Izuku secured his stashed items for the fifth time. It wasn't that he didn't trust Hatsume had done it correctly. But even though they were lightweight, they weighed on his body, making his paranoia flare every time he felt the items shift in some way. Hatsume had been key to all of this, and he was worried he'd messed things up. What if the kit fell off during the scuffle? Izuku's hand itched to check one more time.
"Don't you dare." Kacchan said.
Izuku was startled, keeping his hands at his side as Kacchan glared at him from across the training room. Kacchan stood against the far wall, arms stretched out as Hatsume fluttered around, testing the gear she had made for him fit.
Inasa wasn't far away, dressed in his casual clothes as he watched on in awe. His body seemed to vibrate in place, though he was doing a fair job of containing his excitement.
The energy was thick around everyone by this point. Hatsume found Izuku's mom, but they had admitted they couldn't do anything about it until they had everything ready. Hatsume needed to prepare. Izuku didn't like it, and Kacchan had thrown a fit, but they both had to admit the truth. If they made a move too early, they could lose their chance to get Chieko and his mom back.
Even while heroes surrounded Chieko, Izukus's mom became the biggest obstacle. Hatsume found his mom's location outside of the hospital. They had taken control of a few of the blocks in the area, but Izuku hadn't realized they had set up any other bases. The distance was too far for them to send b-Chan, but Hatsume could keep track of the reports sent from the hero assigned to his mom.
Izuku had counted each day that passed by that he couldn't do anything, but although he was just as ready as Kacchan to get them back, as much as it pained him to know he was leaving Chieko alone to suffer, he needed to make sure things went as planned. Everything had to run smoothly.
It took sixteen long, torturous days of preparing
Three months since it all went to hell. Since All Might had gifted him this quirk, Izuku still couldn't wrap his mind around that thought.
"Everything is fully functional Buakugou, you'll be all set for tonight!" Hatsume said.
She took the gear back, putting it away in the back for later. Kacchan didn't acknowledge her as he eyed Izuku.
Izuku shifted in place, the scrape of the hidden kit making his hand itch again. It wasn't the most comfortable spot, and having Hatsume strap the items down had been embarrassing enough for a lifetime, but it was the best place when wanting to avoid being found out.
"You ready?" Kacchan asked.
"Yeah, I'm ready," Izuku said.
They headed to the cafeteria, where they all split apart. Inasa and Kacchan joined the kitchen crew to volunteer while Hatsume greeted a group of girls she was familiar with closer to the entrance.
Izuku glanced over at the group of heroes that had joined the labor group. He went up to the food line and took the offered tray. Kacchan was already in line farther down as he played the role of working, though he glared at every person as he served them scoops of rice. Inasa was much more relaxed next to him as he smiled and greeted every person.
Izuku glanced at Kacchan one last time, a nervous smile on his lips before mentally preparing himself for the scene he was required to start.
Getting himself locked up was a lot easier than he thought it would be. A fake trip as his tray landed on one of the labor workers—an angry accusation of being tripped. A few insults passed back and forth, and Izuku made sure to be the first to throw a punch at one of the nearby heroes, and he just liked that they were dragging him away just as Kacchan had been without question.
Each piece played out as he planned, down to Kacchan's frustrated shouts as Inasa held him back from joining the scuffle. Izuku took a page from Kacchan's book as he struggled and fought with every step as they forced him down the hero's wing into one of the isolation rooms that Kacchan had described.
Izuku attempted to keep track of their steps, but they didn't go far before reaching their destination. Izuku sat in the middle of the padded room, waiting until the footsteps of any passing heroes faded away to a still quiet.
Izuku waited a bit after that until he was sure he was alone before taking out a small earpiece and putting it on. He also released the small bee hiding in his shirt collar as Kacchan's voice came through the earpiece.
"Those idiots make it too easy." Kacchan said.
"The first steps went smoothly, but we're not out of the woods yet."
Izuku said. "Is Hatsume preparing for the next stage?"
"I got it handled!" Hatsume's voice rang out in the distance.
Izuku smiled; he was sure they were in the training room by now as they prepared.
"I don't like it." Kaccchan said.
Izuku didn't have to ask what he meant. Kacchan had made it known his dislike of separating them, but the only one who could get to his mom was Kacchan, and Izuku needed to be the one to reach Chieko. It was their best chance to get everyone out of here with the least amount of resistance.
"There's no choice Kacchan, I trust you to get mom and we'll meet up again at a safe point." Izuku said.
"Don't get caught or I'll kill you." Kacchan muttered.
Izuku agreed; he was starting to get used to this more caring Kacchan. He wasn't sure how long it would last, and at times it left him unsure if he should allow himself to put his guard down. The idea of Kacchan returning to his old ways left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Izuku didn't hear from them until hours later. He took that time to rest. His suppressor cuffs made it difficult as they were keeping his wrists bound together, but he couldn't risk removing them too early. He waited to see if anyone would come by to check on him, but aside from dropping off dinner, there were no regular checks which coincided with Kacchan's time here. He expected the detective at least, but not even he stopped by. Izuku could only guess that he wasn't allowed permission by Mr. Inazumi.
"Midoriya!" Hatsume yelled.
Izuku flinched as Hatsume's voice pierced through his skull. He wished there had been a volume control for the thing.
"Is it time?" he asked.
"Righto! I'll sneak Bakugou out and I'll keep watch on any help signals while the big guy here watches over you." Hatsume said.
Izuku pulled out the small kit from his thigh, already getting to work on removing the cuffs from his wrists.
"Alright, Hatsume, is it safe?" Izuku asked.
"Hold your horses. This has to be timed just right. " Hatsume said.
Izuku plucked out a few other tools from the kit before pocketing the small case. The jitters grew deep in his belly as he tried to prepare himself mentally for the next phase of their plans. Izuku couldn't risk getting caught at this point, but if he did, he'd fight with everything he had. He'd made too many mistakes so far, and he needed just one win tonight.
"Inasa, what about Chieko?" Izuku asked.
B-Chan buzzed nearby, resting his small body against the doorknob as Izuku moved close to prepare. He didn't get a response right away, possibly as the mic was switched hands. Where Hatume's voice had been loud, Inasa's voice was blaring as it overwhelmed the tiny speaker in his ear, distorting his voice and making Izuku reel back in pain.
"Ye..s! She... still in her... oom. All..clear!" Inasa said.
Izuku grimaced, his ears still ringing as he pulled the piece out, giving him time to adjust. The muffled sounds of a scuffle came through before everything was quiet. Finally, the far-off voice of Kacchan came through.
"... YOU IDIOT!" He shouted.
Izuku took the risk of putting his earpiece back, and it was quiet for a while before Inasa returned, apologetic.
"Sorry about that Midoriya. She's alone and all clear. " Inasa said.
His voice came through in a loud whisper, and Izuku offered a reassuring smile, knowing his friend could see him. Izuku stood by the door twirling the small instruments in his hands. He had taken a crash course in lock picking from Hatsume, and although he had been successful with the cuffs, his overactive mind was already shifting through every worst-case scenario if he couldn't get out.
"Annnnnnndd you are now a ghost!" Hatsume said.
"Inasa, can you go check the hallway to make sure it's all clear?" Izuku asked.
B-Chan fluttered, sliding through the cracks of the door with ease as Izuku began to work on the lock. His brows pressed together as he fiddled with getting the picks in place.
"Hatsume is Kacchan ready?" Izuku asked.
"I'm ready nerd." Kacchan said.
Izuku paused with a sigh as Kacchan came through.
"Be safe." Izuku said.
"Who do you think you're talking to? Just make sure you get the tag along back and you better not break anything! " Kacchan shouted.
Izuku smiled, Kacchans' concern calmed him for some reason, and he got back to working on the lock.
"If I have to come save you, I'll murder you. Got it!?" Kacchan said.
Izuku shook his head at Kacchan's empty threats. Even if his guard was still up, he noticed that he didn't react with the same nervous fear he would have had before all of this. He would almost say it was enduring hearing Kacchan's crude way of worrying.
"Yes, Kacchan." Izuku said.
There was grumbling from the blonde on the other end before Hatsume came back onto the line.
"Heading out now! Mission is ago!" Hatsume said.
"All the nearby rooms are cleared, so you shouldn't run into anyone nearby." Inasa said.
B-Chan didn't appear, although Izuku guessed Inasa kept him outside in the hall. He felt the click of the lock releasing, and he took one last breath to calm himself.
"Okay everyone, let's get going and I'll see you all at the meeting point." Izuku said.
He opened the door as softly as he could, looking down the hall with a worried glance up at the closest camera.
"You're all good Midoriya. The cameras are on loop and I have the live feed. I got your back if anyone pops up. " Inasa said.
"You can't be too careful." Izuku whispered back in return.
Izuku maneuvered through the hallways. It wasn't as empty as it appeared. Different heroes would walk through the area, and Izuku felt his heart stop any time a door turned close by, but Inasa and B-Chan had been a big help in keeping his front and back cover.
Izuku decided to keep to the stars when they went up the floors. It was empty for the most part, but there weren't as many cameras here, which left him blind aside for B-Chan. They reached the floor, and Izuku followed the small bee who led him through the winding halls.
"Her room is just around the corner." Inasa said.
Izuku stopped and took a cautious glance behind him to make sure there wasn't anyone nearby.
"There are two guards keeping watch." Inasa warned.
"Did they change shifts?" Izuku asked.
"Yup, they changed shift 20 minutes ago." Inasa confirmed.
Izuku nodded. Everything had been going too smoothly so far, making him paranoid, but he wouldn't complain either. They had planned for the guard's shift change, timing it to just after the switch, so no one would come back to check on them until morning. Izuku pulled out the two tiny pearls containing the knock-out gas that Hatsume had made for this moment.
"Alright, are we still in the clear?" Izuku asked.
"All clear, there's no one on this floor and the cameras are still on loop."
Inasa said.
"Okay, I'm taking them out." Izuku said.
Izuku pulled up the thin mask guard he had hidden under his shirt. It wouldn't protect him completely, but Hatsume said it would minimize any effects if he took in any smoke.
He took one last glance around the corner. The two guards stood on either side, whispering amongst themselves. The familiar bamboo sticks and bright green costume stood out against the white of the hallway. Izuku remembered the hero's name was Takeshita. He scooted as close to the opening as possible without being seen ready to move forward with his attack.
Izuku paused, taking in a stuttering sigh, and tossed the two beads towards the heroes. Their heads turned in alarm as they finally caught sight of Izuku before the two pearls landed in front of them with a small click against the linoleum. Takeshita's partner's blue hair shot out towards Izuku, but he rolled out of the way in time before the two heroes' forms became engulfed in a thick grey gas.
"What the hell!?" Takeshita said.
Izuku made out the form of one of the heroes slumping to the ground, but Takeshita had yet to fall over, and Izuku couldn't take the chance that he would sound off an alarm.
He tightened the gas guard on his face before charging forward. He let One for All course through him at a low percentage, as Kacchan had taught him. He used his momentum to land against the wall, shooting himself up and forward towards Takeshita, landing a swift kick to the side of the older man's head.
Takeshita shot to the side, headfirst against the far wall, before sliding down to the ground, his form still.
"Good job Midoriya!" Inasa said.
Izuku didn't respond as he looked around; most of the gas had thinned out, but Izuku couldn't risk being affected, so he chose to keep his mask on for the moment. He shook his leg out, excited that it had worked without breaking his leg, but there was a deep bruising ache that was leftover. He checked the unconscious heroes, finding the keys to Chieko's room strapped to one of their waists.
"How is she?" Izuku asked.
"She's sleeping." Inasa said.
Izuku had to try a few of the keys before being successful on his fourth try. The door opened wide, and Izuku didn't waste time dragging the female hero into the room. Chieko sat up from her spot on her bed. Her eyes were wide, and a touch scared as she looked at Izuku. He didn't say anything as he turned away to grab Takeshita. Everything in him told him to run over to check on her and beg forgiveness, but he needed to make sure they were safe first. He closed the door behind him and got to work restraining the two heroes with the binds Hatsume had made them. Izuku had to admit that without Hatsume, they may not have gotten this far; he had to thank Mr. Inazumi for pissing the pink-haired engineer off.
"Midoriya?" Chieko asked.
She sounded hesitant as if she wasn't sure she was talking to him, and Izuku turned to glance back at her. Once done, Izuku stood back up, and Chieko flinched, going so far as to scoot back in alarm. Izuku didn't like to see her this way, and the guilt only weighed heavier on his gut. He took off his gas mask, letting it fall around his neck as he took a step towards her.
"Miyahara..." Izuku said.
Looking at her now, Izuku found himself unsure of what to say now. Izuku thought he would have fallen at her feet the moment he saw her or, worse, cry there on the spot, but instead, Izuku was stuck in place, his eyes drying as he was unwilling to blink and risk losing sight of her now that she sat here in front of him. He hadn't known how she would have reacted. Would she be mad? Would she refuse to go with him and yell at him for abandoning her?
Out of all those scenarios, he never factored in the chance that Chieko would make the first move. She stumbled out of bed, her feet tangling in the sheets as she pitched forward in her haste. Izuku had just enough time to catch her around the waist as she wrapped her arms around him.
"Midoriya!" Chieko cried.
Her actions kicked started Izuku as he hugged her close to him, his face wet with a tear as they clung to each other. The apologies came flooding in now that he knew she would accept him.
"I'm sorry Miyahara. I'm so sorry. " Izuku said.
"They told me you left!" Chieko said.
She choked on her words, her voice rough as if she hadn't talked in a while. She felt small in Izuku's arms as she shook. Wrapped in bandages, her hands kept a tight grip on his shirt. Izuku pulled back, wiping off some of her tears even while his own still dripped down his cheek.
"'We'd never do that Miyahara, we'd never leave without you." Izuku said.