The Baddest Ben Tennyson's Special Guide to Superheroics
「悪のベン・テニスンの特別なスーパーヒーローガイド」
The scenery before me was breathtakingly beautiful—an expanse of sky brushed with faint orange by the setting sun, stars beginning to blaze, and the bright moon illuminating the world as day faded into night. The river beneath this bridge flowed with a tempting allure.
Clad in a black hoodie, I crouched on the railings, gazing into the horizon. Precisely at the edge of the river I could see. Oddly enough, the bridge and the surrounding area were too serene and tranquil, with almost no trace of people. The stillness hung heavy, broken only by the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze. No vehicles had disturbed the peace... until now.
"There he is…" Lifting my left sleeve, I revealed the Omnitrix snugly fitted around my wrist.
Far from where I stood, something emerged from the calm surface of the water, completely out of place—a shark dorsal fin, unusually huge. If it had occurred naturally, it would have been a marvel of nature, as no shark had ever been seen that big.
Oh… As the big megalodon-looking shark rose from the little river, someone riding on the back of the creature became more and more prominent. Unsurprisingly, a familiar face, too. A welcome deal though.
"Ben Tennyson!" A raspy voice coming from there yelled at the top of his lungs, almost a battle cry. "Today, I'll settle the score!"
Truthfully, that's actually a battle cry—something that had me grinning in excitement, though hidden in the shadow of my hoodie. The cry was a direct declaration of war challenging the greatest warrior of all time.
Aloysius Animo, alia: Dr Animo; Quirk: none. A middle-aged mad scientist. Thanks to his genius intellect, he crossed over to some crazy side opposite of me and performed nobel-worthy experiments on the animals, enhancing their powers and all. In the end, aren't you just a hypocrite who weaponized animals and turned them into monsters…
"Not today, Animo," I scoffed, almost arrogant but truthful. "You'll leave here with nothing but defeat."
Defiance, determination and arrogance… None of them tasted sweet in my book, and Dr Animo right now possessed those things.
"But I'm not alone now!" He yelled back with confidence. "I brought some of your old buddies!"
"Hmm…"
That very confidence in his voice was troubling… I must make him know his place. But fortunately for him, a series of loud noises that came from elsewhere diverted my attention.
With a loud explosive Vroom, a high-speed motorcycle with a sidecar attached roared onto the bridge, carrying a team of three unique individuals.
"New client, new job!" One of them screeched.
To describe their appearance, all of them wore black! The bald, skinny rider wearing a mask handled the bike; behind him sat a massive, heavily muscled man with a weird piece of metal stuck in his otherwise bald head. Standing in the sidecar, battle-ready, was a pale-skinned young woman with tentacle-like prehensile orange hair.
"Let's mug 'em Tennyson!" The massive man shouted. "Show 'em who's the boss!"
As the vehicle closed in, the woman dangerously waved her orange prehensile hair in the air and attempted to swipe me with it.
Now that I couldn't just wait sitting on the edge, I jumped down to the sidewalk and crouched in time, avoiding getting hit.
"Circus Freaks…" I mumbled, dusting myself off. "You guys learned how to use your brain, huh. That's long overdue, though."
Meet the mercenaries; Circus Freaks Trio!
Acid Breath, Meta Ability: Acid Breath. — the masked dude steering the motorcycle. As his name suggests, he can breath out some gas and liquid with strong acidic, matter-eating properties.
Thumbskull, Meta Ability: Unnamed Strength Mutation. — the dude riding behind Acid Breath. He had some thumb nail gimmick to him, and no, not the thumbnails. It means the nail on human thumbs, etc. He's just a superhuman mutant.
Frightwig, Meta Ability: Hair. — the woman in the sidecar. Her quirk allows her to weaponize her prehensile hair. Hence, she had attached some weighted spheres at the end of the bundles of hair.
"Next is what? Zombozo?!" I laughed, the sound hollow and forced. But I guess I'd jinxed it.
As if on cue, a chilling laugh echoed from the shadows of the bridge. I turned towards the source, my eyes straining to pierce through the thick mist and fog obscuring the other side. And then…
Emerging from the darkness, a figure clad in garish clown attire with a sinister grin stepped forward. Zombozo, with his twisted sense of humor and mischievous intent, had arrived.
"Guess the circus is in town," I muttered, my heart pounding. Adrenaline surged through me, but I couldn't let my excitement—or battle thirst—show.
This is real shit if five of my enemies teamed up against me… or even more?
Before I could fully process Zombozo's appearance, the water beneath the bridge churned violently. A massive, armored figure with a green tentacled head resembling an octopus burst forth, landing on the bridge with a thunderous crash and carving a large crater.
"Ben Tennyson," the newcomer's deep, menacing voice rumbled. "Your time is up. Today our ultimate alliance shall earn the victory of our fated battle!"
Vilgax, Quirk: Squidface. The former intergalactic warlord and one of my deadliest enemies, had joined the fray.
"Hey, I thought today was a usual Tuesday," I said, scanning my surroundings. "Didn't expect the war to be on, now!"
The motorcycle came to a halt a few dozen meters away, the Freaks jumping off of it. With Dr Animo ready in the water, I've been surrounded on all four sides. Isn't this a little too much?
But that's not all.
"Boss!" A female voice called out, catching Vilgax's attention. "We've brought them! The knights! And all we have!"
Oh, if it's not our resident female delinquent. Certainly an unlikely addition to the "army."
Rojo, Quirk: None. — a maroon-haired woman clad in a black full-body armored suit with a white skull symbol on her chest. She alone was an insignificant yet annoying pest in my way, but her leadership was to be feared even if it wasn't on Vilgax's level.
"Good," Vilgax remarked. "We all have gathered here…"
With that, more arrived on the soon-to-be battlefield—minions clad in silver medieval knight-like armor, and a horde of people, mostly women, wearing gothic fashion and riding modified motorbikes.
How exciting! This is just climatic! The climax!
"Did you seriously think the numbers would do it?" I asked mockingly. "Honestly, how many times have I defeated each of you guys? I didn't count…"
Rather I couldn't, because that's just too many!
"Today it will be different, Ben Tennyson!" Vilgax declared, catching the trident weapon that Dr Animo threw to him. "We will take you down and save this planet from your reign!"
"How unreasonable…" I muttered.
Zombozo frowned and readjusted his hat. "Be wary of his tricks. We can't sacrifice more than we must."
"We are the final line of defense!" Dr Animo said, pressing the buttons on his helmet. He summoned a horde of gigantic animal mutants in the water as well as several flying avian monsters.
How arrogant of them. That's fine. I will just remove all the rebels from my world.
"Omnitrix, it's time to wake up," I muttered, tapping the faceplate. "The greatest battle is here!"
The rebels shielded their eyes from the bright light as I assumed one of my many transformations, using the power of the Omnitrix.
"We'll go all out from the start," Vilgax commanded his allies. "Go! Go! Go!"
At his signal, everyone on the frontline charged toward me from all directions. Their strategy was clear: confuse and overwhelm me with numbers. It was their best bet. Since they're going all out, as a warrior, I can't just take it easy, right? Ahahahah…
"Open your eyes wide! Learn from me! Worship me!"
Ben Tennyson, the Tyrant of Tyrants, the Owner of the Earth. Yeah, that was me. With seemingly infinite power and ruthless nature, I had been able to overtake the governments of the world and turn it into my personal playground.
And today I shall cleanse the playground and remove the rebellious pests and problem children.
"This is…" Vilgax gasped, witnessing my brand new transformation. "I've never seen it before!"
Zombozo's eyes widened in shock while Rojo shouted in a panic. "Back down! Retreat! Circle—"
But it was too late for any new strategy.
A massive green explosion erupted where I stood, obliterating the small fries that had dared to close in. As the remaining rebels fell into despair, I emerged unscathed, hovering mid-air and glowing brightly like a god. Well, I was indeed a god at this point.
My new form radiated nuclear energy, with visible energy liquid tanks adorning my limbs and torso. With a smirk, I declared in a frighteningly mocking tone.
"Because this is my, the Baddest Ben Tennyson's Special Guide to Supervillainy!"
Don't sweat it, people. The outcome of this battle had been decided long before it even began. There always was a winning side and a losing side — and no inbetween.
The battlefield fell silent for a moment, the rebels frozen in fear and disbelief. Then, with a roar, Vilgax charged forward, his trident crackling with energy. "We won't let you win, Tennyson!"
Chapter 4: "Yaoyorozu Momo-sama Wants to Believe…"
第4章:「八百万百様は信じたい…」
"Woah, my boy Tennyson, what happened?! You looked pale… and like, you've aged 10 years or something."
This masculine charismatic voice attracted all the attention from the kitchen.
It was Yaoyorozu-san who greeted Ben as he set foot in the staff dining room. He was especially taken aback because his boss doesn't usually visit these parts of the manor. By his boss, I meant the older man Yaoyorozu, the father of Momo and the head of the esteemed Yaoyorozu family.
So naturally, this man was one of the top in the country.
"Sir, sorry, I… kinda had a nightmare and…"
"Oh… take care," Mr Yaoyorozu said kindly, patting Ben on the shoulder. "I guess you do have your worries. Forget that I asked — speaking of which, didn't Momo-chan tell you to join us in meals in the main dining room?"
Yaopapa was a handsome and tall middle-aged man of average build, who sported a thin mustache. He usually kept his black hair combed back and neat.
"I can't possibly impose on you, Sir."
Moreover, making Ben "special" looked weird in the eyes of other employees. But the Yaoyorozu family hardly cared about it. On the other hand, Ben hated to stand out in his work place.
"Come on, don't be so formal," Mr Yaoyorozu grabbed Ben's hand. "You're off-duty today, right? I also heard from Momo-chan that you protected her during yesterday's incident."
"Uh…"
Ben specifically told Momo to not give him any rewards regarding what he did back in U.S.J., as it could trip the status quo between them. Yet…
"All the more reason to make you join us for breakfast. This is the least I can do to thank the guardian angel of my dear protector!"
Papa Yaoyorozu is not only a doting father, but also a scary and terrifyingly stubborn man. He's especially pushy toward Ben because the brunet happens to be his daughter's age and happens to attend the same Hero Course in the same high school!
"Th-then, I'll gladly take you up on that offer, sir."
"Good," Mr. Yaoyorozu said with finality, and with that, the kitchen staff witnessed the rather intimidating sight of Mr. Yaoyorozu whisking Ben Tennyson away for breakfast.
Meanwhile in the grand family dining room, Momo and her mother sat side by side at an expansive table, laden with a variety of nutritious dishes. Emphasis on nutritious.
To an outsider, the lavish spread might have seemed ostentatious, but for the Yaoyorozu household, it was simply routine. After all, their quirks demanded a substantial intake of food.
"Momo, you should also eat the lobster. Our head chef poured his soul into it. Show some gratitude," Mama Yaoyorozu instructed, her tone strict and upright, even as she indulged in an extra-oily, crunchy karaage. Hypocrisy at its finest!
Mama Yaoyorozu was, in essence, a grown-up version of her daughter, debatably even more beautiful and noble. Yaopapa, wisely, refused to choose sides when asked who was prettier between his wife and daughter.
"If you put it that way, it sounds like something straight out of a horror movie," Momo remarked, clearly annoyed.
"Does it?!" Mama Yaoyorozu exclaimed through a mouthful of chicken.
"Don't speak with your mouth full!" Momo scolded her mother as naturally as she breathed.
"Hai, Madam!" her mother responded, taking a quieter bite of her chicken.
Now the roles were reversed, weren't they? Deciding to interrupt them at that point was Papa Yaoyorozu who was standing at the entrance. Ben was close behind— and he was already used to the fact that Momo often straightened out her slightly goofy parents.
Though Papa Yaoyorozu appeared strict and upright in front of his daughter, he was quite laid-back when she wasn't around.
"Ahem. Honey and Momo…" he said, pointing behind him with a thumb. "Ben boy is here."
"Oh, is he here?!" The mother immediately sprang from her seat, placing down her chicken. "I must give him formal thanks."
"Ma'am, it's really fine," the brunet said as he narrowly avoided the approaching woman and hid behind the man.
Momo pulled the tray of lobsters toward herself and leaned back. "Mom, give it a break. It's really unnecessary."
He's annoyingly prideful and stubborn. She thought, tearing apart the lobster meat elegantly with her fork and knife. Who does he think he is?
"Yes, what Ojou said," Ben nodded. "Her father had already invited me to breakfast. So I guess it counts, haha…"
Papa Yaoyorozu seemed pleased by how the boy called him Momo's father instead of the formal "sir". Someone as capable and quick-minded as him… Yeah, it wouldn't be so bad if he became his son-in-law.
That particular thought unknowingly infuriated him though.
"Alright, now have a seat," the man said. "You can sit across from Momo. Right next to me."
"Thanks, Sir."
The man himself took his place at the head of the table and immediately grabbed a bowl of noodles, noticing Ben's silent stare.
"Oh, kid, help yourself. Come on."
"Uh, thanks…"
Yeah, Ben, you're already used to this. The brunet tried to convince himself. You've already grown accustomed to their meal traditions. Let's not feel so off—
"This is why I don't wanna touch this dish," Momo complained, munching on the last lobster. "Chef's so good, but once it gets to the good part, it's all gone in a blink."
That everything went into your stomach! Ben sweatdropped. How much did she even eat? In a short time, too, no joke. Yaoyorozu Momo is not for beginners.
"Momo, table manners," the father said before elegantly slurping down a bowl of soup.
When he put down the bowl back, there wasn't a drop left in it. The brunet blinked at the sight as he hesitantly poured some mayonnaise into his warm rice bowl.
"Did you check out the canteen?" The mother asked all of a sudden. "I heard they hired Cooking Hero: Lunch Rush there…"
"No, didn't get a chance to," the girl answered as she stabbed a lettuce roll with a fork. "I might get addicted to it. Also, papa, Ben's mixing mayo in his rice."
"Wha– how outrageous!" Papa Yaoyorozu got all worked up, making Ben petrified. "Kid, stop that. I will show you how to eat a proper mayo-gohan."
"Excuse me?"
"Listen, kiddo," the man quickly poured mayo into his bowl as well. "Look, this is how you mix it. Thoroughly and… make sure you take in the smell as well."
Momo sighed in disappointment. Ben Tennyson didn't know how to react to the showcase.
"Ah… thanks, sir."
Breakfast with Yaoyorozus was bound to be noisy and chaotic. But for some reason, the boy felt like all his loneliness had been shattered away, even if it had been for a brief moment.
"Thanks for the meal." (ごちそうさま)
While this household ranked among the wealthiest in the country, the familial bond shared by the Yaoyorozu family was no different from any other. Ben observed the genuine affection Yaopapa and Yaomama held for their daughter. Despite their usual busyness, they had set aside today to share a simple, meaningful meal together as a family.
The recent villain raid had undoubtedly left the parents worried. Learning that Tennyson had protected their daughter brought them immense relief and gratitude. They wanted to show their appreciation with more than just this meal, but they hesitated, not wanting to unfairly burden him.
They must respect his requests, too, by all means.
"Then, I'll get going… because I have some matters to attend to."
"Oh, okay," Yaopapa said, nodding. "Sorry if we kept you here for too long."
"No, no need to apologize, sir."
As the brunet left the hall, the girl's parents turned their gazes towards the girl, waiting for a reaction. Momo Yaoyorozu immediately sensed what was coming.
"Momo… -chan," Yaopapa was the first to break the pause. "I won't give my daughter to him."
"That's right, Momo," Yaomama added playfully. "I don't agree to your marriage."
Momo deadpanned, "What are you two even talking about? We're not in that kind of relationship."
The man facepalmed, embarrassed by his own words. "Sorry… I've always wanted to say that."
"Yeah," her mother nodded in agreement. "We got carried away. But… it's good practice, considering we're rich! It doesn't hurt to rehearse our lines early!"
"What are you, drama actors?"
At that moment, the part-time butler Ben Tennyson arrived back in the room, much to Momo's horror.
"Wh-what are you doing here?!" She stammered, hoping he didn't overhear anything her parents had just said.
In fact, it would be an honor to be considered a spouse candidate for Yaoyorozu's daughter… especially by her parents of all people. Even as a joke, the thought was blissful. How embarrassing!
But truthfully, the brunet hadn't heard anything at all. The room was unexpectedly sound-proof.
"I just got this really nice idea. Please hear me out," he said, as if he were about to propose something significant.
Momo took her seat and tried to calm down, but the way her butler was acting weird didn't help her case.
"Ok, we're all ears," Yaomama said, opening her folding fan to hide her quiet giggles behind it. Yaopapa also nodded in agreement.
Momo's heart pounded in her chest, anticipating whatever the brunet had to say.
"If it's okay with you, please let me make your dinner," Ben Tennyson came up with a rather unique request. "As you know, I am—"
"Interesting, and approved!" Yaopapa interrupted without a hint of hesitation in his voice. "I will give the kitchen a call later."
"It's not everyday we get to taste the meals made by a prodigy," Yaomama stated.
Yaoyorozu Momo, the daughter, remained speechless momentarily. Thankfully, what she anticipated didn't happen, but it especially left a bitter taste in her mouth.
"A prodigy? What do you mean?" She questioned.
"Ben boy got a Ramsay Foundation Junior Award a few years ago," Yaopapa explained. "You didn't know that? Although you're the one who conducted the interview…"
The daughter pulled out her smartphone and made a quick online search. She furrowed her eyebrows and looked back at the brunet in disbelief.
"Eh? Ramsay whatever award is that important? Gosh, you could've told me about it."
"Well…" Ben played dumb as always. "You didn't ask the specifics. That was also a few years back. I haven't actually cooked any luxury meals recently."
Finally, Momo could calm down. She felt a bit betrayed, but it was half her fault for not making more effort to know him better. Unable to face the boy anymore, she glanced back at her parents.
This wasn't the first time Momo learned something new about Ben at an inconvenient time.
But as expected, her father didn't just let a rando become her butler, part-time or not. He must've had his people conduct a thorough background check and research on the boy as well. But it wasn't unreasonable or illogical.
"So what will you make us?" The mother asked, folding her paper fan.
"Hmm," the boy responded thoughtfully, until his expression turned into a grin. "I'm still thinking about it, but it's gonna be a secret either way."
"I'll be looking forward to it, son."
"Thanks, Ma'am. Thank you so much, Master, for approving my idea."
Deep down to Ben himself, it was more like a celebratory cooking session than making premium western meals as a thank you to the household. There was a lot to think about on his plate, and he believed that cooking would let him get away from all that stress.
Truthfully, he was conflicted inside about the outcome of the U.S.J. battle. He couldn't capture the leaders of the League of Villains — in fact, he had to let them escape. This is specifically why he had to deploy the secret Plan-A he had been pocketing all this time. On the other hand, he defeated the anti-All Might monster.
At any rate, the second plan had already been set into motion…
- [ Transition ] -
(A/N: The following scene mainly refers to the My Hero Academia spin-off manga, Vigilantes: Illegals. So you might be confused, but for the most part, it's canon to the main storyline.)
In Naruhata, Tokyo, there exists a unique "comfort" café, famously staffed by "monsters." Despite the ominous nickname, these individuals are beloved and respected members of the community. The café's employees are survivors of heinous experiments conducted half a decade ago, which left them with permanently altered, monstrous appearances.
But those people had learned to live with it, and turned a new leaf in this very cafe they together established.
"Customer, are you ready to order?"
The speaker was a middle-aged waiter with short black hair and a goatee, dressed impeccably in a crisp uniform that contrasted with his rough exterior. The customer, a striking woman with long black hair and glasses, gently cradled a white cat in her lap.
"You don't need to be so formal, Hotta-san," she replied, setting the cat down gently. "I'll have a Lavender White Chocolate Mocha, please."
"Got it," Hotta Jirou noted the order on his device. "What brings you to Naruhata, Kayama no Nee-chan?"
Indeed, the customer was Kayama Nemuri, otherwise known as Pro Hero Midnight, currently surrounded by an army of kitties waiting for their turns to be petted.
"Do I need reasons to visit a cat cafe?" She smiled and picked up another kitten, this time orange with white spots.
Indeed! The cafe-shop run by the "monsters" turned into a cat cafe a few years back. The juxtaposition of adorable kittens and the somewhat intimidating staff often startled first-time visitors. However, regulars knew that behind their fearsome appearances, the staff were just as human as anyone else.
The delicate chime of the doorbell echoed through the café, drawing the servers' attention. Hotta excused himself and went to receive the new arrival.
"Welcome, Mister… uh…" Hotta Jirou widened his eyes in surprise. "Eraserhead?!"
"Sup'," Aizawa Shota, Aizawa Shota, his right arm in a sling, greeted casually as he entered. "I see your business is thriving."
Even Kayama was caught off-guard. Her gloomy kouhai was the last person she'd expect to see in a cat cafe of all places.
"AHHH! You abandoned us for a long time!" Jirou looked like he was going to jump and hug Aizawa. Patrons in the shop had started giving them curious looks.
"... sorry," was all Aizawa said, pushing Jiro away from hugging him.
Jirou anticipated a harsh retort but Aizawa's uncharacteristic apology surprised him. Instead of reading too much into it, Jirou chose to believe that his old friend had grown emotionally over the years.
But Jirou was wrong. Aizawa's character development was almost non-existent over the past few years. He had always been like that — a difficult man who found it hard to convey his emotions.
"There's no need to apologize," Jirou tried to pat Aizawa on the shoulder, only then he noticed Aizawa's injuries. "Oh, man. What happened? You look… all beat up."
"Just my usual business. These are just light injuries."
"A broken arm is a light injury?!"
Pro Heroes are built different.
"Just show me to my table, will you?"
Despite Aizawa's antisocial tendencies, he regarded the Hotta brothers as "acquaintances," if not friends. If he felt indebted to Diamond Knight, he must also show some gratitude to Hotta cafe as well. Most of his operations in Naruhata when he worked in the district were based out of their little shop.
"Man, you promised to visit more often… How many years has it been?" Jirou said, guiding Aizawa to a table secluded in a corner.
"I've been busy," the man replied, picking up a cat nonchalantly. "How's the town? From what I heard, the vigilantes and villains are still very much alive and kicking, aren't they?"
"It's so so," Jirou said, handing a menu to Aizawa as the latter took a seat. "I'd rather it doesn't change than getting worse. This is what we call "we have it under control."
"Is the old man still around?" Aizawa asked, petting the kitty. "Stubborn as ever, I bet."
"Yep, and he's got new sidekicks now. He'll never change," Jirou laughed.
Just then, the doorbell chimed again, indicating another customer had arrived. Jirou attentively looked over at the entrance.
"Oh, what a coincidence, he's here."
Aizawa took a glance at the door with mild interest. "Hmm."
The new guest was a tall, skinny young man with wild spiky turquoise hair, wearing a perpetually annoyed expression. He scanned the cafe for a moment until he spotted Aizawa and headed over to the table.
"Yo, old man," he said, sliding into the seat across from Aizawa. "Woah, you are all beat up."
"These are light injuries," Aizawa gave the same answer.
Jirou looked between the two. "You two know each other?"
"I got his contact details from the detective (Tsukauchi)," Aizawa explained. "I'll have my usual."
"Didn't your taste change in years?" Jirou commented. "How admirable."
"I just like the coffee you guys make."
Aizawa's unexpected confession made Jirou skip a heartbeat. Comically, yes.
"Green tea for me," the young man added. "Let's get straight to the business, because I have a date arrangement after this."
Aizawa raised an eyebrow. Jirou chuckled, saying, "Oh, yeah, he's dating the old man's daughter, haha."
"You didn't need to mention that!" The young man growled impatiently. "Just hurry up with the drinks."
"Okay, okay, I'm gonna need to tell my brother about Eraserhead, though."
Jirou swiftly walked to the counter. Soon a man who resembled Jirou, except for his reflectively bald head, came out.
"Congratulations, I guess," Aizawa chuckled, almost mockingly. "That aside, Kugisaki, I have a few questions I need to ask you."
"Just get it over with!" Kugisaki snapped.
Kugisaki Souga, 28, Quirk: Spike. He's the new sidekick to the "old man" mentioned by the waiter. Formerly a delinquent, then a villain; currently one of the Naruhata's "guarddogs" — in other words, a vigilante.
My bad. Kugisaki is only 2 years younger than Aizawa, but the latter looked much older due to his characteristic fatigue and gloom.
"Hmm, you remember the incident five years ago, right?" Aizawa asked, his expression steady. "Did you have a dinosaur-like buddy that helped the Crawler?"
Unnoticed by the duo, Kayama Nemuri crouched behind a nearby chair, eavesdropping. Her curiosity had gotten the better of her, wondering what could possibly have drawn the gloomy high school teacher out here.
"Dinosaur? What are you talking about?" Kugisaki replied, frowning.
"During the big fight against the villain. I saw him with my eyes… A large dinosaur-like man, with a tail, too. He clapped his hands together and made a massive shockwave."
Kugisaki thought for a moment before responding. "Oh, I remember you talking about it back then. No, I wasn't even on the battlefield."
"I didn't get a chance to ask the Crawler afterward," Aizawa said. "Did he ever say anything about it?"
"No, never heard of it from anyone else. You sure you weren't hallucinating?"
"I wish I were…" Aizawa looked disappointed. "Actually, one of my—"
"Yo, Eraserhead, you could've given us a call if you're coming!" The bald Hotta brother appeared with the drinks. "Here's your coffee… and tea. What are you guys talking about, anyway? You both look so serious."
"This is the face I was born with," Kugisaki retorted. "Mister Eraserhead here is reminiscing about that battle five years ago."
Aizawa gave the coffee a stir and looked up at the bald waiter, Hotta Ichirou. Jirou and Ichirou were identical twin brothers, the only distinguishing feature being Ichirou's bald head.
"You guys were away from the fight back then, too, right? Then there's no use asking you."
"Oi, that's rude," Ichirou said, annoyed. "Back then, you got all the information about Naruhata criminals from us! Show some gratitude, man."
"Is that so? Then, have you ever heard anything about vigilantes from Musutafu?"
"Musutafu vigilantes?" Ichirou repeated, scratching his head. "Never heard of any. It's mostly hero agencies around there, right?"
"Yeah, U.A. High and some big-name heroes," Kugisaki added, sipping his green tea.
Aizawa nodded thoughtfully. "I see."
So none of his underworld resources seemed to know about it at all. This makes things difficult.
He took another sip of his coffee, contemplating his next question. Kayama, still eavesdropping discreetly, leaned in closer to catch every word.
"This is confidential information. There was this incident at my workplace a while back," Aizawa continued casually. "Someone named Diamond Knight claimed to be a vigilante from Musutafu."
Ichirou and Kugisaki exchanged puzzled looks before shaking their heads simultaneously.
"Nope, never heard of any Diamond Knight," Ichirou replied.
"Yeah, doesn't ring a bell," Kugisaki added, furrowing his brows in thought.
Aizawa sighed inwardly, realizing it might have been a long shot. This was the second time unknown vigilantes had slipped through his fingers, leaving no trace behind. There were no records of them whatsoever.
For a moment, one of his students came to his mind. He was fairly certain the dinosaur-like figure was Ben Tennyson. Okay, that's one case done. As long as Ben became a licensed hero of the overworld, Aizawa didn't need to pursue the case. But that kid could transform into some weird monsters…
No, he didn't want to draw conclusions. But it would be irrational of him to dismiss the possibility that Diamond Knight might be Ben Tennyson. Aizawa could only speculate for now, lacking the evidence to confirm his theory.
On second thought, he could just leave it be. He never was interested in some vigilantes anyway.
"Well, if you do hear anything, let me know," Aizawa said, finishing his coffee.
"Sure thing, Eraserhead," Ichirou said with a nod.
Aizawa pushed his empty cup aside and stood up, adjusting his sling. "I've got to get going. Thanks for the drink."
"No problem," Ichirou replied. "Take care, old man."
Kugisaki took a look, seeing he had some time before the date with Tamao-chan. He took a sip of his tea and then glanced over at Kayama who had been spying on Aizawa since he arrived. But he didn't say anything.
He took out his smartphone and quickly dialed a number.
"Hello, yeah, it's me, Soga… Like you'd said, Aizawa just came and asked us about it… Yeah, I'm just returning the favor for what you did for Haiwamari."
Ichiro walked away with an absentminded expression.
As Aizawa made his way outside, lost in his thoughts, he collided shoulders with a towering, muscular man. The man, a normal-looking salaryman on the surface with short dark hair, thick eyebrows, heavy stubble except for a prominent scar running diagonally down his left cheek, immediately apologized. His voice was almost gentle and polite — a typical Japanese man.
"Sorry about that," the man said gruffly, adjusting his briefcase.
Aizawa paused, feeling a flicker of recognition as he glanced at the man's scarred face. There was something familiar about him, but Aizawa dismissed it as unimportant.
"No problem," Aizawa muttered, continuing on his way.
Unbeknownst to him, the man he had just brushed shoulders with was none other than the infamous Knuckleduster — the night vigilante of Naruhata, known for his relentless pursuit of justice and his fearsome reputation among the townspeople.
As Aizawa walked away, Knuckleduster watched him go with a thoughtful expression. He then adjusted his tie and continued on his own path through the bustling streets of Naruhata, where shadows concealed both heroes and those who fought in the dark.
- [ Transition ] -
The day after the U.S.J. incident, U.A. closed the school for Hero Course Class 1-A to allow time for investigations and necessary follow-up actions. But it was more than a nice break for our protagonist.
The five-course French dinner Ben served the previous eve garnered naught but effulgent five-star accolades from the entire Yaoyorozu household. Yea, even the head chef and the scullery maids, seasoned in their craft, marveled at his culinary prowess. That wasn't unexpected, but it was certain that it would put Ben in a good mood for easily a week or two.
"Are you still mad?"
The Yaoyorozu's daughter was elegantly dignified and pridefully cool-headed for the most part, but knowing her normally unseen side, Ben Tennyson had understood how much of a pain she was to deal with should she start sulking.
They had even shared the same ride to school this morning and yet…
"I'm not," Momo asserted firmly, trying to quicken her pace.
"But you're running away," the brunet followed closely behind.
"I'm not."
"Is that so?" He furrowed his brows. "If you keep doing that, I won't make you that dessert from yesterday again. Your kitchen staff doesn't know the recipe either."
Those words struck Momo right in the sweet spot. A dessert? Did he think he could win over the "princess" with sweets?
Momo shot a disgusted look at Ben. She hated to admit it, but her butler was unexpectedly good—
"Hey, did someone mention desserts?" Their classmate, Sato Rikido, suddenly appeared! Accompanied by some of the gang.
Sato was a massive guy with a muscular and broad build, while not being as tall as the likes of Shoji Mezo. His defining features included huge, thick lips and short, spiked brown hair.
From Ben's prior research, Sato's quirk is called Sugar Rush — which allows him to increase his strength multiple-timefold for a few minutes by consuming a certain amount of sugar.
"You two seem close," Aoyama commented with an inscrutable smile. "Oh my, I'm jealous. Friends with a beautiful girl! Or is it something more—"
"Dude, that's over the line," Sero cut in. "Morning, you guys."
Aoyama looked like he was going to shrink.
"Good Morning," Ben greeted back warmly, then quickly offered a prepared explanation to the trio. "You can say I'm family friends with Yaoyorozu-san, haha. We've known each other forever…"
He had told Ashido before that their parents were good friends. Given Momo's status as a wealthy princess, it wouldn't be out of place for her to have foreign friends. She sighed in relief and returned the greeting.
"Good Morning. That's what he said," she confirmed.
"Are you interested in making desserts, Tennyson-san?" Sato asked with a hint of excitement, then cut himself off. "Actually, I… sorry, never mind. The bell's gonna ring. Let's go, guys."
"Um, okay… You can call me Ben."
And so Sato led the group to the classroom.
Sato was indeed a huge dessert enthusiast. Given his quirk, his biology seeks sugary food and sweet snacks so he made himself familiar with preparing desserts and sweets as well as baking cakes. Yet at the same time, he seemed oddly embarrassed to discuss his hobby with his classmates.
When they arrived at the classroom, there were already a few people inside, including Todoroki Shoto.
"Hey… Morning," Ben casually greeted him, standing before his desk. Todoroki didn't give much of a reaction and turned his attention back to the workbooks he was reading.
Momo wondered for a moment if Ben had turned to bullying the quiet kids.
Midoriya Izuku, on the other hand, thought Ben was going to cry himself from humiliation, so he jumped in to save the situation.
"Good morning, Ben-kun!"
"Yeah, what a good morning, Midoriya-kun," the brunet said before taking his seat.
As the students settled in, Aizawa Shota entered the classroom with his usual air of nonchalance, though his presence commanded immediate attention. It seemed most of his injuries had healed, except for his broken arm, which he supported with arm slings.
"Good morning, Class 1-A," he began, his gaze sweeping across the room. "I trust you've all had a chance to recover from the day before yesterday..."
The teacher paused, letting the gravity of their recent battle sink in before continuing.
"Wow, Aizawa-sensei, are you okay?!" Midoriya asked with concern.
"For the most part, there's no problem," Aizawa replied, his voice characteristically flat. "This is just a broken arm. The injury isn't that bad, but they wanted me to wear this for the time being…"
To be frank, he would have to thank that Diamond Knight vigilante dude. In the wild and wacky multiverse, perhaps somewhere out there, poor Aizawa might have been beaten so badly he ended up mummified in bandages, more of a horror show than a stern teacher.
"Well, you all are fine, too, right? Let's get started with the homeroom," he declared. "The thing with the villains aside, your battles aren't over yet."
"Eh? Wait, more villains?!" Mineta squeaked, eyes wide.
"More fighting, huh…" Ojiro mused, remembering how he had to fight the villains all by himself alone in the ruins of flames.
It was kinda impressive he stood ground against all that, given his quirk. It was more about skills than gifts, perhaps.
"I'm not scared of them if they come back," Kaminari boasted. "We could handle that level of small fries—"
"Wasn't it Ben who helped you guys?" Kirishima pointed out. "They were small fries, indeed."
"Yeah," Kaminari sounded deflated. "I'm more scared of Ben… Specifically, that tigerman dude of his."
"Uh, haha, sorry about that, Kaminari-kun," Ben apologized. "Rath had no ill feelings."
"I doubt it," Jiro commented, siding with Kaminari.
"Grrr! Bring them on!" Bakugou growled, fists clenched. "I will roast all their butts! Every last one of them!"
The homeroom teacher watched in silence before clearing his throat to regain their attention.
"Ahem. Be grateful it's not about villains this time," he said, his voice cutting through the chatter. "We're going to have our annual Sports Festival."
A moment of stunned silence ensued before the room erupted into excited chatter, like water gushing out of a broken dam.
"Sports Festival!?" "It's a normal school activity!"
"Keep forgetting that this is an actual school!"
It wasn't new information to Ben who did some spying beforehand, but it was no less surprising that U.A. wanted to push with the festival after what happened in U.S.J. What is the school board thinking…
"Since we're going ahead with the festival," Aizawa explained. "It means that the school is confident it has all its ducks in a row when it comes to its crisis control now. I hear police presence will be five times bigger than normal, for example."
So they really upped their game.
"What you should be thinking about is… What a huge chance the Academy's Sports Festival presents for you all. This isn't some event that'll be brought to a halt by the likes of villains."
"It's just an athletic festival," Mineta commented. "But well, we have Ben."
Oi, are you reliant on me already? Ben gulped, earning giggles from Momo.
"Mineta-kun, have you never seen the U.A. Sports Fest!?" Midoriya sounded surprised.
"Of course I have! That's not it at all—"
"Our sports festival is one of Japan's biggest events," Aizawa added. "In days past, the "Olympics" was the sports festivity that whipped all the nations into a froth of enthusiasm. But now, as you know, the extent and population have shrunk and it's lost a lot of substance. So what has taken the place of the Olympics in Japan is the U.A. Sports Festival."
"The country's top heroes are all sure to be watching us," Momo added, making Mineta shrink. "It's because they'll be scouting for us!"
"What a nerd, heheh…" Ben whispered to Momo, unnoticed by anyone else. Momo glared back at him, looking all annoyed.
Though he cracked a joke, deep inside he was worried. No, not about his Ojou.
He wholeheartedly wanted to participate in this event. Showing off isn't his style — and he'd hate to be the center of attention as it was obvious he would be the flashiest player if he joined. He could hold back his powers for the sake of it? No, Ben denied those thoughts. He never was the type to step down when it came to the challenge.
Just in case, he took a mental note to inform Tony about it.
"I'm thinking of joining a Pro Hero's squad after graduating," Kaminari said to Jiro, who sat next to him. "And becoming a sidekick, ya know."
"But there are loads of people who get stuck as sidekicks forever," Jiro pointed out quite harshly. "And miss their chance to break out as solo heroes. And you seem like that kind of dumbass, Kaminari-san."
The electric blond boy gasped in response, getting hit in the face with reality.
"Naturally…" Aizawa-sensei interrupted. "Entering a famous Hero's team will get you a higher status and more valuable experience. Also remember that time is limited. If you get noticed by a Pro Hero, that gives you a brighter future than otherwise."
Ben didn't have anything to worry about going Pro either. He could just go back to Stark Heroics and join them as an official hero after graduating — that is, if the thought of stationing in Japan never occurred to him. But it's still too early to make a decision.
At any rate, any offer from a Pro Hero would definitely boost his ego as well.
"This is the chance you'll only get once a year… For a total of three chances! If you aim to be a hero, this is an event you can't overlook."
- [ Transition ] -
"Now I feel like the tension's flying sky high!"
It was Kirishima Eijiro who couldn't help shouting, his eyes gleaming with fervor.
"If we put in effort and stand out a pro, it'll be a giant leap forward!"
The students were uncontrollable, especially most of the boys. The much-awaited lunch break had arrived, and hey, the classroom buzzed with an electric anticipation, the air thick with excitement, as they all looked forward to the Sports Fest.
"Even I'm feeling excited…" Ben muttered, watching the noisy, energetic class.
Dreams, huh… He wasn't sure if he had anything that could be called a dream. But he could feel their passion reaching out.
"Good for you," Momo said, looking more serious than ever. "... but there's no room for complacency when everyone's giving it their all."
"That means you won't get it easy either."
"... I'll hate you if you underestimate me," she said, backed with all her courage.
What are you thinking, Ojou-sama? That, Ben knew. It was so in character of her to say that.
"I would never dare, Yaoyorozu-san," the brunet said, pulling up his bag to take out the bento. "I've known you long enough."
That said, it wasn't like he could go all out and risk his mistress getting injured. And in the power department, he wasn't alone among the class.
The spiky-head who's currently glaring at everyone and mumbling inaudible curse words — Bakugou Katsuki. Class 1-A's unpredictable hidden beast — Midoriya Izuku. The Endeavor's kid who freezes — Todoroki Shoto.
And there also was Class 1-B, their main rivals who weren't to be underestimated. Ben couldn't help getting worried for his mistress.
"Oh, I'm going to go have lunch, so…"
As he stood to leave, lunchbox in hand, he glanced back at Momo. Her eyes were distant, lost in thought. She was always pushing herself, always striving for perfection. It was something Ben respected deeply, even if he didn't always understand it.
As he saw his exit, Momo watched his back in silence, filled with a lot of thinking underneath.
Yaoyorozu Momo was a normal teenage girl, except for maybe her upbringing and her family. And maybe her exceptional beauty if that counts. While her family wasn't particularly strict, she had her own status to look back on every action. Her honesty and upright nature often came across as brutal.
But it wasn't as if she didn't envy Ben sometimes.
The boy is free-spirited, sincere and unbound (by rules). He has one of the most powerful Meta Abilities she had ever seen. He had the chance to befriend and interact with some of the most influential people in American Quirk Society without needing a social status like hers. In those departments, Ben Tennyson was her polar opposite.
"Wait, Uraraka-san!" Midoriya shouted, chasing after Uraraka Ochako who was leaving the classroom, followed by a curious Iida Tenya.
"Let me join you guys as well."
Meanwhile the American brunet kid had slipped away to the rooftop.
Pfft.
The wealthy daughter had always been incredibly ambitious. For half her life, no, for who knows how long, she trained relentlessly, pushed herself to the limits and did it over and over again. People would often praise her quirk, Creation, calling it "God-like." I mean, the ability to conjure objects out of thin air? It seemed like an unstoppable power. But the sacrifice and blood and sweat shedded behind the scenes were usually ignored.
She envied Ben.
That carefree little soul, she wanted to know more about him. She had always been absorbed in her hard work, making herself the best version of her, and in the end she came to believe she must've made a lot of bad decisions, too. Her relentless pursuit of perfection often left her feeling isolated.
That's also why Ben Tennyson became someone she could be proud of. Despite all the praise for her quirk, she had long realized she might never reach the top alone.
But at the very least, she wanted to be part of it as someone who pushed Ben.
And her pride would be hurt really bad if he didn't give it his best. She wanted to share with the world that this kid, Ben Tennyson, was the most powerful they had ever seen. Or at least that was what Yaoyorozu Momo-sama believed.
"You're here again," Aizawa-sensei muttered as he stepped onto the rooftop, his gaze settling on Ben, who was seated alone, enjoying his lunch. The midday sun cast a warm glow over the scene, but Aizawa's expression remained as stoic as ever. "I did say the Hero Course wasn't a place to make friends. But you need to socialize."
Ben looked up, his cheeks puffed out with a mouthful of food. He quickly swallowed, giving his teacher a casual shrug.
"I'm doing fine," he said, his voice slightly muffled by his meal. "I just like to enjoy my lunch alone up here."
Aizawa glanced at Ben's somewhat extravagant bento box. From what he recalled, the kid used to live alone in Musutafu and had some part-time jobs. But he wasn't struggling financially by any means as from the looks of it, the Starks Heroics had been providing him with financial support. Recently, however, Ben had moved into the Yaoyorozu household for some reason.
Aizawa wasn't the type to pry into personal matters but he couldn't help but wonder what kind of relationship Tennyson and Yaoyorozu had.
"As long as you don't make it a pain to clean up," the teacher said, his tone softening slightly as he adjusted the sling supporting his arm. He moved to sit down, leaning his back against the wall and closing his eyes momentarily.
This rooftop was also filled with memories of Aizawa Shota's student life. He could clearly remember the days when he, Yamada (Present Mic) and one other friend had hung out here as students. And then the upperclassman Kayama-san (Midnight) joined their little circle.
"Then I'll get going," Ben said, breaking the silence.
Aizawa opened his eyes, watching as Ben made his way to the door. As it closed behind him with a soft click, Aizawa let out a sigh of relief.
"I'm a teacher now," he murmured to himself. "I shouldn't overthink too much."
- [ Transition ] -
"Yaoyorozu-san, let's go somewhere after school."
Yaoyorozu Momo had noticed Ben had been above cloud nine recently, for some reason she couldn't figure out. But she certainly didn't expect he would be so bold as to invite her out on an after-school date. If she were any other girl, this playboy could've made her heart skip a beat.
"I'll treat you," he added casually.
Not that it mattered. Yaoyorozu Momo was crazy rich and it wouldn't be exaggerated! Though she only had about twenty thousand yen in her pocket at the time.
"Sure—"
"Are you guys going out on a date? Whoa…" Kaminari, overhearing the conversation, looked flustered although he wasn't any part of it.
"No," Ben denied, inadvertently shooting a bullet through Momo's heart. "Oh, if you wanna join us, feel free to. I'm just in the mood to have dinner outside today."
The game changed and Kaminari suddenly became part of it. Disappointed, Jiro kicked him in the leg.
"Ow, what, why?!" Kaminari yelped in pain.
"Jiro-san, wanna join us, too?"
Ben asked, his sincerity so strong and crystal clear that Jiro thought she might fall for Ben if this was a different situation. But now she could almost puke blood seeing Momo's cold, stoic glare directed at Ben's back.
"No, I've got things to do," Jiro said nonchalantly. "And I will drag this moron away, too, so you two have fun!"
With that, Kaminari was quickly snatched away without knowing what was going on.
"Is that so? Then Yaoyorozu-san…"
"Whoa, what the heck!"
Uraraka at the door exclaimed in surprise, interrupting Ben's grand invitation moment. Everyone else turned their gazes at the doorway and could only feel the same surprise.
"Whoa, whoa, what's going on?" Ben said, immediately standing up from his seat. "What a big crowd…"
"That's too many people," Momo remarked. "Must be here to check us out."
"Eh, the Sports Fest. It makes sense they would be curious."
"It's not just curiosity, you know," Momo corrected him. "I figure they'd even think of us as rivals. We're something of a celebrity class now after what happened in the U.S.J."
"Hmm. But no need to worry."
"It's pointless to try, so why don't you just fuck off, ya goddamn mob?!"
As expected of Bakugou Katsuki. The explosion kid was already handling it quite well. Ben would've given him points for that.
"Heh, this is getting interesting," Ben chuckled, slinging his backpack over his shoulder.
"Hey, don't think of doing anything stupid," Momo followed suit, with the intent of stopping him.
"No, I won't," he replied, but the mischievous smirk on his face suggested otherwise.
"I came to see what you kids are made of," a voice interjected from the crowd, stepping forward. "But I didn't expect such arrogance. Is this how all Hero Course students behave?"
Someone with indigo-colored hair and dark eye bags under his eyes. His name was Shinso Hitoshi. There weren't many students outside the Hero Course that Ben would take note of, but Shinso was one of them that he would be wary of.
"Huuhhh!" Bakugou growled, clearly irritated.
"Many end up in General Studies or other departments after failing the Heroic entrance exam," Shinso explained calmly. "Based on the sports festival results, students can even be considered for transfers into Heroics, or vice versa."
"Things are heating up," Momo observed. She was more concerned with Ben the partycrasher, really.
"I don't know who's scarier," Mineta muttered.
"So hey, why don't I try pulling the rug out from under those Heroics kids while they're high on their horse? Consider it a declaration of war…"
"I understand your sentiment, but young man…"
A deep voice resonated through the crowd, causing everyone to cringe. Inside the classroom, a massive shadow loomed larger and larger until it matched the height of the door. Even Shinso, who tried to stay calm and collected, at least flinched as he stared at the giant.
A dragon? No, it's a dinosaur with a massive muscled body… How was this beast in Class 1-A?! They didn't hear about it at all!
"... Would you mind making a way for us? Or would you like to declare war right at my face?"
Heck, the guy was even taller than the door so he had to stoop to talk to the group, towering over them.
Momo facepalmed while Mineta stifled a laugh behind his hand because the sight of other classes immediately gawking in astonishment at Ben's massive Humungousaur form was just too funny. The sheer size of Humungousaur dwarfed everyone around him, leaving students from other classes with their jaws dropped and eyes wide.
"Oi, we don't need your interference, green-eye," Bakugou said, though he didn't sound as mad as before.
Also, green-eye… Was that meant to be an insult?
"No, I just genuinely need to go home…" Humungousaur said and turned back at the crowd, showing his backpack, which was small in comparison to his massive hand. "So, what's it going to be, folks? Just to clarify, I'm the top scorer among those who entered through recommendations. I'm all up for the fun."
As if the situation wasn't intense already. Ben only added fuel to the fire.
"Also, if you came to check us out, you've seen enough of me, right?" Humungousaur added. "So isn't it fair you let me go home already?"
"How selfish!" Iida exclaimed.
"He's trying to escape alone," Kirishima said. "That's not very manly, Ben."
"I have a date after this," Humungousaur whispered back to his class. "Come on…"
If not for emotional regulation, Yaoyorozu Momo's face could grow beet red. But deep down, knowing Ben, it was just giving an excuse to get away instead of planning to go on an actual date with her.
"Now that's a manly reason," Kirishima corrected himself. "Go for it, dude."
"You changed sides too fast!" Iida remarked.
Bakugou looked back at Humungousaur, his expression a mix of disbelief and anger.
"To continue where I left off," the dinosaur rumbled, turning his attention back at the crowd outside the classroom. "I get what you mean, totally. You're frustrated, feeling overlooked. But causing trouble here won't solve anything."
He leaned down slightly, making eye contact with Shinso. "I know it's tough not being in the Hero Course, but you have your own strengths. Don't waste them on petty confrontations."
Shinso held his ground, though the slight tremor in his stance betrayed his nerves. "And what do you suggest we do instead? Just accept it and move on?"
Humungousaur shook his massive head. "No, I suggest you prove them wrong. Show them what you're made of through your actions, not through pointless taunts. Gain respect by being better, not by dragging others down."
The crowd murmured among themselves, the tension slowly dissipating. Bakugou huffed, crossing his arms. "Tch, preachy much?"
Humungousaur glanced back at him with a knowing smirk. "Just trying to keep the peace, Bakugou-kun. Not everyone enjoys blowing things up as much as you do."
With the crowd dispersed, a single person remained standing. A young man — from his uniform seems to be a hero course student — with white hair and jagged eyelashes around his eyes. Ben recognized him as Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu, a student from Class 1-B.
"What do you want?" Humungousaur asked softly as he had no reason to intimidate Tetsutetsu. The student observed the jaggs and tough bony structures on the dinosaur man's outer skin before recollecting himself.
"Ah, man, your speech was awesome!" He said, his tone almost resembling Kirishima.
"Thank you?"
"I'm from Class 1-B," he added. "I just want to say you guys better not embarrass us during the main event! That's all!"
And the guy quickly retreated and ran back to wherever his class was. Ben then turned back to his human form and shrugged at Bakugou.
"Now everything's resolved, right?" He said. "What matters is who sits at the top in the competition, not to pick up fights. I'm sure you feel the same."
"Tsk..." Bakugou scoffed, slinging his backpack over his shoulder before storming out of the room.
Class 1-A remained silent, each member preoccupied with their own thoughts as they prepared to head home. In the end, Ben didn't get to properly invite Momo out, but it seemed he had already dismissed it already, much to the girl's double disappointment.
- [ Transition ] -
Today was the day of the Grand Event — the U.A. Sports Festival.
"Denwa ga Kita! Denwa ga Kita! Denwa ga Kiii—"
(The phone call is here! — All Might's phone ringtone)
Near the entrance of the colossal stadium, where Year 1 students were set to compete, stood a tall, slender man in a black well-made suit. His floppy, wavy blond hair framed his anxious face as his phone rang with a peculiar ringtone, drawing curious glances from the crowd around him. He quickly answered.
"Hey, man, where are you!?" Present Mic's voice blared through the phone. "The event's gonna start! You're our appetizer!"
Yagi Toshinori winced at Present Mic's bluntness. Mic couldn't make it clearer about how important Yagi-san was to the event.
"Ah, no, I'm to receive some guests at the gate," Yagi replied, his tone humble and polite. "The Principal assigned me to this mission for some reason."
"What's he thinking… Who are these special guests that need you of all people to greet them?"
"They— Oh, they're here. I'll be there as soon as I can, Yamada-kun."
And so Yagi Toshinori hung up. Present Mic exchanged uneasy glances with Midnight, who was going to be the host of the event. Mic himself, alongside his good friend Eraserhead, were to be commentators. But the opening act would be delayed if All Might didn't appear in time, as the media was the most interested in the Symbol of Peace who freshly became a teacher at the academy.
As Yagi waited, two individuals approached him from opposite directions. Their extravagant outfits caught everyone's attention, but it was the mutual hostility in their eyes as they exchanged glares that truly stood out.
"You are… Tsukauchi's sister, right?" Yagi asked, handing a business card to the attractive woman wearing a visor that covered her eyes. "I'm Yagi Toshinori, representing All Might's Agency."
"Thank you for going to the trouble of arranging the special ticket, Yagi-san," the woman replied, glancing briefly at the businessman beside her.
"No trouble at all," Yagi assured her. "Tsukauchi-kun has been incredibly helpful to me. It's also a surprise to see you here, Tony. I thought you weren't much of a fan of games."
Anthony Edward Stark, the businessman in question, smiled uneasily and leaned in to Yagi, whispering:
"Oi, Toshinori, you look pretty bad," with a distinct foreign accent, his expression shifting as fast as he spoke. "Are you even eating well?"
"I'm doing fine, thanks," Yagi said, pushing Tony away. "Let's chat as we go in. Come, Tsukauchi's sister, too."
From the looks of it, Tony and Yagi seemed to be old, close friends. But Tsukauchi Makoto wasn't just any ordinary woman. She was so capable and quick-minded that she became the manager of one of the (former) top heroes of America before finishing her college!
That's right. If Tony was a successful businessman, Makoto was a powerful negotiator.
"Oh, almost forgot it," Tsukauchi's sister interjected, pulling out her own card and handing it to Yagi.
Makoto Tsukauchi — General Manager, CC Corporation.
Tony glanced at the card in Yagi's hand casually, pretending indifference. "If I may, what is the representative of CCC doing here?"
His Japanese wasn't flawless but fluent. After all, he only learned the language in a few days with the help of his quirk.
Quirk: Brain Specs. — An incredibly powered brain that could process information and put out hypothetical experiments within a record-breaking short period of time. And hell yeah, Tony was also an incredible judge of character, and hence, knew right away why Ms Tsukauchi here came all the way from America.
And he was right, much to his annoyance.
"We're interested in a particular American student," Makoto Tsukauchi stated bluntly, a hint of personal challenge in her voice. "Our Corporation believes we can nurture him into becoming the world's greatest hero."
After all, there was no point in hiding her motives because she knew Tony had already figured it out, way before she even revealed who she was.
"And if the kid's already affiliated with another agency?" Tony countered.
"Last I checked, he's not officially with Stark Heroics anymore," Makoto retorted.
"The possibility is he'd rejoin his old agency, of course!" Tony argued.
"Not if I convince him that joining CCC is the better move!" Makoto barked back.
At this point, it was quite clear why these two wanted to see the Sports Festival by their own eyes rather than watching it on video media. Yagi sweatdropped, foreseeing the two were going to engage in a heated fight.
It was especially immature of Tony, considering he was double her age.
"Okay, okay, please keep your manners civil and follow me," Yagi said, sighing impatiently. "I have other important matters to attend to."
"Wait!" Makoto suddenly grabbed Tony's hand. "Mr Stark, so are you trying to recruit Ben Tennyson back into your company after graduation?"
Tony blinked, surprised by Makoto's boldness. Even he didn't reckon it, but he knew it was something else. Peerless confidence truly is a privilege for certain people.
"So what if I am?" he replied candidly. "I could let him grow as much as Skyline thinks he could."
He meant the CEO of CCC — Captain Celebrity, his civilian identity being Christopher Skyline.
"But if that's your plan, there's no reason to send him to Japan, right?" Makoto pressed. "There must be more to it…"
The look in Makoto's eyes suddenly seemed different. Yagi Toshinori could only wonder how he would break these two up.
In contrast, Tony Stark remained completely composed and unfazed.
"Even if I have my own reasons… Even if we have our own reasons, CCC and the world have nothing to worry about."
His voice was clear, resolute, and filled with conviction. Makoto, for some reason, felt satisfied with his answer and found herself unexpectedly reassured.
"I see your commitment," Makoto said, releasing his hand. "But we're not backing down. We'll see Ben Tennyson recruited into our team."
"I'll be calling Skyline to have you learn some manners," Tony retorted.
Well, in the battle between the geniuses, there's always something going on behind the scenes. An underlying game of the brains, that is.
Tsukauchi Makoto, 28, Quirk: Polygraph — the ability to detect lies through skin contact.
This was something Tony didn't know, but whatever he said was pure truth, if not poetic. Or, perhaps he was too arrogant and self-absorbed to even tell a lie. Makoto thought of asking for more confirmations about it, but decided to trust the judgment of someone deemed to be the biggest brain of the heroics.
"So you guys have reached a temporary truce," Yagi commented nonchalantly.
All Might was undoubtedly the star of the show, but the media's attention was also riveted on a particular class—Class 1-A, which had recently survived a terrorist attack. In fact, many eyes from the entire school were set on them fiercely.
The students of the class in question were already in the locker rooms, changing into their respective gym uniforms. Hero costumes were not allowed for the sake of fairness, but hey, that made sense.
"Oh, man, I'm so nervous right now."
Kaminari confessed, his hand pressed against his chest as if trying to steady his racing heart. Ben grinned at his comment while tying the laces of his sneakers.
"Yeah, shit, this is so exciting!" Kirishima agreed, clenching his fist.
"Exciting is an understatement, my guy," Ben said, standing up and stretching his arms. "Well, give it your best, you all."
Kaminari glanced at him. "You seem pretty calm compared to us. How do you deal with it?"
In fact, Ben Tennyson was so excited he could sing a duet with Billie Eilish. But he could settle with singing a duet with Yaoyorozu Momo instead.
"Um, it's hard to say…"
"Oh, something's going on in the corner," Kirishima interjected, his eyes narrowing with concern. "They better not be fighting."
Kaminari and Ben turned their gazes toward the corner where Midoriya was being confronted by Todoroki for some reason.
"I believe I'm above you in terms of practical strength," Todoroki's voice was stern and serious, in fact as usual, but it surprised Midoriya. His words were also awfully straightforward even if it was truth.
Todoroki wasn't someone he had conversed with much.
"Um, yeah…" Midoriya stuttered, his eyes wide with confusion.
"Even then… All Might has his eyes on you, doesn't he?"
Oh, that… Ben swallowed his chuckle. I see where he's coming from, but All Might has his own reasons and so does Midoriya.
"Remember, I'm going to beat you," Todoroki declared.
"This guy…" Kirishima muttered, standing up to intervene.
But Ben was already at the scene, stepping between the two.
"I see where you're coming from, Todoroki-kun," he said, cupping his chin. "But All Might doesn't have his eyes on Midoriya because he's the strongest, you know… There's no point in beating Midoriya-kun if you can't come to terms with yourself."
It wasn't even a question that Midoriya wasn't the strongest. And Ben was there, someone who defeated Todoroki. Everyone staring at the quarrel also knew that.
"It's none of your business. Stay out of this," Todoroki said, walking away.
At that moment, the door swung open.
"Attention, everyone!" Iida Tenya's loud announcement echoed through the locker hall. "If you're done, let's go! We need to set an example as Hero Course students! — oh, what… What's going on here?"
"I don't know what you were thinking when you said that, Todoroki-kun," Midoriya said, breaking the brief pause. "But of course, you're better than me. I think you're more capable than most people… Looking at it objectively. You, too… Ben-kun…"
"Don't lump me together with him," Ben retorted, sliding his hands into his pockets. "Listen here, Midoriya. The idea of this world of heroes is only possible because we all rely on each other. It wouldn't have been possible if we all had just relied on one person who has the greatest power. It's not a simple competition."
"Are you always like that?" Midoriya asked, his tone suddenly shifting.
"Huh?" Ben blinked, caught off guard.
"I've always felt like we're worlds apart when it comes to heroism and philosophy. So I guess the western ideology is different from the eastern—"
"Okay, stop! It's good that you returned to your normal nerd self, but no, what I said are not ideologies. They're mere facts."
"But the way you think—"
"The way I think isn't that important," Ben cut him off. "The way you think is more important. Treat yourself better… I believe you already have it in you that will make you a good hero."
There he goes again with things that only he can understand… Momo facepalmed. What a motivational speech, dumbass.
"Thanks for breaking this up, Ben-kun," Iida spoke up. "It's time to go, everyone."
Each with their own thoughts… Everyone was interrupted.
"Yeah, let's show them what we're made of!" Kirishima cheered, which everyone agreed with.
The Class 1-A marched out of the room in unison, without a single chatter. They all were undoubtedly nervous, but the burning spirit between us helped them overcome it.
Ben chuckled at his own childish imagination and followed closely behind.
"Hey! Pay attention, everyone! The high school rodeo of adolescence you all love—the U.A. Sports Festival—is about to begin! Are you ready?!"
Present Mic's fierce and booming announcement sent waves of excitement through the packed stadium. The crowd erupted in a chaotic yet unified cheer, all eyes fixed on the entrance where the participants would soon emerge.
"The miraculous new stars who overcame enemy attacks with hearts of steel! Hero Course's Class 1-A is here!"
With Mic's announcement, Class 1-A marched onto the field, Ben Tennyson taking his usual spot at the end of the group.
"Next, the second Hero Class! Hero Course's Class 1-B!"
Class 1-B emerged from another entrance, greeted by the same fervent applause.
"And now, the General Course: Classes C, D, and E! Followed by the Support Course: Classes F, G, and H! All of U.A.'s first years are here now!"
Toshinari Yagi disappeared somewhere, but Tsukauchi Makoto and Tony Stark decided to take two close seats in the special seating area of the audience. Though the two signed a temporary truce, their opinions would either be polar opposites or ironically in complete agreement.
"What's that kid thinking?" Makoto commented, noticing Ben behind others.
"He knows exactly what he's doing," Tony explained with a grin. "He's playing the crowd, making them underestimate him by staying out of the spotlight. And just wait—when he finally shows off his meta ability, they'll be in for a real surprise."
"Now I can see who raised him," Makoto remarked.
"In this world where everyone has superpowers, it's best if we don't judge anyone by their appearance," Tony stated proudly. "That's probably the lesson he wants to give us."
"That one's also from you, right, Mr Stark?" Makoto shook her head. "What did you even teach him?"
"Hmph… let's say, everything about everyone."
The lady rolled her eyes and turned her attention back at the center of the stadium. A stage was set up in the middle of the field, for the "Chief Referee" to oversee the participants and announce the rules.
"Is that really okay?!" Makoto exclaimed as she recognized the referee. "That's the R-rated Heroine Midnight! Her outfit is outrageous, too. Oh my god, this is a high school!"
"What? Why?" Tony said with a grin. "I actually appreciate the sight."
Tony Stark, 55, Quirk: Brain Specs — by enhancing the brain, he can also power up his vision. He couldn't do it consecutively for a long time as his body had deteriorated over the years, but he could strengthen his nerves long enough to "appreciate the sight!"
"I agree," Makoto nonchalantly said, pressing some buttons on her visor to zoom in.
Midnight's heroine costume was undeniably outrageous. She wore a skin-tight leotard that hugged her curves perfectly, layered with a breastless leather bodysuit, paired with black, thigh-high garter stockings—and handcuffs! The only element that seemed out of place was the small red mask around her eyes.
But what made Makoto change her mind was… how gorgeous the heroine looked in that costume! Well, that's just her natural beauty.
"Silence!" Midnight announced. "My tenure here is perfectly on the level! Now let's welcome the Player Representative to the stage! Bakugou Katsuki of Class 1-A!"
Ben let out a quiet yawn in the back of his crowd, watching Bakugou who without a flinch walked up the stairs to the stage and joined the heroine.
"Okay, say something as the player rep, kiddo," Midnight said.
- To be Continued -
Author's notes: Because of the Fanfiction Net Blackout that happened for, like, two days, I decided I would upload to the Wattpad and other platforms. Currently already published on AO3. You will soon find my fanfics on Wattpad under the name Chris Chronos, as well. But the Wattpad version will have its own perks, like the exclusive prologue chapter and image attachments, etc, if you wanna check it out.
One of the main charms about Ben 10 crossover fanfics is interaction and reactions (regarding Ben's seemingly otherworldly transformations). Well, in general, extraterrestrial life forms are otherworldly, indeed. But that's what makes this category unique and exciting.
There are various approaches to that. In this story, the entire thing about Aizawa messing with Ben and digging up his past, even contacting his underworld connections and Naruhata vigilantes… was Aizawa's reaction to Ben's transformations. For the time being, I'll take it easy and write the part in moderation. And character interactions, like Kaminari getting scared of Rath or what Momo actually feels about Ben. Oh, with that said, romance won't be the focus of it until much later. I simply don't have any idea or plan about it.
While this story is a Ben 10 crossover and mainly focuses on Ben Tennyson, I've decided to give it a picture to let people know what is going on in the background. I've said it before: I'm a big fan of Vigilantes. So this isn't just a Ben 10 fanfic, but also my love letter to Vigilantes lol. Maybe a bit too much even.
Thanks for reading and supporting this fic. Please write reviews so I can improve. If you enjoyed the story, consider favoriting or following it. I'll do my best to deliver top-notch content.
You can reach me on Discord at christopherchronos09.
Chris Chronos.