Author's Note: Continuation of previous chapter!

21: Condition (2)

The moment that the words had left the vice president's mouth Inko had to jump in between the two men as Toshinori lunged at him, intent on choking the life out of him. Both adults were yelling and hurling insults at the man for what he had asked. Mei was no better as she screamed at him, proclaiming that Izuku would do no such thing.

Izuku, however, felt a cold pit forming in his stomach.

[They're never gonna leave her alone,] he realized as the weight of the outlandish request hovered over him. [Even if they free her, they'll use Mei to force her into making her do what they want.]

The sound of their yelling seemed to fall away as the smile on Mera's face remained. He thought that he had won. Toshinori could and would reveal the truth, but it wouldn't matter. They still held power over him as a government licensed Hero. Even if he did retire the boy knew that he and his family would be the next target on the H.P.S.C.'s list. Toshinori would most likely be assassinated, and they would probably threaten Izuku into working for them.

He sighed, placing his hands over his face for a moment while he made the decision. [There's no other choice,] he thought to himself, raising his eyes to look at the pale-haired man while he still smiled at the raging adults. [I just have to choose my words carefully.]

僕ぼくのヒーローアカデミア

In the realm between realms, Paradox watched the events unfolding with interest. "What will you do, young man?" He asked of the blurred image before him. The timeline had come to a screeching halt at this point. Everything that would happen now depended on the will of Izuku Midoriya.

The man smiled as the boy rose from his seat, "I see," he said with relief in his voice as the timeline came alive once more, splitting into multiple branches, both light and dark. "This is your true starting point."

僕ぼくのヒーローアカデミア

"I'll do it."

Toshinori, his mother, and Mei went completely silent, their eyes turning to the green-haired boy as he stared down the vice president. Mera's eyes narrowed at the boy suspiciously. "What was that, young man?"

Izuku glared at him, "I think you heard me perfectly well, Vice President Mera," the boy said harshly, "But there are some conditions I'd like to set."

"Absolutely not!" His mother shouted at once, "You will do nothing of the sort! This is - "

"This is my choice," Izuku finished forcefully, regretting immediately as a look of shock and hurt crossed his mother's face, "And I am going to do this, even if I have to go against All Might." He looked pointedly at the blond man to make certain that he understood.

Mera chuckled, "You sure have some balls, I'll give you that, son," Izuku hated it whenever someone other than his mother called him son. Unless it was Toshinori. "But I highly doubt that you're in any position to barter."

Izuku kept the glare on his face, holding up a finger, "Condition one: whether I'm able to subdue Gigantomachia or not, Mei's mother will be freed," Izuku said, "If this one condition is not met, then you get nothing."

Mera frowned at him, interested now, "I see...and what's to stop you from going back on your word and just leaving the country after we've freed her?"

Izuku shook his head, "For one thing, I'm not a liar, even when I'm trying, I can't lie worth damn," the boy said, "And another would be the fact that you and your dogs would probably follow me wherever I go, threaten my family and everyone I care about, or have me assassinated."

"That's why you should just forget about this!" Mei shouted suddenly, "Izuku, I don't mind letting this go!" She said pleadingly, "I've never even met my mother, so it'd be easy for me - !"

Izuku looked at her, "But you'll always regret not seeing her." Izuku said gently, smiling softly at the girl, "You said it yourself on the way here: you have to know, don't you?" It was enough to make the girl clamp her mouth shut. Angry tears were forming in her eyes as she looked away from him. Izuku turned back to Mera, "The first condition isn't up for debate, either."

Mera was quiet for a moment as he took in the boy's expression. [He's serious.] The man then grinned at him. "Fine, consider it done." He relented, "And the other condition?"

"Conditions, plural, Mr. Mera," Izuku said, "The second condition is related to the first." He continued, "Whether I fail or succeed, you and the H.P.S.C. will leave me, my family, and anyone I'm associated with alone." This made the man frown at the boy. He knew how to play the game it seemed. "No interfering with our career choices, no tampering with any documents that may or may not be needed for our futures, and if anyone on that list comes to harm, know that I can be very vindictive."

Mera's left brow twitched. "Is that a threat, boy?"

"Yes," Izuku said, "And I can back it up." He held up his Ultimatrix, "If anyone I love is harmed, I won't stop until I've personally ground you into paste." Izuku let the threat hang in the air.

Mera's brow continued to twitch. "And the third condition?"

"A public apology to Kaina Tsutsumi and Mei Hatsume for all of the pain you've caused them." Mei whipped back around, the tears flying from her eyes while she wore a shocked expression. "Because of you, her mother was forced to defend her from a tyrant. Because of you, Mei had to grow up without even knowing she had a mother." He listed off the reasons on his fingers while Mera ground his teeth. "And because of you, I'm going to be putting my life on the line for both of them, so the least can do is agree to everything I've just asked, and follow through with it."

Mera sat back in his chair. [This kid's going to cause problems for us in the future.] He thought with anger searing through him. [But,] a calming thought came through, [At least he'll potentially be a greater Hero than All Might,] his eyes slid over to Toshinori who was looking at the boy with pride.

Taking in a deep breath, Mera let out a heavy sigh, "You're one tough kid, and smart to ask for those conditions," he said, "You didn't even ask for money."

"I have a patent on a new piece of technology that is making a killing on the police force markets as a capture weapon," Izuku told the man, "And I still have plenty of of funds left over from selling my designs to David Shield," the man frowned at the boy, "What the hell do I need with money?"

Mera snorted, "Regardless, you'll have it all as you wish." He rose, and started for the door, "Ms. Tsutsumi will be freed within the month if all works out well," he then turned and glanced over his shoulder at the boy as he reached for the door, "As for Gigantomachia...we'll make certain to find him as soon as possible for you." The door slammed behind him as he left the trio alone.

The moment the door closed, Izuku was subject to the strongest bone-crushing hug that his mother, and Mei could produce.

僕ぼくのヒーローアカデミア

"He'll do it," Mera said into his phone as he drove along, "The kid had some harsh conditions, but it'll all be worth it if we can get Gigantomachia locked down."

On the other end of the phone, President Gasai was nervous, "The fact that this boy is willing to do this might make him more of a threat than All Might could ever be," she said to her second in command, "Are you sure that this is a game worth playing? Regardless of what happens, Lady Nagant will go free, and the Hero Public Safety Commission will be dragged through the mud!"

Mera chuckled, "Yes, no matter how you look at it, we come out with the short end of the stick," he said, "But the fact that this kid went so far as to make certain that everything went his way even if he failed means that he doubts he can handle Gigantomachia on his own." He chuckled slightly, "And if he dies fighting the monster, All Might's spirit will be beyond broken: he cares that much for him."

"And if he survives, that's just one more Hero that will have it out for us," the woman groaned, "We need to get a handle on this. The boy aside, I doubt that Lady Nagant will be looking for payback just yet." She said while hoping she was right, "She did voluntarily give the child up, and willingly went to prison." She frowned slightly, "We may be able to pin most, if not all the blame on the previous president. Everyone knew he was rather cruel where Heroes were concerned: he was Quirkless, after all."

Mera frowned, "He was also a loud supporter of Humarise," the man muttered just barely loud enough for her to hear, "Either way, the kid's on board for an attempt at taking down Gigantomachia." He continued, "If he manages to succeed, we can make ourselves look like Heroes to the public even after the public apology to Nagant."

"Which will still drag us through the mud," Gasai said with a frown in her voice, "This is going to be a huge mess, Mera," she went on, "If the boy fails, we'll be seen as child killers!"

Mera chuckled, "You really think All Might will allow that boy to be killed by that monster," he said gleefully, "We may yet be rid of two thorns in our sides, given his weakened state."

The president sighed, "If this works out in the way you're hoping, then we would most certainly be able to manipulate Endeavor," she said thoughtfully, "But this is All Might we're talking about. A man with immeasurable strength and with the support of the people. Endeavor is only the No.2 Hero because of his indifference to common folk."

"And his love for the those he saves," Mera added in, "We already have a Hero that can take his place in the top ten."

Gasai chuckled, "Hawks has been doing quite well in the popularity polls." She said, "Alright, if this works, then we have everything we need to get our Heroes in full control."

僕ぼくのヒーローアカデミア

Kaina Tsutsumi rarely received visitors.

For the most part, her visitors were agents from the H.P.S.C. offering her a chance to breathe the fresh air again if she went back to her previous dealings with them. But her answer had always been the same. A firm no. She had given everything up so that she could leave her old life behind. There was no way that she was going to go back to it.

When she was lead to the visitation room, she expected to see Mera or one of the other agents she had come to know. However that wasn't the case in this instance. She was met with a tall, thin man with scraggly blond hair wearing a grim expression. The guard lead her to her seat and secured her restraints to the table. "It doesn't matter what you offer me," she said at once, making the man frown at her, "I'm not going back to being your assassin."

This made the man smirk, "Well, that's a good thing," he said, "Because I'm not asking you to be my assassin."

Kaina blinked, "You're not with the Safety Commission?" She asked with confusion.

The stranger shook his head, "Indeed I'm not," he confirmed, "I'm actually here to prepare you for your real visitor." A frown marred her face as the man cleared his throat, "However, there's much I need to tell you before you see them."

"Such as?"

The man sighed and laced his fingers together, "Natsuo Hatsume has been murdered." Kaina stood abruptly, her chair tipping over and clattering to the floor. The guard acted, stepping forward with a taser in case she became violent, but a look from the blond man stopped them from using it on her. The guard set her chair back up and forced her back into it.

"How?" The woman demanded after she had managed to regain some of her composure.

The man shook his head, "While we don't have definitive proof of his involvement," he said with a sigh of frustration, "We believe he came across a little girl that was on the run from some yakuza, and encountered Naoto." She frowned: her husband was the type of man that wouldn't have hesitated to help a child. "The man that was presumably chasing her had a Quirk that deconstructs matter on the cellular level...all that was found was a red stain where the attack happened."

Kaina looked down at her lap, "Was it...was it quick?

"I would assume that he did not suffer," the man said, "At least, I hope that he didn't." He sighed tiredly, "I assume that you can guess who your visitor is?"

Her mouth thinned into a hard line across her face, "My daughter," she muttered with a small quaver in her voice, "You should know the reasons I left her in her father's care."

The man nodded, "We were informed of everything." He said, "Mera attempted to paint you in an unfavorable light half an hour ago." She frowned, "But that did nothing to dissuade your daughter from wanting to meet her mother."

"It should," the woman sighed, "I abandoned her."

"With good reason," the tall man said, "The former president outright threatened her life, if you didn't return to active duty." He shook his head, "No parent would ever be able to stand something like that," he smiled at the woman, "At least, no decent parent would." Kaina gave a small smile at that, "I'm also happy to say that your release has been all but assured."

Kaina looked at the man as if he'd grown a second head, "Release?" She asked, flabbergasted, "How? I murdered the president of the H.P.S.C.!"

That made the man frown again, "It was not an easy feat, my dear lady," he said, "Suffice to say that a young...Hero will face a very arduous challenge." He ran his hands down his face, "However, whether he overcomes this challenge or not, you will be released and be placed as a teacher in U.A."

[Teach?] Kaina's chest tightened. Teaching had once been a dream of hers. Doing so at U.A. of all places would truly be a dream come true. But she shook her head, "But how did you convince the Hero Public Safety Commission to release me?" She asked, feeling that it was all too good to be true. "And what's to stop them from taking me back into custody?"

"As I said, a young Hero will have to complete a task," the man said, "The task being the capture of a true Villain...Gigantomachia."

Even the guard didn't react when Kaina stood again, "Are they out of their minds?!" She demanded, "That thing isn't a simple Villain! That thing is a monster straight out of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein!"

"There's no argument there, my dear, but that was the only condition that those pencil pushing pinheads asked for," the man sighed, "And the young Hero has made certain that you, your daughter, or anyone he holds dear will not be harassed by them ever again, whether he succeeds or fails." He then sat back, looking at her with a small smile, "Are you ready to meet your daughter?"

The woman bit her lip, "I haven't seen her since she was a baby," she muttered, "What if she's angry with me?" She wonder before asking, "And who's taking care of her? If Natsuo's gone, then - ?!"

The man held up his hand to stall her questions, "You'll meet her when she brings Mei in," he assured her, smiling, "And I must say that the woman fostering her for the time being is beyond adequate." He got up from his chair and went to the door, pausing as he turned back to her as he reached for the knob, "Ready?"

Despite her anxiety, Kaina nodded.

He opened the door, "She's ready to see you, now, dear."

The woman fidgeted nervously as a shapely woman came into the room leading a girl into the room by her shoulders. Kaina's breathing caught in her throat. Her hair and eyes were just like her father's. There was a moment that their eyes met for a brief moment, causing the girl to look away with a light dusting of pink on her cheeks. The woman at her side smiled and gave her shoulders a comforting squeeze before leading her over to the chair in front of her.

She then smiled kindly toward her, "We'll leave the two of you alone for a few minutes," she said, though Mei looked at her with uncertainty. She then kissed the girl's head, "We'll be right outside, Sweetie."

With that, she and the blond man shuffled out of the room, leaving them alone. Kaina opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. What was she supposed to say to her?

"I..." Mei spoke up timidly, "Dad...he talked a lot about you."

The woman smiled at that, "He was the love of my life." She said, making the girl look up at her, "You look so much like him." Kaina frowned a moment later, "Your friend told me what happened to him," she bowed her head, "I know it may not mean much coming from me, but...I'm so...so sorry..."

Mei bit her lip, "Did...did the former president really threaten us?"

She took a breath before raising her eyes to her daughter's, "He did," she said, "I'd never have acted the way I did if he hadn't." She shook her head, "You were barely a month old," she smiled at her, "But you were everything to me...and I wanted you to have a normal life far away from what I'd become."

"It's been good," the girl muttered, "At least until...recently..." she trailed off, a pained look in her eyes. "Dad and I loved working in our garage. I loved making Support Gear, " she gave a small smile, "I'm going to U.A. for their Support Course."

Kaina smiled at her, "That's good," she said, "I'd always hoped to send you there." She leaned forward, some of her nerves leaving her as they spoke, "Do you have any friends?"

Mei shook her head, making her mother frown, "Calling them friends does do them any service," the girl said with a wider smile, "They're...they're all like family to me."

Kaina smiled before she turned to the guard, "How much time do I have?"

The guard shrugged, "As long as you want or need," he said, "The warden said that you'd have all the time needed for today."

She smiled and turned back to her daughter, "Tell me everything." Mei, as it turned out, was more than happy to talk about her life. How she dreamed of becoming a big name in the Support Gear industry. How she met Izuku and his mother, and through him, the rest of her friends. Kaina smiled as she noticed how her daughter's eyes came alive when speaking about this Izuku-boy and his incredible Quirk.

As she spoke, the look on the girl's face started to turn sour, "What's wrong?" Kaina asked.

Mei drew her mouth into a thin line, "It's just...did Toshinori tell you how you're getting out of here?" She asked, her brow furrowing.

Kaina nodded, worrying her lip slightly, "Yes, I was told that a young Hero was going to have to face Gigantomachia," she shook her head, "As much as I'd like to be a part of your life, I don't want someone facing that monster for my sake just as much."

Mei nodded in understanding, "He's not gonna be fighting alone, that much I'm going to make sure of," the girl said, which confused her mother more than anything else she'd heard during the meetings.

"Why would you have any say in it?" Kaina asked before something dawned on her, her eyes going wide, "It's not this Izuku you've been talking about, is it?!" Mei confirmed her fears a moment later with a slow bob of her head, "But...he can't...he's only a boy!" The woman looked horrified by this point. "They can't expect a child to go against that abomination!"

Mei hung her head low, "They do," the girl said, "They're probably looking for him right now." She looked at her mother, "It's too late to stop them."

Kaina put her head in her hands, "Oh god, I'm so sorry!" The woman moaned.

Mei shook her head, "It's not your fault," she said when her mother looked up at her, "I...I don't blame you for anything...I can't..." She smiled at her, "You're in here because you were protecting me. Dad was killed protecting a little girl. And Izuku's..." her cheeks blossomed again, "He's doing this to protect all of us."

僕ぼくのヒーローアカデミア

Ben was lying in his bed, unable to sleep, as was the norm for most of his nights recently. His left arm felt extremely light now that he no longer wore the Omnitrix, having passed it to his son as his illness progressed. He knew that the world was in good hands with Kenny now a full member of the Justice League, but he still felt anxious without his old partner.

A light appeared in the room, alerting him to the arrival of an old friend. "Paradox?"

"Yes," the timeless professor said as he appeared next to his bed. "It's good to see you again, old friend."

Ben smiled at the man, "It's been a few years, hasn't it?" The man chuckled weakly, "I was wondering if you'd come back before I was gone."

Paradox smiled down at him, "I am loathed to do so," he said sadly, "I do so hate tearful goodbyes."

"Well, I suppose it isn't time yet," the man said, "Or else you probably wouldn't be here." He arched his brow, "Tell me, how is that boy you were so keen to help on Earth Omega?" He asked, "Did he take the Ultimatrix?"

Paradox nodded, "Oh, Indeed he did, my old friend," the time traveler smiled, "I think you would be proud of him," he said slyly, "He is quite similar to you in many ways."

"Arrogant, clumsy, and immature?" Ben laughed before coughing loudly.

Paradox gave a small chuckle of his own, "A bit clumsy, yes, but a truer Hero I have yet to see," the man said before turning serious, "He is ready."

Ben gave the time traveler a look of surprise, "Is he?" He asked, "How long have you been - ?"

"Just under a year," Paradox said, "He is much more mature than either of us imagined."

Ben smirked, "Well, I did ask to see him before I had to leave this world," he said, "I just thought that he would be a tad older when you brought him to me."

Paradox shrugged, "Perhaps I would have waited longer," he said, "However, at the moment, he could use the aid of the man he's come to know as a great mentor."

Ben shook his head, "He can't even be half-way through the tutorials Azmuth and I programed into the Ultimatrix," he said with a frown, "Something's happened, hasn't it?"

"Not yet," Paradox said, "But something soon will, and he will need you before facing this foe."

Ben gave a small laugh once more, "The Celestialsapiens aren't gonna like this," he chortled, "They barely tolerate you coming and going between dimensions."

Paradox nodded, "No need to worry, my old friend," he said, "Lady Amastacia has already given her consent."

That surprised the man, "You've got her on your side?" He said in bewilderment, "That was lucky! She's usually the type to blast first and ask questions later."

"She's always been quite amicable with me," he said, "However, that doesn't mean there aren't some problems arising."

Ben frowned, "Can you handle it?"

"I'm not sure I'm needed," Paradox said, "Not quite yet, anyway." He sighed.

Even as he sat with his ill friend, the image of the darkened future still disturbed him. Especially the hooded figure he kept seeing with the red Ultimatrix symbol on their chest.

僕ぼくのヒーローアカデミア

Author's Note: Sorry this took so long, amigos, but I was having trouble with the interactions between Kaina and Mei. Side Note: Mei and her mother are more alike than she realizes, hint hint.

Anyway, Izuku decides to face Gigantomachia, as if there was ever any doubt, while the government is hoping that the behemoth will take care of their problems. And Ben prepares for an arrival.

Next up is the Beach episodes. Now, this being written in a part of the year that is fairly cold, no bikinis :p Just lots of teenage stuff...dios nos ayuda a todos.

Wanna see what happens next, ya'll know what to do!

Adios Amigos!