Chapter 29: Suzune Horikita and Manabu Horikita

"So, what is it you want to discuss, Suzune?" Manabu Horikita asked while adjusting his glasses in front of his little sister, Suzune. Both were seated in a booth in the cafeteria. However, since it was still very early in the morning, half past eight to be exact, they weren't alone. In fact, the cafeteria was bustling with students who couldn't stop talking about the second appearance of the new hero in town, All Might, and how he stomped the American 'superhero' into oblivion. But that wasn't all…

"Hello! D-Do you mind if you give me your autograph, H-Horikita-Senpai?!" One of the first-year students who was part of Class B, came up out of nowhere along with her friends. Manabu glanced over at her for a second before looking back at Suzune and sighing.

"Fine. Let's just get this over with already." Manabu replied as he took out a pen (Which he always has on hand given the fact that he's president of the Student Council.) Before signing the book that the Class-B girl had in her hands, much to her delight.

"Now scram. I'm busy." Manabu declared matter-of-factly. The Class-B girls squealed before saying 'Oh my god, he's so dreamy!' They then ran away faster than either of the Horikita siblings could blink. With both of them alone again (Or at least away from any of the commotion.) They were able to talk to each other once more. But Suzune remained silent for a few seconds. It wasn't as if she didn't know what she wanted to talk about, but how was she going to go about it, that was the question. But just as she was in the middle of formulating the words in her head-

"Look. I don't have time for this. I have a lot on my plate now. So, if you don't have anything to say then- Manabu spoke but before he could finish, he was cut off by Suzune.

"I know… you have a superpower now. Just how did you get it?" Suzune questioned her brother with a serious look on her face.

"Classified." Manabu replied with a serious look of his own.

"Then what about who gave you your power?" Suzune asked. But once again the response was-

"That's also classified. I do not have permission to tell you. Nor would I even if I was given permission by my superiors." Manabu replied but Suzune wasn't done. Far from it. In fact, their talk had only just begun.

"Your superiors? I assume one of them is Chairman Ayanokoji. As for the other, that's the person who gave you that superpower, isn't it?" Suzune asked while Manabu nodded in affirmation.

"You're still as sharp as ever. If you figured out that much, then why bother questioning me about it? Unless you have someone, who desires such information. Like your friend… or should I say, 'All Might.'" Manabu replied and after he finished, Suzune's eyes shot wide open out of surprise. But she quickly calmed herself down before responding.

"How did you know?" Suzune asked as she knew her brother too well. Once he has figured out something, his answer is always correct. That's how it always went when they were kids. And that hasn't changed even now. That's why she knew that her brother was sure of his deduction. Along with the fact that he wasn't one to lie to her. Or at least that's what she assumed.

"It was just after The Deep had thrown me off of him. Your hero came in and shouted 'Smash.' I knew that I had heard that somewhere before and I was right on the money. He said the exact same thing that night. His tone of voice threw me off at first. But people normally don't shout something like 'Smash' before punching someone. And Izuku Midoriya is far from normal." Manabu admitted. But just as he finished talking Suzune's eyes went wide. Not because she was blown away by how he figured it out (To her it made perfect sense, and she expected nothing less from her brother.) But what caught her off guard was-

"Brother! Don't say his name so casually! You don't know if anyone's listening!" Suzune snapped back while looking to see if anyone was listening but breathed a sigh of relief after realizing no one heard them. Manabu noticed this and scoffed.

"Like I care, if anyone figures out his identity. He's going to get exposed for he really is, one of these days. You know that, right?" Manabu asked but Suzune didn't respond. It wasn't as if she didn't think that was impossible. Quite the contrary, she's more or less figured out that day is not far away. Especially after Midoriya almost got his identity revealed by her brother. And he would have if she didn't step in. It was dumb luck she was there to save him in time. Because next time he might not be so lucky.

"Of course, I do…" Suzune spoke before trailing off for a few seconds. It wasn't as if she didn't understand where Midoriya was coming from. She deduced the reason why he was about to let himself be exposed fairly quickly. After all, she was there and so was her brother. She knew that Deku wouldn't hurt her brother because he cares about her. She's thankful for it, but she doesn't want him to suffer either. She doesn't want the both of them to suffer. But now things have changed. With her brother joining the Chairman's side on his 'task force' he and the hero All Might are going to inevitably clash again. One of them is going to suffer…

… But who's side is she supposed to be part of? Her brother that she's known for all her life? Or the first person she can truly call a 'friend?' How is she supposed to choose between them? Suzune couldn't. She didn't want to choose because if she did, she would be participating in one of them getting hurt. (Indirectly or not.) That's why she was going to remain neutral. But if it was possible, she was going to end the conflict before it began once more. And that is the 'reason' why she is here. To stop that from happening. To stop this needless conflict that will only result in misery.

"… And that's exactly why this needs to stop. Before that happens. Because you and I both know once that happens, there will be no turning back." Suzune replied as she dreaded the day that her friend's identity was revealed.

'It is with that, that I have one final announcement to make. Regarding the 'hero' who fought against that sludge creature the other day, I have made the decision to issue a warrant for his arrest. Which is why I'm personally assembling a task force to apprehend him. Don't be mistaken that 'hero' is nothing more than a vigilante who deserves to be put behind bars. Anyone who gives details regarding his true identity will be rewarded handsomely, I can assure each of you of that…' The Chairman has already made his threat crystal clear and Suzune did not want her friend to be arrested just for helping people. No…

… The young woman named Suzune Horikita vowed to herself to stop that dark future from occurring. But she couldn't do it alone, that's why she had no choice but to convince her brother that Deku-no, that All Might is a hero who fights to save people. However, he wouldn't be convinced so easily.

"Then we agree on that. Though if you are really trying to ask for my help, then you're wasting your time." Manabu declared as his sister winced in response. It wasn't as if she didn't see that coming. No, she figured that her brother was going to be hard to convince. But hearing him say that he wouldn't help, right to her face, landed a serious blow to her confidence. So, of course this meant that she would grow desperate to win him over.

"Brother, just hear me out. All Might is a hero that has done nothing wrong. What point would there be to expose his identity to the world?!" Suzune asked but to her utmost surprise, her brother glared daggers at her. Before she could say another word-

"What point? Suzune, are you even listening to yourself? Did you not see what I, and you and everyone else saw this morning?! He defeated one of the most popular heroes from America, no less who was known for being among The Seven! He certainly made his own mistakes, and I'm not going to say he didn't deserve it. But it goes without saying that his reputation of fighting alongside Homelander and Black Noir says everything about how strong he was." Manabu spoke with an agitated tone of voice and a look that matched it. But he wasn't done talking yet.

"And that MONSTER punched him into the sky! If he's capable of such a feat who knows how powerful he is?! He could easily be on Homelander's level! With that kind of power, he would be able to kill each and every one of us with ease. And judging from your reaction or lack thereof, this isn't the first time that he has done something like that. I'm right about that, aren't I?" Manabu replied but this made Suzune's eyes shoot wide open as he was right on the money. (Especially about that last part.) She then bawled up her fists in anger before saying-

"Deku would never do that!" Suzune snapped back out of anger but gasped before making sure nobody heard her. But this made her brother laugh in response.

"And how can you be so sure of that? Do you even know if that guy is human? Because it sure as hell to me makes me think he isn't. Someone who's capable of taking blows from a goddamn superhuman is nothing more than a monster. Not to mention he's completely unregulated. At least The Seven are regulated by Vought, but you can't say the same thing for him, can you?" Manabu asked while Suzune went silent and bit her lip. He then readjusted his glasses before continuing.

"I'm sure all it would take is one bad day for him to snap and kill someone. That's why he NEEDS to be exposed. That way he can be regulated. He can be STOPPED before that happens. And I'm going to do everything in my power to stop that one bad day from happening, Suzune. Even if it means smashing the hopes and dreams of your hero to pieces." Manabu declared before standing up as he was done talking to her. But his sister was NOT done. Not yet.

"God damn it, brother! He's not a monster! He's human just like the rest of us! All he wants to do is what's right! Do you think he CHOSE to be here?!" Suzune snapped back as she was on the verge of tears. But upon finishing she instinctively covered her mouth as her emotions got the better of hers and she said something that she shouldn't have said. But Manabu heard this and sat back down.

"Guess we're not done talking yet. Let's continue from where we left off. Specifically, about the part where you said, 'Do you think he 'chose' to be here.' What exactly did you mean by that, Suzune?" Manabu declared while leaning against the table with his hands put together while looking at glaring at his sister. In response, Suzune struggled to make eye contact and looked at the table out of shame. Manabu noticed this.

"Eyes up here. We're not done talking yet. And I'm not leaving until you further elaborate on what you meant by the word 'chose.' Until then I'm staying right here." Manabu declared while Suzune knew her brother meant every word he said. She also knew that she wouldn't be able to lie to him. After all, they were siblings, and he knew every time that she lied. That's why there was no point in lying. The only response that he would accept is the truth. But that also meant telling him the truth about Midoriya. That wasn't something that Suzune wanted to do. In fact-

"I refuse." Suzune declared with a serious look on her face as Manabu noticed this before looking at the other first years not that far away from them.

"Is that so? Then how about I just tell everyone the truth about who All Might really is? I was holding back that tidbit of information because I owed him. If he didn't help me back, then I'd still be in jail for a crime I didn't commit. I'm thankful for that. But that doesn't excuse the fact that he's a vigilante. I also paid my debt in full for not exposing him right then and there. So, believe me when I say I'm not playing games. I will say his true name IF you don't confess the truth now." Manabu declared while Suzune gritted her teeth.

Suzune knew that she was cornered in this battle of words by her brother. There was no way that he would accept anything but the truth. She didn't want to tell anybody, not even her brother, the truth about Midoriya. Especially knowing the fact that SHE is the only person that knows his other secret right now. The secret being that he's not even from this world. But there was no denying the fact that if she kept his secret from her brother then the latter would reveal the former's other secret. That's why she had no choice but to confess. But before doing so-

'I'm sorry… Deku.' Suzune apologized to her friend internally before regaining her composure. And then…

"The truth is… he's not from this world- Suzune spoke but was cut off before she could finish by her brother.

"So, he is an alien. I don't understand. Why would you go so far to defend someone who isn't human?" Manabu asked but Suzune shook her head in response indicating that wasn't the case. Her brother picked up on this and allowed her the chance to explain herself.

"You didn't let me finish. He's not an alien. But someone from another world. To be more specific, another earth. An earth where superheroes exist in all parts of the world and not just the U.S." Suzune replied but even though he was telling the truth-

"That's absurd. I'm surprised that you were able to buy into such garbage. Another 'earth?' I find that incredibly hard to believe." Manabu replied matter-of-factly even though Suzune was telling him the truth much to her displeasure.

"And you honestly think the idea that he's an extraterrestrial lifeform is more plausible?" Suzune snapped back. This surprised Manabu and he readjusted his glasses before continuing.

"While extraterrestrial lifeforms have not been proven yet, I wholeheartedly believe that it's only a matter of time before they reveal themselves to the world. The universe is way too gigantic for there to be nothing else out there. Meanwhile, the idea of the multiverse existing is half baked at best. There's no evidence of such a concept being scientifically proven. I also find the idea to be nonsensical and utterly ridiculous that there are 'other earths' out there." Manabu explained before scoffing at the idea of there being a multiverse.

But this surprised Suzune. Not only did her brother not believe her, but they both knew that she wouldn't lie about this. Which meant that there was only one possible explanation as to why Suzune said this. This was-

"I didn't think he had it in him, but he obviously lied to you. There are only two possible answers to who All Might really is. The first, being that he is someone who has lived on this planet for all of his life and hid his powers from other people. He then chose to wear a mask so that he could live among the common folk without being able to have any and all crimes he commits traced back to him. And the second, well you already know that." Manabu continued leaning back in his chair.

"Which ever one of the two categories he belongs to, does not change my mission. I will have him exposed the next time he shows himself to the public. That I swear. And nothing you can say will change my mind, Suzune." Manabu declared while maintaining his serious look and a tone of voice that matched it. It goes without saying that Suzune knew her brother was being dead serious about what he was saying. And once he was firm in his believes he wouldn't simply change his beliefs.

'I don't know. I'd say I'm pretty stubborn. It's going to take a lot for me to change how I view someone. So, don't get your hopes up. See you around.' That was something the both of them held in common. They were both stubborn to the very end. That's why Suzune knew that it was no longer possible to sway her brother's beliefs because he was too firm regarding them. And knowing that she couldn't help but sink into her chair as she began to feel that everything was hopeless. But then…

"It is for that reason, that I want you to cut off all contact with Izuku Midoriya, effective immediately. I don't want you around him outside of class, period. Because I know what you'll do, Suzune. You'll protect him. And you and I both know where that road leads." Manabu spoke while Suzune's eyes shot wide open out of surprise.

'… But for anyone who seeks to help that vigilante evade capture, I will guarantee that they share the same fate.' It wasn't as if she didn't know this. That the Chairman declared that he would ensure that anyone who aids the so called 'vigilante' would always be going to jail. But even knowing that, she-

"You expect me to just 'abandon' Deku? … You know that I WON'T do that." Suzune declared while she too was just as stubborn as her brother was. Midoriya has done so much for her. He risked his life as a student of AN to help clear her brother's name. And he also quite literally risked his life to save her from that monster named 'Nomu.' Time and time again, Deku had helped her out without asking for anything in return. He did it because not only were they friends but because it was the right thing to do. There was no way that she was going to abandon someone she cares for deeply, even if it meant defying her brother's wishes. But he wasn't done.

"I'm not asking if you will, I'm TELLING you to abandon Izuku Midoriya. You do realize I can expose any time I so desire too. And I will unless you cut him out of your life. At this rate, you'll both be arrested. I cannot allow that to happen. So, I'm willing to overlook him for now. But only IF you do as I say." Manabu declared. Once again, Suzune had been cornered with no choice but to accept this. But even if that was the case, she needed to know the truth. The truth of why her brother was making this demand.

"Is this so that you too aren't convicted for knowing that I was aiding a 'vigilante.' Or is this because you truly find me to be nothing more than a failure?" Suzune asked while tears slid down her cheeks. But seeing his sister like this made Manabu grit his teeth and clench his fists out of anger. And then…

"Neither! How can you seriously think of either of those foolish ideas as the truth?! I'm demanding this because he's too dangerous for you to be around! Do you honestly think I'm doing this just to be mean?! I'm doing this because you're my sister! I don't want to see you get hurt!" Manabu snapped back while Suzune's eyes shot wide open out of sheer surprise. Out of all the responses that she expected to hear, this wasn't one of them. She couldn't believe what she just heard. And that's why she needed to know more.

"I don't understand… you cut off all form of contact with me. You made sure that it would be a challenge for me to even find you again. If you truly mean those words, then why would you do all of that?!" Suzune snapped back as she recalled all of the horrible things her brother told her-

'Suzune. You need to stop trying to always be just like me. Every time I see it, it makes me sick to my stomach. Just stop acting like me, okay?' Why?

'But you are. Every single time you try to do something, you always think 'How would Onii-Chan do that?' I know I'm right. But it doesn't have to be that way any longer. We might be siblings, but I don't really think of you as my sister. So, no matter how many grades that you receive that are deemed exceptional by your peers, to me…' Just why?!

'My little sister assigned to Class D… and I'm the one who bears the shame of it. Leave this school right now.' Just why would he say all of these awful things?! It didn't make sense to her. Nothing made sense to her! And the only person who be able to give her the answer she needed to hear was-

"Suzune… the truth is… I've always cherished you." Manabu admitted but Suzune gritted her teeth before slamming her fist down onto the table.

"Don't you dare say that! Not after everything you said before! Am I supposed to accept that everything you said to me were lies?! If they were then how can I even begin to believe you when you could be lying now?!" Suzune snapped back while the other students in the cafeteria began to stare at her. Suzune noticed this and averted her gaze out of embarrassment for letting other people see her shout and cry. She then stormed off before anyone had the chance of saying anything else to her. She wanted to be alone right now. And her brother knew this and let her go.

'You don't understand Suzune… the reason why I said those things were because I didn't deserve to have you as my sister. I wanted you to carve your own path because I had no right to be your brother after what I did. I never ever hated you. In fact, the only person I hate… is me.' Manabu admitted internally before getting up from his seat and walking away. Their talk had ended abruptly before either of them were able to pick up the pieces and fix their relationship as brother and sister.

However, the 'results' of this talk would have devastating consequences for the future. And it wouldn't be much longer until that soon became apparent. But before that, a certain individual was waiting for the chance to report on what happened on the ship's deck to the monster he was working with.

A few hours later…

Time had passed by, and everyone was sound asleep, except for that same man from before, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji. And with his phone in hand, he called the same person that had given him his powers, Kyudai Garaki.

'Ring… ring… ring…' The phone rang for a few seconds until the Doctor answered the call. There was a brief pause before he spoke. And then…

"If you're calling me like this then I assume things haven't gone according to plan?" Doctor Garaki asked while Kiyotaka nodded in response even though the former wasn't present on the scene under the moonlit night.

"That's right. Your friend from America came onboard this vessel only for him to be utterly defeated without accomplishing a single thing, much less ensuring the demise of any of the specimens. The plan was a complete failure." Kiyotaka replied as that is what he wholeheartedly believed. But the Doctor held the exact opposite opinion.

"No. Everything went all according to plan. I had no doubt that Izuku Midoriya was going to find a way to prevail against that 'superhero' not that he even deserves to be called such a thing. 'Buffoon' would be a more accurate way of describing him. That utter buffoon had no chance of defeating All Might's successor because if my friend failed then surely, he didn't have a chance in hell of succeeding." Garaki admitted with a wry smile as he took a glance at one of his Nomus in their containment chambers before continuing.

"But now that he's been defeated, I have other plans for our buffoon from the so called 'land of the free.' That's why I want you to bring him to me. I have no doubt he survived." Garaki continued but this confused Ayanokoji since he didn't believe that someone would be able to survive being punched into the sea, superhero or not. And even if he did, would Midoriya have let him live after learning what he did?

"How can you be so sure? Izuku Midoriya killed your 'friend.' Wouldn't it make sense if he killed that buffoon too? You weren't able to see what was going on due to the lack of access to the cameras aboard the ship. But I saw everything. And what I saw was something that I had never before seen from Izuku Midoriya. Anger on a level that I thought wasn't possible for him to possess. It… surprised me." Kiyotaka admitted as he recalled all the brief instances that he had been around Midoriya for the past week.

But throughout those times, he kept his cool. No, even before that whenever he noticed Izuku on the security camera's footage in the Doctor's hidden lair or simply passing him down on the street disguised as someone else, he never saw a hint of anger. It was all smiles from him. That's why Ayanokoji couldn't help but be astonished over what he witnessed with his own eyes. Pure white-hot anger, an intense emotion that he personally had never felt in his entire life. Nor had he seen anyone showcase anger on such a level before. Simply put…

… It intrigued the man named Kiyotaka Ayanokoji to the point that he began to wonder how far he could push the young hero until he reached his breaking point. But before he could think further on the topic, the Doctor answered his question.

"I see. I can't deny what you saw but what you assume couldn't be further from the truth. You see, Kiyotaka, what Izuku Midoriya felt wasn't just anger for that buffoon for what he did, but also a drive to enact 'justice' upon him. It was 'justice' that propelled him to do what he did. Because at the core of his being, all he ever wanted was to be a hero, who saves everyone. But sometimes you can't save everyone. And it's then that he feels compelled to punish the villain as he sees fit. That's all it was." Garaki explained as Kiyotaka understood what the former was trying to say to him. But even still he-

"I'm not entirely sure that's the case. There's something… 'different' about it. Sure, what he did could be considered 'heroic' by the ignorant masses. But I don't think he did it completely for the sake of justice. That could have been the primary motivating factor like you said. But there's another hidden element to it. Something that is caged inside Izuku Midoriya that wants nothing more than to 'obliterate' everything in his path. That what I believe." Kiyotaka replied but as soon as he said the word 'obliterate' Garaki gulped out of a sudden reflex. Ayanokoji took note of this.

"Doctor, is something the matter?" Kiyotaka asked with a blank look on his face as he held no sympathy or pity for Garaki or anyone else for that matter. But not once did Kyudai ever showcase the slightest hint of what was undoubtably fear. The Doctor realized this very quickly and had no desire to show such a 'human' emotion to him.

"I'm fine… just get that buffoon and bring him here with Warp Gate. I expect you to be able to acquire him in a timely manner. Now, get to it." Garaki ordered before hanging up the phone as he realized that sweat was dripping down his forehead. This surprised Kyudai immensely as he gritted his teeth for feeling something that made him feel utterly pathetic. But he couldn't help it. That 'man' had brought him fear unlike any other. And his words back then-

'No matter how long it takes… I will KILL you Garaki!' Brought a chill down the Doctor's spine as just thinking about him made short of breath. Even though that 'man' had said such a thing decades ago and was surely dead, Garaki felt that one day that man named Jokata Nauji would return and fulfill that declaration he made so long ago. But as he pondered about it, Garaki grew enraged until he had no choice but to-

'BAM!' Slam his hand into one of his monitors. The result was the monitor's screen being irreversibly destroyed and his hand incurring small shards of glass. But Garaki was rather unfazed by it. He had felt such pain many times before and was rather used to the stinging sensation called 'pain.' But what he wasn't used to, not in the slightest, was 'fear.' A sense of fear, unlike anything he had ever felt before, even by his friend, that made others feel the same emotion with ease. Unlike them, he always revered his friend as a 'god.' And not even the 'hero' that brought him down, was someone that the Doctor was scared of. So why!? Just…

… Why did some dead man scare him to the point that he may one day share the same fate?! The monster named Kyudai Garaki couldn't answer that question as he discarded the thought and went back to his work until-

'WHOOOSH!' A purple vortex opened as Kiyotaka Ayanokoji emerged from it holding the unconscious body belonging to The Deep. Garaki noticed this as his disgusting smile returned to his face.

"Splendid! You found him and he's still breathing. That's very splendid indeed! He may have failed to kill one of the specimens. But that's okay. Because now… he will prove to be a specimen unlike any other. One perfectly suited to join the ranks of my prized creations! Hahaha… AHAHAHAHAHA!" Garaki spoke before laughing maniacally as he overlooked his 'prized creations' or better known as his 'Nomu' with a truly diabolical look on his face.

Unbeknownst to me, things were being set in motion that would one day come back to rear their ugly head. I thought I had seen the last of The Deep. But I couldn't be more wrong. Because one day I would encounter him again, though he would have a completely different form, one that showcased the monster he truly was.

To Be Continued…

Next Chapter: Super! Special! Fun! Beach Episode!

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