A helicopter flew over to where the fire was coming from in Hosu City. "Okay. Can you hear me in the studio?" The reporter wondered while the camera was rolling. She was the same reporter that tried to get more dirt from the students about All Might being a teacher. "I'm reporting to you live from skies over Hosu City. It's unclear what's happening below, but take a look! Large clouds of smoke and fire are rising from different locations in the area. Is this due to a series of accidents? Or have villains taken the streets? Currently, we have no info on the situation here, but our station will continue reporting as this breaking story unfolds."
"And cut!" The cameraman reported, both of them looking towards what was going on.
"Don't you dare stop filming," She ordered to his shock, but did as he was told. She then noticed something in the distance, squinting a little. "Wait, what in the world? Look."
"Uh? At what?" He wondered as he couldn't see what she was looking at.
"Right there. Check out the building with the water tower on top. Zoom in!"
He pointed at the correct angle, and then could see silhouettes of two people standing on top of the water tower. "There's people, two of them!"
"Bystanders?" She wondered, though she doubted it if they were on top of the water tower. "How did they get up there?"
The 'bystanders' were actually Kurogiri and Shigaraki, the latter looking at his dead Nomu with binoculars. He then slowly started to scratch at his neck. As the police were taking the other Nomu into custody, he scratched harder. He then saw Manual looking at the second dead Nomu, which was about to be hauled away. Shigaraki squeezed the binoculars as they turned into stone and then withered away in his hand.
"We're leaving," He revealed to Kurogiri in disappointment.
"And are you satisfied with the results, Tomura Shigaraki?" He stared at his master as he created a warp gate.
"Depends on tomorrow's headlines, moron," The blue-haired man reported as both of them disappeared into the portal.
At Hosu General Hospital, the four students that defeated Stain shared a hospital room. All of them had been treated for the injuries they got from the battle. "Did you sleep, Midoriya?" Shoto asked curiously to the boy.
"No, not really," He confessed as all of them had bandages and hospital gowns.
"I figured. Me neither," He stated while his arm was bandaged as well as his left cheek. Same with Tenya's arms, Izuku's right arm and left leg, and Izuka's forehead and hand. Her hair was done up in a ponytail while her bed was next to Tenya's.
"Thinking about that fight now..." Izuku looked up at the ceiling while contemplating the events. "We did something pretty amazing."
Izuka glanced up towards him, giving a small smile. "Yeah, of course you'd say it like that. I'm just glad we're all still alive," She breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yeah, I agree with both of you," Shoto spoke up while next to Izuku.
"After everything that happened back there...it kinda feels like a miracle we're even alive," He then frowned towards his leg a little. "With my leg messed up, I was an easy target. He probably could've killed me if he really wanted to."
Izuka paused and then glanced away, remembering Stain saving Izuku despite it all...she had no idea what to really take away from it. In one instant, she was grateful, but in the other, she was absolutely terrified of him after his words.
"Yeah..." Shoto looked at his bandaged arm. "Seems to me he let us three live on purpose. I'm impressed by you though, Ida, and Mido as well," He looked towards his classmates. Izuka blinked as that got her attention back. "He was actually trying to murder you, but you stood tall. And you managed to unlock a new ability all because your brother was in danger, and acted bravely," He looked to Izuka next.
"Hm," She gave a weak smile at the compliment, looking at her bandaged hand. This didn't go unnoticed by both Shoto and her brother.
"That's not true," Tenya stated, looking away in shame. "I was..."
Before he could continue, the door opened to reveal both Manual and Gran Torino. "Oh, so the injured youngins are awake," The latter remarked upon seeing them, stepping inside.
"Gran Torino!" Izuku smiled at the man.
Tenya gasped upon seeing his mentor with him. "And Manual, too."
Izuka's phone then buzzed right after this, and she looked to see a missed call from Best Jeanist. She then sighed deeply, closing her eyes as he was not gonna be happy with her the next time they talked. Since he wasn't here, she deduced that he probably still didn't know where she was. She then made a reminder to call him.
"Idiot," Gran Torino scolded his intern. "I could yell at you for hours right now," He stormed up to the boy.
"Yeah. I'm sorry," Izuku apologized with a frown. Izuka was about to apologize again for her brother, but clamped her mouth shut. She was no better off just ghosting her mentor and Katsuki the way she did without properly explaining.
"But before I do, you've got a visitor," The man glanced over his shoulder, Izuku gasping. A taller person walked into the room, the twins taken by surprise...to see that it was a humanoid dog man in a suit, the tie with spots like a Dalmatian. "This is Hosu's chief of police. Kenji Tsuragamae."
"C-Chief of Police?!" Izuka stammered in disbelief, her hair standing up on end to meet someone important. And considering what it was about, she wasn't sure what exactly to expect...
Tsuragamae? The-the chief?!
Izuka, Shoto, and Tenya stood up. Izuku yelped and realized that he should be doing the same. Izuka then bowed her head. "It-it's an honor to meet you-"
"No, please, stay seated, woof," He interrupted her while Izuku sat up. This baffled both of the twins.
Woof?
That's actually kinda adorable. Uraraka-Chan might love him Izuka lifted up her head slowly.
"So, you're the UA students who brought down the Hero Killer, huh?"
"We are," Shoto confirmed slowly, also wondering what the Chief of Police had to say to them. He then gave a small frown. The police chief came all this way. Why?
"Stain has some serious injuries. Severe burns and several broken bones. Right now, he's in the hospital under strict guard, woof." Izuku opened his mouth a little as they all stared up ahead nervously. "Here's a lesson you should have already learned. When Quirks became the norm...the police force sought to maintain the status quo. They decided we wouldn't use Quirks as weapons. That's when heroes came in." Both Manual and Gran Torino stared up ahead in silence. "They could do what we couldn't, if they were licensed, of course, woof. It would be impossible for the police to condone the use of deadly Quirks. After all, we're here to stop such harm from being done. The only reason pros can use their powers now is because of the strict code of ethics that the early heroes chose to abide by. That's why it's against the law for uncertified people to use their Quirks to cause injury. Whether you were up against the Hero Killer or not...none of you had the authority to harm the villain."
Shoto then let out a small gasp.
"That means the four of you, and your supervisors—Endeavor, Manual, Gran Torino, and Best Jeanist—should receive harsh punishments for this gross abuse of your powers. And it's especially appalling that I have to tell this to someone whose mentor isn't stationed here, and didn't even bother to tell him where she was going. The same goes for fighting that villain in Tattooin Station, which the Chief of Police there should act upon."
Izuka gasped sharply, her eyes shaking as she backed away a little. No...I didn't mean to get my mentor in trouble for something I did! And it's not like I wasn't going to tell him what was going on, it all just...happened so fast...
Shoto then growled a little. "Now wait a minute. If Ida had not stepped in, Native would've been murdered. And if not for Midoriya, both of them would be dead. If not for Mido, she would've had to watch her brother be in even more danger. It's not like she had time to stop and explain everything to her mentor at the time, it was an emergency. Last time I checked, she wasn't even approached about that slime villain, and you feel the need to punish her for that now?" All of them stared in shock, Izuka opening her mouth a little at him defending them. "No one else even realized that the Hero Killer was in Hosu. Are you saying we should've just stood by and watch people die, or punish someone for a past act that was noble?!" He stepped forward a little.
"Calm down," Izuku nervously spoke up as he turned around, holding up his hands.
"Todoroki-San..." Izuka murmured slowly, wondering where this was all coming from all of a sudden. Did Izuku and I really change his perspective that much in a short amount of time?
"So it's okay to break the law as long as it goes your way?" Kenji stared up ahead blankly, earning a gasp. Shoto then gritted his teeth.
"But sir, isn't it a hero's job to save people?" He argued right back.
Kenji then closed his eyes. "This is why you're not a full-fledged pro yet. It's obvious UA and Endeavor haven't been teaching you near enough. What a shame."
Shoto gritted his teeth, not just because of his father, but because he believed that their actions weren't wrong. If they hadn't stopped Stain, it would've taken even longer to apprehend him. "You damn mutt," He grunted while stepping forward.
"Todoroki!" Tenya protested nearby nervously. "Listen, he's right!"
"Todoroki-San, stop!" Izuka grabbed his arm gently and he yanked it away.
"Stay out of this, Mido. If you won't stand up for yourself, then I will."
She squeezed her eyes shut. "I'm stopping you from probably making the biggest mistake of your life!" Izuka suddenly spoke and he froze, turning to her. "I appreciate it, but think about what you're doing here before you even have a chance to become someone you wanna be," Her eyes softened a little, causing him to pause from her words. They weren't too different from something his mother would say.
"She's right, kid," Gran Torino held up a hand, and they both turned to him in silence. "You'll wanna hear him out till the end."
"What I've said is the official stance of the police department," Kenji then continued as Izuka placed a hand on Shoto's shoulder just in case. "But any punishment would only be necessary if this went public," He scratched the top of his nose. "If it did, you'd probably be applauded by citizens everywhere. But there's no way you could escape from being reprimanded. On the other hand, we could say Endeavor saved the day. Stain's burns would support this story completely, and we could pretend you weren't involved, woof. Thankfully there were very few witnesses. This could be the last you heard of any punishments. It would mean no one would know about you, though. You'd receive no acclaim at all. The choice is yours."
All of them stared at him silently for the suggestion; if he were more strict, he probably wouldn't have even given them the option considering the situation. "Personally, I know where I stand," He then gave them a thumbs up. "I don't wanna damage any promising young careers. Not for a mistake like this."
Manual looked down in relief after hearing all this. "Either way, we'll need to take responsibility for being negligent as supervisors..."
Tenya frowned as he didn't mean to cause trouble for his mentor. Especially after he had figured out what his intern was up to... The student then stepped forward and bowed his head apologetically. "I'm sorry. I should've listened."
"Yeah!" Manual lightly tapped his head. "You caused us a lot of trouble. Remember that, and don't do it again!"
"Sir!"
Gran Torino looked at Izuku in silence. Izuka sighed while turning to her brother. "As his older sister, I have to take some responsibility too for him. Knowing Izuku, of course he'd wanna check up on Ida-San if things went down on his way past the city...he had wanted me to check up on our classmate, so it makes sense...I'm deeply sorry for the trouble we've caused, and...if you wanna tell Mr. Best Jeanist, you should."
"And...I apologize as well," Izuku bowed his head sadly.
"Me too," Shoto followed his example for not only what they did, but also for insulting the Chief of Police of all people. "We'll leave it to you."
"I know it's not fair," Kenji stated to the four knowingly. "You won't enjoy any of the fame and praise you probably would've received otherwise. But at least..." He then bowed his own head to the four students. Izuka gave a small gasp at his action. "Allow me, as the Chief of Police...to thank you."
Shoto then looked away bitterly. "You know, you could've started with that."
Izuku gave an awkward smile. "Todoroki."
"You can't really deny that we should've handled this better..." Izuka gave a nervous laugh towards him.
"We won't inform Best Jeanist what happened, we'll leave that up to his intern," Kenji then spoke up, and she flinched nervously. "It's best if he hears it from you. We have told him that you had to tend to an emergency and nothing more."
"Thank you, sir. I promise I'll contact him as soon as possible," The short girl closed her eyes gratefully.
Tenya gave a satisfied smile. It might have gone the way he hoped, but...he was still happy of the outcome.
None of us knew we'd end up fighting in that back alley, and in the end, no one else would find out. But the implications of that battle would continue to eat at us. Even after our wounds had healed.
All we could really ask for was that we survived it. It didn't seem to matter to us about the fame, only that...we even lived to know the tale. Although yes...we would never be able to escape the ramifications of what happened.
"Whoa, they arrested the Hero Killer! Awesome," One student commented as news had already broke of 'Endeavor' and his capture of Stain.
"Seriously? Who took him down?"
"Endeavor. Just what you'd expect from the number 2 hero."
"His spree was exciting in a weird way," A woman commented while some newspapers praised Endeavor.
"Yeah, I know what you mean."
"Now, our continuing coverage," A newscaster spoke next to his coworker, as they were doing a special report about Stain. "Three villains were captured in the Hosu riots. Their identities and motives are yet unknown. Based on their distinctive appearance, however, and the presence of two people our reporters filmed nearby, many are speculating they're connected to the League of Villains that attacked UA High last month."
"The Hero Killer Stain claimed many lives," His female coworker then spoke up. "In fact, he has more victims than any other criminal since All Might burst into the scene." Several people were staring at the giant screen. "With his arrest, everyone in the country can rest a little easier tonight." A male with black spiky hair and what looked like decaying skin turned away. He then walked off without saying a word.
"The seriously wounded Hero Killer is currently receiving treatment at a hospital under heavy police guard." A radio out in the foggy woods rested on a tree stump. "Officials are awaiting the recovery of several of his victims before further investigating the villain's motives." Someone was listening to the radio, covered in fog.
"We're back talking about the criminal who has surely left his mark on Japan, if not the world. The Hero Killer Stain!" A girl with messy blonde hair and uniform skipped in an abandoned warehouse. She was wearing headphones while listening to the news. "Why did he do it? What did he hope to gain? Don't be shy, we're taking calls and wanna hear your thoughts!"
"I'm coming to you live from Ekou Street in Hosu City. Last night, just after 8 PM, the Hero Killer Stain was arrested by Endeavor on this very blo-" The TV was then shut off by Kurogiri. Shigaraki was reading a paper about Stain's arrest.
"He's all they're taking about," He said bitterly while crumpling up his newspaper. The villain was definitely not happy that he was the one who even started the whole chaos. And yet not a single mention about the monsters he sent out. "What about my Nomus?! What about the fact that one of them looked like that Midoriya girl?!" He then tossed the paper away angrily, slamming down a fist.
Shigaraki let out an evil laugh. "Once this night is over, the world will have forgotten you ever existed!"
"Not only have they not forgotten...but we didn't even make the front page!" He narrowed his eyes in rage. This effect was in fact the exact opposite of what he wanted to come out of this. He wanted to cast doubt in Izuka, but it seemed like no one made the connection.
"Let's take a moment to talk about the incident last night in Hosu," Best Jeanist spoke up to his sidekicks and Katsuki. A few seconds later, his phone rang and he pulled it out to see it was his other intern calling. He picked it up immediately, putting the phone to his ear. "Midoriya. It's about time you reached back out to us."
Katsuki gasped a little to himself staring at him. They had spent countless hours searching for her that night, and she had failed to call back many times. So the fact that she was calling them back after all of that was both a relief and annoying to the blond.
"I'll save my lecture for you another time. Are you alright?" Best Jeanist asked into the phone, turning away. He listened to Izuka for a few seconds and flinched. "You're in the hospital? Can I ask why?" He paused and then faltered, Katsuki a bit on edge now staring in anticipation. "...I see. Well, I'm just glad you're safe. Get as much rest as you can. I do want you to hear what I'm about to tell everyone," He then put her on speakerphone. "The Hero Killer Stain was arrested. There were also incidents with villains who resembled Nomu from the UA attack. You're likely worried how this all stitches together. Well, I too, am concerned. Especially since Midoriya has just informed me that she was there in Hosu last night."
All of them gasped in shock, Katsuki's eyes shaking a little. Don't tell me...
"Is she okay?"
"What was she doing in Hosu?"
"I thought you said she left because of her brother!"
"I did," Izuka spoke up nervously to them. "I appreciate your concern, but I'm healing. It's kinda complicated to tell anyone over the phone, so I can't say much unfortunately."
"What the hell?" Katsuki hissed to himself and gritted his teeth a little. Something wasn't right about this, and he was gonna find out what. Maybe it was because she still had a long path to go, or because she was apparently in the hospital after going after Izuku. But he wasn't going to let this slide whatsoever. He then clenched an angry fist. Damn it...why am I being like this with her? Doesn't she know it pisses me off sometimes...?
"Anyway, people tend to come apart at the seams in times like this, and we're no different when one of our own gets hurt. That's why we heroes must remain calm despite our fears. Don't let chaos tempt you into thoughtless overreaction. Remember, we're here to protect others, not seek our vengeance," He then gave a pointed look at Katsuki, who was shaking trying not to lose it. He was wearing jeans, his hair re-combed, and he didn't have his gauntlets or mask either. "It'll be business as usual today, while Midoriya is excused until further notice. Standard material. May your minds and bodies be as sharp as your jeans."
"Thank you, Best Jeanist!" Everyone but Katsuki said in unison.
Dammit. I'm so ready to get out of this place. Especially since short stack got hurt.
"We all wish you a smooth recovery, Midoriya. However, I'll be down there later today to discuss some important things with you."
Izuka then rubbed the back of her neck. "Y-Yes, Mr. Best Jeanist. I'm sorry if I caused you any trouble..."
"No need to worry about that. You just focus on yourself right now."
"Thank you...I'll be expecting your visit, then. Goodbye," She then hung up, Katsuki seething.
I don't have her number to yell at her myself...dammit. I know she was there with the Hero Killer. The real question is, how did she know he was there?
Eijiro gave a shocked sound at Fourth Kind Agency. "Midoriya wrote me back!" He read his phone in the locker room. "That location he sent was in the middle of the action in Hosu. That's why he messaged us. Man, am I glad I reported it," He gave a relieved smile. Izuku had sent out that message to just about everyone in class. However, almost all of them were too far away to really help out unfortunately...
"Hey!" Tetsutetsu called out to him. "Put that down before Fourth Kind sees you. We're gonna be late," He then closed his locker, glancing behind him.
"One sec. I wanna reply," He stated, his companion giving a shocked look. Before he could say anything, Fourth Kind grabbed the back of their heads. He gritted his teeth down at the two boys.
"What did I say about punctuality?!" The pro hero growled out at the two.
"Right. Sorry, sir!" They stated in unison, though a bit fearful as well.
"Come on. Time to patrol," Fourth Kind ordered his two interns.
"Yes, sir!"
"No matter how damaged your hair is, our new formula is sure to deeply penetrate each strand," Uwabami was currently the announcer of a commercial for a hair spray. "Such shine!" Itsuka curled her hair and waved it behind her. "Such volume!" Momo's hair was curled up just like Itsuka's as she moved away a bang. "Such luxury." Both girls looked very awkward being in a commercial for the first time. "Easy curls with just one spritz! Uneri hair spray. Come on, ladies. Ride the waves."
Uwabami paused the commercial there, giving a pleased smile. "They sure put that together fast. This is just the first cut, so it'll be another month before it airs." Momo looked away in embarrassment that she didn't learn much from it. "It needs lots of CGI."
"So weird," Itsuka turned to Momo. "We'll be on TV."
"We're heroes. This is just what it takes to be a pro..." She admitted to the girl.
"So," Uwabami stood up with a small smile. "How 'bout we go patrol?" She walked off and the two gasped staring at her. They then turned to each other with excited smiles.
"Yes!" They cheered while running after her.
"Oh my gosh!" Ochaco exclaimed as she was just about to train, but was on the phone with Izuku. "That's so scary! Well, I'm just glad you guys are okay. I got really nervous when the only thing you sent was your location."
"Yeah, sorry about that," Izuku said into the phone. "But it's all I really had time to send."
She shook her head with a small smile. "Don't worry, sounds like you went through a lot. You get some rest. I wanna hear everything later."
"Thanks."
"Uravity," Gunhead walked up to the brunette. "We're about to start."
"Oh!" She waved a hand rapidly. "Sorry!" She then turned back to the phone. "I'll see you back at school. I hope I didn't bother you much. Tell Mido I miss her. Bye!"
Gunhead then blushed a little, a hand in front of his mouth. "Was that a boy?"
"Um, yeah," Ochaco blushed in embarrassment. "But it's not like that!"
Meanwhile, Izuku was shaking holding his phone in a corner where he could call someone. His face was flushed and his eyes were wide over what just happened. I can't believe I talked to a girl on the phone...! It's like she was whispering in my ear!
After that, Izuku opened up the door to his recovery room. He saw Shoto and Tenya, but not his sister. "Oh, hey, Ida. I just talked to Uraraka. Where's Izuka?" He looked towards her empty bed; she must've stepped out while he was gone.
"Best Jeanist came to visit while you were gone after Mido informed him of her whereabouts. He wanted to speak to her over what will happen with her internship while she's here with us," Tenya explained to him quietly.
"Midoriya," Shoto then spoke up, Izuku staring at him curiously. "Ida...just got his test results back," He looked towards their classmate. And judging by the look on his face, it wasn't good news at all.
"My left hand...might have damage that's permanent."
Izuku let out a sharp gasp. "What? Permanent...?" Tenya looked towards the ground in silence. Permanent...damage...?
"Both my arms were pretty torn up," Tenya then rubbed his left arm. "But the injury to my left arm was especially severe. The damage was to my brachial plexus. Which just means...I'll have trouble moving my fingers. And my hand might have some numbness," He had a small smile on his face to look optimistic for his classmate. "Apparently, there's a chance it could be healed with nerve transplant surgery." Izuku let out a small shocked sound. Shoto meanwhile stayed silent. "When I came across the Hero Killer...I stopped thinking rationally. The first thing I should've done was call Manual. But I got lost in my own anger."
" You're completely blinded by a selfish desire for revenge. You're about as far away from being a hero as I can imagine."
He then opened his eyes after Stain's words echoed in his mind. He still had resentment, but...the man's words weren't entirely wrong either. "I hate him so much, but I can't deny he spoke the truth. That's why..." He looked at his bandaged left arm. "Until I'm able to call myself a real hero, I'll leave my left hand as it is."
Shoto gave him a small frown. This was a big decision he was making, not even telling his parents about it. "Are you sure?"
Izuku opened his mouth a little in disbelief. Maybe...if I'd been a better friend back then... He then closed his mouth after thinking so ill of himself. No. Stop it. He's already accepted what happened. It would be selfish to make this about me. Plus, my sister wouldn't be happy if I did. He gave a sheepish smile and then looked at his own bandaged hand. "Ida...I feel the same way."
Tenya looked up at him in shock for his sympathy. Izuku then clenched his fist tightly. My hand is a reminder too... He then held out his fist to his friend. "Let's get stronger. Together."
Tenya nodded slowly at him in response, Izuku returning the favor. Shoto looked at the two in disbelief and then turned away. "I feel...kind of bad." Both of them flinched at his sudden confession and then turned to him.
"About what?"
Shoto looked at his own hand, sweat dropping down his face. "Whenever I'm involved...someone's hand gets all messed up. Is something wrong with me?" First it was Izuku when they had their battle in the Sports Festival, and now it was both Izuka and Tenya after Shoto showed up to help. Both of them let out shocked sounds at his question. "Am I cursed?"
After getting over their shock, they both laughed in response. "Todoroki, I didn't know you had a sense of humor!"
"This isn't a joke. I'm like the Hand Crusher or something," Shoto commented as he didn't seem to understand that out of context, it seemed silly to anyone. The two continued laughing at his new nickname.
"The Hand Crusher!"
Shoto let out a small sigh as they continued to laugh, looking towards Izuka's empty bed. I hope Mido is alright with Best Jeanist...
"Here," Best Jeanist handed over Izuka a bouquet of flowers and get well balloons. Izuka smiled a bit while taking them from him. They were both in front of a window that overlooked the streets. "I bought these on my way over."
"Thank you, sir," She took a deep breath as she knew what was coming. And she wasn't surprised at all that he was here alone. "How is everything back at the agency?"
"Everyone sends their well wishes...except for Bakugo, of course," He sighed a little, a hand on his head. "He refused to come when I said he should see his recovering classmate. It's honestly a bit shocking that you grew up with someone like him."
"Heh heh heh..." Izuka gave a nervous laugh upon hearing that. "He's not exactly the visitor type, and we're not that close. So I wouldn't be too hard on him..." He'd probably cause a scene even if he wanted to come, which she doubted he did. Plus she knew that he hated hospitals.
"Hm. You seem to defend your classmate a lot in recent time. You must be fond of him deep down," He pointed out and she blinked, looking out the window again.
"I...honestly couldn't tell you. Sometimes I just...act without even thinking when he's involved. Even if they're things that force me to get out of my comfort zone...but we both know that this isn't about him..." She didn't look towards her mentor at all and it was a bit of an uncomfortable silence between the two for what seemed like a while. She could imagine he had a lot of emotions in him because of her running off without a second thought. I wouldn't be surprised if he decided to not be my mentor anymore...
"...You're here because of the Hero Killer, aren't you?" He stared down at her and she bit her lip, looking down. "When you know that's not how we operate. We let the villains come to us, not the other way around. And to top it all off, you left without even giving us a proper reason." She flinched and squeezed her eyes shut, as he had a point. "We spent all night looking for you, Midoriya, when all you had to do was reach out to me. Can I ask what was so important that you had to ignore all attempts of contact?"
She gulped a little, sighing heavily. "My brother had sent out an SOS, with just a location. One of our classmates, Todoroki-San, had reached out to me about it soon after. He had figured out what was going on, and told me my brother needed help. So I rushed over there just in time to help him, Todoroki-San, and Ida-San defeat Stain. Another hero, Native, was his latest victim we had to protect. It took a lot out of us, but we managed to stop him temporarily. And...Stain actually saved my brother, even though his goals hadn't changed," She shivered a little at the last words he said before his arrest.
"...How did they know it was him?"
"Ida-San had chosen his internship there to avenge his brother. He sought out Stain himself before Izuku found him. He could've died, all of us actually. That's why...I had to leave, even though I know that it was wrong," She hung her head sadly. "I'm sorry, sir. I can't take it back, but...I understand if you feel like you can't work with me anymore."
He sighed a bit, closing his eyes. "You may have done some questionable actions, but I can understand why it happened. As your mentor, though, I am disappointed in you. I should send you home...but I won't," She looked up in shock at her mentor, her jaw dropping. "I want to see more of what you have to offer as a hero. That new power of yours, for example. Just don't take off without a proper explanation again."
"Yes, sir. Thank you," Izuka closed her eyes. "I promise, I'll make it up to you."
"Are your injuries serious?"
"No," She answered quietly to him. "Minor wounds, nothing broken or anything. I should be discharged within a few days."
"Very well. I'll pick you up once you're ready, and if you're up for it, we'll go on our first patrol. We had to postpone it once we heard about your whereabouts. Keep me posted, you have my number. Get a good night's rest."
She bowed her head and stared after him, sighing. It could've been much worse, but it didn't mean the broken trust wasn't still there...
"A phone call is here!" Toshinori's phone announced in the staff room. "A phone call is here! A phone call-" Present Mic and Mr. Aizawa both looked at him in annoyance that his ringtone was almost the same as his catchphrase...
He picked up a few seconds later, ignoring their looks. "Yes, hello?"
He can't possibly be serious with that ringtone... Mr. Aizawa thought in disbelief—it certainly supported his opinion on Toshinori, though...
Toshinori stood up in alarm, blood squiring from his mouth as he looked terrified. "Wha-?! Hi, sir!"
"You coulda warned me about Izuku Midoriya," Gran Torino spoke up while in the telephone corner. "I know it probably couldn't be helped, but thanks to him, I'm getting a pay cut and my teaching license is being suspended for 6 months. His tendency to jump into situations without thinking is just like yours, Toshinori."
Toshinori was then sweating from the lecture he was receiving. Cementoss was nearby, looking bad for him. "I humbly apologize, sir. It's because of my insufficient teaching. I can't believe one of my proteges caused you so much trouble. Oh man, this is bad."
"Well, I don't care about my teaching license anymore," Gran Torino admitted while Toshinori ran off. "You're the only reason I got it. And that was so I could keep my promise to your predecessor, Shimura."
"And I truly appreciate all you did for me," Toshinori spoke up quietly while walking down the hall. "It's only because of your wisdom and guidance that I'm the number one hero today."
"If that's true, then why don't you ever visit me?"
Toshinori then flinched, stopping in place as that was a good question. It was mainly terror that he hadn't stopped by. "Well, it's just that—my new life as a teacher keeps me so busy."
"I actually called to talk about the Hero Killer. I saw him only briefly in person, but in that short amount of time, he shook me to my very core," Gran Torino gave a small frown. "There is such hatred inside of that man."
"He can't believe he was able to frighten someone like you, Gran Torino," Toshinori commented as he stepped into the teacher's lounge, looking around to make sure no one could see him. "He must have already been tied up, so what scared you?"
"It probably stemmed from his fanatic ideology," He confessed to the man. "There was something very intimidating about his obsession. I'm not trying to praise him or anything, but he's got the same determination as you when it comes to your Symbol of Peace thing. There're similarities."
"What do you mean?" Toshinori wondered since he and Stain had widely different perspectives on life. Plus they had both made the news for entirely different reasons, and earned them in different ways. So he couldn't see how he had anything in common with a murderer.
"To put it simply, you've both got charisma. As the investigation continues, his ideology and opinions will be all over the media. Everyone will want to know his motives. The age we live in, for better or for worse, is one of suppression. There will be people across the globe who are influenced by these new ideas."
"If that's true, and he inspires copycat villains, they'll probably strike out on their own," Toshinori explained to him. "Heroes will be able to stop them, just like they did this time."
"That's where the League of Villains come in," Gran Torino narrowed his eyes, to the blond's surprise. "The Hosu incident suggests that Stain and the League are connected somehow. That means...the League will go from being thought of as a bunch of juvenile delinquents that attacked UA...to being recognized as a group with an ideology. In other words, these new converts will seek them out."
Toshinori let out a shocked sound of the thought about the League of Villains potentially increasing their numbers. And all because of the Hero Killer Stain...
"Even if each individual is insignificant...if that evil gathers under one banner, it'll swell to unstoppable proportions. If the villain in charge knew this would happen from the beginning, then he is a brilliant strategist. He's steadily getting rid of any obstacles one by one, trying to create conditions that will favor his own purpose."
Toshinori let out a grunt, clenching a fist. "When I heard from Tsukauchi that Nomu had multiple Quirks, I had a bad feeling," He then clutched at the fabric from his pants. "And then it only increased when he suggested that Mido may be involved somehow because of them acquiring her DNA. What if he's back? What if he really did have something to do with her power...?"
"You're concerned it could be the man who killed Shimura, my sworn friend, your master, and the previous holder of One for All. And that your protege indirectly gave them her Quirk. The man who opened that hole in your stomach. You're afraid that the villain named All for One is on the rise again."
Toshinori shook at the theories; he didn't want to believe that, or that he was involved with Izuka's Quirk. There was no evidence to either...but he had a gut feeling about the villain's return. As for Izuka, that was harder to pin down given that there would've been no time when the two would've met, and he didn't need to question that Izuka was indeed Izuku's sister. So she wasn't secretly a Nomu, though how did All for One get her DNA to be able to use it?
"For him to have survived such injuries, though...I don't wanna imagine it's possible. Or that Mido might have given them an advantage..."
Gran Torino looked up in thought. "Toshinori. That boy admires you so wholly and fiercely. While the girl respects you and doesn't act like she had any contact with All for One. You should find the time to tell them everything concerning you and One for All. That girl may not have the Quirk, but she's still the boy's sister. Unless she does have a connection there?"
Toshinori gave a small frown to himself as there was the time Izuka had seen what her brother did during the Sports Festival, even if not as clear. "Be honest. They deserve to know the truth." Toshinori sat in the lounge silently, as he didn't think this day would come... "Although, one of the Nomus had the same color as her hair, but still seemed to be the same as the others. So I don't believe they had her Quirk to use for themselves."
So the only thing the Nomu gained was the color, but not her power despite having a piece of her DNA...? Is Galaxy even able to be transferred over like One for All...?
Izuka opened the door to the hospital room, getting the attention of the boys. Shoto then looked back outside as she stepped in. "Mido! How were things with Best Jeanist? I'd imagine he wasn't pleased to hear the news," Tenya stared as she sat down in bed.
"It definitely wasn't a fun conversation, and he's getting a big pay cut..." She scratched her cheek awkwardly. "But everything will be fine. Once I'm back, he wants to do a patrol with me, so I'm still interning with him."
"That's good to hear," Izuku gave a small smile, sagging his shoulders. "I'm really sorry I was the reason you had to leave..."
"You're fine," She gave a small amused smile. "Though you owe me some ramen for that."
"Deal," Izuku told her with a chuckle just as Shoto stood up.
"I'm gonna get some air," He stated and walked off. Izuka blinked in confusion as he closed the door behind him.
He continued staring outside in the hall as he debated his actions with Izuka. Was contacting her the right thing to do? I didn't mean to risk her internship with Best Jeanist because of the Hero Killer. At least her hand wasn't crushed...I wish you could meet her, Mom. She's starting to grow into a different person like we are.
Although he didn't know which was worse, having her find out later and then unable to focus, or what ended up happening.
"Todoroki-San." His classmate's voice got his attention as he glanced back to see her approaching. She came to a stop and then looked out the window to the clouds with him. "Thank you, but you didn't have to stand up for me back there with the Chief of Police. And we can't forget that we're UA students, we shouldn't be acting out of line with our Quirks or with the law."
"I...understand your point, but that didn't mean he had to give us a lecture," He grunted at the reminder and she gave a small giggle. "Are things okay with Best Jeanist now that he knows?"
"I honestly don't know," Izuka sighed a little, closing her eyes. "I could feel his disappointment despite the fact that I'm still his intern. I need to earn his trust back before the internship is over, though we don't have much time left..."
"I can talk to him for you, tell him I was the reason you left," He told her and then she looked at him wide-eyed for his offer. He didn't even hesitate on it either, and yet their last real interaction was after his fight with her brother.
"...Can I ask why you're willing to go through such trouble for me? We weren't exactly friendly until now," The girl wondered meekly and he paused, looking at her.
"...I never held anything against you or your brother. It's just...you remind me so much of my mom. And you actually inspired me to go and see her in the hospital before the internship. You're generous and kind like she is that sometimes...I feel like I have to hold onto our friendship..."
"So that it won't end up anything like it would at your home," Izuka finished for him and he looked at her wide-eyed. She hummed with a small smile. "Todoroki-San, I appreciate your high praise of me, but I'm just someone who needs to improve on almost everything in life. I may be getting new powers and improving on my relationships with the class, but...that doesn't mean I'm an ideal person," She looked at her bandaged hand, sighing. "And besides, I don't think either of us would end up like that. I think that with enough time, we can be really good friends, if that's what you want," She smiled a little, holding out her hand. "So can we have a do-over?"
He blinked slowly at her words and then realized that he couldn't put her on a high pedestal. She was her own person, and he needed to know her as Izuka, not someone he idolized growing up. Shoto nodded slowly and grabbed her hand, shaking it.
"Yeah...thank you, Mido. I promise to be a better friend to you and your brother."
Izuku stepped up to them a bit as he was watching, a small smile on his face. He was glad that the two were getting along and could relate to each other. Though it was in a different way than with Katsuki, it almost felt similarly to himself and Izuka. I'm glad that they're getting along.
Two days after the Hosu incident, the Hero Killer's identity and motives started being dissected from various angles.
You couldn't go about two feet in town without hearing about him.
A man sat in his office, though it was dark. "Y'know, lately it's been hard finding people to do business with," He confessed and then leaned back, holding a drink in his hand. "My buddies all complain about not being able to sell stuff. It's a real pain."
"That's cause it's a serious crime to develop or sell support items and costumes if you don't have a license," Another man held his gun, examining it closely. "On top of that, there have been rumors that legit support companies have actually been selling extra gear on the black market to people who aren't certified heroes."
The other man groaned, leaning his head back. "Man, I miss the days before All Might. And I was still small-time back then. Remember when villains were wild and impulsive? Everyone thought that they could take over the world!" A disco ball spun above them. "It was a real good time," He then slammed down his empty cup bitterly. "But when All Might showed up, everything changed and got so damn boring," He then gave an evil grin. "Can't have any fun when that pillar of justice is around. Maybe it's time for me to finally call it quits."
The first man smoked a cigarette, blowing out smoke. "Don't be rash. Listen, just between you and me...I know of a way to make some real cash," He then spun his gun into his left hand, reaching into his pocket with the other. "Keep this on the down low. I'm only telling you because I know your guys have quality goods to sell," He then showed his own, which had a video of Stain. "Have you seen this yet?"
"Huh? What's that?" He looked in confusion, meaning that he had never seen it. It was already at over 5 million views.
"It's a video of the Hero Killer. He's hot right now," He then played the video, which showed Stain of course. Then the next image was of him getting arrested.
"The Hero Killer Stain," The narrator stated as words were flowing on the screen. "Real name, Chizome Akaguro. As a child, he was greatly inspired by All Might's debut. He enrolled in a private hero high school, but was dismayed by what he viewed as the educational system's skewed understanding of what it meant to be a hero. Throughout his teenage years, Chizome advocated for a return to the early days of heroes, but quickly realized that words had no power. For the next 10 years, he trained in killing techniques in order to fulfill his self-appointed duty. During this time his parents passed away, in what police eventually ruled as a tragic accident. His focus was on a return to the old days. He believed heroes should not seek compensation. That one should epitomize the idea of self-sacrifice. He believed that present-day pros were frauds. Through his violent purges, he hoped society would eventually side with him." The villain sitting across the smoker gave an unnerved look.
"These streets must run with the blood of hypocrites," Stain growled out from the video, as what he said to Endeavor and the others was recorded. "Hero! I will reclaim that word! Come on. Just try and stop me, you fakes! There is only one man I'll let kill me. He is a true hero." He had a frightening look in his eyes as he stepped forward, but didn't attack. "All Might is worthy!"
The video ended there, the villain gasping sharply. "This keeps getting uploaded and immediately taken down online. But they can't stop it," The smoker gave a small growl. "It's not hard to see. This guy is really stirring something in people. From villains with countless convictions, to felons on the run, all the major players including me watching. It's infectious. Do you feel it?"
A man was dead, his blood spatter above him thanks to a girl with messy blond hair done in buns. She had a satisfied grin on her face, blushing. "I don't think the heroes realize what's awakening." She had some blood on her mouth. "The evil that was once quiet and scattered now has a rallying cry that's calling out to it." Several people out there were ready to team up together to bring down heroes. "Individual criminals are seeking out the organization that the Hero Killer Stain was connected to. They're all headed to the League of Villains."
Shigaraki looked up as he could feel something approaching...