Izuku frowned as rubbed his red eyes slightly bothered by the irritation he felt, it was mainly his own fault for watching this year's sports festival before work, he had focused on the first-year's part, and he wasn't disappointed by Masao-San's performance, not to mention he was so utterly proud when he saw Masao-San standing on the number one spot that he cried himself a river in his hotel room.
Izuku made sure to clean up the mess before he left of course since he knew most people couldn't deal with such a large amount of water in one place and went off to the next prefecture after he dealt with that, thankfully very few people were asking what made him cry as they became used to him being a cry baby over them and their accomplishments.
He texted his congratulations to Masao-San and his well wishes for his friends that they could all get some decent internships, then after a minute Izuku sent a second text that Masao-San could have him run a background check on any heroes that give them offers so they wouldn't be stuck with someone awful like Endeavour.
The idea of Masao-San being forced to work with someone awful like that just made his skin crawl, there wasn't much he could do about who sent Masao-San an offer but could at least vet the ones that did, but as worried as he was about Masao-San's first steps as a hero Izuku had plenty of students that needed his immediate attention, and he couldn't let himself be distracted by something like this.
Kumamoto wasn't the busiest of the prefectures but that wasn't an excuse not to do his best and do everything he could for the people there, he had quite a lot more help now since the districts were warming up him, it didn't seem to be as hard though and he guessed it was because the other districts weren't as suspicious as the South Side or maybe people were talking to each other outside of the districts and realizing he was honestly just trying to help them.
He had already finished most of his work, teaching about biology went as well as he could've expected, and he checked in with the property he owned there before he went onto other matters, talking with some people about their quirks and the problems they caused them to which he would offer some ideas to counter/work on the problems, he also left plenty of necessaries at the usual spots and gave some medical supplies to the people running the backrooms so they could restock.
Izuku smiled as he was soon to be completing another day of good work and wiped away the sweat from his brow after he put down the small crate of goods and flashed a smile at the green skinned woman that looked so relieved to see him "Thank god, we just ran out of gauze." she muttered and swiftly snapped one of her four hands and someone came out to take it inside the abandoned butcher shop "Happy to help Trixie-San! And I found some epi-pens that could be sold in bulk so there should be about forty in there." Izuku replied and Trixie-San grinned "Perfect, I'll ask around to see who needs them." the woman purred before going inside herself.
Satisfied Izuku nodded then checked his phone to make sure the day's spending was sent off to his mom before he ran to his car so that he could make it to his next appointment, his last meeting of today would be at the Raven's Nest, a... well the owner preferred to call it what it was, a brothel.
Gosh, Izuku could still remember how red he was when one of Raven's girls first came to him for a little help and how he almost passed out from all the blood rushing to his cheeks because the woman was still in her work clothes.
Izuku didn't have a problem with the... 'entertainment' industry, it was a completely valid line of work in his eyes and sex work had been fully legalized over a century ago in Japan, but it probably took about twenty years off his life from the stress it put on his heart as he tried to get used to see people in such compromising clothes and situations.
Though Izuku learned despite how long the business had been around that people didn't think too highly of people working in it, which was kind of confusing for him because all the workers he's met were incredibly lovely people, maybe he could argue that it was an opinion held by people who didn't agree with sleeping with multiple people at the same time but that didn't excuse the way people could be so mean and suspicious of the workers.
All of the workers he's met were kind people who were doing the best they could with their limited life skills and education, or even some people who just enjoyed the job for what it was and the money that came with it.
Pulling up to Raven's nest Izuku found the neon glow of the signs warm and welcoming after visiting the place for so long and just waved to the spiky demon-like woman standing outside as a bouncer, he received a nod in return and the woman didn't bat an eye when he went inside the building instead of stopping him since he was technically a minor going into a sex club, well he could legally go in according to Japanese laws on two-toes but no one with common sense would actually let him.
Izuku averted his eyes to the ground when he stepped in mainly because while he didn't think the work was anything to be ashamed of, he personally felt greatly embarrassed to see people he knew half naked and doing suggestive dancing, especially when they were his students since he was pretty sure that was against the teachers' code of conduct or something.
The music was nice though and he reminded himself to ask one of his students for the names of the songs as he quickly moved to the back of the establishment where he could freely speak with the workers on break, checking in with them was something he felt the need to do because he had heard some horror stories from his other students about how some owners weren't so kind too their workers.
He was happily listening to a dancer called Vixen excitably tell him about how his son's fur was indeed bioluminescent like he believed could happen given his wife's quirk when one of the girls peeked her head into the room "Heya Deku, the Madame wants to see ya. She said it was kinda important." the woman told him and Izuku blinked a bit surprised "I'll be right up, you can tell me about the details over text later Vixen-San." Izuku said standing up and shooting Vixen an apologetic look.
Vixen just flashed him a grin revealing all his needle like teeth "Try not to be eaten alive." Vixen teased before turning back to the mirror to finish touching up his makeup.
Izuku walked out of the room and instead went to the staircase and climbed up to the third floor and knocked on the door which promptly swung open "Deku-Darling! ~" Raven-San cooed before she swept him off his feet in a hug "H-hi Raven-San." Izuku squeaked slightly red both from Raven-San's tight grip and the fact she was barely covered by the robe she was wearing.
"Oh, I'm so happy you came by Darling. Come, come there is so much we need to talk about." She cheerfully proclaimed as she set him back onto his feet and lead him into her penthouse by the hand, Izuku dutifully followed in a power walk in order to keep up with the avian woman's longer stride, it wasn't Raven-San's fault though that her quirk made her so tall and willowy.
Bringing him over to the two couches Raven-San laid herself down on the couch with a dramatic flair and Izuku briefly looked away because the position was quite suggestive and sat down across from her on the other couch "Um, w-what do you n-need to speak to me about Raven-San?" he asked and Raven-San smiled at him "Darling, as I'm sure you know. Due to my flock, I have quite a wide net of information at my disposal, yes?" Raven-San purred laying her head on her arms.
"Yes." Izuku confirmed with a nod, the Vespas had a few people working under Raven-San and that was more than enough reason to believe she could get her hands on a lot of information "Well recently there has been quite a lot of talk about you in some very... specific circles, and I think it would only be fair to warn you before it catches up to you." Raven-San explained and Izuku suddenly felt his stomach was about to drop.
"W-what circles Raven-San?" Izuku questioned and all of the previous playful, if erotic energy Raven-San possessed was dropped for a slightly chilling aloofness as she sat up straight "Mostly from heroes but they won't be much trouble considering they can't even agree whether you actually exist yet," Raven-San coldly scoffed as she reached for the cigarette stick on the little side table beside her couch.
"However, as could be expected... with how popular you've grown amongst the underground, He who takes has begun to take notice and it will not be long before he starts asking questions too." Raven-San told him, Izuku heart stopped, and his hands clenched so tightly they were turning white as he processed what she just told him.
*All For One knowing I exist? Looking for me? I wouldn't last an hour... God what would happen to mom after he makes me disappear? She'd never stop blaming herself for letting me get involved. What about my students? Who would take care of them if I'm not there to assist them? And all the property I own? What should I do to keep them from being falling into the hands of slumlords?* Izuku whimpered in his mind suddenly questioning the stability of his little businesses after he had purposely made sure it all rested on his shoulders to maintain.
"I think you'll find that you are far more powerful than you believe, Deku." Raven-San commented breaking Izuku out of his unintentional rambling and he looked up to meet her solid, albeit narrow purple-pink eyes "What do you mean?" he pressed, because how could anyone look at him, a thirteen-year-old two-toes with absolutely no combat experience (other than being a punching bag) and call him powerful.
A cruel little smile curled Raven-San's beak and she took Izuku's face in her hands tilting up just a little farther "Oh Darling, you're so entertaining in your paradoxical nature. Being so intelligent and well-read but so mind-numbly naive at the same time." Raven-San cooed in a voice most people would use when talking to a child leaving Izuku to feel a touch worse with her being so patronizing to his face.
"Do you really think He who takes would bother with anyone that wasn't on his level?" Raven-San questioned and Izuku couldn't bring himself to speak, of course All For One wouldn't care about the average person but how could he have the gall to put himself on the same level as All For One when the man had been around for about 300 years with who knows how many powerful quirks?
"On h-his level?" Izuku sputtered after a second and Raven-San cackled "Darling you are far more powerful than that vile creature." she answered which made Izuku's mind go blank "W-what?!" he squawked back and Raven-San smirked as she stood up and walked over to the window walls overlooking the city.
"The empire that He who takes has built over the centuries was made on the backs of those he broke and tore apart until they were unquestioning sheep that would jump to his beck and call, it's why the Japan social system is so horribly corrupt and churns out so many "villains", how else would he have his pick of the best quirks to add to his horde within his grasp?" Raven-San asked turning her head 180 degrees and let it hang to the side.
Izuku felt sick as he understood what Raven-San was implying, the idea of All For One using his power and taking advantage of having such a long lifespan to manipulate the country as a whole and treating the citizens of Japan as nothing more than livestock was laughably believable.
Raven-San's eyes narrowed, and their glowing became much harsher as her grin became even more sharp and cruel looking "And you Darling... are tearing that system apart from the roots." she commented shocking him "I-I'm not doing anything like that!" Izuku protested which only made Raven-San cackle again as she turned her body to face him fully.
"Don't be so oblivious Darling... He who takes entire system is dependent on desperate people thinking they have no one and that they will jump at his offer the second he makes it, but now that you exist... those people aren't so desperate and hesitate when he offers them the world on a sliver plater because they know they can fall back on you to help them when they need it instead of taking a deal from the devil." Raven-San explained with a twirl of the wrist.
"B-but I'm not trying to d-do that!" Izuku argued "I just want to help people!" he added his hands going to his hair.
"Oh, I know Darling. If it wasn't for people like Endeavour, I'd say you wouldn't have a single malicious bone in your body." Raven-San cooed pinching his cheek between her talons "It's merely a testament of how poorly built He who takes empire is, that it could all fall apart at the hands of an unknowing hapless child with a bleeding heart, and a quirkless one to boot! Lord above the irony is killing me!" Raven-San proclaimed with a mirthless laugh, though Izuku didn't feel it was that amusing.
Raven-San calmed herself after a few seconds and wiped away a fake tear from her eye "But in all seriousness Darling, the damage you wrought has been done and it is impossible to turn back now, a war is brewing as the abandoned and forgotten people shall rise up against the man that has kept them oppressed for so long and it will end in the bloody death of thousands caught in the middle." Raven-San informed him and stared up at her in horror.
"I- I don't want anyone to die over me... " he whimpered tears building in his eyes as his memories of the SSI and multiple turf wars flashed through his mind mixing and mashing to create an apocalyptic future all caused by him.
Raven-San's hand gently ran through his curls, and he looked up to her and saw her face was a touch softer than before "Apologies Darling, but the seeds have been planted and there is nothing we can do now but try to nurture them so that something will survive the aftermath, which is why I'm telling you that you need to take action now while you still have time." Raven-San told him only slightly sympathetically to his plight.
"But what could I do against He who takes?" Izuku asked staring at his hands and briefly noting all the little scars on them from years of abuse from himself on his fingertips, and he wondered how someone like him could ever stand up against such a mythical man.
"Why you don't have to anything Darling, you've already won the war. Even if you are to die upon confronting He who takes, nothing will quash the hope you've grown for those who truly need it or the seeds of change you've planted amongst the people you've helped." Raven-San soothing told him as she stroked his back as she sat beside him.
Then for the first time in years Izuku felt his heart ache at the thought of dying when he would usually numbly acknowledge it "I- I don't want to die... " he muttered and this time he truly meant it. He couldn't die now, not when he knew there were people out there that needed him, and he had friends that he wanted to see become happy in person as they became the heroes they deserved to be.
Raven-San let out a low hum as she tilted her head "Then you'll need to become someone he can't touch. The anonymity you hide behind will only last for so long even with the help of your little bunny friends and the snowman." she advised as she brought the cigarette stick to her mouth for the first drag.
"Someone he can't, touch?" Izuku repeated confused and Raven-San blew out a cloud of smoke before she answered "He who takes has pushed the quirkless to the wayside of society for a reason, so that no one would care if they disappeared. So, in order to keep He who takes from making you disappear it is key to make yourself someone that the general public will pay attention to and can't be removed without causing problems." Raven-San elaborated twirling the cigarette stick.
"How am I supposed to do that without outing myself too early? I mean I'm a two-toes, how am I going to get infamous before He who takes gets to me?" Izuku asked because it was one thing to be told he was about to be hunted down by ancient evil, it was another to tell him he needed to somehow become some kind of household name if he wanted to escape it.
Raven-San shrugged "I'm afraid you'll have to find that out on your own because I haven't got the foggiest idea Darling, but I'm sure someone as resourceful as you can figure it out, especially with the help of all your little friends supporting you... myself included." she answered crossing her legs "He who takes shall fall because his power solely comes from controlling those he manipulates into brainless pawns, by giving those people power you've shattered that control and it doesn't matter whatever number of quirks he uses he can't defeat a literal army by himself, much less the hordes of people who will fight for you if it ever came to it Darling." Raven-San promised.
Izuku's chest felt tight at the thought, and he forced himself to stand up "T-thank you for the warning, Raven-San, I'll try to figure... something out." he said, his voice shaking more than he intended it to and his hands had a death grip on the strap of his messenger bag "No problem Darling~, keeping you around is good for business after all, have to keep my flock well fed and happy." Raven-San brushed off going straight back to the playful side with a small chuckle, then she led him to the door of the penthouse floor.
Once the door closed behind him and Raven-San could no longer see him Izuku let a few more tears slip from his eyes before he made his excuses and went back to his hotel room, understanding he was unquestionably going to have some sort of mental break down before he could even start to think of forming a plan of some kind.