Decided to replace Hunter's Guild with Silver Fang because it's more fitting and cooler XD
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHGGHHHH!"
Within the underground bar in Tatooine, Shigaraki Tomura was throwing everything around. He picked up the chairs and tossed them aside, disintegrating some of the wooden stools while smashing the rest repeatedly into the floor.
Tomura Shigaraki was in a state of rage and confusion.
The first came from the fact that Garou managed to steal enough of a head start that most of the potential assets came to his side.
His middle man, Giren, even started to do business with Garou, gleefully mentioning that the profits for the Union were soaring higher than ever due to the number of followers at Garou's disposal. Garou was even offering them better tools to produce equipment for his army.
HIS ARMY!
An army that he should've ruled himself.
Kurogiri watched as Tomura heaved, hyperventilating all of his bloodshot anger.
"Shigaraki Tomura. Do you believe it is time to plan your course of action?"
"...Kurogiri," Tomura called out with a sudden, eerie calm. "Do you know what I hate the most about Garou?"
Kurogiri remained silent.
"...That I cannot hate him. I have to give him points for that. He has… style. No wonder why he is way ahead of the curve. Damn it."
Even Tomura laughed at the sight of All Might's reaction to the critical hit. It was unoriginal but a very fun catharsis. Tomura needed to find a way to surpass that stunt to surpass the ruler of Hosu.
"...I learned a good lesson today. Still pissed off seeing the difference between us."
Kurogiri admired Tomura's acceptance of the vast level of difference between him and Garou.
The lesson was the difference between a beast that could only wield violence and a man who knew how to make the best of everything. Murder was not the only path toward greatness.
"Shigaraki Tomura." Kurogiri spoke.
"I need more time to find my pace. I can't have Garou continue like this while I'm this far behind. Sensei."
Tomura turned towards the screen.
"Lend me your strength."
All For One pondered from behind the screen.
He couldn't remember the last time he was this excited to see how the world would change with Garou's unpredictable actions.
The rapid change from a ravenous beast that thirsts for violence, possessing so much power than it knew what to do with, evolved into a ruler, a lord, was something he could never predict. No one knew how Garou thought behind the scenes.
[Shiguraki Tomura. I plan to make contact with this Garou myself. He is no longer someone that I can ignore. However, no matter the man, no one is perfect in the beginning. Take it from someone with experience spreading his roots. The Hero Hunter's ways… are unappealing to those that prefer the darkness.]
In short, there was a chance for discontented followers to look away from the Hero Hunter. Many still would see him fall and be punished for his evil against them.
"Hmmm… I am working on that, Sensei. But we didn't expect him to recruit an army this fast. And he has a base now."
[Ahhhh, but there is an opportunity there.]
Tomura silently contemplated.
"Ah. The arena…" Tomura remembered. "Yes… I get it. The secret final boss of bosses is arrogant. Alright, I got it. But I still need your strength just in case."
[Of course, of course. Doctor, is it ready yet?]
Tomura heard a different voice from the screen.
[I need around a month to complete this one. I will have it ready by the UA examination date.]
[I will be surprised to see if students are still applying for it. But knowing All Might, there will at least be one. The volatile air of the current climate is an exciting change.]
Tomura nodded.
"But I need more cards just in case. I need something that can convince the others to go in. They are having second thoughts since Garou has an army now."
All For One tapped his chin in thought.
[...I think I have a good solution for that. Bring me some candidates. I might be able to give them the tools they need to even stand up to All Might himself.]
"Thank you, Sensei."
In short, there would be villains with the potential to be raised to the point of contending with All Might as well as an apex Nomu.
Shigaraki started scratching his neck a little, thinking of who might fit the requirements. He was already too behind the Demon of Hosu; he needed an edge that would propel him to his level, something to capture the evil masses.
It was just that there wasn't anything he could think of that could top Garou's kicking All Might in the crotch on live television.
"Kurogiri. Contact Giren and see if he's still willing to do business." Shigaraki ordered.
"At once." Kurogiri nodded.
Maybe… Tomura scratched his neck a little faster in thought.
It was a bit risky if he decided to hunt the top ten heroes. He preferred to murder them, though he wasn't sure how to handle the backlash yet.
He still needed time to build himself.
His name was Marko Levaron.
He was the weapon master amongst Garou's Silver Fang.
He was the man in a gas mask with red lens as his visor, with guns at his side.
His Quirk was called Inventory. It was much more dangerous than it sounded.
To describe the Quirk, it was simply a Quirk that stores almost anything inside a seemingly infinite storage space that only he had access to.
The only limits were the size, required concentration level, and the object(s) had to be in front of his gaze.
His Quirk was dangerous because he could store people in his virtual space. He could use his Quirk to store even projectiles and energy attacks as his extra ammunition, being able to fire them back at his enemies.
He was a master of tools, a master of arms. He had many talents due to this Quirk. He could equip and unequip items at the speed of thought. He could even automatically spawn the bullets into his guns without reloading, though, like always, it requires precise mental concentration. It was not an easy Quirk to use, requiring much training, but it was strong.
He could even use it to pickpocket his victims without them noticing if he got close enough and had an awareness of the items in their possession.
As for his background, his history was long and arduous.
He was once a part-time courier in the poor district of Las Vegas. He was hired to deliver illegal goods to a corrupt hero during a time when the false heroes had much more free reign than today.
He was shot in the head, a bullet digging into his skull. He survived miraculously… but when he testified against the Hero that shot him, the Hero denied all accountability. That day, he was betrayed by the world around him. That day, he decided to take back the justice he was denied by force.
He took his due in bullets and blood. He took the blood of the ignorant as his interest.
Through a series of challenges, he became known as the Messenger of Death.
The Hero Killer Stain was not the only one with a kill count of heroes. There were Hero Killers long before he arrived, and his infamy was stuck solely to one Nation.
Marko was a myth, a name that only clung to whispers.
His fame in the United States did not last long because he moved out of the US as a mercenary. He took any jobs he could use to further his talents - assassination, bodyguard… Smuggler.
His Quirk allowed him to smuggle anything to the right people for the right price. Human trafficking was the only line he would cross under heavy limits, those he would capture for profit like corrupt heroes and overprivileged magnates.
Once upon a time, he once worked for a dangerous myth that ruled the Underworld nine years ago… his reward at the time was the power that many did not have. He eventually moved on when the dangerous myth obtained his independent supply chain in Japan.
After years of wandering across the globe, encountering all forms of heroes and villain groups, he had a recent history of disillusionment with the status quo, and the venomous promises of villains no longer enticed him. He had drowned himself in blood and violence for so long that he knew better than to follow the path of villains to the end. All the actions villains brought were hypocrisy and violence, a poisonous cycle.
His current job…
Kill the Hero Hunter - The Demon of Hosu.
It was a dangerous mission. There weren't many assassins that would take this quest. They knew better than to handle a person that could defeat many heroes and villains at once. Those that did were usually hunted down during his many hunts, all Quirks failing to subdue him.
Marko was different. He just needed to understand the target better than anyone else… and find a weakness he could exploit, an opening.
He considered planting bombs around the area, but he was wary ever since they sent Hawks back to sender, tarred and feathered. He was lucky that body armor covered his entire body from head to toe, or else the ant men would've also sniffed him out.
He just needed to plant a bullet in him when the time was right…
His initial motivation to kill the Hero Hunter wasn't only because of money. He had seen enough violent organizations to know that someone with this much power and sporadic violence would only cause harm to the world and bring nothing but suffering. And Marko had grown tired of the cyclical insanity.
But…
The current Garou did not fit the profile. He had the charisma of the Devil… his words resonating with his soul. The man's eudaemonism differed compared to that of the other villain groups. There wasn't a group that showed mercy like Garou, who had not taken a single life as far as he knew.
The more he learned about Garou, the more enigmatic he became, a man on the Villain's side showing mercy in his crusade.
"You have a report on the state of the Hero Hunter?"
Within a sterile room painted in shadow, Marko stood before his employers.
In times of peace, corruption festers like a plague.
The people that hired him were politicians, business magnates, and those that hid behind the shield called Hero Society and prospered.
Those with enough sense to realize that if Garou destroys the stability of Japan, the Villains will rampage and target them in turn. And worse, Garou's actions might target them due to their connections with the hero society.
"Yes." Marko was still surprised by the sheer audacity that they met him in person.
They most likely have never done something like this before, usually relying on professionals like the Hero Public Safety Bureau to do it for them instead.
These men had a reputation for bribery, fraud, extortion, and even tax evasion.
Four heroes… former heroes were here. They were now in suits. They support the idea that the Hero Hunter must die for the betterment of the world.
"Did you really kill the Hero Hunter?" The man in the middle, sitting behind a U-shaped conference table, literally had a dollar-yen sign as his head. This man could produce as much money as he wished if he had the suitable materials, perfect forgeries with connections to those behind the production of the Yen currency.
He was Shigo Ikitomi, one of the leading donors of Hero Society in general, a corrupt man who knew the current system and prospered from it.
Those who control the economy control the world, or so they say. Those beside him were politicians and otherwise with connections.
"I have his head as proof." Marko nodded.
He summoned a burlap sack from his inventory.
"I made sure to drain the blood." He threw the linen bag onto the table, much to their surprise.
Shigo stared at the bag for a moment. Marko assumed he was staring since his dollar-yen head had no discernible eyes.
He slowly unraveled the bag with palpable disgust. In the bag was the head of Garou, the hair, the red eye, the lifeless expression, everything was there.
"...You actually did it." Shigo took the head and raised it, inspecting it.
"I will take my reward right now." Marko requested.
"...How did you…" Shigo and the rest turned to Marko.
"If you have the resolve and mind, you can do anything, especially with the right tools. It takes a strong will to achieve the impossible." Marko answered.
Shigo and the others stared at Marko in silence.
"...Very well." Shigo nodded and gestured to one of his bodyguards.
The bodyguard nodded, walked over to the mercenary, and handed him a suitcase. Marko took it and immediately opened it, seeing the case filled with precious metals and gems.
"This will do nicely." Marko nodded as he turned around. The reward exorbitantly matched the price. He could not trust the currency's value given the employer's reputation.
However, as he walked out of the office, he stopped when two of the former heroes blocked his path. Each of them drew a pistol and aimed at Marko.
"...Is there a problem?" Marko asked.
"The Hero Hunter…" Shigo announced from behind. "Is a man so dangerous that even All Might lost to him."
Marko turned around as Shigo and the rest grinned a little. The mouth was still on his Yen sign face.
"We cannot simply let a man dangerous enough to kill Garou leave here alive. So we especially picked specific personnel that could deal with you. They aren't afraid of killing. And we do not like to waste any more of our resources since the Hero Hunter milked the HPSC dry enough to leave us in dire straits. We apologize for the inconvenience."
A glass wall was erected in front of the employers as Marko drew his gun at them.
Marko grunted when the bodyguards unloaded the bullets into his form, gunshots ringing in the room. The ammunition of the magnum pistols even penetrated the kevlar under the brown duster.
Marko grunted as he fell to his knees, holes mottling his body.
"The Messenger of Death… heh. I hope Death will take you with him this time." Shigo chuckled as Marko wheezed.
However, even at death's door, Marko didn't cry or beg.
"Hehehehehe…"
Instead, Marko rasped a dying chuckle.
"...What's so funny?" Shigo asked, his smile falling.
"I… decided to work for you not because I wanted the money… I saw the threat Garou posed… and decided to take this mission for the world… for the greater good. But it seems that along the way, I made the right different choice. This world… needs to change. People like you… They don't need you. They don't need you to make them depend on you… ugh."
When Marko finished his sentence, his body melted into a pile of sludge.
Shigo immediately leaned forward, seeing eight turquoise marbles mixed in with the sludge as the suitcase full of precious metals fell.
However, the marbles shone as they decompressed… into humanoid forms.
Eight intruders formed from eight marbles.
There was a man with a troll-like creature, a titanic creature covered in titanium armor, its hide thick as stone and its fists large and heavy, round and bearing the appearance of wrecking balls when clenched. He was wearing a gas mask on his person, glaring at the bodyguards near him.
Another was a man wearing a mask over his black balaclava, a black demonic jester mask. He wore a dark yellow overcoat with buttoned shoulder tabs and a high collar, his hand holding a silver walking stick with a gold handle.
Shigo gawped when he saw Marko growing from one of the marbles.
"Hmmm. I expected the possibility, but for it to happen…" Marko muttered as he drew his Damascus revolver.
"To think they would actually kill you. The upper class is more vicious than I thought." The man known as Mr. Compress commented with genuine amazement.
"W-What?! What is the meaning of-?!" Shigo shouted as the rest of his cohorts started clamoring with confoundment.
"A breach of contract," Marko said, the red lens of his gas mask staring at Shigo. "Though you made one of the predicted outcomes, I think I am more than justified for the betrayal. Boy, it's time to prove your worth."
"Yes!" There was a small one amongst the eight. He was a skinny young man wearing a green gas mask and two oxygen canisters behind his back. He was wearing a full-body kevlar suit, gloves covering his hand.
Pink mist exploded from his form.
Shigo and the others clamored when the mist engulfed the room.
Mr. Compress took off his demon mask to wear a gas mask, slinging it over his head.
He walked over to the briefcase containing the precious metals and gems and opened the case.
"Ohhhh. Thanks for the donation." Mr. Compress congratulated the now unconscious men in the room as he marveled at the contents. He closed the case and compressed it into a marble which he stored in his pocket.
"As agreed." Marko donated his contracted spoils to Mr. Compress as a gesture of trust to the descendent of Hansa the Thief. This was a plan to kidnap and sunder the rich elites hiding behind the Hero Society.
"Goliath. If you would." Marko gestured to the glass.
The troll mutant called the Goliath marched towards the glass wall and swung his wrecking fist. The glass shattered, and broken into shards, paving the way for Marko to walk over his former employers and store them in his inventory.
"Are we good?" Mr. Compress asked.
"We are clean. Since they betrayed me, we're going with plan B."
Before they decided, Marko made plans with the rest of his cohorts, depending on the scenario.
Plan A was to let the fake Garou head explode with the knockout gas once he leaves, then gas the entire building while cutting off all communications with the outside, then kidnap the listed targets while stealing the data servers at the highest office.
Plan B was the current scenario in case the Marko clone was betrayed, although it was more of an alternate scenario with the same end goals.
There were escape routes planned for them.
The first was through the sewers, where Mr. Compress would become a marble after Marko stored everyone in his inventory. There would be many distractions to deter the police and heroes, explosions bombing abandoned buildings and the streets set off by the other members of the Silver Fang.
The second was escaping through the air, albeit it was much riskier. The second was more of an emergency backup plan, though they could fake the second escape to distract everyone enough to have them escape through the sewers.
The third…
"Tesla, jam everything and make sure no one knows we are here. We will head to the computer rooms and take as many of our prizes as we can. Then we will head to the main office. Tori, prepare the gate for our escape."
"Yes, leader!" Tesla, a tall, lean man with slanted gray eyes, saluted. He was once suffering from acne vulgaris, but his once-pimply skin was cured along with other medical conditions. He was now in great health, his skin smooth, and he had never felt this good in his entire life.
He replaced his skull mask with a demonic version of it. His dark green sleeveless bodysuit remained unchanged, though.
Tesla did not regret joining the Demon of Hosu as electrical currents danced from his body.
His Quirk not only lets him gather and manipulate electrical currents, he could also jam any electrical signals. His Quirk was perfect for completely isolating the building from calling any outside help.
Tori was a woman with an actual tori gate growing from her head. She bore the appearance of a shrine maiden, possessing maiden-like features under that gas mask. She was from the Path of Naraka, the Golden Spider's group.
Her Quirk allowed her to create a red Tori gate that lets four people at most enter per day. She could connect the Tori gates she made, forming a webway of portals that anyone could use. However, this warp Quirk was limited to four people per day.
Those with the ability to travel long distances were valued very highly in a smuggling organization.
This was their primary means of escape. It would take around a minute for Tori to set up the gate, but with Chronostasis with her, she could set it up immediately.
"Chronostasis, Goliath, Dabi, stay here and guard Tori as she sets the checkpoint. Mustard, Mr. Compress, Tesla, come with me. The three of us will protect Mustard as we make our way up to the server rooms."
Ghin Shinjitsu slept on the desk with his earphones on.
His smile was no longer on his face as he walked down the halls, carrying his backpack.
This was the face he wore when he was not around his family. The lonesome boy without a Quirk, the estranged boy that was against All Might, the one that called out Garou to start the trend of inflicting critical damage to male heroes.
His classmates knew from the video. The whole school knew of it. After all, how could they not recognize his face shouting at Garou to 'aim for his crotch'?
Mutants and humans, faces ranging from a literal cuphead with a face, a chickenhead, a warped rockface, boys and girls scowled at him for supporting the man that shamed All Might.
They tolerated his presence before, but after Garou swiftly crushed All Might through the 'massive cheapshot,' that tolerance died.
Ghin didn't care about them.
They laughed at him when he told him his parents died.
Anyone with that level of cruelty did not deserve to be called human.
They were monsters.
"It's the demon fan."
"He's now living under his Hosu."
"Tsk. Traitor."
You're the traitors.
Ghin retorted in his head, ignoring every scalding glare each of the kids had on his person.
Then came the rare teacher when they made eye contact.
They looked stoic but he could read them well. They weren't sure how to handle someone like him since most of the children had obvious disdain for him for supporting the Demon of Hosu.
His school gained some attention after Garou's stunt with All Might after Endeavor.
His classroom was like any other, with students either human or bearing some unique mutation that made them stand out.
One had a long, large blue tongue, another had a typewriter in place for his head, and a third had something like panther heads on her shoulders.
Ghin didn't regret publicly declaring his support for Demon of Hosu in the end as he made his way into the classroom.
He sat by the seat at the back corner of the room, ignoring the glares from his Quirk classmates.
His teacher soon arrived as Ghin unplugged the earphones from his ears.
Ms. Ataka Asobu entered the room.
"Claaaasss, please take your seats~"
She was a young, energetic teacher with beautiful scarlet hair tied into a side ponytail and a cheerful smile.
Ghin took out his notebooks and started taking notes on the general studies.
English, Japanese, math, he understood them very well. The boring sessions continued while glaring glances were thrown his way by his classmates.
The teacher was not a fool as, despite her cheerful demeanor, she could feel the hostility thrown the boy's way. Ghin knew that the woman was helpless in helping with his situation. How could she sway the corrupted hearts of the many when she was so powerless?
Then came the group thought lesson where they would discuss a certain controversial topic to promote independent thinking.
"Now, class, today our group discussion will be… very volatile for some of you. However, this might be a good time for you to think outside the box!" Ms. Asobu smiled.
"Today we're going to talk about Garou and the recent discussion involving the rebel heroes!"
So they were discussing the most recent events then.
"Ms. Asobu." One of the students raised her hand, a girl with her hair tied into a pretzel shape. "Why do we call them Rebel Heroes in the first place?"
"It is because they are breaking the laws even if they think they're doing it for the greater good."
"Why won't anyone take down Garou if he is that bad?" Another one asked. His face was always blank. Only his nose and mouth was present. How he could see despite having no eyes, no one knows.
"Kuran Rasa, we've been over this. But recently, Garou is shown to be strong enough to defeat All Might-"
"There's no way All Might would lose that easily!" One of the students stood up from his chair. "G-Garou just won because of a cheap shot! There's no way All Might would-"
"Then what do you call what happened in the news?" Ghin called out from his seat.
"Shut it, Quirkless! You know nothing!"
"I know better than to lie in the face of the truth. What, you gonna say that All Might is a fake? If so, then how many All Mights are fake on television then? Hmm?" Ghin shot back, earning scowls from everyone in the classroom.
Ms. Asobu interrupted, "Ghin, what is your opinion of the scenario?"
Everyone remained silent at the teacher's question.
"...All Might is a chivalrous fool."
Everyone scowled at him.
"...Would you care to explain?" She asked stoically.
"He came in at the wrong moment. The heroes were doing this to drag All Might out like the woman reporter said. They didn't care if there were civilians there, they even dragged them into their scheme to force the Number One Hero to take care of something that he couldn't handle, a bunch of desperate losers that can't read the subtext between the lines. And when they did force All Might out of hiding, well…"
Multiple expressions twisted from the sharp jabbing words Ghin threw at them.
"Look at All Might now. Even if that was a body double, it was a mistake to try it. Now All Might's name is starting to be dragged through the mud, a lot of people acting like soul-less NPCs that can only react with either hate or in denial. They're nothing more than robots that can't see the bigger picture, just act like overgrown children."
The classmates twisted into a scowl.
"Like my classmates are acting, mindless robots with poor eyes that can only hate me for saying what is obvious."
Ms. Asobu remained steadfast despite the tensions in the room, playing the neutral role.
"...And why do you think you can see the bigger picture?"
"Because I can see a much worse scenario. It is either beat the number one hero and be hated or kill the number one hero and be vilified. No one seems to appreciate that Garou never kills a hero, even if it is the Number One Hero. Everyone seems to take living for granted nowadays. You can't take things back if you're dead, many people forget about this. Everyone around simply doesn't care. They're the ones being the bad guys, being unfair hypocrites that can only criticize or deny the things they don't like to see."
The class remained silent as they stared at the pariah in the room.
"...That is… a very interesting opinion." Ms. Asobu admitted.
"...Garou showed mercy. He always showed mercy… everyone is too dumb or blind to see that. They just only care about the wins and losses of their favorite heroes. Life is not a script for actors to follow for the viewers' enjoyment."
There was a palpable feeling of contemplation among the classmates.
"...I see…" Ms. Asobu nodded. "You are correct. Garou, despite his many months here, has never taken the life of a Hero. It could indeed be much, much worse like you said. However, I don't think it is right for Garou to resort to that level of violence in the first place."
"Would you rather have every hero he met dead on the streets?" Ghin asked.
"No… but it is still a crime to send that many heroes to the hospital. It is unfair to say that the heroes and everyone took their survival for granted."
"It is if they don't take that into account."
Asobu sighed. Ever since Ghin became a follower of the Hero Hunter, he became more antagonistically spoken. He was now a wildfire that constantly incites his classmates whenever he could.
"...Class, I would like you all to write a three-page essay on this matter. Please give it some thought and present your material up front."
Izuku Midoriya ran towards an alley.
He received an emergency phone call from Toshinori Yagi, saying that he needed help and would not bring Ghin or Bang with him if possible.
Izuku was fearful.
Did someone discover All Might's secret? Did Garou find out? It was two days since All Might's defeat at Hosu.
Many worse cast scenarios ran through his head as his teeth chattered as he entered the dirty stone-brick pathway.
"A-Al-Toshinori! Yagi!" Izuku shouted.
He saw garbage, some homeless man sitting in the corner, hidden under a dirty brown torn blanket, and a backdoor entrance leading inside the left building.
Izuku prayed that Toshinori would make it here, alright.
"Could it be…"
Was this a trap? Izuku started simulating the dark scenarios as he instantly entered the Water Stream Stance, looking around warily.
He had yet to master the flow of One For All's power as his eyes darted warily.
He flinched when the homeless man hiding under the blanket behind stirred, and the cloak dropped to the floor.
"I…"
Izuku immediately struck first. But the man caught his fist. Wait, his hand was far bigger than he initially… wait…
"AM HERE!"
The man under the blanket revealed himself to be All Might in his more casual, heavy winter clothes, a winter jacket of brown, while a snow cap covered his head. The jacket covered him down to his very knees.
It was more than one month away from February, the cold winter air already biting at the world.
"EHHHHH?! A-All-"
"SHHHH!"
All Might palmed Izuku's mouth.
"...I… have a surprise for you." All Might's iconic smile widened. He opened his jacket, revealing his winter shirt, and lifted it.
Izuku blinked when he saw All Might's naked stomach. The scar, the purple infected wound, was no longer there.
"...A-All Might, is this what I…"
"I! AM! HEALED! AH HAH HAH HAH!" All Might heartily declared.
"HAHHH?! T-That's great! That's wonderful! How did you... I... I mean, with this…" Izuku was overjoyed, his astonishment transforming with overwhelming joy as he smiled.
"AND I AM BANKRUPT!"
Then that astonishment shattered instantly, just like his world and composure, his smile now paralyzed.
"...Eh?" He wanted to show his confusion through his face but was still stuck in confused-smile mode.
"And… I am in massive debt."
All Might's tone suddenly fell into sadness as he hung his head, a dark, depressing air surrounding the restored greatest hero.
"...EHHHHH?!"
Izuku had so many questions.
"...Garou healed me."
Izuku blinked twice, never thinking that he would hear… actually, thinking about it, Garou would definitely heal All Might.
"H-He did? H-H-How?" Izuku asked.
All Might still smiled despite being sad.
"Yes. He arranged for one of his subordinates, a very capable man with a hard past, to heal me. The healer wouldn't do it under normal circumstances, but Garou convinced him! And also… he made me stronger than ever! I feel like I'm in my thirties again! AH HAH HAH HAH HAH!"
All Might heartily laughed.
"R-Really? How?!" Izuku asked, now excited.
"Oh, it was actually horrifying. I let him use his Quirk to disintegrate and reform me multiple times so he could fuse the extra organs and bones into me. The organs are donated by those who are about to die. I am honored by their sacrifices. The experience was actually a bit painful." All Might nodded.
Izuku couldn't believe that there was someone with a Quirk like that.
"W-What kind of Quirk does he have?! How does it work?! If he has that kind of Quirk, then-"
"And he proceeded to make sure that I regret saying I'll pay his price." All Might hung his head with an aura of gloom.
"...eh?"
"I am now ten trillion yen in debt. Around a hundred billion dollars… a hundred billion… It feels like the end of the world with that number." All Might croaked with a hoarse voice.
"...EHHHHHHHHHHH?!" Izuku's eyes nearly popped out of his skull.
"He even took my house and the rights to Might Tower… Sir Nighteye helped liquidate my properties so that Garou won't trace them back to Toshinori Yagi. All I have left is my phone and my personal belongings."
Izuku looked at the box beside All Might. It was true; it was all he had, clothes, food, etcetera.
"He was merciless… Sir Nighteye avoided looking me in the eye. He said he could not lie about my worth, which is all the money in the world. Garou's subordinate decided that since it was too much to take all the money in the world, he would settle with taking all of my money. And salt my financial wounds with the debt. I think Sir Nighteye wanted to get revenge for worrying him most of the time." All Might was trembling, shaking in his feet, almost sounding like he was about to cry. "Loan sharks are scary, you know? I didn't think being in debt in the old days could be this grim. It is either fulfilling the deadline or being hunted for sport and having my organs auctioned off. He swore that if I failed to pay in time, they would turn my leg bone into a pen for Garou to sign autographs in my blood… He even joked about selling my blood online to my adoring fans and auctioning my organs off."
"A-All Might…" Izuku had never been this scared for someone in his life.
"...I need a place to stay. I cannot afford rent… I am bankrupt. And I owe them one trillion Yen by the end of the next year."
"W-Why so high?!" Izuku shouted.
"They believe I have a short life expectancy due to my profession as the Number One Hero. And I have no relatives to force my debt upon if I perish."
Izuku could understand that, considering his profession.
"B-B-But, if you're in your prime, then that means you can work it off, right?! I mean, there's no one out there that you can lose to other than Garou!" Izuku argued.
"...Yes. But the world is… not in a good state. Have you seen the news?"
Izuku had.
'Could we still trust Heroes?'
'Hypocritical Heroes on the rise! Are we still safe?!'
'Looming civil war on the horizon?!'
'All Might's defeat staged?! A body-double hired by the Hero Hunter?!'
These were all articles from Yap! News. There was a growing mistrust between heroes and villains.
And there were several articles showcasing the decline of All Might's faith, some of the statues being slandered by protestors, markings and signs saying 'I am NOT here' and 'Where are you' and more.
Some didn't believe that the All Might that lost on screen was the real All Might due to how easily he lost.
Not only that, significant chaos broke out from the core of the Hero World, and some important people were missing due to a massive break-in. Everyone in the building was unconscious due to unknown poison in their system. The assailants escaped through means unknown; their presence was untraceable.
"...Then… you just have to gain that trust back! I mean… oh! You just need a comeback!"
Izuku shouted.
"...A comeback?" All Might tilted his head.
"Show everyone that you're not as weak as you are! I mean… well… destroy everyone's expectations like Garou did in the news!"
As he rummaged for ideas, Garou's arena struck his mind. Garou taught Izuku how he could copy techniques through the extension of the water stream rock smashing fist, to read the flow of energy and become one with that flow - a concept he applied for One For All. Izuku took some pages from Garou on how he obtained his controversial popularity and built on that.
"...What about putting on a show?"
"...A show?" All Might asked.
"T-Think about it! Prime All Might versus Demon Lord Of Hosu! It would explode the news! Maybe pay off your debt a little faster if you know the right people! Shock and awe everyone and save the Hero Society from collapse!"
All Might rubbed his chin in thought for a moment.
"It could work… but even if I am healed, I still don't have One For All. The current power I have might not be enough to sustain the fight."
"Then take it back!" Izuku pulled out a piece of his hair and offered it to All Might.
All Might blinked at the sight.
"Izuku, my boy…"
"You need it more than I do… and I think I can manage the UA exams without it. I mean, there's nothing stopping me from returning the Quirk, right? The world needs the Symbol of Peace more than ever… and besides, I should be fine with the power that's still left within me. And the training I endured under Garou should work."
Izuku nodded as All Might stared at the strand of hair between Izuku's fingers.
"...My boy. I was not wrong in choosing you as my successor." All Might smiled wider as he took the hair and threw it into his mouth and swallowed.
All Might could feel One For All returning to him, resonating with him, his power restored.
Izuku smiled with excitement. The Symbol of Peace had returned to his prime, better than ever.
"Ah hah hah! Thank you, my boy! I am honored by your sacrifice! I would like to declare that 'I have returned!' to the world but… Even if I do manage to get them to agree with the stunt, it will still be an uphill battle. The Hero Society needs more hope than I can give… and I'm not sure if Garou will let me give out that hope without him trying to snuff it out. As long as Garou's position as the tyrant against Hero Society remains unchanged, there isn't much I can do. He has grown too powerful in Japan, and not just in the physical sense."
Izuku grimaced as he furiously pondered a solution knowing Garou so far.
"...Why not just ask him to play a role?" Izuku asked.
All Might was confused, "What?"
"I mean… What if you ask him to play out the fight into a draw? To let the world know that Japan, no, All Might won't let the Hero Hunter do whatever he wants! Um, assuming he'll agree to it…" Izuku sheepishly poked his fingers together.
All Might pondered on the possibility.
"...Do you think he'll agree to that?" All Might asked.
"He… well, maybe if you give him a good fight like he always wanted beforehand," Izuku suggested. "I mean, I don't think he even wanted to be a ruler like this anyways… and he does want to be challenged."
"...Well…"
"What's in it for me?"
Izuku and Toshinori couldn't believe that Garou was considering the offer. Garou was fishing in the waters around the Dagoba Municipal Beach Park, sitting cross-legged while holding a fishing rod with a large portable glass tank filled with water.
Many good catches were within that tank, swimming within the cramped waters.
"Ahaha… well…"
"You're looking healthy. Don't tell me; you finally got a good surgeon or something? Found someone with an actual good healing quirk?" Garou asked as his fishing rod got another bite. Garou yanked the line and pulled out a large fish.
Izuku 'ooooh'ed at the sight. It was as long as Izuku was tall, scales gleaming steel gray with a blue overtone.
"Ahahahaha… well, you can say that."
Toshinori was less emaciated than before, his skin bearing a healthier sheen. There was more vitality in his weary face. His voice even sounded healthier as well.
"Was about to refer you to an associate of mine since I can't stand to look at you coughing blood all the time, as funny as it may be. Still, I can't believe All Might dares to ask for a showdown like that and for not asking me face to face, deciding to send his little 'spy' to me instead. Didn't he get my message?"
Toshinori smiled awkwardly.
"Ahahaha, well… Nothing is stopping him from challenging you beforehand. Is that right?" Toshinori asked.
"True. Clever use of semantics. I didn't think he would use a loophole. Very well, I'll grant him that." Garou nodded as he unhooked the giant fish and walked over to another pole.
It was a regular pole with a bunch of meat hooks dangling from it, meant for hanging meat as Garou hung the big catch by the hook.
"...I gave All Might his power to experience his full might. If he decides to be a problem for my subordinates, that might be a different matter. What is his stance against my organization?" Garou asked as he returned to his spot, took his fishing lure, and threw it into the waters.
"...What are you planning to do with that much power at your disposal?" Toshinori asked in return.
"Originally, it was all about… finding All Might and taking matters into my own hands. The Yakuza I contacted started pushing me to do bigger things, the clever bastards. I gave it some thought and decided to experiment a little, see if I can expand my perspective since I have the time and power to do so. I can destroy the current Hero Society whenever I want, anyways, the old-fashioned way. But I just can't stomach the dregs anymore. Because of that, I decided to reevaluate my ideals… and saw some flaws in my own logic when I compared myself to All Might. Though that will not stop me from trying to obtain the position of a symbol, meaning I refuse to slack off because I have a big chair with big shoes to fill."
Toshinori remained silent at Garou's response.
"And now?"
"I have decided to refrain from hunting heroes entirely. I just haven't made it official yet." Garou answered.
Toshinori and Izuku widened their eyes. Toshinori expected it considering Garou's passive months, but… He smiled a little.
Garou was reforming himself… well, in his own way. The Hero Hunts were finally coming to an end, though the chaos Garou was sowing was another story.
"False Heroes are another story. I have glimpsed the Hero Association's skeleton closet, and it makes me very angry that people like them exist. I will hunt them down and dispose of them with prejudice."
Toshinori could agree with that anger toward those kinds of people. He would do it as well if he encountered such heresy.
"...Anything else you plan to do with your newfound position? Are you planning to take over Japan?" Toshinori asked.
"Not in the way you think." Garou scoffed. "I need a massive stake in Japan's economy. I have advisors now. I don't intend to rule through force… well, at least not as a usurping dictator. Japan can keep its autonomy for all I care. However, I will take a different sort of power. I do not want my organization to run on gambling, smuggling, loans, black market trading, and prostitution alone, among other undesirables. Maybe the gambling I can keep… the women part is a big if on my side. Only if they're very high class, maybe… I don't want hookers to defile my streets. Women deserve a chance to be more than just sexual objects."
Toshinori could understand that. He was proud of Garou's morality remaining intact.
"How do you plan to do that?" Toshinori asked.
"That is a surprise. I just hope that All Might won't interfere when the time comes."
Toshinori grimaced.
"...What are your terms?" Toshinori asked Garou.
"When asked for, All Might won't interfere with certain operations," Garou demanded. "Other heroes are another story, however. Even Endeavor is allowed."
Toshinori grit his teeth.
"...Would you be involved in said operations?"
"If I am involved, All Might can challenge me whenever. When I'm not, however, he should stay his hand if he knows what's good for him. Do you know I have blackmail? I know all the Public Safety Bureau's dirty secrets, well, at least the juiciest parts."
Toshinori inhaled to stifle the frustration when Garou reminded him of that.
"...Very well." Toshinori could handle that. It was a fair bargain at least, All Might against Garou, others against others.
"What else… I'm being paid for this, right? Does All Might even have a single coin on him?"
Toshinori felt great pain from the mention of his financial state.
"...No, he doesn't… actually, he is also kind of begging you to forgive his debt if possible-"
"I refuse. All Might in debt sounds too funny to discard."
Toshinori hung his head with dejecting gloom. Izuku felt sorry for his idol.
"It is not every day that someone got the Number One Hero in debt. Besides, the government can pay off the cost for his hero work."
"Ahh… I'll be sure to relay it to him." Toshinori sounded like his spirit was going to crumble.
He really didn't like to have this kind of debt. He could relate with the working people now.
A small silence descended between them as Garou felt another pull in his fishing line.
"...How are you doing now?" Toshinori asked, unsure what to talk about next.
"...Well. The view from atop of Hosu's highest building is a sight to die for." Garou said as he pulled another fish out of the waters, the creature flapping on the hook. "Had a meeting with the representatives of the Yakuza about our course of action. We made some big decisions, and they swore complete loyalty to me after bringing much success in a short period; then we talked about the future. Decided to renovate a large building and turn it into a high-class casino to end the day. It was quite productive. There will be high-class women there as well, though I'm not sure if I should inspect it myself. They insist since I technically brought the money to their laps. My associate is assessing the skills of my new followers while I plan a training regimen for them."
"U-Um, it sounds like you were busy," Izuku noted.
"Indeed, Twerp. I managed to get some alone time. I do have someone tailing me, just in case. I have a bodyguard now, an actual bodyguard. "
For some reason, Toshinori felt his heart skipping a beat at the mention.
A distant memory echoed in his mind… a familiar voice mentioning having his first bodyguard - the voice of the man that cursed him with that scar.
"...You alright?" Garou asked, turning to Toshinori.
"I… I'm good." Toshinori dismissed, confused as to why he heard the voice of his nemesis in his head.
"Also, my bodyguard has you in his sniper scope."
""...EH?!
As Garou dropped the fish into the tank, Toshinori and Izuku panicked as they looked around for the sniper.
"Hah, I'm joking. He's just tailing me. He is the man fishing behind me."
The two looked back. They saw an Aryan man in casual clothes, fishing silently on the other side of the fishing docks.
"He's an interesting one. He survived a bullet to the head once. Never thought I would encounter a man of many talents like this one. He has so many weapons in his arsenal; it's kind of ridiculous. Did you know that he was an assassin originally sent to take my head?"
Toshinori and Izuku threw their heads at Garou.
"E-Ehhhh?!" Toshinori and Izuku were shocked.
"Yeah. Came to my office and pulled a gun at me while I was reading in my spare time. Came right after a psycho girl tried to draw my blood, one with a weird disappearing trick. He had no killing intent when he drew his revolver. He walked up to my desk, placed the gun on it, and sat on a chair. He wanted to know about me… and then decided to work for me."
The two were quite surprised to hear that about an assassin. Thinking about it, it was obvious that there would be an assassin or two aiming for Garou's head, but to hear one that decided to work for him was a different story.
"...Is it wise to tell them this much?" The Aryan man asked while he pulled his line, catching a big fish.
"They are terrible liars, and I can't hate them. If this is a moment where I set myself up for my cliche downfall, I am interested to know how it goes."
Toshinori wasn't sure if he could set up that thing himself.
"What about young Ghin?" Toshinori asked.
"Ah. He is sad that I can't live in his home anymore. The bodyguard is now a lord, meaning I can't just live in a random apartment from time to time. Can eke out a day off in his home if I could… actually, I plan to return to his stomping grounds now. Do you want to join me?" Garou asked.
Toshinori and Izuku stared at each other. They nodded with a smile.
"Wait, does the…" Izuku turned toward the bodyguard.
"He is someone I can trust with my secrets. Even though we did meet for a day and talked over a confrontation." Garou said as he threw the line back into the waters.
"W-Why do you trust him?" Toshinori asked.
"He isn't one of my fans. They follow me because of my image. This man is a professional that follows me because of who I am." Garou answered as another catch caught his bait.
He pulled the line, retrieving another large fish as long as Izuku's height from the waters.
"Oh." Toshinori understood his dilemma.
"You want to join me?" Garou asked.
"Well…" Izuku and Toshinori looked at each other for a moment.
"I don't see why not. Do you have any spare fishing rods?" Toshinori asked.
"Marko," Garou called out.
Immediately, the man named Marko pulled out two fishing lines from out of nowhere, holding them to the side.
Toshinori and Izuku blinked.
They knew that it was the work of the man's Quirk, but the way he pulled out the items inspired curiosity within them.
They gingerly walked over to Marko and accepted the rods. Izuku and Toshinori walked to the bucket full of fish bait, took some to rub on their hooks, and then sat beside Garou as they threw the bait into the waters.
"...Do any of you know a certain Eraserhead and see if I can get him to do me a favor?" Garou asked Toshinori.
"Uhhhhhh…" Toshinori was aware of Eraserhead's stance against Garou.
The anti-Quirk Hero would stay away a thousand miles from the man after what Garou did to him, turning him into an actual mummy for months.
"...That might be difficult. Why?" Toshinori asked.
"Tsk, I needed help with a certain matter. There is a girl with a dangerous Quirk she cannot control. From what I've heard, it's so powerful that she erased her father by accident."
Toshinori and Izuku gasped as they turned to Garou.
"I decided to adopt her. She needs help, and I have room for one more. But I don't have any experience in training Quirks. I need some way for her to shut down her Quirk humanely… or I will have to endure her Quirk and stave off the effects with my resistances until she can master it."
They were amazed that Garou's humanity extended this far. The hope of turning Garou over to the light side was even higher than ever, though he was still complicated.
"How does your resistance to Quirks work, by the way? I am always curious about that. Is it the work of an actual Quirk or something else?" Toshinori asked.
"It is something more inherent. It's not something I can scientifically explain, just like how people can't explain how they got their Quirks."
"Ah. Understandable."
Toshinori could relate to that. Not even Toshinori could explain how One For All works in detail.
"What about you? How are you guys dealing with the rogue hero crisis? Are any more of them popping up? Or are you facing a disaster in your hands?"
Toshinori sighed.
"It's not an easy topic. You were too excessive in your wilder months." Toshinori could relate to their reasons, complaining about why Japan would allow the man who defeated many heroes to stay in power. Some accused the All Might that appeared to be fake… and still demanded the government to permit them to take down Garou.
"All I did to them was beat them up, throw them in a body pile, or send them to the hospital. They should be happy that I didn't murder them on the spot. And I don't hunt the same hero more than once."
"Uhhh, then what about Crimson Riot?" Izuku pointed out.
"Oh… him. Yeah, he's an exception." Garou remembered.
"...Why do you always pick on Crimson Riot?" Toshinori asked.
"...It is personal for the kid," Garou answered.
"Ghin? What's his history with Crimson Riot?" Toshinori asked.
"Let's just leave it that it was his fault that the boy is alone and depressed today," Garou answered. "Sometimes it is best not to pry unless they let you."
Toshinori and Izuku understood, though their curiosity still burned.
Both Toshinori and Izuku blinked when they felt a tug on their lines.
"A-Toshinori! I got a bite!" Izuku shouted as he pulled, yanking the line with excitement.
"Ohhhhh! Me too!" Toshinori smiled as he pulled. The absence of the familiar pain in his chest was the best feeling in the world as he and Izuku pulled, both fishing out a nice sizeable catch.
"Hoh, you got the big ones," Garou noted as the duo smiled, holding the string hooking the lively, flailing fish.
"Aniki!"
Ghin shouted with joy as he ran to Garou and hugged his leg.
Marko drove Garou, Izuku, and Toshinori to Tsukihana's abode via truck.
Izuku and Toshinori held all of their fish catches, smiling as Ghin looked up at his idol.
"Yo. Brought guests today. Is the aunt-lion here?"
"And you have gall for returning here."
Speaking of the woman, Tsukihana appeared at the door, leaning on the door frame.
"Weeks of unnotified absences, and you think you can return here as you please, Vagrant? And… who are you two?" Tsukihana asked.
"A-Ahahaha. I believe this is the first time we met." Toshinori heard of the silver-haired woman. She was younger than Toshinori thought… a bit on the attractive side. She was wearing long-black jeans and a short-sleeve tank-top.
"I am the guardian of the boy's friend. I am Toshinori Yagi, and this is Midoriya Izuku."
The woman quirked a brow as her eyes laid upon the big fish on the hook pole and the glass tank full of more fish.
Then she looked at the other boy with dark-green hair, sheepishly waving at her.
"And what is your relationship with my nephew?" Tsukihana asked.
"U-Um… we're friends." He smiled.
"He buys me stuff!" Ghin smiled.
Tsukihana spluttered a laugh and a smile.
"Isn't the age gap between you two a bit wide?" She asked.
Izuku laughed awkwardly while rubbing his hair.
"He's also Quirkless like me! And he is fun to tease!" He smiled.
"Really? You must have a lot of trouble finding friends. Alright, come in. Expect the meals to be all fish." Tsukihana giggled as Toshinori and Izuku sighed with relief.
The adoptive mother managed to accept them as they took off their shoes and walked in on their socks.
The interior was indeed very homely, with a nice carpet in the large living room, a good view of Hosu from the windows, and an expansive kitchen for the pair.
Izuku wandered around the living room as Garou walked to the kitchen and placed their catches down.
"This is a large residence for a family of two," Toshinori commented.
"Three! It just sucks that Aniki found a place of his owwwn!" Ghin pouted.
They made themselves comfortable as Bang and Tsukihana started cooking and preparing the fish.
Toshinori and Izuku turned on the TV and watched the news as they waited.
They turned on the Yomura Station News channel.
[-Jahutt Bank is now under investigation due to a series of mysterious withdrawals of billions of yen from the accounts of the missing officials! Shigo Ikutomi, Kinsaru Ruten, Nendo Foji, Unkado Yogen, Gamen Kyaku, are now without a single yen to their name! And also! A mysterious whistleblower posted all transaction data of these men to various sites around the world, even to our computers via email! This is a massive scandal of epic proportion! Secret inflations and tampering of financial records left unchecked!]
Toshinori and Izuku blinked.
"Oh, yeah. That." Tsukihana mused. "Apparently, they wanted me to lead the lawsuit against them, even though they are missing. Though I doubt that I need to be there, honestly." Tsukihana said as she prepared the pan and oil.
"W-What do you mean?" Toshinori blinked.
"All of the evidence I needed is right there; all of the financial records and secrets, even their bank account transactions, everything. Missing or not, they're not going to survive. All of their lawyers are even being tried for bribery and false testimonies, bribing heroes, and blackmailing their opposition. Their connections are a bit trickier, but I think we can bring them down swiftly. There's enough evidence for the police to warrant arrests on their property now."
Izuku and Toshinori threw their heads behind, seeing Garou flashed a smirk.
They knew that he had done something. The boy was also impishly smirking behind the aunt.
"Tell me about yourself. Toshinori Yagi, what do you do for a living?" Tsukihana asked.
"Ah, well, it is… a bit complicated. I work for the Hero Industry, to be honest." Toshinori answered as the news started transitioning towards the rising protests of civilians criticizing the government for the conspiracy.
"As a secretary?" She asked.
"Er, yes." He lied.
"Which branch?"
"That's… a bit confidential." Toshinori didn't know how to answer that. The woman was quite interrogative when it came to strangers.
"Interesting. And how do you know Vagrant here?"
"Bang."
"Vagrant."
"Skank."
She glared at the man behind her, skinning the large Izuku-long fish.
"Er, we… met by chance at Dagoba," Toshinori said.
"How did you two click?" She asked as she started chopping the scallions.
"E-er, well, uh, he… saved me from a villain attack!" Toshinori lied again.
"And the boy?" She looked at Izuku, who flinched under her gaze.
"Don't interrogate everyone you meet, woman. Not every stranger is a criminal out to get the kid." Garou commented as he immediately chopped the fish into thin slices. He put the fish head and tail into the boiling pot for soup.
"True. But I've to make it a habit. Toshinori is a terrible liar, anyways."
Toshinori felt a verbal pain in his ego.
"Izuku, is it? You look like you're entering High School. Do you have a mind on where to enroll?"
"Uhhhh… I am… planning to enroll in UA."
Tsukihana blinked as she turned to the boy sitting at the sofa.
"...Are you one of those infected by Garou's stunts?"
"Errr…"
"...I want to say that you shouldn't bother to enroll in this political climate. The heroes are on the verge of breaking apart due to the controversial topic of the Demon of Hosu. But at the same time… I believe that Japan needs more heroes now than ever. Better ones at least. If you want to enroll in UA, I suggest you take the general studies course. Stay away from the Hero Exams if you know what's good for you."
Izuku laughed awkwardly as he watched the two cook.
They now know what kind of person Ghin's adoptive mother was now.
They were surprised to see that Garou could handle a woman like that.
The food was very good.
Izuku and Toshinori had their bellies filled as Ghin showed them to his room.
Izuku could see the Garou action figures and other merch items, masks, clothes, everything Garou-related.
Izuku was a bit perturbed to see all of the All Might merch shoved into the closet… Toshinori was sad to see a fan's change of heart like this. It was the first time All Might saw a follower abandoning him up close.
"We're going to sleep on the rooooof!" Ghin smiled in his pajamas. It was a bit cute, stars and moons with smiling faces on them, with the little silver-haired boy holding a pillow.
"...Why not sleep in your room?" Izuku asked.
"I like to stargaze! And the fresh night air! It helps me sleep better!" Ghin smiled.
"Ahhh."
"And since my bodyguard is back, let's gooo!" Ghin ran towards Garou and took his hand, pulling the older man out the door, leaving the two alone with the lawyer.
She was still in her casual wear, sitting by the window at a desk, looking at her laptop, typing into it.
The silence became awkward now.
"...Are you two working for the Public Safety Bureau?" Tsukihana asked as she turned around, looking at Toshinori and Izuku.
"Errr…" Toshinori sweated a little.
The lawyer's tone shifted, less casual and accusatory… more tired and sad. She sounded tired, as if she was carrying a large load with her for days without rest.
"...I looked you up, Toshinori, when I heard Ghin speak your name through the listening devices."
Toshinori and Izuku blinked.
"I know who Bang is. I am not a fool… I have placed listening devices ever since the man fell out of the sky and entered our lives out of nowhere and entered my nephew's life. I know everything… Garou and my nephew… you don't know how hard it is to maintain a mask when the son of your deceased relative suddenly entangles himself with the most dangerous man that graced the world."
Toshinori and Izuku were shocked, completely taken by surprise.
The woman knew who Garou was the entire time… bearing a massive burden that no civilian should have.
"I am at a crossroads whether to report him to the police and ruin Ghin's life… or let him stay and help him recover. My nephew… he is in a lot of pain. He just hides it like I am hiding mine right now."
Tsukihana deeply inhaled as she looked up at them. There was a vulnerability that the Toshinori had never seen before in anyone else… other than him at his weakest. Izuku saw not a strong-willed woman but a woman desperate for aid.
"...I know that he healed All Might." She said as she looked at him. "You were suffering from a stomach wound… correct? Like how All Might did. When I heard about how Garou defeated the symbol of peace and… spared him, I didn't know what to feel. I had my contacts and connections, I called in favors, to search for anyone with a scar that matched Garou's description… your name is the only one. My contact barely managed to retrieve the record from highly classified archives. I deducted the chainsaw incident years ago and your name… you are healed, aren't you… All Might?"
Toshinori widened his eyes.
"...I knew it." Tsukihana chuckled as she placed a hand on her face. Tears were streaming down her eyes.
"...All this time… I prayed. Every day that you would… and here you are, with the most terrible timing. You managed to fool even Garou and Ghin. My nephew is extremely perceptive, you know? Heh…"
"...Ms. Shinjitsu… I…" All Might clenched his fists.
"How is it? Seeing a child that you couldn't save?" She asked.
All Might turned away.
"...Ghin's life shattered when Crimson Riot failed to save him and his family's life during an incident."
Toshinori and Izuku perked at the name.
"Crimson Riot just… stood there. He was petrified, too scared of the hazards to save those inside. He wasn't the same man that goes headlong into danger nowadays. He was a coward in every sense of the world. Within the fires and falling rock, the cries of a child begging for help fell on deaf ears. He was there and did nothing when the family was within his reach. He presumed them dead… not knowing that the parents sacrificed themselves to save their son."
No words could express their emotions when they heard about the boy's past. No wonder why Garou continued to harass Crimson Riot. He was haunting the Hero for his past mistake.
"...And now you show up. Garou has done something… that you couldn't do for yourself for… how many years? Six? Billions of Quirks in this world, and you can't find the right person with the right Quirk with your resources? All it took was the man that defeated you to revive a bygone era to convince the one man with the right Quirk to fix you and make you better? Hmmm? Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
She was now critical.
"...I have no words…" All Might hung his head.
"...Are you here to arrest a weak woman for harboring a fugitive?" She asked. She sounded so defeated… that it was sad.
"...How could I arrest a strong woman that held out for so long?" All Might looked up.
"I don't think someone that only knows how to endure is strong… I am useless." She turned away.
"...I can't even save my nephew. Not from… his life or those around him. He is ostracized by his classmates. He is doing well academically, but his social life is a mess. His classmates…" She sneered. "Do you know what it is like to be born Quirkless, All Might? To be born just for others to ridicule you, to betray your trust in society just because you're… different? My son tried so hard to be friends when his parents were around, but that all changed… They laughed at him when his parents died. The world broke him… and you made the world like this in your ignorance. You spent too much time defeating the symptoms and not the source, All Might."
Izuku and Toshinori were petrified.
"...I held out my faith in the current system for so long. I even fought for it tooth and nail. But I don't think I can hold out for much longer. All Might… you sent a terrible message with your actions. Your message about justice is clear as day, but it also indirectly inspired a different one - that only those with Quirks can become 'someone'. And it overrides the message you want to bring. They think Justice is domination over others. Children don't care about morals if they can get the high of the word 'justice' over those they deem as 'villains.'"
Toshinori grit his teeth.
"What are you planning to do about Garou, All Might? Are you planning to kill him? To destroy a child's hope to find happiness?" Tsukihana asked.
"No… I… I want to redeem him." All Might confessed. "I cannot kill a man that decided to raise a child with his adoptive mother…"
Tsukihana stared at him.
"I don't think you can."
All Might blinked.
"You cannot redeem a man that is reforming himself. He is too strong for your attempts. You just want him to conform to our world's customs. There is a difference." Tsukihana shook her head.
"...Even so, his path… it is not healthy for the world."
"Or maybe it is what the world needs? This… framework of 'good or evil'. It is not healthy at all. It makes people forget… what it means to be 'human'. There is no message in your actions to be better 'as a human'. The 'better' in your message is to be faster, stronger, more ostentatious, to strive for the pedestal of fame called 'Hero.'"
All Might stared back.
"...Can you help me?" All Might asked.
"...Should I help you? Should I trust a man that couldn't even save himself?" Her words continued to stab All Might's mistakes.
A brief silence stood between them as Tsukihana sighed.
"...I no longer have access to Garou's conversations with Ghin since he is now Lord of Hosu. He no longer lives here. I don't know what he is planning anymore unless I wiretap his phone. But I think his new goons would check for that first beforehand. Maybe if I wiretap Ghin's phone, but he is too cautious. And… I don't think I have the nerve to cross that line anymore."
All Might smiled at the woman for her cooperation.
"...That is enough."
"...Garou is no different from Ghin in a sense." Tsukihana continued. "So much capacity for kindness yet equal in violence. He cannot be this way without the world betraying a kind soul like him. The only difference is that he used his pain as a motive to fuel his anger and violence. Though it did leave him blind and confused... I know because he has been randomly hunting heroes left and right without clear purpose the first few months. And then your sudden defeat derailed his rhythm to the point of him self-reflecting his motivations. Now he is calming down while gathering newfound wisdom and nurturing his growth..."
All Might and Izuku listened without interrupting the lawyer. So that explained Garou's actions so far... though that did answer much about his real origins.
"Tell me something." Tsukihana turned to Izuku. "What is the boy to you? Your successor?"
All Might stared at the sharp, strong woman.
He nodded.
"...I have many questions about you. I admit that I do not know your struggles or your life… but I just can't help but criticize you after observing Garou's actions for so long. But let me get this one question out of the way… I know about the rumor of a man that can take and transplant Quirks. Since you chose a Quirkless teenager, I want to ask - what is your Quirk?"
Toshinori sighed.
"...You really are a strong woman after all." He chuckled. There was literally nothing he could do to deny her or deceive her.
"I have a few eyes and ears in the Underworld. There is only so much one can hide, after all… and since you're not exactly the infamous Quirkstealer, I have a good hunch about your Quirk. You're hiding quite a shameful secret, aren't you? Do you know how many would target your friends and family if the world knew a Quirk like that can be stolen?" She asked.
All Might looked at Izuku. The Quirk he bore carried the burdens of significant risk as well.
"...I know."
"Makes one wonder if Quirks are really the sole measurement of worth if it can be removed and transferred. I mean, look at you, Symbol of Peace. A person that looked like they barely earned an ounce of that power, and he still took the seat of number one."
"I would like to say that it is not without great cost." All Might gently reminded.
"True. But you get the point. This time, it won't be as simple. You're going against someone that your usual tricks won't work. You're going to work for that power with your blood and tears. There's no greater test than my nephew's strongest bodyguard."
All Might smiled in return.
"Hahaha… Indeed. Are we allowed to stay for the night?"
"Heh." Tsukihana wryly smirked. "It's rude to leave after staying this long. I got extra sleeping bags in the storage room. Oh, and one more thing. Make sure you refine your tongue and mien." Tsukihana turned around to her laptop. "There are times you have to go beyond even in the areas you lack. Ghin will not be deceived if he notices I've told you about him."
Toshinori and Izuku glanced at each other. They knew that the lawyer risked herself to tell them her piece.
"...We will. We promise to save them." Izuku nodded firmly.
Tsukihana stared at them.
"...I am telling this because I want to invest in you one last time." The lawyer explained. "You have a final chance to make things right. And not just as a law enforcer or disaster rescuer, but as a symbol, a man that knows how to solve problems, especially the source of the symptoms. Also, Garou is planning a message of his own, and he thinks fighting you when he achieves godhood is a good way of getting the world's attention."
Toshinori and Izuku blinked at the word.
"...What do you mean by 'godhood'?" All Might asked, starting to grow fearful for his safety.
It did not sound good, someone like Garou trying to become something like a god.
"You'll find out. I will not tell you where he is from or what he is. Consider this as a test of my own to see how you fare against the unknown." Tsukihana smirked at them before she looked back at the laptop.
"Get going. My nephew made his room on the roof. The stars are pretty this time of year."
My mind is healthy. It is not yours to eat, you pirahnas.