"Shimomura Kai going by Elemental Armor was found dead yesterday in his residence."
Midoriya jolts when a photographer takes a shot, the flash blinding him. He edges closer to the wall, rising his notebook as if to shield himself from the throng of journalists listening to the Police Force's statement. In front of him are Tsukauchi, delivering the press conference, along with Tamakawa and Tsuragamae, the Chief of the Police Force.
"According to forensics, he was murdered between two to three in the morning. The cause of death appears to be the multiples hits to his head."
Midoriya scribbles down Tsukauchi's account of events, wondering why the detective wasn't specifying the cause of death or even talking about the other injuries. Was it to comfort the population, to instil confidence in the Police Force, to make believe they were handling the situation? Tsukauchi should've used the right terms.
He should've told the truth.
A reporter raised his hand, "Do you have any lead concerning the criminal?"
Midoriya almost breaks his pen by holding it too hard. He nevertheless writes the man's question as his duty instructs him. Contrarily to Shimomura Kai, he executes what his profession, no matter how despicably boring it is, entails.
Still, they aren't asking the good question. Who cares who murdered him? What they should question is the motive. Anyone can kill but without motive, there's no murder.
"We're beginning our investigation but for the moment, we have no lead. We assure you we'll do everything possible to find him."
Midoriya's nose wrinkles. Why add such a comment at the end? Everyone knows the Police Force would do everything possible to catch the killer; it's part of their job. If they didn't, then they were failing their duty. If they didn't, then Midoriya would have no choice but to add them to his list of candidates.
"Do you think the killer will strike again?"
Midoriya's close to yanking his hair now. He doesn't understand why no one's questioning the motive. Are they all clueless? Isn't it their very job to ask the right questions? Tsukauchi, however, doesn't call them idiots and answers to the question with professional poise.
"As I mentioned before, this investigation just started and we're still assembling data therefore I can't say for certain that this case is a single occurrence."
Detective Tsukauchi can't say for certain but rookie Midoriya who doesn't have the skills can.
He guarantees that Shimomura Kai's murder won't be a single occurrence.
"One of the pictures taken on the crime scene was leaked," a reporter declares. "It showed the word 'guilty' written in what looked like Elemental Armor's blood. Do you have any idea what the Pro Hero could be guilty of?"
Midoriya perks up, interested. He isn't the one who leaked the picture, even if he entertained the idea more than once. In his opinion, he didn't have much to gain from making accessible to the public. Also he wouldn't have chosen this picture if given the choice. His favourite one was Tamakawa's last picture, one that the police officer sometimes had trouble looking at because it showed Shimomura's bashed head with fragments of skull and brain scattered around it like a halo.
Tsukauchi was recovering from his initial shock and about to answer when Chief Tsuragamae leaned over, his deep voice more assertive than the detective's.
"Where did you find this picture? What's your source?"
"If I disclose my source, will you take down the picture?"
"This picture's part of a Police Force private investigation that isn't meant to be publicised in any media without proper authorisation. To publish it on any platform is illegal so to answer your question, yes, I will take it down."
"I will tell you my source once the press conference is over but you still haven't answered my question. Do you have any idea why the word 'guilty' would be found on the crime scene?"
"Perhaps it's because he is."
Midoriya's cheeks flame red once he realises he spoke aloud. Tsukauchi's sending him a look that wavers between horror and irritation while Chief Tsuragamae's eyes speak of punishing him with more in-office time. Much to Midoriya's dismay, the cameras also flicker in his direction and he can see his wide eyes and gaping mouth in the lens's reflection.
"What did you say?" The reporter pressures, rising to take a better look. "Who are you?"
"I-I'm nobody!" He splutters and takes a step back only for his back to meet the wall.
"He is no one of importance," Tsukauchi intervenes and although it's to save Midoriya from public humiliation, Midoriya considers wringing his superior's neck. "He's on my team to solve this case but like every other officer, he can only speculate."
"I want to hear him speculate," the reporter insists.
She crosses the distance before anyone can react, her cameraman hot on her trail, and shoves her microphone in front of Midoriya. He suppresses a yelp, fingers digging in his black notebook that he clasps close to his chest. Both his superiors rise, ready to grab the journalist by the shoulders and drag her out of the room, while Tamakawa simply shakes his head. Midoriya wants to duck and hide as he watches the camera zooming on him, taking in his unruly curls, his pale freckled face and the dark circles he never manages to conceal despite makeup weighing down his eyes.
He knows the Police Force wants him to stay silent but he also knows that it's his greatest opportunity. Nobody listening to him knows he's Quirkless. Nobody will shrug his opinion aside because of it, or laugh at him, or sneer when he'll open his mouth.
So he speaks.
"I-It's not a certainty, of course. As Detective Tsukauchi said, it's too early to be sure of anything but the only reason I see why anyone would write 'guilty' on someone's wall is because they believe this someone is guilty. Of what, I don't know."
"But do you think this can be the criminal's motive?"
Midoriya's eyes flutter to the gleaming name tag pinned on her blazer. Maki Yukiko, it says, and somehow Midoriya knows it won't be the last time he'll see her.
"I assume it can. The criminal judged his victim guilty of something and… killed him."
"That's enough!" Tsuragamae barks, wrenching Midoriya out of the reporter's grasp. "This press conference is over. We won't take any more questions. Thank you for coming here."
Midoriya's like a puppy being hauled by the neck as the Police Force Chiefs storms out of the room, Tsukauchi and Tamakawa following him. They march in the narrow corridor until they arrive to an empty room where he's released, all but thrown on the floor. Midoriya winces, massaging the back of his neck, and Tamakawa slides the door shut behind them.
"What was this, Midoriya Izuku?" Tsuragamae growls. "What did you do?"
Midoriya feels like shrinking on himself, scrambling to stand up. Even with his full height, Tsuragamae's a giant towering above him, eyes brewing a storm.
"I-I answered the journalist's questions, sir…"
"You don't have the position to answer them. Are you Chief of the Police Force?"
Midoriya can see where it's leading so he answers through ground teeth, "No, sir."
"Are you the one leading the team charged with solving Elemental Armor's case?"
Redo your report, Midoriya-kun. I want facts.
"No, sir."
"Are you even close to being a police officer with the skills required to be sent on the field?"
You don't have to be afraid. We won't send you on the field.
"No, sir."
"Then tell me, did you have the permission to speak like you just did?"
Midoriya shuts his eyes tight. "No, sir."
No, sir, but I'm enough.
"I'll be honest with you. If you continue like this, then you'll never be sent on the field. I know it's what you want. Tsukauchi told me about it, tried to convince me to put you in early classes, but I refused because I sensed you weren't ready. You still aren't. Let's hope you'll be, one day."
Tsuragamae frowns at him and Midoriya meets his eyes. The Police Chief Force doesn't add anything and leaves the room. Tsukauchi sighs, leaning against the wall.
"Midoriya-kun, I know you wanted to help but you didn't."
"I just think, sir, that we're bound to answer the questions to the best of our ability."
"That's what I'm saying. You have a good heart and good intentions and you want to help people but your ways are… unorthodox. By working with the Police Force, you accept to rely on others and your teammates will also rely on you. However, you're acting solitarily and you don't listen to us, you don't trust us. We can't trust you either because of that."
Midoriya doesn't answer, his eyes riveted to the ground. He doesn't trust his tongue not to betray him if he dares to open his mouth.
"I want to believe you, I really do, but trust goes both ways. What can we do for you trust us?"
Midoriya himself doesn't know if it's realisable. In another world where he's born with a Quirk, in another life where he gets his chance at Yuuei, in another dimension where Quirkless people aren't unconsciously shunned, maybe he would be able to trust.
"Midoriya-kun," Tamakawa whispers, "did you leak the picture?"
Maybe he, too, would be trusted.
"I didn't leak it. You're looking for the wrong person."
Midoriya doesn't miss Tamakawa's glance towards Tsukauchi who nods imperceptibly. Of course, they have to verify if Midoriya's telling the truth or not.
"I'd be glad to help you find who did it though."
"Your help will be of great assistance, Midoriya-kun." Tsukauchi must've caught Midoriya's eye roll because he keeps going, "I'm serious. There's a reason why I requested you on my team. You have an uncanny astuteness. Did anyone ever tell you that before?"
"No, sir, I'm not… the type to be complimented."
"Does this have to do with you being Quirkless?"
Midoriya chuckles, folding his arms. Is there anything that doesn't have to do with him being Quirkless? His whole life revolves around being Quirkless.
"Tamakawa, wait for me outside. Midoriya-kun, look at me."
He's not sure why but he complies as Tamakawa leaves. Tsukauchi is staring at him, hands clasped. He looks weary, suddenly, and perhaps it's in the way the neon lights illuminate his face.
"I'm not Quirkless so I can't say I understand everything you've been through but I do have some friends who are Quirkless. I saw them struggle against prejudices, against society and against themselves, mainly. 'It's like I'm not enough,' my friend would say. Do you know what I'd tell him?"
Midoriya shakes his head. He doesn't need to hear anything the detective has to say because he knows he's already enough. He made sure of it when he built his network of Pro Heroes who had sinned, when he selected Elemental Armor, when contacted the League, when he orchestrated Shimomura Kai's murder, when—
Tsukauchi walks up to him, putting his hands on his shoulders, and somehow Midoriya can't swallow the lump constricting his throat.
"You are enough. I know you don't think so. I know you think, 'How can I be enough when others around me have the power to save people?' Saving people isn't about bending metal or having super strength. Saving people is about your selflessness and courage. You have what it takes to save people. The only one stopping you to save people is yourself by limiting your vision. Midoriya-kun, you are enough."
Midoriya observes Tsukauchi, smiling sadly and thinking, If only you've told me this sooner. Instead, he settles on a neutral question.
"To whom did you say that?"
"I'm afraid I can't tell you."
"Trust goes both ways."
The detective chuckles at the retort he himself has said earlier. "Yes, you're right, but I'm sworn to secrecy. If I could I'd tell you."
Midoriya assumes it's only fair he has secrets. He himself has a chest of them, after all.
"You've got yourself a name, kozo," Tomura drawls. "The Judge."
Midoriya fumbles to catch the newspapers thrown in his direction. The caption underneath the headline displays a picture of the three Police Force members, but what catches Midoriya's interest is the a title in bold, capital letters that makes his heart skip a beat.
ELEMENTAL ARMOR JUDGED GUILTY BY KILLER
"Have you seen it? The press conference?"
"We watched everything," Kurogiri confirms.
Midoriya isn't shocked to see Maki Yukiko's name figuring on the byline. As he reads the article, he realises the journalist refers to him as a 'Police Force rookie who seems more willing than Chief Tsuragamae Kenji to investigate'.
"Do you like it?" Tomura asks. "The attention you've got?"
Midoriya scowls as he reads the concluding paragraph of Maki's article.
While it's unsure why Pro Hero Elemental Armor was killed, his murderer had no doubts in his mind when he committed the act. Whether it's for revenge or for another cause still unknown, Shimomura Kai was found guilty and judged for his crime. His murder consists of, bluntly put, his sentence. Detective Tsukauchi was adamant on saying the investigation is young and thus unable to determine if Elemental Armor will be the only one judged, but if the Police Force's facing an avenger killing for a justice that only he understands, then it won't be case closed before a while.
"A justice that only he understands," Midoriya repeats, hands shaking. "Only he understands."
"She's right. Even I don't understand your motivation."
Midoriya spins around to face Tomura. "Then why did you accept to work with me?"
"Because killing Heroes is fun."
Tomura's red eyes were glimmering with malevolence between one of his hands' grey fingers. He slouches on the couch, arms spreading open in flourish.
"You came here telling me you had information on how to kill Heroes. I'd be a fool to refuse. It's like I levelled up."
Midoriya slams one hand on the table, the glasses jerking at the impact. One of them topples over and spills its fruit punch on the ground. The scarlet liquid reminds him vaguely of Shimomura Kai's blood. The League of Villains' headquarter falls silent.
"This isn't a game."
Tomura sniggers, "Isn't it?"
"Tomura," Kurogiri warns. "Don't provoke our guest."
"Why shouldn't I? It's not like he can fight back. He's Quirkless after all."
Midoriya's vision grows hazy before focusing on Tomura. He knows he's in no position to fight, not only because of his lack of power, but because if he attacks then the contract he struck with the League would be voided. He doesn't have time to find other henchmen.
"Bastard…"
"What are you gonna do? Write a file about me on your website?"
Midoriya could out of spite but what would it do? He could tell Tsukauchi that the League of Villains murdered Shimomura but doubts the detective would believe him. Besides, the killing method didn't fit Tomura Shigaraki's and his peculiar albeit destructive Quirk, Decay.
"There's the truth, kozo. You act so powerful and mighty when you select those Heroes but really what you're doing is useless. One, you can't even kill them yourselves and two, Heroes will always sin no matter how efficient your pest control could be."
"It's not useless. The Heroes I select are those who didn't enact their duties but some do and have no reasons to be killed."
"Don't tell me you actually believe what you say," Tomura snarls. "All Heroes are meant to be eradicated. You think your dear All Might never sinned?"
"I don't think it. I'm sure of it."
Midoriya barely has the time to dodge when Tomura lunges at him. He steps on the fruit punch glass, losing his footing, and holds his breath as one of the villain's hands reaches for his forearm. Midoriya knows it isn't to catch him before he falls, rather seeking to disintegrate him before he touches the ground instead. Just as Tomura's fingertips are about to graze his skin, a portal swallows Tomura's hand.
Midoriya falls on his rear, wide eyes never leaving Tomura who hovers above him. The latter's glaring at Kurogiri.
"Let go," he hisses.
"I won't let you harm our guest."
A few moments of silence pass where Midoriya expects Tomura to grab him with his other hand but the villain pulls back. He retracts his hand from Kurogiri's portal, groaning in dissatisfaction. He's not looking at Midoriya who's still sprawled on the floor and breathing heavily.
"The Judge, uh? A judge has to be impartial."
Midoriya bites his lower lips as he watches Tomura claim his place back on the couch as if nothing happened. Midoriya scrambles to his feet and rushes out of the underground headquarter, the two villains immobile behind him and not searching to make him stay.
All three know Midoriya's going to come back sooner or later.
When Midoriya comes back to the office, he isn't surprised to find Chief Tsuragamae sitting at their conference table, gazing over documents. He supposes he owes him an apology for overstepping his bounds, even if he doesn't feel sorry in the slightest. Suppressing his pride, he musters his best humble face and steps forwards only to be whisked away by Tsukauchi.
"Midoriya-kun." The detective's voice is alarmed, his stance too stiff. "Have you heard the news?"
"No, but I saw today's headline about—"
"Forget all about that. You were right."
Midoriya blinks, incredulous. "What did you say?"
Tsukauchi brings him to the conference table. Midoriya recognises the pictures taken at Shimomura's house, the familiar blood splatters he etched in his memory and the 'GUILTY' painted on the wall. But beside them are new pictures, unreleased to the public, even more gruesome. Even with the camera directly angled towards the victim's face, it's burnt beyond recognition.
"Who's that?"
"That used to be Pro Hero Native, Yamazaki Hayato."
Midoriya notices another picture. On the wall, just above Native's corpse, the word 'GUILTY' is written using blood tainted with soot and ashes.
"Yamazaki Hayato, 27, found dead in his home a few hours ago," Tsuragamae informs them.
So soon?
Midoriya looks to Tsukauchi, stuttering, "S-So this is the work of a… of a…?"
"Of a serial killer, I'm afraid," his superior completes, rubbing his chin. He grabs the photograph where the word seems to smirk at them, his hand shaking. "Dammit."
Midoriya realises their office is cramped with people, police officers whispering nervously, detectives shaking their head with closed eyes, clerks covering their mouth in horror. He feels out of place as he takes in their expression, all grim and aghast, while he feels nothing but numbness. Where did his previous elation go? Perhaps Tomura's words impacted him more than Midoriya would like to admit.
"We must stay calm," the Chief announces to all of them. "What we're going through is troubling. It's normal to be shaken at first but we mustn't let it destroy us. This isn't the first case we encountered involving Pro Heroes being targeted. If we must, then I'll assign another team to assist Tsukauchi's to solve this case but we're definitely going to solve it and put this criminal behind bars."
His speech was rewarded with vigorous nods and a few bashful claps. Most of the crowd dissipate, their mind a little more at ease and their resolve strengthened, while Tsukauchi's team lingers. Tsuragamae doesn't offer them any more word of advice before leaving but he did nod at them. Whether it's to encourage them or it holds another meaning, Midoriya doesn't know.
Tsukauchi puts the picture back on the table, inspecting his members. His eyes settle on Midoriya last and Midoriya wonders what he sees. A Quirkless, naive rookie, surely. Then again, it was the detective who told him the words he longed to hear, although they were a few years late and lacked the promise of becoming a true Pro Hero. If anyone had faith in his potential, no matter how limited because of his Quirklessness, and trusted his observation skills, then it was Tsukauchi Naomasa.
"Everyone, you heard Chief Tsuragamae. I won't hide that it will be tough. This office will become our second home for the next days, weeks or months depending of how long it'll take to solve these murders. Can I count on you?"
Everyone nods, Midoriya's nod being the shyest. Still, Tsukauchi doesn't point it out and organises the photographs on the table. The two pictures that caused the most controversy were in the middle, surrounded by the other images.
"Our criminal even received his baptism by the media because of these two pictures you see. The Judge, he's called. He may judge Elemental Armor and Native guilty, but he, too, will have to be judged once we'll catch him."
The police officers return to their desk and Midoriya's about to follow suit when Tsukauchi beckons him to come over. Midoriya obeys, wondering if Tsukauchi's Quirk had activated with that shy nod. Can it be that Tsukauchi's Quirk allows him to tell when someone's lying even when said someone doesn't open the mouth and speak?
"Midoriya, among us you're the most knowledgeable concerning Pro Heroes. I want you to make a list of Heroes with fire-related Quirks and narrow it down to a list of possible suspects."
Midoriya hides his relief by a curt nod. "Yes sir but if I may, that concerns only Native's murder. Shimomura's didn't involve fire."
"Everyone can kill someone using a knife and a good swing of baseball bat. Fire, however, is another matter. A fire expert will come tomorrow to inspect the crime scene."
"Fire expert?"
Tsukauchi leans closer, whispering, "Do you know Pro Hero Endeavor, Midoriya-kun?"
Midoriya's brain reels. Todoroki Enji known as Pro Hero Endeavor corresponds to Entry # 5 in his first notebook. While he's heard lots about the Hero's rather gruff nature, Endeavor's still the one who arrested the most criminals. He also doesn't have any page on Midoriya's website since his services towards society are welcomed, having saved countless lives.
"He's going to come here?"
Tsukauchi's conspiratorial smile droops. "Well he… He can make a detour to the office for you."
Midoriya's lips draw a thin line. He should know better than to expect Endeavor to visit a silly office for a rookie who isn't even fit to be sent on the field. According to interviews and articles on the Pro Hero, he isn't one to please fans by popping up to surprise them. Instead, he'd rather say they have to work harder if they want to be worthy of his presence.
"That's alright, sir. I don't mind."
"You're lying, Midoriya-kun."
Midoriya looks away, grumbling, "My apologies, sir."
"Don't be sorry. It's my fault, really, I should've thought about that…"
Their conversation dwindles down, silenced by both men's uneasiness. Midoriya eventually clears his throat, eyes darting on anything that isn't his superior.
"I'll go work on that list, sir."
"Midoriya-kun..."
There's remorse in that voice but Midoriya ignores him and goes to his desk. His computer background of a plain black colour stares back at him. He feels like he's staring at an abyss.
The Judge, uh?
Midoriya shakes his head and gets to work.
"The Judge claimed two victims—"
"Chief Tsuragamae Kenji of the Police Force stated that—"
"—unknown who are the Judge's targets—"
"Is there a channel that doesn't talk about the Judge?" Midoriya Inko sighs, pressing once more on the television remote. "It's all we hear nowadays."
She ends up muting the television still playing a news channel, busying herself with slicing cabbage. Midoriya watches what became in a matter of hours one of Japan's most viewed pictures, the one throning on Tsukauchi's mind map in the office, pinned against the board just above the coffee machine. Midoriya sees it every day when he pours himself coffee. To be honest, it hasn't changed must since its creation.
"I don't mind hearing about it."
Inko looks up to the bloody inscription and shivers, her mouth twisting in a grimace of disgust. Midoriya knows his mother doesn't like the sight of blood although she can tolerate it. He's come back home multiple times with scrapes on the knees or cuts on his face that needed bandages. She always tended to them, always asking the same question of who hurt him and always receiving the same answer that Midoriya fell like the clumsy, Quirkless being he was.
"Izuku, you spent the entire week cloistered in your office cramming your head with information on this Judge. A little change shouldn't hurt."
As if to prove her point, she takes the remote and switches channel, falling on a cooking contest already halfway finished. She doesn't seem to mind as she increases the volume, listening with one ear at the master chiefs commenting on the participants' mistakes, their critics more and more severe the longer the show runs.
"This isn't much different than work," Midoriya mumbles to himself.
He resumes to watching the episode, almost as bored as when he works in the office. The contestants present their plate to the chiefs, a little fidgety as they indicate their main course and their dessert. Once every plate was tasted, the judges head back to their room and sit down, discussing the lack of balance in their flavours, the dullness of some meals, the undercooked meat and even the desserts' unoriginality.
"His meal lacked of salt," one of the chiefs declares, to which the two others nod their agreement.
"They're looking for salt? Well they can find their salt in the contestants' tears."
"Izuku," his mother gasps.
"Look at them," Midoriya urges, pointing at the screen that now shows the participants' room where some of them are panicking and crying. "There's their salt."
Inko doesn't counter him, putting the shredded cabbage in silence. Midoriya keeps watching but doesn't feel any excitement in learning who in the participants will be spared and who will have to pack their bags and leave. He wonders if any of them are Quirkless.
"Did something happen at work?"
"No, everything's fine." I'm just making sure not to get caught by my coworkers because I'm the killer they're searching for, the usual, you know. "Why are you asking me this?"
"You seem a little off. Not a lot but enough for me to notice. It must be that Judge case stressing you. It'd stress me as well. If you feel that your work's straining you, perhaps you should—"
"I'm fine, okaasan." Perhaps his answer is a little harsher than usual. It can't be helped, so he sighs and rises. "How about I cook the pork tonight?"
"Izuku, you don't have to."
"But I want to. Did you prepare the panko?"
She appears flustered but steps asides, "I did."
They switch places, Inko going to sit on the couch while Midoriya proceeds to cutting the extra fat on their piece of meat. He slits the remaining fat layer, knowing the pork would shrink and curl up without them. Midoriya wonders if slashing Shimomura's back had been as easy as cutting the meat like he's doing, the knife sinking as if into butter.
"If anything happened, you'd tell me, wouldn't you?"
Midoriya looks up from the pork, frowning at his mother's question. "Of course."
"Because I feel like you're distancing yourself from me. I know you're busy with the Police Force and all but I… I worry about you constantly."
"I know, okaasan, but you don't have to worry," Midoriya assures as he grabs the meat pounder.
I'm enough.
He brings down the instrument on the pork.
He wonders if that's the sound Shimomura's skull made when it got fractured.
He's not sure he wants to know.