BEN 10 DOES NOT BELONG TO ME. MY HERO ACADEMIA DOES NOT BELONG TO ME. I'VE DISCOVERED THAT HITTING MY HEAD AGAINST A WALL DOES NOT UNLOCK LATENT PSYCHIC POWERS. IT JUST CAUSES HEADACHES.
Sorry, this one was released later than I would have liked, but here's the reason:
Me: Okay, family and pets, no one is allowed to need the doctor or vet until the pandemic is over.
Dog: Hey, look, I broke my foot!
So I've been keeping watch over her for a while to make sure she stays put and heals up. That makes writing difficult, because she's a high-energy dog.
Anyway, here's a chapter! The new arc is starting, which means a new intro! Hit it!
(Sora ni Utaeba—Amazarashi, TV version)
The music starts, and Midoriya steps out of a door and into the light. He's wearing his costume, and he looks out over a city. He turns and looks up to see Hawks, Endeavor and All Might, each standing on the roof of a building. Midoriya smiles and turns away, while Ben appears next to him; Midoriya slams his hand down on the Ultimatrix, just as the title appears.
The scene changes to show some of the Rising Stars in their costumes—Uraraka throwing a punch with a determined expression, Sero swinging through the skyline of a city, Ashido grinning as she spins around with acid splashing off her hands, Asui diving into the ocean, and Yaoyorozu with her arms glowing from her Quirk.
Todoroki appears next in his new costume; he looks up into Endeavor's eyes, and then turns his back on him and walks toward the silhouettes of his friends. Then there is Iida, who leaves the hospital where Tensei is resting; he is in costume, but his helmet is at his side. There is a close-up of his eye, where the reflection of the Hero Killer can be seen.
Stain then goes from a reflected image to the real thing as he whirls around and swings his sword. It's blocked by Diamondhead, and then Todoroki steps around him and unleashes a wave of fire. Iida's boosters glow as he rushes forward; the glow encompasses the entire screen, and then the scene changes as the light fades to a man's hand over white sheets. The hand is unnaturally pale, and tears fall on it from above. The scene shifts to show Midoriya standing in a doorway; he and Ben are staring at something in horror, until Midoriya holds out his hand. Behind him, Ben flickers in and out of place.
The intro comes to an end with Midoriya surrounded by shadowy figures looming over him, and he raises the Ultimatrix high.
My Alien Academia
Chapter 15
Teachers and Students
"All right, everyone, listen up." Aizawa looked as tired as ever, but no one thought for a second that he wouldn't notice any fooling around. "You've all been given your train tickets to where you'll be interning. As soon as you get there, text me that you've arrived safely; I know when all of you are supposed to get off your trains, and if I don't hear from you within an hour after that, I will call the police. Understood?"
"Yes, Aizawa-sensei!" Class 1-A chorused—no one was willing to make a joke about something so serious.
It was Tuesday, the day after every internship selection had been submitted. No one had been rejected by their first choices at the last second, but it was only now that it was starting to sink in—they were so close to being Pro Heroes!
"Also, you've all been given your costumes and Support Items, but you will only wear them with your mentors' permission. This is a gesture of trust, so don't betray it."
Midoriya looked down at the case that held his costume; he really only needed the Ultimatrix, and that was stuck to his arm, but the responsibility still weighed heavily on him.
"Okay, the trains are starting to pull in." Aizawa looked at his phone. "I'll stay here until you're all off. Work hard, and listen to everything your mentor has to say. Don't waste this opportunity."
Some of the class broke off quickly to get to their trains, while others waited. Through some twist of fate, the Rising Stars all had to wait an extra few minutes.
"Good luck, everyone," Midoriya said nervously.
"You too, Midori!" Ashido hugged him with one arm, while nearly giving Sero a concussion as she waved her costume case around with the other. "Don't do anything crazy without us, okay?"
"Oh, so we can act crazy as long as we're all together?" Sero grinned. "Good to know."
Ashido looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well, Yaomomo and Midori are the ones responsible for the class, so I guess they have to stay all in charge and stuff. The rest of us can go nuts."
Yaoyorozu rolled her eyes. "That explains so much. Your train is pulling in, though."
"See? This is why I can goof off while you're around." Ashido winked at her, and then dashed to her train, waving back as she ran. "See you guys in a week! Love you!"
"Hey, Iida?" Midoriya waited until his friend was looking straight at him. "Remember what we talked about on Sunday, right?"
Iida nodded. "I promise not to do anything reckless. And if I need to talk, I know I can reach out to any of you."
"That's good to hear." Midoriya spotted another train pulling in. "That one's mine. See you guys on Monday."
"Have fun, Deku-kun!" Uraraka gave him a quick hug. "We'll do our best to get those autographs for you."
Midoriya blushed; yesterday, in a fit of Hero-enthusiasm, he had asked his friends if they could bring back autographs from their mentors.
"Th-thanks." Midoriya hugged her back, and then headed for his train. "Bye!"
As he sat down in a free seat, he noticed more than a few other passengers sneaking glances at him and whispering. Between his 'Quirk' and winning the Sports Festival, he had been receiving plenty of attention; at least no one was crowding around him, like they had on his ride to school for the last two days.
He had just started to get comfortable when his phone buzzed, and Ben appeared next to him. "Okay, if it's Uraraka again, you might as well just ask her out. You two are practically dating already."
Midoriya turned to the window to hide his blush, not that it mattered to Ben; he could see everything from the Ultimatrix, the hologram was just for show. The worst part was that he couldn't argue with Ben, since it would look like he was talking to the empty air.
It had nothing to do with the fact that Midoriya did have a tiny crush on Uraraka, really.
To distract himself, he opened up his phone; to his simultaneous relief and disappointment, it wasn't Uraraka, but his other messenger group—Big Three Plus One. The three other avatars were a star, a firefly, and a cartoon stomach.
Star: Hey, Freshman! You on your way to Hawks' agency? Which one is it?
As a Hero capable of reaching almost anywhere in Japan relatively quickly, Hawks had buildings in most major cities, though his primary Agency was in Kyushu. Midoriya had been told which one to go to, though he had memorized each location anyway.
All Might: The one in Tokyo. And I just got on the train.
Firefly: Good luck, Izu-kun!
All Might: Thanks, Nejire.
Stomach: I don't think I could handle interning under any Hero in the top 10. I feel queasy just imagining it.
All Might: I think I'm nervous enough, Tamaki.
Firefly: Aw, I wish I could give you a big hug to calm you down, flying buddy! Wait, would that cute friend of yours with the brown hair get jealous? Are you two dating? I need a boyfriend so we can go on a double-date!
By this point, Midoriya's face had gotten so hot that he wondered if he would spontaneously turn into Heatblast. Ben just read the texts and laughed.
…
The Hawks Agency Tokyo Branch could have easily been mistaken for any other twenty-story building, if it hadn't had the Hero's name over the door, framed by a pair of red wings. It was almost humble—again, if it wasn't twenty stories tall.
"He has more than one of these?" Ben asked, a little incredulously.
"This one is the biggest," Midoriya said quietly. "I think most of it is housing for people who have to spend a few days in the city on business."
"So… it's a hotel?"
"Kind of." Midoriya swallowed nervously. "I guess I should go in."
"It's either that, or you stand outside for a week." Ben made a shooing motion. "Hurry up! I want to see this!"
Midoriya stepped through the door, and his first thought was that Ben was right; it could have been mistaken for a hotel lobby. At the center was a desk, behind which was a young woman with short brown hair and a kind smile.
"Hello!" she called out, and waved him over. "Are you Midoriya Izuku, by chance?"
"Y-yes, ma'am." Midoriya bowed.
"Oh, please don't call me that." The woman made a face. "It makes me feel old. I'm Takeda Yuki; I work the front desk, and sometimes help out Hawks in the field."
Midoriya blinked. "Oh! Y-you're one of his Sidekicks, Takeda-san?"
"For almost a year!" Takeda smiled proudly. "Please, follow me to Hawks' office; he's expecting you." She led him to an elevator and waited until it closed before speaking. "So, the winner of the Sports Festival, huh? I'll bet that was something; I went to Ketsubutsu, so we didn't do anything like that."
"Y-yeah, it was… something." Midoriya scratched his head and looked away.
Takeda giggled. "You're adorable, Midoriya-kun, but that only gets you so far. Girls like a bit of confidence." Her giggle turned into a full-blown laugh when Midoriya blushed and tried to cover up his face. "Oh, you're going to be so much fun! Too bad I'm on the clock, so I need to tell you the basics.
"Hawks bought this building, but only remodeled the top four floors. It was expensive, but he made it all back pretty quickly with all the people who stay here; it's also a good buffer to keep out his fans."
"Why did he buy such a tall building?"
Takeda laughed again. "He likes to joke that it's so he can look all dramatic by standing on the roof as the sun comes out, but I think it's because of his Quirk. He's got more bird-mannerisms than you'd think.
"Back on track, the actual agency part of the building has rooms for employees and work-related guests, like you, a training area, and areas for Hero-related business. Sometimes, clients need a bit of privacy, so Hawks even had one room soundproofed. Oh, about your room; don't unpack just yet. Hawks goes all over the country, so it's possible that he just wanted to impress you before taking you to where you'll actually do your internship."
Ben, leaning against the wall next to Midoriya, raised an eyebrow. "Consider me impressed."
Midoriya coughed to hide a laugh. "W-well, I don't think he'll have to try much harder to impress me."
The elevator dinged, and then the doors opened to… not what Midoriya was expecting at all. Instead of a traditional office or professional workplace, there were a few beanbag chairs scattered around, a television in the corner, and a small desk that held a computer. The room had only a single occupant, who had his back turned; he looked out through the tinted windows that made up one wall. His arms were crossed, and he had an aura that suggested he didn't want to be disturbed.
Takeda, however, did just that. "Hey, boss! Quit acting all broody, I know you're faking."
Hawks immediately slumped and turned around. "Aw, c'mon, Yuki! I was trying to look all awesome for the new intern."
Takeda rolled her eyes. "The kid's already a bundle of nerves, you're just going to make it worse."
The Number Three Hero in Japan pouted—actually pouted, like he was a little kid. "Why do you have to spoil my fun?"
"Because I don't get paid enough to put up with your nonsense," Takeda replied, and then smiled at Midoriya, who had absolutely no idea how to react to any of this. "Don't worry, this is normal. I have to go back to the lobby, but don't be afraid to smack this idiot on the head if he does something stupid. I do it all the time."
As soon as she left, Hawks straightened up and chuckled. "She acts like I don't know what I'm doing, but she means well, and I love having a Sidekick who isn't afraid to call me out on something."
"Uh…"
Hawks was nothing like he expected so far. He looked the same—only a few inches taller than Midoriya, with messy blonde hair and stubble on his chin. He wore a costume that looked like a stylized aviator's outfit, with a beige-yellow jacket and pants, a black shirt, a yellow-tinted visor of his eyes, and yellow headphones that fit securely over his ears.
What really stood out, and what gave the Winged Hero his moniker, were his enormous wings. Furled against his back, they looked small, but the red wings were more than strong enough to carry him effortlessly through the air.
Hawks gave an easy smile and held out his hand. "Hey, there; nice to meet you."
Midoriya tentatively shook his hand. "N-nice t-to m-meet you too?"
"Sorry, kinda figured you needed an easier greeting after that little snafu." Hawks gestured to one of the beanbag chairs. "Take a seat, okay? Just give me a sec; I actually was in the middle of something before I decided to mess with you."
While Midoriya sat down and tried to process everything he had just seen, Hawks turned to his computer. Rather than actually walk over to it, he just raised an eyebrow; two of his feathers detached from his wings and shot over to the keyboard, and then started pressing keys. A moment later, an email was sent.
"I probably don't need to do that," Hawks admitted as the feathers rejoined the others on his back, "but I'm so used to practicing my control with that part of my Quirk that I never broke the habit."
"It's an amazing Quirk, though," Midoriya said with genuine interest.
"Impressed, but not surprised." Hawks smirked. "I'm guessing you did your research before coming here?"
Midoriya blushed. "A-actually, I learned about you before even starting at UA. Heroes and Quirks are a hobby of mine."
Hawks grinned. "Okay, how much do you know?"
"Each feather is capable of holding a surprising amount of weight, though the larger feathers can hold a lot more, and they're all pretty durable," Midoriya immediately said, like he was reading the information in front of him. "They die pretty quickly if you don't reattach them to your wings, and once they do, you can't control them. They regenerate over time, and you can go from no feathers at all to completely full in four days."
Hawks had looked amused before, but now he was staring. "I can't decide whether I should be impressed or a little freaked out. How do you know about the four days? That's not something I've advertised."
"I, uh, did the math," Midoriya admitted.
"Okay, I'll go with impressed." Hawks smiled again. "So, Midoriya, you ready for the big leagues?"
Midoriya grinned back. "Yes, sir!"
…
Ashido couldn't keep the grin off her face if she wanted to. Sky Dancer was unlikely to ever get much higher in the rankings, but she was awesome. Her Agency was also a dance studio, one that looked like it came right out of the 1980s, complete with neon colors and loud music.
Sky Dancer herself looked like she had taken the same look and modernized it. Her outfit was a mix of a purple bodysuit with green sleeves and carbon-fiber armor on her forearms and calves. She also had a bright pink mask that rose up enough to look like a headband. She had pink hair and a wide smile—if not for the lack of horns, normal skin and normal eyes, she could have passed for Ashido's sister.
"Hey, there!" Sky Dancer finished an impressive routine of flips and kicks, then caught a water bottle tossed to her by an employee without looking—a skill Ashido really wanted to learn. "You're Ashido Mina, right? Welcome to my Agency!"
"Hi!" Ashido bowed, but couldn't stop trembling with excitement. "It's great to be here!"
"I'll bet! Hey, why don't you use one of our changing rooms and get into costume? I like to run my interns through their paces a bit on their first day. Watching your routine on TV is great and all, but a performance looks so much better when you see it with your own eyes."
Ashido was starting to like this woman. She quickly changed, and when she stepped back into the studio, Sky Dancer laughed.
"Okay, I had no idea we had similar costume colors! This has to be, like, fate or something." She turned to another employee and snapped her fingers twice; it was obviously a signal of some kind, because a high-energy beat started to play from the speakers. "Show me what you've got, kid! Let's throw down!"
Ashido tilted her head. "What, are we gonna fight? Now?"
"Kind of." Sky Dancer skipped into the air, but didn't come back down. Her Quirk, as described to Ashido by Midoriya, was called Sky Step; simply put, it let Sky Dancer stay airborne as long as she kept up some momentum. "We're not gonna really fight, I just want to get a handle on your moves. No acid, though; I just got the floors waxed. All I want you to do is try to tag me, and try not to get tagged by me. You picking up what I'm putting down?"
Ashido's face started to hurt from all the smiling, but she quickly went into a series of stretches. "Oh, I'm ready!"
…
"Always keep an eye on your surroundings," Air Jet instructed as he flew alongside his student. "Every swing that takes you below a traffic light is a risk of startling a driver. That means a potential accident; maybe the driver gets hurt, maybe a pedestrian, or maybe even you."
"Yes, sir!" Cellophane swung from a light pole, making sure to stay high enough to not accidentally kick someone on the street, but low enough to get enough swing for his next leap.
After a brief introduction, Cellophane's mentor immediately brought him out on patrol; he took his schedule very seriously, but knew how to incorporate lessons for the intern. Air Jet was stern, but not inflexible, and he was quick to see his intern's strengths and weaknesses. Today, he was focusing on training Cellophane's situational awareness; it was far more intensive than the student had expected. However, it involved fieldwork, and that was fun.
And if he happened to learn a thing or two, then that was even better.
I hope the others are having as great a time, he thought.
…
"So, I have a question for you," Hawks said as Midoriya, now in his costume, stepped into the sparring room. "What are the two biggest weaknesses shared by all Heroes?"
That brought Midoriya up short. "I… don't know. I'm sorry, Hawks-sensei."
"Just call me Hawks, I'm too young to be called 'sensei' by anyone." Hawks idly stretched out his wings. "Anyway, the two weaknesses are this: reaction instead of action, and specialization.
"For the first part, it's simple—everything we do as Heroes is in reaction to something else. We can't stop a natural disaster before it starts, and we can't stop Villains from trying to commit crimes. We almost always get somewhere after the trouble has started; if we're really lucky, we'll get there as it starts. Those precious minutes or seconds before and after a Hero arrives could mean the difference between life and death. Heroes with high speeds, like me, can usually cut that time down by getting somewhere fast enough, but not always.
"For the second part, it's a little more complicated. See, a lot of Heroes' Quirks make them really good for certain situations, but lousy for others. Take Endeavor, for example; that guy is insanely strong, but you'll never see him working during a rainy day." Hawks chuckled. "I'm not a fan of rain, either; it weighs down my feathers, slows my speed, and you do not want to know what wet bird smells like. Anyway, almost every Hero has their niche; even All Might, amazing as he is, won't be called in for a stealth mission."
"That makes sense," Midoriya said as he jotted all that down in his notebook; Hawks spoke quickly, but Midoriya was able to keep up.
"Thanks, I spent all morning making sure it wasn't complicated." Hawks paused. "Wait, have you been taking notes this whole time?"
Midoriya looked up from his notebook. "Y-yes? Sorry, it's a habit."
Hawks chuckled. "You're going to be fun to work with. Moving on, you have the speed to minimize the first point, and the versatility to make my second point a non-issue. I only saw a few of your transformations during the Sports Festival, but your principal was kind enough to send me a file on each one that you've discovered." A feather detached and hovered over the Ultimatrix. "That watch is sorting through your Quirk, right? To give you new forms?"
"Um, yes," Midoriya said. "I'm not sure what I'll get, but when I transform, I do get an instinctive sense of how to use its abilities."
Hawks shook his head ruefully. "That is so cool. All right, I want you to turn into something, and we'll have a quick spar."
Midoriya blinked. "Really?"
"Yeah, just don't set the room on fire or use that earthquake one, okay?" Hawks' tone was joking, but Midoriya took him seriously.
"Okay." Comparing what he knew of Hawks' Quirk with his aliens, Midoriya made his choice; he was about to press the dial, but a feather flew up and slapped his hand away. "Ow!"
"You took too long," Hawks said, and the feather in front of Midoriya wagged like a disapproving finger. "You spend that much time in the field just thinking of what you're going to do, and the bad guy gets away, or a bystander bleeds out. You need to have each move honed to a razor's edge, to think and act at the same time."
Midoriya nodded; that was something he still had trouble with. "I've been working on that."
"Well, keep at it; I can tell you're a bright kid, but you've got to bridge the gap between theory and application." Hawks' feather started to orbit around Midoriya's head. "Try again. This time, I'll give you three seconds."
Midoriya didn't wait for Hawks to give him the go-ahead; he figured the man wouldn't give him one anyway. He slammed his hand on the dial, and vanished in a flash of green light.
"BRAINSTORM!"
Hawks raised an eyebrow. "I read about this one. Grants super-intelligence and electricity, right?"
The man-sized orange crab brushed off an imaginary speck of dirt with one thin pincer, then regarded the Hero with big eyes, set in an even bigger head.
"Indeed," Brainstorm said in a cultured voice, "my intellect is almost certainly greater than that of any creature on Earth."
"You saying you're smarter because your head is bigger?"
"No, I am smarter because my brain is bigger."
A dozen more feathers joined the first. "Then show me what you've got!"
…
"Ohmigosh, no way!" Hado practically tackled Yaoyorozu off her feet when the younger girl entered the Ryukyu Agency. "I didn't know one of Izu-kun's friends was interning here! That's so cool!"
Yaoyorozu tentatively returned the hug. And I didn't know one of the Big Three would be here. Also, she called Izuku 'Izu-kun'? When did that happen?
"All right, Nejire, calm down," a woman's voice called out. "I'd like to meet my new intern while she can still breathe."
Yaoyorozu had seen pictures and videos of the Dragoon Hero before, but it was another thing entirely to be in her presence. She was beautiful, with a dark red dress accented by yellow slashes, white sleeves that exposed her shoulders and hands, and elegant—but still sturdy—boots. Her short blonde hair was kept out of her face by a green headband, while most of the right side of her face was covered by a set of four metallic claws. On the back of her head was an ornament made to look like dragon wings.
"Welcome to my Agency, Yaoyorozu-san," Ryukyu said with a smile and a bow. "Nejire can show you where you'll be staying; please, make yourself at home."
"Thank you for giving me such an opportunity," Yaoyorozu said, and bowed back. "It is such an honor."
Ryukyu actually looked a little embarrassed. "You're pouring it on a little thick; please, I didn't offer an internship to be fawned over. I get that enough from my fans."
Hado giggled. "Better them than the press." She winked at Yaoyorozu. "The nasty ones don't get close anymore after Ryukyu threatened to eat one of them."
"That was two years ago, and he was so obsessed with his smear campaign that he threatened to stab someone unless he got an interview!" If anything, Ryukyu looked even more embarrassed. "Can we please get back on track?"
Yaoyorozu held up a hand. "Um, may I ask a question?"
"Sure thing," Ryukyu said with no small amount of relief.
"Why did you offer me an internship? I know that I did fairly well in the Sports Festival, but…"
"That's part of it," Ryukyu admitted, and there was a look of pain in her uncovered eye that sobered even Hado. "There's another, though. I watched your matches in the final event, and I saw some of the reactions to your attire.
"I know that it has to do with your Quirk, but female Heroes are often under intense scrutiny, both by fans and the press. I've seen more than a few attractive female Heroes quit the business or develop unhealthy mindsets because of unsavory comments. When I first started out, I nearly quit because of those people, but I pushed through the pain their words caused. Now, I want to help young women like you become as good as possible, and help you develop a thicker skin in the process."
Yaoyorozu was honestly a little shocked by Ryukyu's frank response; however, she wasn't as surprised as the older woman might have thought. Ever since she hit puberty, she'd been the target of leering men and jealous women; most of it was just looks, but there was always the occasional comment, and in the beginning, it had made her want to curl up in a ball and disappear.
Thankfully, her parents had caught onto her distress early. The self-defense lessons had helped to teach her how to keep herself physically safe, but it had also built up her self-confidence; now, if someone gave her a dirty look or said something perverted, she could ignore it easily, because she knew she could probably break the offender's arms in six different ways.
And that was before using her Quirk. With that, the possibilities were almost limitless.
Instead of saying any of that, however, she just bowed. "Thank you for the explanation. I look forward to learning everything I can from you."
Ryukyu shared a surprised glance with Hado, and then smiled. "Most girls would be more nervous after all that; in fact, Nejire is the only other intern I've had who didn't turn to the door after I give that speech. I think you'll fit right in here."
Yaoyorozu smiled back.
…
Hawks was quietly impressed; while his new intern's initial start to their spar had been rocky, his performance now was fantastic.
It seemed that Midoriya had taken his lecture to heart; at first, he had shot away Hawks' attacking feathers with bolts of electricity—by opening up the shell on his head and exposing his brain, which was a little unsettling. Hawks upped his speed and added another dozen feathers; in response, Midoriya—or did he prefer to go by his form's name now?—surrounded himself in a bubble of electricity.
"Going defensive won't help you in this fight," Hawks taunted, only to realize that Brainstorm wasn't just hiding behind a shield. He had been slowly extending a field of electricity along the floor, inching towards Hawks' feet. "Nice try, kid!"
Hawks fully extended his wings and rose up to the ceiling; he crossed his arms and looked down at his intern.
"Okay, I've avoided your trap, and now I have all the time in the world to attack you," he said. "What's your next play?"
"If you must know, I have already calculated fifty-nine ways of defeating you," Brainstorm replied. "Granted, fourteen of them would result in massive property damage, and two of them are certainly lethal."
"All right, so which one will you use?" Hawks had a few ideas; Brainstorm wasn't the first person who could manipulate electricity that he'd fought, though he was probably the smartest.
"None of them," Brainstorm said smugly. "You've fallen for my distraction!"
No, Hawks hadn't; he'd seen the electricity crawling up the walls and along the ceiling, effectively boxing him in. However, Brainstorm had been so focused on setting up his trap that he'd let his defenses slip. His smirk never leaving his face, Hawks detached more feathers and spun them in a tight cone, almost like a drill, and then hurled it at Brainstorm; the suddenness of the attack punched through his shield and slammed him into the far wall.
"Let's call it here, kid," Hawks said as the electricity faded. "This was just a warmup; I don't want you straining yourself and being too tired for tomorrow night."
Midoriya turned back to normal and rubbed his sore chest as he stood up. "What are we doing tomorrow night?"
"The same thing we do every night, Pinky—try to take over the world!" Hawks laughed, but then he sighed when all Midoriya did was give him a blank stare. "Okay, so you didn't get that reference. Damn."
"S-sorry?"
"Nah, it's fine." Hawks waved him off. "Anyway, what we're actually doing is heading out to Hosu."
Never let it be said that Midoriya couldn't put the pieces together. "You mean—"
"Oh, yeah." Hawks' smile turned grim. "The word's out, and Heroes from all over are coming in to bring the hammer down. The Hero Killer isn't getting away this time."
…
That night, Midoriya was having trouble sleeping. Not only was he thinking about actively searching for—or at least helping Hawks search for—the Hero Killer, his mentor's lecture on a Hero's weaknesses was still fresh in his mind.
Finally, he gave up on just staring at the ceiling and brought out his phone.
All Might: Is anyone else awake?
Comet: I am. Hi, Deku-kun, what's up?
All Might: I can't sleep. Hawks gave me a lot to think about.
Crayon: zzzzz
Crayon: jk, im awake. Im tird, but I had so much fun with Sky Dancer
Comet: Looks like it's just us three. Everyone else must be asleep.
Crayon: Midori gets us all 2 himself, lol hes so luky
Comet: Stop being mean, Mina. Hey, did you guys finish the homework we have to do over the inershsi
Comet: Sorry, trying to figure out these math problems at the same time, brain got fried for a sec.
All Might: Kaminari! Give Ochako back her phone!
Crayon: LOL, hes making jokes!
All Might: Hawks keeps trying to be funny. Key word being 'trying'. I thought I'd do better.
Comet: So, what's it like at his agency?
All Might: It's… kind of weird. It's like he's trying too hard to be normal. Maybe he doesn't like all the attention?
All Might: Or maybe he's just awkward around students, and I'm reading into it too much.
All Might: How about you, Ochako?
Comet: Gunhead is kind of wacky, but in a good way. He's super serious about training, but when we're talking about anything casual, he acts kind of cute.
Crayon: look out, Midori, Gunhead is steling ur gurl
All Might: *angry Wildmutt noises*
Comet: Good boy! Who's a good Deku-kun? Is it you? Yes, you are!
Crayon: ok, i no u r just messing around, but thats adorable, and im gunna puke rainbows
Crayon: night every1
Comet: Yeah, I think I'm ready for sleep. Ttyl, everyone!
All Might: Goodnight.
His nerves calmed by the easy banter, Midoriya closed his eyes and fell asleep. A few minutes later, his eyes snapped open and he sat up.
"Did I just flirt with Ochako?"
Ben groaned. "Oh my god!"
…
Despite her words, Uraraka took much longer to fall asleep. Her face burned and her heart was pounding. She tried to tell herself that Midoriya had just been joking around, that he was comfortable enough with her to pretend to be jealous. She wanted to hope that that was the case, because the alternative was too terrifying to think about.
But… what if he does like me? She wondered, and gripped her sheets tightly. After the internships. I'll ask him then. Maybe Gunhead can give me some pointers on being brave.
…
"Come on, Deku, keep up!" Hawks shouted over the roaring wind. "I can reach Hosu in five minutes on a slow day!"
Jetray made a face at him. "I'm right next to you, how am I not 'keeping up'?"
After a light breakfast, they jumped off the roof of the Agency and flew straight for Hosu. Thankfully, they didn't have far to go, but there was still time for a few questions.
"How come you didn't go after Stain before?" Jetray asked. "Hosu is right next door."
"Politics." Hawks said the word with so much venom that Jetray was surprised the man didn't spit afterwards. "The government didn't want to give Stain too much public attention, so they kept the big names from going after him."
"Over twenty Heroes died!"
Hawks scowled. "And now you know why I hate politics. Seriously, they could have flooded Hosu with hundreds of Heroes after his first attack, but they didn't. We've been lobbying for a more active approach after his first kill, but the government didn't want to cause a panic."
"But… but all this waiting around just got more people killed, and there are some people on the internet who are saying that Stain is doing the right thing!"
"Exactly; the problem was basically ignored until it was too late. Now, the higher-ups decided that the best way to regain public trust is to send in as many Heroes as they can and crush the Hero Killer." Hawks shook his head as they swooped in to land. "Still, maybe we can douse the fire before the whole forest burns down."
Hawks put a smile on his face as dozens of people crowded around, asking for autographs or to ask questions—one woman in the back of the crowd asked if she could have Hawks' babies. To Deku's embarrassment, more than a few people started asking him questions—like if Hawks was taking him on as an early Sidekick, or how it felt to win the Sports Festival. Still, he did his best to stay composed; this was his first outing as Deku, a future Hero, and he had to make it count.
Thankfully, Hawks held up one hand to quiet the crowd, and such was the respect they had for him that they obeyed.
"Hey, you all know how much I love to talk," he said, "but my intern and I are actually on patrol right now. Don't worry, we're here to make sure everyone stays safe."
"Are you going after the Hero Killer?" one person asked.
Hawks smirked. "Only if that guy over there doesn't get to him first."
The crowd, and Deku, turned to see Endeavor half a block away. He was followed by a small team of Sidekicks, and his son, who went wide-eyed when he caught sight of his classmate.
Ironically, the crowd's enthusiasm cooled; Endeavor wasn't exactly known for being friendly, even with fans, so the civilians started to go on their way.
"Hawks," Endeavor grunted as he walked up to the shorter man. "I see you've been called in as well."
Hawks shrugged. "Yeah, what can you do? Say, why don't we split patrols and make it easier on ourselves? I can take the eastern half, if you like."
Endeavor crossed his arms. "Very well, but I expect you to pull your weight."
"No problem at all." Hawks was almost submissive in how he addressed Endeavor, but in a respectful way; it reminded Deku of how some of his classmates reacted to seeing All Might at that point.
Endeavor turned his gaze to Deku. "You're the boy who convinced Shoto to finally use his flames. You're more impressive than I first thought."
"Er…" Before Deku could reply, Endeavor walked off to speak with a nearby police officer.
"That's about as polite as he gets," Triumph said quietly as he stepped next to his friend. "Don't take it personally."
Deku smiled. "Thanks. How have you been since the internships started? Oh, did you run into Virtus today? And you have a new costume!"
Aside from his white boots, Triumph had completely changed his look. He had blue pants and a blue jacket with short sleeves; he also wore a metal-plated combat vest, and a series of capsules hanging from his belt that Midoriya recognized as those that contained medical supplies. He had the same tools on his own belt.
"I haven't seen him, but Hosu is a big place. And I didn't get much training done yesterday." Triumph just shrugged, and didn't respond to the comment about his costume. "I'll be doing that a lot at home anyway. Endeavor has been showing me field-protocol stuff; it's actually kind of interesting."
"You're not wrong," Hawks said. "Keep an eye on how a Pro Hero acts around different people. When it's civilians, and there's nothing happening, just try to show self-confidence. When you're talking to the police or other first responders, remember to stay professional and respectful; they put their lives on the line just as much as we do, but they don't get nearly as much credit."
Both boys nodded; it was good advice, and it would help keep them humble.
"Now then!" Hawks clapped his hands together. "Let's go find a serial killer!"
…
"How are you dealing with your first patrol, Virtus?" Manual paused to adjust his finned helmet. "I know it's a little boring right now, and you were probably expecting some excitement."
Virtus shook his head. "No, this is fine. If anything, it has given me time to think."
Manual might have been called the Normal Hero, but that just made him more approachable. Even his costume was 'normal', consisting of a blue shirt, yellow gloves, dark pants and white boots; the only thing that stood out was his helmet, with its distinctive fin and blue visor. He was humble and polite, but also unafraid to lighten the mood; it reminded Virtus of Tensei, in a way.
"What're you thinking about?" Manual's easy smile morphed into a thoughtful frown. "Is it the Hero Killer? I know Ingenium is your brother, so I assumed the reason you signed on with my agency is because you thought you might run into the man who attacked him." He grimaced. "Sorry, I didn't mean any offense."
"No, it is fine. That… was my initial reason for picking you, and I apologize for that." Virtus would have bowed, but he had more to say. "That is, until a few days ago. Some of my friends spoke to me about it, and convinced me that seeking revenge would only result in more people getting hurt. Besides, even if I did find the Hero Killer, he was able to defeat my brother and an entire team of Sidekicks; I am not even halfway done with my first year of high school."
Manual chuckled. "Your friends gave you some good advice; since you don't have a license, going after the Hero Killer would just get you labeled as a Vigilante, and you'd have to be arrested."
"That crossed my mind as well." Virtus shrugged. "I still wish to hurt Stain for all he did to my brother, but I will settle for cheering when he is finally brought to justice." He paused. "Not all of that was from my friends; as I said, I have had time to think on this patrol."
"That's good to hear." Manual patted him on the shoulder. "Patrols like this are good for clearing your head—whoa, look sharp."
Virtus followed his gaze and saw an elderly couple slowly crossing a busy street. "Should we intervene?"
"Let's just stay nearby and keep an eye on them," Manual said. "See, being a Hero isn't always about fighting Villains and helping in a disaster; most days, it's just about giving people a helping hand."
I have to keep that in mind, Virtus thought. This cannot be about revenge. This is about doing what I can to help, while Tensei recovers.
…
"So, kid," Hawks said as he and Deku walked down the streets of Hosu, "I've got a question for you. Think of it like a quiz."
"Uh, sure?" Deku didn't know what to expect from Hawks; the Hero was strolling casually, his hands behind his head.
"What's the difference between a criminal and a Villain? I'll give you a hint: all Villains are criminals, but not all criminals are Villains."
That was something Deku hadn't heard of before. "I don't know. Sorry."
"It's all right, it's why you're here." Hawks grinned at him reassuringly. "See, a criminal is anyone who breaks the law, obviously. A Villain is defined as anyone who uses their Quirk to commit a crime. Let me give you an example—say there's a guy with a Quirk that lets him cause extreme pain to anyone he touches, and he's going around robbing stores. Obviously, he's very dangerous, but he never uses his Quirk. When he gets caught, they'll check if he ever used his Quirk during his crimes; since he didn't, his sentence usually isn't as harsh."
Hawks paused for a moment, and his smile became a bit forced. "Villains, especially those with dangerous Quirks, have to be carefully evaluated; those who have no chance of reform are sent to Tartarus. I'm sure you know about that place."
Deku swallowed nervously. "Y-yes, it's the most secure prison in Japan; most countries have a facility like it, but Tartarus is the only one to never have a prisoner even escape their cell, let alone break out of the entire prison." A thought came to him. "You mentioned something about Villains who can't be reformed. What about those who can?"
Hawks' smile became genuine again. "There's something called the Antihero Program. Villains who genuinely want to turn their lives around, and haven't committed a serious offense, can make an appeal to join the program. They're basically put on probation under a Hero… well, it's kind of like a parole officer. The ex-Villain works under that Hero like a Sidekick, only with a reduced pay; they're called Antiheroes. After a while, depending on how well the Antihero does, they can either rejoin society as regular citizens earlier than if they'd just stayed in prison, or they can become full-time Sidekicks, and eventually Pro Heroes."
"I've never heard of that," Deku said, a little annoyed that such a fascinating concept had escaped him.
"It's not something that's widely known," Hawks told him. "A lot of Heroes with criminal backgrounds would lose a lot of clients if the public found out they used to be Villains. Also, the government doesn't like Heroes to be anything less than squeaky-clean, so they bury that info pretty deep." He leaned over and gave Deku a conspiratorial wink. "Can you keep a secret?"
"I really hope he isn't about to tell us that he used to be a Villain," Ben, who had been listening as attentively as Deku, commented.
"You've already met someone in the Program, though she passed muster as a full-fledged Sidekick last month."
It took Deku about two seconds to realize who Hawks was talking about. He opened his mouth to shout, but three feathers shot out and covered his face until he calmed down.
"Takeda-san used to be a Villain?" he whispered. "I thought she went to Ketsubutsu?"
"She was never in the Hero Course," Hawks said. "And she never hurt anyone. She's good at what she does, and she's always been honest with me. Antihero or not, she's been one of my best Sidekicks; another year or two, and I'll recommend her as a full-time Hero."
Deku wasn't sure what to think about that; the idea of Villains turning over a new leaf was appealing, but after the USJ attack, he wasn't about to go holding out the hand of forgiveness to every criminal he met.
Still, Takeda-san was really nice…
"Anyway, now that we've got the lessons of the day finished, why don't we find some lunch?" Hawks jerked his thumb to point at a ramen stand across the street. "I'm down for something cheap."
Deku nodded; food sounded good, especially if it helped him process everything he had learned.
…
Stain stepped out of the shadows and into the cool evening air. He could admit that Hosu was beautiful at night, even with the false Heroes dragging their filth everywhere. But that was why he was here—to force them all to clean up after themselves, and if they wouldn't do it, he would.
Something moved in the corner of his eye, and he whirled around, katana drawn. "If you want to live, leave this place."
A humanoid shape of living shadow stepped out; its yellow eyes stared at him unblinkingly. "My apologies, Hero Killer, I mean no offense, nor do I wish to do battle with you. My name is Kurogiri, and my employer would like a word with you."
Stain sneered. "And why should I listen to anything you or your 'employer' have to say?"
Kurogiri merely bowed his head. "You are, of course, welcome to decline this invitation. However, there is someone I very much would like you to meet. He is young, and angry at the world, but particularly with Heroes. Aside from wanting them dead, he has no real goal; I have a vested interest in seeing him grow beyond his childish impulses. Perhaps you could help him with that."
Stain slowly lowered his sword. "Consider me intrigued, Kurogiri. I'll go with you, but if I think for even a moment that I am being led into a trap, you will be the first to die. Make this quick; I still have work to do here."
"Very well." Kurogiri waved a gaseous hand, and a portal appeared. "Right this way."
Stain cautiously followed Kurogiri into the portal; when he emerged on the other side, he found himself in a somewhat shabby bar. It was dimly lit, and a little cramped; the only person there, other than Kurogiri—who was putting on clothes and slipping behind the usual bartender's spot—was a young man in black clothes and a severed hand over his face.
"So, you're the famous Hero Killer." The young man leaned back in his seat in front of Kurogiri. "I'm Shigaraki Tomura. I'd shake your hand, but you'd lose it."
From the tone of his voice, Stain assumed it had something to do with the man's Quirk. "I've heard of you, and your so-called 'League of Villains'. You fled with your tail between your legs after you attacked UA."
Aside from a slight clenching of one hand, there was no reaction from Shigaraki. "I'll admit, that could have gone better. Our plan was basic, and didn't take certain factors into account. I was impatient and reckless; my moves will be more measured from now on."
Stain raised an eyebrow behind his mask. The rumors he'd heard about Shigaraki implied he was a spoiled child throwing a tantrum, but the young man before him had learned from his mistakes. That was enough to lower Stain's scorn of the man, but heightened his tension; there were few things more dangerous than a criminal who evolved so quickly.
"What is it you want from me?" he asked.
Shigaraki calmly waved him over to a seat; Stain cautiously took one, but not so close that Shigaraki could easily grab him.
"Anyone not living under a rock knows about what you've done," Shigaraki said. "You've killed plenty of Heroes, and I like that. But I noticed something that I really wanted to ask you about: why not kill them all?"
Stain met Shigaraki's gaze evenly. "Excuse me?"
"A lot of your victims were badly hurt, or even permanently crippled, but you could have just killed them," Shigaraki explained. "So, why not do exactly that? Wipe the slate clean."
Ah, so that's what it is. Stain's crusade had done little to espouse his views; he wanted his actions to create more action, not a debate.
"Some Heroes are beyond redemption," he said, and reached for the glass of water Kurogiri poured for him; it did nothing to wash out the taste of blood, but it had also been a long time since he'd had a real conversation with anyone. "Those deserve the death I bring. Others, those whose sins are lesser, I leave as warnings for the rest."
"But what is your warning?" Shigaraki asked, and leaned forward a little. "Are you warning them that they're next?"
Stain shook his head. "No. I warn them that that is their fate if they do not change their ways. Heroes today don't deserve the title; all they do is chase petty ambition and personal greed. A true Hero places their duty to others before anything else; saving lives and ending crime should be their only goal, not seek rewards and praise."
"You seek to bring about an age where Heroes are truly heroic," Kurogiri interjected.
"Exactly!" Stain nodded in approval. "You understand what I want."
Shigaraki didn't respond at first; he just tapped the edge of the bar with one finger. "Okay, but there are a few problems that I can see."
Stain bristled at first, but Shigaraki wasn't taunting him; if anything, he sounded genuinely interested. "And what are they?"
"First, you're only one man," Shigaraki said. "Eventually, you'll make a mistake, or get cornered by a group of Heroes you can't take alone. Trying to solo world events only works if you hack the system, or are an anime protagonist. The second problem I see is that you're really not selling your point to everyone; people on the internet have been arguing for months about your message, or even if you have one. Just because you know what your message is doesn't mean it'll actually spread."
"My resolve is my own, and it has been working," Stain replied; he was a little irritated, but also delighted that someone was willing to discuss this with him. "After I finish my work in a city, Heroes step up and take their duties seriously."
"And what if you get caught?" Shigaraki pressed. "How many Villains are remembered after they're gone? Give it five years, and you'll be a footnote on some forum; maybe you'll even get a poster and some memes if you're lucky."
"Only if I get caught," Stain countered. "I have yet to meet a Hero I cannot defeat."
"That's about to change." Shigaraki reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone; he brought up a recent news article and showed it to Stain. "Twenty Hero Agencies have been called to Hosu after you attacked Ingenium, including Hawks and Endeavor. You're a high-level player, Hero Killer, but you're still trying to solo raid bosses."
Stain was quiet for a moment. "I'm not so proud that I think I could defeat either of those two, not without careful planning." He glared at Shigaraki. "Is this why you brought me here? To try to convince me that I cannot continue my work without joining your little group?"
Now it was Shigaraki's turn to be quiet. "That was what I wanted; like I said, you're a high-level player, Stain, and having you in our party would bolster our prestige and help us in future encounters. But now, I think we have to part ways; you've helped me to realize that our philosophies are just too different for us to be compatible."
"And how do we differ?"
"Well, we do share one thing in common: we both think that this Hero-focused society has failed, and needs to change. The difference how we want to go about doing that. You want Heroes to be these incorruptible champions of justice, so you'll kill or remove anyone who doesn't fit your mold. You're cutting off a diseased limb in order to save the body.
"Me, on the other hand? I think this society is too rotten to be healed, and needs to be put to rest. Sometimes, trying to save a life just prolongs the misery." Shigaraki grinned widely enough to be seen around the hand on his face. "And if that means killing every Hero, and anyone else who gets in my way, so be it."
The Hero Killer's only reaction was to narrow his eyes; so, one of the few people to understand him still clung to a foolish idea.
"Then it seems we oppose each other," Stain said, and got up. "Are we enemies?"
"Not today." Shigaraki relaxed in his chair. "Right now, you have your mission, and I won't get in the way of it."
Stain recognized the truce for what it was. "Then send me back to Hosu; my work is not yet done."
As soon as the Hero Killer stepped through the portal Kurogiri made for him, Shigaraki chuckled.
"I expected you to be more confrontational," Kurogiri commented. "He refused your offer to join us."
"Oh, I'm a little disappointed, but I'm still glad he visited." Shigaraki idly scratched his neck. "That whole 'put society out of its misery' thing? I had that idea floating around in my head, but it wasn't until Stain explained himself that it crystallized. I really should have thanked him while he was here, because now, I know what I want."
"That is good news, my boy," the voice from the television in the corner said. "And now that you have your resolve, what will you do about it?"
"I wasn't lying about the Hero Killer being an enemy someday. He needs to be removed from the board." Shigaraki made a note on his phone. "But we can still use him; guys like that always have followers, and if it seems like he was with us, we can draw them to us."
"We will have to ensure that he gets caught, or killed, without appearing to have a hand in it," Kurogiri said.
"I have an idea about that." Shigaraki turned to the television. "Sensei, how many Nomus are ready?"
"Six, though none are as powerful as the one you brought to the USJ. Why?"
"I want them. Kurogiri, use your Quirk to keep an eye on the Hero Killer; we'll unleash the Nomus in areas near him, draw in the Heroes, and let them do the work for us. If we're lucky, either Stain or the Nomus will kill a few of them before the night is over." Shigaraki nodded to himself. "Just make sure the Nomus are close enough to Stain that people will start to connect the dots."
"How devious of you." The voice was full of pride and amusement. "I approve of this plan, but I will only give you four Nomus."
"That's fine, we can still use them to box him in." Shigaraki chuckled. "You're the hero of your own story, Stain, and the hero always has a brilliant last stand. Don't disappoint me."
The stage is set, and the Hero Killer is ready to resume his mission. You'll notice that neither Uravity nor Froppy got an internship-related scene; I'm saving that for later. Everyone else was a calm-before-the-storm deal, or I just couldn't find any other good places to add them in.
Hawks is fun to write; he's a mix of casual and responsible, and he's young enough to act more like an older brother than a real mentor, but that'll help someone with frazzled nerves, like Midoriya (Yes, I know what's happened/happening in the manga, and I've taken that into account).
Takeda Yuki is an OC, one that I used to introduce the concept of an Antihero Program. I like the idea of some Villains just getting dealt a bad hand, but are then presented with an opportunity to do better. There's more to her, but that's for later.
Oh, and I don't know if you noticed this, but for my writing, when the heroes are actually being heroes (in this case, being in costume and doing their jobs), I refer to them by their hero names.
And that meeting between Shigaraki and Stain was a blast to write. I know that Shigaraki is evolving much faster than in canon; I figured that him trying to come up with a way to deal with someone like Midoriya kicked his brain into high gear. And eliminating a potential rival through other enemies, and using that rival's clout to gain followers and influence? That's diabolical, if I do say so myself.
One other thing. I know that a lot of you keep asking when Midoriya will get his Ultimate forms. I'm not going to give him something that powerful so soon. It will happen, but you're going to have to be patient.
As always, please consider buying my book, Alpha Sanction, by Josh Gottlieb. You can find it in PDF format on my website (link in my profile) or as eBook and physical copies on Amazon. With all that's going on, we could all use something new to read!
And, if you have a few bucks to spare, please donate on my P-atreon page (link in my profile). Every dollar donated helps me worry less about things like food, and more on writing!
Speaking of my patrons, thanks to the following:
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Next Chapter: Disaster in Hosu! Monsters run rampant, and Deku encounters the Hero Killer!
Stay safe and healthy out there, everybody.
Plus Muffin!