Chapter 78: (Not) Karma Houdini

Izuku and Nemuri were approaching the prison where Himiko Toga was held.

"I'm surprised you of all people volunteered to become the girl's guardian. She is kind of a controversy magnet."

"My first costume forced the government to apply costume regulations. I was forged by controversy, molded by it. Besides, you said she's totally obedient." The last word was emphasized.

"That wasn't the proudest use of my ability." The boy scratched the back of his head.

"It's MY ability, you cretin."

"Anyway, I'm grateful for this, Kayama-sensei. Star and Stripe told me she'll visit UA soon. Maybe her quirk can somehow help Himiko's situation."

"And if not?"

"Then I'll hope another solution comes along."

A small group was rallying outside the prison walls. They held posters with Toga's crossed face, as well as "Monster!" signs.

"That bitch killed by little brother!" A man with four arms screamed.

"My son is now bedridden because of her." A woman with a cubic head said through tears.

They noticed a boy with messy black hair trying to make them leave.

"Leave, kid. You have no idea what crap we've been through."

"I have at least some idea." The teen lifted his shirt to show them a scar. "I've been attacked by her too."

"Then why the hell are you defending her?"

"I believe she is as much of a victim as me and other people she attacked."

"What the fuck did you just say?" Quad armed man grabbed him.

"Let him go." Midoriya ordered him as they approached the group.

He grunted and followed the order. They moved away as the crowd booed them. Izuku noticed that the boy's face was very similar to his own. If not for hairstyle and freckles, one could easily mistake them for the same person.

"I believe we haven't met before. My name is Aoi Saito. You are Founder and Midnight, right?"

"Right, although you can call me Midoriya. What brings you here? Were you one of Himiko's friends?"

"Not friends. I try to be on good terms with everyone, but two of us were never that close. I was the first… person Toga attacked. She drank a lot of my blood, but my classmates quickly noticed us and scared her off. I got away with a moderate scar and tried to forget the whole ordeal. When her trial and that publication went through, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Losing your mind because of your quirk and neglectful parents must have sucked. I'm glad you were able to help her get over obsession, Midoriya." He put his hand on Izuku's shoulder and smiled.

Kayama could barely contain her giggles, while Kira and DIO made his ears ring from their laughter.

"I came here to congratulate her turning over a new leaf. Her parents and her former school friends, well, they weren't eager to see her again. I don't blame them, but I try to be more understanding."

"Forgiveness is an excellent quality, befitting a hero." Green head nodded.

"Hero? I don't think I have the drive to run into danger. I mean, I fight bullies regularly, but an actual villain with killing intent is above my pay grade. In my opinion, medicine is a much safer bet."

"Still, it takes a lot of humanity to forgive someone after they did you wrong." R Rated Hero gave thumbs up.

"Did you two come to visit her?"

"Yes?"

"I have come here to adopt her." The woman proclaimed.

"That's… uh… good. Very good. The girl certainly needs a new family who can understand her. May I go with you? The entrance guards told me Toga only accepts visits from her loved one."

Nemuri could hold her laughs no longer, and Izuku face palmed at the situation.

"Did I say something wrong?" Aoi was hopelessly confused.

Midnight went to the administration wing so that she could show HPSC's permission (thanks, Nezu) for parole and adoption. The boys meanwhile went to talk to Himiko in her cell.

"Izu-kun! You are back!" She jumped to hug him as soon the door opened.

"Let me stab you! I want to see you bleed!"

"Hi." He cheerfully replied.

"He-Hello, Toga." Aoi nervously waved his hand.

"Aoi-kun! Are you and Izu-kun family?"

"What? He is still alive?"

The two of them looked each other in the face, smiled at the notion and disproved it.

"We have come here with good news! You are moving to UA grounds on probation. Also, you have a new mother now." He showed her the picture of Midnight.

"Yay! I hope she doesn't call me a monster."

"Hi-Himiko." Saito was trying to maintain composure. "I… I wanted to say that I'm glad you are getting better. I wish circumstances in your life were different. In that case, your life and lives you ruined would not have been a train wreck."

"I want to stab both of them. Please!"

"May I have some blood from you two?" Blonde exposed her toothy grin.

"No!" Aoi stepped back. "Sorry. I… I can't help you with that." The black haired teen instinctively rubbed his old scar.

"That's okay, Aoi-kun. I still have Izu-kun." She licked her lips as her mouth got closer to Midoriya's neck.

"Not now." He gently pushed her away.

"Himiko. I'm… I'm glad that you've managed to return to normality, at least somewhat. I knew that deep down you are a good person who doesn't want to harm others." Saito approached Toga for a reluctant hug.

"WRY! Saito-kun loves the mask, not the real me!"

"For the hundredth time, I'm not a mask!"

"I hope you won't slip up again, now that you have so much support on your side."

"Don't worry. Izu-kun will make sure I'm a good girl."

"Right, of course." Izuku could hear his imaginary friends laughing again.

"I hope Izu-kun forgets about you! You are the one who caused all the mayhem!"

"No, he won't dare!"

The paperwork took a few hours to complete, and later that day Himiko Kayama moved from one secure facility to another. The protesters shouted profanities and insults, but they wouldn't dare engage with a Pro Hero and a famous hero student.

During the night, the League attacked the prison. Shigraki used decay to break through the walls, while Mr Compress got people from their cells by briefly putting them in marbles. Coupled with the face there were 3 of each, the chaos let them find Mustard relatively easily. Atsuhiro pulled gas masks from his tiny balls to let the kid unleash his quirk. The boy wanted to go and kill the inmates and guards who made fun of him, but Tomura insisted that they don't have much time until OP heroes arrive. Toga's cell was already empty, which pissed the hell out of the raid leader. In a fit of rage, he decayed a random prisoner sleeping nearby. LOV made it to the extraction point on the specified time to meet Kurogiri.

Heroes and medics arrived in time to save people from dying to the gas, but League and some other villains managed to escape during the chaos.

Author's notes:

I decided to highlight Saito's commonness by giving him on the most frequent first names in Japan. There is simply not enough information to make a creative name.

Canon Himiko is a Karma Houdini IMO. She gets no pushback from MLA members after killing one of their leaders and in final confrontation she hears nothing but praise and kindness despite being a crazy killer. Here she appears as an even bigger Houdini in-universe, but in actuality she'd rather die than live like this.

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