Disclaimer: Both Street Fighter and My Hero Academia belong to each of their respective franchises. I claim no ownership whatsoever.
Four days had passed since then.
Four wonderfully quiet days of summer, during which the good people of Musutafu enjoyed their lives, certain as ever that there would be many more to come. In a world where almost everyone possessed superhuman abilities that were once the stuff of fiction, conflict and strife were an inevitability that couldn't be ignored. Therefore, there were good and righteous individuals who would not stand idly by while injustice and evil were being perpetrated.
Heroes.
Brave men and women who used their gifts to keep society safe. To keep villainy at bay and to crack down on evil criminals. It would be an understatement to say how much and how many revered these champions of justice.
One such child, Midoriya Izuku, awoke after a much smoother night's sleep and began his morning by taking a leak before shuffling to the kitchen where his mother had just finished cooking. Breakfast was as uneventful as dinner had been the last few days. After his mother saw the state her son was in, she could only go through the motions in a sullen mood, choosing not to pry lest the incident be dredged up. Still, she was just relieved that her boy had come home and spent a lot of time recovering. At first, she had refrained from calling Mitsuki herself, not wanting things to escalate between their families, but Mitsuki had been the one to break the ice and had been more than understanding, apologizing in return and doing her best to discipline Katsuki since the incident. Whether that would have any real effect, Inko had the right to hope.
The bullying had been hard to swallow when it started. She had always thought that Katsuki was such a nice and bright boy and Izuku was lucky to have him as a friend. Seeing her own boy crying miserably in front of the computer that same night had made her lose much of that sentiment. She could only do her best to be there for her son, a shoulder to cry on, a pillar he needed at this difficult time in his life.
Sitting from across the table, she glanced up at Izuku eating his meal at an even pace. Hunger must have won over him since he had hardly eaten what was on his plate the previous night, having skipped a few meals more than once. That it was his favorite Katsudon must have helped his appetite. Once he was done, she diligently gathered the dishes and washed them, causing her to almost miss Izuku heading for the door.
"Izuku? Where are you going?" His mother, Inko, asked in mild worry.
Upon hearing her, Izuku froze mid-stride. His head and shoulders slumped down, working up the words to answer her. "I… want to play outside."
Inko's features furrowed, concern and worry causing her to nearly drop the plate she was drying. After what he'd been through, she would have preferred that he still stayed at home until things had calmed down between him and Katsuki, but she knew in her heart that such things would not be settled simply. She let out a sigh, slightly comforted in the back of her mind that Hisashi had called the previous night after Izuku had fallen asleep, that his arrival from overseas would be a surprise that would undoubtedly brighten their child's mood.
When she got close to her son, Inko went down on her knees and hugged him, which he soon returned. A few tears were mixed with her smile as she broke the hug and gently massaged Izuku's shoulders. "Just be careful." She would have told him to stay away from Katsuki for now, but she had a feeling that wouldn't go over well with him. Sometimes, it baffled her how adamant her son could be in insisting that he and Mitsuki's boy still had something vaguely resembling a friendship, but she supposed her son was very much the forgiving and compassionate type.
She hoped he would never lose that side of him.
Izuku nodded, then gave her a small smile, fighting through his own tears. With a nod, he headed for the door. As his form disappeared from her sight, Inko could do nothing but pray for her son's safety.
Elsewhere…
Ah, nothing like a bright and sunny day for fishing, is what a certain Yagi Toshinori would say if he were feeling cheerful. After a week of hard work, he needed a break. So with his trusty straw hat and fishing rod, he was going to try and catch a big one.
Not that he would ever be able to eat it, just that he needed something to pass the time as part of his therapy, and fishing seemed to be one of his top choices. It was either that or start building houses of cards. He might even excel at it, but Mirai would probably start to worry if he ever managed to reach skyscraper levels. Whistling a tune to himself, he cast the line after fixing his lure, sitting on a large, unoccupied cleat. The docks of Musutafu were peaceful on days like this, which rewarded heroes like him for keeping crime as low as it was. It helped that the good men and women of the police force were doing well enough with people like Tsukauchi.
All in all, he couldn't really find anything to spoil his mood except his lunch break. After a few minutes, with the cawing of seagulls and churning of the waves in the background providing some atmosphere, Toshinori began to feel a little lethargic. He stifled a yawn with the back of his hand as he kept enjoying the view of the blue sea in front of him, a few boats dotting the water in the distance. Yes, today would be a good day, he was sure of it.
He just needed to ignore the thing that was rising from the water to his right.
Literally right next to him by a few feet, causing a deluge of water to douse his person, soaking his clothes and drooping his straw hat. Silently and slowly, he turned his head in the direction of the intruder, and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets at what he saw.
To his rocketing surprise and horror, the…he couldn't even tell if it was human. Sure, there were heteromorphs, but the giant of a... creature that had appeared out of nowhere, with seawater still running down his tanned skin, with some seaweed and small marine life clinging to his head and shoulders, looked like something out of an old monster movie. Someone with an aquatic or amphibious Quirk? Well, he didn't want to jump to any conclusions, but before he could even get a word in, the man, now that most of the water had fallen away along with some of the debris, began to march forward without a word or even an acknowledgement of his presence.
He allowed his gaze to linger on the man, if only because he was beginning to take note of his appearance. Tall, with musculature that seriously rivaled his own at full strength, and voluminous white hair that ended at his shoulder blades, though that might just be due to how drenched he still was. His clothing left much to be desired, with faded purple pants torn at the bottom that were secured by thick rope instead of a belt and ropes on both his wrists, with furs over his waist and shoulders. He also lacked footwear, though that might simply be because he had been in the water not long ago. A fisherman, perhaps?
Narrowing his eyes, he could then make out large prayer beads through the fur surrounding his neck. A monk? More thoughts began to fester as his gut instinct took over. Who was this man? As he watched the figure begin to put some distance between them, he began to pack. He always tended to trust his instincts, and even though this was supposed to be a day of repose, he was still a hero.
Musutafu playground…
Izuku clung tightly to a tree, making sure he was hidden out of sight as he swept his own gaze over the park. Except for a few other kids, Kacchan was nowhere in sight. Nervously, he stepped out of his hiding place and began to sneak through the entrance and towards the swings. A small pit in his stomach regretted that he hadn't locked himself away in the safety of his home, but he was never really a shut-in. He loved to play outside, especially when he was with...
He pushed the thought aside, eyes downcast before he gathered his nerve. He couldn't allow himself to sit in a corner and cry for the rest of his life. At times like this, he had to wonder what All Might would do or say.
Never give up. Don't be down and keep moving forward with a smile. A smile that always inspires hope. With that in mind, and with each step he took, he sped up a bit until he made it to a swing. Sitting down and ensuring that he was secure, he kicked up his legs to begin, only to feel a shiver run down his spine. Feeling that he was being observed, he slowly turned his head to see none other than the glaring red eyes of a Bakugo Katsuki, with two other familiar children standing next to him on his left and right.
"Didn't think you had the guts to show your face here again," Katsuki muttered dangerously, his mouth stretched into a sickly sadistic grin.
Izuku swallowed. "K-Kacchan…"
"What did I say?"
"H-Huh?" Izuku croaked, quickly losing his nerve under such pressure.
"What did I say, Deku?" Katsuki repeated more harshly.
Trembling, Izuku could barely draw out a single word, his mouth hanging open and tears streaming down his face. Katsuki grabbed the suspension on his right and leaned his head closer so that their faces were only a centimeter apart, his gaze growing sharper and darker. But instead of expressing his displeasure in words, Katsuki swung back and pushed him off, causing Izuku to make a familiar collision with the ground and kiss the dirt again.
Jumping onto the swing and balancing himself on it, Katsuki took his sweet time to look down at the powerless loser under him. Exactly where they both belonged. "You just don't seem to get it, do you? Are you that stupid or do you actually enjoy being my personal chew toy?"
Before he could even contemplate on how creepy the latter possibility was, he heard the dejected boy mutter, "Stop it..."
"Stop what?" Katsuki repeated, mockingly.
"Stop... bullying me... Kacchan." More tears spilled as Izuku looked over his shoulder and up at the boy who had hurt him. "Just... stop..."
Katsuki's smile slowly faded, replaced by a frown that would become more common as he grew older. "And who are you to tell me what to do?" He jumped from the swing and landed, almost missing Izuku's foot by an inch. "Why should I?"
Izuku turned to face the trio, leaning on one elbow while holding his free arm up as a shield. "Because it's wrong. Kacchan... we're..."
"We're WHAT?" Katsuki snapped abruptly, knowing what he was going to say and frankly getting tired of hearing it. "How many times do I have to blow you up before you get it through your thick head that we're not friends anymore?!"
Izuku swallowed and looked as if he wanted to answer, but he clenched his teeth and closed his eyes tightly. He then snapped them open and, whether he was aware of it or not, glared back at Katsuki, who was surprised. To be honest, it was rare coming from the Quirkless Boy, but he had always been too much of a soft-hearted wimp to even stand up for himself. "B-But-"
Katsuki's own scowl returned, more vicious than before as he raised his hand and sparks began to fly from it. "Say another word and I'll make you wish you were never my friend."
Izuku swallowed, biting down on what he did wish to say and dreading where this conversation would lead. Couldn't they just talk things out? Clear up whatever misunderstandings there were between them so that things could be okay between them again? Why was it so hard? He couldn't understand. None of it made sense. Kacchan had been so much nicer back in their preschool days.
How did things turn out this way?
He could only continue sobbing as Katsuki's cronies dragged him to his feet, securing his arms so he wouldn't run away. "What are we going to do with him, Kacchan?"
Katsuki stared at the pathetic waste of space before him before answering with a demented grin, "Target practice." Both of his companions cheered at this decision.
"Alright! You're gonna get it now, Deku!"
"You're about to get blown to bits!"
"Make him stand on the swing," Katsuki ordered. His cronies did so, threatening the boy not to jump down or escape. "This is what we're going to do, Deku."
The three others listened expectantly, with Izuku having to hold onto the swing to keep his balance, his legs shaking. "If you don't get hit by my Quirk while you're on the swing, I'll let you cry back home. But if you do get hit, we'll hang you from a tree."
Izuku gulped at those conditions. Even if he were to miraculously duck from just one of Katsuki's explosive shots, he couldn't consistently dodge all of them! He would get hit. No bones about it. "If you say no, we'll beat you up anyway," Katsuki spat coldly.
There was really no escape for him. Or was there? He could handle getting beaten up like that day. He could even handle getting a face full of Katsuki's explosions. This? This was just their idea of sadistic fun to further humiliate him. But after running through such options, he shook his head and, still sniffling, gathered what courage he could and stared the other boy down.
"F-Fine…"
"Wow, where did that come from?" Katsuki remarked snidely, sparks dancing in the palm of his hand in preparation for his fun. "There you go again, acting like a hero. Well, moron, let's see you try and dance like one!"
Elsewhere…
"Where…could he be going?" Toshinori thought to himself.
It had been almost an hour since Toshinori left the pier, carrying his fishing rod and tackle box. He could only follow the suspicious fellow at a steady pace by a wide enough margin while trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. He looked like any other civilian, and not being in his muscular form made the camouflage even better.
He had done his best to keep his eyes on the man, even when he went around a corner or disappeared a few times in what might have been an attempt to shake him off, but he had been in the game too long, doing investigative work with law enforcement on and off. He steeled himself as the man finally reached a more crowded area, with one or two civilians giving him a wide enough berth as they caught sight of him or glanced in his direction. There had almost been an altercation when he had nearly bumped into some rowdy-looking gentlemen, but once they got a good look at him, they wisely backed off.
The man hadn't once spared any of it his notice. He only kept walking while keeping his gaze trained ahead to wherever his destination was.
Even from where he was keeping his distance, the giant of a man was an unmistakably intimidating mass of muscle, which wasn't necessarily uncommon with the plethora of size-enhancing or even gigantification Quirks, but there was definitely something about this one individual that made him different in Toshinori's eyes. He could have easily dismissed him and this entire pursuit, for even if he wasn't a hero, if he was going to be suspicious of every odd-looking Joe, that would only invite its own set of problems. And indeed, there had been few close calls in his earlier career.
Another thing he took keen note of was that the man seemed...almost relaxed. Actually, too relaxed. His combat experience denoted when someone was tense or on guard, and the strange man seemed almost indifferent, if not impassive, to everything around him, though those who managed to catch a glimpse of him probably thought otherwise.
They must have made such a contrasting pair. The anorexically thin man in his flip-flops, as opposed to the burly giant walking barefoot. Regardless, he trusted his instincts enough to stick around in case the man pulled something. And, if he was mistaken, he could always leave him be and slink back home.
Musutafu Park…
Izuku nearly fell backwards when another shot flew past his ear and detonated behind him, followed by another that he had to bend his upper body to let slide as well. Exhaustion was setting in after he had amazingly managed to dodge most, if not all, of Katsuki's shots for what felt like hours. He was panting and sweating profusely, while the other boy only seemed to get angrier and angrier.
The two who were watching the scene from the sidelines were similarly bewildered. Deku, the useless crybaby wimp, was actually holding his own, bobbing and weaving through the onslaught while Katsuki kept firing, the swing creaking under the strain and ready to break at any moment if this went on any longer. Katsuki was tempted to just snap the suspensions and be done with this farce, but his shots weren't exactly that accurate, let alone from where he was standing at least two meters away; that Izuku's unpredictable reaction time wasn't already rubbing at his burning irritation. Pride and stubbornness kept him rooted to his spot, wanting to prove to himself that he could bring down the little bug in front of him.
Izuku clenched his teeth, his eyes bloodshot from the crying and the adrenaline that had taken over him, his palms starting to itch from the tight grip on the suspensions, squeezing hard enough to draw blood. But gone was the terror from his face, replaced by a determination to not get hit and suffer another explosion. Both stared at the other, their eyes locked in an unspoken exchange.
But Katsuki had had enough. "Deku," he seethed frostily, "after this, we're not just going to hang you from a tree. We're going to beat you up so bad you'll never show your face again!"
Izuku, his heart pounding in his chest, couldn't explain what he was feeling right now. He should have been terrified, wallowing in fear that he couldn't even move, but... being in this situation, not wanting to be hit, it was as if his body was eagerly complying. The more he moved, the more he watched out for Katsuki's shots…
The more he felt like he could actually get through this.
Katsuki spat on the ground, collecting the sweat in his palms before bringing them together to mold. The biggest he had ever made. Even in his spare time practicing, he could only manage tennis ball sized shots before they blew up in his face, but now? Now, he felt, was as good a time as any to try his luck and go for broke.
"Dodge this!" Katsuki cried, winding both arms back before thrusting them forward. "DIE!"
Izuku braced himself, waiting for the inevitable, only to have his eyes widen when he saw just how much bigger this one was compared to the previous shots; at least as big as his head. Time seemed to slow down for him, his fight and flight instincts going wild. Before he could even think of throwing himself out of the way, something inside him kept him rooted to the swing, his body now rebelling as his vision was flooded with a bright yellow light.
He was finally blown away, along with the entire swing set as it was ripped from its hinges and fell with him, the explosion large and loud enough to cause a ruckus and panic among those nearby. Even Katsuki's two lackeys were astonished that the volatile boy had gone so far. Katsuki himself, on the other hand, kept his gaze fixed on his handiwork before his senses returned and his gaze was replaced by shock and then...concern.
"D...Deku...?" He muttered weakly, the sheer gravity of what he had done slowly dawning on his face as he became fixated on the cloud created by the force of the explosion. His feet moved of their own accord. "Deku! Deku!"
The heat was palpable, the iron of the swing warped and broken in places that he could barely recognize, which only added to what Dek-Izuku's state might have been. "I-Izuku!" No! I…I didn't…
He could barely focus on what was happening before him, all the noises drowned out by his rapidly beating heart. "Izu-!" His words became lodged in his throat once his eyes caught something within the smoke, which was steadily waning. Some semblance of relief settled in when he could make out the boy's shaggy green hair. "Izuku!" He didn't care how it might have looked, or if his stooges would think less of him for it, but what he had done…
"Izuku!" Trudging closer to the epicenter, he beheld the form of Izuku, crouched on his knees, his white All Might shirt torn to the side, revealing the upper right part of his chest and stomach. Black smoke hung in the air, so thick that Katsuki covered his nostrils with the back of his hand to stifle a cough. He took a step forward, mindful of the temperature, and paleing in realization at how Izuku must have felt basking in the center of it all. "Izuku, can you get up?!"
No answer. "Izuku…Izuku, I-I'm sorry! Please, can you stand? Get up!"
Was he worried that he might get in trouble? Of course, what kid his age wouldn't? But there was also a genuine concern in the pit of his stomach at the boy that, little over a year ago, he still considered his friend. The times that they had spent during that period of their lives came flooding, buying and sharing trading cards of heroes, especially All Might. Playing by the river with other kids whose faces were never clearer.
None were as clear as Izuku, smiling with joy, being the very one to call him Kacchan. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Izuku turned his head slowly in his direction. "Izuk-" Again, his throat died in his chest, enveloped by something that he hadn't felt…or perhaps this was the first he had ever experienced such a sensation.
True fear.
Red met with red, and Katsuki could have sworn that the air around the two of them had gone deathly still, cold, his body frozen as all color drained from his face. Gone were the tears, replaced by a vicious, heated glare directed at him alone, Izuku's mouth set in a toothy snarl. The wind around the boy began to pick up, causing Katsuki to take a step back as his arms flew up to shield himself. He blinked, and his heart practically stopped when he found Izuku standing right in front of him, his hateful sneer framed by his crossed arms.
He didn't expect what happened next when he soon found himself on his back, his stomach aching and his breath leaving him.
Izuku had... kicked him.
It had been so fast and sudden that he had not been able to react, going catatonic at the realization that Izuku - the same shy and timid Izuku he knew - had actually hit him. Gasping for breath, he only had enough time to see how Izuku had lunged at him and straddled his waist. What came next would have been a deluge of pain if something else had not happened at that very moment.
Elsewhere…
He's started running!
Toshinori was now in hot pursuit of his target, his doubts that the man was up to no good wavering. He chased him all the way to the suburbs of Musutafu, passing almost identical houses and some of the residents walking by, the two of them making for an even more bizarre sight. It didn't seem to matter if the man had gotten wind of him long before this, for he just kept sprinting at an impressive speed for such a large build, not that he was any slower himself, but it was still jarring to see.
Wherever he's headed, it might shed some light as to who he is and what his game is. A hideout? No, he doesn't strike me as incompetent or dimwitted. There must be something else.
His answer would soon come as the man was nearing the tiny park of the village, and he didn't bother stopping for even a second as two boys were up ahead in what looked like…wreckage?
Toshinori quickened his pace, dropping everything and assuming his muscle form.
Izuku had his right fist cranked back, with Katsuki far too shocked to move, his lackeys having abandoned him midway in the kerfuffle. Before the blow could even land, Katsuki managed to catch something looming overhead. A tall shadow, and through the lingering smoke, a large hand burst forth and laid itself atop of Izuku's crown.
He couldn't make sense of what was happening any more than he already did, but soon, Izuku's demeanor, which was filled with rage and hatred, came to a stop. Izuku's form went rigid, the glare on his face slowly losing its intensity until softening back to what Katsuki knew. Whether he was relieved or not wasn't in the forefront of his mind as the curtain of smoke was soon drawn to reveal the giant towering over the both of them, paleing in newfound horror.
Izuku, his eyes glazed over and half-lidded, blinked a few times before shaking his head once the man's hand was lifted. Ignorant of where he stood, or sat, he regained enough of his senses to look down and see none other than, "Ka…cchan?"
Katsuki, still on his back and frozen in terror, tried to spring out a warning, for Izuku to make a run for it, but his tongue was tied to his throat.
"K-Kacchan? Wha-?" Turning his head to and fro, he was momentarily at a loss as to how he was…sitting…on top of…
"E-E-E-EH?! K-K-K-KACCHAN?!" He removed himself from the compromising position in a snap of movement that left even the blonde flabbergasted, the green haired child squirming and sputtering at how he had even found himself that way. Before more could be said, however, as if remembering where they were, both boys froze, and drifted their gazes towards the rather odd…and horrifying newcomer to have arrived. Izuku, who had seen a wax replica of All Might standing strong in all his glory, could only measure up at about seven feet. The man that had appeared seemed taller, with a physique that greatly rivaled that of his idol.
The only notable difference that caught the duo's undivided attention was the pair of eyes that glowered at them, alight in an ethereal red that made all courage leave their veins.
"Wh...Who...Wh-Wh...?" Izuku's jaw hung open, all the color draining from his body, standing as rigid as a statue as he watched the man reach with his hand and…grab the scruff of what was left of his shirt.
"Step away from those children, villain!"
Both Izuku and Katsuki became still at the sound of the voice, not only because it didn't seem to come from the tall man, but also because; unless it was their imagination brought on by desperate fear, it belonged to someone they recognized all too well to be mistaken for a mere stranger.
And sure enough, as they looked toward the entrance of the park, their eyes fell on the one man they never in a million years thought they would ever have the chance to meet in person.
All Might, his fists clenched at his waist and standing tall with his signature smile, pristine teeth gleaming, glared at the other man and declared, "Ahahahahaha! Fear not, boys, for I am here!"
Those words. Those very words he would always speak to proclaim himself. It was more than a proclamation, it was an assurance; a promise. That with him, all fear and worry would vanish, leaving nothing but the hope that good would triumph over evil.
With stars in his eyes, Izuku stared at his idol; his hero! For he was here! In the flesh! Not a video, not an action figure, not a limited edition lunch box, but the real deal All Might was right in front of him! So lost in his own little world, he failed to notice that the man had started to move again, and while Toshinori expected the villain to run, he instead marched at a languid pace. The same relaxed step as he had done before.
"We can do this the easy way, or the hard way!" Toshinori; now All Might, stated spiritedly, ready to throw himself down if necessary to save the child the man had taken, while leaving the other one to his curiosity. "Now, are you-!" He pointed at the kidnapper to give him an ultimatum, and stopping as the man...simply walked past him.
Stunned, he took several rapid steps back until he was in front of the man once again. "Now, are you going to let the boy go, or-!" And once again, the man treaded past him.
"…"
He repeated the retreating motion, stepping in front of the man, this time assuming a fighting stance. "Listen well, villain, if you do not relinquish the boy this instant..." He stiffened and twitched as the man walked past him again, ignoring him while a still starstruck Izuku barely paid attention to what was going on around him.
The light but fast scraping of footsteps soon reached his ears, and he turned to see none other than the child who had been left behind, lunging at the man while drawing back a clenched hand. He could see a bright yellow glow emanating from the young man's hand as he failed to stop him on time, lunging up to strike at the stranger from behind, resulting in an explosion.
"It must be his Quirk," Toshinori thought to himself in alarm, chiding himself for the lapse in action before moving quickly in fear of the villain's retaliation, only to be beaten to the punch as the blonde was swiped before his fingers could even brush the back of the boy's shirt.
Katsuki yelled and grunted, "Let us go, you jerk!" He swung his fists with wild abandon, hoping to hit the stranger, and sending a few sparks flying in the process. The stranger tilted his head at the useless flailing before he lifted the boy higher.
Toshinori blanched as he now found himself at an impasse. He couldn't engage without accidentally hurting the children, and doing something funny might just provoke the man. These were the worst scenarios a hero like him could ever find themselves in. He had handled such debacles before, but it was always a matter of luck, good planning, and the type of hostage taker. He was fast enough, never mind strong, but even the simplest mistake could mean the difference between critically injured to needless loss of life.
And it was his hope that no harm at all would befall the young ones.
He raised his arms in front of him, pride and dignity taking a backseat as he pleaded, "Put the children down. I'll do whatever you want, just don't hurt them."
Katsuki had stopped flailing, shivering as he now found himself staring down at the man in fear once he gained a closer look at his face. The scowl he wore seemed permanently fixed on that one could easily make the mistake of it being carved out of marble. The man, on the other hand, continued to silently bore into him with the very same scowl, keeping him suspended in the air until they all heard something.
"Hmm…"
A…grunt? Could…could it actually have come from the beast-like man standing before them?
"If I don't do something soon…" Toshinori thought to himself in dread of his time limit, sweat beading down his temple as he kept his eyes trained squarely on the boys. "Just tell me what you want."
Instead of answering, the man stared at the blond for far longer than what was appropriate before lowering him to the level of the other child, who had come to his senses and was now trembling like a leaf. Neither boy dared make another sound, the gravity of situation dropping down on top of them like a sledgehammer.
Before Toshinori could even begin to expect the worst, the man started walking again, causing him to pause in confusion before reluctantly following suit. Could the man simply be mentally ill? It was a possibility, but one that would complicate matters even more if the case. It would seem that he would need a lot more finesse if he was to see the boys saved.
Midoriya Residence…
Inko never thought she could feel such relief upon seeing her husband getting out of his taxi, his shaggy black hair more neatly trimmed than their boy's, a feature she'd recognize anywhere. They embraced before she offered to help with the bags. Hisashi, a wiry man in a dress shirt and navy pants, loosened his tie in exhaustion from his trip home and huffed in gratitude.
They didn't speak much as they made their way to their apartment, at which point Hisashi decided to ask as he was removing his shoes, "Is Izuku here?"
Inko fought back a flinch, but her shoulders still sagged once she placed the bag she had been wheeling against the wall. "He's out playing."
Hisashi caught her hesitation. "Is he…?"
"He's…" Inko didn't even know when or where to begin. "I think…you should just wait until he comes home. Besides, you must be bushed."
Hisashi couldn't bring himself to disagree. "Bushed? Try wiped. Commuting was murder." He allowed himself to fall against the sofa, more than happy to forget work and spend some much needed respite with his family. "Still, I'm just glad to be home. And, I think I have just the thing that'll bring some pep back into Izuku."
Inko smiled. "Another All Might shirt?"
"Shirts, boxers, and..." He reached down to unzip his bag and pulled out a red, white and blue gift-wrapped box. "Something that'll really cheer him up."
His wife beamed with relief. Her husband was rarely with them because of work, but when it came down to it, he more than made up for his unfortunate shortcomings with genuine love for his family. His black eyes scanned the living room, searching for the remote control, and found it by the stand where a vase stood.
Just as he was about to turn on the TV, he heard a soft knock at the door. Glancing at it, he almost mustered the energy to open it himself before he saw Inko marching past. Shrugging his shoulders, he sank into the seat and began to flip through a few channels before a shriek startled him.
A shriek that unmistakably came from Inko.
"What's wrong?!" Hisashi asked in alarm, practically exploding out of the sofa and sprinting to where Inko was standing by the door. As his vision adjusted and he looked past his wife to see who or what could have frightened her, he was greeted by the most unusual sight blocking the entryway.
Sneaking closer to get a better look, he dared to lift his head in the same vein as his shaking wife, only for his jaw to come unhinged. The remote control, still in his hand, fell uselessly to the floor.
Standing outside their door was a...man? Creature? It could have been someone with a Mutant-type Quirk, but that couldn't have been further from the impression they got as he held two very familiar children in each of his hands. To their horror and shock, the one on his right was a battered-looking Izuku who seemed to be on the verge of crying, and on his left was a less scruffy Katsuki who was fighting back his own tears.
Not one of them spoke a word, with the only immediate sound coming from the boys' whimpers and sniffles.
"U…Um…"
It would be a moment before Hisashi was the first to break out of his trance, his eyes darting frantically at the voice reaching his ears, yet he kept his silence, his mind now racing as to what the hell was even happening.
"D-Don't...be alarmed...um..." Toshinori himself wanted to cry as he stood behind the now much more imposing man in his skeletal state, having reached his time limit just as they entered the apartment building. "L...listen...if you could just...call...the...police..."
Author's Note: This was originally supposed to be a one-shot to me. An experiment, really, but I decided to invest some time to this story after getting ideas for future chapters. In case anyone would be curious, the Street Fighter side of this story will have elements from nearly all points of canon. Other than the games, there will be material from the UDON comics (yes, even Darkstalkers), the animated movies and even a few from official manga.
Overall, I think this is getting off to a pretty good start.
