(I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack! Don't worry, I'm going to start updating all my stories more regularly, not just my mha/batman one. Anyway, have a good day.)
Walking back to the others, I had a few minutes to think about what I'd done, not an ounce of regret for my actions. Sometimes, being a hero meant doing bad things to keep people safe. If Endeavor knew that, burning the Nomu, then I must have been in the right, right?
Getting back to Gran Torino, the world seemed to blur, and by the time it stopped, I was wearing a hospital gown. When had we gotten here? Why were the heroes standing there?
"Ooh, all the little wounded warriors are awake!" I heard Gran Torino, he and Manual there with a well-dressed man with a dog head.
"Gran Torino!"
"Mr. Manual!"
Iida and I greeted our mentors, Gran Torino walked up to me and stroked his beard.
"I'm still gonna chew you out, but..."
I smiled, too much of a smart ass for my own good.
"Oh, really? Why's that?"
Rolling his eyes, Torino just continued his sentence from where I'd interrupted. "Before that, you've got a visitor."
Introducing the well-dressed man, it reminded me that while we did the right thing, we were still in the wrong for using our quirks.
"This is Mr. Kenji Tsuragamae, Hosu's chief of police."
"Aw crap." I muttered, and Tsuragamae held his hand out, cup upwards.
"Please stay seated, woof. So you're the U.A. students... who put a stop to the Hero Killer, woof. As for the hero killer... he's currently in treatment for his burns, broken bones, and a number of other serious injuries, woof. At the dawn of this extraordinary era, the police moved to prioritize leadership and to maintain the status quo... so they decided not to use their quirks as weapons."
The pregnant pause let us know the severity of the situation and what we'd done, but surely he wasn't going to say what I thought he was. We'd taken down a mass murderer for All Mights sake!
"The profession of "Hero" rose as one that would fill the void, woof. Authorizing the use of such might... of these powers that could so very easily kill... was a heavily critized decision at first, but it would garner public support. All because your predecessors acted morally and complied with the laws, woof. But those without permission... those who inflicted harm without explicit instruction from the police and powers that be. Even if they were to face someone like the Hero Killer... such action would represent a stunning breach of the law, woof. You three as well as your hero mentors... Endeavor. Manual. Gran Torino. The six of you must be dealt with strictly and impartially."
What a load of crap. The whole of it all, it was so stupid.
Todoroki seemed to agree, looking at the police chief. "Hold on a minute."
Iida seemed concerned for whatever Todoroki might say, trying to warn him to keep a more polite tone.
"If Iida hadn't acted, Native would've been killed. And if Midoriya hadn't shown up, both of them would be dead. Nobody even knew the Hero Killer was in town. Should we have let people die in the name of your "law"?! Everything turned out just fine, so forget about the law this time! Isn't it a heroes job to save people?"
Chief Tsuragamae didn't seem too impressed, replying to Todoroki in a calm and serious manner.
"Clearly, you've much to learn. Some education you're getting, woof, from U.A. and Endeavor."
Todoroki had enough, through an insult towards the officer. "You mutt!"
Iida wanted him to listen, to understand how deep in crap we were right then. "Stop! This is serious!"
Gran Torino stood between Todoroki and Tsuragamae, holding a hand up to stop the heated dual-quirk user.
"Wait... just listen to what he's gotta say."
Tsuragamae nodded, wiping his nose as he took a second to think of how to say what he needed.
"All of that... is what I'm obligated to tell you, as the police. But... the real question is whether or not to deal with this issue publicly, woof. If we let the story out, you'll be lauded by the public, but you won't be able to avoid punishment. But if we keep this nasty business to ourselves... the Hero Killers burns will support the story that Endeavor was the key operative. He'll receive the accolades, woof. Fortunately, the number of eyewitnesses was small enough... that we can hush up this whole matter before it causes problems, woof. But in that case, your devisive actions and achievements... will remain unknown to the general public."
At this point, his tongue flopped out, giving us a thumbs up.
"What do you say?! I'm an understanding man. So when it comes to a promising group of young people... I'd rather not have to pursue charges over this admittedly massive indiscretion, woof!"
Manual looked disappointed and tired with the situation as whole, but who could blame him? The last few hours had been crazy.
"Either way, our negligence is to blame. We have to take responsibility."
"I'm so very sorry." Iida bowed, getting a chop to the neck from manual as he apologized.
"Yeah! You caused big trouble for your mentor, so don't do it again!"
Tsuragamae leaned in a bit and spoke again, and between the fact that he was willing to skirt the law for us and the relief of not being in any legal trouble, he seemed much more amiable than before.
"The world's an unfair place. You'll receive none of the commendations... that you might have otherwise, but... at least... as someone interested in keeping the peace... I can thank you."
We had no idea we'd end up in that back-alley battle... and in the end, the world didn't even know what we had done. We couldn't tell at the time, but the implications were already gnawing away at us.
The only person I talked to about the whole ordeal was my mother, who had already made her way here already. The hospital had been kind enough to call her while I was dealing with a concussion and getting my cuts and stab wounds dealt with.
"Hey, Mom." I told her, looking at her for a moment before I felt my lip tremble, my eyes tearing up, feeling my shoulders shaking as she wrapped her arms around me, patting me on the back as I sobbed.
"Shh, it's okay, you're okay. This is okay. This is normal. You're safe."
She was calm and collected, her voice sincere and soft, like when I was a child. I was still a child, wasn't I? I was fifteen, but I'd murdered that Nomu. It was a person, even if it was artificial. Did I deserve her comfort?
The door opened, Toshinori standing there, looking a bit awkward as I sobbed until I had no more tears left, hiccuping and standing there feeling ashamed of crying like I had.
A joke left me, I didn't mean to, but it's all I could do now. It made the overwhelming feeling less intense. "I'm sorry. You guys didn't come here to see me crying, I could do that at home."
Toshinori patted me on the back, and only now I saw the mesh backpack in his hand, full of clothes and snacks.
"Oh no, you didn't go through my room, did you?" I asked, horrified at the thought of him seeing what amounted to the shrine of him I slept in.
Shaking his head, he put a hand on my mom's shoulder. "Oh no, your mom packed this, but she forgot it in her hurry."
Good old mom, she was the absolute best. If I could go back, I might quit, just so she could never have to worry ever again. She deserved that much.
Once my mother and Toshinori left, I called Mina, leaving a message before calling Uraraka, who answered her phone.
"Hey, um, I don't know who else to call, Mina can't talk, so I left a message, but... the Hero Killer... Iida, Todoroki, and I ran into him. Endeavor saved us, but we're pretty beat up. I just, I needed to talk to someone who isn't my mom."
Silence fell over the line for a moment before she spoke, and I could hear a bit of a rural accent.
"What happened? Is everyone okay?"
My voice cracked, and I felt my lip tremble again, but I held the grief back for now. "We're fine, I just needed to speak to someone about it. Please don't tell anyone I told you. I mean, it'll be in the news, but admitting I'm having trouble dealing with it, it's embarrassing."
"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me." She promised, and just knowing she knew about it, I felt better.
"Thank you."
"As long as you guys are ok... You and Iida... I got super worried when you sent out nothing but an address... Yeah... take it easy for now!! I'll hear about the rest of it later."
A muffled voice spoke, and I forgot she was technically working. I hoped she didn't get in trouble.
"Oh, sure! See ya at school then. Sorry that all that bad stuff happened. Bye!"
Dial tone, and I was left standing there, taking a deep breath before I hung up, putting my phone away.
Walking back to my room, sliding the door open, and trying to awkwardly hold myself up with a crutch sucked. But until my leg was fully healed, I was stuck with this thing.
"Ah, Iida. Just got off the phone with Uraraka and..."
Todoroki interrupted me, more serious than usual.
"Midoriya. Iida... just got his diagnosis."
Iida didn't look at me, and I could see the seriousness on his face.
"My left hand... could have permanent damage. Both of my arms were badly injured, but my left got the worst of it. He severed something called the brachial reflex nerve. But they said that I might regain most of the feeling... and use of my hand and fingers if I receive a nerve transplant. When I found the hero killer, my mind went blank. I should have told Manual before doing anything else. I may hate him, but he wasn't wrong. So... until I succeed in becoming a true hero... my left hand will serve as a reminder."
I should have done more, recognized the signs, and reported them to staff or even Manual. But he was suffering for what he did already, apologizing now would be... insulting.
"Iida... let's get stronger together."
Offering my own bandaged arm, we grabbed one another at the wrist, a silent vow between the two of us. We'd be better heroes, together.
"I'm... sorry..." Todoroki muttered, leaving me wondering what he meant? Who else had their hands messed up?
"For what?"
"Whenever I'm involved... it feels like... people's hands get messed up. Or something."
"Ha ha ha ha! What on earth are you on about?" I asked, Iida cracking a smile as he spoke.
"Looks like even Todoroki knows how to make a joke."
Todoroki shook his head, looking confused by our laughing. "No, I'm not joking. Just call me "The Hand Crusher"
I couldn't help it now, holding my side as I wheezed from how funny it was.
"The Hand Crusher!"
On the last day of the internship, I stopped by Gran Torinos' home, mostly to get my things and thank him for the experience I'd gained while here.
"It may have been brief, but I appreciate everything."
Gran Torino looked tired, but then again, he had to be like, sixty at least, and the last few days had to be stressful for him.
His reply was short and to the point, but so was he most of the time.
"I don't feel I did much for you... and all that happened while you were out training on the job."
"No, really! Thanks to all your inspiring talk and teaching me in the field, I managed to hold our own against the hero killer."
His can smacked against my ankle, and I hissed in pain.
"Against a hero killer who was just toying with you, maybe! Well... if you'd fired off a one hundred percent smash at him and missed, he probably... Anyway, I guess alls well that ends well. But your injuries aren't minor either! You could have been seriously injured, and then you wouldn't have been a symbol of anything! You get cocky and careless when you lose control of your emotions. Find a way to calm those nerves under pressure. If you really want to become the greatest hero like All Might... then you've still got a lot to learn."
"Right!" Letting him know I understood, his words weren't wasted on me.
"Hmph! Goodbye then..."
"Ah! Just one last thing, if you don't mind? I hope this doesn't come off as rude... but I've been meaning to ask... and just couldn't find the right time to ask..."
"Spit it out! I've got taiyaki that needs eating." He stopped, turning his head a bit to see me.
"You're so strong, and you're the one who trained All Might, of all people. But Gran Torino, you're not famous... at all. Scouring the net got a picture of you with the seventh user, or she looks like the seventh, at least, but nothing else. I'm wondering, is there a reason for that...?"
He got serious, and I wondered if there was going to be a lesson in his answer.
"Ah... That's cuz I never cared about being a hero in the first place. There was a time when I needed to be able to use my quirk freely and legally. That's the only reason I picked up my license. If you wanna know more, you'd be better off asking Toshi... asking All Might. We're done here! Stay strong!"
Bowing to him, grateful for his help, I found a lesson in his words, even if there was none to find. "Oh, okay! Thanks for everything!"
Standing and walking away, wondering if Recovery Girl could fix my wounds, I heard him call out.
"Kid!"
Turning to face him, his expression looked vacant, a smile on his face.
"Who are you, again?"
"Seriously? Like I've told you... I'm Midoriya..."
"That's not what I mean."
Well, now I was just perplexed because what else could he mean? Maybe my first name? That would be unusual. Seconds passed until I understood, and I could answer him.
"It's Atlas."