[EDIT: 7/6/2022] Okay, so, I made some things clear with what Joker had in mind for the formula, and put in some new minor dialogue in the Joker and Shie Hassaikai scene. X)
Somewhere in a Residential Area...Hidden in Plain Sight
In a room, there were three oddly dressed men. One, a short-looking pod of a person draped in a black cloak, with a plague doctor mask sewn. His stubby arms, hands, and legs protruded awkwardly from his bulbous body. The second was of a more normal height, wearing a white cloak and black boots. His face was also covered by a beaked-like mask. The last person was wearing a different sort of mask, which only covered the lower half of his face. White surgical gloves covered his hands. His hair was a dark shade of red. He sat on the couch while the other two were on each side of him, the small one sitting on top of the couch to the man's right, while the white-cloaked member was standing to the man's left. They were watching a news report regarding the incident at the Yaoyorozu residence.
"Damn, man," said the tiny round man gruffly. "The Yaoyorozu Estate got ransacked big time. Not only that, but the robbers killed most of the mansion's staff! That's brutal."
"Even took the Yaoyorozu heir and her friends hostage," added the white-cloaked man in a low, calm voice. "Pretty bold of these individuals to just up and attack one of the wealthiest families in Japan."
"Hm…" The man on the couch narrowed his eyes at the screen. "And the survivors are mostly UA students…"
"Yeah, even All Might's there! Must've been pretty personal for the Number One Hero," the small black-cloaked man commented.
"Well, of course, Irinaka," said the white-cloaked man. "He's a teacher there. Those kids are probably his students."
"Just sayin', Kurono. Looks like All Might was moved to tears by whatever that plain kid is saying," the now-named Irinaka said.
"Either way," the man sitting on the couch said, his gloved fingers interlacing as he stared at the screen thoughtfully. "Like Kurono said, these robbers were bold enough to attack the Yaoyorozu Estate in broad daylight, and take off with their cash… Makes me wonder what we're doing wrong."
"Hey, yeah!" Irinaka cried, sounding slightly peeved as he shook a tiny fist in the air. "Tch! Those damn bastards! They're making us Yakuza look bad! That money should be ours! We need all that dough to fund our whole operation!"
"What would they need that much money for, anyway?" Kurono asked nobody in particular.
"Hmph… This Joker, as well as his crew, seem to be a very competent bunch of criminals," the leader of the group murmured. "If we could find their leader, we could somehow try to persuade them to join us. Maybe even plan out a few high-profile heists with their expertise."
"Wait- we're gonna try and recruit them?" Irinaka asked, surprised. "I mean, yeah, Boss, we need the money, but… How are we gonna get this Joker guy and his team to join the Yakuza?"
"Simple; we find out what the leader's goal is. The methods they used, the Quirks these guys had, maybe surveillance footage and the witness reports from those UA brats- all of it should help us piece things together," the boss explained. "It'd be best if our ambitions were to align, but worst-case scenario, we twist our words a bit, make them think we're on the same page."
"Hmm… These robbers could also be the ones responsible for the bank heist this afternoon," Kurono mused, remembering an earlier news report.
"You mean the one where all the robbers ended up dead?" Irinaka asked. "If that's true, then they must've really planned all this beforehand. I mean, jumping from a bank robbery to a home invasion in the same day? That's some pretty good time management," Irinaka complimented. The little body crossed it's arm indignantly, however. "They didn't have to dress up in flashy clothes like the Yakuza, though! Although we don't use that code no more, it's still insulting that these robbers were trying to represent us! Those bastards..."
"Didn't this Joker person kill them all in a particular way?" Kurono asked his boss.
"Hmm..." The boss got his phone out and looked up any news videos of the bank robbery that happened today. One clip announced that six of the criminals were killed by one of their conspirators. Something stuck out to him, though.
"...No one knows what this Joker's Quirk is," the Boss muttered.
"Huh? You mean he hasn't shown it yet?" Irinaka asked his superior.
"Either that, or he really wants to do things the hard way... He's earned my respect for not relying on his Quirk to get the job done," the Boss said.
"From this newscast, it seems this Joker commanded his crew even without showing his Quirk as well..." Kurono narrowed his eyes in thought. "That seems a little odd."
"This Joker guy is really trying not to use his Quirk, huh?" asked a confused Irinaka. "What, is it super-destructive or something?"
The Boss was silent for a moment, simply thinking, turning the available information over in his head.
"Or maybe… The media is lying," he whispered.
Irinaka and Kurono turned their attention to the Boss.
Their leader didn't elaborate, tapping away at his phone as he searched for any more information about this Joker fellow.
"...Hm… What if he doesn't have a Quirk?" the Yakuza head theorized.
Kuronon blinked, while Irinaka stiffened in shock.
"No- no Quirk!? That's impossible! He has to have some sort of ability, right?" the tiny man asked incredulously.
"Well, I'd like to think being albino is a Quirk. Just, a different kind." A new voice chimed in.
The boss and his two subordinates whipped around to look at the intruder.
There, in the doorframe, stood a man in a dark purple suit. A clown mask was wrapped around his face.
Both Kurono and Irinaka pulled out their guns - which looked rather comical coming from the tiny man, considering he was holding it with an unproportionally muscular arm coming out of him. The boss merely just sat there, seemingly unperturbed, but his eyes held a spark of interest. How had this masked man found their headquarters? More importantly, how had he gotten in?
Meanwhile, the masked man just stood there, looking remarkably nonchalant despite the weapons aimed at him. He stood with his arms behind his back, like he wasn't in any danger at all.
"...Would it be funny if I said I expected a warmer welcome?" the man known as the Joker asked drolly.
"How did you get here?" Kurono asked in a cold, deadly tone.
"Yeah! This was supposed to be our secret hideout!" Irinaka barked. "Emphasis on secret!"
"To be perfectly honest, I had my assumptions as to where the Yakuza were hiding out. It could've been a deli meat locker, could've been a warehouse, some shady ramen spot around the corner- I mean, hell, even a maid cafe! But then I decided, the whole false business front shtick was just too obvious- so I had to think outside of the box! Well, that, and I have a guy whose Quirk turns him into an android. A bit of Robot Boy's computer magic, and… Yeah, I think you get where I'm going with this." He waved his hand dismissively.
The boss stared at the Joker flatly. "You have competent underlings."
"Yeah, my henchmen have some pretty nifty tricks," the clown agreed with a casual nod. "But most importantly? They're loyal- kinda like your guys, probably. Well, I say loyal, but I just happen to know what makes them tick. Makes it pretty easy to bribe 'em- ha! Speaking of henchmen, mine are gonna crash at your place for a bit while we lay low. Is that cool?" he asked, though it didn't sound like they had a choice.
"Mr. J!" The voice of Hare cried out as she sauntered up to the Joker's side, her mask off and her pretty face exposed. She smiled sweetly. "The boys are acting all numbskull-ish again! Can I wack one on the head so they'll pipe down?"
"Oh, sure, Hare. Knock one in the head for me. After all, we're guests here," Joker turned his head to the woman.
"Eee!" Hare squealed as she clapped her hands, bouncing on her mismatched boots. The shrill noise made Irinaka and Kurono flinch. Even the boss winced as his eardrums were assaulted. "Thanks, Puddin'!" With a flick of her wrist, she used her Quirk to summon a baseball bat into her hand, then skipped on her merry way to bash in a few skulls.
Joker turned his attention back to the Yakuza trio. "So, may I sit down?"
Kurono glared at him. "You have a lot of nerve."
"Yeah!" Irinaka roared, "What makes you think you can waltz right in the Yakuza's hideout and-"
"Irinaka. Kurono. I'll handle this," the boss told them firmly, still staring blankly at the Joker. The two members of the Shie Hassaikai paused for a moment, before they lowered their guns. "Irinaka, grab him a seat. It's rude to make a guest stand."
"Yes, boss," Irinaka mumbled. The little man jumped down from the couch and toddled over to the round-cushioned chair that was near the TV to their right. He lifted it over his head with surprising strength, considering the chair was larger than him, and placed it in front of his boss. Then, he scrambled back into his previous position on top of the couch.
The Boss waved his hand for the Joker to sit down.
"Oh, don't mind if I do!" Joker said as he moved to oblige, pulling the door closed behind him. He lounged in it like a king, elbows on the armrests, one leg crossed over the other, leaning back into the cushioned chair. "So, what should I call you? Your Villain name, or your real name?"
"...Call me Overhaul," the Yakuza head replied.
"Alrighty then, Overhaul, then you can keep calling me the Joker!" Joker said, overly upbeat. "And as you can see, I'm still wearing my mask! I heard you're a germaphobe, so I took some precautions and decided to keep the mask on! Also, I smoke half of the time, so I'm basically doing you a big favor keeping this on. I know, smoking is bad for the lungs, but hey...I was dead once."
Overhaul didn't outwardly react to that strange statement.
"And it's not 'cause I'm disfigured or scarred or anything like that- I've been told that I'm actually quite the catch… Well, Hare's the only one that says that. Yeah, she's a peach, but she's a little, eh, loopy, ya know? Either way, I'm keeping the mask on until I'm told otherwise!"
"...I appreciate the thought," Overhaul said after a beat. "However, I only take these kinds of measures with people who have Quirks."
"Ahhh, okay, okay…" Joker hummed. After a couple seconds of silence, he set his feet flat on the floor, and leaned forward so he was face-to-face with Overhaul. Irinaka and Kurono reached into their cloaks, gripping their guns, just in case. Overhaul remained unfazed.
"What if I told you that my Quirk is… Ingenuity?" Joker asked, shaking his hands in a jazzy sort of motion.
"I would say that that really isn't a Quirk. It's more of an ideal," Overhaul replied blandly.
"...Hm. Well, in that case…" Joker reached under the clown mask and began to pull it off.
"Hey! What are you doing!?" Irinaka cried, preparing to go on the offensive.
Kurono got his gun ready as well.
Joker ignored them and finished removing his mask.
White skin, stringy green hair, clown makeup and all. Joker shook his head, allowing his hair to fall over his shoulders so it wasn't in his face. Tossing the mask to the side, his ominous red eyes looked into Overhaul's calculating ones, the boss not yet reacting to this display.
Joker smirked deviously. "I guess I really don't need this mask on after all…"
"...So… You are Quirkless." Overhaul narrowed his eyes in absolute interest.
Kurono and Irinaka exchanged uneasy glances.
"Quirkless..." Kurono repeated softly, rolling the word around on his tongue.
"So you really are Quirkless?" Irinaka asked, dumbfounded.
The smirk remained on Joker's face. "Let me guess; the news didn't mention how I killed all those guys with mundane methods?"
"No, apparently. I had my assumptions, but now that you admit to being Quirkless, I am most definitely… Intrigued, at how you managed to do all of this without one. No disrespect, it's merely that this world is entirely too reliant on Quirks. I find it to be a stain on humanity- a plague, if you will," Overhaul told him.
Joker's little grin turned into a full-blown, manic smile. He pointed at Overhaul, finger nearly brushing against the tip of the man's beak mask. "You...I like you."
Overhaul raised a brow. "You also think society has become nothing more than a bunch of disease-ridden rats who have grown dependent on their own disgusting mutations?"
"...In a way," Joker said with his grin still in place. "I just feel like Quirks..." He turned his head up to the ceiling, searching for the words. He glanced back at Overhaul, and finished by saying, "...Are a liability."
"...Indeed." Overhaul nodded, agreeing whole-heartedly.
Joker's smile stretched grotesquely. "Lemme ask ya something; have you ever, for a single moment in your life, wanted to be a Hero?"
"Never," Overhaul replied instantly. "I realized early on that I'm not Hero material."
"Mm-hm…" Joker scratched the side of his nose, eyes idly roaming around the room. "Well…" he paused, and then directed his eyes back to Overhaul. "A lot of kids dream about it. They're encouraged, told to go for it, despite being incredibly mediocre. The kinda kids that won't ever really wind up going anywhere in life, since they just can't understand the concept of hard work. Then, you get someone who has the drive, the intelligence, is willing to bleed to make their dream come true- except, they don't have a Quirk. And everyone knows Quirkless means useless, right? It's not like they have a functioning brain and a working body," Joker interjected sarcastically.
Overhaul listened intently, silently urging him to continue.
"I mean, I remember a time when I thought, I could be a Hero without a Quirk. Only one person said I could- on the telly- and I believed her when she said anyone can be a Hero. But, as it turns out, that..." Joker's grin gradually morphed into a sneer, before deepening into a scowl, "...Was all ...A damned... Lie."
"...So you hate people with Quirks because someone indirectly lied to you in the past?" Overhaul speculated.
"In a way, yes. To be perfectly honest, though, it wasn't just about the Quirks. See, I never really fit in. I mean, this, here?" He motioned to his stark white complexion. "Skin condition. An advanced type of albinism that grew over time. I'm actually a lot older than I look. In my late-thirties, if you can believe it. And you know, it doesn't really bother me all that much. I look at myself, and the struggles I've faced in the past, or the struggles of other people, as big...well, jokes. Whether it's some personal tragedy, being the victim of a crime, some deformity they're born with- just, any unfortunate soul who's having it rough… I just look at them, and give them a smile. Just putting a smile on my face for them to see. Mainly because we all have to smile at life's trials at times, no matter how sad or hard they are," Joker said as his red-painted lips easily curled up into a mocking smile. "See? Going through life with a big ol' smile. And honestly, I feel like that's what everyone needs to do nowadays, you know?"
Overhaul gazed at the Joker steadily, his curiosity ever-growing. "May I ask you a question?"
"Sure! Shoot," Joker said, his grin never wavering.
"...What is your goal?"
"Hm… Good question. I think it's just… Letting people with Quirks know that they're not so special."
Irinaka and Kurono scowled at Joker, but wisely kept their mouths shut.
"Hm…" Overhaul sat in pensive silence for a moment. "I must also ask, why come here? Why now? What business do you have with the Shie Hassaikai?"
Joker's smile grew even more twisted, if that was possible. "I heard from a little hacky bird that you're making something…"
"...That I am." Overhaul confirmed.
"Boss!?" Irinaka exclaimed.
Kurono tried to intervene. "Boss, are you sure you want to-"
"Yes," Overhaul cut in coldly. "He was able to find us without us knowing he was looking- it isn't much of a stretch to believe that he also knows about our research." He directed his attention back to Joker. "So… How much do you know?"
"Oh, ya know, something about a Quirk erasure bullet, a distinct lack of the funds required to make a machine that could synthesize these bullets, and… What was that last thing? Right- using a child to manufacture them?" Joker finished nonchalantly.
Kurono gritted his teeth. Irinaka growled indignantly.
"...Then you know," Overhaul murmured.
"Hey, I can't help it! Hacker really needs to turn down the radio on that thing! ...I mean, granted, that radio is actually a part of his body, but what are you gonna do, huh?" Joker said with an amused shrug.
Before Overhaul could say anything else, another subordinate wearing a plague doctor mask came through the sliding door. He seemed rather nervous.
"Um, Boss? I put Eri to bed… What, uh… Who are those new guys?" the underling asked, referring to the Joker's crew, who were making themselves at home in the Yakuza base.
Overhaul glanced at the child's caretaker. "Some unexpected visitors. This," he gestured to the Villain dressed as a clown, "Is the Joker."
"Right..." the caretaker muttered uneasily.
Joker looked at the caretaker, face eerily blank. "Hey, you." He slipped a hand into his purple suit jacket. Overhaul's henchmen were quick to reach for their guns, only to relax slightly when the Joker pulled out a smartphone.
"Take this and call the contact named Twitch. Tell him the exact coordinates of this place, and tell him to bring in the money that we stole today."
Kurono and Irinaka were shocked at this development. Even Overhaul, who was carefully controlling his expression, seemed slightly surprised.
"Wait… You're just giving us the money?" Irinaka asked, stunned.
"What's the catch?" Kurono asked, eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"There isn't one," Joker assured them. "Also, I had Hacker deposit the Yaoyorozu's money digitally, so we can transfer it all to your bank account," he said with a sinister grin.
Overhaul turned to the caretaker. "Do as he says."
"O… Okay," the caretaker said, astonished.
Joker turned his phone by using facial recognition before handing it to the caretaker. "Here. Don't let it turn off. And no funny business, either- that's my job."
The caretaker accepted the device with a shaky nod. He quickly scrolled through the contacts list, found the one labeled Twitch, and hit call. He pressed the phone against his ear, waiting for the other end to pick up.
"Um… Hello. Your boss told me to tell you that...you can bring the money to these coordinates."
A pause.
"It's- It's on 1020 Oda street, in the Kishimoto neighborhood."
The caretaker fell silent as he waited for a response.
"Okay, he said he's got the coordinates with his phone GPS," the caretaker told his superiors and the Joker. "Oh, hold on!"
It appeared that Twitch was saying something else. "Uh… What? Um… O-Okay." He directed his attention to the Joker. "Uh… Twitch wants to tell you that his Quirk is giving him… stomach pains?"
Joker sighed. "Whiny little bastard," he mumbled under his breath. "Don't mind him, just tell him that it's the side-effects of me implanting the Quirk into him."
The Yakuza members were more than a bit thrown.
"Uh...alright…" The caretaker quickly relayed the message. "Um, yes, that's all. Thank you." He hung up the call and gave the phone back to the Joker, who gladly took it. "He's… He's on his way."
"Excellent! Very good job!" Joker praised as he stowed the device away.
"T-Thank you..." The caretaker glanced between the Joker and Overhaul. "Uh… Permission to leave, Boss?"
"Yes, you may," Overhaul replied, waving off the underling, not taking his eyes off the Joker.
The caretaker sketched out an awkward bow and scurried out the room, closing the sliding door behind him.
"You implanted a Quirk into this Twitch?" Overhaul asked, both concerned and intrigued.
"Nope. But he doesn't know that," Joker said with an exaggerated wink.
"...You're a very peculiar man, Joker," Overhaul stated.
"I'd call it inventive." Joker's smile, which had relaxed over the course of the past few minutes, widened into something sinister.
"Hm… So you're willing to simply give us the money? Was that why you robbed a bank and stole a good portion of the Yaoyorozu's fortune?" Overhaul asked.
"Pretty much," Joker answered with a small shrug. "Although… I do want to try and help you with that formula..." he said, looking rather excited. It was quite a disturbing expression on the clown.
"...What do you mean?" Overhaul asked, somewhat on edge.
Joker leaned in further towards Overhaul with that evil grin. "I…can make the formula to this little Rewind Quirk you're manufacturing even better. Meaning I could try and make this stuff even faster for you all to make. And! ...Letting it stay that way. I mean, Hell, while I'm at it, maybe I can even try replicating it, so you don't have to do the tired and exhausting work of trying to dismantle that little girl."
Overhaul raised an eyebrow. A bold statement, considering how much effort the Shie Hassaikai had put into developing the current iteration of the formula.
"I mean, I think I can, at least. I'm not just a pretty face, you know? Honestly, I'm just thinking of all that process of you doing the tedious task of scaring that girl into getting her blood racing. I mean, really, it must be boring all the time, basically ripping apart that little girl just to get those bullets working. Me? I can just take blood from her and make it as simply powerful and effective as much as what you're doing right now..."
...Overhaul just simply stared at him.
"So! Show me what you've got so far, and I'll see what I can do," Joker said, leaning back in his chair with supreme confidence.
"...What are you playing at?" Overhaul asked. "Don't expect me to believe you're doing this out of the kindness of your heart."
"Haha!" Joker smacked the armrest of the chair in a burst of laughter. "Now that's a good one! Heh-heh!" he chuckled, "Oooh, but no, no, seriously… I just… Well, really want to be part of the cause."
"How vague," Overhaul scoffed. "As much as we appreciate your funding, throwing money at us, as well as offering to make the formula easier, will not make us trust you. Tread carefully, Joker. I'd hate to end such a promising partnership before it can truly begin.
"Hey, be suspicious all you want," Joker said with a casual shrug and a crooked smile. "I'm just here for the ride."
Overhaul stared at the clown for a drawn-out moment, attempting to assess his sincerity. It proved to be far more difficult than expected- for all that the Joker seemed to like a good laugh, he also had an incredible poker face. "Very well. The Shie Hassaikai, and I especially, thank you for your donation."
Joker kept his disturbingly evil smile on. "It's my pleasure."
The Next Day
6:00 AM
I AM HERE! I AM HERE! I AM HERE! I AM HERE!
*SMACK!*
Izuku woke up, slamming his hand down on his All Might alarm clock. He groggily rose into a sitting position, but made no move to get out of bed. Despite the fog in his head, the memories of the previous day rushed to the forefront of his mind with startling clarity.
Oh yeah… That actually happened... Izuku sighed glumly as he remembered. It was yesterday...yeah. I have the bruises to prove it.
His face was beaten and bandaged up...
"I wonder how everyone else is doing…" He murmured. Iida, Uraraka, Asui, Ashido, Jirou, Kaminari…
Then there were the last two of his classmates.
Izuku remembered checking up on Todoroki and saw something rather personal between him and Endeavor.
Izuku escaped a crowd of people that wanted to talk to him after All Might made the statement about him being a "True Hero." Thankfully, All Might and the police force held back the media, although Izuku wished All Might hadn't said what he said to him in front of all these people. He had never particularly liked attention.
Either way, the green-haired boy went over to check up on his other three friends- Iida, Kaminari, and Todoroki- to see how they were holding up. He decided to quickly check on Todoroki first, and then Iida and Kaminari.
When he found his classmate, though, he froze upon seeing Endeavor looming over him.
Izuku held his breath and stayed quiet. He wasn't in view of the two as he hid between two cop cars.
Oh no! Todoroki's father! Wait… If Endeavor's here, then why didn't I see the lights in the sky from his flames?
Izuku glanced over the cars and saw a limo a little further in the distance.
Endeavor… Used a limo?
He decided to not think about that now as he looked on at the scene playing out in front of him.
Endeavor looked… somber. Almost like the Number Two Hero was… disappointed?
Shouto sat there on the edge of the ambulance with a cast covering his left arm. He also looked frustrated. Ashamed, even.
Neither father nor son said a word, but it seemed as if, for a brief moment, they could understand each other with just a look.
It was then that Endeavor spoke up.
"They were cowards," he rasped, the sound a far cry from the booming timbre he used to command his sidekicks while on patrol.
Shouto looked up to his father, eyes slightly wider than normal- an expression of extreme surprise on the stoic boy.
"They were afraid of your potential," Endeavor insisted. Was he… trying to comfort Todoroki?
Todoroki didn't seem very comforted, staring down at the pavement solemnly. "...I'm sorry, Father," he finally said, voice hoarse.
"...It shows you're a threat to them," Endeavor hesitantly replied, reluctant to acknowledge the apology. "However, you must not never lower your guard like that, ever, again." Endeavor finished firmly.
Todoroki's lips thinned into a tight line, but he did not raise his gaze to meet his father's eyes. "...Right."
They fell into an awkward silence.
"...Come. I will bring you home."
"...Y-...Yes, Father," Todoroki muttered weakly.
Endeavor nodded stiffly and began to walk over to his limo- which Izuku still couldn't quite wrap his head around, as the Number Two usually used his Quirk to get places much faster. It would seem he was making an exception this time, wanting to bring Todoroki home himself instead of having his son hitch a ride in a police cruiser.
Shouto hopped off the edge of the ambulance and began following after his father. Suddenly, though, the teen twisted around, glancing behind him.
He locked eyes with Izuku, whose fluffy curls were peeking up over the back of the car that he'd unconsciously hidden behind.
Izuku's heart skipped a beat.
Todorki's gaze was as difficult to read as ever. Eventually, he nodded at his friend, and Izuku took that to mean there were no hard feelings for accidentally eavesdropping. The gesture also carried a hint of reassurance in how solid it was, as if Todoroki was saying he'd be okay.
Izuku grinned brightly at Todoroki, who watched him for a moment longer, then turned around to follow his father. Izuku's smile slipped away, fake cheer fading, leaving only sympathy and worry for his friend.
And then there was Yaoyorozu.
Midoriya frowned deeply. Watching the people who'd cared for her when she was younger, who had likely been constant presences throughout her life, be murdered by a bunch of Villains...
She definitely had it the worst.
"Midoriya?" Yaoyorozu's voice came out of nowhere, startling Izuku out of his thoughts.
"Ack!" he yelped, jolting in surprise.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" Yaoyorozu quickly apologized. "I just..."
"Oh, uh, no!" Izuku turned to look at her. "I was, um… W-well, I…" He cleared his throat. "I mean… I-it looks like Todoroki is going home now."
Momo blinked. "Todoroki is going? Is he alright?"
"Uh, yeah! The EMT's gave him a cast for his arm, and he looks alright now! It's just… Endeavor was there to pick him up..." Izuku muttered the last part.
Yaoyorozu's eyes widened. "You mean… Oh… Is he… Is he going to be okay?"
"I… I think so. Endeavor didn't look very angry… Just… disappointed..." Izuku lowered his gaze to the ground, feeling an overwhelming amount of concern and sympathy for his friend.
Yaoyorozu frowned. "Well… At least Endeavor didn't cause a scene," she said, trying to look on the bright side.
"Yeah… I just hope Todoroki will recover quickly." Midoriya muttered.
"Hm…" Yaoyorozu hummed in agreement.
They both stood there for a moment, lost in their own heads.
"...Um, Midoriya?" Yaoyorozu spoke up, breaking the silence.
"Huh?" Izuku looked up at Yaoyorozu. "Y-Yeah?"
Momo stared at him for a moment, until a soft smile graced her lips. "I simply… Wanted to say thank you so much, for speaking out and saving me, Midoriya."
Blushing at the praise, Midoriya looked down and rubbed the back of his head nervously. "U-Uh, I… I mean, i-it's no p-problem, really. I really, uh, I really mean it when I said I would do anything to help anybody out..." he then frowned. "I'm just… Sorry that I, well, we, or anyone else really, couldn't… Y-you know… Save y-your friends…" He grimaced, immediately regretting bringing that back up, especially to Yaoyorozu.
Momo frowned dejectedly. "It… It's alright, Midoriya. It's not your fault. We were all taken by surprise… And I think the outcome would've been… The same," she murmured, despair lacing her tone. "I'm… I'm just…" She gave him a small smile. "Honestly, I'm just really glad some of the injured are still alive… And that I have you all here with me right now."
Izuku looked up at the girl's face, and saw that her eyes were filled with equal parts gratitude and sorrow.
The corners of his mouth quirked up in an attempt at a reassuring grin, but it was weak. "Hey… We're all here for you."
Yaoyorozu's eyes welled with tears, but the miasma of despair covering her seemed to lessen, if only a little bit.
"Uh, hey, Midoriya? Yaoyorozu?" Jirou's voice cried out.
The two teens turned to see Jirou and Kaminari walking towards them. Jirou was leading Kaminari with his arm around her shoulders, keeping him steady in case he fell over and worsened his concussion.
"Yo, did- uh… Did Todoroki leave?" Kaminari asked, stumbling over his words slightly.
Izuku nodded with a frown. "Yeah… His dad came and picked him up. I think he was… Well, I don't know, but I hope Endeavor isn't angry with him."
"Man…" Jirou frowned. "Me neither. Endeavor's a pretty scary guy..."
Yaoyorozu hummed in agreement. "Indeed…"
They all stood there in silence for a moment.
"...Um, so, uh, h-how are you two faring?" Momo asked Jirou and Kaminari a little awkwardly.
"Oh, well," Kaminari rubbed his head sheepishly. "I'm doing alright, I guess. Jirou basically gave me a check-up and my head seems to be a-okay. Hurts a bit, but nothing too serious, really."
"Heh, yeah. He can't really walk in a straight line right now, but what's new?" Jirou joked.
"Hey!" Kaminari cried, pouting exaggeratedly.
"Come on, I'm only kidding, Sparky," Jirou murmured to Kaminari with a smirk. Her expression was… Far more gentle than Kaminari remembered it being. Although maybe that was just the head trauma talking.
"Yeah, I know." Kaminari chuckled. "Thanks for checking up on me though, Jirou. You're the best."
Jirou's smirk turned into a shy smile as she tilted her head away from the blond's slightly. Was she… Blushing?
Izuku and Yaoyorozu watched the scene unfold with bemusement.
"...That was pretty strange," Izuku said to himself, thinking about the interaction between his classmates.
Shrugging at that, his thoughts went back to Yaoyorozu.
Jirou offered to let her stay at her house for a while, since the Yaoyorozu Estate needed… Cleaning. The heiress was adamant that she not impose upon her friend, but Jirou insisted. So, although it took a bit of wheedling, she gave in and was now temporarily living with the Jirou family.
Before they all went home though…
Izuku blushed at the memory.
"Midoriya!"
Izuku was about to leave with his mother, who was beside him, still fussing over his condition, despite his repeated assurances that he was perfectly fine. He (along with his mother) turned around to look at the young Yaoyorozu heiress, who was jogging up to him.
"U-Uh… Yes, Yaoyorozu?" Midoriya asked in confusion.
Inko's eyes darted between the two classmates, a certain glint in them as she watched a girl approach her baby boy.
Izuku blushed as the ravenette quickly got close to him, her movements making her… Assets, bounce in a rather eye-catching way. She caught up to the two, and she took a few deep breaths. Once she'd collected herself, she took another deep breath as if steeling herself, and looked Izuku straight in the eye. She held herself strongly, resolutely.
Izuku was even more bewildered.
"Uh… D-did you… Forget something?" he asked nervously. Even after all this time, confident people still made him feel small.
"As a matter of fact, I did." Momo nodded. She closed the distance between them with two quick steps, and embraced him tightly.
Inko reared back in shock, before a positively devious smile warped her face.
Izuku's brain shut off. He didn't register the burning heat rising to his face, or the fact that he'd stopped breathing entirely. All he could focus on was how soft Yaoyorozu felt, pressed against him like that.
Momo kept her arms around him, her head on his right shoulder, as she whispered in his ear, "Really… Thank you."
Izuku turned an even deeper shade of red as her warm breath brushed against his ear. It didn't help that her breasts were squishing into his chest…
SAY SOMETHING!
"U-U-Uh..."
Momo finally let him go and stepped back, smiling warmly at him. "I'll see you tomorrow at school, okay?" She bowed to him and Inko before going over to where Jirou was waiting for her.
Inko looked at her son, who still had the same comical expression of shock on his face.
Inko gave him a knowing smile. "Come on, Izuku. I think you need some rest. You've had a long day."
Snapping out of his daze, Izuku turned to his mother, who was still grinning. The sight made shivers go down his spine- she was never going to let him live this down.
She seemed to sense his trepidation, because her glee intensified. "Let's just get you home, dear. I think you have a lot to think about." She began walking to the car, quietly humming an upbeat tune.
"...Huh?" Izuku muttered, now even more confused than ever.
He let out a sigh.
Yeah… I guess I do have a lot to think about.
As if on cue, his mother opened the door to his room as she peeked her head in.
"Izuku- Honey? It's time for you to get up. You have school, you know?" She reminded him softly.
Izuku turned to his mother. "I know, Mom. I'll, um, get dressed in a moment."
"Okay. Better hurry up, though." She gave him a warm smile. However, Izuku also noticed the touch of apprehension in it. Before he could ask if anything was wrong, she closed the door, leaving Izuku alone with his thoughts once more.
Izuku frowned. "...It's… Maybe it's nothing," he murmured to himself. "She's probably just still worried about me from yesterday."
He sat there for a couple more seconds before he shot to his feet, determination shining in his emerald eyes.
"Well, either way, I don't know what today will bring…" Izuku raised his hand and glanced at it, clenching it into a fist. "But I'll face it head-on."
He nodded resolutely. No Villain attack was going to stop him from becoming a Hero!
Once Izuku was dressed in his uniform and ready to go, he exited his room, making his way to the kitchen. Inko sat at the table, drinking her usual morning coffee.
"Oh hey, Mom! I'm gonna grab breakfast at school, so you don't need to worry about making anything! I'll see you later, okay?" Izuku told her as he turned around to walk to the front door.
"Izuku, would you sit down with me for a little bit?" Inko asked her son.
"Huh?" Izuku stopped in his tracks, turning back to look at her.
Inko sipped her coffee, but when she placed her mug down on the table, she looked at Izuku with a certain smile on her face.
"Uh… okay…" Izuku said hesitantly, not sure what his mother had in mind. He went over to the table, grabbed a chair, and sat down on it. He stared at his mother, who stared back at him silently. It went on like this for a few minutes, with Inko still not speaking her mind. Izuku fidgeted anxiously- he'd be late for school at this rate.
"...Um, Mom?" Izuku spoke up. "...Is there… Something you want to say?"
Inko took another drink from her mug, before placing it back on the table.
"...Mom-"
"Izuku- Honey, I'm sorry."
"...W-Wha?" Izuku blinked, confusion coloring his face.
"...I'm…" Inko started to shake. Her lower lip quivered, her eyes watering as she let out a loud sniffle. "...I-I'm… I'm so sorry…" She raised a hand to wipe uselessly at the tears dripping down her cheeks, which were replaced almost instantly. Sniffling, she continued. "I… I'm so sorry for..." Her voice broke, and she rubbed at her face more vigorously. "For basically telling you that you couldn't..." she whimpered, "...Couldn't be a Hero!"
Izuku stared at her, unable to form words.
"I see now... that…" Inko then grabbed a box of tissues that was (conveniently) on the table, wiping her eyes, blowing her nose noisily with it afterward. Izuku had been wondering why it was there...
Inko continued, "I see now that I-I was absolutely wrong! And I'm glad that I was wrong! You can be a Hero! You are a Hero, Izuku!"
Tears welled up in Izuku's eyes in response to his mother's overflowing emotions.
"I just-I hope you can forgive me for-for thinking that you couldn't!" Inko sniffled and blew her nose once more. "P-Please f-forgive me for ever doubting-"
The mother fell silent as a pair of strong arms wrapped around her shoulders. Surprised, she soon realized that she was being hugged by her son.
Izuku gave his mom the biggest hug that he could muster. She felt his whole body quiver with repressed emotion.
"Mom… Y-you shouldn't be sorry…" Izuku sniffled, tears flowing down his cheeks. His voice shook as he forced himself to keep talking, lest he break down completely. "I… I already forgave you. B-Besides, w-what you said… I-it may have made me feel hopeless for a bit… But… I-it also gave me a new drive! I wouldn't be here now without you and your love for me, Mom! Y-You were my driving force! I wanted to prove to my wonderful and compassionate mom that I… I can be one! And… I'm so happy you said it!"
Inko whimpered and wrapped her arms around her son, returning the embrace as tightly as she could.
"But you should know, Mom..." Izuku said, "That I never hated you for that… I love you so much… I will always love you!"
"OH IZUKU! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, SWEETHEART!" Inko cried, the dam breaking as a veritable tsunami of tears flooded from her eyes.
Izuku, who was now sobbing just as much, screamed back, "I LOVE YOU TOO, MOM!"
And they continued to hug each other, bawling their eyes out, as mother and son reconciled an age-old mistake, despite the fact that there had been nothing to reconcile at all.
After that tearful moment with him and his mother, Izuku officially felt rejuvenated, like he usually did after a good crying session.
As he rode the train to school, he received many curious glances from people who'd seen him on the news last night. They whispered excitedly amongst themselves, in awe of the kid that All Might himself had called a true hero. It made him feel a little… awkward. He tried to ignore it as best as he could, but they weren't exactly quiet about it.
People just kept staring at him in wonder. Unlike after the Sports Festival, nobody dared to approach him, though he couldn't guess why. He was relieved that nobody tried to talk to him, although it would've been better than the awkward staring.
As soon as he exited the train, he speed-walked his way to the front gates of UA's campus, anxious to get away from the uncomfortable gazes.
Upon getting there, he spotted a few familiar faces, surprising him.
Eyes wide, Izuku could make out that they were none other than his own classmates. Uraraka, Iida, Ashido, Asui, Jirou, Kaminari, Todoroki, and Yaoyorozu...
Were they waiting for me? Izuku wondered.
"Uh… Hey, guys?" Izuku greeted them, slightly confused as to why they were all gathered up like that.
Ashido grinned brightly. "We just thought we should all walk to class together!"
"Yeah. It just felt right, *ribbit.*" Tsuyu explained.
"Indeed!" Iida nodded, his cast in his arm. "What we experienced yesterday was quite a scare. I think it would be most understandable if we all walk together and support each other through this rather dramatic event. Yet another reminder that Heroics is a serious profession!"
"Yeah…" Uraraka whispered with a small smile, barely audible to Izuku.
Seeing her green-haired classmate, she unwillingly remembered that moment between Deku and Momo before they'd all gone home. She was definitely jealous, but… after doing some thinking, she figured it was really nothing. Just gratitude from a friend.
"Yeah, totally," Kamanari said as he ruffled his own hair. "Kinda motivates me to become a better Hero, if only so I can stop stuff like that from happening."
"That's a shocker," Jirou said to Kamanari with a smirk, emphasizing her pun.
"Oh, haha," Kaminari replied sarcastically, rolling his eyes and smiling.
Jirou snickered.
Todoroki nodded, his expression stoic as always. "Yeah… I'm also going to focus on improving." He glanced down at his arm, still wrapped in plaster. Something fierce shone in his heterochromatic eyes.
"Me too," Yaoyorozu agreed. "I will strive to be stronger as well… We all will."
Izuku focused on Yaoyorozu, staring at her determined expression.
She smiled at Izuku. "Well, we should get going. We can still have breakfast at the cafeteria."
Izuku looked at each of his classmates with wonder. Yesterday was a horrifying experience, but he felt they came out of it with stronger, deeper bonds. They'd be alright.
Izuku smiled at his friends. "Yeah. Let's get going."
He joined the group and made their way into the campus…
However, before they could get halfway to the doors, they stumbled across someone else who was waiting for them… Waiting for Izuku.
As he walked, Izuku saw the one person who would cause him trouble, especially after what All Might said to him last night on national television.
There, leaning against a tree, was Katsuki Bakugou.
Izuku grimaced, his body seizing up in preparation for fiery fists and acidic insults, a learned response beaten into him over the course of a decade.
Oh no! It's Kacchan! Well… Maybe he didn't see the news? Or didn't pay any attention to it?
Bakugou wouldn't make a scene out in public like this, where a teacher could see them at any time, would he?
Okay, maybe I'm overreacting. He's probably just waiting there for… Someone else? Kirishima, maybe? It doesn't have to be me...
It's definitely me, isn't it?
...Crap.
Izuku was planning to run for the hills when Iida called out to Bakugou, "Bakugou! Good morning! Are you waiting for someone!?"
Damn it, Iida!
Their whole group froze (well, Izuku froze, everyone else just slowed to a stop), waiting to see what Bakugou would say.
"Yeah..." Bakugou growled, eyes narrowing dangerously as he focused on Izuku.
Yep, he probably did see the news. Izuku gulped, preparing himself for the inevitable confrontation.
Bakugou pushed himself off the tree and casually sauntered over to his classmates.
The rest of them, such as Uraraka, Asui, Ashido, and Kaminari looked confused. However, some of the more perceptive students, like Iida, Todoroki, Jirou, and Yaoyorozu felt a certain aura around Bakugou… and it didn't feel nice.
Izuku, for all that he was freaking out on the inside shaking in his boots, held himself in a firm stance.
Bakugou stopped right in front of Izuku, giving the shorter boy a stone-cold glare. It sent a shiver of dread down Izuku's spine, but he held Bakugou's gaze, which he had to give himself credit for.
"Uh… G-Good morning, K-Ka-"
"Fuckin' true hero, hah?" Bakugou snarled.
"...Eh?"
The squeak made Bakugou's scowl deepen, making him look even more feral. "Don't play dumb, you piece of shit! You know what I fuckin' mean! All Might said you were a fuckin' true hero!" Bakugou exclaimed.
...Hoo boy. He even saw that part, huh? All Might, I know you were proud of me, but couldn't you have waited until we weren't on camera to say that? Izuku cringed.
The rest of the students surrounding Izuku looked taken aback by Bakugou's outburst, despite being used to his volatile personality.
"Whoa, hey, Bakugou, chill," Kaminari told him in an effort to calm him down. "We just, like, had a traumatic experience-"
"I wasn't talkin' to you!" Bakugou barked at Kaminari.
Jirou frowned, glaring at Bakugou. "Hey, Kaminari is right. We had a pretty messed up time yesterday, what with, you know, being taken hostage and all."
"I didn't ask for your shitty input either, Ear Jacks!" Bakugou hissed.
"Hey, don't be so rude to her!" Kaminari retorted. "We really were taken hostage, dude!" The blond quailed slightly when Bakugou snapped his gaze to him but rallied himself with great effort so he didn't cower.
"Yeah," Todoroki said, staring coolly at Bakugou. "Whatever you have with Midoriya can wait. Or you can just drop it- we're still recovering, and we don't need you making things harder for us."
Bakugou just turned his scowl upon Todoroki, sneering at him. "Feh, yeah, well, what the fuck happened to your arm then, huh? Some Villain fucked you up?"
"Bakugou!" Iida exclaimed with a sharp frown, hand chopping up and down. "Please refrain from using such vulgar language, and do not harass our classmates! I would also advise you to listen to Todoroki and let this matter rest!"
Bakugou scowled at Iida, and with another irritated growl, he said, "Fine! This doesn't concern any of you extras anyways. This is between me and that shitty Deku!"
Yaoyorozu frowned at Bakugou's behavior. Whatever he had to say to Midoriya was guaranteed to be hostile, and Midoriya definitely didn't need that right now- or ever, really. "How about you leave him alone, Bakugou? I doubt Midoriya wants to talk to you about whatever imagined slight is making you so angry."
"Yeah, seriously, Bakugou, what's your deal with Midoriya?" Jirou asked, annoyed. She'd put up with his hatred of the green-haired teen for the whole semester- she was seriously sick of it. Especially after yesterday.
"Yeah," Kaminari said in agreement. "What has the dude ever done to you?"
"G-Guys, don't worry about it. L-Look, I-" Izuku started to say, but Bakugou cut him off.
"Shut the fuck up!" Bakugou yelled. "I dunno what bullshit All Might was talking about, but you are the furthest thing there is from a true hero! You're nothing but a fucking Deku- and you always will be!"
Yaoyorozu had seen enough. "Bakugou, stop acting so hostile against Midoriya! You're acting like a child!"
"You fuckin' shut it too, Ponytail!"
The raven-haired girl was aghast, but she held her ground and glared back at him. "What is your problem!?"
"Yeah. Stop being immature and let us go already." Todoroki said coldly.
"Um, Bakugou, we just want to get some breakfast right now, okay?" said a slightly annoyed Mina. "I don't know what made you so mad with Midori, but we're just trying to relax after a bunch of Villains put guns to our heads."
"Yeah. Can we just deal with whatever this is later, *ribbit*?" Tsuyu said with a frown.
Bakugou, anger boiling inside him, just gritted his teeth and growled, "Fucking whatever. Just know that he's not the true fuckin' hero that you all think he is!"
"As far as I can tell, he saved me from being mutilated!" Yaoyorozu snapped, raising her voice. "I bet you wouldn't know what to do either if you were in our situation, Bakugou!"
That ignited a flame in Bakugou. "I would've blasted those motherfuckers to kingdom come! They wouldn't even have time to react! Something you should have done, but I guess since you performed so fuckin' poorly at the Sports Festival-"
"Shut up, Kacchan!"
Whipping his head at Izuku, Bakugou's eyes widened in surprise.
Everyone looked at Midoriya in shock.
"...What?" Bakugou asked incredulously, his right eye twitching.
Izuku was looking at Bakugou with a hard stare. "Kacchan, Yaoyorozu doesn't need that right now. She lost a lot of people because of those Villains, and she tried to fight, but there were too many of them that had us hostage. If there's anyone who acted like a true hero, it's her. And if there's anyone who's hurting right now, it's her. So… I'd really appreciate it if you just forget about whatever you wanted to say to me, or you're really gonna end up looking like an idiot!"
To say that Bakugou was shocked was an understatement.
"I'm sorry for whatever I've done to you today, Kacchan, but you know what? When you think about it, it's not that important. What's important is that we're all still alive, so the least you can do is give us some time to recover and heal," Izuku finished firmly.
No words came out of Bakugou's mouth. He just stared at Izuku, wondering where the Deku he once knew, before UA, had gone. Or was that just another lie, like him being Quirkless for ten years?
Bakugou scowled harshly at Midoriya. "...Fine. Tch!" Bakugou turned around and stormed off, making his way into the school.
Izuku remained where he was, staring at Bakugou's back until the bully disappeared into the building. Then, all at once, his coiled muscles relaxed and he almost collapsed in relief, unable to believe what he'd just done.
"Oh man… I told Kacchan to shut up! And called him an idiot!" Izuku muttered in astonishment.
Ashido grinned and slapped him on the back. "Wow! Way to go, Midori! You totally stood up to Bakugou!" She praised the greenette.
"Yeah! *ribbit* Way to give it to him." Asui croaked.
Kaminari shot him a smirk and a thumbs up.
Jirou smirked. "Awesome job, man. Wish I could shut him up like that."
Todoroki nodded with a small smirk and a hum in agreement.
Uraraka, who watched the whole thing, blinked but a smile formed on her face as she cheered, pumping a fist in the air, "Yeah! Way to go, Deku!
Iida nodded as he saluted. "Indeed! Bakugou was acting incredibly rude, more so than usual, and you certainly set him straight… If only my authority as Class Representative had such an effect." He said the last part glumly.
"Oh!" Midoriya turned to the group, "Uh, I-I, um, I mean, well… Just, the things he was saying were..."
"Stupid?" Todoroki finished for him.
"W-Well...I wouldn't put it like that, but..." Izuku chuckled nervously, fiddling with his tie.
"Thank you, Midoriya."
Izuku blinked, head snapping up to look at the person who spoke.
Yaoyorozu smiled at him fondly. "I truly appreciate you speaking up in my defense."
"Oh, uh…" Midoriya grinned back at her brightly. "I-It's no problem, Yaoyorozu."
Still smiling kindly at the green-haired boy, Yaoyorozu nodded, feeling… warm, all of a sudden.
Wow. Midoriya… Really is a great guy…
Uraraka's eyes were flitting between Izuku and Yaoyorozu. She couldn't help but feel something burning inside of her.
No… They're not like that! Uraraka admonished herself. They… I mean, they were just… Yeah...
Uraraka nodded at that vague thought, turning her attention back to her classmates. "Hey, let's hurry to the cafeteria! I can't wait to see what Lunch Rush made!"
"Yeah, I'm pretty hungry, too!" Mina agreed. "Let's get going!"
Soon, the small crowd made their way inside the school, prepared for whatever waited for them beyond those doors.
Chapter done! :D
Would you believe that the last scene here was gonna be a lot more dramatic than what I've written? LOL, I was gonna like, let Izuku punch Bakugou and tell him off harshly, but then I thought, "...Nah, that's too much.". ^^;
Anyway! Big thanks to my two betas Lucius Walker and CrazyClouds! I hope this chapter sheds some light on certain things! ;D As of now, though, you probably think this is Joker's goal...well, we just barely scratch the ice on what Joker is really planning! ;) But what could the Joker's goal really be? Also...if you spot any interesting things in that scene with Joker and Overhaul, do let me know! I think you might know what I'm talking about… X)
Either way, please give me a review! :D I love the faves and follows, but I love to have those reviews! They make my day tenfold! ^_^
Until then, thank you for reading and keep on rocking everybody! :)
-TSP