Before we begin, do any of you know any artists who would make a picture of Laura and Izuku for me because I want a cover for this story. I want good quality because I will be happy to pay for their services. Just DM me if you know!
Izuku sat at the tree pondering about events old and new. His mom's words continued to stew in his mind, conflicting his loyalties to his new friend and his lost friend. The Kayamas have been a gift since that fateful day, and karma threw him a bone to have the older sister attend his school. Laura and Eri… no words could fully describe the impact they have had on Izuku's life. Companionship, happiness, an experience to look forward to daily just to name a few.
It's been a week since Kayama's suspension and the atmosphere has been off. The teachers wouldn't admit it, but the suspension of Kayama has turned the school upside down. The hierarchy of the student totem pole is being called into question, and the students have become more cautious of what they do.
Kacchan continues to reign supreme over everyone, with his iron fist hardening into steel. With his two lackeys by his side, Kacchan has regained his throne and taken back his power over everyone. With that came a harsher version of him, as Kacchan has made examples of others about whose school this really belongs to. Whip-lashing words, bigger explosives, and glares that melt even the coldest of hearts, Kacchan upped his ante.
Yet on the other side of the table was the most unexpected person: Himself.
While they labeled Kayama as his personal "bodyguard," she stood up for Izuku, and their time together had major implications. Izuku took away vital traits from his time with Kayama, with the most important being standing up for himself and fighting back. Izuku defeating Pitch was a shock to everyone, but what confused Izuku was that Kacchan has yet to do anything to him, and Izuku learned Kacchan told everyone to leave him alone.
That is worrisome.
It couldn't be fear because Izuku is quirkless and Kacchan can stomp Izuku in an instant, but what is the reason then? Why does Kacchan want everyone to ignore Izuku if he will not attack him? It makes little sense. It's like the old days when Kacchan used to defend him.
Kacchan…His lost friend. A friend whose ego is out of control because of the people around him putting him on a pedestal that made him blind. A merry band of yes men that turned a once rough but well-meaning ally into his biggest adversary. Nobody refuses him, and when Kacchan misbehaves, the 'grown-ups' ignore it. Kacchan's parents have their limits, and Izuku is confident that they are unaware of the true situation at the school.
Is it Kacchan's fault that he is the way he is? The person at home isn't the same as the person who leaves home. Kacchan could still be the man he once knew back then, and that is why Izuku keeps trying to bring the old Kacchan back. Izuku is the only one who tells him 'no.' Of course, that would make Kacchan mad. All he ever hears is 'yes' or 'technically it's their fault because blank.' A child molded into believing they are the center of the universe would only grow up to believe that they still are.
And all of this seemed to lead up the unpredictable yet inevitable fight between Kayama and Kacchan. In hindsight, Izuku can see how these two would brawl given their alpha personalities. Such a fight would happen and now the ramifications of the most recent battle are coming to the forefront.
The Kayama's and Midoriya's are going to sue the school for manipulation, wrongful punishment, fraud, and much more. This will drag the Bakugos into this mess, and Izuku doesn't know how Mitsuki and his mom's friendship will fare in this legal battle.
Izuku's head hurt. All of this was coming at him fast. Near death, All Might's training and rite of passage into heroism, Laura and Eri, the suspension, his fights, and now the legal battle. How did it all get here so fast, and why must it be this way?
Why couldn't Kacchan just behave for once?
Inko parked her car in the school guest lot. Her anxiety was rising from what was about to happen, but Inko felt it necessary to be the one to do it herself, given the history of her family with this school.
Aldera Junior High has been nothing but a series of issues for the past 3 years. Inko isn't stupid, and she has controlled a lot of her emotions, but this was the final straw! Seeing Izuku scarred is the final nail in the coffin for her, and Inko should have done this long ago, but Inko didn't want to make things difficult for Izuku, more so than it already is.
Inko looked in her rearview mirror. The reflection of her was intense. 3 years ago, Inko was 124 pounds; in shape, had no medical issues, and felt as light as a feather. Her quirk wasn't the strongest, but she could use it with little effort!
Today, Inko weighs 175 pounds, loses breath going up 4 flights of stairs, has constant lower back pains and migraines, and feels like she's always in the way in public given her country's culture of maintaining an active lifestyle to remain in shape and lessen chances of future chronic issues. Inko can't even pull Izuku's PS5 or Xbox towards her without struggling! That used to be nothing for her!
Izuku, Izuku being told he was quirkless, hurt, and Inko felt just as depressed as Izuku, but even that didn't stop her from doing her best to be the best role model for him. Inko would try her best to stay active and teach Izuku the value of exercise and eating well, hoping to guide him towards a fulfilling life. Her efforts paid off because Izuku has maintained that and suddenly is taking it much more seriously.
Is this because of Laura? Inko doesn't know and doesn't care, because why would she stop a wonderful effort from her son?
Izuku, in the past 3 years, kept up his exercise and dieting, but Inko stopped. At some point everything was too much for her to bear and finding solace in desserts and late time TV was her escape. Inko would sometimes play Izuku's consoles when he was at school, just to escape her reality. Ugh, the amount of hours she sunk into The All Might Collection.
Inko's fall off resulted from this stupid school. Inko's breaking point was because of this ridiculous, pathetic, horrible, despicable, and downright malicious school!
This school is the absolute worst thing that could have ever happened to her family because it broke her and it made her baby boy into a lying, self-conscious, foolhardy hero!
"Ms. Midoriya?"
Inko blinked and scanned her surroundings. She was in the principal's office. Did she go on autopilot?
Inko focused on the principal and knew what she had to do.
Inko threw the file on his desk as it slid to him. Papers threatened to spill out everywhere as the principal hastily collected them.
"What is-"
"I am suing you and this school," Inko boldly stated with the confidence of a lioness.
The principal's eyes widened with his jaw dropping. "Wh-What?!"
Inko's rage propelled her forward as she exclaimed, "I don't believe any of the things you've told me about what happened to my son! For the past three years, it's been a never-ending cycle of lies, deceit, and coverups! I didn't take action because I feared for Izuku and didn't want his reputation to worsen, but now I realize I should have done something! I let my fear get the best of me and my son ended up paying for it!"
Inko slammed her hands onto the side of the desks, making the principal jump in his chair. Inko stared at the principal with a look that threatened to set him ablaze.
"I will find out everything that happened to Izuku in this school, and I will ruin you just like how your inadequacy and inactions to protect Izuku ruined his development!" Inko stood up and walked to the door, and grabbed the handle. "I am a fool for allowing this to happen for too long, but I will be damned if I allow you to think I will be your fool!"
Inko slammed the door and walked away, leaving the principal in a stunned, fearful, and dazed state.
Nemuri sat on her sofa, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees, and her hands together, in the shape of an L, her thumbs under her chin with her index fingers over her nose and mouth. By now Inko should have or is about to serve the school. Nemuri had her personal lawyer write up the papers and although Nemuri wanted the lawyer to go to the school on Inko's behalf, Inko was adamant about doing it herself.
Nemuri knew what she had to do, but she had to do it from the outside. Any sign of her being involved in this lawsuit can get tricky. Being a Pro Hero has its quirks but also its downfalls. When a Pro Hero is involved in a lawsuit of any kind, it can spill out to the public, and that can risk identities being revealed. If not that, then putting family members and friends into danger. Nemuri didn't want to get her parent's identities revealed by accident nor her non-hero friends, but that is not the only issue.
The other issue is the media. When a Pro Hero sues anyone, the government prefers a settlement to swiftly sweep the situation under the rug. However, investigative journalism has made it difficult for Pro Heroes to keep lawsuits secret, and the consequences of suing have massive implications.
Hero culture dictates that Pro Heroes should endure the hits without complaining, so when a Pro Hero sues anyone, the hero's reputation suffers, as they are labeled as 'entitled' or 'soft'. The accused can see horrendous backlash from the public for failing the Pro Hero and garner massive hate, harassment, stock plummeting, and cancellation. Severe, but the public loves its Pro Heroes, and they love Midnight, so the school would be under heavy fire and Nemuri would prefer to keep the rest of the employees and students out of the crossfire.
Nemuri thought of a strange yet wise quote her old mentor said.
"Pro Hero fans are like old school V-Tuber fans. They are very protective of the people they like; they follow them into the nether, and they will remain loyal to them no matter what. That is why maintaining the crucial ethics of heroism is important because once a hero loses ethics, they can lead fans down a path that is less about worshiping hero ideology and instead worshiping the hero itself. Fanfare is normal, but it can be intoxicating. You have a responsibility for your fans and their actions. Any villain you make is a villain to them, even if that 'villain' is an innocent person. Be careful of the enemies you make because fans can do more harm than your flogger could ever do."
Nemuri knew firsthand. Poor man never stood a chance. Midnight's actions towards an innocent man, caught on camera, had severe consequences for his life, and her fanbase consistently interpreted it negatively.
Midnight first apologized, but her fans took it as him making her feel bad, so it is his fault. When Midnight told her fans to stop, they perceived it as his fault for making them make Midnight feel this way about them. As a last effort, Midnight met with him to squash the so-called 'beef'.
Her fans assumed Midnight must be dating him now and her 'serious fans' went on a rampage, demanding an apology from her for 'dating' and threatened to hurt the man.
Eventually Midnight gave up and the hero society had to move the man so he could rebuild his life away from her 'area.'
So Nemuri is afraid of the lawsuit going public. If the people find out Nemuri is suing the school, that means her fans find out, and if her fans find out, they will discover that Nemuri adopted Laura and Eri and Nemuri did not want to think about the hell that will come from this news.
The utter irrationality of her more possessive fans would turn everything inside out. Not only will all the men in her life suddenly become targets, but Laura and Eri will never see privacy ever again.
Maybe Midnight was a bad idea in hindsight…
"Nemuri?"
"Ahh!" Nemuri jumped and fell off the couch, landing on her backside. Nemuri looked up to see Laura holding a hand to her mouth, trying desperately to not laugh.
Nemuri sighed and laughed a little before standing up. "What is it, Laura?" Nemuri asked.
"Can Eri and I use your punching bag in the weight room?" Laura asked after gathering herself, "I want to teach Eri how to throw a punch correctly."
Nemuri found the question odd, but considering how Nemuri discovered Laura and Eri, it would be best to allow Eri to begin self-defense. Plus, as a Pro Hero mom, Nemuri approved of this.
"Sure, but no quirks," Nemuri said. "My punching bag wasn't designed to handle quirks because my quirk isn't a power enhancer." Laura nodded and went to get Eri down the hallway. "Make sure Eri does her homework after that, okay?" Nemuri shouted.
"Okay!" Laura shouted back.
Nemuri smiled a little. Normally Laura would ignore her, so this was good progress in her book.
Just as Nemuri heard a door close, there was a knock on the front door. Nemuri went to open the door and beamed when she saw who it was.
"Heya, Nemuri! It's been too long!"
Standing in the doorway were Nemuri's closest allies and her most trusted friends. Hizashi Yamada, The Voice Hero: Present Mic, and Shota Aizawa, The Erasure Hero: EraserHead.
"It's so good to see you two!" Nemuri laughed and hugged them both. Hizashi hugged her back cheerfully while Aizawa rested a hand on her back with a small smile of his own. Nemuri broke the hug and invited the two inside to sit on her sofa while she sat on her single couch. "How's everything been at U.A?"
"Ahhh same old same old," Hizashi waved his hand dismissively, "The Seniors are ready to graduate with most of them having secured jobs with agencies or business ventures while the lower-class men and women are getting ready to advance to their next grade level."
Aizawa grunted and folded his hands onto his lap. "I still have reservations about the students we are teaching. None of them have that 'it' factor. The one that separates quality from quantity."
Hizashi snickered and bumped Aizawa's shoulder with his fist, "You are a very prickly teacher. Expelling an entire class simply because they didn't meet your standards? That is still cold and very costly. I am still surprised Nezu didn't have you suspended or overturn your decision."
"That should tell you I am right if Nezu hasn't interfered in my decision." Aizawa turned his attention to Nemuri, "So…are you ready to tell us why you went on 'vacation?'" Aizawa emphasized 'vacation,' knowing Nemuri isn't using her PTO for nothing.
Nemuri took a deep breath and straightened herself out. "Always sharp as ever, Shota. That is why Nezu trusted your instincts with that class." Nemuri closed her eyes for a moment to think of her next words. But before she could do anything, Aizawa suddenly stood up and looked behind him.
Nemuri, sensing Aizawa's actions, opened her eyes quickly and stood up as well, with Hizashi following last.
The adults checked out Laura and Eri in the hallway, who were first curious, then scared and protective. Eri quickly hid behind Laura's leg while Laura crouched slightly with a low growl emanating from her mouth with a hand reaching behind her to hold Eri close to her.
Nemuri swiftly walked towards the kids and stood behind them with one hand resting on Laura's shoulder and the other on Eri's head. Nemuri somewhat eased Laura's tension and Eri's fear, but the sisters didn't move. "This is why I am on vacation."
Aizawa and Hizashi stood there, stunned in silence. Aizawa's eyes widened and his body remained rigid, in stark contrast to Hizashi, whose jaw dropped and back hunched forward.
"Hizashi, Shota," Nemuri introduced, taking a deep breath. "These are Eri and Laura. My…adoptive daughters."
Izuku closed his locker and spun on his heels to walk towards the exit. Lunch was beginning with the sun glowing in the sky despite the cloudy weather. Every cloud that blocked it wouldn't stay for long. It was a nice day in Izuku's mind.
Izuku was looking forward to getting home. He hadn't talked to Laura all day, and he was itching to call her to discuss the day with her. No doubt Eri would barge into the call and happily talk about her day as well as tell Izuku what happened on her educational laptop of hers. She's so cute.
Izuku smiled as he walked through the doors and took in the fresh air. Today was a good day; nothing to complain about and no drama. Although the thoughts from earlier were still present, it was not enough to deter Izuku's day. A drama free school day! What a rare event indeed!
"Hey, Deku!"
"Ahh, I jinxed it."
Izuku looked to his left to see Kacchan's friends walking towards him without Kacchan himself. Normally Izuku would be afraid of the two because they would also wail on Izuku, but after the fight and overpowering them, Izuku doesn't feel the same fear as he once held.
Izuku turned his body to face them without as much as an ounce of nervousness. Izuku noted the faces of the two. They were stunned to see Izuku not already sweating bullets and stuttering about pleasantries and 'the weather.'
"What is it?" Izuku asked, scanning the area and using his instincts to see if he could sense Kacchan anywhere.
"Don't think Bakugo forgot what happened with your girlfriend," The long fingered one pointed at him, "He's still itching to get his due against her since the principal put an end to it before he could get his victory."
"What victory? Kacchan was losing once Laura went berserk. If anything, he's lucky to have gotten out unscathed," Izuku thought to himself.
The one with wings flapped about three feet off the ground. "We heard she got suspended instead of expelled! Must be the principal trying to get at Bakugo since anyone with a brain would kick that animal to the curb!"
Izuku frowned at the insult, but let it slide. He wasn't looking to get into a scuffle right now and just wanted to eat. Not to mention, a crowd was developing as usual.
"Do these people have anything else better to do?" Izuku grumbled to himself and paused, "Where did that thought come from?"
The disappearance of the sun's rays on his back snapped Izuku out of his thoughts. Izuku turned around and saw many familiar faces, but not the one he expected, that being Kacchan. Izuku looked up and saw the sun was being blocked by an enormous cloud.
"Is this an omen…" Izuku mumbled to himself before feeling a hard whack on the back of his head.
"Don't turn your back on us!" The bullies roared at Izuku.
Izuku stumbled forward and caught his balance with his left hand covering his head. Izuku looked back to the duo and grimaced with a small glare, "I don't want to fight you."
"As if you could, anyway!" The winged one growled and went for another attack. He threw his weight all into one right hook. Izuku stepped to the side and grabbed his arm before spinning him around and launching him back towards his comrade.
The long fingered one jumped to the side and felt himself being surprised. Normally, Izuku dodged or took the blow, but never actually deflected an attack.
"Guys, please," Izuku gave them a somewhat pleading look, "I know Kacchan set you guys up for this, but do you really want to fight me? Can't we just talk it out?"
"Hell no!" The winged one shouted, "If we attempt that, Bakugo will have our heads! We'd rather beat you into a pulp than feel his wrath."
Izuku pitied the two. They were going to fight Izuku because they feared Kacchan and not because they wanted to. It's always been like this when the two took Kacchan's side as his 'friends.' They were more like henchmen to Kacchan.
"I promise not to hurt you too much then…" Izuku mumbled and let his backpack fall to the floor. That was an odd statement to come from Izuku's mouth, but Izuku wanted to reassure them that this fight wasn't personal, nor was he trying to hurt them.
The two bullies glared at Izuku. 'He won't hurt them too bad?' Who in the hell does this quirkless idiot think he is? He beats up Pitch now suddenly he thinks he's tough? They've seen kindergarteners with more grit than him!
The two rushed Izuku simultaneously with the winged one flying above and the other going for Izuku's legs. Izuku was quick to break down the attack scheme of the two and how to counter their efforts. Plenty of heroes had to counter this form of attacking, and studying hero film gave Izuku an upper edge.
With a leap into the air, Izuku tackled the winged one as the other bully slid across the floor, narrowly missing his feet. Izuku jumped back and allowed the winged one to get up to rush him again, but Izuku was betting on his instincts and prediction to bail him out. Izuku sidestepped and watched as the two bullies collided with each other.
Izuku was correct in his assessment. He had predicted they would go for a front and back attack. As the two reeled in pain and stumbled away from each other, Izuku grabbed the winged one by the back of his collar and waistband before shoving his head into the chest of the long fingered one. The winged one grabbed his head and fell to the floor in a heap, and the other hunched over, grabbing his stomach.
Izuku didn't let up and grabbed the arm of the long fingered one, twisting his own body, and doing a judo flip and landing his foe next to his friend.
The crowd was stunned once again, but this time even more-so.
Izuku had defeated BOTH of Bakugo's henchmen and it was not even a close contest. Izuku dominated them effortlessly. Was Izuku really this skilled and never showed it?! Why didn't Izuku try to defend himself before?!
"DIE!"
Izuku felt a sudden blast across his face and skidded across the floor and into a wall.
The crowd remembered why Izuku had never fought back.
Bakugo stood over his fallen comrades with disgust. "Are you two serious? After all that talk for years about beating down the nerd, and the one time I let you two go alone, you not only got beat, but you lost without laying a scratch on him?! I don't need trash like you around me!"
Bakugo's 'friends' looked up at him in fear as Bakugo clapped his hands together and caused an explosion to go off.
"W-w-wait!" The winged one attempted to say "Bakugo-" but was cut off.
"Get lost, you losers!" Bakugo spat and hunched over them like a predator, "And if you two so much as even look at me, I'll kill you both myself! So scram!"
The two quickly got up and ran off like beaten dogs with brief hesitation. They had lost the respect of their leader and were now two boys filled with shame, never to be viewed as threats again in this school.
Izuku watched Kacchan's dismissal of the two and staggered onto his feet, looking saddened and perplexed. Although the two weren't great people for Kacchan, and to put it bluntly, they were bona fide yes-men, they still were the two closest to Kacchan. The only two who could be called his friends. They've been together since elementary school.
Kacchan scoffed when he saw Izuku's face. "Oh, don't tell me you feel sorry for them? Those weaklings don't deserve an ounce of respect if they can't handle you, Deku!"
"They are still people, Kacchan," Izuku coughed into his hand, panting lightly with the familiar stinging and singeing sensation on his flesh. "How could you just throw them away like trash? They're your best friends! Even after what happened between us, you kept them around!"
Kacchan bellowed at Izuku's comments, "'Best friends?!' What stupid reality do you live in?! They were nothing but a bunch of ass-kissers! I only kept them around because they had their uses…" Kacchan pointed to himself, "But I will be damned if I let myself be associated with anyone who has lost against you! That is a stain on my legacy I cannot allow!" Kacchan smiled evilly at Izuku with his teeth flashing their sharp edges. "I have a bone to pick with that pole dancer, but since she's not here…I'll settle for what always makes me feel happy…"
Izuku didn't have time to move as Kacchan lunged forward with his speed amplified by the explosions he set off behind him to give him a boost. Kacchan lunged forward, tackling Izuku against the wall and blasting him in the face. Kacchan brought a knee to Izuku's chest just under his ribcage to attack the lower end of his sternum, to force the air out of his lungs and tossed him to the floor.
"Beating your ass into a pulp!" Kacchan finished and immediately got on top of Izuku and began to pummel him senseless with Izuku using his arms to cover his face. Izuku grabbed Bakugo's arms, quickly tossed him off, and rolled several feet away from him. Hastily, Izuku positioned himself on one knee, but a running kick cut him off and struck his face. Izuku fell onto his back hard and went to cover his head once more, but Kacchan instead kicked Izuku in the kidney area and Izuku let out a loud yell of pain.
Kacchan smirked and watched Izuku writhe in pain and circled him, "You know…I still don't understand why you want to be a hero. You can't win! How do you expect to be a hero if you couldn't stop a purse snatcher?!" Kacchan got on Izuku again and pulled him by the shirt. Izuku looked in pain at Kacchan's rage-filled expression, "You'll never be a hero, Deku! If All Might himself were here, he would tell you the same thing!"
Izuku sucked in a breath of air and closed his mouth to avoid coughing onto Kacchan. "All Might wouldn't…say that," Izuku sputtered out and turned his head to hack onto the concrete, "He would tell me I can be a hero too…"
Kacchan growled and punched Izuku across the face. "You don't even deserve to say his name." Kacchan smirked a little. "While I have you here, how about you be of use to me? Just like old times…" Izuku glanced up at Kacchan, a little hurt by how he spoke of their past. "You weren't there because the hospital was wasting their time on you, but I was called into the principal's office with my parents. When we were done talking about the incident, I saw Kayama with two girls. A little girl with silver hair and an older lady with black spikey hair."
Izuku's face didn't change, but his heart was beating faster by the second.
"Now, Izuku, being the hero nerd you are and the professor I am, how about you help me answer this…" Kacchan pulled Izuku closer to him. Izuku could feel Kacchan's hot breath breathing down his spine and giving him goosebumps, "That older lady…her mother…doesn't she look like Midnight to you? You wouldn't know that, would you? Seeing as you are Laura's boy toy, I'd assume your perverted ass would know Midnight the second you see her."
Izuku kept his face unchanged, yet he could feel every fiber of his being screaming. Kayama told Izuku it was a secret and any wrong word or move could tell Kacchan what he is suspecting. Izuku couldn't break Kayama's trust like this!
Izuku kept his eyes on Kacchan for a moment before closing his eyes and shaking his head. "No. It isn't Midnight. When I first saw her, I was also shocked, but no, she wasn't Midnight. If Midnight was a mother, wouldn't her persona be a little too raunchy for them? Especially the younger sister? She wouldn't be setting a good example for them. Besides…" Izuku knew he could say this part with the utmost confidence, "If Midnight had children, people who stalk her would have already confirmed it. I'm a hero nerd, but I am not a privacy invader, and Midnight has plenty of those." Izuku refocused his eyes back onto Kacchan, "So no, Kacchan, that wasn't Midnight. Like I said, the similarity of their appearances and body type shocked me, but it's not her."
Kacchan studied Izuku for a moment before throwing him back onto the floor. "I'll give you one thing, Deku, you've never been a liar. That's the only compliment you'll ever get, and I almost threw up saying it." Kacchan looked behind him to see the principal and his security walking towards them. "The circus is here, and I don't like clowns. See ya, nerd." Kacchan walked off in a random direction as the students dispersed while Izuku laid on the floor, hurting.
The beating wasn't as bad as most, but it still hurt.
Izuku sat up and rubbed his head as the principal looked down at Izuku. The principal sighed and had the guards help Izuku up. "Come to my office when you're done." The principal told Izuku in a low, tired yet annoyed voice and left.
"Thanks for the concern…" Izuku uttered to himself and walked with the guards to the nurse's office.
Izuku walked towards the principal's office and was already taking off his bandages. The nurse was doing her job, but the white bandages weren't necessary. Izuku threw the bandages away and stopped at the front door of the principal. Izuku knocked on the door and the principal let him in when he answered from the other side.
Izuku entered, closed the door, and sat in front of the principal. Izuku found this odd because the principal never did this whenever Kacchan had beaten him up. Was the incident with Kayama making the situation different? Possibly.
"Midoriya…" The principal spoke with his hands folded on the desk and his eyes connecting with the young boy's. "I heard that your medical situation and recovery are going great. Recovery Girl, bless her heart, was on the scene to heal you personally. You must feel lucky that she was at the hospital that day."
Izuku knew something was off already. How did he know about that? Who told him? "Yes, I felt lucky. I am very grateful she spared time to heal me." Izuku leaned forward slightly, "If you don't mind me asking, how did you know that?"
The principal leaned back in a comfortable position. "I have a friend who works there. I asked them and they told me what happened."
"Isn't that illegal?" Izuku thought to himself, "People inside can't go around giving out information like that. It's confidential stuff. Why is he telling me this?"
"I can see you're thinking about why my friend told me, and you are right, that is technically not allowed." The principal admitted and leaned forward in his chair. The aura in the room shifted to one with tension. Izuku shifted in his seat, feeling uncomfortable.
"Midoriya," The principal looked to his left at the folder on his desk, "Your mother came to me today. She had something to give me." Izuku watched as the principal slid the folder to Izuku and opened it up. Izuku's eyes dilated, and he gulped. The principal, seeing this, leered at Izuku, "So you knew, too. I'm not surprised."
The principal took away the lawsuit filings and shoved it into a drawer, "Midoriya, that lawsuit states that we hid details about how you got your injuries, we let off Bakugo freely, and that we wrongfully punished Kayama despite her causing property damage and, if I am being honest, attempted murder." Izuku looked up to the principal in silence from both shock and concern, "Had I went through with the expulsion, attempted murder would have been reasonable, but since I only suspended Kayama, adding that reason would cast doubt on me from my superiors. It only makes sense."
The principal grabbed the computer monitor and turned it to Izuku. On the screen was a camera footage and when the principal played the footage, the video showed the camera panning to the left and what Izuku saw coming into frame made him feel dread. The camera played the events of what had just happened with Izuku beating down on his bullies. The principal stopped the footage when Izuku had the two on the floor.
Izuku jumped out of his chair and pointed to the monitor. "Wait, there's more! Kacchan-"
"I know," The principal cut in, "I saw it."
Izuku stopped and looked at his principal. He saw it but was refusing to show it. Why?
"Midoriya, you beat those kids down without breaking a sweat. I am genuinely surprised you were capable of that. It makes me wonder why you never did it beforehand." The principal had a tone of smugness behind that sentence, "And I am glad you stood up for yourself now because I needed some 'help'."
Izuku sat back down slowly in his chair, feeling an icy shiver run down his spine.
"Midoriya, this lawsuit…I don't like it. It makes me look bad. I don't like that. I like to think I do a fair job at this school, keeping everything running smoothly. Sure Bakugo gets to play king, but that is only for three years, and this is the third year. It's almost up too." The principal pointed to the monitor. "I didn't do the best job curbing Bakugo's antics, but if you remember, in the beginning when I tried, he only got worse and more prone to lashing out with his quirk." The principal bobbed his head left and right momentarily, "Making him feel like a king wasn't best for everyone, but if I expelled him, Bakugo would terrorize another school and I didn't want that for them."
The principal stood up and paced left and right. "For all of you, I did what I could. I didn't send that brat to another school and have them deal with them. I'd like to think I saved many kids from having to suffer from him if that meant I treated him like royalty here! And I am sorry that he prioritized you over everyone else, but you understand, right? As a hero, you have got to take the blows for everyone, right?"
Izuku felt sick to his stomach. The principal was using Izuku's ideals against him, but they weren't for the right reasons.
"This lawsuit undermines everything I worked for; everything I did to make sure I got mine when you two left, and I will let no one stop me when I am so close to getting what I deserve!" The principal stopped and looked to Izuku, "Which is why you're going to help me go against this lawsuit or I'll show everyone this video and not only have you expelled but also ruin your precious chance at going to U.A!" The principal slammed his hands on the table causing the dreaded ridden Izuku to jump, "I know how much that application means to you, but U.A only accepts near or completely clean records, and having an expulsion on your resume, especially on your third year at Junior High level will automatically disqualify you from partaking in their tests!"
Izuku was shaking in his seat. He couldn't believe that his principal was blackmailing him to go against his mother's lawsuit!
"Midoriya, you have a choice. Either join me and help me shut down this lawsuit, or you go with your mother and I have your chances at U.A go down in the grave!" The principal said and motioned for Izuku to stand up, "I'll prolong the lawsuit for as long as I can and I'll make sure by the time it is over, U.A transfers rules will exempt you from transferring there too!" The principal then shooed Izuku away, with Izuku speeding out of the room and out of the office building.
By now, most people would be quivering in their boots and crying over what to do, but not Izuku. Izuku wasn't shaking in the chair out of fear, but out of anger. Anger that the principal would try to get Izuku to go against his mother, and by extension, the Kayama's.
The principal, as intelligent as he wants to believe he may be, has a lot of holes in this attempt at blackmail. The principal rushed it, didn't think it out properly, delivered it poorly, and most importantly, did not consider that Izuku probably knows Kayama's mom is Midnight.
And Midnight is a Pro-Hero.
Pro-Heroes have full authority to intervene whenever blackmail attempts are involved.
Izuku didn't walk back to class. Instead, he went to the tree and sat out of camera view. It wasn't necessary to be out of view, but on the faint chance that the principal was watching, Izuku didn't want to see him on the phone.
Izuku got his phone out and called Kayama.
Laura was sitting on the couch with Nemuri and Eri watching TV when her phone rang in her pocket. Laura picked it up and felt surprised to see that Midoriya was calling at this time of day.
Answering it, Laura held the phone to her ear. "Hey, Midoriya." Laura said, catching Nemuri's and Eri's attention.
"Hey, Kayama…could you put Midnight on the phone? It's urgent." Midoriya said, causing Laura to raise a brow and looking over to Nemuri. Laura held the phone out to her, which gave Nemuri her own confused look.
Nemuri took the phone and held it to her ear. "Hello?"
"Hey…Ms. Midnight…" Midoriya hesitantly spoke from the other line. Despite having talked to Nemuri before and being visited by her, Midoriya's social anxiety and fanboyish nature caused his heart and mind to race as he hesitantly spoke from the other line. It was a different feeling speaking to Midnight one-on-one.
"You know?" Nemuri asked, standing up from the couch with a slight frown. Who told Midoriya that she was Midnight, or did the child find out himself?
"I've…known for a while," Midoriya answered honestly. "When you came to my home, I found out after a day or two. I'm a big hero fan." Midoriya mumbled the last part, feeling embarrassed, but felt it was necessary.
Nemuri pinched her nose and walked to the dining room while earning confused looks from the girls.
"Where is she going?" Eri asked, looking at her older sister.
Laura looked back with a confused shrug. "No idea. Doesn't sound too good, though."
Eri glanced back at Nemuri, now sitting down, engaging in a full conversation with Midoriya.
Eri expressed her worry, saying, "I hope everything is okay." When Nemuri smiled and laughed a little, Eri quickly felt reassured.
"Yes, it was rather cool. And you're welcome, Midoriya. I'm just happy to know you're safe and not letting that villain's attack on your life bring you down. You're a sturdy kid for being able to bounce back that quickly." Nemuri grinned and whispered, "A strong, energetic boy…I like that~." Nemuri gave Midoriya a small tease. She couldn't help herself; it's been a very long month without letting Midnight loose and she was itching to do it!
Laura rolled her eyes and went back to watching TV while Eri didn't fully hear what Nemuri said, but assumed it was only for Midoriya to hear, since it was a whisper.
Nemuri heard Midoriya fumbling with his words and trying to get his bearings together. Nemuri let out a laugh and smiled more. She missed teasing young men. "You're so cute," Nemuri giggled, causing Midoriya to further shut down on the other side, "Alright, settle down, young man. As much as I'd like to think you called to get flustered by yours truly, I don't think that's why you asked for me."
Midoriya inhaled sharply and coughed away from the phone to force himself to get together. "Y-Yeah!" Midoriya shakily breathed and let out a large exhale. Midoriya was silent for a moment, with Nemuri assuming he was getting serious. "I called because…" Midoriya paused before just suddenly saying, "The principal just tried to blackmail me a couple minutes ago."
Nemuri's smile faded, as did the joy in her eyes. Her tone reinforced the change in her demeanor, getting stoic with seriousness and a hint of threatening. Through her gritted teeth, Nemuri uttered a single word.
"What."
Nemuri's sudden change took aback both sisters, and they paid close attention.
Midoriya told Nemuri about the events that unfolded and how the principal planned to blackmail Midoriya with evidence of a fight that he got into with 'Kacchan' and his now former friends. As Midoriya was telling the story, Nemuri got up from her seat and walked into her room with a scowl on her face. Nemuri closed the door, leaving both sisters bewildered, worried, and, in Eri's case, afraid.
Eri and Laura got in front of the door and listened in. There was a lot of rustling and moving of drawers with the occasion muffled words from Nemuri, and at some point, Midoriya, who seemed to be put on speaker phone. Neither girl could make out what was going on until about five minutes later, when the door suddenly opened.
Laura and Eri stepped back and saw Nemuri now dressed as Midnight!
Midnight held the phone to her ear and nodded her head. "Go back to class and continue your day as normal. I'll be there soon." Midnight hung up the phone and handed it back to Laura. "Go to the car, girls. I'm dropping you two off at Midoriya's house."
"Huh?!" The girls said as both were being ushered out of the house and to the car by their steely adoptive mother.
"Hey what's going on?!" Laura asked with a slightly raised voice and blocking the driver's side.
Midnight lightly glared at Laura for her tone before calming herself and softening her expression. "That principal of yours just tried to pull a crime. I can't talk about it yet, but before you ask, Midoriya is okay. He is just letting me know. Now, please, get in the car."
Laura wasn't happy with the unclear answer, but if it's about helping Midoriya, she didn't want to get in the way. Laura quickly went to the passenger's side while Eri got into the back.
Midnight started the car and handed her phone to Laura, "Unlock it and call Inko for me. The number code is 309137. Put it on speaker too." Midnight said with her immediately leaving the driveway and heading to the Midoriya household.
Laura did so and held the phone to Midnight's mouth.
The phone rang for a couple of moments before being picked up by Inko. "Hello?"
"Midoriya, are you home?" Midnight asked, gripping the steering wheel to focus her anger on that.
"Yes, do you need something?" Inko asked, curious.
"Can you watch the girls for me? I have an emergency call I need to handle." Midnight wanted to tell Inko more but felt it was important to get all the details first before letting Inko in on everything that is happening to her son.
"Oh! Yes, I can do that," Inko exclaimed in surprise, and Midnight could hear it. "Are you heading over right now?"
"Yes." Midnight was grateful for her new friend's kindness during an urgent matter. "I'll be there soon. Thank you, Midoriya. I know it's sudden and I'm sorry for that."
Inko giggled in response. Nemuri could feel the smile Inko had. "Don't worry. I'll watch the girls until you come to pick them up," Inko said, "And you should know that I delivered the lawsuit to the school today. It was…cathartic."
Midnight smirked. There was the motive behind the principal's blackmail attempt.
"Good," Midnight said, pleased by Inko's catharsis, "I'll see you at your house. Thank you again."
"See you then!" Inko said, hanging up the phone.
Laura was putting the pieces together in her head as she set Midnight's phone in the cupholder. "It's about the lawsuit, isn't it? Midoriya called you about something regarding it?"
Midnight nodded her head. "Yes, it is about that. That's all I'm going to say. I don't have all the details yet, but when I come back, I'll fill you two girls in." Midnight smirked a little bigger, "But I'm sure you wouldn't mind hearing it from Izuku since both of you are such 'good friends'~."
Being the target of Midnight's teases for the first time put Laura off. It caused the older sister to flush red a little and ponder why Midnight talked about it like that.
Midoriya and herself are good friends, but that was it.
…Right?
After the girls were dropped off some time ago, Midnight remained in her car at the Aldera Junior High parking lot. Midnight's current task was to wait for Detective Tsukauchi and Officer 'Kitty'.
Midnight wanted to say she didn't see this coming, but Midnight is a seasoned hero and Midnight could see that the principal would resort to methods like this. Midnight has done many blackmail cases before, and she's been in her fair share of herself as the potential victim many times. None of the blackmail worked against her, as most would boost her already provocative reputation. The only one that ever got her attention was when someone got a hold of her naked photos when she was just out of U.A.
Got that pervert before he could post them and destroyed every trace of those photos in his hard drives and on her cloud.
Midnight heard a police car coming into the parking lot and smiled.
With a quick motion, Midnight flipped the visor down and glimpsed herself in the mirror. With a self-assured smile, Midnight reached out to her left, snatching her trademark thin red mask and briefly admiring it. Midnight turned her gaze towards the mirror and adorned her mask gracefully over her eyes. "Showtime," Midnight said, her words filled with determination as she gracefully exited her car with her flogger in her right hand.
Midnight made her way towards the school as Detective Tsukauchi and his partner caught up and walked on opposite sides.
"You got the permit?" Midnight asked.
Detective Tsukauchi flashed a smile and held up the paper. "Right here. Officer Tamakawa will be on watch while we raid the office. He will also handle the principal in case he gets physical."
"Let him get physical," Midnight chuckled, "Bringing fragile men down and seeing their small egos brings me great pleasure." Midnight cooed and got a rhythm in her steps.
"Nice to see your attitude hasn't changed…" Officer Tamakawa mumbled with his eyes forward. He was a fan of Midnight's, but one of the rare ones who didn't have an ounce of lust or feelings towards her. "You still owe me a thermal bottle, by the way."
Midnight giggled and looked over to the officer. "Be a good kitty, and I'll get you after all this."
The kitty comment bothered Officer Tamakawa, but he stayed silent. Midnight was his superior, after all.
Midnight and the officers entered the main office building with several staff and the secretary, looking on in shock. "Where is the principal's office?" Midnight demanded, with her voice stern and tempting anyone to fight back.
"It's over there!" A random student staff member pointed to the staircase, hoping to avoid any conflict.
Midnight smiled at the young student and made her way upstairs with all the staff, looking in curiosity and most in horror. Midnight could hear staff scrambling below.
"Officer Tamakawa, round up everyone and make sure no one leaves. Get that school officer to help you." Midnight ordered, with Officer Tamakawa nodding and heading downstairs. Midnight quickly looked back and shouted, "And be gentle on the child!" Midnight wanted to have them dismissed, but they could have valuable information on them.
"Understood!" Officer Tamakawa shouted back and barked orders at the staff that were 'suddenly' busy with paperwork and other duties.
Midnight and Detective Tsukauchi found the principal's office and immediately barged in, making the principal jump in surprise and shock.
"What is the meaning of this?!" The principal shouted and became aggressive, "You have no right!"
"We do, in fact," Detective Tsukauchi held the paper out and slammed it on the desk as Midnight walked around and pushed him aside and pulled drawers and set them on the desk.
Hastily, the principal snatched the warrant and quickly skimmed it. The color on his face faded to a pale color and his breathing became haggard with revulsion and apprehension. The principal watched as Midnight had pulled out every drawer and scavenged through one while Detective Tsukauchi walked over to him.
The principal fumed and shouted at Detective Tsukauchi, "A search?! At my school?! In my office?! I am being targeted because I suspended her kid for almost killing one of my students!"
Detective Tsukauchi's face hardened at the attitude being given to him. "I am aware of that, and I would ask you to mind your tone."
"Mind my tone?!" The principal glanced at Midnight as she was going through another drawer. "On what grounds do you have to issue a warrant to investigate me?!"
"Blackmail," Detective Tsukauchi said and looked over to the desk and spotted a folder that was hanging on the edge. Detective Tsukauchi picked it up and opened it. "I see you're being sued for money fraud, emotional distress, wrongful suspension, and withholding evidence." Detective Tsukauchi knew this was a perfect opportunity to use his quirk to see if this guy was guilty or not already.
"That is all bull!" The principal cried and stormed around the room. Midnight couldn't help but smirk under her hair as she read through some reports and was finding very various controversial reports, but not of one of the blackmailing.
Detective Tsukauchi could sense the principal was lying, and since he called everything in question, that meant every accusation in the lawsuit was true.
"I run a proper school that is being tested by several unruly students that I keep trying to discipline but find myself in a predicament where the students simply do not care." The principal stewed and continued to pace around.
Detective Tsukauchi remembered hearing reports about the explosive child at the school. Now was a good time to get information about him. "I'd assume that child is the one with the explosive quirk."
"Yes," The principal stalled in his tracks, "That child has been nothing but trouble. The amount of times I had to lay the down hammer for him specifically, but he does not care and nor do his parents. I would expel him, but no other school would dare take him in, and I have a feeling the actions that child takes would only amplify if I were to expel him!"
Detective Tsukauchi felt a lie somewhere in there. Was he being dishonest about the punishments, the other schools' refusal to accept him, or the potential harm the child could cause to others if he got expelled?
"This is ridiculous," The principal spoke, walking over to Midnight with Detective Tsukauchi following behind and getting ready to jump him if he lays a hand on Midnight, "I would never blackmail a student or anyone!"
Detective Tsukauchi's quirk was blaring in senses. Time to press.
"We never mentioned a student," Detective Tsukauchi spoke, glaring down at the principal who suddenly became more stiff, "Did you blackmail a student recently, Principal…" Detective Tsukauchi looked to the desk to get his name but the name stand fell onto its front and blocked it out.
"No!" The principal snapped back at Detective Tsukauchi with a scared and frustrated look, "Who would do such a thing to a child?!"
"You," Detective Tsukauchi glanced at Midnight and wished she would hurry, "Our source accuses you of recently blackmailing a student that is connected to the lawsuit that was recently served to you."
Detective Tsukauchi looked into the folder and saw the name of the accuser. "Inko Midoriya." Detective Tsukauchi chuckled and eyed the principal. "Does Izuku Midoriya come to this school?"
The principal felt his heart jump into his throat as he pulled on his shirt, "I-I…I…"
Detective Tsukauchi felt now was right to press further. "That kid is good. I heard from a very reliable hero, a top ten as a matter of fact, that he saved several kids around his age not too long ago."
"Him?!" The principal was in disbelief. "That kid always comes to the nurse's office bruised and burned from the fights he picks!"
Detective Tsukauchi and Midnight were both thinking if this guy was dumber than a pile of rocks. Why would he say that out loud?
"I can vouch for young Midoriya personally," Midnight spoke, looking up from the papers, "I saw him risk his life to save those two from a sludge villain that was about to strike them. Midoriya's actions prevented harm from coming to those two. Him picking fights does not sound like someone who would risk their life." Midnight leered at the principal and pulled out her whip and cracked it at him intending to make him jump again in fear, "I also know that he is quirkless, so why would he pick a fight with Katsuki Bakugo who has a quirk that can lead him towards a life as a pro hero?" Midnight felt disdain on her tongue for saying that, but Midoriya is a better hero candidate despite his lack of a quirk. Bakugo, from Laura's perspective, sounds like a villain in the making.
The principal felt trapped! These two were ganging up on him and were breaking him down brick by brick!
"I never said he fought Bakugo!" The principal moaned and backed up to a wall.
"You never had to. You suspended my daughter, remember?" Midnight said before grabbing a stack of papers, placing a paperclip on them, and tossing them at Detective Tsukauchi. "Read that. Sounds like this principal has a favorite here."
Detective Tsukauchi scanned through the papers and became irate at the reports. Every one of these talked about how Bakugo and two of his friends beat up Midoriya and how nothing happened to them. The reports showed other students reported them, including staff. Detective Tsukauchi couldn't believe they had kept such egregious evidence.
"This is very damning," Detective Tsukauchi gravely spoke and glared at the principal, "This is negligence. You should have reported Bakugo to the police with these reports. Why didn't you report him to us?!" Detective Tsukauchi angrily shouted and threw the papers onto the desk in a rage.
The principal could only let out a miserable squeak of fear.
Detective Tsukauchi felt it necessary to ask the most important question again, but in a different context, "Did you blackmail students and staff in order to protect Katsuki Bakugo from any punishment?!"
The principal felt his eyes beginning to well up with Midnight feeling an abnormal amount of pleasure from this.
"N-No! I-I-I d-d-didn't! I swear!" The principal heaved and howled to be believed.
Midnight looked through the last drawer but stopped when she saw a usb on top of the papers. "Oh? What do we have here?" Midnight picked it up.
"T-That's just full of the school's finances!" The principal spilled out, "Yes, it's just our finances. Nothing more!"
Detective Tsukauchi felt that lie. Although he couldn't look through the papers himself yet without being at the precedent, Midnight has special jurisdiction. However, he chose not to say anything to persuade her, as that would be seen as him trying to do something he couldn't, which goes against the code of ethics.
Midnight didn't believe him and inserted the USB into the computer and turned it on.
"You're wasting time!" The principal screamed, "And you found nothing of the blackmail! No traces of it! You came here to find evidence and got nothing! This is a targeted attack and I will sue the police and you, Midnight!"
Detective Tsukauchi was worrying internally. So far, they came up with evidence of other situations but not of the blackmail. The principal can use the lack of evidence as 'hero retaliation' against Midnight to get her served, too. Although it won't do much to her reputation as the hero industry will settle out of court, it would, however, reflect poorly on the police for pursuing it and being perceived as a witch hunt because even though Midnight won't appear in the lawsuit, that doesn't mean they won't at least reference the involvement of a pro hero.
Midnight heeled no attention to the varment. Midnight knows criminal language, and when someone says, 'nothing more' in a frantic state, that is an 80% chance that whatever is 'nothing more' is valuable information.
The principal watched as Midnight bypassed the login as the principal never set up a password for it because of his laziness of doing so. He got frantic and jittery with Detective Tsukauchi eyeing him carefully. Just as Midnight was about to open the file, the principal suddenly made a mad dash towards the door. Detective Tsukauchi was quick to tackle him to the floor and hold him down.
"No, no no no!" The principal wailed and cried with his arms flailing and his body becoming dead weight, "Let me go! Let me go! I don't deserve this!"
Midnight went through the USB files and saw many word documents and pdf files that were dated up to two years ago. There was one that was made about an hour ago. Midnight opened it and breathed in a sigh of relief. There, in plain text, was a plan to blackmail Izuku Midoriya to his side to go against his mom's lawsuit and how he would go about it.
"I found it," Midnight said, exiting the file and safely ejecting the USB. "This USB has a plan on how to blackmail Izuku Midoriya. There are also various files that date back to two years, and I can only assume those are other victims of his blackmailing." Midnight walked to the door, overstepping the principal while Detective Tsukauchi was trying to put the cuffs on.
"No wait! Please!" The principal gripped onto Midnight's ankle as Detective Tsukauchi tried to pry them off. "Don't do this! Please don't! Bakugo made me do all of this! His antics were too much to handle and I couldn't figure out a way to get this resolved! If anyone needs to be investigated, it's him!"
Midnight looked down at the principal in disgust. "You had a chance to call any pro heroes or the police and yet you played dictator." Midnight crouched to get within his eye level and peered into his pupils, "It's not so fun being the bottom now, is it?" Midnight smugly stated and placed a finger over his lips to silence him, "Naughty boy's like you get severely punished, but what that punishment is will have to wait. And I love the thrill of making my bottoms wait for that…"
*CRACK*
"Hit."
Midnight whipped her flogger away from the boys to get the principal to flinch. Detective Tsukauchi sighed and felt like he was getting a headache. He wasn't the biggest fan of Midnight's flirtatious nature.
Midnight released a slight puff of her Somnambulist quirk to make the principal fall asleep. Midnight kicked her foot to get the man's hand off her ankle while Detective Tsukauchi cuffed him.
Getting on one knee, Detective Tsukauchi asked, "Are you going to help me carry him?" Detective Tsukauchi felt like he already knew the answer.
Midnight laughed and shook her head. "A lady like me doesn't carry brutes." Midnight knelt forward and on purposely pushed out her chest, "But a big, muscular man like you wouldn't have trouble doing this by yourself? What would be the point of those toned muscles you hide underneath that alluring coat of yours unless it's getting a girl's attention?"
Detective Tsukauchi could feel his cheeks heating, but his facial expression wouldn't betray him. Letting an exasperated sigh, Detective Tsukauchi struggled to pick up the principal but was successful when he slung an arm around his neck and pulled on the arm for support.
"So it isn't for show." Midnight walked to the door, flirting with Detective Tsukauchi more by moving her hips seductively. "You should take the coat off…I'd love to see you being pulchritudinous."
Detective Tsukauchi walked past Midnight with the principal. He was done for today.
Midnight laughed again and pulled out her phone to get a search team to arrive while she stayed to protect the area.
Midnight made the call and put her phone away before walking back inside the room and sitting on the chair. While she waited, Midnight grabbed the stack of papers she gave to Detective Tsukauchi about Bakugo and Midoriya. She scanned the files but never processed what was being said other than they had a history.
Midnight unclipped the papers and read them.
The first paper was about the first incident between them. The two got into a scuffle, but no bodily harm was done.
The second incident stated the two got into a physical altercation about two weeks after the first one. Midoriya insisted he started the conflict, but Bakugo, for some unexplained reason, argued that he was the one who did.
Midnight kept flipping through the papers and encountered plenty of bizarre situations in the beginning, but nothing major. Everything seemed fine through the 7th grade, with 'fine' being the operative yet loose word. But it wasn't until the middle of 8th grade when the narrative changed and the conflicts between Bakugo and Midoriya worsened.
Midnight read that Bakugo was now using his quirk illegally on Midoriya and causing bodily harm. Each new entry turned Midnight's stomach as she compared it to reading a scientist's report on the latest experiment they conducted on a test subject. The details named new methods of harm, creative use of the quirk, torturing Midoriya's emotions and psyche, and-
Midnight put the paper down when she got a particular one that was dated on the same day that Midnight met Midoriya, Laura, and Eri.
Midnight was already familiar with Bakugo's terrible attitude, but this... This was absolutely sickening.
Midnight lifted the paper again and read it again.
"A student who was just outside the classroom reported that Bakugo and his friends were roughing up Midoriya again just after homeroom. The student alleges Bakugo had used his quirk on something that Midoriya values, what the item is unknown, and that Bakugo was belittling him still.
The most shocking part is what the student vehemently claims, and that is that Bakugo told Midoriya, and I quote, 'If you really want to be a hero that badly, there actually might be another way. Just pray that you'll be born with a quirk in your next life, and take a swan dive off the roof of the building.'
I don't know what to do with this kid anymore. That's low; even for him.
Yet…he remains the best chance of getting this school more funding through his name and getting me set up financially. I can't punish him now or tell anyone. I'm too far into this to do something."
Midnight scrunched the edges of the paper and had to will herself from tearing it apart.
That's what this was all about? Money and fame? This principal allowed Bakugo to torment Midoriya for three years because he hoped to reap the rewards of Bakugo's potential?!
Midnight had to leave before she tore everything up in the room! This school is a damn madhouse!
Midnight stormed out of the room and immediately saw Midoriya leaning on a wall near the entrance. How did he pass Officer Tamakawa?
Midoriya got off the wall and, before he could speak, Midnight went over and gave him a tight hug. Midoriya was stunned by this sudden development and didn't know how to react properly.
"You poor child..." Midnight's voice cracked with sorrow, her words barely audible as tears welled up in her eyes, "I promise you, every ounce of justice that you deserve for everything that happened to you here will be served."
Midnight didn't release the hug she had on Midoriya and couldn't see Midoriya's unsettled look. Midoriya called about blackmail, but…did they find out about 'everything?'
"…Everything?" Midoriya's voice trembled, desperation consuming him, as he realized that the first domino had fallen and left him helpless to prevent the inevitable chain of events that would follow.
You know why I took forever? I didn't know how to wrap this up without going on for too long until I did something I had never done before.
I planned it out.
*GASP*
A foreign concept!
Yes, it took me nearly a year to get this right until I planned it out and realized that was the best way to do it. I really tried to Toriyama my way through this story. I have an impressive track record of finished stories with that strategy!
0-4!
Just like the 90s Buffalo Bills in the Super Bowl! (I'm a 49ers fan, so lately I know that pain! I watched them make it three times in my lifetime and saw them lose all three times! Let's go for four! ((If they do, I'll die.)))
Seriously, I never planned out any of my stories outside of Great Powers. (Then again, I had a co-author, so does it count? I don't think so. I had help!)
So…what's next for the finale of the Aldera Junior High Arc? Well, I'll tell you.
The aftermath of the principal's actions because I AM NOT DOING A DAMN COURT SCENE; a section dedicated to the Bakugo family, Inko and Izuku having 'the talk' (not the birds and the bees kind), the Kayama's vibing, new characters (I'm going to add OC's acting as secondary characters for character building purposes. They won't be main characters, but I think you'll find the child OC fascinating), and the introduction to THREE CLASS 1-A CHARACTERS WHO WILL SERVE AS PERMANENT MAIN CHARACTERS!
Also…I will attempt to do a Christmas special with this story. I am planning it out. I just want to knock off that on my bucket list because I could never get it right.
Just one more question…should I do a multiverse story?
Just imagine 'Magic in My Bones' crossing over with 'Great Powers,' 'Iron Maiden,' 'Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold,' and the real kicker: Introduce several characters from stories I never wrote!
Example: Tsuyu Asui with a Battletoads Quirk, Ochako Uraraka with Psycho Power, Satsui no Hado, and The Power of Nothingness, Mei Hatsume as a Dr. Eggman equivalent, Izuku Midoriya in a Darth Vader-esq suit (He's on the good side still…but not nice either), and several more!
I am going to do a poll that will last until somewhere in late September when Chapter 8 is posted, and that is when I will announce what the results are.
Warning, though, is that if the multiverse idea wins, I will spoil the absolute hell of my previous stories. I am 100% certain that I am DONE WITH THEM so I will feel no need to not hold back. You will get the characters in their most powerful forms.
This idea is probably the last chance to see them again in any written form of mine and will answer how each of those stories were supposed to end. Yeah, you'll get the endgame versions of all characters EXCEPT MAGIC IN MY BONES! MAGIC IN MY BONES CHARACTERS WILL NOT BE ENDGAME VERSIONS BECAUSE EVEN I DON'T KNOW HOW I WANT THIS TO END!
I repeat! MAGIC IN MY BONES CHARACTERS WILL NOT BE ENDGAME VERSIONS!
I know where I am going to end this story, but I do not know how. I am not built to write this story all the way to the manga's official end, so this story will end at *STATEMENT RETRACTED!*
On a more serious note, I will also offer this:
If you vote no, I will write one last chapter for each of these stories. I will write a one-shot that explains everything that was supposed to happen and how it got to the end. Maybe some of you also feel the same way, and I want to have closure for these stories. I will not write these one-shots from my point of view; instead, I will tell them through the characters, or in 'Iron Maiden's' case, through Hatsume's eyes.
However, if you vote no, I will not write any one-shots regarding any of the non-written characters. You will never see Asui with a Battletoad's power; Street Fighter Uraraka, etc. I wouldn't know how to write them without a premise, nor do I even feel like writing them a story.
If you are a fanfic writer and want to write these, by all means, DM me and I will gladly share any of my ideas with you. I have around 100 ideas I never went through that I kept in a catalog.
Just to be clear, I am posting this poll and an explanation on my previous stories too. They'll have time to vote too.
With that being said, I'll see you all in chapter 8.
Oh, and by the way…
Leave a comment if any of you wanna see a non-canon Halloween short.