But that isn't a reason for me to hate you. You need help more than anyone." With Jotaro's speech finished Aoyama begins crying anew and gripping onto the large teen as if his life depended on it. After the laser quirked boy had cried for about ten minutes, he was finally calm enough to ask a burning question. "What happens now?"
"You know you have to come clean about this right? The good news is that you don't have to worry about threats from AFO himself anymore. So, there's that." Jotaro says with a smile. Aoyama agrees, but he notes that the monster may still have allies with long standing orders. Jotaro just reassures Aoyama that the heroes could protect his parents. "Though it might be best for them to get out of country. The US might be safest in comparison to the upheavals here."
"You're probably right. Especially with all of these new dangerous true metas in the country. Uh no offense." Aoyama says while contemplating a bit. Jotaro just snorts before telling Aoyama he needed to go to Nezu himself. "He'd probably be willing to listen and try to work with you in a way that we can avoid a bigger incident. You'll still probably be dropped from the hero course though."
"I'm not sure that I mind. I didn't want to be a hero in the first place. And really, maman and papan only did this whole mess with AFO to keep me from being ostracized. But now with what I know, maybe I could do some good." Aoyama says with a smile and look on his face that seems to be a mix of relief and hope. And not the usual posturing he did.
With that done, Jotaro heads back to his room to set up the portal to his and Saphentite's shared space. The next day, Aoyama slips quietly to Nezu's office to tell him the truth. And while Nezu is tempted to call the police and have the boy arrested, he holds off for the time being.
"I think I understand why you are here. Given what you and your family have been through, let alone who was threatening you all… anyway, I won't turn you in or away right now. But we do need to get your parents out of the country and keep you away from other villains for the time being." He then mentions that he will be staying in the hero course for the time being.
Aoyama nods before heading back to his classroom. On the way though he starts to cry a bit. But these tears are not in fear or sadness. These are tears of relief and a bit of happiness at feeling the release from the hold of the villains.
With class 1-A, they had been given a run-down of the Provisional License Exam that was coming up. "Normally we'd wait until you were all second to third years. But with All Might's retirement and the rise of the true metas, the police need all the help they can get with these matters." As Aoyama is walking back in and the class is celebrating the idea of becoming at least part time pros (with Jotaro and Saphentite scoffing at the matter), Aizawa decides to warn them about the five percent pass rate.
"It's that hard to just get a provisional license?" Mineta questions with a sweat drop and a gulp. Izuku though points out that it would be strange if it was too easy. "We'll all be getting full licenses if we graduate anyway. The main merit to this one is getting our names out earlier than our third year and more hands-on experience."
Ida agrees with the class rep. Noting that it was how his brother started much the same. Aizawa gets the teens attention as a few of the other teachers filed into the classroom. "Before the exam, we want each of you to create at least two new signature moves."
"Seriously? That's the big thing you're all worried about?" Jotaro says with a flat look. Aizawa returns said look with an annoyed look of his own. He then sighs before noting, "I understand in your case it's a bit different. Frankly it is the same for Saphentite given she uses spells. But this is still a big deal for most heroes. It… how about we finish explaining this in Gym Gamma."
Once there, Cementoss starts reforming pillars for each of the students to practice on. When Jotaro again brings up the question of why this was important, Ectoplasm explains that the super moves didn't need to be purely offensive in nature. "In the case of Ida here, his Recipro Burst is a good example of a super move. Or the many Smashes that Midoriya has come up with. While he may be emulating All Might, he's made the attacks his own for the most part."
While Ida is happily shivering at the compliment his pro hero teachers gave him. Izuku meanwhile smiles and nods. While also trying to think of more new moves he could come up with. Jotaro again just sighs before saying, "um I still don't see the point. I don't think of new moves or anything like that when I'm using my powers. Even the more obscure ones. I mean I do use some named techniques but not while I'm like this." The latter statement is said under his breath, but a few specific members hear this and wonder what he could mean.
Midnight smiles a bit before saying, "it's more to do with those of us with quirks trying to put our all or full power we can. Like martial artists using kiais to hype themselves up. And some of that is what you all will be focusing on today." The R-Rated hero goes on to say that each of the teens will have to come up with their own moves. Ones that could help them, or their allies prevail in battle.
Cementoss then mentions that this could also be a time for each student to improve their costumes. "To come up with new super moves you may need to modify your costume with support gear. Giving you a leg up in the long run or keep each of you from becoming too predictable." This again annoys Jotaro and Saphentite as well. Given neither of them use the support companies to make most of their costumes.
Izuku though is considering if he should have his own costume modified. 'I've got these braces on my arms, and some padding and armor across the suit. But maybe I could improve something else.' While he is thinking that Cementoss finishes his modifications to the gym and Ectoplasm creates clones to work with each of the students.
And with that, the training begins. For most of the students. Jotaro asks to be excused after quickly beating 10 Ectoplasm clones with various attacks. "I have a reason. I agreed to help Itsuka improve even more so she can be the kind of hero she wants to be." Jotaro says quietly to Aizawa.
And while the insomniac teacher is annoyed for a few reasons (one being that he wasn't sure that Itsuka should be in the hero course without a quirk) he allows Jotaro to leave. As the large teen had shown he knew the best ways to fight with his power already. With the young man even demonstrating an electromagnetic touch that pinned an Ectoplasm clone to the ground.
For the rest, they were each focused on extending the training they had done during the training camp. With Ida running all around the gym, Kirishima and Ojiro practicing with each other (as well as putting their training with Sapenhtite and Izuku to good use), Momo and others working to get the most out of their quirks. Though for some this was harder than they wanted to admit.
"I'm just not sure on the best way to use my quirk. My jacks can only go so far, and my range is limited. Especially compared to Jotaro." Jiro said while sitting down after just using her jacks to strike a stone pillar. She had already considered adding some extra speakers and the like to improve her base combat potential. 'But that isn't enough. If I lose my speakers, then I'm going to be in trouble.' When Ectoplasm is about to tell her to keep working her jacks, Saphentite appears.
She smiles at the man before saying, "hey teach. You mind if I work with Kyoka here for a bit?" Ectoplasm is a bit off put by the genie girl's casual referring to her, but he did like having her in class. So, he goes along while saying he'll just observe for now.
Saphentite sits next to Jiro before saying, "I caught a little of what your problem is. But I think part of your problem is that you are still thinking too much with your quirk. Stop thinking with your power and consider other options."
Jiro just looks at the blue girl in confusion and asks what she means. Saphentite thinks for a moment before asking if Jiro had ever learned any martial arts. "Uh, no? I mean originally I was….. well planning to be a musician. Even when I shifted gears to focus on being a hero, I was figuring on always using my quirk."
"That isn't the best way to look at the matter young Jiro. While it is true that we all focus on using our quirks to their utmost, we also cannot neglect the potential of hand-to-hand skills alone. Look at Aizawa. His quirk doesn't work on heteromorphic types, so he has to come up with ways around it." Ectoplasm explains.
Saphentite nods before saying, "I can think of a few styles that you would be perfect for. Jui Jitsu being one of them. You could use it to get in close. And even if you can't overpower them right away, you could use it for an opening to stab your jacks into them when they don't expect it." She asks for Ectoplasm to help her demonstrate and shows her dexterity to catch and trap the older hero with her skills. Then using a simple hidden stun spell, she shocks the teacher.
Jiro just 'huhs' at this and agrees to at least try it out. Asking Saphentite to teach her what she knew. Izuku meanwhile had been meditating for a while. Explaining to Ectoplasm that he used meditation to give him a better idea on what his powers could do. In truth though he was talking with previous holders of OFA. "I have to admit ninth, that friend of yours is very clever. And the other is an impressive powerhouse to compare to." The one speaking right now was the first user of OFA, Yoichi.
Next to him was the fifth user and the originator of the Black Whip quirk, Daigoro Banjo. Who commented, "I'm more impressed with the kid here. He's managed to find ways to copy our quirks into his own weird power. Though some might be harder than others."
Izuku nodded before speaking on the matter with the vestiges. "Yeah, if what the sixth mentioned is correct, then I'm going to have a hard time figuring out how to mimic that power." Izuku said in a muffled voice. He could somewhat speak to the previous users, but it wasn't perfect as he had yet to fully unlock the potential of OFA.
Yoichi and Banjo stepped back and allowed two others to step up. Shimura Nana was the first who noted that he had made great strides with her power of float. "Though that was again thanks to that monster of a friend you have." Nana says with a chuckle.
While the other now speaking to Izuku was Shinomori Hikage the fourth user of OFA. Who noted that Izuku was starting to get a feel for his own quirk, Danger Sense. "It kicked in a bit during your raid on AFO's base. But it will take you a bit of time to really get a feel for it." Izuku nodded, noting that he was going to ask Jotaro for some ideas on the best ways to refine the power.
Izuku then met with the sixth user En. Who just said, "yeah, I'm not really sure how you can create a smokescreen with your kinetic power. It's not like you can make smoke out of kinetic energy." Izuku had a disconcerted look before saying he would try to come up with something. "Who knows? Maybe my true meta power has some strange potential I don't yet understand." And with that Izuku bids the vestiges farewell and comes out of his trance.
He hums a bit before saying to Ectoplasm, "I have a few ideas for some new moves. But I'm going to use them or work on them with Kirishima and Ojiro with it." While Kirishima is working on some strong impacts with his hardened-up states, Ojiro was working on some new techniques using the skills Saphentite had beaten into him.
He'd already come up with a name. Catching Kirishima's extended fist with his tail, Ojiro leapt backwards a bit before sling-shooting himself into the hardening boy's stomach with a spinning drill like kick. "Corkscrew Blast!" Ojiro called out as he knocked Kirishima into a concrete pillar. Izuku noticed this and whistled as he was walking up to the two. "Good use of all the skills."
"Hey Midoriya. What's up?" Kirishima says after shaking off the kick. Izuku asked to practice something with the hardening teen. And he just gives Izuku a sharp toothed smile before agreeing. As both teens take their stances, Izuku is thinking of the best way to flow into the attack he has planned.
But he abandons that and just goes with making the opportunity for himself. The two clash with their fists first, and Izuku flows into a throw. But Kirishima quickly recovers, and dodges Izuku's follow up. He blocks a few kicks and notes that Izuku isn't using his full power. "You're holding back a bit to test a new move, right?"
"Pretty much." Izuku says with chuckle. But Kirishima takes the moment to capitalize on Izuku's holding back mentality. But this was some of what Izuku was counting on. He deflects Kirishima's left straight upward, before looping his arm around pulling his arm upward. Stopping the red head in his tracks. Izuku then quickly grabs Kirishima's shoulder and uses his new move. "Rapid City SMASH!" Izuku calls out before headbutting Kirishima in the face as hard as he can.
The blow is heavy enough that Kirishima is knocked out right away. Though Izuku is wincing from the pain in his neck and head after the blow. "Okay, save this one for when I really need it." Izuku says while rubbing his neck. Ojiro agrees but notes that it was an impressive attack. "Plenty of martial arts use headbutts, but most don't use that kind of technique unless their quirk helps them. So, they won't be expecting it."
Izuku agrees with his classmate's idea and starts to work his kinetic healing into the points that ache. Until he notices something odd at the tips of his fingers. A strange feeling like he was pulling on something that wasn't there.
He doesn't know what it is, but he figures he can work on it later. Meanwhile, Itsuka was practicing with Jotaro. And while most of her class was concerned about the idea of Itsuka continuing without a quirk, she quickly proved a few of them wrong. She faced off with Yui, Monoma, Sen, and Kamakiri. And she showed that she could still face them without her quirk.
Kamakiri and Sen rushed to attack her first, and she saw the bigger picture, and how to capitalize on her classmates' attacks. Kamakiri was the closest, and Itsuka quickly slid under his initial attack. Sen wasn't far behind, and she took advantage of his quirk to disable the both of them.
Pulling Kamakiri's cloak right as Sen was swinging at her with his gyration points. The spinning motion quickly yanked Kamakiri right into Sen, and Itsuka then kicked the teen hard in the side of the knees before him a strong blow to the head from her tiger palm strike. And before Kamakiri could cut himself loose, Itsuka grabbed the mantis boy by the head and kneed him in the face as hard as she could.
Yui and Monoma were shocked and tried to use their quirks to slow down or stop Itsuka. But she saw through each of their patterns of attack. 'They're trying to throw me off so Monoma can move in with the quirks he likely has from Sen and Kamakiri. But I can use that.' Itsuka thinks with a smile.
As she dodges around a few more sized up items, she waits for the right moment. Right as Yui is tossing a few nuts into the air, Itsuka leaps up and catches the items as Yui starts to use her quirk. The class rep of 1-B uses her momentum to throw the growing items at the pair.
This separates the two, and Itsuka engages Monoma. Who initially tries to blame Jotaro for her predicament and powerlessness against him. But this just incises her more. And she quickly dodges the initial blade attack, and then lays into the arrogant teen. Breaking each of his arms, legs, and face a few different ways. Even when he tries to use the gyration power, Itsuka takes advantage of his pretentious costume and uses it to twist the boy around a few ways.
She then tosses Monoma toward Yui. Who catches the boy, and quickly tries to dodge and counter Itsuka's attacks. Even pulling items out of her pouches to create barriers. But then she gets punched in the stomach by Itsuka, who then takes the items she had been preparing to use her quirk on and tosses the items up into the air.
"Sorry Yui." Itsuka says before bringing Yui's hands together. And making the items grow rapidly above Yui and Monoma. She quickly chops the back of Yui's neck to stun the girl more, as the now sized up items fall on top of the two. Trapping them.
"Still think I can't hack it as a hero?" Itsuka says with a stern look toward the rest of her class. Most of the class just quickly shake their heads, while Tetsutetsu calls her the manliest woman he knows. "Well, that worked. Shall we train?" Jotaro says with a smirk. One that Itsuka returns before bowing to him.
But before the two can really get started, the intruder alarm rings out over the campus. Jotaro quickly shifts to searching out what caused the alarm to ring. However, he is pleasantly surprised. "Well now. Things are going to get interesting." Itsuka and a few other are confused as they follow the large teen to the entrance of UA. To meet some new faces to the school.
(a few minutes earlier)
Melissa had walked up to the gates of UA expecting someone to meet with her. However, there was no one there when she arrived. "I don't understand. I know I sent an email to Principal Nezu. He should have… oh nuts." Melissa checked her email from her phone and realized that she didn't actually send the email. It was still only a draft. As she was thinking of what to do next, a new voice called out to her.
"Desculpe-me jovem senhora. Are you looking to go in there as well?" The one who called out to Melissa was Pedro Lima. With Carmen and Ernesto by his side. She was a bit confused by the priest that was talking to her. So, Pedro mentioned that he was there to speak with the heroes as well. "There are many things I need to do here. And the best place to start would be at this school." The blonde inventor girl isn't sure about the man, so she asks, "How exactly do you plan to get in to meet with the heroes of UA?"
Pedro just smiles before taking a deep breath and holding his hands out to his side. Melissa can barely hear the man chanting a prayer in Portuguese. She is more stunned however at the fact that the man suddenly starts glowing. And then the glow expands out from his body and seems to create a body around his main one. He then puts his hands down to let the children and Melissa on.
While Carmen and Ernesto are excited to ride, Melissa is a bit nervous and skeptical. The children try to reassure her, but they can only speak Portuguese. So, she doesn't understand. "Do not worry young lady. While I am no hero right now, I am not a villain for you to fear. I'm a servant of God who is hoping to make some wrongs, right." Pedro says with a serene smile. Melissa still isn't sure, but she is curious on what the man can do.
She steps upon the large blue hand before her, and Pedro lifts her and the children up into the air. While Melissa is nervous, the children are squealing in delight at seeing the world from such a high point. "Benefit of being kids I suppose." Melissa says while gripping onto the giant thumb as hard as she could.
Pedro then stepped forward over the UA barrier and into the grounds. Once he did, the alarms rang out and a few heroes were on their way. Some had already been called when reports of a glowing man had appeared outside of UA. Once inside the grounds, many of the pro teachers were shocked and worried about what would happen next.
Except for Toshinori. "I don't think we need to worry too much. One of the ones in his hands is definitely not a villain." As the rest were giving him a look to say he was crazy, Pedro started to shrink down.
"Uncle Might!" Melissa called out as she jumped down and into Toshinori's arms. He laughed as he caught the girl but warned her about doing that too often. "I'm not as strong as I used to be. But it is great to see you." Toshinori says while giving the girl a hug. Melissa reciprocates the affection while telling her uncle she was worried about him.
"And Izuku too. That is why I knew I had to come. I figured you two could use all the help you could get." Toshinori is a bit surprised at her mentioning Izuku as well, but he has his suspicions.
He then introduces Melissa to the rest of the faculty who are gathered. Power Loader is especially excited because the daughter of the famous David Shield was at UA. When Jotaro and a few others arrive, Melissa is especially happy to see them. "Jotaro! Saphee! Izuku! Its so good to see you guys!" she shouts as she runs over and hugs each of them.
Jotaro, however, takes the moment to tease the two. "Sure, you don't want to give Izuku something else? You certainly left an impression when we left I-island." Both blush at that statement and look away from each other. With Ochaco, Torru, and Mina in the background looking on intently.
Principal Nezu though decides to address the others who had come with Melissa. "And who might you be? I can tell you are a priest of the Catholic church by your attire. And you are a true meta, given what we've seen. But that isn't the reason you are here is it sir?"
The priest steps forward with the two children behind him. His face showed a mix of shame and regret, but his eyes were different as he spoke. "No. I'm here for a very important reason. I'm here to stop my brother." Pedro says with a determined look in his eyes.
But Nezu can see the sadness behind them. "Interesting sir. Perhaps we can speak more about this inside. You seem to have garnered a bit of extra attention." Nezu says diplomatically. Pedro nods before catching the children who are intrigued by all of the students around them. Toshinori and the rest break up the gathering and tell each of the students to head back to their classes. "Or in the hero course's case, back to training." Aizawa says with a glare directed at the students.
When Power Loader offers to show Melissa around the Development Lab and Support Studio, she declines. "I have somewhere else to be. And some things to show to the others." Melissa says with a slightly mischievous glint in her eyes. And he follows along with class 1-A to show them how she intends to be a hero.
So that's part of the set up out of the way. What did you guys think? Also, if anyone had a suggestion for what Melissa's armor could look like I'd appreciate it. I don't want to do the Iron Man or Iron Heart or Rescue look for her. Nor do I want to go the Robot way from Image comics. Also any suggestions for some new signature moves for Izuku. I have a few in mind, but I want to know what others think. Please review.
