Izuku felt the cool night air against his skin as he perched atop a rooftop, eyes scanning the city below. His heart raced with anticipation. Tonight was his first mission with Todoroki, and the newcomer, Jiro, who had proved herself remarkably adept and level-headed. He found her presence reassuring.
Their mission was simple, in theory—gather intel on Chisaki's men who had been spotted in a rundown safe house near the school. But for Izuku, nothing was ever as simple as it seemed. His mind buzzed with potential scenarios and strategies.
Below him, Jiro was at work, her earphone jacks snaking through the cracks of the building as she eavesdropped on conversations within. He wondered what she was hearing, what secrets were being unveiled. His thoughts raced; his fingers itched to be doing something.
Todoroki's voice, calm and authoritative, broke through his spiraling thoughts. "Observe their movements, Midoriya. Let's look for any vulnerabilities or patterns."
Izuku nodded, his focus sharpening as he eyed the entrance of the hideout. The guards seemed on edge, their movements deliberate and vigilant. He made mental notes of the number of men, their positioning, and weaponry.
Feeling an urge to know if they had any leads yet, he checked in with Jiro. His voice was low, the static of the coms, courtesy of Hatsume crackling in his ear. "Jiro, any information yet? We need to gather as much intel as possible."
Her voice came back, tinged with focus. "I'm picking up chatter. They're irritated that they were moved to this place instead of staying in their main estate."
As Izuku perched on the rooftop, his muscles tense and ready for action, his thoughts kept wandering back to his recent encounter with Kacchan. His heart ached, the memory of Kacchan's lips pressed against his own, still vivid, leaving his mind in a whirlwind of emotions. Izuku could feel the tingling sensation linger, as though Kacchan was still there, right in front of him.
The confusion, pain, and yearning in Kacchan's eyes haunted him. He clenched his fists, trying to regain focus on the mission. The cool night air enveloped him, the city below seemingly indifferent to the turmoil in his heart. Why did Kacchan push him away like that? Why couldn't they communicate without hurt and accusations?
As Izuku tried to steady his thoughts, his gaze shifted to Todoroki. He wondered if Todoroki had ever experienced something similar, something that shook him to his core. On impulse, the question slipped from his lips. "Todoroki, have you... ever been in a relationship?"
The suddenness of the question surprised even Izuku. His heart thumped loudly in his chest as Todoroki turned towards him, an eyebrow raised in mild surprise. "Relationships? Why bring that up now?"
Heat flooded Izuku's face as he stammered out an embarrassed explanation. "I-I was just wondering. Never mind."
But Todoroki's reaction was unexpectedly understanding. His eyes softened, and he placed a hand on Izuku's shoulder. "We can talk about it later, Izuku. Right now, let's focus on the task at hand."
Izuku felt a flood of gratitude towards Todoroki. Though his question was ill-timed, he realized his teammate was someone he could lean on.
Izuku pushed his attention back to the mission, though the memory of Kacchan's kiss and the pain in his eyes lingered on his mind.
As they continued to monitor the safe house, Izuku made a silent vow to himself. He would not let the confusion and pain dictate his actions. And when the time was right, he would find the words to bridge the gap that lay between them. With a sense of resolve, he immersed himself in the mission, his heart resolute.
"You're right, sorry. The mission takes priority," Izuku affirmed, his green eyes refocused on the task ahead.
Izuku's heart raced as Jiro's voice cut through the silence, her voice tinged with anxiety. "Guys, they're talking about a missing girl. They think Dabi may have found her first!" she relayed.
Dabi. The name sent a chill down Izuku's spine. The weight of the situation pressed upon him, his senses sharpening. He could almost hear his own heartbeat, loud and insistent. "We have to find her first. We can't let Chisaki's men or Dabi get to her," he declared, his voice unwavering.
Todoroki's face was a mask of resolve. "I'll contact Aizawa," he said, his voice sharp.
As they refocused on the mission, a new sense of purpose uniting them, Todoroki's communication device came alive with Aizawa's voice. His words were like a bolt of lightning. "Get out of there! You're up against Kendo Rappa and Yu Hojo. Retreat!"
Word had spread of Kendo Rappa and Yu Hojo's reputations as fearsome Yakuza enforcers. Izuku's stomach churned with a sudden, sickening feeling of dread. His fists clenched involuntarily as he met Todoroki's eyes, their shared glance a wordless acknowledgment.
This was not what they had signed up for.
The atmosphere was thick with tension as they began their retreat. Every shadow seemed to loom larger, every sound amplified. Izuku's thoughts raced, but a part of his mind clung desperately to the memory of Kacchan's kiss. It was an anchor, something personal and precious amidst the chaos.
That's when their eyes met those of Kendo Rappa and Yu Hojo. Kendo Rappa's voice was a dark rumble that shook Izuku to his core. "Well, well," he sneered with a twisted grin, "seems like our guard dogs sniffed you out. If you wanted to play spy, you should have tried harder not to get caught."
Izuku felt his heart pounding like a drum in his chest. This was bad, really bad. They were supposed to observe and report back, not get into a direct confrontation with two of the yakuza's toughest.
His mind raced. They had to act fast. He looked over at Todoroki and Jiro, who were both tense but ready.
In that split second, Izuku's instincts took over. His mind was a blur of strategy and tactics, the information on these two opponents he had gathered from Aizawa's briefings surfacing.
"Jiro, find another way out. Todoroki, we need to stall them!" Izuku's voice was calm, but the underlying urgency was palpable.
As Jiro darted away, Izuku's entire world seemed to narrow to the moment before him. His muscles were taut and primed for action. His mind raced to call upon Black Whip, but it faltered and wavered in his grasp. Shadows of his past conflict with Kacchan seemed to play at the edges of his consciousness, causing him to hesitate for a critical second.
With a surge of determination, One For All thundered through Izuku's veins. Green lightning danced around him as he launched himself at Kendo Rappa. His every move was charged with power, and he could feel the air rippling around him as he swung a powerful kick toward Rappa. His heart pounded in his chest as Rappa barely deflected the blow, the force sending debris flying.
Beside him, Todoroki was a storm of fire and ice. Through Izuku's eyes, it seemed like Todoroki split the very world in two—one half a frozen wasteland and the other an inferno. The frosty air bit at Izuku's cheeks as Todoroki encased Yu Hojo in ice, but the yakuza shattered it with terrifying strength.
Rappa's attacks suddenly intensified, his fists moving so fast they were nearly invisible. Izuku felt the weight of his attacks. His costume tore under the onslaught, his breathing labored. A near miss forced him into a desperate acrobatic maneuver, narrowly avoiding a bone-crushing blow.
Just then, he saw Todoroki, his flames condensed and focused, launching a blazing assault on Hojo. Izuku's chest tightened at the display of raw power, as he felt both the heat and resolve of his companion.
The echoes of the battle cry reverberated around him, and Izuku felt the relentless pressure from their adversaries. One For All surged through him like a current, and it heightened his senses to where the movements of the air were tangible.
He had to act, had to turn the tide. His friends' trust coursed through him as he narrowly dodged another attack from Rappa.
Suddenly, Jiro's voice came through his earpiece, a lifeline in the storm. "I've found a way back to the school! Head towards the eastern alley and follow the rooftops," she urged.
Through the fog of battle, Todoroki summoned a dense cloud of steam, his fire and ice clashing. A lightbulb went off in Izuku's head. He could use this.
He leaped into the thick mist with renewed vigor, his senses razor-sharp. The mist veiled him as he listened intently to Rappa's breathing and movements. Then, with a combination of grace and sheer will, he lashed out, delivering precise strikes to stagger Rappa.
Izuku's heart was pounding, his mind singularly focused. This was the break they needed.
As Izuku fought within the mist, a fleeting sense of unity with Todoroki and Jiro buoyed his spirit. The trust they placed in each other and the unwavering resolve to make it back. He could feel their collective determination pulsing through him, grounding him in the chaos.
"Todoroki, now!" Izuku shouted as he landed a solid kick on Rappa, causing him to stagger back.
Todoroki's gaze was icy, almost mirroring his quirk as he extended his arm. A wave of frost emerged, expanding into towering walls of ice around Rappa. The ice climbed and snaked around him, encasing him in a prison of ice that was near impenetrable.
Izuku, however, didn't have time to relish the synergy. The sheer ferocity of Rappa punching to break free from his icy prison reverberated through Izuku's bones.
As Izuku watched Todoroki's onslaught against Yu Hojo, a sudden realization hit him - Jiro was still too far away for him to reach her in time. His gaze fixed on her, and a memory surged to the forefront of his mind. The black tendrils, a vestige of the previous One For All users, which he had been struggling to control.
His heart pounded against his ribs, and the raw, frantic urgency of the situation forced clarity upon him. He had to save Jiro. His resolve was ironclad. There was no room for failure.
As Rappa broke free from the icy prison with a roar, the air around Izuku's hand crackled with new energy. The dark, whirling tendrils of Black Whip burst forth, uncontrolled until this very moment.
"I can do this," he whispered to himself, his eyes wide with determination.
The tendrils raced through the air toward Jiro, and he willed them to be steady and precise. The desire to protect and support his teammates and the tendrils responded, becoming an extension of his very will.
Jiro's eyes widened as the Black Whip curled around her gently and securely. Izuku pulled her towards himself with a swift motion. The moment she was close enough, he secured her on his back.
Time seemed to resume its normal pace. The adrenaline that coursed through his veins was electric, his senses heightened. He didn't have time to revel in his newfound control as Rappa's thunderous yells grew closer.
Todoroki recognized Izuku's success, nodding in approval as his frost created a path and his fire kept their enemies away.
As they lept through the rooftops, headed toward the safety of their school, Izuku's heart was ablaze with triumph and relief.
This was a pivotal moment; not just an escape, but a breakthrough for Izuku. His path ahead was still daunting, but with his ever-evolving abilities and the unwavering bond he shared with his teammates, he felt an inch closer to finding a purpose that was his alone.
In the distance, the moon cast its silver glow, marking the birth of an unwavering alliance. They rested at a random building as they looked on at the desolate cityscape below.
Jiro's eyes widen, and she suddenly stepped forward, urgency coloring her voice. "Wait, I just remembered something from when I was listening in on them earlier," she said, her brow furrowing as she tried to recall the exact words. "There was a mention of... a horn, or maybe horns? They seemed to emphasize it when they were talking about the missing girl."
Izuku's and Todoroki's gazes sharpen, their focus intent on Jiro as she continued. The chilling night air seemed to buzz with the importance of her revelation.
"That could be crucial," Izuku said, his mind racing. "It might be a clue about her quirk, or it could be a distinguishing feature that can help us identify her."
As they headed back on tway,r way the night's embrace cloaked them in shadows and whispers, their silhouettes sharp against the spectral moonlight.
Back at the school, a dimly lit room adorned with makeshift equipment, Aizawa's keen gaze swept over the team. His lean form leaned against a worn table, a beacon of stability amidst the relentless storm of their mission.
His teammate recounted the events, their voices weaving a tapestry of their encounter. When Jiro mentioned the girl's horn, Aizawa's eyes narrowed, and silence wrapped around the room.
They gathered around an aged map spread out on the table; the paper creased and mottled. Jiro's earphone jacks coil attentively as she prepares to lend her quirk to the cause.
Izuku, his own heart pounding, clenched his fists. "We can try talking to any new refugees. Maybe someone has seen her or knows something."
Aizawa's gaze lingered on the map for a moment longer before he straightened up. His voice carried a sense of gravity as he announced, "Let's bring in Mirio's group for help. They have experience and resources that can bolster our efforts in locating the girl."
Jiro and Todoroki nodded in agreement. However, Izuku's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Mirio's group. He swallowed hard as realization dawned on him. With Mirio's team joining, that meant that Kacchan would be involved too.
"We'll put a pause on the recon missions," Aizawa had continued. "Their urgency to find the girl and Dabi's interest it may mean she either has the drug in her possession or she's important somehow."
As the group discussed plans to meet with Mirio's team, Izuku found himself lost in his thoughts again. He could still feel the softness of Kacchan's lips from their kiss and the lingering tension between them. They hadn't spoken since that day and the uncertainty of where they stood gnawed at him. His palms were sweaty, and he felt a tinge of nervousness creeping into his stomach.
Todoroki's gaze flickered with concern, sensing the turmoil that churned within Izuku. He stepped closer, his voice gentle yet insistent. "Midoriya, are you okay? You seem distracted. If there's something on your mind, you can talk to me."
Izuku glanced at Todoroki, his new friend's eyes filled with genuine care. He took a deep breath, fighting against the tide of emotions threatening to overwhelm him. At this moment, he knew he had to stay focused, set aside his personal feelings for Kacchan, and prioritize the mission at hand.
"I appreciate it, Todoroki," Izuku replied, his voice steady. "But right now, we need to concentrate on finding the missing girl. I can't afford to be distracted by personal matters. I'm fine, really."
Todoroki studied Izuku's face for a moment, a flicker of understanding passing between them. He nodded, accepting Izuku's words. "Alright, if you say so. Just remember that we're here for you, no matter what."
Izuku offered Todoroki a grateful smile, appreciating the unwavering support. "Thank you, Todoroki. I know I can count on you. Let's focus on the task ahead and make sure we bring this girl back safely."
With renewed determination, Izuku pushed aside the turmoil in his heart, channeling his energy into the mission. He reminded himself that there would be time to address his feelings for Kacchan later. Right now, their priority was to locate the missing girl.