Enjoy!

"So…was there anything else I can work on?" Eri said, bouncing back and forth with nervous energy.

"Nothing I didn't mention last night," Ochako said, amused by her new student's antics. "Whoever trained you should be proud. You're way ahead of where I was when I first went pro."

Eri's fist struck toward Ochako's face. Ochako barely blocked, but Eri kicked her shin. Ochako kicked Eri in the stomach, sending her staggering back. Ochako feigned a punch, then grabbed Eri's arm, only for Eri to hook her leg around Ochako's, nearly tripping her.

Eri blushed. "I've just been practicing for a while, that's all," she mumbled through her capture-scarf.

"Still, it'll be very useful if you get into a fight. Especially since your quirk isn't built for offense. Mostly."

Ochako floated Eri, then shoved her away. Before she could hit the wall, Eri swung out her capture weapon, wrapping it around Ochako's arm. Before Ochako could get it off, Eri yanked herself at her.

Ochako barely avoided Eri's kick. She then grabbed Eri by the ankle and slammed her into the ground. Eri kicked her off, then floated up, her limbs flailing until she was dangling over the ground. Ochako smirked and dropped the girl, only for Eri to gracefully land in a somersault and wrap her capture weapon around Ochako's leg. She'd been expecting that.

Eri yanked her capture weapon back, but Ochako kept herself standing. Eri tried to tangle Ochako's arm too, but Ochako avoided it. Eri then leapt onto Ochako's back and tried to put Ochako's arms in a hold. For several seconds, Ochako saw Eri's horn glow. Ochako threw Eri off, then slapped her with all five fingers.

Eri's face rolled with the blow, then turned back with a triumphant smirk. Ochako hesitated. She wasn't floating. Eri took advantage of Ochako's surprise and punched her in the face.

"How did you even figure out that you could rewind someone's DNA to make them quirkless? Or that it would be temporary?"

Eri came to a sudden stop. She looked to the side, shoving her face deeper into her scarf while hugging her arms. "I don't want to talk about it."

Ochako frowned. She decided to let this be. She knew better than most that when someone did not want to discuss something, pulling it out was like pulling teeth. After all, Midori never told her more than the most basic details about his past bullying from Dynamight until after Tokyo.

They drove a car borrowed from Mina toward Nejire's. When Ochako told her former mentor she was bringing her intern, Nejire said it was fine. However, her voice had none of its old bounce. Just they arrived, they saw a massive pileup of cars, one individual looming over the destruction.

"Are you serious?" Ochako said, getting out.

A villain who looked like he was dressed in kitchen appliances loudly declared, "I am the vanguard of darkness! The bringer of destruction, Appliancelypse! All shall look upon me and be cooked into the great meal of-"

Ochako turned to Eri. "Let's test your skills on someone easy. Like this guy, who hasn't noticed us clearly not running away and readying for a fight.

Eri looked nervous but nodded. She took out her capture weapon as her expression firmed. She took off toward Appliancelypse, with Ochako just behind her.

She was almost on him when Appliancelypse finally noticed. "Foolish wastrel! I shall make you pay for your insolence!" From his sink came a jet of water. Eri sidestepped it. The jet of water continued and smashed the mirror off a nearby car.

Eri whipped out her Capture Weapon and entangled Appliancelypse's arms and legs. Appliancelypse fell, but before Eri could knock him out, he lashed out with a pair of egg beaters. Eri fell backwards, catching herself on her hands while sending her foot into Appliancelypse's face. She then propelled herself up before vaulting over another attack from the egg beater, which drilled into the pavement.

Ochako dashed in and floated Appliancelypse. As he tumbled in the air, Eri tangled him with her capture weapon and grabbed his arm with both of hers. Her horn glowed. Appliancelypse thrashed, but Eri held on. Finally, he pointed his oven stomach at her and opened it.

As Eri moved to dodge, Ochako tackled her. A jet of flames hit the spot Eri had just been. "What happened?"

"He was thrashing too much! I couldn't concentrate enough to erase his quirk!" Eri said.

"Foolish mortals! You shall pa-aaahhhh!" Appliancelypse slammed into the ground as Ochako returned his gravity.

Ochako said, "Stay back. He's not the brightest, but his quirk is more dangerous and versatile than I thought. Watch and-"

A blond man wearing boxers and a tight tank top soared out of the ground like a ghost, slamming his fist into Appliancelypse's chin. "POWER!"

The villain fell to the ground unconscious, with the Number 2 Hero Lemillion standing over him, fists raised over his head like All Might. Lemillion then turned to Eri and Ochako with a cheerful smile. "Hey Uravity! Nejire said you were coming!"

"Mirio," Ochako said, grateful that his legal department forced him to pay for those undergarments that go intangible with him. "Not surprised you're here." He'd often visited Nejire's agency back in the day. It made sense he still would now.

"Me along with the Amajikis." Miro glanced behind her. "Eri?! What are you doing here?"

" Mirio!" Eri said, running up and casually hugging one of the most respected Heroes in the world. "How are you? I've been great! Me and the Water Unicorns are going to play with Earphone Jack and Chargebolt at the AMF's fair! As for why I'm here, Uravity took me on as her work study student! Isn't it cool?!"

His eyes widened. "No kidding? Congrats Eri!" He turned to Ochako and said, "Congrats to you too, you've got one heck of a work study student, even if she is a troublemaker," he added in a whisper..

"I am not Mirio!" Eri said. "Not like you were."

"Hey! I was an excellent student!" At her skeptical look, he added, "To Sir Nigteye."

"That's what I thought. The UA teachers still talk about your actual grades."

Mirio let out a nervous laugh. "Well, I turned out fine anyway. Let's go!" As they walked, he said. "Glad to hear Jiro's finally playing with you. Hope nothing happens this ti-"

Eri furiously shushed him. She then growled, "Don't. Jinx. It!"

Ochako tilted her head. "So…you two know each other?"

Lemillion chuckled. "You have no idea Uravity. I've known her since she was this small." He held up a hand about a meter high. "She's like my little sister."

They arrived at the door. Nejire opened it and popped her head out. "Eri? Is that you?" For the second time, Eri hugged with a Hero above Ochako's pay grade while Ochako awkwardly shuffled inside.

"Hi Nejire," Ochako said.

"Ochako," Nejire said with a weak smile. "It's good to see you again." She walked up and hugged Ochako. Her arms, while still fit, had lost some of the definition they'd had in the old days. She also had heavy bags under her eyes, suggesting poor sleep. She still wasn't back to being herself.

Nejire turned to Eri. "So you're the new intern? I'm proud of you."

Eri flushed and backed away, saying, "What can I say? She's a good Hero and I needed experience..."

"You'll do great," she said, ruffling Eri's hair. Nejire then led them into her living room. Sitting side by side on the couch were the individuals Ochako knew as the Heroes Suneater and Rule.

"Hi Tamaki. Hi Yui," said Eri.

"Hi Eri," Tamaki said. He then took one look at Ochako, looked down and said, "Hi Uravity…"

"Hello Suneater," Ochako said. "Hello Rule."

Next to Suneater, Rule nodded at both with a polite grunt. From what Ochako had heard, that was normal for her.

Ochako turned to Nejire, "So, how are you?"

Nejire's smile vanished. "Recovering. I'm training again, almost back in shape. It's just…"

"Just what? Did I miss something?" Eri said, hastily looking over Nejire, presumably for some unseen injury.

Nejire shook her head. "No. It's just…hard to get back into fighting after that. Ryukyu, the fire." Her expression went eerily blank before snapping back to normal.

Eri's expression became one of sad understanding. "Oh. Those scars. I know those too." Then, with a weak hope, she said, "I don't suppose hearing me, Kota, Satsuki, and Katsuma perform would help?"

"I don't think so, but thank you." She turned to Ochako. I'm still helping the administration side of the Agency, but fighting…I tried a while ago. Was doing fine. Then, the first person who threw fire at me and I just…shut down. I'm going to try again soon enough but…I don't think I'll be truly back for a long time."

"I'm going to do small-time stuff again soon, but it'll be a while before I'm really back." She looked down. "You must think I'm pretty lame, huh Ochako?"

"What? No," Ochako said. "You helped make me into a Hero. Most people can't just go through…that and just come out the other side." Ochako hugged her old friend. "I'm just glad you're alive."

"Thanks Ochako. Glad you still haven't forgotten me, what with you going independent."

"Never," Ochako said.

Nejire smiled. For a moment, she actually looked like her old self.

Izuku and Belu-be got out of Belu-Be's car. "Thanks Midoriya. Moving furniture is easier with two."

"Thanks," Izuku said. He took a look at the house. It was a two-story house in a rather good middle class neighborhood. "How did she afford this?"

"AMF money. She and Haruo pooled their resources into buying a house one day. Between that, her inheritance from him, and his life insurance money, she'll be fine for the next few years. Now we just have to finish getting it furnished. Last time, I barely got her to stop helping. She's too much like Haruo."

"Why did you need to stop her?" Izuku said, ringing the doorbell.

The door opened, and out came a smiling and obviously very pregnant Tani. "Midoriya! It's good to see you again!" she said.

Izuku only barely managed to hide his surprise and give her an awkward smile. "Right! Good to see you too!"

Fortunately, Tani bought that, turning to his companion. "Hi Belu-be," she said.

"Hey Yuko. We're here to help move things. It'll be nice having help so I don't exacerbate my rib."

"Good," she said, with a smile that was a bit too sweet to be real. "You've finally learned to think through your actions."

He growled and pulled Izuku in. Izuku helped him move a couch and chairs into a living room, along with some tables and other things. Throughout it, he kept glancing at Tani.

How was she pregnant? Was she pregnant, or was he just mistaken? He could just ask-

NO! he thought. Mom said to never, under any circumstances, ever ask a woman if she's pregnant. So, I must avoid saying anything under pain of death.

"How's the AMF been Midoriya?" Yuko said. "I saw you've been promoted."

Izuku jolted. He nodded and said. "Y-yeah. I have the same rank Haruo once had. I honestly don't know how he handled it."

"To be fair, you probably have it worse than him. He was mostly an outcast and only had to lead small engagements prior to Tokyo. You've become the AMF's face, along with all the responsibilities and hassle that came along with it. I'm guessing it's why you don't seem too fond of the attention. It's why Ochako is always propping you up during interviews."

"Is it that obvious?" he said.

"Only to people who know you. Besides, we all know you're the kind of guy who just wants to go out there and chase Godzilla." She smiled fondly. "I know the type."

"Y-yeah, I suppose you do," Izuku said. She'd been Haruo's driver before he died. He glanced at her stomach.

"Don't worry, I'm not due for a few weeks."

Oh good she was pregnant.

"I've been helping her prepare for the tyke," said Belu-be. "It's the least I can do."

"So…" Izuku said, pointing back and forth between them. "Is the child yours…?"

Their faces both went bright red. Belu-be looked mortified while Tani looked downright offended. "NO!" they said in unison.

"Then whose-"

"Haruo's!" said a scandalized Tani.

"Wait, you and Haruo were…?"

Belu-be and Tani gave each other incredulous looks. "Yes!"

"Oh."

"This is the man who Haruo considered his intellectual equal," Tani growled.

"To be fair, Haruo was a dumbass too," said Belu-Be.

Tani activated her quirk turning her arm metal. Belu-be hastily backed away. "Hey! Haruo never denied it!"

"Haruo's dead."

"He wouldn't deny it if he was alive either! And what is it with you and using your quirk on me? Last time you bruised my ribcage."

"Don't be a drama queen, I lightly elbowed you. Besides, you called Haruo an asshole. At his funeral. In the eulogy!"

Izuku remembered that. Some of the AMF members laughed until Tani glared at them (she was almost as scary as Ochako when angry).

"And I told you he would have agreed that he's an asshole!"

"That didn't mean you had to say it there!"

"He would've been annoyed if I didn't!" Belu-be said.

Tani sucked in a deep breath, then slowly let it out, deactivating her quirk. "Fine. Since I'm pregnant, I'll let this slide. Can't exert myself too much with the baby here," she patted her stomach.

"When…did that happen?" Izuku said.

"Scaris," Tani said. "We'd used a test before Tokyo, but it was crude so we weren't sure whether it was a false positive. After Tokyo I made sure. Then I retired. Now I'm going to focus on raising the kid."

"Congratulations Tani," Izuku said. "I'm sure the baby will be wonderful."

"Thanks. And you can call me Yuko if you like. Near the end, you became friends with Haruo. That makes you my friend tooo."

"Right. Yuko. I suppose this means you won't be back?"

"Nope. I enjoyed my time there with Haruo, but now that he's gone that's over." Her expression turned mournful for a moment, before becoming a bittersweet smile. "I'm going to be building a new future for our child and leave the maser fighting to you."

Izuku smiled and held up his fist. "I'm ready to do it."

"Just like Haruo," she said. "Always ready for a challenge."

"Only he was a lot angrier," Belu-be muttered.

At that, they laughed.

Rikiya entered the basement of one of the Deternat's Support Department R&D facilities. A pale man in red robes greeted him. "Welcome Re-Destro. We didn't expect a visit from you."

"I needed to check in on your boss. You are using Detnerat equipment, property, and funding after all. In these risky days, I must make sure it is used properly."

"Of course," said the man. "Follow me."

Re-Destro followed. Internally, he scoffed at those ridiculous red robes. Another holdover from Humarise after their organization collapsed against the sands of time. It was one of Re-Destro's proudest moments when he covertly assisted the Heroes' victory over those fools.

A few of their remnants and supplies were picked up by Rikiya's newest ally. Speaking of whom, Re-Destro smiled as the portly scientist came into view.

"Re-Destro, I hope my assistant treated you well," the scientist said.

"He did. I'm eager to talk about what new things you've developed, Dr. Garaki."

Kyudai Garaki chuckled. "Oh lots of things. I've developed several more High-End Nomu, fit to fight some of the strongest of Heroes."

"I see. When will the army be ready? We may need it ahead of time."

"Oh? Are you planning on using it?"

"Yes," Rikiya said. "Once we've won, our scientific resources, and the recognition you seek, will all be yours."

Garaki's meta ability was too weak to rule over society in any real capacity. However, like Skeptic, his talents were too good to waste. Besides, Garaki did not want leadership. He wanted recognition of his genius and to be allowed to perform his mad science in peace. Easy things to give.

"Perfect," Garaki said, walking alongside Rikiya. "You should have an army in less than six months."

"Six months is perfect. I plan on making our move within the year."

"Good, good. I've also been working on refining our Nomu's general." He pointed to the large form. "Now, Gigantomachia can take on any Hero short of Red Riot himself."

Re-Destro glanced at an area that was blocked off, barely glimpsing a large metal box with several pieces of equipment hooked up to it. "And kaiju?"

"We haven't tested him yet. However, he is the pinnacle of what the human form can achieve!"

"Interesting. My men haven't fought the AMF yet either. Perhaps we might hit two birds with one stone…"

Garaki is here and up to no good!

That scene of Eri fighting was added at the last second because she deserved a chance to show her skills, and I wanted to add more superhero action.

Poor Nejire has really bad PTSD from her near death experience in Tokyo. I included some bits at the last second to reference Eri's own trauma since I realized it was a nice similarity between them.

Yuko's pregnancy was planned since I wrote the Scaris arc. You can actually see a few hints to it in that arc. I almost included a detail of her being seasick on the ride back, but cut it since I felt it would make it too obvious.

Hope you enjoyed! Reviews make me smile!