RDJ is Doctor Doom? I'm…okay with this. It must have been their Hail Mary after they had to do a hard pivot away from the Kang stuff.
This is a huge fucking risk on the MCU's part, bringing back THE icon for a radically different part. "New mask, same task" gives me some hope that I can't explain- RDJ's been really popping off since leaving, ESPECIALLY since nabbing that Oscar for Oppenheimer.
I think this is gonna mellow for a bit- we've got a few movies (from Captain America: Brave New World to Blade) in between to pad it all out. They have to deliver on a few things to satisfy me-
have him just fuckin hate Reed
Latveria's there
Actual fucked up facial scarring
have him do at least one FOOT DIVE
Anyways, please enjoy this chapter. Here's the Discord: /cgFmXz3qJ5
Despite Izuku's efforts to convince Iida and Todoroki that he was okay, he honestly wasn't. Yes, he vented that he was frustrated about SOMETHING. But not being able to talk about Eri was eating him up inside. That pained look in her eyes haunted him. The more Izuku bottled up his emotions, the more he felt trapped within the confines of his own mind. Izuku's attempts to engage in casual conversation with his friends felt strained, his mind constantly circling back to the one topic he couldn't broach.
Even grades were starting to slip through the cracks. The pages of his notebooks were filled with distracted scribbles, and his once meticulous class notes became a chaotic jumble of disjointed thoughts. Izuku found himself unable to concentrate during lectures.
Which was a shame, because Mrs. Belladonna's language class was very engaging. Blake was very passionate about the subject, and always led a very lively discussion on cultural nuances. Izuku admittedly felt bad about not being able to contribute.
...so, it was time for a pep talk. As the class came to an end, Blake glanced over at Izuku, who was still lost in thought. The students began to gather their belongings and filter out of the room.
As Izuku began to slowly pack his bag, Blake walked over.
"Midoriya." She said, making Izuku flinch.
"A-ah! Sorry. Didn't hear you approach." Izuku said, rubbing the side of his head.
"Are you doing okay?" Blake's voice sounded concerned. "After..."
"Yeah. I...I'm fine. Like I told Iida and Todoroki. I'm fine." Izuku admitted. "You're probably doing better than me with keeping this whole Eri operation a secret. I...I just wanna tell someone about the situation."
Blake paused. "...well."
Izuku raised an eyebrow. "Well?"
Blake interrupted gently, "I told Yang almost instantly."
Izuku blinked in surprise. "You did?!"
"The second I opened the door, actually." Blake continued. "Then I told Ren and Rook, just for good measure."
Izuku looked confused. "Uh..."
"I couldn't keep something like this from my wife. Sometimes, sharing the weight makes it more bearable." Blake admitted. "Plus, everyone in the Outcasts is pretty open. I mean- you saw how Ben accidentally revealed OFA."
"Okay, I guess. But, isn't that going to compromise the mission?" Izuku asked earnestly.
"Only if it leaks. Overhaul may be a threat, but he doesn't have the opportunity to have eyes or ears everywhere like All for One." Blake clarified. "That's why I strictly use word of mouth to vent this stuff."
"It's just... hard, you know? Balancing the need for support with the need for secrecy." Izuku admitted. "I dunno why I have no issue keeping my quirk secret but not Eri secret. I just want to do what's right- but it feels like I'm walking on a tightrope, trying not to tip the scales in the wrong direction."
"Easy. Your quirk is a part of you, a power you've learned to control and use for the greater good. Eri's situation, on the other hand, involves more than just your abilities. Even though you only saw that kid once...you could tell she needed help, more than anything." Blake explained.
"I mean, I know that." Izuku said. "But...why?"
"Knowing and feeling are two different things. That's a burden that's harder to compartmentalize...and I don't recommend it." Blake frowned. "I've seen how that sort of thing messes with someone."
"...so, should I tell someone?" Izuku asked.
"Yes. Absolutely." Blake nodded. "Within reason. I'll even let you guys use my room to have the vent session."
Izuku considered his words, and closed his eyes. "...alright, I will." Izuku stood up. "Thank you, Mrs. Belladonna."
"Any time, Midoriya." Blake said. "Now, on to your next class. Don't want to be late..."
"R-right. Thank you!" Izuku rushed out of the class, but did pull out his phone. Blake had a point. No need to keep this situation hidden. They both deserved to know the truth.
Izuku just sent Iida one text: "We need to talk."
Yang sighed a little as she set down the papers from the class today. Looking back, she wondered if this was the universe deciding to take out just a small bit of karma. Cause right now, she knew how Glynda felt from the Beacon days.
Yang was both a combat teacher and a mathematics teacher. Guess which one was much more painful to deal with.
"...how did they use the wrong formula and end up with the right answer?" Yang muttered, giving full points for that.
"Isn't that something you did?" Blake quipped as she walked in.
"Oh come on. Pulling that card?" Yang asked, adding in a fake pout,
"Yes. Absolutely." Blake said, as Izuku poked his head in.
"Oh, why's the slugger with you?" Yang asked.
"Remember the operation I told you about, with Nighteye?"
Yang's face fell. She motioned for the two to come in, and close the door behind them. "Heavy stuff you're dealing with in your first year, kid."
"If you're saying that? Then absolutely." Izuku frowned.
"First year stuff for me was pretty heavy too, but I had some downtime between the big stuff. For you, just seems like one thing after another."
"It's a lot more stress than I thought it'd be." Izuku admitted. "And with Sir keeping things under heavy protection..."
"Typical Sir." Yang huffed. "He...didn't really fit in with us at times, but he still is a pretty damn good hero."
"Before this...did you ever have to keep a big mission like this secret or-?" Izuku began.
"Yes." Yang said. "Well, Blake and I did."
"Stumbled across some pretty shocking government secrets." Blake sighed. "Heavy stuff- I won't indulge."
"Had to keep it under wraps for...a while. One thing lead to another and...well, it spiraled," Yang added.
"...am I gonna have to do the same thing?" Izuku asked.
"No, no. Absolutely not." Yang insisted. "You're still a kid who's very much new to this whole hero scene; you probably never expected someone so...heinous could exist."
"I mean...AFO-" Izuku started.
"Different type of heinous I think. Besides, he's behind bars. Overhaul though.."
"He's a monster." Izuku mumbled.
"Woulda used a more...colorful word myself, but yeah. Which is why he's getting thrown in one of Tartarus' darkest cells when this is over."
Izuku looked worried at that. Yang raised an eyebrow at that reaction.
"...do you think you can...do that?" Yang asked.
"I just keep having all these worries that something's gonna go wrong." Izuku admitted- damn. Didn't even have to prod that much. He just spat that out.
"I know what you mean. A lotta times I asked myself what would happen if we messed up, but then I had to realize that, even if a plan falls apart in the first five minutes, that doesn't mean you panic. Just gotta roll with the punches, adapt."
"I'm trying, really..." Izuku admitted. "But what if those punches turn into hands that just keep trying to drag me under? I keep...replaying that encounter, over and over and over again. I knew something was up, but I just didn't act because I was so focused on not dragging Mirio or Monoma into it-"
"You didn't know Overhaul would be there. Got you off guard. Trying to be ready for that would be like saying you're ready to deck AFO if you met him in a dark alley."
"I know, I know, and I keep saying that, but...I have this power for a reason!" Izuku said. "If I can't save one kid...am I really worthy to step up to the plate?"
"Yet. You didn't save her yet. She's waiting to be saved...its our job to make that a reality, not keep it a dream. Think of it more like a goal instead of a failure," Yang tried to advise.
"...what if reality doesn't come?" Izuku asked.
"Then make it." A voice said, opening the door behind Blake. Izuku's eyes widened.
"I-iida! Sorry, I was just waiting for you, and-" Izuku stammered.
"I'm sorry to eavesdrop, but your text worried me!" Iida declared.
"Oh. S-sorry, but I had to be a little vague given...you know."
Iida power walked on over, and put his hands on Midoriya's shoulders. "From the day I first met you...you have been nothing but exceptional." He began.
"Iida..."
"In some cases, saving someone takes time. Look at me, you saved me but it took you time to realize I was even in need of saving."
"I just-"
"You shouldn't fault yourself, Midoriya!" Iida said, gripping the boy's shoulders harder. "Neither should Mirio! Or Monoma! Blame that monster who thinks he can get away with it!"
Izuku was stunned, at a loss for words, because he knew he was right.
"I won't allow you to blame yourself like I did with Stain!" Iida said. "What matters right now is that you save that child!"
"...thank you, Iida," Izuku finally said, after taking all of his speedster classmate's words in. This wasn't to say that Yang's or Blake's advise fell on deaf ears, but this was the final straw so to speak. The final proverbial nail that really hammered the point home.
Iida pulled Izuku in close for a firm hug. "One set back isn't the end of the story, darn you..."
Izuku nodded and hugged his friend back. Yang smiled at that, thinking back on how many times she or Blake had to give similar speeches.
"Sorry for just...keeping it-"
"No. Don't apologize." Iida said. "It took a lot for you to get that off your chest."
"And, hey, if you see Monoma or Mirio and it still looks like they're dealing with it? Send 'em our way," Yang suggested.
"I'll...I'll try. I dunno how they're gonna react to me spilling like this." Izuku admitted.
"I highly doubt they'd blame you. And neither would Sir. If he does, I'll talk to him personally."
"You'd...really do that for me?" Izuku asked.
"You're a friend of a very important friend." Blake said. "I'll do anything."
"I get the practicality of keeping this all secret, but he is asking a bunch of kids to basically bottle up their trauma. Not exactly the best idea," Yang added.
"Sounds like you have a lot of experience." Iida said.
"...yeah." Yang's face fell. "And it...really messed with all of us."
"It was...it was bad," Blake sighed, underselling the impact.
"And we really want to avoid anything like that happening again."
"I-i see. A-again, thank you," Izuku nodded.
Iida nodded. "Thank you for helping Midoriya feel comfortable enough to have an opportunity like this!"
"Anytime," Yang grinned.
"Should we...go find Ochako and Shoto and kinda vent with them as well? She knows I'm a little out of it because of everything." Izuku said. (edited)
"Absolutely!" Iida agreed.
Izuku gave a small smile, and turned to the two huntresses. "Thanks again...I really owe you."
"Make it up to me by punching that Overhaul loser in the face." Yang smirked.
"More than once, please," Blake added.
"Repeatedly will absolutely do." Yang grinned.
"Will do," Izuku nodded.
Izuku and Iida quickly left the room, leaving the two alone. Yang leaned back in her chair, staring up at the ceiling.
"...these kids shouldn't have to deal with crap like this in their first year." Yang grimaced. "Just because we did...doesn't mean they should as well."
"I know. And now its shaping up where Izuku has his own versions of Cinder and Roman. But at least Roman wasn't this bad," Blake said.
"He'd throw a punch at a kid but I feel like even he'd be disgusted with the Hassaikai..."
"Neo is, from what I've heard..." Blake said.
"So in other words, Overhaul's got himself the worst enemy he could ask for. Because if Neo hates him, Albedo will too. And I doubt that's gonna end without him having a broken arm. Or two."
"He probably won't be leaving that place conscious." Blake said.
Albedo and Neo parked the surveillance van a few blocks away from Momo's family estate, hidden behind some trees. Albedo had already set up a few cameras and other equipment to keep an eye on the house, which he monitored from a laptop in the back of the van.
Momo sat next to him, her hands clasped together in her lap. She looked nervous and a bit uncomfortable, but she tried her best to stay focused on the task at hand.
The van was silent except for the sound of the laptop's fan whirring softly. Cooper and Pierce were setting up the controls for the surveillance systems, tuning frequencies and checking other things. Neo sat in the driver's seat, keeping a lookout for any incoming traffic or suspicious activity in the area.
After a few minutes, Albedo turned to Momo and spoke in a calm and reassuring tone. "I'm sorry to have put you through this, Miss Yaoyorozu." Albedo sighed. "I can't imagine how 'crowded' your mind must be from all the questions."
"It...it's fine." Momo sighed. "I always wondered why dad never really pushed me into inheriting the family company...maybe deep down, he knew he was involved in some shady stuff. And he wanted to keep me away."
Albedo nodded sympathetically. "It's possible. Parents often want to protect their children from the darker aspects of the world. But sometimes, it's unavoidable."
Pierce clicked on one of the cameras, zooming in on the front entrance of the estate. "We'll be able to see everything that's going on inside. And if anything suspicious happens, we'll be ready to act."
"I imagine this might take a few nights." Albedo said. "We'll take turns watching. If we spot anything suspicious, then Neo and I will sneak in to get a closer look."
Momo nodded, her eyes fixed on the laptop screen. "I'll do whatever it takes to uncover the truth about my father's involvement in this."
Cooper turned to her, a reassuring smile on her face. "We'll find out what's going on, Yaoyorozu. No need to worry."
Momo smiled- but she just wanted to scream.
Momo's worst fear was...maybe her father was handing over the tools that were being used on Eri. Momo's Creation quirk was incredibly versatile and could be used for a variety of purposes, both good and bad. The good far outweighed the bad, but the bad parts could be...tempting.
Producing fake forms of currency or other valuables. Making unlawful weapons or explosives. Creating narcotics or other forbidden substances. Developing spying tools to use on other people. Creating a false identity by forging official papers. Producing phony travel documents for nefarious purposes. Producing fake goods as a means of financial fraud. Fabricating evidence to use as a weapon, such as in a false arrest or a blackmail situation. Just scratching the surface of what an evil Momo could be like.
As she watched the live footage from the cameras, she couldn't help but think about how different her life could have been if she gave into her riches. She could have lived a life of luxury and ease, without having to worry about the consequences of her actions. But that was not the case.
Momo knew her quirk was 'top notch', even as a child. Momo had shown incredible skill and control over her quirk. She had been able to create intricate objects with ease, such as jewelry, dolls and even small machines. Her parents had recognized her talent early on and had encouraged her to pursue her studies in science and engineering.
But Momo knew a life in that sort of field would be...boring. And with riches doing nothing for her, Momo came up with one conclusion.
She needed to be a hero to make a real difference.
When Momo had told her parents about her dreams of becoming a hero, her father had been incredibly supportive. He had seen how skilled Momo was with her quirk and knew that she had the potential to do great things. He encouraged her to pursue her dream, even helping her with extra training and resources.
However, her mother was more skeptical. Her praises slowly turned into thinly veiled passive aggressive comments, mainly about her 'weaknesses' and shortcomings. She often complained that Momo was too soft-hearted and that she needed to be more ruthless to succeed in the cut-throat world of heroics. Her mother was the kind of person who believed that the ends justified the means, no matter what it took to achieve them.
Momo tried her best to ignore her mother's criticisms and continue pursuing her dreams. She poured all her efforts into her studies and training, determined to become a hero who could make a real difference in the world. It was her duty to use her quirk for good and to protect the innocent.
Momo's hard work paid off- when she got that scholarship for UA, she felt overwhelmed with joy. This was her first step into a truly meaningful future...
But now all she could focus on was the past. Momo couldn't help but feel a sense of betrayal as she watched the surveillance footage of her family estate. She had always believed that her parents were good people, but now she couldn't be so sure. She was filled with a mix of emotions, from anger to sadness to disappointment.
As she sat in the back of the surveillance van, watching the footage, Momo felt a sense of regret wash over her. She wondered if she could have done something to prevent all of this. Maybe if she had paid more attention, or asked more questions, she could have uncovered the truth before it was too late.
She couldn't dwell on that now. All she could do was focus on the present and try to find out the truth. Momo was determined to get to the bottom of things, even if it meant facing some hard truths about her family.
As the night went on, the team took turns watching the footage from the cameras, but nothing suspicious happened. The estate remained quiet, and Momo began to wonder if her fears were unfounded. Maybe her father really was just a businessman, and her worries were for nothing.
But then, at midnight...two people approached the door.
"We got something." Pierce said, putting on some headphones to overhear their conversation. Momo threw hers on as well. Her heart was beating fast with anticipation and nervousness.
The two figures at the door were dressed in black and had their faces covered. They were carrying a large duffel bag between them. Pierce zoomed in on their faces with one of the cameras and tried to enhance the image.
"I can't get a clear shot of their faces, but they're definitely not anyone who belongs here." Pierce said, frowning.
Momo frowned, as she looked at the files. The listed height for Chronostasis was 178 cm...and the man knocking on the door looked like that height.
Momo's stomach dropped as she realized that the man at the door could be Chronostasis. She quickly relayed her suspicion to her teammates, who nodded in agreement. Albedo whispered to Momo, "Stay here and keep an eye on the cameras. We'll sneak in and try to get a closer look."
Momo nodded and watched anxiously as Albedo and Neo slipped out of the van and made their way towards the estate. She tried to focus on the cameras, but her mind was racing with fears.
"What are the chances my parents find out about this?" Momo asked Cooper.
"Pretty low. Albedo's great at this kind of thing. He doesn't really need to eat or sleep...it's probably his strongest field beyond the Ultimatrix." Cooper said. "I doubt your parents will even notice."
Momo let out a small sigh of relief, but her worry didn't fully dissipate. She continued to watch the cameras, hoping for any sign of Albedo and Neo's success. Suddenly, a new camera popped up on screen. It was…a view of her parent's dining room. Momo's eyes widened.
"T-they managed to get inside the house!?" Momo gasped.
"Yeah. They're that good. You've seen Neo's Semblance. Pair that with Albedo's powers, and...yeah. They could basically stand in the same room as your parents and they'd be none the wiser." Pierce said, leaning back. Momo continued to watch the cameras, her eyes glued to the screen. Suddenly, she saw someone enter the room. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized that it was her father and mother...with the two guests.
"Sorry for meeting with you so late..." One hooded figure said. "We were drawing up plans for our next step." He removed his mask to confirm he was Chronostasis.
And Momo's world shattered then and there.
Pierce snapped a picture with the camera, and frowned. "...Momo, I'm-"
Momo's eyes welled up with tears as she watched the scene unfold on the camera feed. She felt a mix of anger and sadness, knowing that her own father was involved in such shady dealings. Her hands shook as she tried to process the information.
Pierce's voice trailed off, noticing the distress on Momo's face. "Momo, are you okay?"
Momo didn't answer. She couldn't. She felt like a million emotions were swirling inside her, and she couldn't find the words to express any of them. She just stared at the screen, watching her parents interact with Chronostasis and his partner.
"I was wondering why you were late...you're usually so punctual, Hari." Momo's mother frowned.
"The child was being especially fussy tonight." Chronostasis sighed. "Can't blame her, but...we're so close to perfecting the bullets..."
Momo's heart raced as she listened in on the conversation. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her own father was involved in creating the bullets that were harming Eri and others like her. She felt sick to her stomach, but she knew that she had to stay focused and keep listening.
"Who's your partner?" Momo's father asked. The second character removed his hood, revealing their identity.
"She's one of our 'temps' we borrowed from the League." Chronostasis explained. "She's a bit more witty than I like, but...I can't be too picky. She's the most sane character between the other two."
Cooper and Pierce's eyes widened. "Oh, shit..." Cooper muttered.
"What? Who is that?" Momo asked, confused.
"The girl that's with Chronostasis is...Sunny Tennyson." Pierce said.
Momo's eyes widened. W-what? "Who's Sunny Tennyson?"
"Ben's cousin or something. She disappeared a few years ago- she'd probably be one of us if she didn't run off." Cooper explained. "I had no idea she was with the League..."
"I'm not here to do much. Just to make sure this deal goes off well." Sunny huffed.
"Right you are." Chronostasis said, patting her on the head. "Now, you know the deal, Akira. We need some new medical tools, weapons and some bullet casings. Get to it..."
As she watched the feed, Momo noticed something strange. The camera in her parents' dining room was starting to glitch out, and she could no longer hear what was being said. She quickly switched to another camera, but the same thing was happening.
"Guys, the cameras are glitching out in the dining room." Momo said, panic rising in her voice.
"What? That's not good..." Cooper said, concern etched on her face.
Pierce quickly pulled out a laptop and started typing furiously. "I think I can hack into the system and fix it. Give me a few minutes."
Momo frowned, as she could only imagine what was going on from Neo and Albedo's perspective…
From Albedo and Neo's perspective, they had used Neo's semblance to hide themselves against a wall. They watched in total silence as Akira made a bunch of weapons from his body. Unlike Momo's creation, his was faster and more efficient, probably due to his protein rich diet. Ami would then take the weapons, and duplicate them. Hari would examine them, and then put them in the bag that Sunny was forced to hold.
"...steal one of their guns." Albedo muttered. "I wanna see if there's any modifications for the raid."
Neo nodded and quietly snuck around to the other side of the room where the group had left their weapons. She quietly nabbed a gun on the table, and brought it back to Albedo, who quickly inspected it.
"Looks like they've added a few modifications to increase the firepower," Albedo said quietly. "We'll need to be prepared for that during the raid."
Neo nodded, and the two of them continued to watch the League members as they conducted their business. Once Akira had finished making the weapons, they packed them up and prepared to leave.
"Thanks for doing business with us," Hari said as he shook hands with Momo's father. "I'll be sure to contact you when we have more supply demand."
"I...am the only man in Japan who can give you unmarked weapons, after all. No need for messy filing or...anything." Akira laughed nervously.
"And our pay?" Ami asked coldly.
"It's been transferred to your account," Chronostasis replied with a smile. "As always, it's been a pleasure doing business with you."
The Hassaikai members began to leave the room, each carrying a bag of weapons. As they passed by the wall where Albedo and Neo were hiding, Neo couldn't resist the urge to poke her head out and stick her tongue out at them. Albedo rolled her eyes and grabbed Neo's arm, pulling her back against the wall.
"Let's go," Albedo whispered. And they slipped out the way they came.
By the time the two left, the cameras started working again, thanks to Cooper. Momo was left staring at the camera footage of her mother and father, standing in the dining room. Her father took a deep breath, and pulled himself a seat at the table.
"...I hate working with them." He muttered, reaching for some water. He pulled out a protein packet, and made a spoon for mixing.
Momo's mother scoffed. "They keep our companies afloat. You owe them that."
"But I didn't make that deal. MY dad did. Why should I burden his issues?" Momo's father took a sip of water before continuing. "Just... something about them just rubs me the wrong way. It's like they're always hiding something, always keeping their cards close to their chest."
Her mother rolled her eyes. "Of course they're hiding something, dear. They're the Yakuza. It's what they do. And as long as they keep paying us, we'll keep doing business with them."
"But at what cost?" He replied, frowning. What about our reputation? Do you really want to be associated with a group of criminals? What if people find out?"
Her mother let out a heavy sigh. "It's a risk we have to take. The money they're paying us is too good to pass up. And besides, we're not directly involved in their activities. We're just supplying them with weapons and tools."
"But still," Momo's father said, her voice low. "I don't feel good about this. And what about Momo?"
Ami shook her head. "She's just a child. She doesn't need to know about the dark side of the world yet...with how padded UA is nowadays, I doubt she'll ever find out."
Momo couldn't bear to watch any longer. She shut off the monitor and took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She had to do something about this, but she didn't know what. She couldn't turn her parents in to the authorities, but she couldn't just let them continue to work with the group.
Albedo and Neo returned to the car. Albedo stared at Momo for a moment, and took a deep breath.
"I'm...sorry." He said, shutting the van door.
"They said...they're not hurting anyone." Momo bawled her fists. "Did you hear that? My father...doesn't even know what he's doing for them. He doesn't even know about Eri..."
Albedo closed his eyes. "...and do you blame him for his ignorance?"
"It's not just him," Momo replied, shaking her head. "My mother is just as guilty. They're both willing to turn a blind eye for the money. They raised me to be…better than this…"
Neo put a hand on her shoulder, and gripped it tightly.
There is one thing. Neo signed.
"And what's that?"
Bring down the bastards responsible for everything. Neo frowned. We've got another huge piece of the puzzle right now...so, we're closer and closer to 'game day'.
"...how close?" Momo asked.
"Closer than you think." Albedo said.
Momo frowned. "Then I'll gladly assist."
It was late when Momo got back to the Class 1-A dorms. Albedo was kind enough to stop by, and drop her off.
"I'm...sorry about everything that happened tonight." Pierce asked. "I know it sounds awful to ask for you to push these emotions away, but..."
"No." Momo said, wiping some tears away. "I get it. It's fine. I'll...see you tomorrow at the office."
Pierce took a deep breath. "Right, then. Good night."
Momo got out of the van without saying another word. She watched the van drive off, before she started walking back to Heights Alliance. Her mind...was jumbled. The more she tried to distract herself, the more her mind kept coming back to the same questions.
What could she do to make a difference? How could she take down the corrupt and powerful without putting herself and her loved ones in danger? And most importantly, was she willing to risk everything for the sake of justice?
She reached the dorms, opened the door and walked over to the couch in the main area. Even though Momo hadn't raised a finger or gotten on the field, she was...exhausted. She felt like falling asleep on this couch...
"Momo?"
Momo looked up, to see a half asleep Jirou standing over her. Momo felt a bit embarrassed.
"A-ah, Kyoka...what are you doing up this late?" Momo asked.
"I was thirsty...did you just get back?" Jirou asked.
Momo nodded. "Yeah, I was out with some members of the Omniworks Agency. We were...doing some work stuff."
Jirou raised an eyebrow. "Everything okay? You…sorta disappeared today."
Momo hesitated for a moment. "Yes." She lied. The weight she felt on her chest was...immense, especially with the NDA. The NDA was necessary to keep things in check. Couldn't have outsiders learn information about...
"...are you crying?" Jirou asked, suddenly very concerned and very awake.
Momo didn't realize it, but...yes. She was crying. She hated this lie she had to hold back. Jirou immediately sat down next to her and put an arm around her shoulder. "Hey, it's okay. You can talk to me. You don't have to say everything…"
Momo leaned into Jirou's embrace. They hadn't known each other that long, but...Momo just felt like she could trust Jirou with anything. And everything.
"...I feel like I need to." Momo muttered.
"I'm willing to lend an ear." Jirou said.
"Can you...keep a secret?" Momo asked.
"Of course…"
And Momo let everything out. She told her about Eri, her parents, the Hassaikai- everything that just plagued her mind. Jirou's expression got more and more concerned the more Momo vented.
By the time Momo finished, Jirou was just...hugging her tighter than ever. And Momo hadn't stopped crying.
"Holy…holy shit." Jirou whispered, rubbing her back. "That's…heavy."
Momo sniffled, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "It's just...feels like everything's coming down around me. I thought...I thought if I just got stronger, if I mastered magic, my problems would disappear...why did they intensify?"
"...it doesn't have to be right now." Jirou said. "I...know it's not comparable, but...I flip flopped between hero work and music. And...honestly, sometimes I wonder if I made the right choice. I still don't. I'm happy where I am now. And maybe that's what matters most."
Momo looked up at Jirou, wiping away some more tears. "I don't know what my happy place is anymore."
"It's okay not to know," Jirou said, rubbing her back. "Just...take it one step at a time. You don't have to figure it all out at once."
Momo nodded, feeling a little more grounded. She was grateful to have Jirou here with her, to listen and comfort her. She knew she couldn't keep everything bottled up inside forever, and it felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
"Thank you," Momo said.
Jirou held Momo's hand for a few moments, and closed her eyes. "You're gonna save that kid, you hear me? I believe in you, and Deku, and Ochako, and everyone else involved. You will save her, no matter what."
Momo squeezed Jirou's hand in response. "Thank you, Kyoka. That means a lot to me."
They stayed like that for a few more moments, in comfortable silence, before Jirou stood up. Her face was all red. "W-well, I should probably head back to bed. We've got class tomorrow, after all."
Momo nodded. "Yeah...I'll...go back to my room, too." Momo turned to walk up the stairs, before pausing.
"...Jirou?"
"Yeah."
"...thank you again." Momo said.
Jirou smiled softly. "Anytime, Momo. Don't hesitate to talk to me again, okay?"
Momo nodded, feeling a bit of the weight lifted off her shoulders. She climbed the stairs and walked down the hallway to her room, feeling a little more at ease than she had earlier. She knew that she still had a lot to think about and figure out, but for now, she would try to get some rest.
Entering her room, Momo changed into her pajamas and crawled into bed. As she lay there in the darkness, she couldn't help but think about everything that had happened that day. Her mind was still spinning with thoughts and questions, but she knew that she would have to deal with them tomorrow. For now, all she could do was close her eyes and try to get some much-needed rest.
As she closed her eyes, her mind flashed one more image- Jirou, holding that embrace for a while. When Momo was in her arms, she felt...
Happy. She felt like she could let her guard down and be vulnerable, something she rarely allowed herself to do. It was a feeling she hadn't felt in a long time, and it was comforting.
A happy place can't be a person...can it?
With that last thought, Momo fell into a deep sleep, her mind and body finally at peace for the first time in what felt like ages.
...
Momo was maybe only asleep for a few hours before she got a message on her phone. Her eyes fluttered open, as she grabbed her phone off her bedside table.
Her eyes tiredly read the message...
And she shot out of bed, put on some slippers, and rushed to the common area.
The Nighteye Agency had found the location of Eri. The date of the raid had been set- three days from now. And there was a meeting in a few hours. Momo rushed to the common area, where she saw Izuku, Ochako, Tsu, Alan and Kirishima, all gathered. The group looked at her, knowing what was coming next. No words needed to be exchanged.
Tsu nodded, her eyes shining with determination. "We won't let her down."
Kirishima pounded his fist against his chest. "We'll give it our all!"
Alan looked serious, but resolved. "I'm ready. Let's do this."
Ochako nodded. "We'll save Eri, no matter what!"
"And take down the Hassaikai as well." Momo said. "They need to pay for what they did to her..."
Izuku's expression was the most determined out of the quintet. "I won't let go of her this time." Izuku muttered.
Ochako grabbed his hand, squeezed it a bit. "And we'll all be there to help, Deku. You won't be alone in this, ya here?"
Izuku nodded. He looked out the window, and wondered how Mirio and Monoma were taking the news...
As if on cue, Izuku's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw a message from Mirio.
"I'm ready."
That was all he needed for some reassurance.
The doors to Heights Alliance suddenly swung open, as Setsuna, Tetsutetsu and Monoma all ran in. "You guys got the message?" Tetsutetsu asked.
"Yeah." Kirishima said. "I'm shocked you guys ran here."
"Duh. We're across the way." Setsuna frowned.
"Oh, right." Kirishima rubbed the side of his head in embarrassment.
Monoma still had that deathly serious expression on his face. He looked ready to kill, if asked.
As the plans for the upcoming raid were being arranged, Ochako couldn't help but feel a twinge of fear and doubt. What if something went wrong? What if they weren't able to save Eri?
She pushed those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the task at hand. They had to be strong, united, and determined if they were going to succeed.
And with that in mind, the setup for the raid event began.
The meeting at the Nighteye office the next day was...strange. The nail in the coffin for the location of Eri made everyone a bit annoyed.
"SHE'S AT THEIR HQ?!" Rock Lock yelled. "Don't tell me we did this whole investigation for nothing."
"On the contrary." Nighteye frowned. "We gained plenty of new intel, thanks to your combined efforts.
"How did you find out the location, anyways?" Blake asked, ears twitching with delight.
"Good question." Nighteye said. "You can thank consumerism for that..." And that's when Nighteye pulled out a toy, and placed it on the desk.
"...That's Amy from Sonic." Alan deadpanned.
"Why the hell do you have that?" Kevin asked.
"A Hassaikai member was purchasing this at a nearby department store the other day." Nighteye explained. "He was purchasing this toy for a young girl."
Izuku remembered Overhaul's comment about 'Sonic' when he first met Eri. This was a wild way to bring back that throwaway joke.
"Maybe the guy's just a fan of the show. Or games. Or whatever, I don't know Sonic." Rock Lock scoffed. (That was a lie. He loved Shadow the Hedgehog and dressed like him for Halloween a few times, with his wife as Rouge.)
"No." Nighteye frowned. "If the man had any personal interest in the product, he wouldn't have been speaking the way he was. He was asking about a 'fast hedgehog' at the front counter, so, I assisted him...and in doing so, I used Foresight to see where he was going."
"You used Foresight?" Kevin asked. "Wait, didn't you say-"
"He said that he'd use it once he was positive about something. Just to be doubly sure." Albedo corrected.
"Thank you," Nighteye said. "Everyone seems to forget that."
"So, this means we're finally ready to take the fight to them." Fatgum grinned.
Ryukyu nodded. "We've been waiting for this moment for a long time. Let's make it count."
"We'll stake out the place to make sure the punk's home." Centipeder frowned.
"And I'll get the warrants." Gran Torino frowned.
Mirio exhaled, and began flailing his arms up and down wildly. He was getting PUMPED. "Let's do this, Midoriya!" Mirio declared. "YOU READY?"
Ochako blinked. Looks like he was back to his old self. That was something she could smile about...and so could Amajiki and Nejire.
"I was wondering when our sunshine boy would return." Nejire commented.
Amajiki gave a small smile. "And I can feel kinda better about our chances."
Nighteye watched Mirio get pumped up, and reflected upon the boy. He never let that one failure drag him down. Nighteye admired Mirio's positivity. Mirio persevered after failing to save Eri. He persevered. Never again.
In his earlier days, Nighteye experienced the pitfalls of regret and failure. He suffered for years over his failure to stop All Might from...essentially destroying himself. Mirio's recovery showed that even the worst losses might be overcome.
Nighteye watched Mirio pump himself up, his enthusiasm and resolve contagious. He had hope they could save Eri and defeat the Hassaikai.
"The mission hasn't changed," Sir Nighteye continued. "Our objective is still to rescue Eri and take down the Hassaikai. We just need to adjust our approach."
The rest of the meeting was spent going over the new plan of attack. It was a risky plan, but it was the best chance they had to succeed.
As everyone else left the meeting, Nighteye, Albedo and Neo stayed behind to discuss something.
Albedo leaned forward, his hands clasped together on the table. "I've been doing some research on the Hassaikai, and it's become clear to me that they have connections to the criminal underworld of Undertown."
Nighteye raised an eyebrow. "Undertown? That's a dangerous place to be involved with."
"I know," Albedo nodded. "But it's not just a hunch. I've been monitoring their communications and there have been some suspicious interactions with known Undertown crime bosses."
Nighteye leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "So what does that mean for us?"
"It means that we have to be careful," Albedo replied. "If the Hassaikai has ties to the Undertown criminal underworld, then they have access to a vast network of resources that we can't ignore. We need to be prepared for anything."
Nighteye stroked his chin thoughtfully. "That's true. We can't underestimate their reach. We'll have to adjust our plan accordingly...especially if we're facing off against him."
"I'm afraid Psyphon's the only man who can fit the job with Overhaul," Albedo frowned. "He...has access to tech far beyond anything normal humans can create now. I heard Chronostasis mention it at the Yaoyorozu's house yesterday.
Nighteye's eyes widened in surprise. "Psyphon? That's a name I haven't heard in a while. Last I heard, he was laying low after Benjamin obliterated Vilgax."
Albedo nodded. "That's correct. But it seems he's resurfaced, built a sizable criminal empire, and is now working with the Hassaikai. And if he's involved, we have to be prepared for anything."
"Agreed," Nighteye said. "We need to gather as much information on Psyphon as possible."
With that settled, the three of them left the meeting room, ready to put their new plan into action.
The raid was coming up.