After that phone call, Shuzenji Chiyo, A.K.A. Recovery-Girl, didn't bother with her Hero costume. "I should've known better…" she cursed after she pulled a thick cardigan over her simple, comfy dress. "But… that revival… The conditions were just right… I had to try… to see…" She sped down the road, crossing Musutafu for Toriyama Memorial. "The sole cause of unconsciousness or death was blood loss… None of his organs degraded yet…"

"Dr. Yaritezawa's reports never indicated that he had developed a secondary healing effect," she muttered as she pulled into the hospital's parking lot. "But they wouldn't… They were noninvasive tests!" Then, after struggling to pull her cane from her passenger seat, she exited her car. "More focused on ensuring that he wasn't overreacting to allergens or bacteria. That his body hadn't developed hyperthyroidism." As she made her way to the receptionist's desk, she shook her head. "I never thought…"

The receptionist rose from her seat as Chiyo stood below the table's height. "Hello!" Her name tag deemed her as 'Asada'. "How may I help you?"

"I'm Dr. Shuzenji; my Hero name is Recovery-Girl." She pulled a badge from her pocket, lifting it up to the woman. "By Article 3, Subsection 9-C of the Nyborg Accords, I hereby am taking over one of your patients and occupying this hospital to continue his care."

Asada's eyes widened, "O-Oh, w-wow! Uh…" She sat back down, sifting through her computer. "I-I'm that's never actually been invoked before, um… let me…" She tapped away on her keyboard. "H-Here… we… go…" She rose back up. "Um…" She then leaned forward, whispering, "Patient name?"

"Midoriya Izuku," answered Chiyo.

Asada sat back down. "Midoriya…" She nodded, "Ok! Uh…" She asked, "Your badge and ID, please?" Chiyo handed over both. "Thank you." After a swipe and a beep of a scanner, Asada asked, "Who will be the sponsor of this visit?"

"The S.I.D. is: N3-54F-31Y."

"Alright." She nodded, "We do have to wait for approval from-" She blinked, "Oh! Someone from the board already… cleared it?" She shrugged, "Ok, uh… You must have his parents and/or employer sign off on this transfer. A copy of the permission slip will be printed at the Nurses' Station near his room." She lifted her hand and waved a man in scrubs over. "Nurse Hayashi, will lead you there."

Chiyo nodded, "Thank you."

She followed Nurse Hayashi through the halls, down a level, and eventually into the Quarantine Ward. A nurse at the station stepped over, placing a piece of paper on a clipboard and offering it. "Dr. Shuzenji?"

"Yes," said Chiyo.

"Here is your paperwork."

"Thank you."

Hayashi turned and stepped back. "Dr. Toga."

The man smiled, patting the nurse's shoulder. "I'll take it from here…" His gaze fell to the name tag. "Hayashi." Another pat sent the guiding nurse away as Dr. Toga approached Chiyo, offering his hand. "Dr. Shuzenji, I heard you were taking over my patient."

After tucking the clipboard under her cane arm, she used her free hand to shake it. "I am."

"It usually takes at least a day for an Article proclamation to get approved," he chuckled. "But, I suppose a Hero's name goes a long way…"

Chiyo gave him a flat look. "Where's the patient?"

"Over here." He led a bit further down the hall. "We still have him and, after she slipped in, his mother quarantined." He explained, "We're still waiting on a specialist to ensure—"

"That won't be necessary," she said.

His smile faltered for a moment. "O-Oh?"

"I'm already aware of what's occurring."

"Oh, well, of course." He offered, "Do tell."

She shifted the pages on the clipboard with her thumb. "I can't." She turned her head. "As you're no longer on this case, I can't share the patient's private information with you."

She practically heard his teeth ground together. "Just like that?"

Chiyo stepped towards the sealed door. "You know where to file a complaint." She lifted her cane, using the tip of its handle to hit a button.

"Dr. Shuzenji!" exclaimed Midoriya Inko.

"Recovery-Girl," murmured Midoriya Izuku.

"Mr. and Ms. Midoriya, I wish we were seeing each other under different circumstances." Chiyo offered her clipboard and a pen. "Ms. Midoriya, please sign this. It'll place Mr. Midoriya under my care."

Inko took both. "O-Okay…"

"Mr. Midoriya." Chiyo began to examine the boy. "You're pale… Cheeks are gaunt… Eyes sunken…" She asked, "Does anything hurt?"

"E-Everything does…" he wheezed.

"Describe it for me please."

Midoriya's head teetered, "It's like a… stingy ache… It got worse when I fell on the ground earlier like a… like my entire body got… slapped." He was breathing through his teeth. "It's… It was really intense, though… I…" He struggled to find the right words, giving up with a frustrated sigh.

She almost wanted to reassure with a touch on his shoulder, but refrained. "It's okay. I understand well enough now." She smiled, "That was a very useful explanation. Thank you."

She then asked, "Hungry?"

He took a deep breath. "Very."

"Dr. Shuzenji?" Inko approached. "Here."

"Thank you." Chiyo took the clipboard back. "I'll get the paperwork sorted and get you both moved to a normal room. Then get him something to eat – we'll start with a soup, just in case." She turned to Midoriya. "Do you think you can get back into bed?"

Inko stepped forward. "I'll help." She turned to Chiyo. "Please, go ahead. I'd like for both of us to be out of this room sooner than later."

"Of course," she said as she left the room.

-XXX-

"I can't just go wandering around, kiddo," said Katashi as he paced beside his son's hospital bed. "I know you're worried, but we just… have to trust the hospital." And Hitoshi couldn't really argue with him. Not just because of the rationality of it, but also due to the raging migraine that thwacked around the inside of his skull. "Hitoshi? Did those meds not kick in yet?"

"No…" he muttered as he shifted on his pillow and under his blanket.

Katashi clicked his tongue. "Agh, damn." He stepped closer, gently placing his hand on his son's head. "Alright, just keep your eyes shut. The light ain't gonna help right now." Hitoshi's vision was consumed by darkness. "When the medicine kicks in, sleep will probably try to take you. Let it, alright?"

"But…"

"Your friends are probably gonna be just fine," reassured Katashi. "If anything, you'll probably be right enough in the morning for a phone call or two. You'll reach out to your friends and your mother."

Hitoshi's brow furrowed, "I should've been there for them, Dad…"

"No," said Katashi firmly, crouching down to his level. "Do not do that to yourself, kid." He reasoned, "You couldn't have known that Villain was going to attack that Hero you were working for. And you couldn't have expected those office workers to go crazy like that."

"I should've known better…" Hitoshi's eyes screwed shut as he felt heat on his face and moisture in the corners of his eyes. "I just… trusted my Quirk… I thought it was enough…"

"It usually would be."

"But it wasn't…" growled Hitoshi. "And maybe I couldn't help Woods, but I could've saved my friends…"

Katashi's hand softly raked through his son's hair. "Hitoshi…" He sighed, "They're going to be alright." He took a breath. "Just focus on getting better yourself, okay?"

Hitoshi sniffled, "I'll make it up to her. To him…" His voice quivered, "He's… He's alive… Right, Dad?"

"I'm sure he is," he said. "Kid's tougher than he looks." He added, "Just like you."

Then, it struck him that the overwhelming pain in his skull had subsided and that his exhaustion had finally overridden his adrenaline. "No… Dad…" His mind slowly drifted, growing quieter and quieter. "He's nothing like me… Nothing like me at all…"

-XXX-

Mina's eyelids fluttered as she wobbly raised her head. "Good, you're awake." She slowly realized that she was in a hospital room and the person speaking was a doctor with diamond-like skin. "Hello, I'm Dr. Yato." The man asked, "How're you feeling? Do you understand where you are?"

She was in a hospital gown and she could feel the tightness of bandages wrapped around her torso. "I'm kinda… I'm… fuzzy…" Though, everything else was hazy – like she was wading through water.

"That would be the pain medication, yes." He explained, "You're in a hospital being treated for some very serious burns. Do you remember?"

Mina felt her eyes focus on the doctor. "M-My friends… Woods…"

"They're okay. I can't divulge too much information, but I heard that Hero will be just fine too. He made it to the other hospital without any complications."

"Okay…" She started to relax. "One of my friends, she was with me?"

"Probably in the waiting room," he reasoned. "Your parents were also contacted by your employer, and I believe your father is on his way."

"Dad…?" She shook her head, trying to sit up. "N-No… He has to work at night… Who's taking care of—"

Dr. Yato put a hand on her shoulder. "Ashido?" He smiled, "Ashido, take a deep breath. I'm sure your parents know what they're doing."

"Can…" Mina asked, "Can my friend be here?"

A look crossed the doctor's face. "Uh… Visiting hours are over… We only allow family at this time of ni—"

"Please."

Dr. Yato took a breath before nodding, "I'll see what I can do."

She smiled, "Thank you." Before he left, he told her how to call for a nurse and what button to press when her pain returned. Once the door to her room clicked shut behind him, she almost melted in her bed. Not literally, though. She did double check her blankets and sheets just in case. "No acid burns… That's good… Can't get… that relaxed…"

She could feel her eyelids get heavier and heavier. "No… Not again…" As she forced them open, she took the nail of her thumb and pressed it harshly against the side of her finger. When she couldn't stop one eyelid from closing, she widened the other as far as she could – almost craning her neck to do so.

Mina wasn't sure for how long she was doing it – switching from one eye to another. She eventually saw a familiar face push open the door.

"In you go," said Dr. Yato as she let Jirou slip in with, presumably, her Mom following in after her.

She blinked, "Whoa… her Mom just looks like an older version of her…"

Jirou rushed to her bedside. "Ashido!" She beamed, "You're awake!" She shook her head. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay," answered Mina. "Really okay…" She lifted her hand, gesturing to the stranger. "Is that your Mom?"

Jirou nodded, stepping back from the bed. "Yeah, right, you two haven't met." She looked between them, almost joking, "Strange way to meet, huh?"

After a brief, awkward introduction, Jirou Mika stepped forward to shake her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you." She tilted her head. "I wish it were… under different circumstances. You can call me 'Mika'." She added, "I've heard great things."

"That's good!" Mina tried to change the feeling of the room with a teasing tone. However, she was too tired to really manage it and so she conceded, asking Jirou. "Anything about Midoriya or Shinso? The doctor said they were fine, but…"

Jirou's jaw shifted, "I don't know that much." She shook her head. "I saw Shinso get wheeled in, but he was… woozy." She crossed her arms. "I haven't seen Midoriya at all."

"Really?" murmured Mina, cursing under her breath.

"Yeah…" Jirou shook her head as her fingers dug into her biceps. "I should've ridden in with him."

"Kyoka," said Mika.

Jirou shook her head. "I should've." She murmured to herself. "It's not like there's anything I can do about it now…"

"MINA!" A man rushed into the room – almost seemed like the door would fly off its hinges in response. His skin was a cloudy blue-gray while the whites of his eyes were pitch black, framing his yellow irises. He didn't have much in terms of hair, black stubble atop his head and along his jaw. He wore a yellow t-shirt under denim overalls and his thick work boots thumped against the tiled floor.

Mina almost sat up – if not for her hand slipping on the sheet below her. "D-Dad!?"

"MINA!" Mika pulled her daughter out of the way as the man went to Mina's bedside. "Honey, are you okay?!"

His hand softly touched the side of her bewildered face before her hand landed atop of it. "Wha—What about your job!? Y-You have the overnight shift! You shouldn't be—"

He vehemently shook his head. "Who gives a damn about that!" He took a breath before softly asking, "Are you okay?"

Mina's breath hitched before she slowly nodded, "I'm… I'm okay."

"Good." The man's body seemed to finally relax as he embraced her in a tight hug. "Good…"

"I… I'm sorry," she cried into his shoulder. "I'm sorry for worrying you and—and Mom…"

They rocked back and forth – awkwardly, due to her bedridden stance. "Oh, the fact that you're okay makes it all alright, honey…"

"I believe we should leave," whispered Mika, a little too loudly.

The man turned, "N-No, uh…" He cleared his throat after wiping some tears from his eyes. "Sorry." He offered his hand. "I'm Ashido Naoki. Just Naoki or Mr. Ashido will do." After a set of brief introductions, Naoki complimented Jirou. "You're a very good friend."

She coughed, "R-Right, yeah, well… I guess."

"Should we…?" offered Mika, pointing towards the door.

Naoki shook his head. "No, please." He fished through one of his pockets. "If you wouldn't mind keeping her company," he turned to his daughter, pulling out his phone. "I should call your mother."

"We can…" Jirou turned to her Mom, and after receiving a nod of approval. "We can do that."

"Thank you," said Mina to Jirou. Then, as her Dad started to walk towards the door, she called out. "Tell her—"

"I know." Naoki smiled warmly, nodding, "I will."

"Your father seems very nice," said Mika.

Mina beamed, "Thanks…"

-XXX-

Denki fought the budding scream from his lungs. Instead of waiting for a taxi or getting some other ride to the hospital, Ingenium took the liberty to toss his intern over his shoulder and run there. Eventually, in the dead of night, the Hero skidded to a stop in the Toriyama Memorial's parking lot.

Once Iida set a wobbly Denki on his own two feet, he asked, "Are you sure you don't want to call your parents?"

Denki waved the question off. "I'm not really worried about it. They expect me to be on campus anyway – not home."

"Kaminari!" The teen wobbled, nearly tripping on the curb and falling – if not for the Hero, caught by his biceps. "Be careful! Take a second."

Denki pulled himself free, stepping onto concrete. "How can I take a second!?" He shook his head. "My friend is… is… DOA! Dead on Arrival! How could I—"

A man in a suit and a visor stood up from the curb. "W-Wait, did you say Kaminari?"

Denki looked the man up and down. "Have you been sitting there this whole time?"

"Well, I didn't exactly come in a car, and I can't expect anyone to—" He shook his head. "Whatever, you're Kaminari?"

"Y-Yeah?"

"Friend of Midoriya?"

Iida stepped forward. "Wait, Midoriya Izuku?"

"Yes," he replied. "There was a villain attack, and..." He took a breath. "You can guess how it went."

"Was he the one that was DOA?" asked Denki.

"Yeah... but... it didn't stick," smiled the man.

"Didn't stick?" echoed Iida.

A chuckle followed, "I don't even get it myself!" He shook his head. "I just know the kid is lucky as hell."

Denki sighed, "Holy hell… I thought… phew…"

"What happened?" asked Iida.

"It's a long story," he answered.

Iida requested, "Please, tell it."

After some introductions and a brief breakdown of everything that happened that night, Ichimoku finished with, "I'm still waiting here for Mount-Lady to show. Apparently the bastard pyromaniac behind all of this was left for them all wrapped up like a present."

"From who?" questioned Iida.

Ichimoku shrugged, "Who knows?"

Iida rubbed his chin. "Hm…"

"You don't think," muttered Denki.

Iida shook his head. "I don't have any cause – not really."

"What? What're you two talking about?" asked Ichimoku.

"A villain was specifically targeting me in an attempted bombing in Hosu City, earlier today—err, yesterday, I suppose."

Ichimoku blinked, "And then, in the night, someone goes after Woods. Why?"

"We'd need to know more," said Iida. "Wait until the police gather statements from everybody."

"Speaking of everybody…" murmured Denki.

Ichimoku nodded, "You guys head on in. I got kicked out and I'm waiting for Mount-Lady anyway."

"Nice meeting you! See you later!" exclaimed Denki as he was about to rush into the hospital.

Ichimoku reached out. "Wait! Kaminari!" Denki skidded to a stop. "When… Midoriya was… going, he… he wanted me to tell you something." He scratched the back of his head. "And… you know, he might not have it in him to say it now and I promised, so…" His head teetered, "He said he was sorry."

Denki blinked, "He did…?" His head lowered for a moment before nodding and smiling. "Thanks."

Ichimoku shrugged, grinning, "I'm nothing if not a man of my word."

Iida quickly caught up with his intern. "Let me take the lead here." He quickly introduced himself to the nurse at the desk before using the Hero-card to find out where Midoriya was. "Now, I understand visiting hours are over, but could you just call his room and see if he's willing to see Mr. Kaminari Denki here."

"What about you?" whispered Denki.

He replied, "I want to talk to Mount-Lady as soon as she gets here."

"Ah, well…" The nurse shook his head, lowering his voice. "Luckily for you, we've been making a lot of exceptions tonight."

"Thank you."

Denki grinned, "Thanks, man!"

The nurse chuckled, "Just keep it down."

-XXX-

"So, he doesn't have a Quirk?" asked Inko as she stood beside her son's bedside.

Izuku was doing his best to listen and engage with the conversation, but his mind was hazy from the pain medication. Per the doctor, he traded in his costume for a normal hospital gown and a great deal of very soothing gel and bandages. He was able to take off most of the costume, but some of it had to be cut free and some of him had to be cut to free the melted elastic. "That was disturbing…"

"No, what Midoriya has would be better described as a Factor," answered Dr. Shuzenji.

"A Factor?" echoed Inko.

"A Factor is a physical and/or genetic trait that composes a Quirk," the doctor explained. "The best example I have is: there is a boy who can turn people into zombie-like creatures via an excreted gas. They get pale, shamble around, and groan senselessly. That's his Quirk. That ability to turn others into zombies is an individual Factor of his Quirk and is completely separate from his Mutant Factor of excreting gas."

"So, I have your Healing Factor; not a Quirk," murmured Izuku.

"Yes."

Inko shook her head. "I still don't understand…"

"Uh… Okay, think of it like an equation," said Izuku. "To get a Quirk, you add A and B to get C. C being the Quirk. A and B in this are the 'Factors'. I just have… 'B'."

"Okay…" She slowly nodded. "How does that work?"

"My understanding is limited. I'd need far more testing to truly know." Dr. Shuzenji paced before them. "On the surface, as of this moment, it appears to be, somehow, an enhanced version of the Healing Factor of my Quirk." She elaborated, "My Quirk: Recovery enhances the body's natural healing process; speeds it up exponentially via a kiss. In turn, the body consumes a great deal of its hydration and calories. Almost akin to exercise in that regard."

"It can put bones back into place?" asked Izuku.

"That would depend on the break. I may have to perform surgery to set them before using my Quirk."

He slowly nodded, "Oh… cool…"

Inko put a hand on her son's shoulder. "The cost… Is that why he was so pale before?"

"He was basically starving," concurred Dr. Shuzenji. "His body consumed everything it could to revive him." She added, "That's what the 'steam' was. His cells were burning themselves up, consuming whatever they could in order to produce new, undamaged cells or, rather, as undamaged as they could manage."

"Have you seen this before?"

The doctor was quiet for a moment before answering, "Not as a whole… Individually, there are symptoms here and there that I've seen before. But certainly not at this level."

"Dr. Shuzenji Chiyo… Chiyo…" The name echoed in his mind. "That wasn't my voice in that… 'dream'… was it…?" His head turned on his pillow. "But… what am I supposed to say to her… Should I even say anything…?"

"Some have developed a high metabolism or a hyper immune system." She shook her head. "But… healing on their own…" She took in a breath before sighing, "All I can say is that, I'm certain it isn't some latent Quirk on Mr. Midoriya's part. It doesn't have any of the signifiers of an awakened Quirk."

Inko questioned, "Could it be because he's Quirkless then?"

Dr. Shuzenji shook her head. "Beyond the obvious, there isn't much of a difference between the person with a Quirk and a Quirkless person health-wise." She shrugged, "But… I suppose I can't disregard that avenue… There's nothing arguing for or against it…"

"Surely, this has happened before," said Inko. "Someone has to have seen this."

"New studies into Quirkless people are rare. They're just not that important." Inko's face turned – a glare just barely forming before the doctor corrected herself. "Not that Mr. Midoriya isn't important or that any Quirkless person isn't. I mean solely within the field of discovery. Most would assume that data before Quirks ever developed suffice with only minor amendments."

Izuku cut through what remained in the air with a question. "Is it gone?"

"I don't know. This could be the last time your body does this or simply the first." She leaned on her cane. "In order to know, we'll have to continuously monitor your condition. Especially if you get injured – whether something like this or a mere papercut."

Inko's hand on his shoulder tightened, "Unfortunately for your tests, something like this will never be happening again."

Izuku nodded, "Yes, ma'am."

"Pardon me." Dr. Shuzenji clarified, "Of course not."

"How is he doing? Beyond all of this?" asked Inko.

"Well, his burns have certainly left rather prominent scarring, but in terms of his symptoms, they seem more akin to a first-degree burn rather than a third." After stepping forward to pick up a clipboard at the end of his bed, Dr. Shuzenji looked over Izuku's papers. "In terms of his physical fitness, his mass has decreased – like I've said, he's basically been starved.

So, we'll work his way back to solid foods. Start with liquids and a lot of water. Nothing too spicy or salty for now," she explained.

"What kind of soup isn't spicy or salty?" questioned Izuku in almost complete despair.

Inko almost chuckled at that but instead, she asked, "How long will we be here?"

"It depends on how quickly he recovers, but hopefully, no more than a week." Dr. Shuzenji started towards the door. "I'll get some soup sent up here, and get some bedding set up for you, Ms. Inko."

"Thank you," she said.

"Of course." Dr. Shuzenji paused before turning back to the room. "Apologies, one last thing."

"Hm?"

"It is vital that you do not tell anyone of this Healing Factor," she emphasized.

"Why?" asked Inko.

"From the earliest days of Quirks to, still in the modern day, things like Healing Quirks or Factors have been taken advantage of," she explained. "Some people, some companies will want to know the extent of his healing. They'll want to know if it's transferable. If something like what happened tonight can be repeated." She sighed, "They'll offer you the world, and when you say no anyway, they'll just take yours."

Inko looked at Izuku. He was disturbed, and she was fearful. "W-What should we do?"

"In terms of who you may speak to, that would either be me or Dr. Yaritezawa. We're both already involved with the case and Hero Academies. We both want and are obligated to keep this secret." Dr. Shunzenji then added, "You may tell Mr. Midoriya's employer, Mount-Lady and her office manager, but, after they sign some confidentiality papers, I'll get them ready.

Oh, additionally, the sponsor of this visit – the one handling the bills of his care, will also be aware of the… situation, but allow me to assure he will be bound by the same professional and legal obligation I am."

"I see. Thank you," said Inko. "For everything."

Dr. Shuzenji smiled softly, "It's my pleasure to serve," before turning to exit the room.

When the door swung shut, Inko turned to her son. "Izuku…" Her hand caressed the side of his face. "You're going to have to be more careful. You can't tell anyone."

His hand landed on her as he nodded, "I won't, Mom."

"Are you feeling better?" she asked.

Izuku looked at his bandaged arm, recalling the skin underneath it. "I'm…" Those… 'features' decorated almost his entire body. "I'm fine…" He flexed his hand, almost feeling his skin stretch in response to his movement. "It's just a lot to take in." The bandages felt tight against his body and around his neck, noticing their tug with every movement. "I'm kinda desperate for that soup, right now…" he joked.

She tried to smile. "Right… of course…" She let out a breath, looking towards the door. "Hopefully, someone will be back soon with that." Then, the phone next to his bed rang before she picked it up. "Hello?" She blinked, "Oh… Kaminari Denki?" She looked at her son. "Um…"

Izuku looked at himself for a moment. His jaw shifted before his shoulders tensed and fell. "Well, uh…" He let out a short breath. "I'm okay with it… If you are."

"Okay," she said before lifting the phone up. "Sure, we can."

-\ XXX /-

AN: Get it? It's a Healing Factor? (•‿•) - ( •‿•)⌐■-■ - (⌐■‿■)

Anyway, we journey forward, take in the consequences of previous events, and are left with a few burning questions.

With that said, thank you for reading, and please criticize away!

Update Window: February 23rd - March 1st

Intended Due Date: February 25th