- The Bar at Kamino Ward -
1:30 PM
The League of Villains and the rest of Joker's henchmen all waited for when Joker, Shigaraki, Hare, Whip, and Hacker came back. All Might sat there next to the screen where All For One communicates, while Endeavor still sits in the same corner of the bar. Kurogiri, who teleported Joker, Shigaraki, and the other three over to an abandoned warehouse, stood behind the bar counter, while the rest of the Villains did their thing. Some of the Joker's henchmen looked calm, while the others looked almost nervous. The League of Villains all just sat there bored, with Moonfish still just standing there in the other corner of the bar. Twitch was still twitching and staring off into space.
All Might sat there, dreading the long wait of what Joker would do to Bakugou. While the boy sounded like he was quite the bully to Midoriya, he didn't want anything terrible to happen to him. He was still a child, a teenager! And that poor girl Eri...
It made him sick to his stomach to think Joker would go this far...
I can't think about this...I just hope Joker will spare Young Bakugou and not traumatize that Eri girl...
...But it was then All Might thought of something that bugged him just now.
Wait...All For One never actually reacted that harshly before when One For All was taken out of me. Did he...Did he suspect that I'd already given someone One For All?
"...I want to talk to All For One," All Might announced suddenly.
The Villains and Endeavor all looked over at All Might. Meanwhile, Twitch was still twitching.
"Eh?" Toga uttered.
"You want to talk to the big man himself?" Mr. Compress asked him.
Dabi raised an eyebrow, "Well, this should be a show."
Kurogiri, though, looked at All Might as he said, "Really? What do you want to talk to Master about?"
"...Something that I need to know." All Might scowled, turning his attention to the TV screen.
"...Very well," Kurogiri was out of the bar counter and pressed the button to summon All For One's presence.
...Soon the TV came on and the voice of All For One blared through.
"Yes?"
Before Kurogiri could say anything, All MIght beat him to it, "I want to talk to you about One For All."
Kurogiri and the rest of the Villains looked at the Pro Hero with curious interest. Endeavor looked on at All Might's conversation with All For One.
All Might's Quirk...All For One said it was called One For All...just what is the story behind his Quirk?
"...Oh? And what could you possibly want to know about One For All? What's the reason for bringing this subject up? Do you happen to know how to get it back?"
"No. But I want to ask you...you seem to know that I might've given One For All to someone already at UA, right?" All Might asked, his expression stone cold.
"...Yes. That is correct."
"...Did you already know it was Midoriya the whole time?"
"...In a way. I wasn't too sure, really, at first. It was back at the USJ, when Shigaraki, Kurogiri, and every other Villain were there. Shigaraki mentioned a boy who tried to save his classmate one time, but the Nomu intervened. He described it as something that 'All Might would do'."
"...When did you have your suspicions?"
"Quite honestly, I had my suspicions at the USJ...perhaps it was when the Midoriya boy was at the Sports Festival fighting off Endeavor's son that it might have clicked. However, I was still a little unsure, but I have the feeling that you may have given One For All to someone during your time at UA. I just had to find out who...and my suspicions were correct."
"...Well, now you don't have One For All...you don't have your brother. Am I right?" All Might asked, scowl and all.
The Villains all looked at their conversation in surprised confusion. Endeavor also blinked at what All Might said.
"Brother?" Cham said puzzled.
"Uh...am I missing something here?" Rubber asked anyone.
"Wait, a Quirk that's also his...wait, what?" Crystal wondered in confusion.
...Twitch just basically kept staring off into space and twitching.
"...Not at this moment. However, I do hope that Joker will give him back to me."
"You really think he will?" All Might wanted to know his worst enemy's answer.
"...He seems confident. He's the only hope that I have to bring what's mine back."
"...You sound like you're having a conscious." All Might decided to humor him.
"Do not insult me, All Might. I only want what's mine, and that's that."
"Hmph. It's amazing that you're still alive after all these years, even after I ripped your head off." All Might grumbled irritably.
"Yes. It's also amazing how you seem to last so long with that injury that I inflicted on you all those years ago."
All Might growled at the screen. "Mark my words...you will be stopped."
"Hmph. If I can survive with my head being ripped off, then I don't see how I can possibly be stopped at all. I have so many Quirks in me, that they would all basically revive me."
"...Well, maybe I can't stop you...maybe, just maybe, when Joker makes this formula and he gives it back to Young Midoriya...he'll be the one to permanently end you."
"Hm. I wish I could laugh, but I'm a little bitter right now after knowing One For All is gone...for now, hopefully."
Before they could say anything more, Kurogiri raised his hand to his ear. "Hm? ...Alright then," he turned to the TV screen, "Master, Shigaraki has informed me that one of Joker's henchmen has collected the blood sample of the girl named Eri. I shall get them now."
"Good. Make sure to keep an eye on Joker."
"I will, Master," And then Kurogiri transported himself into the black mist and warped himself to the location where Joker, Shigaraki, and everyone else were.
"Now, is that all you were wondering about, All Might?"
"...Yes," All Might frowned.
"Hmm. Then I shall take my leave. Hopefully, Joker will keep his promise."
The Joker goons just sat there, not saying anything...
"With that said, goodbye for now."
The TV screen went off.
...Everything went quiet after that...
...Until Cham said, "Hey, who else wants to make a bet that the Boss will make that Bakugou kid a cripple?"
"I'm on board with that," Thermal nodded.
"I say he's going to kill him," Loco said.
"Well, how about we make some bets?" Razor advised, "I'll be the neutral one here. Which of you guys think the Boss is gonna leave the kid crippled?"
Cham, Thermal, and Turtle raised their arms.
"Okay, now which one of you do you think he'll just flat out kill him?"
Rubber, Crystal, and Loco raised their hands.
"Alright then. Whoever wins this bet, the winners can take a picture with the humiliated All Might, and whoever loses, has to hang around with Twitch for the next few hours."
"Hmm...I like those odds," Rubber nodded to that.
"Yeah. And I think the kid is too pompous enough to be let off too easy," Crystal said.
"Well, we'll just see," Razor smirked.
All Might growled at them, "Why do you follow that man!?"
The Joker's henchmen look over to All Might.
It was then Magne said, "Actually, yeah. Why do you follow that Joker guy?"
Mustard also spoke out, "Yeah. No offense, it's definitely not because of his lack of Quirk, but...the guy's clearly insane."
Cham was the one to answer, "Well, simply put, Joker promised us a life full of fulfillment and 'fun', per se."
"Life of fulfillment?" Twice said with a raised eyebrow, "And fun?"
"Yeah," Thermal then said, "In case you didn't know, most of us are not from Japan."
"You're not?" All Might asked with a surprised blink.
"Well, I'm from Japan, and so is Hacker, but the Boss knew him way before meeting us, along with Hare," Cham answered, "I think she was born in Japan also...maybe. I think she said something about living in South Korea at one time."
"Me and Razor are from Russia!" Loco announced.
"Me and Rubber are basically from China," Crystal said.
"Yeah, and Whip and I are from Thailand," Thermal revealed.
"And I'm from South Korea," Turtle also said.
The League of Villains, Endeavor, and All Might blinked at this.
"Wait...then...hold on, how did Joker recruit you all?" All Might asked them all, completely stunned.
"Actually, he came to us," Turtle explained, "He basically went to every country we lived in and asked if he liked to join him on his...well, figuratively speaking, on his 'chaotic adventure'."
"Haha! The Boss said to us along the lines of joining his 'parade of anarchy'!" Razor chuckled.
"He said to us that we'll get respect from people that looked down on us," Thermal commented.
"Well, for us, he promised us infinite wealth. But after a while, the whole rush of committing crimes and whatnot was just too much fun, so we're all just in it for a good time. Besides, the only thing I feel rich about now is the sweet freedom I get whenever we get to do some anarchy with the Boss," Rubber explained.
"Yeah, it certainly is fun!" Crystal agreed.
"Although, with Hare, we never really knew much about her story...I think that's a private matter with her and the Boss," Cham mentioned.
All Might just looked at them like they were crazy. "You mean...you're all just following Joker because...wait, that...there has to be another motive!"
"No," Turtle shook his head, "But if you really want a straight answer...I guess we were all bored. We just wanted something new."
Toga nodded, "I get that."
"Yeah, I can see that," Muscular nodded also.
"Uh, yeah...I mean, I guess," Mustard said with a shrug.
"Hm...so...you all just want to commit anarchy with your Boss?" Mr. Compress asked.
"Wow...that's...a little disturbing," Spinner said with a blink.
All Might was appalled, "You mean to tell me that you all are committing horrible acts of violence because you're bored!?"
"Hey, what's the big deal?" Cham said, "You committed not-murder to the big bad guy himself, so you're not one to talk."
"But I-...I didn't enjoy-...I-..." All Might was stunned.
This...This is insane!
And it was then, the black mist portal came back...with only Hacker and Eri out, the former carrying her Whip-roped body with his left hand, and hold a shot syringe in his right hand.
"Yello!" Hacker greeted.
The Joker goons yelled out in greeting.
"Hacker!"
"Hey, Buddy!"
"Sup, man!?"
Hacker was carrying the syringe full of the vibrating blood of Eri. They also noticed that he and Eri were the only ones who came inside the bar. The girl looked like she was having a horrible time, as she looked like she was crying her eyes out, whimpering as the rope material around her mouth was covering her cries.
All Might looked at little Eri with wide-eyed horror and despair, feeling immensely for the poor girl.
Oh my...Oh my goodness...this...this is beyond horrible...that poor little girl!
"Yeah, yeah, hey," Hacker nodded back to them, "Say, can anyone take this little girl over here?"
Spinner got up and said, "Um, I will..."
"Good. Just be careful with her now," Hacker tossed the wrapped-up Eri to Spinner, making the girl's muffled cries sound out as she was thrown into the air.
The Gecko Quirk man caught Eri just in time, which startled him. Once he caught her, he saw the little girl was still crying. "Um...okay..."
Toga looked at the girl in Spinner's arms...
Thermal then asked Hacker, "Hey, what happened to the Boss, Hare, and Whip? Even that Shigaraki guy?"
"Oh the Boss ain't done with that Bakugou kid," Hacker told them, "Hare and Whip are staying behind, as well as Shigaraki, since he's keeping an eye on the Boss."
"Oh. What's he gonna do with the Bakugou brat?" Loco asked.
"Probably cripple him and put him in a dumpster to rot," Hacker said.
"YES! I knew it! Me and Thermal and Turtle knew it! Haha! Eat that, ya bitches!" Cham called them out.
"Aww...I thought for certain the Boss was gonna kill the little bastard," Loco said with a disappointed frown.
"Ah, shit. Well, we got to hang around with Twitch for a while," Rubber grumbled.
"Ugh...yeah. Ain't that a joy," Crystal mumbled.
"Well, I think it's time to take that picture with All Might," Turtle said to Thermal and Cham.
"Yeah, man," Thermal turned his attention to Hacker, "Hey, could you take a picture of me, Cham, and Turtle with All Dud since your Quirk is like 'Android' or 'Cyborg' or whatever when you get back?"
"I suppose so. I got to make this quick, though." Hacker told them.
"Yes, and if I can interrupt," Kurogiri said as he materialized into his body form. "You do happen to know the coordinates of this returning-Quirk formula, do you?"
"Yeah, no worries!" Hacker assured, "It's all in my cybernetic-android-ish brain. The Boss gave me the info on the original Quirk erasing formula and gave me all the small directions of how I could easily reverse it. I know what to do."
"...Hm. Well, we don't have anything for you to alter this formula with. You might need to ask Dr. Garaki about using his equipment where Master is," Kurogiri told him.
"Whoa, wait," Dabi spoke up, "You telling me that one of Joker's henchmen is going to be in the presence of You-Know-Who?"
"Hey, again, no worries!" Hacker said, "It's just reversing the effects of the Quirk-erasing formula. I ain't doing anything to the big bad."
"Hmm...Dr. Garaki will see to it," Kurogiri said in a dark tone.
"Yeesh, have a little faith in me, why don't you? You gave me a drink and all that," Hacker protested.
"Hmph." Kurogiri went over to the TV screen and pushed it on.
Soon, the TV screen came on with All For One's voice.
"Yes?" All For One sounded irritated.
"Master. One of Joker's henchmen wants to use Dr. Garaki's equipment to make the formula," Kurogiri informed.
"What?! Using my equipment?!" said the voice of Dr. Garaki.
"Hmm...what happened to Joker?"
"Oh no worries, A.F.O., he's basically torturing that Bakugou kid some more. I didn't want to ruin his fun, so I let him do as he pleased. But I got the whole data right here in the noggin," Hacker said as he pointed to the side of his hard head, "The Boss gave me the directions on how to make the formula, so it's okay if I come into your lair and make it there, right?"
"Hold on there! Master, I don't know if-"
"I know, Dr. Garaki. Which is why you will watch over him."
"M-Me? I mean, sure, but...what if he does something?"
"You have your gun nearby. Use it if he acts up or if he even meddles with the formula slightly."
"...Yes, Master."
"Alright then. You may come into Dr. Garaki's lab. Don't try anything."
"Sure thing, Big Man!" Hacker gave out a left-handed salute.
"Hmm...Kurogiri. Take him here."
"Yes, Master," Kurogiri used his black mist to wrap around Hacker.
"See ya guys later!" Hacker said with a wave.
And then he was gone...
"Now...just to let Joker's henchmen know, if your friend does anything to me and Dr. Garaki, then I will see to it that he and all of you will die, as well as your Boss."
Joker's henchmen all looked at each other for a moment, and turned to the TV screen, nodding their heads.
"Okay then. Duly noted," Turtle said.
"Good...that will be all."
And the TV screen once again turned off.
Eri was still whimpering with her cries muffled by the whip-rope. Spinner looked down at the girl and just awkwardly said, "Uh...there, there...um...E-Eri..."
"Hmm...poor girl," Mr. Compress said, feeling a little sympathetic for Eri.
All Might looked on at the girl crying, and while he felt horrible for the girl, there was one other person that he needed to know was alright.
Young Bakugou...I wish I could try to save the boy...my goodness, I can't do anything...he's in the hands of that madman...
Then, Kurogiri materialized back into the bar.
"Hm?" Kurogiri put a hand to his ear, "...It seems Joker is done with the boy. Shigaraki told me that they were ready to come back...but not until I help them dump the boy somewhere. Preferably a dumpster."
Eyes widened in horror, All Might feared the worst.
No...please...oh please God no...
"I will be back," Kurogiri told everyone and he materialized out of the bar.
"Oh yeah. That's a definite sure sign we won that one," Thermal said with a smirk.
"Yeah, man!" Cham cheered, "Once Hacker comes back, let's all pose like thugs on All Crap over there!"
"I don't really prefer myself a thug," Turtle said, "I'll just give bunny ears behind his head."
"Eh, whatever suits ya, Turtle," Cham shrugged.
Meanwhile, Eri was still crying, which made Spinner a little uncomfortable.
Mr. Compress went up to them, and knelt down to Eri's level, saying, "Um, it's alright, little one. Uh...the worst is...over?"
"Um...I...I can't hold onto her," Spinner said as he gave Eri to Mr. Compress, "Here, maybe you can keep her occupied?"
"Me? I-I mean...I'm not that good with kids," Mr. Compress said awkwardly.
"Well, she's crying over here...and it makes me feel a little bad."
"Well, you're a Villain, you should always feel bad in the sense of doing something bad, right?"
"Wha-...that doesn't make any sense! And you're a Villain too!"
"Aup, I am but a mere thief, and an escape artist."
"That's still pretty Villainous!"
"Now listen here-"
"Oh both of you be quiet," Magne said as she came up to them, "This little girl needs a woman's touch. Give her over to me."
Both Spinner and Mr. Compress glanced at each other, unsure, but Spinner gave Eri to Magne.
Magne carried Eri in her arms and rocked her as she gently said to her, "It's okay, little girl. I know what you saw was something you shouldn't see. Don't cry anymore, Sweetheart. There, there."
All of the League of Villains just looked at Magne acting all motherly in dumbfound.
"...Well, I guess she is a woman after all," Mustard muttered.
"Aww...that's sweet," Twice said with a warm smile, "I agree."
Toga looked on at the scene with Magne and Eri...
All Might looked on at the scene as well...
...These Villains in this League...they all seem to be good-natured people...well, some of them. I would think some of these people here are probably just misunderstood...like Endeavor's son, for example.
He turned to where Endeavor was, near Twitch. The other three Villains were also over there to keep true to their word on the bet.
...Endeavor...just what did you do to make your oldest son the way he is today?
Endeavor glanced at All Might...almost as if he saw the question in his eyes, he looked away...seemingly ashamed.
All Might looked at Dabi, aka Touya Todoroki, and saw that he was just sitting there, not paying his old man any attention as he just looked at the crying Eri in annoyance. When he saw All Might glancing at him, he just sneered and said, "Yeah? What're you looking at, All Might?"
Before he can say anything, Kurogiri materializes back into the bar. They all turned their attention to the black mist, and out came Shigaraki, Whip, Hare, and...Joker.
Joker came in with a big smile on his face. In his right hand, there was...a bloody crowbar.
"Hello, hello, everyone! We're ba~aaack!" Joker announced.
Eri, who heard Joker's voice, glanced at the madman, her eyes wide in horror as she squirmed in closer to Magne's chest, not wanting to look at the clown.
"Whoa, little girl, it's okay! It's okay, the...uh...the bad man won't get you...?" Magne tried to reassure Eri.
"Why yes! No worries, little Eri!" Joker said as he came up to the scared girl in Magne's arms. "I'm not going to harm you! Why in fact, you've been very useful! You've become even more than a great asset to this team! You shouldn't think of your Quirk as a curse! Why, it's a gift! A gift to share around the world!"
Toga's eyes widened at that line.
She...thinks her Quirk is a curse?
Eri kept whimpering, not looking at Joker, and burying into Magne's chest even further.
"Uh...excuse me, Joker?" Magne spoke out, "But, um...I don't think she's in any stable mood to talk to right now."
Joker kept his smile. "That's the whole damn point."
...Magne blinked in confusion.
"She's not supposed to be. She's a tool to be used. I'm only humoring myself." Joker said, laying it out to her.
All Might glared daggers at Joker, "Leave that little girl alone, Joker!"
Joker turned his attention to the No. 1 Hero with the same sadistic smile. "Oh, I don't think it's the girl you should be worried about."
Toshinori gritted his teeth, scowling at the clown, "What did you do to Young Bakugou!? I swear, if you did anything to the boy-!"
"Oh, like you care!" Joker said as he walked over to the Pro Hero. "The brat is nothing more than an absolute fake. I even think he did a lot worse to the Midoriya boy than I could've done! I could tell from his little-bitch-face that he and that boy had a history. Just looking at his pompous, smug, and arrogant facade, he thought the boy was lower than him. He probably baited him into suicide one time! I mean, I wouldn't put it past him if he did! I don't think he even ever considered the boy as a real friend! The exploding brat had all the makings of a future Villain, if you ask me!"
All Might kept glaring at him...
"And you know what's even funnier? He still thinks he can be a Hero, no matter how much shit he's pulled off to make himself 'Hero' material to other people. Well, since now his precious Quirk is gone, he's nothing more than a boy in denial, thinking he can still achieve that 'dream', that oh-so-impossible dream, of being a Hero still..." Joker's smile broadened, "He truly was a stupid and delusional kid."
Eyes widened, All Might gasped, hearing the dreaded word in that sentence. "...You...You said was."
"Huh?" Loco said as his head perked up, "Wait, did you actually kill the kid, Boss?"
"Hey, wait a second, if you did kill him, then...we win?" Rubber asked anyone.
"What are you guys on about?" Whip asked.
"Oh we were having a bet if Joker either crippled the kid or straight up kill him," Crystal said.
"Uh-oh...I think we spoke too soon, guys," Cham said to Thermal and Turtle.
"Now, hold on a moment, boys!" Joker addressed his henchmen, "And All Might," he said with a grin at the Pro Hero, "I just only said was because I basically roughed the boy up so badly that he looked better off dead! He could still be living! Just...barely."
"So...he could still be alive?" All Might asked, hopeful.
"Maybe!" Joker said with a manic smile, "Although, when they see Death in the face, they show who they truly are...and that Baku-bitch showed who he was...a scared little boy, beaten and broken," he raised his bloody crowbar up to All Might's face. "And I made sure he was broken...preferably in the legs. Hahaha!"
"Oh yeah," Hare said with a smile and nod, "The brat ain't gonna walk like...maybe never."
"It was...a little messed up I'll say," Shigaraki noted.
All Might just glared at him, teeth gritted as he glowered at Joker. "...You're not a man. You're nothing but a monster."
"And I'm fine with that," Joker said with a cocky smile.
The Villains of the League looked on at the exchange, Magne comforting Eri, while Spinner and Mr. Compress blinked in stupefaction, Twice looking worried, Muscular and Mustard looking neutral, Dabi looking bored, while Moonfish was mumbling about eating flesh. Shigaraki just stood there, intrigued by All Might and Joker's dialogue.
Toga...just sat there as she was thinking.
...Wow...I didn't know that Eri girl thought that her Quirk was a curse...also, that Joker guy made her see that kid get beat up...yeah, that's really harsh.
- Midoriya Residence -
1:40 PM
As soon as Izuku and Torino came inside the Midoriya residence, closing the door behind them...
"IZUKU!" Inko yelled out as she got up from the couch, and rushed over to the two.
Izuku looked at his mother in surprise.
"W-What happened!? I-I called Mitsuki! What happened to Katsuki!? Wh-Where were you!?" Inko exclaimed as she grabbed her son by the arms and checked up on him.
"I..." Izuku looked at his mother, the shame washing over him.
It was then that Inko noticed the mark and hole that was on his clothed left shoulder, where the syringe shot was.
"Huh!?" Inko's eyes widened in panic, "Izuku! Have you...Have you been shot!?"
"...Mom..." Izuku started to say, his expression hopeless as he stared at his mother.
Not liking that look, Inko instantly racked her brain for any worst-case scenario.
"Izuku...what...what happened?" she asked him in dread.
...Izuku was quiet for a moment until his eyes began to water.
Now being increasingly worried, Inko asked again, "Izuku-Honey, what happened?"
"Miss Midoriya," Torino spoke out, getting the attention of Inko. His face also looked solemn, his downcast expression giving her more reason to worry, "...Your son...doesn't have a Quirk anymore."
Inko's eyes widened in horror. She turned her attention to Izuku with a face that said, 'say it isn't so'.
However, when she saw that desolate look on her son's face, his eyes watering with tears...she then knew...
"...Oh...Oh, Izuku...Izuku, it's...it's going to be okay," Inko tried to reassure him, anything to get his spirits up. She couldn't let her boy look so...defeated...
"...Kacchan...he lost his Quirk too," Izuku quietly noted.
"Wh-What?" Inko said in shock, "I-Izuku, just where were you?"
"...At my old middle school...I was meeting Kacchan there...to tell him about my Quirk...but then..." Izuku's face contorted into anger, "...Joker and two of his minions came out of nowhere. One of his henchmen fired the first shot at Kacchan...there was a scuffle..." his face softened just a bit, "Torino came in just in time to help. But...Joker got Kacchan...I was...I was going to rush over there to save him, but...I was shot, too."
Inko looked at his boy with such pity and grief...
"...And Joker and his henchmen...along with Kacchan...got away." Izuku finished, his tone sounding soft with despair.
...They all stood there in silence...
...Until they heard knocks at the door.
KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK!
"INKO!? INKO!? WHERE'S IZUKU!?" hollered the voice of...
"Honey, please, calm down-"
"I CAN'T BE CALM, MASARU! MY KATSUKI IS OUT THERE KIDNAPPED! ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN TO HIM!"
Izuku, Inko, and Torino all jumped a bit in surprise at the sudden noise. They all looked at the door, with Inko uttering, "M-Mitsuki!?"
"Auntie Mitsuki? Uncle Masaru?" Izuku said in shock.
"Huh? Are they that Bakugou kid's parents?" Torino asked.
"Y-Yes!" Inko made her way to the door and opened it, and in came a distressed and crying Mitsuki, her mascara running down her face. "Mitsuki!?"
"INKO!" Mitsuki exclaimed as she grabbed onto Inko's shoulders in desperation, "Please! Where is Izuku!? I need to know what happened!"
"Uh...I-I'm right here, Auntie Mitsuki," Izuku spoke out, stunned.
Mitsuki turned her head to Izuku, letting go of Inko and now grabbing Izuku by the arms and shaking him, "Izuku! What happened!? Who's got my boy!? I'll murder the bastard, just please tell me what happened to him!"
"Mistuki, you need to stay calm!" Masaru came in and grabbed his wife by her arms from behind.
"Damn it, Masaru, I need to know what happened to my boy!" Mitsuki exclaimed back at him.
"I know! But this isn't helping the situation!" Masaru told her. "Seriously, you ran all the way here and I had to catch up to you!"
"Y-You both ran here?" Izuku asked, his eyes widened.
Torino blinked, "Wow...I don't know where you folks live, but that's pretty impressive."
Mitsuki turned her attention to Torino, "Who are you!?"
"Uh...Sorahiko Torino, ma'am."
"Mitsuki, Dear, I understand, I really do!" Masaru said, looking like he was about to cry as well. "But we have to be level-headed and just depend on the police and Heroes to find Katsuki!"
"But what if they don't!?" Mitsuki said as she turned to her husband, a look of hopelessness and pure fear on her face. "What if it's too-...too LATE!?"
"Then we have to pray!" Masaru exclaimed in despair, "Please, Mitsuki, just calm down!"
"A-Auntie Mitsuki? Uncle Masaru?" Izuku said to them.
The couple turned their heads to Izuku. The boy just looked as miserable as them.
"I'm...I'm so sorry. I...I tried to save him, but...m-my Quirk..." he closed his eyes shut, gaining the courage to say the next thing. "...Joker has him."
...Both Mitsuki and Masaru just looked at the boy...the former grimacing in grief, while the latter just looked on in shock.
"And...Joker took away Kacchan's Quirk." Izuku finished, letting that be the final blow.
Mitsuki couldn't hold her tears and emotions any longer. She went to the ground on her knees and wept in her hands.
Masaru though, had to hear the last bit again. "Katsuki's...Quirk was taken?"
"...It's actually...erased...it's gone now...like mine," Izuku muttered in shame.
"...What? Yours is...gone too?" Masaru asked him, stunned.
"...I'm so sorry," Izuku said in despair.
As Mitsuki was bawling in her hands, Inko went over to her good friend and knelt down next to her to comfort her. Torino just stood there, looking grim about the whole thing. Masaru just stood there, in shock.
Izuku...was just numb. Numb in the sense of feeling dejected in his state of mind…
2:00 PM
As soon as Izuku explained what happened, and he told them everything (he might as well, since All Might and him lost One For All), both Masaru and Mitsuki were shocked. He didn't tell them that Katsuki was there for a fight or even for a confrontation, but for some reason, he felt like Mitsuki would already know why he wanted to meet up with Izuku. Even then, Mitsuki was still crying for her son, and Masaru was also shedding tears for his boy.
However, for some reason or another, Izuku never mentioned Iwao, aka, Knuckeduster. Even Torino hasn't said a word about him...
Torino gave them his condolences, and Inko asked if they would like to stay here for a while since they basically ran over here. The couple obliged and stayed at the Midoriya residence for the time being.
Izuku wanted to be alone in his room for the time being, but it was then, Masaru and Mitsuki came to him and said these encouraging comments.
Izuku. This isn't your fault. This...This maniac came at the worst time. Don't ever feel like it's your fault. We just only hope Katsuki will be...will be okay. Masaru.
That's right...I know my son can be...well, he can be a little intolerable, but...he's still our son. And I know you were trying to save him as best as you can...just don't ever lose sight of that Heroic spirit you have. Mitsuki.
Yes...we really want Katsuki to be like you in a way. To realize the importance of Heroism...I think All Might chose right on that. Masaru.
Yes...my son has a long way to go...but I know, deep down somewhere inside him, that...he is inspired by you. He may not know it, but...you inspire him. Mitsuki.
...Izuku lay on his bed...looking at the ceiling...
...I inspire Kacchan?
He would like to think that...maybe in some warped way, Katsuki was inspired by him...whether he wanted to be the best Hero there was, or actually learning how to be Heroic...
Though...that look he gave Izuku before he was taken...
Help me.
...Izuku turned to his side, resting on his bed...
3:00 PM
...The door to Izuku's room flew open.
It was Inko.
"Izuku!" she exclaimed.
"Huh!? What!?" Izuku got up, sitting up on his bed.
"Izuku! Put your shoes on! They found Katsuki!"
Eyes widened in shock, Izuku held onto that glimmer of hope. "They found him!? Where!?"
Inko's face showed...a disturbing expression.
She looked...bleak...
"Izuku, right now we need to go over there," she said, not answering his question.
"...What?" Izuku's heart then skipped a beat.
No...he...he isn't...he isn't-
It was then Inko gave him a hint.
"He's in a dumpster."
...Izuku got up quickly and went over to the genkan to get his shoes on. Mitsuki, Masaru, and Torino were already out. They all went to Inko's car and got inside it, but Torino went ahead and ran over there, Inko telling him the location where Katsuki was.
They drove over to the location...
Inko looked determined to get to where they needed to go. Mitsuki was in the passenger seat, giving off a silent prayer, as did Masaru who was in the back seat with Izuku.
The boy didn't have any more info on what happened to Katsuki...he just got up and got ready to go. He didn't know what he would find when he got there...
...Izuku prayed just as hard as Mitsuki and Masaru.
...And I stop the chapter here. Just to let you all wonder in anticipation. I was gonna continue and keep on going, but...I found this to be a good place to stop and let it all sink in...
So, the big question is, is Katsuki alive or not? D:
...You'll just have to see in the next chapter. XP
Either way, thank you all for reading! I hope the chapter was good! And I hope you're enjoying this so far, even though it's pretty dark...just to let you know, Joker is going to get his comeuppance in the climax, no worries. ;)
Thank you all for reading! Give me a review, follow, and a fave! :)
Until then, keep on rocking everybody!
-TSP