Here we go with the next chapter, with a change of scenery.
Disclaimer: My Hero Academia doesn't belong to me.
Chapter 12: Regroup
"Can you do it?" Tasuke sat at his desk, on a phone call.
"Execution isn't a problem, but we'll need time to set everything up if you want it all to happen simultaneously." a masked voice responded.
"You've got one week. That's how long until my quirk wears off, that's when I lose control of people completely. And with her and her friends away, all of the top five excluding Deku, it should be easier to move around with fewer top heroes in the city." he scrolled on his tablet, reading the news that Momo and her friends were currently away.
"Understood, we'll get everything ready in the meantime."
Tasuke hung up and sighed, everything was coming into play nicely. Although, realistically speaking, the plan would only be able to start on the last day his quirk was still effective.
"If Creati won't willingly cut her friends out of her life, then I'll just have to do it for her." he smiled to himself, focusing on the image of her on screen.
Momo stretched as she got out of bed and walked over to the balcony. A calm breeze swept by as she stepped out and took in a deep breath of the salty air. Getting out of the city was definitely a good idea.
Two days ago she, Shōto, Tenya and Katsuki had arrived at her family beach house. A large white and beige double story home with a beach side deck décor style and private beach, was where the group of friends were residing.
On the outside it looked like a normal friend vacation, but what it really was was a gathering to put a stop to Tasuke and his family once and for all.
It would've been too risky for Momo and Shōto to come here on their own like they'd initially planned. People already suspected them of being in some kind of relationship. That perception hadn't changed much even with all the Tasuke fanfare and her hearing. In addition to that, she needed her friends and more importantly, the top three for this task. The task of putting together a report for submission about the unlawful way the Fuji family has kept Tasuke's quirk a secret.
If they could submit all the information they had to the independent board, even if they were in Kosuke Fuji's pocket, if the request came from all three top heroes, they would have to accept it and launch a full investigation.
This operation of putting everything together could've taken place anywhere, heck, it could've even taken place at Momo's massive apartment which also had plenty of room, but she decided that a change of scenery was much needed.
The sounds of seagulls and the rhythmic crashing of the waves on the shore soothed her. When last had her mornings been this quiet?
A knock at her door interrupted her thoughts.
"Momo, we've made breakfast if you're up." Shōto called from the other side of the door.
"I'll be right down." she called back and headed inside. Grabbing her gown and putting on her white slippers, Momo made her way downstairs.
Her parents had really wanted the house to match the beach as much as possible. The walls were a similar shade of brown as the beach sand, the furniture varying shades of browns, pastels like seashell colours and white. Overall it gave a very relaxed vibe.
From the staircase the whole living room that extended to the outside entertainment area as well could be seen. The outside deck was wooden and had a small dipping pool. On the far right was the outside dining table. Separated by folding sliding doors, the inside of the house on the left side of the room was the state-of-the-art kitchen that lead into the main living room area where the couches, bookshelves, TV and fireplaces were. All the bedrooms and four bathrooms were upstairs, two bathrooms downstairs.
Tenya had just turned off the stove and plated the last of the eggs. Shōto and Katsuki were already sitting at the table when Momo arrived.
"This place is way too big for just you and your folks." Katsuki commented, reaching for a piece of toast as Momo sat down.
"Good morning to you too." Momo chuckled. He'd said the same thing yesterday morning as well. Momo knew he wasn't trying to be rude and assumed it was his way of getting used to the place. "Any word on when Izuku and Ochako will get here?"
"He said they'll be here by this evening." Shōto served himself some of the eggs Tenya had just brought to the table.
"We'll have to catch them up on everything when they get here. We've made a lot of progress and Tsukauchi is still sending me more files about Tasuke's unregistered quirk." Momo explained.
"Who's to say that they won't try to sweep this under the rug? Just because they accept our proposal doesn't mean they'll be unbiased in their investigation." Tenya made a good point.
"One thing I've come to learn about Kosuke Fuji is that even though he's the head of the Commission, he really doesn't think that highly of heroes, nor does he take them seriously. Not to say he'll completely disregard us and be reckless, but he will underestimate us." she took a sip from her tea, but had very little on her plate "He's been in charge for years with the police trying to get him out. If they couldn't do it, why would he think a bunch of young heroes could?"
"If that's the case then I can't wait for that family to fall. I'd love to see that smug punks face when shit hits the fan." Katsuki added with a mischievous smile.
After breakfast, the group resumed their activities in the living room. Going through past emails and conversations between Kosuke and the Department of Quirk Registration. Anything that could help build their report, they added in and discussed.
Around midday, the team decided to take a break.
"Finally a chance to hit the waves." Katsuki was the first to get up.
"You can surf?" Momo asked surprised.
"You can't?" he simply replied before heading upstairs to get changed.
Shōto and Tenya were already a step ahead and had changed a little earlier. As they headed out Tenya asked if Momo was going to join them, but she insisted she wanted to take care of something first before going out.
Momo walked back to her room to check her phone. Akemi had texted her back. She'd sent Momo Tasuke's number yesterday but Momo hadn't used it yet. And now that she had it, she thought better of it. Tasuke would quickly figure out where she got his number if she just randomly called him. And she didn't want to put Akemi in danger if Tasuke found out and took it out on her.
So instead of a phone call, Momo decided on the next best thing. He'd been one of her earliest followers when she'd started out. It wouldn't be difficult to find his account. And within a few tries, she found him.
He hadn't posted anything recently, last time was around when he made his video. Momo thought back to when Shōto told her and Tenya about Tasuke finding Fuyumi at the store. If he'd done that accidentally while drunk, she didn't want to imagine what he'd pull while sober.
Coming after her was one thing, but going after people around her who had nothing to do with this situation was purely unforgivable and she wanted to make sure he understood that.
"I want to put an end to this, Tasuke." she'd texted first
She'd messaged him privately, not really expecting him to respond anytime soon, but just as Momo was about put her phone down, she saw him texting back.
"You know there's only one way this'll end."
"I'm not giving you what you want but you will stop involving other people in this. They've got nothing to do with your obsession, so stay away."
Tasuke stopped typing and decided to call her. Momo picked up almost immediately.
"You really think you can make demands right now? Just because you won the hearing doesn't mean I'm going to stop."
"So you'd rather resort to acting like a criminal?" Momo paced around her room as she spoke.
"I'll do whatever it takes to have you. The sooner you get that, the easier this gets. Did that Todoroki bastard put you up to this?" the sound of him slamming his hands on the table as heard.
"Shōto's got nothing to do with this." she wondered why he'd even bring him up.
"I guess that means he hasn't told you anything." he let out a smug laugh.
"What does that mean?"
"He came to see me a few days ago."
"He what?" Momo paused and looked in the direction of the beach where her friends were.
"After he found out that I unintentionally bumped into his family that day, he personally came to tell me to back off… amongst other things. Don't you want to know what else we spoke about?" he teased in an annoying sickly sweet-voice. It made Momo's skin crawl.
"No, I don't. And I'm saying this for the last time Tasuke, leave everyone alone." her tone was serious.
"I really hope you're having a great time with your friends, Creati, because the second you come back, you're gonna wish you'd never rejected me. And, as for dear Shōto… you know what, no, you'll see for yourself. And I can't wait until you do." he quickly hung up leaving Momo stunned. For all his threats and yelling, she's never heard him sound so intense before.
That meant, he was already planning and it involved her friends. But which friends? Just the ones here with her, or all of them? Momo walked out on to the balcony to see her friends enjoying themselves. Just what kind of hell were they in for because of Tasuke?
It was a fine day out, the winds just right and the sun not too hot. While Katsuki impressively navigated the waves, Shōto and Tenya sat lounged on beach chairs under umbrellas.
"Any particular reason you've been so quiet since this morning?" Tenya started.
"Just trying to find the right words to explain what I'm about to say." Shōto sat up and turned to face his long time friend, "I went to see Tasuke recently..."
Tenya's eyes widened in surprise, "Are you serious? How recently?"
"The day after his encounter with Harumi."
"And?" Tenya hunched forward, ready to lsiten.
"He confirmed himself that he wasn't after them at all, it really was just a coincidence, but he enjoyed it regardless because of how upset I was." he was irritated just remembering how proud of himself Tasuke looked that night.
"You shouldn't have gone to him in the first place. He could use that against you."
"I warned him to stay away from my family and to end this crap with Momo, but he seemed to double down on it. This definitely isn't the last we've seen of him." he brushed a hand through his hair and looked away.
"Is there something else that happened?" Tenya could tell that Shōto was still hung up on something.
"He also…" Shōto sighed, "He also knows how I feel about Momo."
"Oh…" Tenya was not expecting to hear that.
"I don't know how that bastard could've found out." he clenched his fists.
"Shōto, for some unfathomable reason, Momo herself is the only one who doesn't know that you're in love with her. It actually ironic." he couldn't help but smile at this situation.
"Tenya, there's a massive difference between all of my friends knowing and someone like him knowing." he gave Tenya an unimpressed look for teasing him.
"Fair enough." he agreed and chuckled, "So he knows. There's nothing we can do about it, but maybe its time you finally consider telling her."
"I want to, believe me but I can't do that now. Not with all this chaos going on. The last thing she needs right now is a distraction." he pensively looked out to the ocean.
Tenya thought over his words, "You could see it that way, or maybe finding out exactly who she's got on her side could give her the strength to push through." Tenya stood and patted him on the shoulder before heading towards the water.
Shōto remained in his seat contemplating everything. The sound of glasses being placed on the small side table next to him brought him out of his head.
"Aren't you going in the water as well?" Momo placed the tray of drinks down and scooted next to Shōto on his seat. She wore the same black one piece swimsuit she did that night at her pool. And, of course, Shōto thought back to their moment in her pool briefly when they were so close before swiftly thinking of something else.
Not now Todoroki Shōto. He mentally scolded himself.
"I will, I'm just thinking." he quickly answered.
"Shōto, you think all the time." she nudged him with her shoulder, "It's a great day to be at the beach so get out of your head." she chuckled.
"I will when you do." he leaned back in his chair with a smile. "You look like you've had something on your mind all day."
Momo was silent for a few seconds, a distant look in her eyes. There definitely was a lot on her mind, but she didn't want to bring up Tasuke or any of that stuff. She sighed and looked back at him, resting with his eyes closed, hands behind his head.
There was a certain scar on his body that always caught her attention whenever his torso was exposed. One reason for that is because she had a matching scar.
"Hey..." Momo started,
Shōto opened his eyes when he felt her hand on his right side below his rib cage, right over the almost palm sized scar he had. It's not like it was the only one he had, he'd been in plenty of dangerous situations and dealt with dangerous people that left their marks on his body. But he knew why this one in particular had her attention.
"Do you ever still think about that mission?" her fingers slowly traced over his scar.
"Momo, don't… you can't blame yourself for this forever." he slowly sat up, the muscles tightening and slightly pulling at the skin.
"It just came back into my head recently. Like every time something really bad happens that's my fault, that mission always comes up in my head." her hand rested over his scar, he placed his hand over hers.
"You're not the reason I got this scar, for either of our scars."
"I know, I know, but if I'd figured things out sooner then…" Momo looked down, breaking eye contact first.
"Momo, listen to me." he cupped her face between his hands, "No mission ever goes perfectly, especially not one as difficult and gruesome as that one. We were bested and we got hurt in the process, but we still got him in the end." he pulled her into a hug. Five years ago and she was still carrying that burden with her.
It had been such a gruelling mission neither of them would ever forget. Six murders and two robberies in two weeks. The police had been having a difficult time trying to apprehend the villain who had a flesh-eating quirk, so they'd asked for assistance from Creati and Shōto as the villain mostly operated within the areas they'd been responsible for.
Cannibal, he'd called himself, knew how to hide from anyone looking for him but when Creati had joined the mission, they'd found him twice and managed to save three would-be victims. The final time, he'd learned his lesson and set a trap for the heroes.
When Shōto and Creati arrived on his determined next location, on a rainy night, the person they were trying to save was already dead. The tracker meant to be on Cannibal had been placed on his victim, setting them up to be attacked. Cannibal managed to take a chunk from them both during the fight resulting in their scars. Shōto had dealt the final blow using his ice and apprehended him.
Cannibal has been in Tartarus ever since. The mission had happened back when they were twenty-one. Momo had been in command on that mission and she felt the most guilt about it when it was over.
"You think they'll finally go for it this time?" Tenya asked as Katsuki floated next to him close enough to shore.
"Fuck, I hope so. I'm so over this tension between them." he crossed his arms, "If not today then soon."
Not long after they'd finished speaking Momo and Shōto finally decided to get in the water and enjoy themselves with their friends. They came here to work and put a stop to Tasuke, yes, but getting some much needed down time together was also part of the reason Momo suggested coming here in the first place.
It was around sunset when Izuku and Ochako arrived. Momo and the others were already back inside and changed into their casual clothes again.
Momo was the first to get up and greet them, the remaining guys followed shortly after. Greetings and excited laughter filled the room, and Momo was especially happy that Ochako could make it so she wasn't the only woman in the house anymore.
As no one felt like cooking, they decided to order in and sat around the outside eating table, enjoying a simple pizza dinner. They talked as they ate, the last arrivals talking about their drive down to the coast from the city, then finally Momo filled in the hero couple about what they'd gathered so far.
"I see, so you're basically almost done." Izuku scrolled through the document on Momo's laptop. "For this to go through, we need to be absolutely sure we've given as much evidence as possible."
"Everything Tsukauchi had as well as the chief of police, all of it is in the report. When we're back in the city a few days from now, when the three of you are ready," Momo looked at the top three pros seated at the table, "You submit this and hopefully this will be the beginning of the of the end of the Fuji family."