Hey guys, welcome back to "Through the Rough"! Now that the Shie Hassaikai Arc is basically over, we're gonna be going into a bit of a reprieve for our characters. A lot's going to be talked about here, especially in regards to the aftermath of everything. You'll understand more as we dive on in.
I should also mention that this is the last chapter for this opening and ending, so be excited for next week when we switch things up! With all that covered, let's jump back in!
THROUGH THE ROUGH
As she put on the jacket of her school uniform, Rebecca glanced out the window of her room in the hospital worriedly. So much had happened throughout the course of yesterday. She fought multiple villains, including a member of the Oracion Seis and the Shie Hassaikai's leader, she attained her Overdrive... and she lost her latest mentor. She looked down at the floor with shame.
'Am I cursed…?' she wondered inwardly, 'Every hero I turn to…' she continued inwardly, grimacing as she gripped her skirt.
"Doing alright, Young Bluegarden?" a familiar voice asked, getting her attention as she turned to see All Might there at the doorway.
"Oh, All Might…" she greeted, "Uh… I guess I'm not quite there yet…" she admitted, glancing off to the side.
"I see," her teacher said as he walked in, sitting down beside her, "I'm not really there either…" he admitted. The Cat Leaper Quirk took a deep breath through her nose, exhaling a sigh.
"We finished the mission, but…" she started to say, closing her hands into fists.
"Don't do that," All Might insisted before she could speak further, much to her surprise as she blinked, "You finished the mission," he pointed out, "There's no shame in any of that, in spite of what happened," he assured firmly.
"…Right…" Rebecca agreed with a nod, looking down for a moment, "Next time… we'll make sure the mission goes perfectly," she vowed firmly. The former pro gave her a smile.
"Well… I should go and visit Young Midoriya since I have the chance…" he decided, standing up from the bed, "Pretty soon, I think the others'll be cleared to head back with you," he confirmed, "Aizawa made it here just a little while ago," he pointed out.
"Okay, thanks," the Cat Leaper Quirk user responded, watching as the former pro headed off. She then blinked in realization, recalling what she had started to deduce earlier after her physical examination. "Hey, All Might?" she said, getting her teacher's attention as he stopped at the doorway, "I think there's something I need to tell you…" she confessed, causing him to blink in surprise.
OPENING
Insert "Eden Through the Rough" by Takanori Nishikawa
Opens with Izuku and Rebecca getting ready for another day of class together, going through their morning routines before meeting up at the Heights Alliance doors, exchanging a kiss before heading to the classroom. There, we see all of Class A mingling about, including the likes of Mirio, Tamaki, and Nejire. Mirio spots the arriving couple of Izuku and Rebecca, going over to them and putting his arms around them with a big smile on his face.
Later, we see them visiting Sir Nighteye's agency, were we see him, Bubble Girl, and Centipeder, along with Xiaomei lurking in the background as she gives off a small grin. There are shots of Eijiro and Weisz working alongside Tamaki and Fat Gum, and Ochaco, Tsuyu and Kleene with Nejire and Ryukyu. We get a shot of various heroes in the background, including the likes of Shota, Ivry, Gran Torino, Eraser, and Holy.
The scene changes to the League of Villains confronting the Shie Hassaikai, with Tomura and Overhaul standing face-to-face. Beyond them lies the little girl known as Eri alongside Pino, as she clenches her fists in frustration, wanting to escape her imprisoned life. She then notices cracks of light in the darkness around her, and she runs towards them.
We see various scenes of Tamaki having to battle a trio of villains wearing masks, Ochaco, Tsuyu, and Nejire battling one of the larger fiends, while Ryukyu faces off against Ganoff and Mosco. Kleene is forced to confront her brother, while Ivry goes up against the Fake Sister, who shows her wide mouth with sharp teeth before she throws off her habit.
Eijiro and Weisz are blown back by a villain that fires rapid punches, which Fat Gum has to defend them from before trying to strike back, only to be blocked by another villain putting up an energy barrier. Mirio faces Overhaul and three other villains all by himself, removing his helmet before confronting them. He's joined by Nighteye, Shota, Eraser, Holy, Izuku, and Rebecca. But before they can stop the head villain, he completely reassembles the ground, shooting a barrage of spikes at his foes.
There's various shots of Shiki trying to better control his Overdrive form, Homura standing outside the dorms as she solemnly stares at her phone, Weisz looking at a picture of his mom while lying on his bed, and Rebecca sitting in the bath in contemplation. As she stands up, her blue markings shine brightly. The Ether markings of her fellow Ether-types also shine and expand as their bodies transform, showing silhouettes of their Overdrive forms outlined in their respective colors.
We see Poseidon Nero, Deadend Crow, God Acnoella, Saintfire Nox, and Elsie Crimson in their respective locations, preparing for the new era ahead now that All For One and Drakken Joe are gone. On the other side, the likes of Endeavor, Hawks, Mirko, and those of the I.U.A. are getting ready to take on the new era themselves.
We end with Eri and Pino breaking through the cracks, finding Izuku and Rebecca there. They look to them and smile, offering their hands. A bright flash of light envelops the screen.
END OPENING
"You've gotta be kidding me…" Weisz uttered with disbelief as he sat in the waiting room with Shota, Ivry, and Recovery Girl. They had just seen a report of the attack on the highway by the League, along with the death of Snatch.
"This is the only thing they've reported on since yesterday…" the elderly nurse noted aloud, while Izuku approached and widened his eyes at the headline.
"So even the cops aren't safe from critics…" the Machina Maker Quirk user mumbled out, "Geez…" he said. The One For All inheritor stared at the TV with horror. Even with the mission's success, there were still things that occurred out of heroes' control.
"That isn't something either of you should feel responsible for," Shota told his students, getting their attentions, "Please don't go blaming yourselves," he advised on.
"Yeah, okay…" Izuku responded, glancing down in thought, "Oh, Steiner," he greeted upon spotting the Machina Maker Quirk user, "Glad to see you're okay…" he noted with a grin.
"Yeah… for the most part…" his classmate replied, glancing away in thought.
"Didn't you get your Overdrive or something and take out four bad guys by yourself?" Sister inquired of him with crossed arms. Weisz didn't respond, looking away still. Shota exhaled a sigh.
"Anyways, most everyone should be ready to head back to UA this evening," he confirmed to his students, "Kleene'll be staying for the time being as her brother recovers," he explained on.
"Wait, what's going to happen with him?" Izuku inquired, "Is he going to be put under lockdown like his sister?" he presumed.
"That's to be expected, along with some extra shit," Sister chimed in as a reply, "Between joining up with the League and then Rogue Out, he's definitely on a watchlist compared to Kleene…" she pointed out.
"Speaking of Rogue Out…" Shota continued, "what's going on with them?" he questioned curiously.
"Iyashi's getting put into Tartarus from what I heard," the Shining Star Hero answered, "That crony Ganoff's in some other prison," she mentioned.
"And your old sidekick?" the Erasure Quirk user inquired on.
"Hm," Sister huffed, "Don't worry, I got that pig handled…" she affirmed, folding her arms behind her head.
'What does that mean…?' Izuku wondered inwardly, sweating a little.
"Um… Mister Aizawa…?" he said, getting his teacher's attention, "Is there a chance I could stay here a bit longer?" he requested, "At least until Eri wakes up…" he added.
"I'm sorry, Midoriya," Shota apologized, "But we can't take any chances after what's happened with her," he confirmed to his dismay, "You have to trust that the doctors will know what to do," he advised of his student.
"…Right… yeah…" he responded solemnly, "Then… I'll go and say goodbye to Togata…" he decided, heading off.
"Ah, wait…"
"Let him be," Sister insisted, interjecting the Erasure Quirk user, "Guy lost his Quirk, so the kid's probably tryin' to cheer him up before we go," she pointed out, "Anyway, there's another thing on my mind that's been bugging me," she mentioned, looking over to the broadcast as it showed the yakuza's headquarters, "That thing you found in their basement…" she began, getting Shota's attention.
"What about it?" he asked.
"…It's not just any old door," the Shining Star Hero told him, "It's an invention of Ziggy's," she confirmed, much to the surprise of those around her. Elsewhere in the hospital, All Might walked alongside Rebecca down the halls. He seemed somewhat troubled, while the Cat Leaper Quirk user nervously glanced off to the side.
"I… know it's probably a lot to take in—"
"No, no, it's fine…" the former pro interjected reassuringly, "You just caught me by surprise with such news, Young Bluegarden…" he confessed, scratching his right cheek, "To think that's what would've happened…" he noted aloud.
"Well, it makes sense, especially after what went down..." the Cat Leaper Quirk user pointed out, holding up her right hand and staring at it, "I don't really feel it right now…" she mentioned, "but when I was in Overdrive…" she continued.
"Hmm…" All Might hummed, "Why don't you share this with Young Midoriya when you get the chance?" he requested to her surprise, "I'd rather this new development be kept between the three of us," he advised on.
"R-Right…" she stammered in response. At that moment, she and her teacher passed by another room, glancing through the window. She blinked in surprise to find Kleene inside along with a few nurses, as they were watching Kris walk along parallel bars with a set of prosthetics for his legs. "Kris…" she uttered out.
"Why don't you go check in on them?" All Might suggested, getting her attention, "I need to go and talk to Young Midoriya anyway," he pointed out, heading off. The Cat Leaper Quirk user blinked, followed by looking back into the room. Dressed in her school uniform, Kleene watched as her brother took slow step after step along the parallel bars, breathing heavily.
"That's it…" one of the nurses said encouragingly, "You're almost there," she assured. Rebecca walked in, causing the Wind Snatch Quirk user to perk up as she noticed her. The two of them shared a smile.
"Oh, Bluegar—" Kris' greeting was halted as he failed to realize that he had reached the end of the bars, falling forward onto the floor, causing everyone to gasp.
"Hold on, we'll get you right up!" the other nurse as she and her colleague crouched down to the Wind Rage Quirk user's sides.
"No!" he yelled, "Let me do it myself… please…" he requested pleadingly to their surprise. He slowly managed to push himself onto his prosthetic feet, while Rebecca watched on with awe. She had barely ever seen such an immediate drive to rehabilitate, especially after what had happened to Kris. Kleene then walked over to her side.
"He's getting himself used to the prosthetics in his legs before we get the real ones for him," she told her, "He already has experience when it comes to having his arms gone," she mentioned on.
"Is it gonna be the same design as his arm from before?" the Cat Leaper Quirk user inquired curiously.
"I think so," Kleene answered, watching as her brother turned himself around the moment he got back onto his feet, walking along the parallel bars back to the other end of the room, "Even after everything, he still wants to keep going…" she noted, "He's always wanted to protect me, but…" she continued, letting off a small smile, "I think now he has a new purpose in mind…" she confirmed to the confusion of Rebecca, who arched an eyebrow. Kris made it to the other end of the parallel bars, allowing for the nurses to catch him as he breathed heavily.
"Great job, Rutherford," one of them complimented, "Honestly, it's amazing that you're able to do this at all," she admitted, walking him over to sit him down in the wheelchair nearby.
"Recovery Girl's healing and those quick blood transfusions did the trick," the other nurse commented, taking off the Wind Rage Quirk user's prosthetics, "Still, you're gonna need a lot more time before you're ready to get back into action," she told him.
"I understand," he replied, "I also know I've got a lot to answer for…" he added solemnly, lowering his head a little.
"Kris…" Rebecca uttered worriedly. The Wind Rage Quirk user glanced over to her.
"Thank you, Bluegarden," he said with gratitude, "You saved my sister's life," he affirmed to her surprise, "With you giving her a second chance, now she can give me a second chance," he mentioned, letting off a grin.
"Brother…" Kleene said.
"You want to stay, don't you?" Kris assumed, causing her to blink in surprise.
"I've… already confirmed it with Mister Eraser Head and—"
"Don't let me keep you here," her brother interjected firmly, "I wouldn't want my sister to fall behind when she's doing her best to be a great hero," he pointed out seriously.
"But brother…" Kleene tried to say, only for him to smile at her.
"I promise I'll be back soon," he affirmed, "Then I'll be the Wind Hero I want to be for my sake," he vowed on.
"…Right…" his sister replied, tearing up and smiling herself. Rebecca was a bit teary-eyed as well, wiping them away. Such a familial bond was precious to see. And with the events of yesterday played out, it only grew stronger.
X
Izuku felt a bit of clarity upon exiting the hospital. Visiting Mirio, he was surprised to find that the now Quirkless U.A. senior was so chipper. He didn't really have much to smile about from what he imagined. But he remembered what his mentor had said in his final moments.
He couldn't just sit around crying. He was still vying to be a fine hero just as Nighteye had said. Plus, he didn't want to keep a gloomy face for Eri's sake.
Izuku felt that it wasn't enough. Mirio had fought long and hard, even when his Quirk was lost to him. And he did all by himself.
As for the One For All inheritor, he needed help from Eri and Rebecca to save the day. He felt unworthy. And he even asked if his senior would accept his power if given the possibility.
But he said no. That would be putting a burden onto Izuku more than anything. Along with that, he didn't understand why the freckled teen was so distraught. In the end, the mission was completed. Eri was safe, the Hassaikai were taken down, all was mostly well.
And there was a possibility that Mirio could get his Quirk back one day. He was determined to see that goal through, no matter what it would need to take. He still wanted to be a fine hero like his mentor imagined. So he would keep smiling, insisting Izuku should, too.
'Togata…' he uttered inwardly, clutching the straps of his backpack.
"Oh, hey Midoriya," Eijiro's voice greeted, getting his attention as he looked over to see the Hardening Quirk user exiting from the sliding doors.
"Kirishima!" he exclaimed, "Glad to see you're all set," he noted.
"Yeah, same to you," Eijiro responded with a grin, "I heard about what happened with you and Bluegarden against Chisaki," he pointed out to the One For All inheritor's surprise, "You really pulled off something amazing, huh?" he presumed, putting his hands onto his hips.
"Yeah… I guess so…" Izuku replied, letting off a little smile.
"Izuku Midoriya, Eijiro Kirishima," a voice chimed in, getting their attentions as they saw a pair of police officers approach them, "Sorry to spring this on you after you've just been discharged," one of them apologized, "but we'd like to bring you both down to the station for some questioning in regards to the incident," he told the pair of U.A. students.
"Oh, for goodness' sake…" a familiar voice chimed in out of exasperation, "Don't you officers have some common decency?" she inquired, getting their attentions as they saw Holy walking over.
"Miss Holy…" Eijiro uttered out.
"We're just looking for more information about the incident, especially in regards to the Hassaikai's members," one of the officers confirmed to the I.U.A. Hero.
"Then you can ask the pros who were on the scene, including myself," she advised in response, "These two, along with the other students from UA, have done enough for this investigation," she pointed out, looking over at the pair as they blinked in surprise, "We adults should deal with the dull stuff in their wake," she insisted.
"Well… in that case…" the other officer began.
"Yes, I'll join you in but a moment," Holy promised before he could ask his question.
"You doing alright, Miss Holy?" Eijiro asked as the dual-type Quirk user approached him and Izuku.
"Well as I can be," she answered, giving off a warm smile, "You two look good yourselves," she noted.
"Yeah," the Hardening Quirk user confirmed with a nod.
"Thanks for just now…" Izuku added gratefully.
"Don't worry about it," Holy insisted as she giggled, "Cutting through that red tape to close this case out is just another part of things," she told the pair, "And besides, I should be thanking both of you," she admitted to their surprise, "Eijiro, you proved your chivalry and willingness to fight for the sakes of others," she noted to the Hardening Quirk user, "And Izuku, you risked life and limb to save Eri, along with everyone else who wound up involved in this ordeal," she mentioned to the One For All inheritor, "You both were true heroes yesterday," she said, "When the time comes for you to turn pro, you can guarantee that I'll be rooting for you," she promised.
"We appreciate that…" Eijiro responded, grinning sheepishly.
"Y-Yeah…" Izuku stammered. Giggling again, the dual-type Quirk leaned in, first pecking the Hardening Quirk user's right cheek, followed by going to the One For All inheritor's left. Both boys blushed the moment her lips made contact.
"I'll be seeing you two," she remarked in farewell, walking to the police car. Moments later, she was driven away. Both Izuku and Eijiro were still somewhat shell-shocked.
"Deku, hey!" Ochaco's voice called out, getting their attentions as they saw her coming out from the sliding doors with Tsuyu, Nejire, Weisz and Tamaki in tow.
"Oh, guys!" Eijiro greeted, waving to them as they approached, "Wait, where's Bluegarden at?" he wondered aloud.
"Right here!" the Cat Leaper Quirk user chimed in, getting their attentions as they saw the Cat Leaper Quirk user exit the hospital alongside Kleene.
"Hey, Kleene's coming back with us, too?" Nejire noted in surprise, "Didn't you wanna stay with your brother?" she questioned as she skipped up to the Wind Snatch Quirk user.
"He wanted me to head back," she replied, "I know he'll be fine on his own," she assured confidently. Everyone smiled. Tsuyu then looked over to Eijiro and Izuku, blinking in slight surprise.
"You two seem a bit red," she curiously pointed out, getting their attentions, "Did something happen?" she wondered aloud.
"Uh… well…" the Hardening Quirk user started to reply, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head, "Miss Holy came by to wish and well and uh…" he continued, blushing as he glanced off to the side.
"She… um… kissed us…" Izuku finished for him.
"WAIT, WHAT?!" Weisz exclaimed in shock, "YOU MEAN YOU GOT KISSED BY THE HOTTEST HERO ON THE PLANET?!" he questioned loudly, followed by slouching with frustration, "Ugh…" he groaned sadly.
"Uh… there, there…" Tamaki said, patting him on the back reassuringly.
"Wow, you two both got kissed by Holy?!" Nejire inquired as she approached Eijiro and Izuku, "Does that mean she likes you?! Or wait, does it mean she respects you a lot?" she questioned on, "Yeah, that's gotta be it!" she affirmed. Rebecca giggled at her mingling classmates. It was nice to see them managing to make the most of all that had happened. She then looked over to her boyfriend, who covered his face with his hands as he turned away in embarrassment. There was… a lot she needed to tell him. But it was important for the sake of their future together.
X
Sitting in the police car, Holy exhaled a deep sigh as she pulled out her phone, looking up her notifications. She had been able to get in touch with Justice yesterday about what happened with the raid, but not Cure. She had called him five times, only to end up with each going straight to voicemail.
'To think that he wouldn't at least try to call me back…' she muttered inwardly. At that moment, her phone started buzzing. To her dismay, it wasn't her fellow I.U.A. Hero as she expected, but rather Gran Torino.
"Huh…" she sighed, hitting the answer icon, "Hello, Sorahiko," she greeted, "I take it you know what happened yesterday, don't you?" she presumed.
"Yeah, it's a real shame…" the elderly pro admitted in reply, "Mirai was a good kid," he pointed out, "Anyways, where are you right now?" he inquired.
"Off to a nearby station for questioning around the incident," the I.U.A. Hero answered, "What about you?" she inquired.
"Reeling from a prior engagement…" Gran Torino answered to her confusion, "We captured Kurogiri from the League," he confirmed.
"The warping villain?" Holy inquired out of surprise, "Well, that's quite the step in the right direction…" she noted.
"Seinaru," the Jet Quirk user said seriously, "I wouldn't be calling if things were going great," he pointed out, "We might've got Kurogiri, but we had to bail when it came to the other subordinate of All For One's…" he explained.
"Hold on, 'other subordinate'?" the I.U.A. Hero repeated as the officers at the front of the car couldn't help but listen in on the conversation, "What are you talking about?" she inquired.
"There was another villain that Kurogiri had apparently been sent to retrieve," Gran Torino told her, "He was essentially a walking disaster…" he mentioned grimly. Holy's eyes widened with fright. A grim memory of her screaming and crying while carried away by the once young hero flashed through her head.
"Sorahiko… is it…?" she started to ask, trembling a little.
"No, it's not Crow," he confirmed before she could finish her question.
"Then don't scare me like that!" she shouted, causing the officers at the front of the car to flinch in surprise, focusing on the road ahead, "Huh…" she sighed, "So there's another villain under All For One who has a gigantification Quirk?" she inquired of the elderly hero.
"That's what we've figured out," he responded, "We'll keep on investigating from here," he mentioned, "You're free to join in if necessary," he offered to her.
"Huh…" she sighed again, "For now, I'll focus on finding Crow…" she decided, "I'll keep in touch if I get something," she promised.
"Same here," Gran Torino replied, "Take care of yourself, Seinaru," he advised before the call ended. The dual-type Quirk user took a deep breath through her nose, exhaling to calm herself.
'Things are starting to get a lot crazier…' she noted to herself, putting her phone away, 'I wonder what'll happen next…' she added inwardly. Meanwhile, Feather was in the offices of the Ryukyu Agency, reading what was provided to her upon a tablet.
"Ryuga Tatsuma; Quirk: Dragonization," she noted aloud, "She has the ability to turn any non-living form of matter into a mythical beast," she continued, "Its powers and abilities depend upon what substance she manipulates," she kept going, "She's limited to having three dragons present at a time," she finished, setting the tablet down, "Why did you not tell me she was your sister?" she asked of the Dragoon Hero, who was seated at the other end of the room with her head lowered in contemplation.
"I would've assumed you knew thanks to your Quirk," she responded, "Besides, Ryuga's a cold-blooded maniac who wants to commit genocide on this country…" she mentioned, clenching her fists tightly, "I don't want to be related to such a monster…!" she growled out. The I.U.A. Hero walked over to her.
"I appreciate your help on the matter with Acnoella," she said gratefully with a bow, "If you know anything else, please don't hesitate to get in contact with me," she advised, heading off.
"When you find her again…" Ryukyu began as she stood up, making Feather stop as she glanced back, "please allow me to help you bring her into custody," she requested. A moment of silence passed before the Eye of Venus Quirk user nodded, leaving the offices. She was outside a few minutes later, pulling out her phone to answer a call.
"Who is it?" she asked.
"Justice," the Interstellar Hero's voice answered, as he was standing in the main meeting room of the I.U.A.'s building with Eraser, "We're planning another Prayer Council in the wake of what happened with the Hassaikai," he told her.
"Understood," she responded, "I will be there," she promised, ending the call.
"Heh," Eraser chuckled, "She doesn't like to talk much, does she?" he inquired aloud.
"With Acnoella showing her teeth and Nox sending in soldiers to do her bidding, the other Seis will be soon to follow," Justice noted.
"Any luck on Elsie?" the Erase Quirk user asked of his colleague.
"No, unfortunately," he responded, "She continues to be a ghost to us since Camino," he pointed out.
"Well, we should try to put our focus on the League of Villains, too," Eraser advised, making him perk up, "We did just nominate Shigaraki as the next member of the Seis," he mentioned, "How long until we bring someone in to take Jaguar's place?" he questioned on.
"It's not easy to make replacements for heroes as it is for villains," Justice replied, "Besides…" he continued as he walked off, enticing his comrade to follow him, "we're having trouble coming together at the moment," he told the Erase Quirk user.
'And whose fault do you think that is…?' he inquired inwardly.
"Once all five of us are together again, we'll confer on both Jaguar's replacement and our next objectives," the Interstellar Hero decided, "In justice's name, we'll protect this world in All Might's wake," he vowed. Elsewhere, Cure stared at the huge line of notifications upon his phone, scrolling down to see how many there were from just yesterday.
"Hm," he huffed, seated upon a couch in a large room with a dining table.
"Something the matter, Naosu?" a voice inquired, getting his attention. He looked over to see a smiling Rikiya enter the room alongside a few other figures. "I do hope you haven't lost your appetite…" he remarked.
"Of course not," the I.U.A. Hero confirmed in reply. There was a man with reasonably long, black hair that he wore swept back, a single strand left hanging down over his face, thin eyebrows, and a small mustache. He had an angular nose and small, feminine eyes with dark blue irises. He had yellow glasses with purple-tinted lenses. He wore a plain business suit, consisting of a white dress shirt, a black tie and a black blazer.
Another was a woman with long, pale lilac hair, worn parted to her right side, full lips and pale blue skin. Her eyes were unusual, in that her sclera was completely black whereas her eye irises were green, and her pupils were completely black. And they were framed by notably long eyelashes, wrinkles, and small eyebrows. She wore a navy blue, shoulderless dress with long sleeves and an X-shaped belt with a circular buckle around her waist. She also donned an unbuttoned, salmon-colored jacket with black fur around the collar and hem. She sported light-colored laced high boots.
There was also a tall and lanky man with shiny black hair that reached his waist, worn down with a neat fringe hanging over his eyes. He had a visibly long nose and a wide mouth with notably straight teeth. He wore a long-sleeved black turtleneck shirt and dark pants.
Behind him was a man who was clad in a thick, light-blue parka that reached down below his knees, done up in the center with seven brown buttons, with a fur-lined hood that covered his face from view. He also sported black baggy pants and a pair of lace-up winter boots. Coming in behind him was none other than Nero, who had Fabiano and Ijuna alongside him. The two of them widened their eyes upon spotting Cure in the room.
"At ease, you two," the Oracion Seis member said, getting their attentions, "Naosu is an ally of ours," he affirmed.
"Well, I suppose we should get down to business," Rikiya insisted as he sat at the head of the table, with the others taking their places as well. Nero took his seat at the other end of the table. "For starters, the League of Villain's been making rounds lately," he told his colleagues, "If you would, Skeptic," he requested of the lanky man beside him.
"Yes, Re-Destro," he responded, standing up and opening his laptop, immediately typing on it, "Just yesterday, the League raided a police transport carrying the leader of the Shie Hassaikai," he explained, "They killed one hero and injured two officers and two EMTs," he mentioned, "They also severed both of the Hassaikai leader's arms," he added, setting his device onto the table.
"How gruesome…" the blue-skinned woman remarked aloud.
"Do we have any idea why the League would be targeting a yakuza group?" the slick-haired man inquired, "Better yet, why didn't they kill him?" he questioned on.
"From what we've gathered, the League and the yakuza had previously encountered each other in a little spat," Skeptic replied, "They allied with each other for a short period, but that was rendered moot yesterday thanks to the heroes' raid," he mentioned thoroughly.
"And our benefactor Naosu here has some insight on the matter," Rikiya added, gesturing to the I.U.A. Hero sitting off to the side.
"Sir Nighteye was killed in the raid," he confirmed, "And the purpose of the mission itself was to rescue a little girl at the center of the Hassaikai's operation due to the power of her Quirk," he added in explanation.
"So the heroes emerged victorious," the blue-skinned woman concluded with a smirk, "Once again, pros think they have such a grand advantage still, even with All Might gone…" she mentioned out of disgust.
"Now, now, Curious…" Re-Destro said pleadingly, "Our focus shouldn't be on the heroes looking to protect the society we live in," he advised of her, "Instead, we should turn our attention onto the League of Villains and its cohorts," he pointed out, "In fact…" he continued, turning to Nero, "your son still happens to be associated with them, yes?" he assumed. Slightly, Ijuna tensed up.
"From what I know, Shura hasn't been heavily involved with the League since Camino," the Oracion Seis member responded, "But yes, his association still lies with them," he confirmed.
"Well, I believe that's where we can start," Rikiya stated, putting his thumb against his head as he stuck his finger up, "In Destro's name, we will dismantle the League of Villains, piece by piece…" he proclaimed. As Nero nodded in agreement, Ijuna clutched her left arm and trembled a little. Things were starting to move for sure… for both heroes and villains.
X
"Doesn't it feel like it's been a long time since we've been back?" Rebecca inquired of the others as they were walking along the walkway onto the U.A. campus that evening.
"Yeah…" Ochaco agreed in reply, "Felt like a couple of long days…" she pointed out.
"I wonder how everyone's doing…" Tsuyu chimed in with her right pointer finger upon her cheek, "They probably know about the raid by now," she mentioned.
"Oh, right," Eijiro realized, "I bet they're all just waiting for us…" he noted, rubbing the back of his head.
"In that case, I should get going," Kleene decided, getting the group's attention as they saw her standing off to the side, "I'm sure my classmates are worried sick about me," she concluded, letting off a little smile.
"We'll see you around, Kleene," Rebecca assured, giving her a grin.
"Oh, there's one more thing," she said, approaching Izuku.
"Wh-What is it?" he stuttered out. To his shock, the Wind Snatch Quirk user leaned in and pecked him on the cheek, causing his face to turn pink. She giggled as she stepped back.
"That's my way of thanking you for saving my brother," she affirmed, "I'll see you later!" she promised as she hurried off.
"Wow, Deku!" Ochaco chimed in, "First Holy, and now Kleene?" she listed off.
"You're becoming the ladies' man that Mineta and Steiner would envy…" Tsuyu remarked.
"Lucky bastard…" Weisz grumbled under his breath as tears of frustration pricked his eyes. Eijiro laughed nervously, patting him on the back.
"Huh…" Rebecca exhaled with a smile, "Well, we better not keep everyone waiting," she advised of the group.
"Right," her boyfriend agreed, recovering from his initial shock as he and the others followed her up to the doors. The moment they entered.
"THEY'RE BACK!" Minoru exclaimed as he lunged out tearfully to everyone's surprise, "I'm so happy my beautiful goddesses are—!"
"Knock it off!" Kyoka yelled as she smacked him aside before he could reach the group of work study students, "The last thing these guys need is you perving out on them…" she pointed out seriously.
"Kyoka…" Rebecca uttered, getting her attention. For a moment, the Earphone Jack Quirk user didn't know what to do. But then she herself lunged out and embraced her ash blonde-haired classmate, making her yelp in surprise.
"Thank God you're alright…" she said, trembling a little. The Cat Leaper Quirk user smiled, hugging her back.
"Yeah, we're good," she confirmed. Most everyone else gathered around the group, asking them about the whole ordeal and making sure they were okay. Weisz couldn't help but notice Eijiro being somewhat tense, especially as Denki went ahead and chastised him and Izuku for getting into danger yet again.
"ENOUGH OF THIS!" Tenya quickly bellowed, getting in between his classmates and those who had gone on the work studies, "I know everyone was worried, but please calm down!" he insisted of them, "We all saw news coverage of the events that happened," he pointed out, "Our classmates went through a hellish ordeal," he mentioned, "If you want to console them, I suggest you do so quietly," he insisted, "I'm sure today wasn't just taxing physically…" he added grimly, remembering seeing Izuku and Rebecca crying at lunch just days before the event.
"Hey, um… Iida?" the One For All inheritor chimed in, getting his attention as he turned to his freckled classmate. With everything that had happened, it would make sense that he and the others would need space to rest their minds and bodies. But after what Mirio had said to him about wanting to keep smiling, even though things were bleak… "I'm alright," he assured.
"Then… if I may…" Tenya began, pushing up his glasses, "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW WORRIED I WAS FOR ALL OF YOU?!" he questioned as he grabbed Izuku by his shoulders, shaking him wildly as everyone watched on with blank stares, "IT WAS AWFUL! WHAT IF YOU NEVER RETURNED?!" he inquired on.
"Take your own advice and chill out!" Hanta insisted.
"OCHACO!" Shiki exclaimed, lunging out and embracing the Zero Gravity Quirk user with tears streaking down his face, "I was so scared I wouldn't see you again…!" he whimpered out to her. She blushed a little, but then smiled.
"It's okay, Shiki," she assured, hugging him back and patting him, "We're fine," she promised. Inwardly though, she was lamenting over Nighteye's death. He was in her arms, and she couldn't do anything to ultimately help save him. And she wanted to save people. Momo looked over at them, giving off a worried and somewhat jealous expression.
"Um… I'm going to make some herbal tea to soothe all your nerves…" she decided, heading off to the kitchen.
"You doing alright, Steiner?" Mashirao asked of Weisz as he was eating a piece of chocolate cake that Rikido offered him.
"Huh…" he sighed out, swallowing his food, "Getting there," he answered, pulling up his right sleeve a little to reveal his Arsenal watch.
'Right now, the regular Arsenal's not cutting it anymore…' he noted to himself, 'Bad guys are just gonna get stronger and stronger…' he kept going, 'so I need to upgrade,' he declared inwardly, clenching his fists.
"Guys, thanks for everything, really," Rebecca said in gratitude, "But I need to talk to Izu about something important," she told the group, much to her boyfriend's surprise. Before he could say anything, she grabbed his right arm and pulled him away. Everyone looked on curiously.
"What's up with them?" Hanta wondered aloud.
"Did… they have a fight or something?" Toru inquired worriedly.
"Doesn't seem like it…" Mezo commented.
"I'm betting Rebecca wants the—" Minoru's remarks were silenced as Tsuyu's tongue smacked him against the floor.
"Whatever it is, it probably has to do with what happened during the fight against Chisaki…" she noted, putting a finger upon her right cheek. Upstairs, the couple had made their way to the Cat Leaper Quirk user's room. She turned the lights on, setting her book bag by her desk before seating herself upon her bed.
"Huh…" she exhaled. Izuku put his own bag down, sitting next to her.
"So… uh…" he stuttered, scratching his right cheek sheepishly, "What… did you wanna talk about?" he asked in concern.
"My Overdrive," she answered to his surprise, "I only activated it when Nighteye told me that you were gonna die," she recalled, "But…" she continued, "it didn't make sense," she pointed out.
"Wh…What?" the One For All inheritor questioned with a stammer.
"I mean, the speed and extra oomph made sense," his girlfriend corrected, "But don't you think it's weird I was able to beat down on Chisaki just like you?" she inquired of him. At that moment, Izuku's eyes slowly widened with realization.
"You mean…" he started to say, only for Rebecca to nod in confirmation.
"Yeah…" she responded, "I still have One For All," she told him.
"But… how?" he inquired, "I only passed the Quirk onto you in the last universe when I died, right?" he presumed.
"Yeah, that's what I thought…" the Cat Leaper Quirk user replied, looking at her right hand, "All Might suggested that maybe since I traveled between universes with Cat Leaper, I might've kept the Quirk with me…" she mentioned, "Thing is… I could only feel its presence when I was in Overdrive," she added in explanation, "And I've noticed that I don't feel it now," she kept going, "Which means…" she continued.
"It's a last resort type of thing in your case," her boyfriend finished for her, earning a nod in reply.
"I guess this sorta makes me an inheritor of One For All still…" she noted, closing her right hand into a fist, "Weird, huh?" she presumed. Izuku looked down in thought for a moment. He then reached over to hug her warmly.
"Thank you for saving me," he said in gratitude, "I'm glad the last me made the right choice to pass One For All to you," he added with a small smile. Rebecca blinked in surprise, but then smiled herself.
"I should be thanking you for not dying," she remarked back, hugging him warmly, "Guess now it's back to class officially…" she pointed out, "I can't imagine Mister Aizawa would want us to continue the work studies with all that happened…" she mentioned.
"Yeah…" the One For All inheritor agreed, "But I think that'll be for the best," he affirmed with a small grin. His girlfriend giggled.
"We should probably try to get some sleep," she advised, noticing how late it was outside.
"Right," her boyfriend responded, getting up from the bed and grabbing his things.
"Oh, almost forgot…" Rebecca realized, standing up herself.
"What is—?" Before Izuku could ask, he turned to end up having his lips kissed by the Cat Leaper Quirk user, who hummed in contentment before pulling herself back.
"Figured I'd remind you who's the best kisser you know…" she flirted with a wink. Her boyfriend blushed a bright red, but laughed all the same. In spite of the turmoil that the couple had faced, they were ready to persevere.
ENDING
Insert "The World's Continuation" by Ado
Opens with Rebecca as a little girl waking up in the morning at the orphanage she grew up in. She plays with the other orphans as Witch watches on, smiling all the while. Growing up, Rebecca is a big help around the orphanage, learning to cook with Witch, organize, and even clean.
At one point, a cat is adopted by the orphanage, being none other than Happy. Rebecca is the one to take care of it the most, feeding him every so often and sleeping with him. She goes out on a walk with him and Witch one day, heading to a local park. There, she sees Izuku lying on the ground after having to deal with Katsuki and the other bullies.
From then on, he and Rebecca become friends, growing up together. They even go out to get hero trading cards one day, coming across the rare All Might card in their respective packs. Throughout their school days from kindergarten to elementary to junior high, Izuku and Rebecca stay great friends.
One night during a school dance, Izuku sits dejectedly as everyone else is dancing together in pairs. Rebecca approaches him, wearing a lovely green dress. She offers her hand to Izuku, who graciously accepts it as his face scrunches up. They dance together, all while Katsuki watches on from the corner with a look of annoyance on his face.
The years go by, up to the end of middle school. The day arrives that Izuku and Rebecca get to U.A. High, entering alongside each other. We see flashes of everything they've gone through: the Quirk tests, the battle training, the USJ incident, the Sports Festival, the internships, the final exams, the forest camp attack, the incident in Camino Ward, the provisional licensing exam, and Izuku and Katsuki's fight afterwards.
From there, we see the couple dressed in their hero costumes, looking out to the horizon as they're joined by their classmates, prepared to face whatever lies ahead. Izuku looks to Rebecca and smiles, taking her hand into his own and holding onto it firmly. Neither of them are ever going to lose hope in each other.
END ENDING
And that brings an official end to the Shie Hassaikai Arc! I have to say, I was really happy with how things turned out. There are some loose ends that need to be tied up, but the next few chapters will definitely cover them.
Speaking of which, the next arc is coming up! No trailer this time around, but there'll be a brand new opening and ending for you to partake in! So I'll see you guys next time as we get into some more hijinks!
Thanks for reading!