Yeah I'm back with another chapter, I hope you all have been enjoying the story so far! Sorry if the last chapter got a bit sidetracked with the beginning, that part is integral for a later arc, so I needed to get it in ASAP. But, at the moment, that's not the focus. So, instead, how about I shut up, let you sit back, and enjoy my story! Thanks for reading!

P.S. I'm adding this to the note just before releasing this chapter, but sorry for the wait! Originally, on my schedule I planned to get this bad boy out sometime last week. However, life being what it is, of course I had to deal with things on my end before I could sit down and finish writing this bad boy. So, yeah, sorry it has taken so long. Considering that we're kinda at an integral part of the story with a lot of cliffhangers, I'll try my best to get these chapters out as soon as possible. So just try to bear with me. I want this story to be amazing when you guys finally get to the ending I have planned for it, but, for that to be properly conveyed, I'll need time. So, in the future, if there are any long waits, know that I am working on this story. I'll most likely just be preparing a big chapter-dump in that time for specific sections of the story. Anyways, that's all for this, enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own -Man or BNHA, all rights go to their respective owners


Chapter Thirteen: A Game of Conmen

It was sunny that day, unbelievably so. It was the type of weather that people would call perfect. However, for Allen Walker and Osada Shoji, the atmosphere felt as frigid as death. As the pair ran ceaselessly through the city streets the day's warm breeze felt like the foreboding gale of a blizzard. The pair had been running for nearly forty minutes straight. Both of them were covered in sweat, and their breathing was beginning to become labored and ragged. "Walker... take the next turn!" Osada Shoji, also known as Metal Meister, yelled in between gasps for air.

"Got it!" the boy responded as he crossed the street, jumping over the passing cars with ease.

"God, how in the world is he keeping this pace with that ridiculous costume on?!" Shoji thought as, he too, leapt over the crossing vehicles and pedestrians. The kid was still wearing the clown outfit from his act back at U.A.'s culture festival. It was a miracle that his makeup hadn't started to run. Then again, considering what happened, it wasn't like the boy had time to change. "I can't believe our perp actually sent Walker a message! This could be the break we need!" While they were running, the boy told him what was going on and what he saw from atop that tightrope. "I don't have any idea why our killer did this, but I'm not complaining!" Unless somebody discovered the burning wreck before them, there was a very good chance that they'd be the first ones at the crime scene. That, of course, meant that he wouldn't have to involve the police. Even though he was technically working with the local precinct, the more he could keep the government out of this affair, the better. "If I can nab this bastard now I can put an end to this!" the corrupt hero thought as a nervous grin surfaced on his lips. "Considering the timing of when Walker found the killer's message, and the size of the fire, our suspect most likely dropped his tip off in person and then headed to the church to commit his crime." If that was the case, then they'd have video evidence of the suspect's face and build. U.A. High was covered from top to bottom in cameras, after all. Unless this man had an invisibility quirk, which was impossible, he wouldn't have anywhere to hide from this day forward. "That said," Metal Meister thought as he bit his lip, "I'm sure this bastard knows that." The killer they were chasing was a villain who had effortlessly avoided capture from the combined efforts of the police and himself, one of the top heroes in Japan. He wasn't an idiot. However, if that was the case, then why did he make such a brazen move? "I can't fathom the reason, but because he did this, that can only mean one thing," Shoji mumbled as he watched Walker speed off ahead, "he must want to meet the kid."

There was simply no other explanation for these bizarre actions. If this was like the previous killings, then it would be easy to assume that their suspect was already long gone. However, since they now had the villain's face and profile, running away simply wasn't worth the effort. In fact, one could say that such an action would be extremely illogical. "Given the situation... that means that our killer is most likely waiting for us at the church." Metal Meister frowned, he didn't like the feel of this situation one bit. No matter how you looked at it, they were both running headfirst into a lion's den. "It would be idiotic to simply jump in without a plan," he thought as his eyebrows narrowed, "but, then again, Walker probably already knows what awaits us if we continue." That boy knew just as much as he did about this bastard, there was no way that he'd run off like this without reaching that conclusion. "Somehow, someway, this investigation that neither of us thought would be completed anytime soon will reach its climax within the next few hours. And, by some strange circumstance, this blessing is all because of you, Allen Walker." He didn't know what about this boy had peaked their suspect's interest to such an extreme degree, but, at the moment, he'd push that question aside.

"We're nearing the church!" the kid yelled as they both looked at the billowing cloud of smoke which hung overhead. "It doesn't look like the fire department has been called yet," he continued. Which caused Metal Meister to scoff.

"Of course not," he thought as he rolled his eyes. "This church is part of the slums, there are fires like this everyday. Plus, this area is practically abandoned. It'll probably be another hour or two before this area hears emergency sirens. Thank the heavens that this place is practically unpopulated, otherwise, we'd be filling a morgue or two come tomorrow morning." Since it was the slums, there weren't even any nearby heroes who could come and douse the flames. However, even if there were, it wouldn't matter. Considering how long it took them to get here, the church had probably already been reduced to nothing more than a smoldering ruin. Eventually, after one last desperate sprint, he and the kid finally arrived at their destination. With every step the putrid scent of soot and ash filled their nostrils. If one's sense of smell was particularly acute, you could detect the slight aroma of burning flesh wafting through the breeze.

"Damn..." he heard Walker curse under his breath as they started at the desolate corpse of what used to be a chapel. As they feared, the place had already been razed to the ground. The brick walls and supports were still there, but the insides had all been completely incinerated. If either of them had to describe it in words, they'd say that it looked like someone had set a snail's shell ablaze. It was a sight that would cause most rookies to vomit in shock. Especially if somebody they knew happened to be in there. Metal Meister knew Walker well enough to the point where he didn't expect such behavior from him. However, the kid's actions were still shocking.

"Let's go survey the damage," he said in a hurried tone as he made his way towards the husk of a building, "there may be some curious civilians who wandered in here trying to play hero." The quick response time Walker displayed in his actions was simply astounding, even by pro-heroes' standards. Metal Meister knew that the reason the boy sprinted halfway across the city to this place was to save someone important to him. And yet, even though one his friends might be in mortal danger, he didn't allow himself to be clouded by bias. Such a trait wasn't one that was easy to find. Hell, most professionals couldn't avoid getting emotional while out in the field. For someone as young as Walker to be acting this way... it was simply depressing.

"Such a stoic worldview isn't something one is born with. You have to learn it over years of experience and hardship. Allen Walker, just where did you gain such mature wisdom?" Metal Meister always knew that something was off about the boy, but, with this, that curiosity was slowly starting to morph into a feeling of distrust. People fear what they don't understand, and for Osada Shoji, such an anomaly forming around the kid was unavoidable. However, at the moment, he'd push his issues aside to focus on what was in front of him. "Don't jump in there alone. Remember, I'm the hero here," Metal Meister spoke as he placed a hand on Walker's shoulder. "We'll storm the place together on the count of three. Got it?" he said.

"Roger," the boy responded as he got in position. Once Metal Meister had done the same, the pair waited for a few seconds, trying their best to detect any footsteps originating from the ruined chapel, and rushed into the building. Walker was unarmed, so as they broke through one of the brittle walls the boy grabbed a nearby iron pipe. It was a far cry from his usual blades, but it was better than nothing. With a weapon in hand, Walker and Metal Meister finally landed in what used to be the church's lobby. The pews and confessional booths had all expectedly been reduced to ashes. The curved roof which hung overhead was stained black by the smoke, and was positively checkered with burn holes and other damages. Since the flames had mostly died out by the time they arrived, only a few lingering wisps of sparks and smoldering remnants remained. As they walked further into the area, Allen eventually stepped on something. With a sickening crunch the boy crushed whatever it was underfoot. "This is—" he started as he moved his leg to see what he had accidently wandered upon.

"Bones," Metal Meister interrupted as he leaned over to pick up the blackening pieces of skeleton. To be specific, they were a pile of a mostly-charred hand. Whatever body this appendage belonged to was nowhere to be found. However, even if they couldn't find the rest of its owner, Allen recognized it in an instant. There weren't many who came to this church, after all. And, unless there was another priest who decided to visit this chapel, that meant that these bones could only belong to one person.

"It appears we were too late to save the father," Walker mumbled as he pursed his lips into a fine line. To be perfectly honest, he already prepared himself for this sight from the second he saw the tower of smoke back at the festival. Still... actually seeing it was a shock. At the boy's words, Metal Meister could only click his tongue before returning the charred appendage to the ground.

"Listen, kid, don't let this get to you. Knowing our suspect, this man was probably already dead before the sun rose this morning. There was nothing we could do to help him." Allen grimaced. Even though that was the case, he couldn't help but feel frustrated at his worthlessness. "We got here as fast as we could. Since today is when all the school's are doing their culture festivals, we both knew that taking a car or the subway wasn't an option. Whoever killed this priest must've known that, which is why he set that fire at the height of your school's activities."

"We got played," Walker thought as he curled one of his hands up into a fist. He stood there for seconds, though it felt like hours, feeling his dissatisfaction at himself slowly bubbling to the surface. Just when he believed that it was more than he could bare, a strange clapping reverberated throughout the area. It started off as silent as a mouse, but gradually grew until its sound was as clear as day.

"I'm shocked," an unknown voice said from the back of what used to be the chapel. "You two actually ran all the way here?! Talk about impressive." Immediately, Allen and Metal Meister turned to see a stranger come waltzing out behind a pile of rubble. The man appeared to be in his mid-twenties, had dirty blonde hair, and was covered in freckles. To be perfectly honest, he was the type of person with a kind face. Someone who you wouldn't expect to be a danger to anyone. However, all Walker and the hero needed to see to know that this assumption wasn't true was this stranger's bulging muscles. Indeed, this man was built like a tank. You wouldn't expect someone with that sort of visage to be so terrifying, but this person was.

"This stench..." Allen thought as he took a hesitant step back. A familiar chill ran up his spine as he stared daggers at their unknown guest. "This person feels like an akuma," he mumbled. Of course, since his cursed left eye wasn't activating, Allen Walker didn't mean that literally. However, he recognized this shadowy-aura in an instant, and so did Metal Meister. Both of these men knew exactly who they were staring at. The stranger didn't even need to introduce himself.

"So you're the bastard that's been making a mess of my town," Metal Meister hissed as he gritted his teeth. Even though he was a hero, he couldn't help but feel an unbearable urge to kill rising within him. After all, before him stood the person who had caused him, and several others, an unfathomable amount of grief and suffering. "The one who killed my partners, the Eiichis, it was you, wasn't it?" he asked. In response, their assailant only grinned and shrugged. However, much to Metal Meister's and Walker's shock, this man's smile wasn't one you'd expect to find on a serial killer. Metal Meister especially had caught hundreds of similar psychopaths over the course of his career, and all of them had this similar unnerving grin. A face that a normal person would immediately equate to a bloodthirsty beast. But this person's smile was anything but horrifying. In a way, it was actually almost... charming.

"What's going on?" Allen thought as he prepared himself for battle.

"Allen Walker, I can't believe you actually came," the suspect said as he slowly started to make his way towards them. The closer the assailant got, the tighter Allen's shoulders became. His mind was screaming for him to make the first move, but his heart told him otherwise. Metal Meister was acting in a similar manner. Neither of them were familiar with the emotions and feelings that were currently shooting through their bodies. The stress that came from these sudden, unknown thoughts paralyzed the two warriors. It was only for a few seconds, but, during this tiny window, the man before them quickly closed the gap until he was right on top of them. Most villains would've taken the opportunity to get a free hit or two in. However, this person was different. Instead of attacking them, the suspect simply crouched down, taking a small vial and brush out of his pocket, before proceeding to sweep a tiny pile of ash into the glass container. "Sorry about this," he started as he screwed a cap onto the vial, "but I like to be thorough about this part."

"You bastard..." Metal Meister grumbled as he cracked his knuckles. "Do you even realize what sort of situation you're in?" he wasn't sure about Walker, but he was about to paint the walls with this psychotic prick. And, in response to his extreme animosity, this man was gathering samples?! Was he insane?!

"Now, now, there's no need to be so angry," the man spoke as he turned back towards the burnt altar and clapped his hands together. "Then again, I guess you have every right to hate me considering that I'm the one who killed your friends." Allen and Metal Meister were shocked. This guy wasn't even trying to hide what he did! Metal Meister's plan from the start was to wring a confession out of him. That way, even if the police questioned him, he wouldn't face any backlash for killing this bastard. However, he never dreamed that it would be so easy. But that wasn't the last of it. Before Allen and Metal Meister even had the chance to catch their breath, the criminal said something that was even more shocking than a confession. "I give up," he announced as he raised his hands into the air. It caught the both of them so off guard that Allen couldn't help but scoff.

"Huh?" he started as he raised an eyebrow. "Wait... what? That's it? You're just... giving up?" In Walker's experience especially, words of surrender were a rarity that went against his very nature. Even though he tried his best to grant mercy to his enemies in the past, those enemies never willingly waved their proverbial white flag. Considering the nature of akuma and noahs, such a thing simply didn't happen. Hell, even though villains were technically just regular humans, such a thing was still practically unheard of. It was such a foreign concept that, for a second, Metal Meister could only stare at the assailant in disbelief.

"C'mon," the corrupt hero chuckled, "you don't actually expect us to believe that, right?" A villain surrendering without even putting up a fight, a serial killer no less, wasn't the work of reality. In fact, Metal Meister was this close to pinching himself. The man was so taken aback that he was seriously considering the possibility that he was stuck in a fever dream. However, just a simple look at the killer told them that this was reality.

"I'm serious," the villain told them with a smile as he raised up his arms. "If either of you call the police now, I promise that I won't run or fight back. You have my word." Usually, Metal Meister would roll his eyes at this point. One of the foremost rules of working as a hero was to never trust the words of your enemies. However, that said, he couldn't help but find himself trusting this mysterious person. And, though he had no way of knowing this, Walker was of a similar mind. Both of these warriors were men who had spent years of their lives going from battlefield to battlefield, so, in some way, one might say that they were particularly attuned to the emotions of their enemies. Those with less experience would've accused them for basing their decisions off illogical hunches. However, the truth was anything but. Allen Walker and Metal Meister knew that this person was telling the truth. And that terrified them more than any quirk. Sadly, as with most things in life, this situation wasn't that simple.

"I believe you," Walker spoke as his eyebrows narrowed, "but there has to be a catch," he said. "If you just wanted to turn yourself in, you wouldn't have gone through the trouble of burning this church and its priest to cinders. Somehow," his eyes widened, "somehow... this is about me." There was simply no other explanation for these bizarre actions. And the killer's smirk in response to his words was more than enough to confirm his theory.

"Wow~" the man whistled. "You've got quite a mind for these sort of things. Don't you, Mr. Walker?" he responded as he put his hands into his pockets. "I'm not one to avoid giving credit where credit is due. So, yes, I'll tell you that you're right. There is a catch." At that, the suspect grinned and yet again slowly started to make their way towards them. "What I should've told you two is that I'm willing to surrender. If you take that chance, I'll turn myself in no questions asked. However..." he whispered when he was practically right on top of Walker and Metal Meister, "if you take such a boring option, I'll promise you this: you'll never know why these people died."

"Hmph. Is that all?" Metal Meister groaned as he furrowed his eyebrows. "Compared to taking you in peacefully, something as meager as that simply isn't a fair trad—" he stopped. For a second, the corrupt hero forgot who he had charged in here with. Even though he didn't particularly care about whatever this insane villain's motives were, Walker definitely did. He could see it in his eyes. "Dammit," Metal Meister cursed, "this boy needs to learn to stop caring so much. Otherwise, one of these days, that kindness will come back to bite him. I just know you want to say it. Come on, kid, just say it already."

"What do you mean by that?" Walker asked.

"There it is, I knew you couldn't resist," Metal Meister thought, his posture slumping slightly in his frustration. The boy had, of course, played right into the killer's hands, and before he could do anything to stop it, their suspect had a grin on his face that would put even the jolliest of minstrels to shame. However, since neither of them knew what this bastard had planned, they were stuck. Both he and the kid had charged in here haphazardly. Which meant that, at the moment, they were both right in the center of enemy territory. In this situation, all the two of them could do was sit back and wait.

"Are you worrying that I'll try to pull something, hero?" the killer asked him as he nonchalantly scratched his cheek. "Is my lack of resistance really so shocking that it has silenced you, a professional, and one of U.A.'s prestigious members of the famous Class A? C'mon, don't be so dull." With that, the killer laughed and playfully slapped his knee. The man's clothes flapped about haphazardly with the sudden burst of movement, allowing Walker a brief moment to see an item that the suspect had stashed underneath his shirt.

"Is that... a sword?" the boy thought as he pursed his lips. This person was getting more and more bizarre by the second. However, before he had the chance to bring this little detail up, the man continued.

"Anyways," he said as he turned back to him, "like I said, boy, I'm more than willing to give myself up without resistance. But, if you take me in now, I won't tell you anything. My lips will remained sealed until the day I die. Unless, of course, you give me a small concession." Metal Meister scoffed.

"Oh please," he started as he rolled his eyes, "do you really think you're in any position to make demands? What sort of information would a no-good psychopath have that could possibly be of use to us?!" In response to his query, the suspect simply chuckled.

"You're right, what I have to say wouldn't be useful to people like you," the killer hissed, the sudden burst of anger twisting his face into a horrifying pool of hatred and negativity. However, as quickly as this storm of rage surfaced, it vanished. "No... the skeletons in my closet don't want to talk to you, hero. The person they came out for, and the reason I've decided to give myself up, is because of your protégé, Allen Walker."

"Yeah, sure you did," Metal Meister groaned as he bit his lip and prepared to lunge at the killer. He didn't know what sort of confusing bile this monster wanted to spill, but he wasn't having any of it. This person butchered entire families in his town, not to mention several friends of Walker's, he couldn't just stand by and let this bastard string them around by the nose. Sure, it might not have been the ideal heroic climax, but they weren't just actors on a page. He, and the kid, were both men with their own thoughts, feelings, and ideals. And, even though it wasn't the smartest thing to do, Metal Meister couldn't resist the urge to absolutely demolish this sadistic prick. After all, even though he was a hero, he was still only human. But fate must have had other plans that day, because, right before he activated his quirk, Walker did something that was positively insane. In that crucial moment, instead of attacking the person who killed those close to him, the boy instead took a step forward and raised his hand.

"You're an evil man, mister, and I can tell that you know this. And I want to see you behind bars as soon as possible. However," Walker exclaimed as he forcefully grabbed the suspect's hand, "I can't just attack a man who offers me an olive branch. If you want to talk, then let's talk. But, the second you're finished, I promise that I'll drag you to the nearest precinct if it's the last thing I do. My name is Allen Walker, and, if possible, I'd like to know yours." In that moment, that sixteen year old child, that student, accomplished a feat that Metal Meister was never able to do.

"This kid..." the hero thought as he stopped dead in his tracks. Everyday, it felt like Allen Walker showed him something that shook his very worldview. Be it the boy's unbelievable natural strength, willpower, or personality. However, even when considering all of those previous examples, this sight was the one that Metal Meister would carry for the rest of his days. For, in that moment, this kid who was half his age was willing to do the impossible: treat a villain like an equal. Even their suspect was caught off guard by Walker's offer. This crooked man who had butchered scores of people, and sowed an unfathomable amount of sorrow, was being shaken by a child in a clown suit.

"Hehe," the killer giggled, in an almost childlike glee, as he gladly returned the boy's gesture. For once, this laughter wasn't one that Metal Meister would normally associate with that of a criminal. That feeling of bliss was real. And, even though he technically just met this person, Metal Meister felt that Walker had taken an unbearable load off this demon's shoulders.

"You can call me Geum Chin-Mae. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Walker." With that, their now-named suspect hastily gathered up his things and headed for the nearest exit. "Follow me, you two. I'll explain as we walk," he announced as he pushed a large pile of smoldering rubble out of the way. Without a moment's hesitation, Walker cracked his knuckles and turned to follow the killer. Metal Meister, still partially frozen by what the boy had said earlier, was quick to snap out of his confusion and was soon hot on the two's heels. Even though they were now following the killer, the atmosphere of this situation was heavy. It was obvious that, if the suspect tried anything, they were both prepared to do what was necessary to stop him. In many ways, this situation was less like that of a shepherd leading sheep, and more akin to a convict being escorted to his execution. However, even with this near-suffocating aura washing over his being, the man known as Geum Chin-Mae stood strong.

"Mr. Walker," he thought, "you don't even know it yet, but you were the one who started all of this. Both of us share a goal, and a responsibility to protect this rotten town. At first, I thought your ideals were nothing more than a naïve gambit. Little more than a fluke or a flick of the wrist. But now," he whispered to himself as he sneakily stole a glance at the boy behind him, "now I think that your vow to this town might be the correct path. We both share an ideal, and a goal, but our methods are two opposites. It was inevitable that we'd collide in the future. Which is why I'm going to use this chance to test you," the killer continued as he silently stared down at the sword which lay sheathed underneath his clothing. If one looked closely, they could see the familiar symbol of U.A. High seared into the blade's sheath. "Today, we'll find out if you are truly worthy of taking on the weight of that iron promise. You, and my old school."


Author's Note

Well I hope the wait for this chapter was a bit more bearable than my other ones! Now that we're finally where I want to be, I can churn out the plot at a much faster rate than before. That said, don't expect stuff like this often. It really depends on when I can get the time to write of course. So, without further delay, I'll cut this off here! I hope you all enjoy the rest of your day, and I'll see you on the next chapter of A Tale of Two Endlings! I know that I'm kinda in cliffhanger-city what with this being the end of the arc, so I'll try my best to prepare a chapter-dump or something so you all can read it in one go. Obviously, it depends on how my schedule is, but I'll see what I can do! Anyways! That's all for me!

Chapter Fourteen: A Villain's Ideals

P.S. Be sure to rate and review! They really help!