Izuku found himself working away on some theories in his note book for the students during lunch, normally he'd be eating with Haruki-San but she was busy with an appointment so he was on his own for the day.
And Izuku was planning on catching up on his analysis for all of the hero course students, he had quite a few updates to make after observing another heroics exercise.
But he hardly got one page in when he got a text alert and quickly checked his phone.
[Nezu-San]
[Hello Midoriya :)]
[Apologies for interrupting, however I wished to extend an offer for you to join me in my office for a cup of tea.]
Izuku blinked, tilting his head as he considered the idea.
Nezu was fairly interested in quirk theory since he seemed to keep up with Izuku during dinner that one time so Izuku could probably have some decent conversation if nothing else, and it was nice to bounce ideas off of people that weren't himself.
But Izuku couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't as straightforward as it seemed... given Nezu-San's only company were students and their teachers, and Izuku wasn't trying to be crude, but Nezu-San likely didn't have anyone to have an in-depth intellectual conversation.
So maybe that was it and Nezu-San just was bored.
However, Izuku didn't think that was it either, well... not the main reason anyways.
No Izuku had, for better or worse suspected that Nezu was hoping to get more information from Izuku about All For One.
Of course, it could just be the paranoia of the man getting to him but Izuku would have to be an idiot to forget that the whole reason he accepted his job here was because he played his hand and revealed he had quote-unquote 'inside' knowledge on All For One.
And he technically did have because of Юрий-Сан and his students warnings, and while he'd be willing to risk indulging Nezu-San for some more solid plans to deal with All For One and help Tenko Izuku wouldn't be able to give him full disclosure because of his promise to Юрий-Сан.
Izuku could dance around it for a while probably but eventually he'd have to Nezu-San he couldn't name his sources or give him all the information.
So Izuku weighed his options then sighed and packed up his stuff.
As risky as it was Izuku would redoubtable fare much better with Nezu-San being more read in on the situation, and frankly Izuku knew he'd need to take every advantage he could to keep All For One from making him 'disappear'.
Izuku walked towards Nezu-San's office and this time noted that Nezu-San hadn't said anything despite his habit of 'welcoming' someone to come inside, in most cases he would consider this irrelevant info, but Nezu-San was being somewhat vulnerable by doing this.
Elmo Vespa had been the one to explain to Izuku the difference in being invited in and actually being someone's guest, Izuku supposed the thought had roots on the more animal side of the psyche than he guessed if Nezu-San also used this system.
Izuku knocked on the door and got confirmation to enter before he peaked his head in, much like before the meeting with the Uenos' Nezu-San chose to sit himself down on one of the couches a pot of tea on the table "Please come on in Midoriya." Nezu-San encouraged his tail lazily wagging behind him.
He fully entered and sat himself across from Nezu-San, taking one of the two offered cups of tea and taking a small sip, only to pause when the taste of it hit his tongue.
Izuku's eyes fluttered "Is, is this 'ZHO' tea?" Izuku asked, still a bit shocked and took another sip to confirm.
Nezu-San chirped in conformation "Indeed Midoriya, a bit more difficult to get ahold of with the high caffeine levels in it but I've been informed that the quirkless like yourself have a much higher tolerance to it." Nezu-San further explained.
He wasn't wrong, only a small percentage of quirked people could have the same level of caffeine.
Quirkists always went on and on about how much more 'evolved' they were compared to two-toes but that always seemed to conveniently forget that they lost the tolerance two-toes had to caffeine, capsaicin and even liquor if the message boards he read were correct.
"Two-toes." Izuku corrected and Nezu-San blinked, one of his ears flicking.
"It's our preferred term, we prefer to be called two-toes instead of quirkless." Izuku clarified.
"Ah, apologizes Midoriya, I was unaware, but I shall be certain to call you as such from now on." Nezu-San told him and Izuku chuckled.
"It's alright Nezu-San, it's a name we gave ourselves and we aren't in the habit of spreading it around either, so most people aren't aware of it, so we don't mind being referred to as quirkless outside of polite company." Izuku explained, waving the issue away before taking another sip.
Nezu-San chirped again "Naturally Midoriya." Nezu-San replied his tail wagging a bit faster.
Izuku raised an eye but shrugged it off in his head and drank about half before he set down his cup "While I appreciate the offer Nezu-San, I would like to skip the small talk and cut to the real reason for why you've called me here." Izuku told him.
Nezu-San's ears drooped a bit "You've seen through me Midoriya, I do want for us to discuss more pleasant subjects over tea in the future however there is a far more pressing issue that requires our attention." Nezu-San admitted setting down his own cup.
Izuku sighed *Knew it.* Izuku thought just a touch bitter, he was somewhat hoping that he was wrong and that the two of them could just prattle on about the students quirks.
Nezu-San's tail had stopped wagging now and he was a fair more dower before he spoke up "As I'm sure you've aware I have cameras all over U.A. and have overheard your, conversations with Haruki-San." Nezu-San said and Izuku remained as he was, unsure whether or not he should be worried where Nezu-San was taking this yet.
Nezu-San gave a reassuring series of chirps "Now, now Midoriya. I'm not asking you to tell me everything, I understand the need for plausible deniability as much as anyone else and if it helps, I'm aware of part of the story already due to Tsukauchi bringing me into the fold on One For All's side." Nezu-San explained.
Izuku's nose scrunched up at that "One For All? Don't tell me that's what you've been calling his brother's quirk?" Izuku commented and Nezu-San blinked again.
Izuku held up a hand "Sorry, it's just... to have your quirk named as a mirror for the brother who probably abused and mostly likely killed you after fighting each other for years is, a bit tone deaf and probably an ill-fitting description." Izuku told Nezu-San.
Nezu-San's nose also scrunched up "Yes, I believe in that light you are correct. What have you been calling it?" Nezu-San inquired.
Izuku shrugged "I didn't have one, but given its ability I was considering either 'Heirloom' or 'inheritance' with how it's main feature was that it could be willingly passed on to another but only by the current holder's choice and couldn't be stolen." Izuku explained.
Nezu-San churred nodding his head "Inheritance would probably be the most fitting between the two since an heirloom wouldn't grow and change in the same way." Nezu-San mused with a light scratch under his chin.
"Afraid my knowledge of Inheritance isn't much, haven't had the pleasure of speaking with anyone who personally knew a holder and was read in on it." Izuku confessed and Nezu-San churred again.
"Given the holders paranoia I'm not surprised there isn't more about it out there, I'd be happy to read you in on what I've been told of it, but we should get back to what we were talking about in the first place yes?" Nezu-San prompted gently.
Izuku pursed his lips, he probably could use the clause about not ratting on his students to force Nezu-San to back off if asking him to drop it wouldn't work... but Tenko wouldn't be that hard to find since the Shimura massacre's info wasn't private.
At the same time Izuku felt a surge of protectiveness flare up inside of him though.
Tenko was by all rights an adult, but he was also heavily abused by All For One in order for him to be a useful pawn in his plans and was mentally speaking closer to someone his age and was his friend in all but name, so Izuku was of course protective of him.
A respect that was clearly returned in kind since Tenko was doing the best he could to protect him in kind from the man he viewed as his personal savior and 'father' figure despite knowing the exact consequences he could face if his actions were ever discovered.
Izuku exhaled through his nose and let his head fall all the way back as his mind went back and forth on whether or not to tell Nezu-San about Tenko.
Izuku fixed his eyes wearily on Nezu-San "Is this room a dead zone Nezu-San?" Izuku tersely questioned and Nezu-San didn't hesitate to jump from his seat then ran to a corner of the room on all fours.
Izuku watched Nezu-San gone ahead to assumedly lock down the room with his body pointedly not blocking Izuku's view of how he was doing so, as sign of his trust in Izuku "It is now Midoriya." Nezu-San assured.
"Nezu-San, you understand that whatever I tell you cannot leave this room. I will not risk my students safety under any circumstances and will not be going any further with this if you can't swear to me that what we're about to discuss will stay between us." Izuku sternly told Nezu-San.
"I swear on my littermates Midoriya that not one word will leave this room." Nezu-San promised clearly seeing how serious Izuku was.
Izuku took a deep breath and released a much longer sigh as he forced his shoulders to relax and stared at the cooling tea with a frown "Do you have anything, stronger Nezu-San? Like ramune?" Izuku asked apparently surprising Nezu-San because he blinked twice in response.
"Yes, and considering we're about to share a drink together I think we can both drop the honorifics Midoriya." Nezu-San said as he dug out a bottle much like the one Jared-San gave him but was lemon flavored instead.
Izuku merely nodded and quickly took a sip of the drink once he took it from Nezu-San, Izuku hummed at the taste, still not a favorite but considering Izuku didn't want to become an alcoholic it was probably for the best that he didn't like the taste.
"Okay, what I told you and Tsukauchi-San back the station was mostly true for obvious reason, but as I'm sure you've realized I wasn't giving you everything." Izuku lead with and Nezu-San chirped in reply.
"About the end of July last year I was walking home from work and not quite in the best mood, so when I walked through a portal and into a 'base' I could've handled things a lot worse than I did, but I managed to walk away unscathed and with another student." Izuku began and took another sip.
"This student I later learned was 'known' as Shigaraki Tomura and Kurogiri was the one who responsible for the portals, two people known to be deep inside of All For One's inner circle, you can probably imagine how terrified I was when I learned this." Izuku explained and Nezu-San nodded silently encouraging him to continue his paws digging into the couch.
Izuku huffed "It was a very good thing that 'Tomura' was independently looking for help with 'leveling up' as he put it and that All For One had no clue what he was doing or neither of us would be standing here Nezu." Izuku commented.
"And while the situation was tense at first, I noticed that Tomura and I were wearing the same shoes, so I did some digging and realized that Tomura was actually Shimura Tenko, Shimura Nana's brainwashed grandson who was formally a two-toes himself." Izuku explained.
Nezu-San's ear flicked, and he blinked "Why keep Tenko alive?" Nezu-San questioned.
"That, is what I asked Kurogiri. Tenko is merely a pawn to mentally break down All Might, weaponizing his mentor's grandchild to the point they would be forced to kill each other is petty but in line for him. And from what I'm told we two-toes are the perfect cattle for All For One so once he's done with his revenge Tenko's body will still be useful to them." Izuku elaborated.
Nezu-San reeled back with his huckles raised "Cattle?" Nezu-San near hissed and Izuku huffed.
"A quirked body is built for housing the specific quirk the person was born with, their bodies could manage only having one other quirk and surviving for another, twenty years, brain damage notwithstanding." Izuku told Nezu-San much like how Kurogiri explained to him.
"A two-toes on the other hand, can safely hold ten to twenty-five depending on how old they are and their health, they'll be brain dead after four but that just makes 'training' them easier, which makes two-toes like me cattle in his eyes." Izuku said much calmer as he explained it with having months to get used to the idea.
"That is... " Nezu-San growled "Vile?" Izuku finished for him then nodded.
"I'm treading a very dangerous line by working so closely to him, Kurogiri is a Nomu that isn't brain dead but under a control quirk and would be forced to out me if All For One ever asked about me to him directly." Izuku told Nezu-San as he continued on.
"Despite knowing this I've not stopped contact with either of them because I think I can save both Tenko and Kurogiri from All For One and have been slowing de-brainwashing Tenko, and I have no plans of stopping Nezu." Izuku firmly said, all but challenging Nezu-San to protest his decision.
Nezu-San's tail flicked to the other side of him "If you believe both of them could be saved why not quietly extract them and do so away from All For One instead? I could help you do so Mido-" Nezu-San's offer was cut off by Izuku's loud scoff.
"Because Kurogiri has orders not to allow that to happen, Tenko can't leave Japan with All For One directly ordering it or Kurogiri will teleport him and any accomplices straight to him." Izuku said bitterly, Izuku had asked such questions as soon as he got the stomach to do so.
"As for the brainwashing, it's actually very easy to break if I showed or pointed something out to Tenko that doesn't match with the memories All For One put in his head and the illusion will be shattered. But again, Kurogiri has direct orders to immediately alert All For One and tell him what cause was so he can get rid of it and re-use the brainwashing quirk on Tenko while he's still in shock." Izuku added before taking a much larger swig.
Kurogiri had been generous to tell Izuku all of the things forbidden by All For One once Izuku asked because he didn't fancy all of his hard work to go down the drain by a slip of the tongue.
Nezu-San's tail began irately swishing behind him "Hence why you must be so careful in your approach towards Tenko and who knows about this." Nezu-San commented.
"Indeed." Izuku confirmed "Kurogiri doesn't have any immediate orders for if Tenko just runs away surprisingly, if fact he has a full twenty-four hours to look for him before he has to report the incident, I'm aiming for that to happen so that I can knock out Kurogiri which will give me a grace period to get them away and de-brainwashed before All For One notices." Izuku elaborated.
Nezu-San's ear flicked "Even if you were to do that it would be very easy for All For One to re-use the quirk on them once he did, All For One likely has more than one teleportation quirk under his belt." Nezu-San pointed out.
Izuku grip on the bottle tightened and he turned his gaze down to his lap "While All For One survived the battle he was greatly injured and in addition to being wheelchair and support-machine bound All For One is blind, I plan on using that to my advantage to kill All For One with Kurogiri's help." Izuku said.
Even without looking Izuku could feel Nezu-San freeze into place.
"I just need to aim my gun and Kurogiri to open a portal directly next to All For One's forehead and he'll be gone Nezu, two seconds max, speed quirks or not he wouldn't be able to dodge or use a quirk." Izuku spoke, the cold clawing feeling of dread building in his guts as he admitted his plan to Nezu-San.
Silence engulfed the two of them making Izuku feel all the worse for what he just said, as if finally saying it out loud made the fact he was planning murder someone real to him.
Unable to stand the feelings trying to tear him apart from the inside out he finished the rest of the bottle in one last chug then shakily exhaled, and Izuku had to swallow the lump that formed in his throat before he could find his words again.
"We both know that locking up All For One would be impossible Nezu, and with how long he's been around he has plenty of countermeasures for anything we could throw at him... this is probably the closest chance we have at killing him," Izuku said, justifying himself and what he was going to do leaving his mouth feeling like it was coated in arsenic.
Finally, Izuku raised his head and leveled a tired world weary glare at Nezu "Knowing this, are you going to stop me Nezu?" Izuku questioned.
Nezu, for his part didn't react for a very long time, or maybe it was Izuku's warped perception of time, but he'd swear Nezu sat there completely still for five minutes.
"No, Izuku. I will not stop you." Nezu slowly said, his words as thick in the air as they were on his tongue.
Izuku nodded in his thanks, unbothered by Nezu using his given name.
Confessing conspiracy to commit murder was a very intimate thing after all, and being on a first name basis with Nezu wouldn't kill him anymore than the ramune would.
Nezu *just wants to talk with his favorite human*
Izuku *admits he plans to murder someone for good reasons*
Nezu *realizes that he's right*
Nezu: Fuck