Yeah, gonna be releasing these on Sundays, and then Gemstones on Saturdays. That should be a good release schedule for the time being. Job hunt has been merciless; two interviews in my field, but big empties in the end. I hate it.
Anyways, here's your chapter. Here's the Discord: /cgFmXz3qJ5
To say Kirishima was busy was...an understatement. As one of the first kids to pursue a work study, he knew he had to go big or go home. Since his previous work study (with Fourth Kind) was sort of a bust, he had to think 'outside' the box.
Kirishima had always been a driven individual, especially when it came to his dream of becoming a Pro Hero. He knew that in order to achieve his goal, he needed to gain as much real-world experience as possible. That's why he was so eager to pursue a work study in the first place. However, after his experience with Fourth Kind, he realized that simply working with a Pro Hero wasn't enough. He needed to find someone who could challenge him and help him grow as a hero.
So, he began to research different Pro Heroes and their work styles, looking for someone who would be a good fit. He talked to other students at UA, read news articles, and even watched videos of hero battles. Even did some theory crafting with Izuku.
"How about...Crust?" Kirishima asked.
"Not taking any right now. He said he was too worried about their safety in the field after Hosu and Kamino." Izuku said.
Kirishima scratched his head. "What about Yoroi Musha? He's a pretty defensive guy."
Izuku hummed. "I don't think your quirks really mesh."
Kirishima groaned in frustration. "This is harder than I thought. I want to make the most out of my work study, you know?"
"I know, but don't worry! You'll find someone eventually," Izuku said reassuringly. "Or, someone will find you."
Kirishima nodded. "Yeah, you're right. I just want to make sure I'm prepared for anything."
"I have no doubt that you will be," Izuku said with a smile. "You're one of the most hardworking people I know!"
Kirishima grinned back at him. "Thanks, man. I appreciate it."
That comment meant more to Kirishima than Izuku intended it to.
Finally, he came across Fatgum, a hero who wasn't as well-known as some of the other top Pro Heroes, but was known for his strength and unconventional methods. Kirishima knew that working with Fatgum would be a unique and challenging experience, but he was willing to do whatever it takes to become a great hero.
And even better, he had a student work study with...
"Hey, Amajiki!" Kirishima approached Amajiki, his eyes shining with excitement. "I heard you're doing your work study with Fatgum! Can you introduce us?"
Amajiki recoiled slightly at the sudden approach and stuttered, "Uh...I dunno...I'm not good with-"
Tetsutetsu appeared beside Kirishima, grinning widely. "Aw, come on, Amajiki! You gotta give us something! You're one of the Big Three, after all. We wanna strive to be on your level someday!
"Woah, you too?" Kirishima said. "We gotta stop sharing a brain couch."
"That's never gonna happen." Tetsutetsu smirked.
Amajiki shifted uncomfortably, not used to this kind of attention. "I just-"
Kirishima's expression fell slightly, but he tried to stay positive. "Come on, man. Please?"
Amajiki bit his lip, considering Kirishima's request. He relented. "Okay...fine. I'll let you guys tag along to my next meeting. Okay?"
Both Kirishima and Tetsutetsu nodded fervently, their eyes wide with excitement.
"G-good. Now, if you excuse me...I'm gonna go lie down. Too much interaction..." Amajiki mumbled, as he walked off.
Kirishima pumped his fist in the air. "This is gonna be great! Thanks, Amajiki! You're the best!"
Amajiki huffed. "N-no problem..."
"See ya soon!" Kirishima and Tetsutetsu said in unison before walking off.
"Fatgum's an underrated hero. Heard he could even absorb a bomb with his quirk." Kirishima said.
"Seriously? That's insane!" Tetsutetsu said. "I just know his face from some of those mini cake packages."
Kirishima chuckled. "Yeah, he's definitely more than just a pretty face. He's so freakin' cool…"
"Lemme guess. The camp is still on your mind, ain't it?" Tetsutetsu asked.
Kirishima paused for a moment, thinking of how to answer. "I don't know...I just feel like I need to do something more, you know? Like, I can't just be content with where I am. And that starts with getting a jump start into the hero world."
Tetsutetsu nodded again. "Nothing's gonna keep US hardheads down. We'll show Fatgum what we're made of!"
Kirishima pumped his fist in the air. "Hell yeah! Let's do it!"
The commute over on the subway was relaxing. Esuha City, in the Kansai area, was home to Fatgum's Agency. Approximately one subway journey away. Tetsutetsu and Kirishima were just discussing workout tips, while Amajiki was curled up in a ball and resting against a subway wall to avoid human contact.
"Hey man, you know what? I think I might try that workout routine you were telling me about." Kirishima said.
Tetsutetsu grinned. "Yeah? Which one?"
"The one where you lift weights while also using your quirk to practice moving... I think it's called the Steel Dragon?" Kirishima said.
Tetsutetsu nodded. "Oooh, that's a good one."
Amajiki peeked out from under his hood. "I-I've heard of that one too. Seems like a good idea for heroes who rely on physical strength."
"Woah, hidden depths. Are you jacked, dude?" Tetsutetsu asked.
"N-no." Amajiki said.
Kirishima turned to Amajiki, surprised to hear him speak up. "Hey man, you should come work out with us some time! It'll be fun."
Amajiki shook his head. "N-no thanks. I'm not much of a gym person."
"That's cool, man. To each their own." Kirishima shrugged.
As they approached their stop, Tetsutetsu stood up and stretched. "Alright, time to go meet Fatgum!"
"Let's do this!" Kirishima nodded, excitement bubbling in his chest.
Esuha City was a bustling metropolis in the Kansai area, filled with vibrant neon lights and towering skyscrapers that seemed to reach up to the heavens. The streets were always alive with the sound of people rushing to and fro, with the occasional street performer or food vendor adding to the atmosphere. The city was clean and modern, with a perfect mix of traditional Japanese culture and cutting-edge technology. Kirishima and Tetsutetsu couldn't help but be impressed by the sights and sounds of this amazing city.
"This is a place I could totally see myself living in," Kirishima beamed.
Tetsutetsu nodded. "No wonder Fatgum chose his agency here. looks like a place with a lot of crime in its underbelly!"
"Too noisy, too loud..." Amajiki put in some earbuds to shut out the noise. "Just follow me." Amajiki led them out of the subway station and onto the bustling streets of Esuha City. The streets were crowded with people, and the sounds of car horns, chatter, and street vendors filled the air. The aroma of sizzling street food wafted through the streets, making their stomachs growl.
"There's probably another reason Fatgum lives here..." Kirishima said. "That food smells tastier than Lunch Rush's best courses."
Tetsutetsu's stomach rumbled in agreement. "Yeah, let's grab something to eat before we go meet with him. I'm starving."
As they walked down the street, they passed by several small restaurants and food stalls. The smell of sizzling meat and spices filled the air, making their mouths water. Amajiki led them to a small ramen shop tucked away in a corner.
The trio took a seat at the counter, and the chef greeted them with a warm smile. They ordered their meals and soon found themselves slurping up delicious, steaming bowls of ramen. Kirishima was right; the food was incredible. Kirishima and Tetsutetsu's eyes widened as they saw the huge portions of food in Amajiki's bowl. It looked like there was one of everything in there: rice, noodles, meat, vegetables, and even some seafood.
"Whoa, that's quite a bowl you got there, Amajiki," Kirishima said, impressed.
Amajiki looked down at his bowl and turned red. "I just get a little carried away when I'm hungry," he said.
Tetsutetsu chuckled. "Don't apologize, man. That looks amazing."
Kirishima and Tetsutetsu dug into their own bowls, but they couldn't help stealing glances at Amajiki's bowl every now and then. They finished their meals, paid, left a hefty tip, and got back to walking.
As Kirishima and Tetsutetsu strolled down the bustling streets, they couldn't help but notice the signs of crime that Amajiki had talked about. Some walls were covered in graffiti and posters promoting underground fights and illegal activities, while shady characters could be seen lurking in the alleys.
"Yeesh." Tetsutetsu mumbled.
"Don't stare. We're here." Amajiki said.
The Fatgum agency was a simple two-story building that stood out from the rest of the buildings on the street. The brick structure bore a modest sign bearing the agency's name and emblem. A few of planters on the front porch added some greenery and made the space feel more homey. The windows were spotless, and the interior was lit with a comforting warmth. The outside of the agency was plain, but it gave off a warm and welcoming vibe.
Kirishima and Tetsutetsu walked inside. "Cozy place..." Kirishima nodded.
"Fat likes to keep it inviting, to help bring in some friendly faces." Amajiki said. "It's good for buisness so you don't feel overwhelmed."
The inside of the agency was indeed cozy and welcoming, with warm lighting and comfortable furniture. The walls were decorated with pictures of Fatgum in action, as well as some of the other heroes he had worked with in the past. The reception desk was manned by a friendly and round looking woman who greeted the trio as they entered.
"Ah, Amajiki! Welcome back. Are these the students from UA you mentioned on the phone?" She asked with a smile.
"Heck yeah we are!" Kirishima said.
"Ah, yes. He's been expecting you. You can head straight through to his office. It's the door on the left," she said, gesturing towards a hallway.
"Thanks, ma'am!" Tetsutetsu said, as the trio made their way down the hallway to meet with Fatgum. As they got closer, heard a loud munching noise coming from the other room. They walked in to see a large, jolly man with a big grin on his face, devouring a plate of takoyaki.
"Hey, Suneater! Wondering when you were gonna get here." Fatgum greeted.
"Sorry. We stopped for a snack." Amajiki said. "Looks like we had the same idea."
"Welcome to Fatgum Agency!" Fatgum said, swallowing his mouth full of takoyaki. He blinked. "Heyyy, I remember you two! You were those kids who tied during your battle in the sports fest. Had to settle it with arm wrestling."
Kirishima and Tetsutetsu grinned in recognition. "Yeah, that's us," Tetsutetsu replied.
"I got a great deal of respect for you, sir!" Kirishima added. "You're an underrated hero!"
Fatgum chuckled. "Is that so? Well, I'm just doing my job like everyone else." As he spoke, Fatgum reached for another takoyaki from the nearby plate and popped it into his mouth, munching contentedly. "Speaking of which, I was just getting ready to head out for my patrol. You guys wanna come along?"
Kirishima and Tetsutetsu looked at each other, their excitement palpable. "Absolutely!" they said in unison.
Amajiki looked confused. "Wait, that's it? No interview or anything?"
"Nah. These kids spoke for themselves on that battlefield. What else is there to say?" Fatgum asked.
"S-sorry. I just heard from Mirio that Nighteye gave Midoriya a really intensive one..." Amajiki mumbled.
"Typical Nighteye." Fatgum laughed. "The dude's got Shiketsu's school code embedded in that brain of his."
Tetsutetsu scratched his head. "What's Shiketsu's school code?"
"It's a set of principles that students are expected to live by while attending Shiketsu High School. Things like integrity, perseverance, and the like. It's usually referred to as 'egoism'." Fatgum explained. "Nighteye takes those principles pretty seriously, even though he graduated a long time ago."
"That's VERY doable for us." Kirishima grinned. "I give 110% into everything I do!"
"And I refuse to go down! No matter what." Tetsutetsu said.
"Good to hear that, boys. I like your spirit!" Fatgum chuckled, patting both Kirishima and Tetsutetsu on the back. "I can see why you're interested in a work study with me. But before we start, there's something I want you to know."
Fatgum's expression turned serious as he continued, "I run a hero agency that specializes in taking down organized crime. It can get dangerous, and there's a high chance you'll face life-threatening situations. Are you sure you're up for it?"
Kirishima's expression turned serious. "I'm ready for anything that comes my way."
Fatgum nodded approvingly. "That's what I like to hear."
As soon as the sun went down, Esuha City became a whole new planet. The city was illuminated in a spectrum of hues by the neon lights that lined the streets. The day's rush and bustle dissipated and was replaced by a fresh, electrifying energy.
As Kirishima, Tetsutetsu, Amajiki, and Fatgum strolled across the city at night, they observed a new aspect of Esuha. The masses that packed the streets during the day were replaced with groups of young people dressed in flamboyant attire and eager to party and have fun.
The music emanating from the clubs and pubs that lined the streets blended into a pulsating rhythm that could be heard for blocks. The aroma of street food filled the air, enticing pedestrians with the promise of delectable pleasures.
Yet, for the four heroes, it was simply another night on patrol. Their eyes scanned the crowd for signs of trouble as they walked with determination. They understood that danger may come at any time and were prepared to confront it straight on.
"No shortage of trouble from gangsters and street punks lately," Fatgum said, as he stuffed some more takoyaki in his mouth. "Makes me hungry as heck!" Kirishima and Tetsutetsu shared a look, understanding the implication. Esuha City was not as safe as it seemed during the day. Despite the thrill and vitality of the city at night, there was a sense of impending danger in the air. Criminal conduct lurking in the shadows was readily concealed by the bright lights and people.
"I'm glad you two ended up here. From what I've heard, you kids have been in some serious situations." Fatgum said.
"Yeah..." Kirishima said. "Which is why I'm ready to fight, or help, or...just about anything."
"That's the spirit, my boy!" Fatgum exclaimed, patting Kirishima on the back.
Tetsutetsu nodded in agreement. "Same here. We're not afraid to get our hands dirty."
"You two scare me with how aggressive you are." Amajiki said. "If only Mirio were around..."
"You'll make a fine team member too, Tamaki! Once we do something about that fragile psyche of yours." Fatgum said.
Tamaki dramatically clutched his chest. "T-that sort of pressure sends me spiraling even deeper!"
"You good, man?" Kirishima asked.
"It's always like this...I swear he scouted me just to have someone to torment..." Amajiki frowned. "I...I wanna go home."
"Sounds like he's just encouraging you, man." Tetsutetsu frowned.
"Yeah, Fatgum's just trying to help you overcome your fears," Kirishima added. "He wouldn't have chosen you for his agency if he didn't see potential in you."
Amajiki looked at the three of them, then down at his feet. "I...I know. Sorry, it's just hard sometimes."
"Hey, no need to apologize," Fatgum said with a kind smile.
"Hey, Fatgum! Eat at my place!" A street vendor yelled.
"Lookin' nice, Fat!" Another vendor yelled.
"Mr. Fatgum!" Someone yelled. "Take a picture with me for my kid!"
It was easy to feel how busy Esuha City was, and the sounds of people calling out to Fatgum only added to how lively it was. As Kirishima watched people in the city talk to each other in a friendly way, he could feel the warmth they were giving off seeping into his bones. The air smelled like delicious street food, and people were talking as they went about their evening. Kirishima felt like everyone was connected, and there was a strong sense of community.
"That's the kind of hero I wanna be." Tetsutetsu said. "I don't even care where I'm ranked- if the people around me are just happy to see me, then I'm satisfied."
"Same." Kirishima said. "Mr. Fatgum's a real stand up guy...maybe he chose Amajiki in the hopes of having some of his personality rub off on him."
Amajiki frowned. "I don't think it's working..."
Kirishima put his hand on Amajiki's shoulder. "We've got your back, man."
Tetsutetsu grinned. "And your front too, if we need to!"
"Terrible joke, guys." Amajiki said. "I'll never be as cheery and positive as either of you or Mirio..."
"But you don't have to be like me or Mirio," Kirishima said. "You're special because you have your own strengths."
"Yeah," Tetsutetsu added. "Besides, I'm sure you're great at what you do too!"
"I've had plenty of times where I've been left in the dust...I took this internship to close the gap and stand with my classmates as equals." Kirishima said.
"I won't let anyone look down on me either!" Tetsutetsu said, pounding his fist into his palm. "I'm gonna make sure everyone knows my name!"
Amajiki sighed. "I'm just trying to survive and not let my anxiety get the best of me. But I guess that's why I'm here."
Fatgum nodded in agreement. "That's the spirit! You gotta keep moving forward, no matter how tough it gets. No roadblocks!"
"IT'S A FIGHT! SOMEONE HELP!" Somebody yelled. Fatgum spun around, and smirked.
"Speak of the devil. Game faces, everyone!" Fatgum yelled, as he saw some criminals running down the street- they had been in an unfortunate situation- dealing Trigger on someone else's turf. And now a bunch of other criminals were chasing THEM down.
Kirishima's eyes widened with excitement, as he and Tetsutetsu quickly took off after Fatgum. Amajiki hesitated for a moment, but then followed suit, determined not to be left behind.
As they approached the scene, they could see the two groups of criminals clashing violently. Fatgum charged forward, taking on the first wave of attackers with ease, his massive size and strength making short work of them. Kirishima and Tetsutetsu jumped into the fray, their hardening and steel abilities respectively allowing them to easily hold their own against the attackers.
Amajiki hung back for a moment, his anxiety holding him back. But then he saw one of the attackers about to strike Fatgum from behind. Without thinking, he jumped forward and used his Quirk to transform his arms into giant octopus tentacles, knocking the attacker aside and saving Fatgum.
"Nice one, Tamaki!" Fatgum grinned, as the group of attackers began to retreat. Tamaki's hand turned into a giant clamshell, and he used it to trap the fleeing criminals inside.
"Got 'em!" Tamaki said, as he closed the shell tightly.
"That's some quick thinking!" Kirishima said, impressed.
"Nicely done, Tamaki!" Fatgum said. "I think we can all learn something from you."
Tamaki blushed a little at the praise, but he couldn't help feeling a little proud of himself. Maybe he wasn't as useless as he thought he was. Fatgum and the others approached the trapped attackers, who were now subdued and begging for mercy. Fatgum's demeanor changed from cheerful to stern.
"You punks think you can come into my city and sell your filth? Not on my watch!" Fatgum growled. "You've made a big mistake."
The attackers trembled as Fatgum towered over them, his massive physique seeming to grow even more intimidating. He had no patience for Trigger dealers, knowing all too well the devastation the drug could cause.
"Woah, Mr. Fatgum looks angry." Kirishima said.
"He's big 'anti drug'." Amajiki explained. "He doesn't like to talk about it."
"I don't care who you work for or what you think you're owed- you're messing with people's lives. You're lucky we're heroes and not the police. You'll be seeing them soon enough though..." Fatgum said.
A crowd had gathered around the scene, and people were looking at Amajiki. He was the one who captured the fleeing villains, after all. Fatgum turned to the gathered crowd and raised his hand. "Hey everyone, let's give a round of applause to our hero here who helped us take down these criminals!" he exclaimed, pointing at Amajiki.
The crowd cheered and clapped, causing Amajiki to look up in surprise. He had never received such positive attention before. He blushed and tried to hide his face behind his hoodie, but he couldn't help but feel a small sense of pride.
"See, Tamaki? You did great!" Tetsutetsu said, patting him on the back.
"Y-yeah...thanks." Amajiki replied, still a little shy.
As the crowd clapped and cheered, one person amongst the crowd didn't look all too happy. It was one of the criminals in the group- his name was Kogatana. All he could focus on was his buddies, trapped in that kid's stupid overgrown clam shell.
"I...I gotta save them..." He muttered, slowly pulling something out from his jacket. Fatgum saw something glint from his peripheral vision. It was-
"GUN! GET DOWN!" He yelled, as Kogatana fired his gun. The crowd scattered in panic as the gunshot rang out. The bullet hit Amajiki's arm- but left no gunshot wound or anything.
Amajiki winced and looked at his arm in confusion. "What...what happened?" he asked, as he saw the bullet on the ground. Another bullet shot out, but Kirishima jumped in front of it. Kirishima grunted in pain as the bullet bounced off his head.
Amajiki winced. "I'm fine...I'm fine. I'll just snag this guy with my octopus..." Amajiki held out his hand, but...nothing happened. Amajiki frowned and tried again, but still nothing happened. His manifest quirk had stopped working. He looked at his hand in confusion and panic.
"What's wrong?" Tetsutetsu asked, noticing the distress on Amajiki's face.
"I don't know...my quirk...it's not working..." Amajiki replied, his voice trembling.
"GET BACK HERE!" Fatgum yelled, as Kirishima charged at Kogatana. Kogatana gasped, and tried firing more bullets, but each one bounced off Kirishima's hardened skin. Kogatana decided to just ditch the gun, and start running like hell. He shoved people down and out of the way as he ran. Fatgum turned to Amajiki, concern etched on his face.
"Are you hurt?" Fatgum asked, checking Amajiki's arm.
"No, I'm fine...just my quirk..." Amajiki trailed off, still trying to will his Manifest quirk to work. But it was no use. His anxiety began to creep up on him, and he started to feel helpless. Fatgum was at a loss for words. His eyes darted over to the gun, and he tightened his look.
"What the hell is this thing?"
The chase between Kogatana and Kirishima had led to a back alley, around some bars and other sorts of fun venues. As Kogatana ran through the back alleys, Kirishima followed closely behind. The chase led them through various twists and turns, past bars and other seedy establishments.
Kogatana attempted to escape Kirishima by hiding out in a tavern, but Kirishima followed closely on his heels. Kogatana pushed past the other customers and staggered towards the bar's back door, with Kirishima close after.
But as Kogatana pushed through another door and turned down an alleyway, he realized something horrid.
Dead end.
Kogatana backed away as Kirishima approached him, his hardened skin reflecting the dim light of the alleyway. Kogatana clenched his fist, and prepared to throw a punch.
"BACK OFF!" He yelled, as tiny blades shot out of his arm. Kogatana let out a furious yell and lunged at Kirishima, blades flashing in the dim light of the alleyway. Kirishima dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the sharp edges. He countered with a punch, but Kogatana was quick, blocking the blow with his other arm.
With a fierce cry, Kirishima charged forward again, pushing Kogatana back against the wall. He landed a solid punch to Kogatana's gut, and the criminal crumpled to the ground, blades retracting.
"I held back, so come quietly. The hell kind of coward shoots a kid?" Kirishima said coldly. People behind Kirishima started taking photos and videos. The man huffed and puffed, and...started to cry.
Kirishima blinked. "...dude, are you-"
"N-no fair..." Kogatana blubbered. "I just wanted to save my bros! I got scared...and...WAHHH!"
Kirishima looked behind him, staring into the camera of one of the people. He had a perplexed look on his face. The camera man zoomed in for added effect.
"G-gimme credit for being brave enough to shoot, at least..." Kogatana said.
Kirishima turned to face the crowd that had gathered around them. "Everyone, please disperse. The situation has been handled," he said, his voice firm but calm.
Kogatana knew Kirishima was distracted for a second- that's when he decided to make his move. He slid something out of his sleeve, and caught it in his hand. Hang around with criminals, and you pick up some nice toys...
Kogatana grasped the Trigger in his hand. "Boss said this was a special doseage...made for guys like me..." Kogatana muttered, as he injected it into his neck.
Kirishima noticed Kogatana's suspicious movement and quickly lunged forward to stop him, but it was too late. Kogatana had injected the substance into his bloodstream.
"What did you do?!" Kirishima demanded, grabbing onto Kogatana's arm.
Kogatana burst into a maniacal laughter. "I'll show you what I did, you wannabe hero!" he yelled, his body convulsing. Suddenly, sharp blades burst out from his body, shooting off in all directions.
Kirishima swiftly leaped backwards to dodge the incoming blades. He couldn't believe his eyes as he witnessed Kogatana's body contorting and twisting in a horrifying manner, with his skin taking on a disturbing green hue. Kogatana's eyes rolled back in his head, and he screamed loudly, causing everyone's ears to ring.
"What the hell..." Kirishima muttered upon seeing the drastic shift in the criminal's body. What the hell did he just use?! He'd heard of Quirk enhancers, it was an unfortunately common thing to peddle, but this was different. He couldn't keep wondering about the kind of drug this guy used, that could wait. What couldn't wait was the fact that there were still civilians here. If those blades got past him...!
No...they wouldn't get past him. He quickly activated his Quirk, hardened every part of his body that he could and jumped in the way of the torrent of blades. The metal clashed and sparked against the hero's now rocky skin, sparks flying and metal breaking, but that wasn't enough. No matter how many times the blades themselves broke from bashing against Kirishima, more metal continued to shoot out of Kogatana's body.
"EVERYONE GET BACK!" Kirishima yelled to the civilians. "GET SOMEWHERE THE BLADES CAN'T REACH!" If this guy made it to the main road, they were gonna have a real mess on their hands. As Kirishima was distracted, a fast blade shot out from Kogatana's knee and slammed into Kirishima's body, knocking him down.
Kogatana let out a triumphant laugh as Kirishima hit the ground. "You think you can take me down, hero? PATHETIC!" he boasted, as more blades shot out of his body. "My power is unstoppable!"
Unstoppable?
Kirishima had to laugh at that.
The blades flew at Kirishima once again, but he didn't back down.
More. Kirishima thought to himself, focusing on his power.
More! The rock-like texture his body took on when his Quirk activated increased. The edges got sharper, his fingers hardened and sharpened so much they more resembled the claws of a beast, My body...my SOUL. EVEN HARDER! It even looked like his veins hardened, forming lines in the hero's now literally rock hard body. GET HARDER UNTIL I'M A WALL...A WALL THAT NEVER CRUMBLES! Kirishima's teeth hardened into fangs and even his eyes turned into a rocky. All the blades that were rushing and trying to cut into Kirishima suddenly came to a halt, bending against his stony form before they all snapped. Pieces of metal scattered all across the alley floor, causing Kogatana to stagger back in pain.
"GAAAAAAAH!" the small-time thug screamed.
YES! Kirishima cheered mentally, even if it looked like the attack had knocked him back, This...this is the result of all my training. I've reached maximum hardness!
"Red...Riot..." Kirishima growled, righting himself and getting into a combat ready stance. " E!"
Kogatana looked at Kirishima with a mixture of fear and anger. "What kind of Quirk is this?!" he yelled, throwing another wave of blades at the hero.
Kirishima didn't budge. He stood there, taking the full force of the attack without even flinching. The blades shattered upon impact, leaving no trace on the unbreakable hero. Kirishima moved forward, his eyes blazing with determination. His body creaked when he moved. "It's not just my Quirk that makes me strong," He said, his voice low and steady. "It's my willpower, my desire to protect others, and my training. I won't let anyone hurt innocent people while I'm around!"
Kogatana gritted his teeth, realizing that he had underestimated Kirishima. He had thought that with his new power, he could take down any hero in his way. But he was wrong. This hero was different.
I can only hold this form for a minute or so- but during this time, I won't back down! Kirishima thought. He rushed forward as the blade bounced off of him.
Kogatana screamed, as he focused all the blades into one specific point- his chest. A massive torrent of blades launched out at Kirishima, aimed to pierce through his chest. Kirishima braced himself and hardened his body even more, as the blades crashed into him with tremendous force. The impact was so great that the ground shook beneath them, and a cloud of dust rose up around them.
When the dust cleared, Kirishima was still standing, unharmed. The blades had shattered upon impact, leaving no mark on the unbreakable hero.
Kogatana's eyes widened in shock and horror. "How...how is this possible?!" he screamed.
Kirishima's hand creaked as he balled his claws into a fist and reared it back. The unbreakable hero then launched himself at the panicking thug with surprising speed, speed that definitely didn't fit with his more tanky physique.
"Ultimate Move!" Kirishima roared, "RED! GUN! TURRET!" With the power of his namesake, Kirishima threw his punch right into Kogatana's gut. The impact actually made a dent in the criminal's back as all of his blades shattered from the hero's impact. The hit was so powerful that the criminal ended up being launched back to the alley's dead end and bouncing off the before thudding to the ground.
"Woah..." one of the bystanders said, at first frozen in fear, but now he was frozen in awe.
"So young, yet the fire he has," an older bystander commented.
"And STAY down!" Kirishima said, back to his usual appearance.
Kirishima took a deep breath, his adrenaline still pumping through his veins. He walked over to Kogatana, who was lying on the ground, groaning in pain. Kirishima squatted down next to him. "You can still turn your life around," he said. "You don't have to keep down this path of crime. There are people out there who can help you..."
Kogatana glared at Kirishima, but he didn't say anything. Kirishima stood up, turning to the bystanders. "Is anyone hurt?" he asked, scanning the crowd.
"N-no! No, we're alright!" a woman called out, even if it was clear that she was still nervous about the whole situation.
"I'll be over soon to make sure! I just gotta finish up with this guy," Kirishima said, turning back to Kogatana. The small time thug coughed as he struggled to get back up, failing each time because he lacked the strength.
"S-stay...stay back!" Kogatana begged.
The effect must've worn off, Kirishima realized, He's back to being a crybaby.
"I-i'm no one! I'm just some guy w-who wanted a taste of power! Y-you can let me go, r-right? Slap on the wrist, I'll never turn to crime again!" the thug tried to negotiate.
"No can do, bud. You shot Suneater and you tried to rob someone of all their hard work. I mean...I get the 'power' part. A while back I-" Kirishima started.
"I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR TRAGIC BACKSTORY!" Kogatana yelled, cutting off Kirishima. A series of blades jutted out from the thug's back, sticking into the ground before launching him forward. Kirishima was caught off guard, pushed aside as Kogatana raced past him. The hardening hero tried to break the blade closest to him but that didn't do much.
"I'm an idiot! Did I actually fall for that?!" Kirishima chastised himself.
"Sure did, sucker! And now, you're never gonna catch me!" Kogatana was getting closer to the alley's exit, "I'm getting outta-!"
And then a familiar, bulky figure clad in yellow jumped in the way.
"-here?!" Kogatana yelled at the sudden obstacle.
"Fat Gum!" Kirishima beamed.
"Sorry I'm late!" the BMI Hero called back. Kogatana then slammed into Fat Gum's stomach, the hero's arms grabbing and restraining him.
"Good job, Kirishima. You handled that pretty well," Fat Gum complimented as he held onto Kogatana.
Kirishima grinned, feeling a sense of pride swell up within him. "Thanks, Fat Gum! I just did what I had to do!"
"Thank you, young man!" An older man said. "The way you moved to keep the blades away from us? Like watching a veteran hero in action!"
Kirishima smiled and bowed his head in gratitude. "Thank you, sir, but I'm just doing my job as a hero. It's my duty to protect innocent people like you."
The crowd continued to shower him with praise and gratitude, but Kirishima's attention was on Fat Gum and Kogatana. "Is everything okay over there?" he asked, walking towards them.
Fat Gum nodded. "Yeah, everything's under control now. This guy's not going anywhere." He looked at Kogatana and shook his head. "What were you thinking, trying to take on two heroes at once?"
Kogatana scowled, but he didn't say anything.
"Hey, did you forget me?" Tetsutetsu called out, running over to them all.
"Tetsutetsu!" Kirishima smirked.
"Dude, what happened?! You're all busted up!" Tetsutetsu said.
"Don't worry. I'm alright, man," Kirishima said, patting his friend on the back. "Where were you-?"
"I was keeping an eye on the area, making sure no one else got hurt," Tetsutetsu said, nodding towards the alley's entrance. "But I'm sure you were amazing, bro!"
Kirishima grinned. "Aw, come on now..."
"Hey, Fat Gum!" Tetsutetsu called out to the hero, who was still holding onto Kogatana. "Need a hand?"
Fat Gum chuckled. "Nah, I think I can handle him. But thanks for the offer, Tetsutetsu."
The three heroes and the villain were soon surrounded by police officers, who took Kogatana into custody. Amajiki was with the officers as well, looking more dejected than ever.
"This...is the worst," Amajiki said, pulling his head closed to try and hide his face from the world.
"You did great, Suneater," Kirishima said, walking over to the other hero. "You captured a majority of those villains!"
Amajiki glanced up at Kirishima, surprise etched on his face. "But I couldn't do much. I froze up and got hit. That's not heroism..."
"Hey, don't be so hard on yourself," Fat Gum interjected. "You did what you could. That's all that matters."
Amajiki looked down at the ground, still clearly upset with himself. "I...guess so."
Though, as Amajiki looked down, a reflected shine got his attention. He looked over to it and actually moved over to it. Discarded on the ground was the red capsule that Kogatana had used for his power-up. The more subdued, an understatement of his personality, of the Big Three picked up the discarded capsule.
"What...is this?" Amajiki asked.
"Huh? Oh! Yeah that! He jabbed it into his neck and then his Quirk went crazy!" Kirishima explained.
"Trigger," Fat Gum said, "What he used was probably Trigger."
"Trigger?" Tetsutetsu repeated.
"It's a Quirk booster. Those kinds of drugs are popular on the black market, especially here since they were dubbed illegal pretty early on in the Pro Hero days. Trigger's the most popular, though. Takes your power and jolts it up to eleven for a while."
"Relying on a drug for power, that's just not manly," Tetsutetsu growled.
"How long is 'a while?'" Kirishima asked.
"Depends on where it was manufactured. American boosters can last for up to to hours. When'd it wear off for our perp here?" Fat Gum inquired.
"Like...five minutes about?"
"Oh, so it was Russian Trigger. Made on the cheap."
CHEAP?! Kogatana thought.
Amajiki gave the capsule to one of the police officers, who put it in a bag as proof. "So he did use that... I've heard of Trigger before, but I never thought I'd actually see it in action."
Fat Gum frowned and said, "It's a dangerous thing to mess with. You never know how you will react or how long the effects will last."
Tetsutetsu nodded. "Yeah, putting your life at risk for a power boost isn't worth it. You just have to work hard and train!"
"Oh, shut up..." Kogatana sighed.
As Kogatana was taken away by the police, they began discussing the bullet that hit Amajiki.
"I don't see any exit wound," one of the officers said as he examined Amajiki's arm. "Must be a sort of...injection or something."
"That's not good," another officer chimed in. "We need to get him to a hospital. Fast."
"Especially if it erased his quirk." Fatgum said.
"With my luck, it's...permanent, probably." Amajiki muttered.
Kirishima looked at his friend with concern. "Don't say that, man! We'll get you to a hospital and they'll fix you up. You'll be back to your hero self in no time."
Hopefully.
Fatgum turned to the officers. "Can you guys call an ambulance? And make sure they know to bring a Quirk specialist."
The officers nodded and quickly made the call. Soon, the ambulance arrived and Amajiki was rushed to the hospital.
"A bullet that can counter Quirks..." Fat Gum muttered to himself, "Where could they have gotten something like that. These guys were street thugs, punks. And they just have something like that?"
"Maybe the same place they bought Trigger?" Tetsutetsu suggested, "Two for one deal. Buy a dose of Trigger and we'll use you as a tester for our new bullet for free?"
"...Tetsutetsu...you may be onto something there!"
"We need to investigate this. There could be a lot more of these bullets out there! And we need to find out who's making them." Fatgum frowned.
"I'll help in any way I can," Kirishima said, clenching his fist. I'm not the greatest with investigations, but I can learn.
"Same here," Tetsutetsu added. "I don't want anyone else to get hurt by these things."
Fat Gum nodded. "Alright, we'll need to gather intel and start looking into the black market. We can't let this go on any longer..."
Kirishima walked into class the next day, not really expecting anything too crazy. Then Kaminari practically ambushed him at the door.
"You gloryhound!" Kaminari chuckled, wrapping his arm around his classmate.
"...eh?"
"Your hero name's all over the news man!" The shocking student brought up an online news article to prove his point.
NEWCOME SIDEKICK RED RIOT BURSTS ONTO THE SCENE! VILLAINS BEWARE THIS UNBREAKABLE SHIELD FOR THE PEOPLE!
In what was a simple thwarted robbery, a thug put the lives of several bystanders in danger when he injected himself with a faulty Russian version of the Quirk enhancing drug Trigger. It was here that the new sidekick to BMI Hero Fat Gum made his incredible debut! Sturdy Hero: Red Riot, or as those who saw his debut have dubbed him, Red Riot: The Unbreakable Hero!
Kirishima couldn't believe it. He was still processing the fact that his actions had made the news. He felt proud and a little embarrassed at the same time. Was it really that newsworthy?
"Wow...I never thought..." Kirishima trailed off, trying to collect his thoughts.
Kaminari grinned. "Hey, man, you deserve it. You were awesome out there. I bet you're going to be the talk of the town for a while." As Kirishima made his way to his seat, he saw his classmates staring at him with awe and admiration. Even Bakugo looked impressed, which was a rare sight.
"...good work." Bakugo said, giving him a rare compliment.
Kirishima beamed. "Thanks, Bakugo! Means a lot coming from you."
"Yeah, whatever." Bakugou scoffed.
"Oh my god! Tsu! Tsu!" Mina called out, "You made the news too!"
"I did?" Tsuyu asked.
"Yeah! You and Setuna!" Toohru said, pulling up another article, "See?"
NEW HEROINES MAKE SPLASHING DEBUT IN LATEST VILLAIN ATTACK
In yesterday's attempted robbery, two new heroines made their debut and assisted Pro Heroes Ryukyu in apprehending the villain. The frog-like heroine, Froppy, and the water-based heroine, Lizardy, showed impressive teamwork and quick thinking in protecting the bystanders and assisting the main heroes. It seems like these two young heroes are off to a promising start in their careers.
"I'll have to show Setsuna later." Tsu smirked.
"That's awesome, Tsu! You and Setsuna are gonna be big stars!" Mina exclaimed. "I can't wait for my turn to make the news!"
"I'm sure you'll get your chance eventually!" Toohru said, "We all will!"
Kirishima laughed, as Ochako Momo entered. The trio looked exhausted from their internship.
"Oh, hey. You're back!" Kirishima said. "How's your work study coming?"
"…we fought robots from another dimension last night." Ochako stated.
Kirishima stared right at her.
"…was it cool?"
"Very."
Momo let out a small chuckle. "It was definitely an experience," She said.
"Man, you guys are getting to do some crazy stuff," Kirishima said, impressed.
"Oh, absolutely. I have to wonder how Midoriya's doing with his…" Alan wondered.
Just as Alan said that, Izuku walked in, looking a little more...deflated than usual. Ochako immediately took notice. Izuku's shoulders were slumped, and his usual energetic aura seemed to have diminished. He had dark circles under his eyes, suggesting he hadn't been sleeping well.
"Hey, you look really tired...are you okay?" Ochako said.
Izuku sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, I'm fine, just had a rough night," he said, trying to sound casual.
"Nighteye's really working you to the bone, huh?" Kirishima said.
"...something like that." Izuku said.
Iida also noticed Izuku's defeated look. "Is something the matter, Midoriya?" Iida asked with concern.
Izuku sighed, "I just...had a tough day at my work study," he said. "We encountered a villain and it didn't go as well as we hoped."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Momo said sympathetically.
"Are you hurt?" Tsuyu asked.
"No, I'm fine," Izuku reassured them.
Emotionally, however...that was a different story.
Ochako made a face. "Well, if you ever wanna talk about it..."
Izuku shook his head. "It's okay, guys. I'll be fine."
"Are you sure?" Momo asked with concern.
Izuku nodded, trying to put on a brave face. "Yeah, I just need to work harder, train harder. I can't let this setback defeat me."
Kirishima clapped Izuku on the back. "That's the spirit, man! Failure's just a stepping stone to success, right?"
Iida nodded in agreement. "Indeed. It is important to learn from our mistakes and continue to move forward."
Izuku nodded in agreement, and sat down in his seat. But he still looked troubled for the rest of the day.
Izuku wasn't the only troubled face in the crowd. When Kirishima was walking to lunch with Bakugou and Mina, he noticed Monoma walking past. He flinched.
Oh, no…what are the chances he's gonna start mocking me for the news? Kirishima thought. But, to his shock, Monoma walked right past him. Kirishima stopped in his tracks, and watched him walk off.
"Something wrong?" Bakugou asked.
"Monoma just walked past us."
"So?"
"...it's Monoma."
Bakugou paused. "Remind me who he is again."
Mina pouted. "He's the dude that usually calls US extras!" Mina frowned.
"Oh, right. That douche." Bakugou said. "Eh, maybe he mellowed out."
Kirishima shrugged. "Maybe," he said, feeling uneasy. "I don't know, it just seems weird that he didn't say anything."
"Well, whatever it is, it's not our problem," Bakugou said dismissively. "Let's just grab some lunch and forget about him."
Mina nodded in agreement and the three of them continued on their way to the cafeteria. But Kirishima couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off about Monoma's behavior.
Didn't he also work with the Nighteye Agency?
A few days later, Kirishima was called into work- the call said not to meet at Fatgum's, but at a different location. He was told to meet at an agency in Tokyo.
Kirishima was checking his bag in the lobby when Izuku approached him. "Morning, Kirishima." Izuku said. He had his bag on his back, and was in uniform.
"Oh, hey Deku. You heading to your job today as well?" Kirishima asked.
"Yeah. First day back in a while. Said I didn't need my costume." Izuku explained.
"Oh, hey!" Ochako said, as she, Momo, Alan and Tsu approached them. "You guys too, huh?"
"Yeah...looks like we're all busy today." Tsu said, putting a finger to her chin.
"I'm kinda hoping those killer robots are back. They were fun to smash up." Alan admitted. "Remember that cool combo move we did where you used Lodestar-"
"To levitate the robots and then you melted them on top of another robot?" Ochako grinned.
"And then I used a wind spell to cool the molten mess?" Momo said.
"That was AWESOME." Alan grinned.
Kirishima, Tsu and Izuku stared at the trio.
"...you guys have had more action than all of us." Tsu admitted.
As the group of students left, they saw Monoma, Tetsutetsu and Setsuna walking down the road as well. Kirishima tensed up at the sight of Monoma, but to his surprise, the other boy simply nodded at him and continued on his way without any snide comments or insults. Kirishima couldn't believe it.
"Did Monoma just...behave like a normal person?" he muttered to himself.
"Yeah, I know." Setsuna said. "He's been like that these past few days."
"It's kinda freaky." Tetsutetsu shuddered.
Ochako looked back at Izuku, who looked troubled again. "Hey, are you okay?"
Izuku nodded, but didn't say anything.
"Is something bothering you?" Ochako asked.
Izuku hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "It's probably the villain thing. I think it's just getting to both me and Monoma."
"Fair enough. Not all our experiences are gonna be the same." Setsuna said.
Kirishima put a reassuring hand on Izuku's shoulder. "Hey, man, don't sell yourself short. You've come a long way since we first met. And you're always striving to improve yourself. That's what makes a hero, right?"
"Yeah, but...what if it's not enough?" Izuku said, looking down at his feet.
It was weird to see Izuku like this. What exactly happened to make him so...down?
The group walked to the train, and were confused to see them all getting on the same train. "Hey, I thought you were in Kansai." Ochako said to Kirishima.
"Nah. We got instructions to meet in a Tokyo agency today." Tetsutetsu said.
"Seriously? Us too!" Setsuna said.
The group looked at each other in surprise. "What are the odds?" Momo said.
As they settled into the train, Kirishima couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Something about the coincidence seemed off to him. It was an omen- like something bad was gonna happen. He kept looking up at Monoma, still keeping up that 'main character vibe'- the blonde haired copycat was looking out the window dramatically, watching the city pass by.
Kirishima glanced at Izuku, who was staring down at the floor with a troubled expression. He wondered what was going on with him, but didn't want to pry. Instead, he focused on the passing scenery, trying to calm his nerves. He decided to make some small conversation with Ochako. "So, how's the new aliens treating you?"
"I'm getting the hang of them." Ochako said, holding up the watch. "Albedo's been really testing me on them..."
Kirishima nodded. "Yeah, I bet. From what you told me, Albedo seems like the type to be really strict."
"Definitely. I'm getting a lot of cool opportunities nowadays…" Ochako said, a small smile on her face.
"Cool enough to spar with?" Kirishima asked.
Ochako laughed. "I do kinda wanna see Unbreakable in action."
"Oh, you're on." Kirishima said, as the train came to a stop. The group got off, where they expected to split up and go their separate ways...but instead, they turned down the same street.
"...is it safe to assume we're all going to the same place?" Setsuna asked.
"At this point, it's all but confirmed." Monoma finally spoke.
The group soon arrived at the location- Sir Nighteye's agency. The group of students exchanged confused glances as they stood outside of Sir Nighteye's agency.
"Why are we all meeting at Sir Nighteye's agency?" Momo asked the question on everyone's mind.
"I have no idea, but something feels off." Tsu added.
As they approached the building, they noticed the Big Three- Mirio, Tamaki and Nejire- waiting outside.
"Oh! They're here!" Nejire said, pointing at the kids.
"Good morning, everyone!" Mirio greeted them with a smile.
"Morning." Kirishima replied. "Uh, can we ask why we're all here?"
"Walk inside. I think that'll speak for itself." Amajiki said.
The kids walked inside the agency and were greeted by a sea of familiar faces. Heroes from all over the city had gathered in the conference room, including Gran Torino, Aizawa, Blake, Ryukyu, Fat Gum, Rock Lock, Albedo, Neo, Kevin and their respective sidekicks.
"Hey there, kid," Gran Torino said, as he walked up to Izuku. "Good to see you again."
"Gran Torino?"
"Who's this?" Ochako asked.
"Gran Torino; used to be a teacher at UA, knew All Might before he got big…" Izuku said.
Oh, this was the guy he was working with during the Stain incident! Ochako thought.
"Sorry we had to meet again in these circumstances. All I'm gonna say is...this is probably gonna be your kids first foray into the 'unglamorous' part of hero work." Gran Torino frowned.
That didn't sit well.
"There you are." Albedo said, waving over Ochako, Momo and Alan.
"Um…what are we doing meeting here?" Ochako asked.
"This is a formal team up- and it's going to need a lot of planning." Albedo frowned. "The topic of this meeting is not for the faint of heart."
Kirishima's heart sank at Albedo's words. He had a feeling this had something to do with the quirk erasing bullets,
Izuku and Kirishima made their way over to Aizawa and Blake Belladonna, who were cooly and calmly standing around. They made it look so easy.
"Morning, Mr. Aizawa and Mrs. Belladonna," Kirishima greeted. "What's going on? Why are you here?"
Aizawa and Blake exchanged a glance before Aizawa spoke up. "We were requested specifically for this operation."
"Yeah, Nighteye believed our particular skill sets will be useful." Blake added.
"What kind of operation?" Izuku asked, sensing the seriousness in their tone.
Sir Nighteye, who was standing at the front of the room, cleared his throat and addressed the crowd. "I'm sure you're all wondering why we've gathered here today," he began, "but the topic of this meeting concerns the Shie Hassaikai."
And that's when the story really got rolling.
