Here you go! Hope you enjoy!
Mina stretched. Finally this fight was over. She was going to get over to Yaizu and meet Eijiro. After everything, she was happy just to get in the car and fall asleep.
Mina paused and frowned. Someone was watching the clean-up from the edge of the camp, a man with a dark coat, long scarf, thick sunglasses, and a jackal's head. Mina wasn't sure but he seemed…off. She jogged over and said, "Hello there! How are you?"
"Alien Queen," the man said. "I'm just here to observe. You and the AMF kept those things from getting to the nearby town. I have several friends there who'd love to thank you."
"I'll pass that along!" Mina said. "Were you visiting?"
"I suppose. I heard there was a kaiju here and wanted to see it. I've seen smaller ones before, but it's been since I was a boy." He stared at the Megaguirus head. "Truly monstrous things aren't they? Yet, magnificent all the same."
"Yeah. I don't like them, but I can see why some do."
"Meaning Izuku Midoriya?"
Mina blinked. "You know him?"
"Only by reputation. You're close with Uravity so I assumed you met him. Is he like they say?"
"Depends," Mina said, "What do they say?"
"Stubborn, incredibly reckless, but also highly skilled and brilliant."
"Then yes, he is."
"You and the Hero world must regret that he can't join. Though I'm pretty sure Uravity wants to change that."
Mina frowned. "Why would you say that?"
"She wants to overturn the rules requiring quirks to take part in the Hero tests. There's only one person she'd have in mind for that. We discussed it recently. Can't blame her, he'd be magnificent at the job. "
"You met her?" Mina said. "What's your name again?"
"Haru Katsuhara. A lawyer and friend of Shoji. " His phone rang. He glowered at it, then said, "I have to go. Excuse me." He tipped his cap and walked away.
Mina scratched her head. He seemed fine, but something felt…off. She brushed it aside. She wanted to get on the road and take a long nap.
After the battle with Megaguirus, the clean-up crews dealing with the corpse, assisted by eager AMF analysts. Izuku smiled as he imagined how they'd reacted when they heard about this. It wasn't everyday they got a specimen like that.
As the soldiers and Heroes drove away, Izuku idly wondered what sort of insights one got into from studying kaiju remains. Of course, he preferred seeing living kaiju, their habits, and abilities, but the dead ones were cool too. His team on the other hand….
"Good to be away from that stench," said Kisaragi.
"Yeah, another minute and I might've thrown up," Akiba said. "I hate bugs."
"It wasn't that bad," said Izuku.
"I suppose it was tolerable," said Hinae, which even Izuku could tell was a lie.
"Yes it was," said Akiba. "Only the fanboy-in-command could tolerate it."
"I'm not a Megaguirus fanboy!"
"Awfully specific clarification," said Akiba, causing Izuku to flush.
"Poor Hibino described the stuff the clean up crews do. It sounds awful, I have no idea why he joined them," said Kisaragi. "He says the AMF used to sell the remains for cash."
"Seriously?" said Akiba.
"Yeah. Apparently kaiju parts can be very useful and needed money. Helps that the HPSC subsidized our cleanups along with the Heroes."
"Do they still do that now that the politicians are giving us more than we know what to do with?"
Izuku said, "Don't they still sometimes say they can't afford certain equipment?"
"It's weird," said Kisaragi. "But I heard they're putting a ton into designing new weapons."
"You learn that from that mechanic you like?" said Akiba.
"You zip it. Besides, he doesn't share much from his work. Gag order."
"That's inhumane. Banning Chujo from talking about machines is like banning Midoriya from talking about kaiju."
"Who's Chujo?" Izuku said.
"A friend," Kisaragi quickly said. "Say Midoriya, the AMF's annual fair is soon right?"
"Yeah!" Izuku said, "Godzillo's going to be there! It's a shame his popularity in Japan tanked. He's really cool! He gave me an autograph!" Several times!
"It's bullshit," said Akiba. "We have to deal with the real Godzilla and our guys always liked him! Or at least we liked dunking him."
"You never succeeded," said Kisaragi.
"Neither did you?" said Izuku.
"Never mind that. Will the others be there?"
"Yashiro might," Izuku said. "Zeni's been busy with his new job."
"What job?"
"Journalist. Some reporter hired him as an assistant."
"Seriously? Man is moving up," said Akiba.
"Ochako will be there too."
Hinae said, "You don't think we'll have to fight before that, do you?"
"Probably," said Izuku. "Kaiju attacks are everywhere."
"Is that a bit of hope I hear Midoriya?" Kisaragi said.
"I don't hope for kaiju attacks!"
"No, but you do hope that when one does happen, you get to fight it," said Akiba. "Don't tell us you don't enjoy fighting Godzilla."
They rounded a bend, passing a destroyed town. Varan had been here three days ago. As Izuku looked at the devastation, including the field hospitals, he said, "I don't enjoy this."
"No, you don't," said Akiba.
Izuku then passed time by drafting his reports. He winced. Two near misses in as many days. One of which was a near suicidal charge to redirect a juvenile Megaguirus.
Izuku hoped they wouldn't try and pull him out of the fight again. There was a borderline war going on between Japan and its kaiju. Izuku couldn't just stay on the sidelines while everything happened. Yet, he got the distinct impression things were changing soon. He just couldn't tell how.
Once he finished drafting, Izuku picked up his Ota Murakami biography.
After Vietnam, the whole world changed for us…
Gantaro and his friends walked into the bar. After everything utterly exhausted. Gantaro wondered if he should just resign, which rookies could do as of six months ago. Either way, nothing felt better than the idea of getting utterly plastered and forgetting the last few days
"Don't even think about it," said Akai as he walked by. "They watch us, especially new ones, to keep us from having too much. Can't have us becoming drunkards after all." He gestured to the table where the veterans were. "You and your mates can come over and join us."
Gantaro looked at the spot, then at Akai. "You guys never let the rookies drink with you."
"Correction, we don't let the new meat drink with us. You guys have been through the fire." He clapped Gantaro on the shoulder. "That makes you real AMF. Welcome to the club."
"I don't think I like it."
"That's common after the first battle. Trust me, we've all got horror stories!" Akai went and joined the other veteran soldiers.
Gantaro and the others exchanged looks. Nearby the Americans were singing something about a good day to die. Against their better judgment, Gantaro and the others joined the larger group. Within an hour they were all joking about the times they'd almost gotten crushed, incinerated, or torn apart. Somehow, it actually relieved the pain a little.
Rando drank a sip of coffee while he looked at the report. This was not their finest day. Godzilla and Anguirus brawling in the streets. A missed Meganulon hive creating a horde and a full grown Megaguirus. Another near suicidal but successful gambit by Midoriya saving many lives.
Not been their finest hour, but no disaster. Godzilla and Anguirus had been led back into the sea, both on cordial terms again, Megaguirus was dead by Rodan's talons, and most importantly, no new transmitters had sprouted up.
Ogashira entered the room.
Speaking of. "Any news?" he said.
"No. All of Mifune's old colleagues have been clean. Me and Saegusa plan on talking with the last one soon, Yuji Shinoda. Eccentric and a bit of a kaiju fanatic, but highly unlikely to do something as stupid as making a psionic transmitter. But he's all we have. None of our other leads have led anywhere."
"Why were you so sure it's tied to Mifune?"
Her expression was as dispassionate as ever. "Because he researched how to make one. He wanted to use it to create the hypothetical Project Monster Island. However, we worried that recreating that technology would lead to events similar to the last few months. Now that the genie is out of the bottle, we're revisiting his idea."
"Was he the only one studying them?"
"The only one who had a chance of making one. Plus, he was deeply embittered when we shut down his project and reassigned him. He resigned just after. He had a reputation for his ego. Frankly, most of his colleagues could barely stand him. Most importantly, he actually tried to build one.
Rando straightened. "He did?"
She nodded. "It caused the fire that killed him."
Rando nodded. "It does seem like a good lead, but sometimes those end up just distractions." He nodded to her. "I trust your judgment."
She returned his nod, then turned around and left.
Rando slumped over and stared at his work. A meeting with Akasaka in a few hours to coordinate the AMF and Heroes, a quick speech to prepare for the AMF's fair (as always), and figuring out what to do with Midoriya. More burdens.
Yet, some things were paying off..
Detnerat's exploration ship north had yielded valuable findings, while other projects were making leaps and bounds. Rando looked at one particular report. Often, his job seemed pointless, doing paperwork and calling favors. But he'd seen what it being done poorly could cause, in Tokyo. His work was tedious, but when added up, it could move mountains.
And these days, moving mountains was needed. Otherwise, the mountains would move them.
Rikiya swirled his drink. Another triumphant day for the heroic AMF. Fortunately, the Heroes and their prized meta abilities contributed to the rescue efforts, giving them some good PR. Unfortunately, that radioactive mongrel was still alive.
Oh well, he had other things to worry about. Like his upcoming meeting with Jackdaw. Despite giving Rikiya the proper lip service, he was getting too bold Still he probably wasn't a threat. Yet. Rikiya needed to make sure the man knew his place. Not in a way that alienated him, but one that was unmistakable.
As the door opened, Rikiya turned around with a smile as warm as the actors pretending to be satisfied customers in his commercials. "Haru, excellent to see you."
"Rikiya, it has been a while," Jackdaw said, baring his teeth.
"It sure has."
How are you?
Ochako texted back. Fine. Some rubble flew past me but I avoided the worst of it.
And the villain who did this? Midori texted.
We think he was in a building on the south side. It's hard to say because it's been scattered over several blocks. Ochako said.
What happened? said Midori.
Godzilla kicked Anguirus clean through it. And the ones behind it. And a few more next to it.
How did he bring them both at once?
Ochako smiled. Looking for analysis already, eh Midori? She typed. His quirk let him make local animals go berserk. It apparently worked better than intended and brought in Anguirus. Godzilla came to investigate. Anguirus hit him and…you know the rest.
Midori typed, Godzilla is known for his temper. He and Anguirus often fight when under the influence of transmitters. Though they usually join together when another kaiju is there. They also rarely fight in the wild so that's probably a result of their moods being affected by-
Ochako snickered. Still analyzing. Once he finished, she asked What about you? Have you fought anything?
Megaguirus. The hive managed to hatch one.
It did?! Mina mentioned something about a flying kaiju, but Ochako thought she'd been mistaken. She'd have to speak with her friend when this was over.
Yes. Rodan killed it while flying by.
Are you hurt? Rodan was a particularly dangerous one for a tank.
No. That happened well away from me. Rodan was no threat at all.
Ochako frowned. That doesn't mean the other monsters weren't a threat. What happened?
Nothing happened. I am completely uninjured. She could see the sweat coming down him. Are you coming to the fair again?
Of course! Ochako texted. Then she added. I will be calling you later. Don't think you're getting out of explaining yourself.
There was a pause. Then, Understood.
Ochako sometimes wondered if her scoldings scared him more than his superior officers'. Whatever keeps him alive…
Ochako sat on what was once a stone wall and watched the rescuers clearing rubble. In a few weeks this would soon be completely repaired, like the damage never happened. Well, mostly. Many of the people could only be repaired with the strongest of quirks. Some not even then
Speaking of, Ochako saw the student from before, the Healing Hero: Restore, emerge from the medical tent. "My quirk is drained for a while," she said, taking a seat next to Ochako.
"You did well," Ochako said. "You'll be a great Pro someday."
Restore, AKA Eri looked flustered. "Thanks. And thank you for guiding me yesterday. Hero work is…it's harder than I thought it would be."
Ochako gave her a reassuring smile. "That's because it's gotten harder in the last year."
"I figured, but I wasn't sure. Some of my classmates dropped out after Tokyo. Some lost loved ones, others…just couldn't take it."
"A lot of Pros dropped too. This new world was too much."
"Not all of them. I heard some joined the AMF."
"Which is going from the frying pan and into the fire. Trust me, I know. Heroism is way less straining." And lethal.
Eri nodded, then chomped on an energy bar.
"Does your quirk require extra energy?"
She nodded. "These help me recover. I've been needing them more. A lot more. Injuries have been climbing. My quirk goes wild almost every attack. It used to be months between incidents…" Her face fell. She bit her energy bar. "I prefer apples."
"Well, even when your quirk wasn't working, you did well."
Her eyes lit. "You mean it?"
"Of course!"
Eri idly kicked the air, saying, "By the way, I've been looking for a place to have a work study…"
Ochako nodded. "You seem like a very capable student. Are you looking for one of those paid ones, or is unpaid fine?"
Eri shrugged. "I don't care as long as it's with a good Hero."
"Well, I was thinking of taking on an intern, and you'd be a great one. You're capable, you have a quirk that's good for disasters, and have a friendly personality."
"Really?!" Eri said, eyes shining.
Ochako nodded. "Yep! I'll send you the paperwork!"
Eri practically bounced in her seat. Then she paused, "Hey, you going to that AMF event in a couple weeks?"
"Yeah, why?"
"I'll be there with my friends from UA! We formed a bit of a band in Middle school and are planning to use it as a side job with the Hero work. It also gives me something to do when-" she tapped her stubby horn. "So we'll be playing there! You should watch!"
"I will!" Ochako said.
Nearby, a black haired boy approached.
Eri hopped up, a smile on her face. "Kota!" She turned back to Ochako. "Thank you for speaking to me Uravity."
"It was my pleasure Restore."
Ochako stood up and walked away. Then her phone pinged. Ochako looked at it and said, "What does Sekizawa want?"
That scene with Haru was added last second to give another glimpse before the next chapter, where we see more about his beliefs and his place in the MLA.
That's right! Eri's going to intern for Ochako. I decided to have her be more prominent in the story and that was a good way to do it.
Hope you enjoyed! Reviews bring me happiness!