Ryo wasn't sure what to make of the meeting that was added to his schedule on his computer calendar.
It obviously had been done by the Rat, Nezu hadn't even been subtle and left his name under the meeting he put in Ryo's calendar.
Ryo was at the very least certain that the meeting was not about the listed reason of 'consulting on a case'.
Nezu didn't just hack into his computer for consulting on cases.
However, he also knew better than to try and skip the meeting or find out more about it before the day of since Nezu would be absolutely cryptic about it.
So, he didn't and went about the three days in between as usual.
Though he noticed that Miyake and Oswald's friend group were off and clearly very angry, except for Togata.
The boy looked more crushed than anything and hadn't wanted to talk about anything, even flinching when Ryo had gotten too close, so Ryo let the boy just do coloring therapy during the last couple of sessions, he'd be sure to bring it up during his meeting with Nezu.
Something had very clearly happened and considering how everyone in the friend group was acting Ryo could only draw a few conclusions about the nature of it, especially with how protectively angry the group was of Togata recently.
And Ryo really, really hoped he was wrong about one of those reasons but if there was even a chance that 'that' could've happened, then Nezu would undoubtedly make him pay for not bringing it to his attention sooner.
Strictly speaking Ryo had no proof of anyone doing anything to Togata, but one doesn't spend years working with all kinds of traumatized people and not pick up on certain patterns of behavior.
Especially when they spent even longer studying human psychology, with a heavy focus on trauma and helping people move past it.
The only concern he really had was trying to think of who could've done 'it' to Togata, cause there were two options and frankly neither option was a 'good' one if what he suspected was right.
It would be bad enough if a stranger did that, Togata could reasonably stay incredibly afraid of any stranger from now on and maybe retreat into himself or become codependent on his friends.
Or if his assaulter was someone he'd known personally, then Togata would definitely have a different set of severe trust issues going forward and Nezu would need to do a deep check on Togata's life to figure out who it was.
Ryo... really hoped he was wrong about what he was thinking, for Togata's sake if nothing else.
The most he had gotten from any of them about what happened was Miyake's ominous warning of finding out the coming Wednesday, with a swishing tail and prickling scent of deep agitation.
If he was a betting man, he'd think that the Rat's meetings time wasn't a coincidence, but he knew far better than to bet with Nezu.
So, Ryo did his best to keep himself from going into the meeting without any preconceptions about it.
Raising an eye when he noticed that Aizawa left the teachers' offices, Aizawa who normally wouldn't be here this late, always in a rush to go home and catch up on his sleep long before Ryo finished his end of the day appointments.
Aizawa and he stared at each other for a moment.
"Nezu?" Ryo guessed rather easily.
"Rat bastard." Aizawa confirmed, and Ryo huffed.
Aizawa was probably the only one that could get away with saying that so close to Nezu, the man was once his personal student.
Or stupid enough from lack of sleep, it could be either of those really with his Kouchi.
"Let's get this over with then." Ryo muttered shaking his head and the two walked over to the rat's office.
"Inui-San! Aizawa! Right on time as always, come in!" Nezu cheerfully told them before either of them could knock on the door.
Ryo opened the door and blinked when he saw Midoriya-Kun was there sitting on Nezu's chair and the mammal contently sat on the boy's lap, the boy busy with something on his phone.
There was also Haruki-San and a skeletal man with straw-like hair, and good god did he smell of a lot of blood.
"Now, now, don't be shy and come on in." Nezu reminded the two of them.
Ryo and Aizawa came all the way in and then settled down on the couches.
"You called us for a meeting Nezu." Aizawa flatly said.
"Indeed, though before we speak, allow me to," Nezu hopped off of Midoriya-Kun's lap to a corner then a bunch of metal plates closed over the doors and windows "Make it more private." Nezu finished before hopping back onto Midoriya-Kun's lap then sat on his desk.
Midoriya-Kun put his phone down.
"Given the nature of what we are going to discuss, It is important that this conversation stays unheard and needs to remain under strict confidence." Midoriya-Kun told them, a sternness in his voice and body that wasn't common in the greenette.
"And what will we be discussing Nezu-San, Midoriya-San?" Ryo inquired, a bit cautious in his tone since they probably were both about to find out what had caused Midoriya-Kun to be so furious the past couple of weeks.
"Does the name 'All For One' mean anything to either you?" Nezu asked them back.
Aizawa frowned "Only the barest of whispers, most criminals don't want to speak about whoever that is." Aizawa answered, with a brow raised.
"I'm afraid I haven't heard anything on my side of things." Ryo admitted.
"Then I'm sure that you've heard the stories that came from his actions during the Dawning, as He who takes." Midoriya-Kun stated, making him flinch and stare at Midoriya-Kun.
"Are you telling me that-" Aizawa about to question but Midoriya-Kun just nodded.
"Yes, the quirk stealing boogie man is alive and very much real, plus he's still kicking due to some quirks he's stolen. That covers the basic questions you were going to ask Aizawa-San?" Midoriya said, raising an eyebrow back.
Aizawa scowled back but didn't ask anything, irritated whiffs coming from his scent.
"Considering you've asked us both here, and the way we are talking about this, then I presume that this 'All For One' is an enemy then?" Ryo guessed, his fur standing on end from thinking about it.
"You would be correct." Nezu confirmed with a soft nod.
"And there is already a plan in the motion to deal with him?" Ryo further inquired, well more like he hoped there was one in the works.
"There is, with Midoriya-San's help we shall be able to execute All For One and rescue two of his brainwashed victims, there are however some complications in which is why we had to bring the two of you in and debrief you." Nezu elaborated for them.
That helped and hurt in equal measure, Ryo was relieved that there was a Nezu approved plan to get rid of All For One, but less than thrilled knowing that Midoriya-San had to be a part of executing anyone.
Aizawa narrowed his eyes "What kind of complications?" his Kouhai pointedly asked.
"While we are confident in the plan to kill All For One, there is also a backup plan that we shall only use as a last resort." Midoriya-Kun told them then motioned to the blonde man.
"All For One had a brother with a quirk that could be passed on, I won't get into the details at the moment, but each of the holders of the quirk has done their best to fight All For One and be rid of him once and for all, myself included." The man said.
"I'm Yagi, the eighth holder, I won't have much longer to live, five years perhaps if I'm lucky and I can't use the quirk to its full power due to the damage from the last fight I had with All For One, so we've looked for a successor." Yagi detailed for them.
Ryo frowned, sharing a glance with Aizawa.
"Unfortunately, because of the nature of the quirk, giving it to just any person isn't possible... there were only two people we could find that would be able to handle the strain of Inheritance. Both of them agreed to take Inheritance after we insisted on over a week of consideration." Midoriya-Kun explained to them.
"Who are these 'successors'?" Aizawa questioned.
"That was one of the reasons we're bringing you in Inui-Kun, the only two people that can handle taking Inheritance without dying, are Hado and Amajiki of 2-A." Haruki-San answered for them.
Ryo couldn't help looking at them all shocked "What? Why them? Isn't there anyone else that would be able to take Inheritance? An adult?" Ryo questioned, knowing how Midoriya-Kun hated to involved kids it was almost a slap to the face.
Midoriya-Kun scowled back at the slight.
"If you'll recall, I have strong connections with the Vespas, and I had them search the whole island for people that could have taken Inheritance. So, I can assure you that there is no one else." Midoriya-Kun coldly answered.
Ryo merely nodded his head, chastised.
"And do keep in mind they will only get involved if, and only if, the plan of execution fails. Regardless, they will need someone they can talk through their issues and concerns with, a professional like yourself Inui-San." Midoriya-Kun further explained to him.
"And where do I fit into this picture then? Considering I wasn't approached before now I'm not part of the plan to execute All For One." Aizawa questioned, his arms crossed.
"While it shall be good to have someone else for the six of them talk to, especially people who weren't in on this from the beginning like most of us were. But you Aizawa-San will be even more insurance to help kill All For One." Midoriya-Kun said, some of the tension bleeding away, though he kept his shoulders squared.
"We can't be sure if he has a quirk to counter your own but at the very least you would be able to disable some of the quirks All For One would use, either to fight back or keep him from surviving by using whatever healing quirks he has." Midoriya-Kun elaborated.
Ryo found himself nodding along with Midoriya-Kun's reasons, Erasure would be very useful to counter someone like All For One, if not a complete counter than at least to put the man at a severe disadvantage.
Aizawa's scent however flared with suspicion and his constantly red eyes narrowed.
"If I would be so useful, then why am I only being read in now?" Aizawa question, Ryo had given pause for that.
Haruki-San placed a hand on Aizawa's shoulder.
"Because we couldn't trust that you would react rationally upon the reveal of one of the brainwashed victims' identities." Haruki-San told them, the air tainted by moroseness and Aizawa's bitter agitation.
Clearly his Kouhai felt slighted.
"And just who would this brainwashing victim be?" Aizawa spat back.
"Shirakumo Oboro, your best friend." Midoriya-Kun replied flatly.
His words hit Ryo like a gut punch and he sharply inhaled, the smell of Aizawa's shock socking him next, then denial overcame that.
Most people didn't think denial would have a scent.
It did, it often smelt sour and prickly.
"That's impossible. Oboro died over a decade ago. I was there." Aizawa hissed back through gritted teeth.
His right-hand curling on his upper left arm, where his arm had broken all that time ago.
Ryo hadn't known much about that day, Aizawa and his other kohais refused to talk about it much, with anyone, and he only knew how Aizawa broke his arm because Isamu told him.
Shirakumo's last act was to use his quirk to all but throw Aizawa out of a collapsing building with an injured kid, his arm breaking because Aizawa and been thrown much too hard in Shirakumo's rush.
And even now Aizawa would stink of self-hatred and mourning whenever it was brought up, especially now.
"Replacing the body with a double would have been child's play to All For One, if he didn't just pay off the officials to lie. That was All For One's plan in the first place after all." Midoriya-Kun countered, taking to stay neutral on the surface.
Though even without his nose Ryo could tell the boy took no joy in telling this to Aizawa.
"What the fuck do you mean by that?" Aizawa snapped back, rage spilling over and Aizawa's quirk flared as he stood up.
Midoriya-Kun didn't so much as flinch.
"The building collapse was not an accident Aizawa-San, it was a planned disaster in order for All For One to successfully fake your death and kidnap you." Midoriya-Kun answered, staring Aizawa head on.
Ryo could tell that was not what Aizawa was expecting to hear as his quirk dropped, his hair falling limp as his heart stopped for a brief moment.
"Why?" Aizawa said through gritted teeth, not wanting to show how shaken he was, despite the fact Ryo was sure everyone could see that his body was trembling, and his fists were white from how tightly they were clenched.
Midoriya-Kun stared back at Aizawa blankly.
"You can't be that naive Aizawa-San. You know exactly why All For One would want you." Midoriya-Kun responded, not unkindly but it left Ryo just as cold regardless.
Yes... he could see exactly what All For One would want with a quirk like Aizawa's.
Even though they weren't as close, Ryo complaining about how much of a hypocrite he was and hated that the man refused to acknowledge half of the baggage he had.
But Ryo couldn't help feeling his heart drop at the thought of Aizawa being written off as dead when some bastard had taken him as some kind of tool.
The same way that Shirakumo apparently had.
Though Ryo couldn't let him think about that for long as he had to tackle Aizawa to the ground.
Aizawa fought him and they ended up tussling on the ground, with him eventually pinning Aizawa underneath himself as Aizawa loudly cursed him out.
Aizawa's pure and utter anguish, hatred, spite and self-loathing burned Ryo's nose, but he didn't move and forced Aizawa to ride out the wave of realization on the floor rather than letting Aizawa strangle the first person he could get his hands on.
Ryo had always suspected that Aizawa blamed himself for that day and that was part of why Aizawa treated himself so terribly in some sort of misplaced guilt for what happened.
So, to have someone all but say that it was his fault, even if that was only how Aizawa's ears were twisting it to sound, would of course have him spiraling somewhat.
Still, Ryo couldn't help feeling just awful for his Kouhai.
Aizawa quickly stopped struggling and only could be heard taking deep body-wracking breaths as he quietly sobbed.
Haruki-San moved to kneel next to them and motioned for him to get off of Aizawa.
Ryo did so and Haruki-San was quick to gather Aizawa into her arms and hug him close, letting Aizawa bury his face to hide from the rest of them as he processed everything, with Haruki-San gently stroking his hair.
The fact Haruki-San was long considered the mother of U.A. was often joked about, but in times like this it was a cold reminder of why everyone called her that.
Haruki-San was frankly the closest thing to a real mother to a lot of students, and Aizawa was no expectation.
"I'm sorry this was how you had to find out Shouta, but we're going to save him. Shirakumo's going to come back to us, we are going to bring him home Shouta. I promise we'll help him." Haruki-San swore as she held Aizawa close to her.
Ryo chanced a glance back at Midoriya-Kun, the boy looking as miserable as his scent smelt and Nezu was back in his lap, trying to comfort the boy since he too could probably smell his emotions as well.
Midoriya-Kun's eyes met his and his heart sank even more, because he could tell that there was even more that they needed to talk about.
Not now though, Aizawa- Shouta came first right now.
Ryo moved to be pressed against Shouta, his Kouhai did much better with physical comfort, he had learned that over the many years of knowing Shouta.
Words would fall on deaf ears, being there was what mattered to his Kouchi, and Ryo could do that for him.