Disclaimer: I do not own My Hero Academia or Fate/Stay Night
...
Many would have thought that after having seen one of his students have their leg shattered that Aizawa would have been by his side, asking if he was okay. Anybody who thought that however didn't know Aizawa well.
The hero Eraserhead instead was heading to where Shirou's opponent was located. All Might had already allowed himself to revert out of the muscular form granted to him from his quirk and was found currently sitting outside Recovery Girl's office. His disheveled face turned towards Aizawa, somewhat unsurprised to find Shirou's homeroom teacher there.
"He held back," declared Aizawa.
"What makes you say that?" asked Toshinori in response, pushing himself up to his feet as he did so.
"He didn't try to use whatever it was he did during the sports festival," stated Aizawa, recalling the immense pressure he had felt that day.
"I believe that whatever that is, it is only meant to be used as a last resort," said Toshinori, gazing up at the ceiling. "A technique so powerful that he believes he should only use it when there is no other choice."
"So outside of that, how do you think he fared?"
"You watched, you should have been able to conduct your own ideas," said Toshinori, smiling at Aizawa.
"Well it was a little difficult when you moved faster than I can see and he was being flung about so quick that he was little more than a blur," said Aizawa, his voice showing no emotion.
"Fine, fine," said Toshinori, crossing his arms over his chest. "He has vast amounts of power and speed but that's not his true strength. His true strength lies in both his resilience, tenacity and the sheer ability to adapt to whatever situation he finds himself in. No matter what I did, he always bounced back and when one tactic failed to work, he tried something else."
"If he were professional, where would he rank?" asked Aizawa.
"It's difficult to say," said Toshinori, reaching up to scratch at the back of his head. "In sheer physical qualities, I couldn't tell who would have the advantage between him and Mirko. The ability to summon his weapons and launch them without actually having to hold them first would put him at an advantage against Best Jeanist. I've also heard rumours that he was already able to best Ryuko but in what type of contest I'm unsure."
"So top ten then," concluded Aizawa. "Buff yourself up once more, there's one other person whose opinion we need to get in a matter of expertise that both you and I are ill equipped to judge."
While he was confused at the statement, Toshinori obliged knowing that if he had to buff up it was because they were going to be talking with someone who was unaware of his true identity. In a heartbeat, his body expanded exponentially before Aizawa indicated for Toshinori to follow him.
Toshinori was curious as to who they had gotten in to watch the fight. He hadn't been informed about this beforehand which meant that it was done behind his back. Slowly he began to fear that his old mentor had come to watch him in action, both against Midoriya and Shirou and would scold him relentlessly. Popping up without any prior warning to simply watch him fight, it felt like something Gran Torino would do.
Recalling that Gran Torino knew his identity however allowed that thought to flee from his mind, until the possibility that his mentor and somebody else had watched the fight! Toshinori's smile began to waver a bit before Aizawa came to a stop and opened a nearby door.
"You know it is not polite to keep an old man waiting," declared a stoic voice from inside, the sound of metal rattling accompanying him as he came into sight.
"Yoroi Musha, a pleasure to see you here," said Toshinori.
"Quit the small talk All Might," declared Yoroi Musha, the number eight hero in Japan. The armoured clad hero stood rigid, unwavering in his position.
"So, the kid's weapon skills, can you tell us anything about them?" asked Aizawa, wanting to get straight to the point. If the man didn't want to waste time with mindless chatter then that was more than fine by him.
"He's versatile, knowing how to use each of the weapons at his disposal," said Yoroi Musha with a huff. "To master a single weapon takes years of hard practice and even then one would falter against his skill. The fact that he is proficient in so many unique weapons, one would call him a prodigy. He still had to have had a teacher however yet very few teach the way of the sword anymore, let alone how to do battle with spears, bows and whatever monstrosity of a weapon he used at the end. Anybody who had taught him would likely have made themselves known at the end of the sports festival you hold here, in order to capitalize on his success and attempt to attract new students. Since none did however, it brings forth a few possibilities."
"Which are?" asked Toshinori.
"While it could be something revolving around his quirk, I struggle to believe that that would be the case. It could be that those who taught them have long since passed from this world, pushing him to achieve untold heights in their memory," said Yoroi Musha, slowly stroking at his beard. "That would mean however that a vast number of weapon masters passed away simultaneously which is difficult to believe. More likely, he was taught by an organization hidden from the light. An underground collection of warriors who practice fighting styles that have lost popularity with everyone having a quirk."
"An underground collection of fighters? A villainous organization?" questioned Toshinori.
"Not necessarily," said Yoroi Musha with a light shake of the head. "They may simply be a group of individuals who simply wish to remain hidden to escape ridicule. The way of the sword is vanishing from the world, it may simply be that these people wish to preserve such an ancient technique through generation to generation. However these are merely theories. After all, I cannot imagine someone teaching him to fight in such a dangerous way."
"What way?" asked Aizawa.
"He leaves glaring openings, inviting attacks to strike at vital errors," explained the number eight hero. "Every action he takes is designed to lure his opponents into range for him to counter, but a single mistake in timing could prove fatal."
"I failed to notice anything of the sort," said Toshinori, though from being in the middle of combat he guessed that it would have been difficult for him to notice such things at the speed they were fighting.
Several tense seconds passed by before Yoroi Musha moved, walking past both other heroes on his way out the room. "Thank you for showing me some good entertainment."
Just like that, one of the highest ranking heroes left, leaving the two members of the teaching facility in the monitoring room that he had been viewing the fight in. With the coast clear, Toshinori allowed himself to reduce in size before glancing at Aizawa. "Any idea what he meant there?" he asked of Eraserhead.
"He's not telling us something," he stated coldly. "What though I'm not sure."
...
"Hiding your identity behind the cover of a student. You aren't doing well at keeping yourself out of the spotlight though, which may never have been your plan to begin with. The world is turning right now and you seem determined to be at the epicentre of it. You likely have no idea of the changes you have caused, for better or worse. I hope I live long enough to see your true potential standing at the top one day...Archer."
...
It came to no surprise to the other students of 1-A to fins Shirou in class the next day, despite the fact he had his leg broken in his battle against All Might. While a few of them were curious as to why he wasn't even wearing a cast or had crutches by his side, the rest of them chalked it up simply to Shirou being Shirou. There was no other explanation needed.
As he sat at his desk, he found himself looking at two of his peers who were bowing before him with their heads hanging low. "We're sorry that we failed our exam!" said Ashido and Kaminari in unison, as if it were scripted.
"Talk me through it," said Shirou, his fingers laced and held under his he leant on the table.
"It wasn't fair," said Ashido, as if that was some way to prevent herself from getting in trouble.
"Was anybody's fight fair?" asked Shirou rhetorically, silencing the pink skinned girl.
"The principal outplayed us," said Kaminari. "He used a crane to drop cars in our path towards the exit."
As Shirou began to speak, telling them several different theoretical methods they could have utilized to emerge victorious, the rest of the class simply got prepared for the day ahead. For many of them, they had performed the way they had in the physical portion of the exam just because they didn't want to face the repercussions that came about with disappointing Shirou.
For the benefit of both Ashido and Kaminari, each time that Shirou gave them an option they could have taken they nodded in understanding before asking questions, jumping in with ideas of their own and seeing it all in a positive light. For those who were listening in, it wasn't quite what they had been expecting to hear given how Shirou spoke in the training sessions he hosted.
It was kind of at this moment that the slow realization creeped over them that while they may have known Shirou as a leader, teacher and as an incredible fighter, they really didn't know what he was like otherwise. During the opening few weeks, it wasn't uncommon to have given Shirou a wide berth given his notoriety. When his friend had also been studying here, he and Rin would vanish during lunch hours without so much as a trace and even though they hadn't seen anything of Rin as of late he still spent lunch by himself. Where he spent his lunch was another matter entirely.
The opening couple of weeks, the students of 1-A had spent the time to better get to know each other, build connections and learn little things. Favourite foods, places they liked to hang out, what sport they followed and what team they supported. When trying to think of one personal thing they knew about Shirou, they were unable to come up with a single example.
Well, all except for Yaoyorozu who, on the first day that she had trained with Kendo under Shirou, was treated to a homemade meal by the person the same age as them. Given the quality of the meal, she would have believed that it had been prepared and made by the head chef of a top tier restaurant. To dine on it in a simple dwelling had been something completely unexpected.
It was all because of this, that when they were told to prepare for the training camp ahead, the idea of going to the mall sprung forth. A couple of their peers outright said that they had other things to do, which was understandable given the short notice of the impromptu gathering after their training session.
The tough one however would be getting Shirou to say yes. Asking people that they conversed with normally was no problem, after all it was just friends asking other friends to hang out.
This was an operation that had to be handled with delicacy.
...
The team consisted of Hagakure, Ashido and Jiro. Their target, Shirou.
The plan was simple enough as they trailed behind Shirou towards his lodgings at a safe enough distance so that it wasn't obvious that they were following him. The three of them had been selected to approach Shirou and ask him to come out to the mall with them. Under no circumstances were they allowed to mention that they were acting on behalf of a larger group, as the idea of hanging out with a small group would theoretically be much more appealing.
Ashido and Hagakure were well known for their bubbly personalities but they wouldn't be the ones making the request. That was where Jiro came into play. The musician was far more down to Earth than the other two and her asking would make it seem as if she was looking for someone to relax with while the other two kept each other company. The rest of the students were already making their way to the mall and if they managed to convince Shirou to come with, they were to act surprised and act as if it was all one big coincidence.
This was their one chance.
They eventually arrived at Shirou's lodgings, having gotten the information that of the two identical homesteads the one on the right belonged to Shirou. Tentatively, they stepped forward partially expecting some sort of trap to spring out at them. When nothing attacked them however by the time they stood in front of the door, they felt somewhat relieved.
Slowly, Jiro reached forth and knocked on the door twice, the three of them waiting patiently for some kind of response. It didn't take long before the door opened wide, Shirou standing there at the opening. It wasn't that which took them by surprise however but rather the smell which bombarded their senses.
"Hagakure, Jiro, Ashido, is there something I can help you with?" asked Shirou, curious as to why the three of them had found themselves on his doorstep.
"Ah...um...oh yeah..." stammered Jiro having been completely taken by surprise. "We uhh, we wanted...wanted to ask you..."
"We wanted to ask you what that amazing smell is!" shouted Hagakure, unable to control herself.
"Oh that," said Shirou. "I popped by during lunch to put the pork shoulder I seasoned last night into the slow cooker."
"That smells amazing," said Ashido, almost drooling.
"It should be done in a little while if you'd like to try some," offered Shirou, stepping out of the doorway and offering entry to the other members of his class.
They didn't need telling twice.
...
"Mission failed," said Sero, reading the text message that he had received.
"Does it say why?" asked Ojiro.
"No, that's the whole message, just those two words," said Sero as he put his phone in his pocket.
"That's a bummer," said Kaminari as he crossed his arms. "At least they tried their best."
"We'll be able to ask them what went wrong when they meet up with us," said Asui, curious as to how they went.
"Yeah, they'll be able to catch the next train and meet us there."
Ashido, Hagakure and Jiro did not end up getting to the mall that day.
...
Chitoze Kizuki, otherwise known as Curious, sat at the overly sized table designed for board meetings and despite the location, she knew that she would be the only one whom her boss had summoned for this moment. In front of her rested all of her notes that she had gathered on their target whom her leader wished to have join their ranks.
Honestly, she seemed like a perfect candidate if only for the fact that her background seemed completely nonexistent and not in the way that many people in similar situations were. She knew from experience when trying to track down those who wanted to be erased from the system that there was always some sort of trail to follow. Medical and educational records that 'disappeared' always left some sort of trace in the system but this time, there was nothing.
The police record she had acquired gave a family name that didn't exist, period. No records through the etchings of time ever made mention of the family line. She would have believed that she had gone under a false name had the officer who had interrogated her had been the police's Human Lie Detector. Which meant that everything in the report was true, something which had infuriated her to no end.
Regardless of the difficulties which had risen, Kizuki had gotten the information that she was after. Or at least she had gotten the information which was needed. Engaging their target without having a thorough knowledge of their background would make it difficult in trying to get some manner of psychological advantage over them. Taking one more glance at the report in front of her and silenting wishing she had more, she knew that she still had to give her report to him.
As soon as her thought had crossed to her Boss, the large double doors opened wide to reveal him. She may have known him by his true name of Rikiya Yotsubashi but she wouldn't dare call him as such, just like he was going to call her by her villain name. "Greetings Curious," he said, a broad smile spread across his face. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting."
"Of course not Re-Destro," said Curious, smiling back towards her boss, the leader of the Meta Liberation Front. "Whatever spare time you gifted me I spent just going over my notes once more."
"Do you have what I asked for?" asked Re-Destro as he walked towards the window to gaze over the city.
"I have their current location," said Curious as she braced herself for whatever may come next.
"That's all?" asked Re-Destro, placing his hands behind his back.
Here was the moment which Curious dreaded. "Unfortunately, yes."
Several seconds passed tensely, Curious waiting to see how Re-Destro would react and if he would activate his quirk. Thankfully, it seemed that he was taking this information rather well and the office would stand to see another day. "While that is not quite what I was after, I understand that it must have been quite difficult for you to obtain. You've done well."
"Thank you sir," said Curious with a light bow of the head.
"So what can you tell me?" asked Re-Destro as he turned and made his way to where Curious was sitting.
"She seems to have found herself in Hozu," said Curious, picking up the paper in front of her. "The building she is located in had been scheduled for demolition and to be replaced with a larger apartment complex. Despite the fact that it should have knocked down by now it gets pushed back over and over again for seemingly no real reason. There also seems to be the matter that she has found herself an assistance of sorts, though who this individual is unknown at this moment in time."
"It matters not what kind of manservant she has secured herself, what matters is that you've found her," said Re-Destro, clapping his hands together. "Send an invitation informing her that I wish to meet her face to face. Be sure to get a response, whether it acceptance or not."
"Of course," said Curious as she stood up from her chair, collecting her documents as she did before heading straight to the exit, leaving Re-Destro to gaze over the world once more.
The assignment she had been given wasn't impossible but she would definitely not be going alone. The viral footage from months ago was still fresh in her mind and her dominant display in the opening rounds before pulling out in the sports festival that U.A held annually. Curious knew that if negotiations broke down then it would be best to have some manner of back up plan. Considering how difficult it had been to merely track her down, she didn't doubt that she had some sort of plan in place for anybody who actually acted against her.
Despite all of this, Curious couldn't help but be excited about meeting Rin Tohsaka face to face.
...
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