Hosu City. Iida Tenya is under the tutelage of Normal Hero: Manual. Though rather that being here for the hero's tutelage, he's here to hunt down a particular vigilante villain, Stain. The Hero Killer who left his older brother at the brink of death and put him in a hospital bed and left him with permanent disabilities, barely able to walk anymore.
'I can't let this happen! Not while I'm still standing! Not while I'm able!' He thought, his eyes scanning the dim alleyway for any sign of the villain, occasionally glancing over to help Manual with his heroic duties.
Tenya had always been an obedient son. He wasn't the type to go rogue or defy his family's wishes. However, even his strong sense of duty couldn't silence the burning voice inside screaming for revenge. Fear gnawed at his gut whenever he thought about that murderous monster walking free while his brother suffered.
His hunt was cut short when he received a message from Tensei, his hospitalized brother who had been attacked by Stain. Tensei urged him not to seek vengeance, assuring Tenya that he was proud of him. Seeing that message only stoked the fire of anger raging within him at being stopped from doing what felt so necessary.
"Iida-kun?" Manual's concerned voice brought Tenya back to the present.
"What?! What's going on?!" Iida asked, unaware he had zoned out.
"Is everything okay? You just froze up on me," Manual said, eyebrows knitted with worry.
'I'll admit, this complicates things...but I have no choice. I can't run away,' he resolved. "My apologies, sir. But there's something crucial I must attend to," Iida stated firmly.
"Iida-kun! Hey!" Manual called out, but it was too late. Iida had already taken off at top speed down the street, his voice fading into the distance. "Damn it! Tenya-kun!" Manual swore under his breath, frustration pulsing through him.
Unfortunately, the Nomus were also attacking the city along with Stain. Manual's hands were full trying to not only save his fellow heroes, but also evacuate any civilians caught in the crossfire.
"Of course this would happen now..." He muttered through gritted teeth as he raced towards the sounds of battle.
It didn't take long for him to arrive at the heart of the chaos. "Heh? Endeavor?" He murmured in surprise at the sight of the number two hero grappling with a massive Nomu.
Meanwhile, Tenya scoured the shadowy alleyways, finally spotting Stain standing unnervingly still. Without hesitation, Tenya launched himself at the Hero Killer, not giving him a chance to react. Yet Stain's finely-honed instincts allowed him to effortlessly evade Tenya's kick, showcasing his vastly superior experience.
"A student?" Stain scoffed after sizing up Tenya. "You don't belong here, kid. Come back once you've weaned off your mama's tit."
'I won't be intimidated!' Tenya resolved, fury blazing in his eyes. "Stain! The Hero Killer!" He announced, throwing a punch aimed squarely at Stain's jaw. But the villain caught his fist with insulting ease.
"Ah, I see now..." Stain murmured, peering into Tenya's eyes and sensing the pain and hatred burning behind them. "Those eyes...I've seen that look before." He gave a knowing nod. "The eyes of pure loathing. Tell me, child, what is it you hate so deeply?"
"I am Iida Tenya, brother of Ingenium - the hero you crippled!" Tenya shouted, his rage palpable.
"Ingenium? Never heard of him. Though if I injured him, he must not have amounted to much," Stain shrugged dismissively.
Tenya's eyes widened in disbelief. "How dare you! My brother is the most heroic person I know!"
Stain raised an eyebrow. "You said your brother is Ingenium? Ah yes, I recall now. Just another fraudulent 'hero.'"
"Fake hero?" Tenya repeated, disgusted. 'How can he say that about my brother? He doesn't know him! The nerve to call Tensei fake!'
"I don't know why society celebrates him when he's no true hero. Don't you see, boy? Real heroes aren't born - they're forged through courageous deeds," Stain stated coldly.
"Shut up! You're spewing nonsense!" Tenya yelled, throwing another kick that Stain easily caught.
"And it seems you'll grow up to be another sham," Stain sneered before driving the pommel of his katana into Tenya's solar plexus with brutal force.
Even through his armored costume, the blow stole Tenya's breath, dropping him to his knees wheezing.
"I'm not your enemy, child," Stain said dispassionately, licking the blade clean. "But if you insist on interfering, so be it." He kicked Tenya's head, slamming him to the ground with a pained grunt.
"I'm no false hero! And neither is my brother!" Tenya shouted defiantly.
"Oh? Then why didn't you notice the other downed 'hero' over there?" Stain gestured behind him, revealing an unconscious figure in costume crumpled by the dumpster.
'I didn't even see him! That just proves I need to make Stain pay!' Tenya's jaw clenched.
"I see now." Stain observed him with disdain. "You're just like the rest - blinded by selfish desires and lacking a true hero's spirit." He sighed heavily. "You don't have the soul of a hero."
With a few deft slices, the alley ran thick with blood. The hero Native now lay lifeless and mutilated.
Horrified by the grisly scene, Tenya cried out and kicked at Stain's head with his engine quirk.
"Too predictable." Stain ducked the telegraphed blow, spinning with blades extended to impale Tenya's face. Tenya narrowly evaded, countering with a flurry of punches to Stain's gut.
But Stain shrugged off the blows, retaliating with a bone-crunching knee to Tenya's midsection that left the young hero crumpled and gasping.
Tenya had barely avoided the blade, or so he thought - blood trickled down his cheek from an unseen cut.
'I know I dodged that! How did he injure me?'
Stain smirked cruelly. "What's wrong? Is that really all you can muster to avenge your brother? Or are you just a petulant child playing hero?" His mocking words begged Tenya to take the bait.
The taunt ignited Tenya's rage. Clenching his fists tightly, he engaged his quirk once more. "SHUT UP!" he roared, unleashing a relentless barrage of kicks.
But each strike felt sluggishly heavy, as if his body was weighed down by an unseen force. 'Wha...what's happening? Why am I getting so sluggish?!'
"Pathetic!" Stain sneered, shoving Iida away to collide against the alley wall. "All you've done is prove my point. You're unworthy of calling yourself a hero." He licked the blood from his blades, activating his quirk.
As Iida tried to move, he found himself paralyzed - frozen in place by some unseen force. Panic gripped him. 'I can't move! Is this his quirk's power?!'
"I've inherited a society of frauds who crave only glory and wealth," Stain announced, stalking menacingly towards his immobilized prey. "But when true danger arises, they're quick to betray the very ideals they profess to uphold." He raised his sword overhead to strike the killing blow.
But before the blade could fall, a sinister shadow descended from above - not with a hero's noble grace, but with the silent lethality of a predator. An eerie figure dropped in between them.
She wears a traditional Japanese schoolgirl uniform with a navy blue sailor collar and a vivid red ribbon, the pristine white blouse fastened with gold buttons, and a pleated navy blue skirt, all exuding an eerie innocence. Her playful, messy buns and unnervingly bright eyes create a chilling contrast, making her appear unsettlingly sweet yet ominously off-kilter to even the most hardened vigilante.
"Well, well," she purred with dark amusement. "Looks like you've got the wrong target, Stainy."
Stain tensed, muscles coiled beneath his tattered scarf. This wasn't the meddling hero he expected - this was something...different.
"You reek of bloodlust, little girl," he growled warily. "Another villain seeking to test herself?"
Toga Himiko tilted her head, crimson eyes gleaming with a ravenous hunger that chilled Stain's core. "Let's just say I'm doing a favor for a friend. And you, Stainy, are interrupting his plans."
Stain's grip tightened on his katana. "Plans? What plans could I possibly hinder?"
"Can't tell you," Toga bluffed with a slight pout, unnaturally jerky as if a puppeteer's strings controlled her limbs. She drew her wicked blade Harpe from her skirt, smiling sweetly. "But I can't let you kill this one. So let's play a little game."
The Hero Killer smirked. "You've armed yourself, at least. Though against me, it won't be enough."
Hearing this, the girl laughed - and laughed, and laughed some more in a haunting, unnerving cackle. As if the very idea of her being the prey, especially to a human, amused her to no end.
Stain eyed her warily, disturbed by her manic laughter. "If you won't take this seriously..." He launched himself at the giggling girl.
Without waiting, Toga sidestepped and cleaved the air - Stain blocked, but was staggered by the monstrous force behind her swing. 'Inhuman strength...' He leapt back to gain distance.
"My turn!" Toga chirped, then blurred towards him with blinding speed faster than anything he'd faced. 'How is she this fast?' He barely avoided her wicked blade, merely grazing his shoulder.
As she followed with a kick, Stain parried with his sword - but she vanished before his strike could connect. 'What the-?'
"Over here!" Her giggle came from behind as she reappeared, slamming a vicious kick into Stain's back.
The Hero Killer went crashing to the pavement, wheezing in pain as he struggled back up.
Toga mockingly pouted, crossing her arms like an impatient child who'd just won a twisted game of tag. "I win," she declared, her unsettling behavior throwing Stain completely off-guard.
Seizing his chance, the Hero Killer lashed out with a glowing crimson slash - easily avoidable for one as fast as Toga, or so she thought. But blood trickled from her cheek regardless, the invisible extension of his blade augmenting its reach. He didn't need impressive magic, just to ingest their blood, and he'd defeat any opponent.
Stain smirked victoriously - until he tried bringing the blood to his lips and found none there, her wound already healed over. "What's happening?" he demanded, confused.
"Ooh, so that's why Izu-kun asked me to protect his friend!" Toga exclaimed with a wide, dawning smile, as if she'd solved an intricate puzzle.
"'Izu-kun'? Who's that?" Stain growled.
Iida recognized her then - 'The girl who helped Midoriya-kun at USJ!'
But Toga ignored them, muttering to herself with a crimson blush. "At this rate, I'll really become Izu-kun's pet and replace that bitch!"
It was true, Himiko had wondered why she'd been sent instead of Itsuka or his Evoker friend she saw at the beach party. But she didn't ask. Figuring out the reasoning was half the fun, like torturing victims. In this case, Stain's quirk worked by ingesting blood to paralyze foes - bad news if he drew hers. But unlike Evokers or Weres, a Vampire healed differently.
'Izu-kun is so smart, this foresight is such a turn-on,' she thought hazily, forgetting the battle around her.
Seeing her distracted, Stain seized another attack opportunity - only for Toga to snap back to reality, effortlessly blocking his strike as if he moved in slow motion.
With a creepy grin, she blurred faster than his eyes could track, leaving Stain bleeding from a deep neck wound. "You've got openings everywhere," she tutted, licking his blood off her fingers and recoiling. "Bitter."
As if in a trance, she fluidly sliced off Stain's right hand before he could blink. As the severed limb hit the ground, the shocking brutality and sudden violence froze Iida in place enough to not realize that the paralysis had worn off.
Stain growled in agony, forced to his knees. He tried speaking, but no air filled his lungs - before him was no hero nor villain, but something else entirely.
"Not enough," Toga purred, sauntering towards him. She caressed his face, ignoring his icy glare, then ripped off his jaw with sickening ease, forcing him to swallow his own tongue amid gurgling shrieks. "I can feel you...but it's still not enough."
As if made of paper, Stain was reduced to a mangled, bloody mess within minutes - his flesh mere plaything for the ravenous vampire. Despite their earlier exchange, he couldn't land a single blow as the sadistic Toga reveled in his screams and pleas, pulling off limbs one-by-one with a child's curiosity.
To her, he was nothing but an insect to torment. Less than that - he simply didn't exist as a threat at all.
Iida could only look on in horror, frozen by fear and shock at the casual display of overwhelming power - the uncaring attitude with which Toga took a life. Though training to be a hero, he had never witnessed such brutality. Every instinct screamed at him to flee this nightmarish scene unfit for a student, and he knew he would have run had he not been paralyzed by the horrors before him.
'Even after all Stain did...to my brother...' His thoughts tangled amid the gore, his brother's words urging him not to seek vengeance. 'Ingenium would never forgive me.'
'No...I can never forgive myself.'
As he watched Stain's body destroyed, flashes of memories with his brother assaulted him - Tensei's proud smile when Iida mastered his Recipro Burst, his warm encouragement during hospital visits, the call mere hours ago reminding him not to pursue revenge. Regret flooded Iida's heart.
'I'm so sorry, brother. I know you told me not to...but I couldn't sit idly by! Forgive me...I'm sorry.'
His gaze shifted to Native's soulless eyes, the hero's body in a pool of its own blood.
"Please...stop this!" Iida shouted, but Toga ignored him, continuing her brutality on Stain's remains. Mustering his courage, he yelled louder, "Stop, please!"
Snapping her head towards him, her eyes shone menacingly in the dim alley - regarding him like an insignificant bug. A wide, shiver-inducing grin spread across her face.
"And why should I?" she giggled.
"You've done enough! He's not moving anymore!" Iida argued, knowing that wasn't his real reason for intervening. "There's no need for this...he's already dead!"
Toga blinked, taken aback, before erupting into haunting peals of laughter that shook her shoulders violently.
"I-Is it really that funny?" Iida stammered.
"Nope..." She abruptly stopped laughing. "But that was stupid."
In the blink of an eye, she appeared before him with blinding speed, making him jolt. "You're not stopping me because he's dead. No...you're afraid I'll kill you next."
Iida gulped, his trembling boots betraying his uncertainty over the truth in her words.
"Which is fair. But I won't harm you - Izu-kun asked me to protect you." Her seemingly innocent smile amid the viscera nearly made him vomit. Something so pure simply didn't belong here.
"But you see~, when he said you sought revenge, I thought I might find a kindred spirit who 'gets' it. Even Izu-kun, being a true hero, doesn't." She flashed her fangs, crimson eyes glowing unnaturally against her pale skin. "Instead I found a delusional, cowardly half-wit."
She advanced a step, forcing Iida back. "You tried enacting 'revenge' under some heroic guise of 'justice.'" Another step forward, another back. "But that's not what revenge is at all - it's a beautiful, gory mess you can never unsee, a symphony of agonizing screams."
Now mere inches away, their noses almost touched. "True revenge is hunting down the one who hurt your family, learning their weaknesses to leave them helpless, and dragging their dying body through the streets." She caressed his cheek, streaking it with Stain's blood. "It's cutting off their legs and burning their flesh before their eyes. Plucking out organs like ripe fruit, savoring their screams and pleas for mercy."
Iida's throat went dry, not a word escaping his lips no matter how he tried to beg her to stop. He longed to retreat further but his body refused to move, trapped in this waking nightmare pulling him deeper into the void of insanity.
"And you didn't even understand his quirk enough to counter it," she sighed, stepping back with contempt in her eyes as if he were a fool who couldn't grasp life's basic concepts. "So it's only natural I'm disappointed in you."
Suddenly bored, she turned her back. "Return safely for Izu-kun like a good boy. I have elsewhere to be." She transformed into a swarm of bats, flitting off towards the battling Nomus.
Iida was left in the alleyway alone with Native and Stain's remains. After calming down, he was able to come to his senses. He called the police to inform them of what happened and left the scene after Manual came to pick him up.
He was heavily reprimanded by his mentor for not following his orders and ran away recklessly, though it wasn't enough to quell the uneasiness inside his chest. He still blamed himself for the deaths that day. Ever since then, he swore to do his best to follow the rules and do everything he can to make up for what he did. Though he figured he'll need to talk with Izuku about what happened.
Thanks for reading!
At first, I kinda wanted Himiko to spare Stain. Perhaps charm him into being a regular dude. But mercy is not a part of her vocabulary. And the result's far from unexpected. She's used to hunting Hunters, Weres and the occassional young adult Evoker, when she's way younger. Despite the upgrade, I can't excuse Stain still winning this against her. Maybe if he used Iida as hostage, but that not only is OOC for Stain, but it would piss her off more. Not a great plan.
This version of her also had the vague parallel to Tenya, but while he has a heart of a hero deep inside his desire of revenge, this Himiko doesn't and only does what she wants ultimately for herself, and thus their journey of it diverged. Izuku thought she'll talk him out of his revenge, but I don't think this is what he has in mind. But all's well that ends well?
As always, if you have questions or feedback, don't hesitate to let me know.
Next up: Hammer of God