Izuku stepped to the middle of the TKL. His classmates were amazing. He felt extremely guilty for watching them display their Ultimate moves, but being a massive quirk nerd, he couldn't help himself.
He knew what his true ultimate move would be, but he didn't want to show that off until he was ready.
Instead, he would play into what everyone incorrectly thought his power was: his alien transformations.
"Mister Cementoss?" Izuku called nervously. "You can fix the roof, right?"
"If it becomes necessary." Cementoss replied, eyes widening. "Although I will be unable to repair the glass. Should we open the roof instead?"
"That's probably for the best." Izuku admitted, activating the Omnitrix.
His skin split with rivers of magma as his flesh hardened into black stone or melted into glowing yellow fire.
"I'm all fired up!" Heatblast grinned. He held his hands out to his side as he crouched, flames simmering on his shoulders. He leapt into the air, twisting in a torrent of fire. The heat carried him halfway to the roof where he hovered for a moment, blazing like the sun. "Ultimate move! Flashfire Fist: Hell Cyclone!"
Shoto's eyes widened as he watched Heatblast mimic Endeavour's movements with exacting precision. Flames licked the floor of the TKL, turning the concrete into slag, as the fire spiralled upwards in a searing tornado.
Fire burned in Heatblast's hands as he lowered himself slowly to the ground. The whole building was on fire.
"Heh." He chuckled. "Oops."
All the fire disappeared as he absorbed the flames.
"Midoriya!" Cementoss lowered a barrier of concrete, revealing the rest of 1-A and the teachers cowering between fractals of melting ice. "That was extremely dangerous! You could have injured someone! You should be holding back in demonstrations like this!"
"I was holding back." Heatblast scoffed with a smirk. "I can show you real firepower, if you want?"
"Midoriya, transform back to normal." Aizawa insisted. "Now."
"Okay." Heatblast grumbled. "You guys are so damn uptight."
Green light flashed as Izuku stumbled back into view, clutching his head.
"Oh man." He groaned. "I don't know what came over me."
"Maybe refrain from using that transformation until you have better control over its emotions." Aizawa continued, giving feedback as if nothing happened. "You have prepared more, correct?"
"Right." Izuku shook his head to clear it. "Well, that's the first one down. I have ultimate moves prepared for most of my transformations, so this could take a while. Though I'm still working on a few. Ripjaws needs water for his and, well, a few of the newer ones like Spider-Monkey's still need work... and, Way Big, well, he's Way Big so I can't really show him off here without hurting someone-"
"Midoriya." Aizawa cut him off. "Your classmates still need to present as well. Will you consider demonstrating during your extra lessons?"
"What?" Izuku startled out of his mumbling. "Oh. Yeah. Yeah sure. That works."
"Good." Aizawa narrowed his eyes. "We will talk about your self control while the rest of the class does their Ultimate moves."
"Yes sir." Izuku sighed.
Aizawa watched Izuku walk off in a pretend sulk.
The demonstration had been Midoriya's idea. Use one of his most recognisable forms and show a good deal of power to be believable, while creating a reason to have him removed from the gym.
That way, Midoriya could avoid giving the villains any more information than was necessary without giving them any reason to doubt him.
Aizawa patted Cementoss' shoulder as he followed after Midoriya.
Midoriya's Ultimate Move was the signal to act, but the performance had only just begun.
The projector bathed Aizawa in a blue backlight. The mugshot of a young man with green-bronze skin and the head of a shark grinned with rows of teeth against the projection screen.
"His name is Hayate Eguchi."
"The Itachizame business owner?" The number 43 pro hero, Nightmare, asked. "Are we sure the kid's intel is accurate?"
"Yes." Aizawa didn't raise his voice. "This is the only charge of any criminal kind that has ever been made against Eguchi. A single instance of Grand theft of an automobile that was later dropped due to mistaken identity."
"And yet you have gathered us here." Endeavour rumbled.
"Indeed." Aizawa had been surprised how easily Enji Todoroki had agreed to a barely legal operation on behalf of Izuku Midoriya. "Believe it or not, multiple heroes and police officers over the years have become suspicious of Eguchi, due to their run ins with seemingly corrupt members of law enforcement. There has also been a lot of speculation that he has ties with neo-yakuza groups, like the Shie Hassaikai."
"I assume you have proof of these claims?" Edgeshot guessed.
"I have too many coincidences to count." Aizawa clarified. "And that's why I've gathered you all tonight."
"To discuss speculation and rumour?" Edgeshot raised an eyebrow.
"It was." Aizawa admitted. "Until earlier tonight."
Aizawa triggered the remote, playing a recording from his phone.
The phone rang.
Izuku raised his head for a moment, then continued doing his homework.
Saturday had passed slowly. Izuku woke up, feeling strangely uneasy. His experience as Ghostfreak had made him more uncomfortable than he wanted to think about.
Something about possessing another being, controlling them from inside without them being able to do anything about it… didn't feel right.
The phone rang again.
It was strange that his mom didn't come to answer it, but not completely out of the ordinary. He dusted off his knees as he stood.
"Midoriya residence." He answered. "This is Izuku speaking."
"Mr Midoriya, I am disappointed in you."
Izuku felt his hands go numb as he recognised the voice.
'W-what do you want?" He couldn't help the stutter. His numb fingers slipped on his phone in his pants pocket. He rapidly pressed the 'home' button, feeling the phone vibrate to indicate he had accessed the accessibility mode.
"I thought we had a deal." Tigershark's voice rang with an unseen smile. "Tell me, Mr Midoriya, do you know where Itachizame Industries is based?"
"You have dealerships across the country." Izuku responded with a dry mouth, holding the volume button and home button pressed at the same time. "Your main factory and head offices are in Nabu City."
"You have done your homework." Tigershark laughed.
"I like to know who I'm working for, Mr Eguchi." Izuku kept his voice steady.
Silence rang on the other end of the phone.
"Look round the room for me, Mr Midoriya."
Izuku did as he was told.
"I suppose you are alone after all." Tigershark harumphed. "I ask that you not mention my name again. Ever. When I call you in the future, you will refer to me simply as 'Sir'. Is that understood?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good dog." Tigershark sneered. "Now then. This phone call is unfortunately for business. I am deeply disappointed in your work, Mr Midoriya."
"I have done everything you asked." Izuku's throat tightened.
"Don't play the fool." Tigershark growled. "You have, I suspect purposefully, refrained from looking at anything useful to me."
"I didn't want to stare." Izuku protested weakly. "It would be obvious I am looking, and make me stand out. You asked me to act natural and not stand out while observing as much as I can of UA's internal workings. I can't do that if I act too differently than I normally do. It would raise suspicion."
"Very well reasoned." Tigershark admitted begrudgingly. "Still, we have not received nearly as much intel as I had hoped. As such I have to ask that you get inside the vehicle that is waiting for you outside your apartment complex."
"I-I will have to tell my mom." Izuku shuddered. "I need time to think of an excuse. I also have extra classes with Miss Midnight tonight."
"Do what you must to convince your teacher." Tigershark smirked. "But do not worry about your mother. She is already here."
Endeavour slammed his fist down, shattering the table where he sat.
"My god." Edgeshot sat back.
"That kid has nerves of steel." Nightmare whistled appreciatively. "He recorded that whole conversation so easily?"
"Midoriya is exceptionally creative and intelligent." Endeavour growled. "Given enough time, there is no problem that boy can't solve."
"Indeed." Aizawa said, taken aback by the overt praise from Endeavour. "It took him less than a full day to determine a method of communication that did not jeopardise his family's safety while warning me about his situation."
"He then devised and learned two separate languages that he could apply to communicate with us in less than a week." Midnight added, entering the room. "And with barely any time to think, Midoriaya sent me a coded message that alerted me to this latest development."
The projector changed again, showing a screenshot of a phone message.
Midnight-Sensei
Regrettably I will be unable to do the extra study later today as we prepared.
There has been a family emergency.
Fortunately, I prepared well in advance and finished the necessary parts of the project.
Seeing as I will not be home for an uncertain time, I will leave you a key in the place we discussed, and a recording of my practice with JSL so that you can judge my progress.
Yours urgently,
Izuku Midoriya
"We agreed beforehand that using my hero name would signal that he is sending a coded message." Midnight explained. "It was his idea. I made my way to the Midoriya residence as fast as I could, but he was already gone. I found the phone on top of a hastily written note."
"How long ago was this?" Edgeshot asked.
"Three hours ago." Aizawa answered simply.
"You mean my student has been in the custody of a villain for three hours?!" Endeavour bellowed.
"Calm yourself, Enji." Aizawa raised a hand. "Midoriya is fine. I have a second group on site already who are keeping a very close eye on him to ensure his safety. As far as we have been able to tell, Eguchi is merely intimidating Midoriya and expressing in more certain terms the extent of what he expects of the young man."
"This is far too much to put on a child." Endeavour insisted.
"But not too much for a hero." Aizawa countered. "Midoriya is playing his part, and we have a method of communicating with him if we succeed. Which brings us to our purpose tonight."
"We have an unparalleled opportunity." Midnight explained. "To take down a criminal that has evaded the law for decades. A large part, if not the primary part, of Eguchi's criminal dealings happen between his factory and highrise. If we can infiltrate and find evidence of his crimes, we can put a stop to one of the most dangerous and elusive criminal enterprises Japan has ever seen."
Silence drowned the room. Aizawa shut down the projector letting the classroom lights slowly brighten.
"Very well." Endeavour crossed his arms. "What is the plan?"
It was dark.
Rain fell from a moonless sky.
Three heavily armed men crumpled on a rooftop as a nearly invisible line flashed past them. Edgeshot reformed on the rooftop across from the Itachizame Office complex.
"Team Red is in place." He spoke clearly into his earpiece.
"Team blue too." Nightmare responded.
"The complex has an emergency generator." Aizawa kept a careful eye on employees moving around the building. "Blue, go to phase one."
"Avert your eyes, until I give the signal." Nightmare slid his goggles down, completely blocking his vision. Dark blue-green mist flowed and curled from the side of his neck as he breathed. A rapidly growing cloud of mist billowed towards the office complex.
His hero name was derived from his quirk, Nightmare.
He focussed on keeping himself alert and steady, sweat already forming on his skin.
The chassis of yet to be assembled cars and trucks hung like animal carcasses from the various claws and magnets of the Itachizame Assembly Factory in Nabu City.
Izuku sat in a lush, wood panelled office across from an empty desk. Mr Tanaka had driven with him to Nabu in a luxurious limousine and escorted him through the factory. The limousine's windows were darkened to keep Izuku from being able to see where they were going, but he could recall every turn they had made, and could estimate how long they drove straight for.
Besides he had researched this facility and could remember the architecture from the blueprints he found online.
When they arrived, Tanaka apologised and explained that Tigershark was late due to business he had to attend to.
Over an hour had passed already since then, and Izuku guessed the drive there had taken an hour itself.
Using the Omnitrix had given him a keen mind for keeping track of time. He wasn't always completely accurate, but he was confident in being correct of the passage of time to within half an hour.
The groaning and wrenching of metal from machinery made a great deal of noise that covered the screams well, but not entirely.
Izuku assumed that the source of the screams and the 'business' Tigershark had to attend to were one in the same.
Guilt pulled at his stomach at the relief he felt that none of the agonised wails belonged to Inko Midoriya.
"Tanaka-Sama?" Izuku ventured. "May I see my mother?"
He had been extremely careful not to ask too soon. Seeming eager could make them believe he thought she was in danger, which could be taken as a sign that he had done something that would put her in danger.
"Of course." The old man replied easily, surprising Izuku. "She is not here at the factory, however. But you may visit her afterwards."
"Oh." Izuku kept his voice even. "I understand. May I ask where she is?"
Tanaka gave Izuku a long suffering look over the brim of his glasses.
"Ok." Izuku said, swinging his legs for lack of something to do. He had discreetly activated the Omnitrix earlier, keeping it ready to slam down at a moment's notice.
Time passed. On the assembly line below, identical vehicles were assembled in an unchanging sequence. Humans worked some of the machines, but many were robotic, functioning fully autonomously.
A lull in the construction made Izuku come to a terrible conclusion.
The screaming had stopped.
Heavy footfalls resounded up the metal walkway that led to the office.
Izuku felt the blood in his veins buzz like static.
The door opened.
"Good evening, Mr Midoriya." Fresh blood was drying in a streak down Tigershark's chin as he licked his blood painted lips. "I see you have made yourself comfortable. Unfortunately this meeting will not be as pleasant as you seem to believe."
Izuku kept his face as calm as possible, repeating over and over in his head that his mother wasn't in the factory.
It couldn't be her blood.
"I'm inside the monitor room." Edgeshot hissed, his body wrapped around a villain's neck. "And you'll never guess what I found while downloading the security recordings. You're going to want to give this one a personal touch, Eraser."
"I'm finished with the employee records." Aizawa respond quietly, hiding around a corner as two heavily armed thugs came out of the elevator down the hallway. "I have what we need. Making my way to you now."
"Mister Midoriya, do you understand what I am?" Tigershark rumbled, leaning backwards in his creaking leather office chair.
"A villain." Izuku replied easily.
"Well... yes." Tigershark bared his teeth. "But first and foremost I am a businessman. My father was an accountant. A dirty one at that. He balanced books, or unbalanced them, as his bosses ordered. You're aware of the Yakuza, right?"
"I guess." Izuku shrugged. "In a historical context."
"That's fine." Tigershark waved him off before he could speak further. "My father helped to launder money for a syndicate for most of his life. The Kai Kesshoishi to be exact, one of the most powerful crime families in all of Japan after the emergence of quirks. When I was around your age, they were wiped out in less than a week, including their families, down to the children sleeping in their cribs. All because my father was sloppy, and left crucial documents that proved their criminal dealings in his study in our home."
"Heroes murdered an entire syndicate's families?" Izuku asked sceptically.
"Don't be ridiculous." Tigershark frowned. "It was a rival branch of the Yakuza, known as the Shie Hassaikai. They butchered my mother in her bed while my father and I were forced to watch."
"I'm sorry." Izuku felt a strange sense of sympathy for the man in front of him, whose normal life had been ripped to shreds.
"Thank you, but spare your sympathies." Tigershark grinned sadistically. "I was the one who gave the Shie Hassaikai those documents."
"You betrayed your own family?!" Izuku exclaimed.
"Like I said." The villain laughed softly. "I am a businessman. I always have been. The Boss offered me a position in his enterprise, and a massive payment in exchange for the documents."
"Your family died because of you." Izuku stammered.
"I insisted on it." Tigershark's eyes seemed alight with pleasure at the memory. "I despised my parents for the weaklings they were, my mother especially. My father often got drunk and beat her to relieve his temper, but she never fought back. Pathetic, isn't it? So when the Boss offered to take care of them for me, well, I just had to see it happen for myself."
"You're a monster." Izuku's voice shook with disbelief.
"Yes." Tigershark replied easily. "I am. So ask yourself, Izuku Midoriya. If I would do that to my own family… Imagine what I would do to yours if you failed me again…"
"They seem to be losing interest." Nightmare reported with a shaking voice, keeping his illusion of the monster active. "I see many of them moving back indoors."
Endeavour was fighting the illusion as if it was a villain attacking the city, creating a distraction for Aizawa's team to infiltrate the office complex.
Nightmare could create illusions of anything that frightened people if someone inhaled the mist he produced, but they were more effective when the people that breathed the mist found them frightening too.
Most of the Itachizame 'office workers' were losing interest in the spectacle and moving back to their posts. Luckily, leaving the building would be far easier than coming in, according to their evacuation plan.
"Move to stage 2." Aizawa's reply was short and whispered.
"Gotcha." Nightmare breathed a sigh of relief, letting the illusion dissipate. He downed a bottle of water, then leapt off the building.
"May I call you Izuku?" Tigershark leaned forward.
"I guess." Izuku answered weakly.
"Understand that I want us to have a long, fruitful relationship, Izuku." He spoke cordially, as if in a meeting with shareholders. "The information you provide from the inside of UA could be invaluable to my associates. They are already paying me tens of millions of yen in exchange for our agreement. I would very much like to share that money with you, instead of threatening your family's safety."
Izuku didn't meet the villain's eyes.
"Izuku," Tigershark spoke with an edge of warning. "I need you to observe the facilities in and around UA thoroughly. I need to see security measures and emplacements. Your reward can be a bigger salary than most people see a year working in an office complex, or your reward can be seeing your mother not tortured for a day. It is entirely up to you."
"I choose the money." Izuku replied, his voice barely above a whisper. Silent tears stung their way down his cheeks."
"Good boy." Tigershark grinned. "My associates will see you out."
"Can I see my mother?" Izuku begged.
Tigershark hesitated before answering.
"You will find her unharmed at your residence when you return." He replied evenly. "You have my word."
"Thank you, sir." Izuku replied weakly, relief flooding his body.
"Tanaka, if you would?" Tigershark asked.
"Of course, sir." Tanaka bowed. "Follow me, Mister Midoriya."
From the metal walkway near the roof of the factory, Izuku watched as rough looking workers attended their jobs.
"Are the workers aware of Mr Egu- uh… the Boss's… other business?" Izuku asked quietly.
"You will find that there is only one 'business', as you put it." Tanaka explained curtly.
"These are all villains?" Izuku asked in disbelief.
"They do extra work outside the factory and are rewarded for it." Tanaka replied. "It's called overtime."
Izuku didn't respond.
"All teams," Aizawa spoke clearly through the communications device as he kept his eyes trained on the unconscious Kikukami. "Go to phase Green."
Izuku's head itched.
He scratched idly at the itching sensation as he crossed the factory floor behind Tanaka.
"I told you never to call this number." Tanaka snapped, voice sharp as he answered his phone. "What is it?"
He stopped dead, turning wide eyed to face Izuku.
A clump of white hair dropped from Izuku's head, floating slowly to the factory floor.
Tanaka opened and closed his mouth disbelievingly as he dropped his phone from suddenly limp fingers.
"Go to phase Green." Aizawa's voice spoke clearly from the hidden device Izuku wore inside his left ear.
A few of the factory workers turned to stare at Tanaka and Midoriya, standing motionlessly in the middle of the factory floor.
"Consider this my official resignation." Izuku snarled as he slapped the Omnitrix down and vanished in a flash of green light.
"And you're sure my Izuku will be alright?" Inko wrung her hands nervously.
"You have my word, madam." Nezu responded with a kind smile, sipping his tea.
"We are here only as a precaution." Midnight responded sincerely. "We believe that Eguchi is having your home watched, so we are here to protect you. Your son is being watched closely by a group of top heroes. If everything goes according to plan, the villains will never even suspect he was involved at all."
Tanaka stumbled backwards as the boy vanished, replaced by a slick, black form with glowing blue lines on its body.
"Inference:" Upgrade hummed. "This will not go well for you. Suggestion: Surrender now."
"Ten Million yen for whoever kills him!" Tanaka yelped, scrambling as he ran.
The factory workers unanimously abandoned their posts, grabbing tools as improvised weapons or pulling knives and guns from their clothes.
"Assertion: I have been looking forward to this." Upgrade twisted backwards, soaking into the assembly line conveyor, clicking and shifting the components as he enhanced and integrated the technology. He transformed into a giant mechanised centipede, bristling with pylons that arced bright blue electricity.
He snaked forward, slapping a wave of criminals backwards, instantly knocking them unconscious by using his electrified carapace as a massive taser.
"I will take you all on!" He thrummed, sections of his body sliding open and reconstructing into ranged weapons, firing blasts of immobilising electricity in every direction. Scores of factory workers fell shaking to the ground as Upgrade rampaged through the facility.
The gun wielding criminals unloaded into Upgrade's mechanical body and, even though the Mechamorph could not feel pain, the damage was beginning to tear the machinery he possessed apart.
He ejected himself, landing on top of one of the thug's rifles and integrated instantly, reconstructing the weapon into an robotic insectoid.
"Boo!" He barked, wiggling two of his dozens of spindly legs at the thug.
The thug yelped as he tried to drop his suddenly sentient weapon, only for Upgrade to leap onto his face.
"Keep it away from the machines!" Tanaka shouted as he dashed out of the emergency exit.
Upgrade held his claws tightly around the henchman's head using the moment to observe his surroundings while the other criminals hesitated to shoot at their companion. They stood in a crescent formation, slowly closing the distance to him while cutting off his access to the bigger machines in the rear of the factory. Upgrade electrocuted the henchman he held, sending him twitching to the ground, then scuttled forward as the remaining criminals fired wildly, trying to hit him.
"Observation: I am running out of compatible technology to interface with." Upgrade left the scrambled gun parts in a heap on the ground, leaping onto a desk fan that he reconstrued into a whirling helicopter. He flew high up into the factory rafters, using the shadows to conceal him from their lines of sight. "Admission: I know you're watching, Tigershark. I am afraid I have deceived you, in many things. For example:"
Upgrade leapt down, twisting in the air as he landed on the factory floor with a flash of green light.
"True Ultimate Move!" Four Arms shouted, ripping a steel desk from the bolts in the floor and hurtling it through a group of criminals. He leapt forwards, grabbing a thug in each of his hands and slamming them together before catapulting them like javelins into their shocked allies. "Quick Change!"
Four Arms vanished as Fasttrack blasted forward, cracking the concrete of the factory floor from the speed, leaping into the air in a flash of light as Cannonbolt slammed into the next cluster of criminals, sending them screaming through the air.
The roof exploded in streaks of slag as Endeavour erupted into the factory complex, followed by Edgeshot, Ragdoll and several other Pro Heroes.
"Oh crap!" A criminal shouted, falling to the ground in shock.
"No pay is worth this! I'm outta here!"
"Stay and fight you cowards!" Another hurled a wrenched that bounced harmlessly off of Cannonbolt's shell.
"You've improved!" Endeavour beamed at his student as he landed, throwing two balls of fire that sent villains flying.
"I had a good teacher!" Cannonbolt warped into Diamondhead. He rammed his fist into the ground, creating a fissure of crystals that ran across the floor and covered every exit from the factory in layers of sharp mint green shards. "No way out now."
"How often can you do that?" Endeavour blasted a beam of fire at Diamondhead, who erected a disk of crystal fractals that reflected the fire in several directions, taking out multiple villains in one attack.
"As often as I want!" Diamondhead grinned, hurtling a fist of crystal darts that stuck villains to the walls or floor. "But every time I do, it shortens my transformation time roughly by half."
"How long do you have left?" Endeavour asked, throwing a spear of fire that detonated in the middle of a group of criminals cowering behind a turned over steel table.
"Three minutes, give or take." Diamondhead responded casually. "Though I can hold it if I need to now, but I won't risk Quick Changing again soon."
"We have the situation under control here." Endeavour noted. "Do you want to go after Tigershark?"
"Gladly."
The wall to the office exploded as Diamondhead entered. Tigershark watched the battle unfold calmly, his hands behind his back.
"It's over." Diamondhead spat. "Surrender now."
"I don't think so." Tigershark rumbled. "Heroes launched an attack on my place of business, harassed and injured my employees, and destroyed my products and machines. This is a multi-billion yen lawsuit in the making, and I will squeeze every cent out of you disgusting heroes."
"You sound confident." Diamondhead noted, sealing the door with crystal.
"How could you possibly justify an unprovoked attack on a famous businessman?"
"Phase Green." Diamondhead smirked. "It means they found significant enough evidence raiding your office complex to ensure a conviction."
"You WHAT?!" Tigershark bellowed, spinning around to face Diamondhead.
"That's right." Diamondhead tried not to flinch back. "While I kept you busy here, a group of Pros raided your Office and home. We agreed to only go to Phase Green if irrefutable evidence was found in the first stage. It's over."
"Nothing is over." Tigershark snapped. "I still own you!"
"My mother is safe at home." Diamondhead said dismissively. "You said so yourself."
Tigershark smiled in the silence, sending a shiver down Diamondhead's crystal spine.
"And how do you think I know that?" The villain rumbled. "Did you really think Kikukami's quirk was the only way I kept an eye on you? I have several of my followers posted to watch your home at all times. Including right now."
"You're lying." Diamondhead insisted.
"Can you be sure?"
The silence in the office thickened like spoiled milk as the battle raged outside the bulletproof windows.
"Here's what's going to happen, Midoriya." Tigershark growled. "You are going to let me escape, and in exchange I won't send your mother back to you piece by piece."
"You'll be in prison."
"I've been in prison before." Tigershark grinned. "I'll start with her fingers. Joint… by joint…"
"I won't let you." Diamondhead extended his arms into jagged blades.
"You can't stop me." Tigershark laughed sadistically. "I will never forget what you have done today. Never."
Diamondhead raised his bladed arm, the point extended at Tigershark's throat.
"Look at the big hero." Tigershark's voice was soft now. "How quickly his morals crumble. Are you going to kill me, hero?"
"I am going to stop you." Diamondhead murmured. "One way or another."
"If you kill me…" Tigershark chuckled. "Even in self-defence, you'll go to jail as surely as I would if I am captured today. And then… who will protect your mother while she is alone in your home at night?"
Diamondhead hesitated.
"I own you." Tigershark smiled. "Body and soul. Now, step aside."
"No." Diamondhead insisted. "I won't let you hurt anyone else."
"Neither will I." Endeavour's voice boomed.
Tigershark's eyes widened in shock before a flare of fire erupted from behind him. The charred villain's headless body fell to the floor.
Green light flashed as Izuku fell to his knees, tears running down his face.
"H-he was going to-" Izuku sobbed uncontrollably.
"It's over now, Midoriya." Endeavour laid a reassuring hand on his protege's shoulder. "I am here."
In the fallout of the factory raid, Izuku was commended by several pro heroes for his bravery and aid in taking down one of Japan's most ruthless and elusive crime syndicates.
Despite the endorsement and support of the pro hero organisations, Izuku was slandered in the press.
Endeavour and Eraserhead reassured Izuku that it was normal for operations against hidden organisations like Itachizame to have this result, as even with all the evidence they presented, many media outlets were still on the payroll of the Yakuza.
Izuku suspected the answer was much simpler.
Tanaka escaped.
To prevent a situation like what happened to Izuku from ever happening again, as well as a precaution against future villain attacks, UA implemented a dorm system.
In the common room, Izuku regaled his classmates with the tale of his ordeal, shocking and impressing many of them.
"So that's why you've been acting so weird." Kendo snapped her fingers.
"Have you been watching him closely, then?" Tokoyami teased with a raised eyebrow.
"What?" Kendo blanched, cheeks reddening. "No! Hey! That's not what I meant, man!"
"I would have killed him." Bakugou smacked a fist into his other hand, detonating a small explosion.
"You would have been arrested." Jirou pointed out.
"Damn laws are just suggestions to a real hero." Bakugou growled.
"I know you think that makes you sound cool," Sero shook his head. "But really, it just makes you sound like a psychopath."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY TO ME, YOU DAMN IDIOT?! AT LEAST MY FACE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A NO NAME BRAND!"
"I could never spy on my friends like that." Toru squeaked. "I'd crack up on the first day!"
"I know, right?" Kaminari agreed. "You think I could keep my nerves with a secret like that? Not with my big mouth."
"Plus taking the opportunity to reveal your true ultimate move where a bunch of Pro Heroes can see?" Ojiro shook his head appreciatively. "That's just badass."
"It's so manly!" Kaminari agreed. "Being forced to choose between protecting your friends and family, then figuring out a way to do both and take down an entire Yakuza Syndicate in the process!"
"Aizawa-Sensei and the heroes did most of the work." Izuku replied, embarrassed at the praise.
"The villains picked the wrong hero to mess with." Mineta brooded. "Simple as that."
Izuku acknowledged the comment with a grateful smile.
"Oh crap!" Mina yelped. "It's already past 10!"
"Get to bed, you damn nerds!" Bakugou shouted, waving his hand over his head. "I want you all 10 minutes early tomorrow! Just cause we live on school property doesn't mean we get to slack off and sleep in!"
"Yes, class rep." The students grumbled in unison, trudging off to their rooms.
"That's totally what it means." Kaminari whined.
Izuku couldn't sleep.
He really tried.
The events of the last two days kept running through his head.
He made his way down to the kitchen to idly browse the fridge for a late night snack, when a flicker of light from the common room caught his attention. His recent experience still fresh in his mind, he kept his hand trained on the Omnitrix as he made his way quietly there.
Kendo sat on the couch, wrapped in a blanket. A pair of white earphones explained why the movie on the TV made no sound.
Izuku walked into her line of sight, waving silently. She noticed him, and patted the seat next to her with a smile. He joined her, curious of what she's watching.
"Dragon Fist?" He whispered with a grin. "I love her movies. I watched them all the time as a kid."
"I'm surprised there was room for anyone else between the All Might marathons." She snickered quietly.
"We all have our idols." Izuku smiled. "I guess she's yours, huh?"
"Well, she did raise me."
"Your mom is Dragon Fist?!" Izuku did his best not to shout. "That's awesome!"
"Yeah." Kendo grinned sheepishly. "Most people don't figure it out, since she kept her name for Hero work after marrying dad."
"You know," Izuku teased pensiveness as Dragon Fist smacked a villain over the head. "I think I see the resemblance now."
"Jerk." Kendo bumped him with her shoulder.
She removed the earphone from her right ear and offered it to Izuku. He smiled in thanks, accepting it.
They watched the schlocky action turn into a big speech from the Hero while facing off against the main bad guy.
"Hey, Izuku?" She asked, a shadow of nervousness falling over her. "Were you scared?"
"Are you kidding?" He grinned weakly. "I was terrified."
"The whole time?"
"Every second."
"You hide it so well." Itsuka sighed, pulling her knees up to her chest. "I guess it's easier when you can turn into any wacky shape to get out of every possible kind of danger."
"That helps, yeah." Izuku nodded sincerely. "But I miss-transform all the time. I'd want to change into like Four Arms or something, and then Be- the Omnitrix gives me Ripjaws instead."
"It happens that often?"
"Oh yeah." Izuku whispered seriously. "More often than I'd like. Despite having an alien for every possible situation, my quirk is seriously unreliable most of the time. Just look athe sports festival."
"I guess." She allowed. "I just look at our peers and I feel so… I mean, they can control Ice and Fire, Shadow Demons and create anything out of thin air. I can make my hands big."
"I was quirkless most of my life." Izuku said quietly. "Imagine how I felt."
"Scared?"
"Powerless." Izuku whispered. "Completely powerless over everything in my life. The entrance exam especially. I was forcefully carried away from trying out for my dream. It was terrifying, and humiliating."
"But you still did it." Itsuka noted.
"You can't be brave if you're not scared." Izuku shrugged. "If you're not scared of anything, how can you overcome your fears."
She watched him for a long, quiet moment, then her face became resolute.
"You're right." She whispered, voice almost shaking. She moved, leaning her head on his shoulder.
Izuku stiffened, suddenly extremely unsure of himself. When she didn't move or pull away, he moved his arm to the back of the couch. She shifted, sitting close against him.
They stayed that way, even after the credits rolled.
"Losing Eguchi is a setback." Tanaka kept his head bowed. "But I believe the plan can still be salvaged."
"No." As usual, Overhaul's voice was muffled by his beak-like plague mask. "It's fortunate that things transpired as they have."
"Fortunate?" Tanaka kept his voice carefully neutral.
"Indeed." Overhaul waved his hand in a lazy gesture. "While losing Itachizame is undeniably a blow to our money laundering efforts, we have other businesses in place to use for that. And the fall of Tigershark will likely take a lot of scrutiny off of our operation in the Shie Hassaikai."
"I see." Tanaka nodded.
"Besides… I have been meaning to bring you up to speed for a while now. Our focus has… shifted for now." Overhaul monotone, placing a bright blue bullet on the desk.
AN:
Well, there it is. Hope you enjoyed the first of my completely original Arcs.
I also drew a new Profile Icon, featuring my favourite Ben 10 transformation of course, so let me know what you think! :)
Stay tuned…
Review Review
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Back to the Reviewening
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CCSakuraforever
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Like I said in the last chapter, I really wanted to make a problem for Izuku that he would have to solve with his mind, and showcase more of his quick and creative thinking.
He used Ghostfreak to work out some frustration, while unaware of what problems using that transformation could create…
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RANGER1863
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I'm always stoked to see a new reviewer! I'm really happy you enjoyed it!
It's incredible to see how many international readers the story gets. The Philipines, Argentina and Mexico are some of my largest reader bases.
As a non-native English speaker myself, it's a true honour to see my work reach so many people.
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ProjectIceman
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I hope you don't mind, I'll be addressing all your reviews in one comment here.
I wanted to create an unconventional opening, and tease the big bad right from the first chapter. Vilgax will be in the story. I won't say how just yet. ;)
Azmuth would absolutely be both impressed and terrified by Mei. No doubt. Though with how Organic the Omnitrix has become she'd probably have a hard time tinkering with it.
Uraraka is still in UA yes. Because of the break they had to take in the exam to remove Izuku from harm, she was in a different place so she never got in that particular danger.
Also, yeah. xD
Had to make a Way Big impression. At least I didn't use Way Big on Sero.
I didn't want to do what a lot of authors do and just dismiss Mineta, so I thought of a way to have him undergo a lot to realistically change his personality.
HOLY SHIT YOU ARE THE FIRST PERSON TO MAKE THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN MONOMA COPYING THE TRIX AND AFO BEING ABLE TO STEAL IT
I AM SO GLAD SOMEONE NOTICED
Difference is Izuku didn't do express strength exercises under All Might's regimen in this universe, so his physical growth is massively behind what it is in canon at this point.
I know it's kind of harsh how 1-A deals with Iida's death with Izuku but not Shoto, but I saw itas them knowing Shoto and how he would have reacted if given the chance, where Izuku is still very much an unknown to them. And grief has a way of making people take it out on undeserving targets…
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TheRealD3lph0xL0v3r
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Here is how Tigershark gets what he deserves. Hope you're satisfied :P
Izuku is a very clever dude. He made a plan almost the moment he figured out the quirk's limits.
If the Omnitrix made him immune, it wouldn't have been as interesting in my opinion.
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Guest
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You can't keep me away! xp
Thank you so much for the kind words. I'll do my best to live up to the expectations.
As for the beautiful writing… it's all in the wrist, my friend.
Feel free to leave a username in your reviews in the future so I can add you to my list of regulars. :)