IZUKU'S POV

I double checked the location but it was the right one at the top of the building was supposed to be his home. I didn't notice how old this building was the last time I came to Koichi's place. Does Koichi even live in this building? Making my way through the building, it seemed no one lived in the apartment below the roof, the floor being untreated and dirty, the walls had spiders and cobwebs on them. Once I arrived at the roof, I kinda understand why he might live here, a little nice apartment near the station probably low rent because of the building, open sky for doing the laundry. A nice neat place I would say. As I tried opening the door, I found it locked. But I heard noise from the inside, so I knocked on the door to see if anyone would open it but nothing.

"Enter through the window!" Said a gruff voice from inside.

"Knuckleduster?!" I walk around the building and I found the window broken and through it, I saw Knuckleduster looking at the TV drinking and eating. He was without his trench coat, brass knuckles and black mask revealing his face and black short hair. I noticed the long scar he had on his face was near his left eye. "That's what he looks like" I opened the window through the broken glass and entered. I look around realizing Koichi wasn't here.

"Oh Izuku, just in time" Knuckleduster said.

"Where is Koichi?" I asked.

"Don't know he wasn't here when I arrived" he said.

I blinked at his response. "Y-You do realize this is breaking an entry" I said as I sat on the bed.

"Hmm" Knuckleduster just continued eating.

I sighed. "Anyway moving on, a-about U.A" he gave me his full attention. "Even though the school expelled me and ruined my life, I-I feel like going out there to help...them. All those students lives are in danger, I c-can't stay here and do nothing about it. Like you said before...when something bad rises before me, I have to take action, right?!"

"Listen kid" Knuckleduster's voice was calm, but there was a tension in it. "You need to understand that in the real world, no matter what you do, how much you prepare, you can't lend a helping hand to everyone. It's not just about power or skills, it's about making the right call under pressure. You made the right decision to inform them. Those heroes will rip into ya, if you go there. Whether they believe your information or not, it's up to them" he turns back to the TV. "I hate to say it but if anything should happen to those kids, U.A will held responsible for it, not you"

My heart pounded in my chest as I listened. I clenched my fists, anger was bubbling up, threatening to spill over. The world of heroes was supposed to be about saving people, about protecting everyone, not about making calculated decisions that sacrificed lives for the greater good. I didn't care if making the right call if it meant letting someone die. To me, all lives were worth saving, and the thought that anyone would hesitate or choose between lives was unacceptable. The doubt that had been planted in my mind yesterday had begun to grow, twisting and spreading like a dark shadow over everything I thought I knew.

"Aaaannnddd...got it!" Sakura said as she clicked on the keyboard. She had a smug look on her face and folded her arms as she successfully hacked into U.A system, searching for a specific person. After informing Knuckleduster and Soga about the league's plan, Soga took us back to the apartment where he asked Sakura for help. Turns out, she's a skilled hacker.

"You better be careful, from what I've heard, the principal is a highly intelligent" I warned her. All Might have told me about him during my nine months training. "He'll know if anyone is hacking into his system"

"Yeah, heard the rumors too. That's why I'm using a different computer. That way I'll erase everything in it to avoid being tracked" Sakura explained. "This isn't cheap, you know"

"Focus on this shit. I'll pay you later" Soga said.

"Hmm" Knuckleduster was drinking a beer.

"Got contact!" Sakura said as she clicked on the principal of U.A, Nezu. She got his email and opened the message box. "So, what should I write to him?"

"M-May I write the message?" I asked.

She stared at me for a while before sighing. "Knock yourself out" she shifts her chair to the side as I move to the computer.

Unknown number: [Hello Nezu. You don't know me but I have an important message to give you. A warning. I overheard a conversation between two villains saying a new group known as the league of villains are planning to break in and attack U.A. And they're being sponsored by this bogeyman. So please, either tell the students not to go to school tomorrow or you heroes better be prepared. Your call]

"I hope he reads that soon" I said out loud as I click on enter and sent him the message. "Could you copy it and sent it to the police, just in case?"

Sakura shrugged as she copied the message. She hacked into the police system and sent the message with some few changes.

Unknown number: [Hello police department. You don't know me but I have an important message to give you. A warning. I overheard a conversation between two villains saying a new group known as the league of villains are planning to break in and attack U.A. And they're being sponsored by this bogeyman. So please, either tell the principal not to allow the students go to school tomorrow or you help the heroes protect the school. Your call]

"Now what?" She asked.

"Now, we get some sleep" Soga said.

"But...we can still help, right?" I said.

"The kid's right, Izuku. We've alert the heroes and police, the place will be flooded with them tomorrow. Let them do their job" Knuckleduster said.

"I ain't no kid!" Soga growled.

"O-Okay" I said.

"I can't believe that villains would attack a school. I know it's a hero school, but those guys aren't heroes yet" Sakura frowned.

"Hmph. That's the mind of a villain for ya" Knuckleduster said.

"Hey Soga, better pay up" Sakura narrows at Soga.

Soga glared at her. "I said I'm gonna pay you, greedy bitch!"

For the first time in my life, I felt something akin to fear, not of being useless, but of the world I've always believed in. The system I've idolized, the world of heroes I've aspired to dominate, suddenly seemed flawed, corrupt in ways I've never considered. The first red flag was U.A. I didn't have all the answers yet, but one thing was clear: this was just the beginning.

Before my mind could continue going down the turmoil, someone opened the door, it was Koichi. "I'm ho-me!" He closed the door and began taking off his shoes. "...Or so I say, but it's not like there's anyone to greet me"

"Hey, I'm having this. You don't mind do you?" Knuckleduster said while eating.

Koichi jumps back in shock, having a horrified look on his face as he stared at Knuckleduster in for an uncomfortable amount of time. Then Koichi quickly pulled out his phone. "Th...Thief?! 911...911!" He exclaimed.

"Koichi, calm down. That's Master" I said.

"Huh?! Izuku!"

"It's me! Just me!" Knuckleduster said while he pulled out his mask and wrapped it around his face.

"Ah! Master!"

"So now you know I'm not some suspicious character, right?"

"Yeah, uh...I don't know about that. You were suspicious from day one" Koichi remarked dryly. "More importantly, the front door was locked, wasn't it?"

"The window" I pointed out as he looked towards the broken window.

"UWAAAAH...! You were able to get in, eh...?" Koichi sighs in defeat. He then took some tape and went towards it but stopped when rang the doorbell. I tilted my body to look at the door to see who was it as Koichi went to the door and opened it, but what surprised me is that I saw a girl in a high school uniform. She had light skin and messy pink hair. She also wore a large round glasses and carrying two bags with her. "Erm...who might you be?" Koichi asked her. Without answering his question, the girl dashed inside the house, pushing Koichi aside. "Hold up! You're...who are you?!" He shouted as he followed her.

I watched as the girl sat her things on the table and took a makeup box, and began using it on herself painting herself a mask. After tying up her hair in pigtails, she revealed herself to be no other than Pop Step. "It's me, okay?! Jeez!" Pop Step said, annoyed.

"Ah...Pop Step. It's you" I said.

"You know, you ordinary appearance is pretty..." Koichi is then cut off by Pop Step's angry glare.

"If you say plain, I'll kill you, got it?!" she replied.

"You guys...wasn't today's patrol supposed to start tonight?" Koichi questioned.

"I left my day job, early y'see...so I'm taking a break until night fall" Knuckleduster answered while watching the TV.

I looked at him in shock. "The way he acts, I didn't think he would have a proper job"

"So you want me to believe that you have, you know what" Koichi said.

"A job?" I guessed.

Koichi nodded. "Yeah that"

Pop Step popped her head out from behind some curtains. "As for me, I've got a live performance today. I'm getting changed, so you guys better not peek, okay?"

"Nah...there'll no peeking from this guy, but..." Koichi trail off looking at the curtains with a confused look.

I look away with a blush. "W-When did those curtains g-get here?" I asked.

"I brought them here so I can have my own privacy and space" she replied.

"Okay" I stare at the wall, my mind mulling over scenarios about U.A and whether the villains would show up to attack or not. A morbid thought, but I was worried, for the students and everyone's in that school.

Koichi turn his head to me. "What about you, Izuku?"

I just shrugged, then a phone rang inside my pocket. Ignoring Pop Step's yelling about some dirty coat and throwing it from the curtain, I took out the phone and looked at it. A message from Sakura.

Sakura: [The police are skeptical of your message. U.A doesn't believe you. In their quotes: I don't know who you are, but everyone know fully well U.A has a strong security system, I am positive that these league of villains won't be able to get into U.A and harm the students. Either you're trying to pull a stupid prank with me or the villains are bunch of idiots. I will have to track you down if you try to contact me again. Good thing I cleared the computer]

"No no no no! Damn it!" I muttered quietly and looked at the time. It was 11AM. "Should I just stay out of it? I mean I did try and warn them. No, it would be best if I go there and help since I know what's happening, but I'll be in lots of trouble if I get caught. W-What if I'm wrong and the security is good enough? What if the league of villains are just idiot thugs? What if-"

"...If it was a scam, Giran wouldn't be serious about it. He wouldn't just waste his time to inform me or anyone else at the bar about them"

I look up noticing Knuckleduster staring at me. Pop Step was still complaining but he paid no attention to her which made her mad.

"For the record, this is my house" Koichi said dryly. He grabs his backpack and walk towards the door. "Anyway I'm about to head to work, but..."

"So, go then" Pop Step stated, with her head still out of the curtains.

"I'll allow it" Knuckleduster said, looking at Koichi for a moment.

"Like I said...my house" Koichi mumbled before turning around, holding out a key. "Alright, well...I'll leave the spare key here, so could you lock up for me?"

"Keep it, I don't need it" Knuckleduster said.

"Seriously, just use it"

"Ah! Koichi! Could you-"

I tune out Koichi and Pop Step's conversation as I look back at my phone. With a frustrated sigh, I write a text.

Me: [Tell the police I'll give them the coordinates of the league of villains' location at one'o clock, sharp. Whether they bring enforcements to stop them or not, it's up to them. If anything should happen to those students, it's on them]

"Why are you all depressed all of a sudden? Pop Step said as I clicked on sent.

Koichi's shoulders slumped as he looked depressed. "It all started back in early April. One of my classmates told me there was a new penthouse opened near the city center station with only forty five thousand yen a month. I felt lucky because it was pretty cheap and I thought it was gonna be awesome. Though, the penthouse looked like it was falling apart and the building below seemed like it could be demolished at any moment"

"I thought it was strange you are living in a house above a place like that" I commented.

"But you know what they say home is where the heart is. I cleaned the whole penthouse and made it squeaky clean. I invited some classmates over to my house so I could make some friends, but they left immediately. The next day of college, everyone ran away from me, and I hear rumors that people think I'm a creepy weirdo and to stay away from me because I'm dangerous. Our college debut...was a total failure" he sighs sadly as he slumped even more and placed his hand on the wall. "...So, as you can see, it was quite a traumatic experience for me"

The phone rang again and I see it was another message from Sakura.

Sakura[Alright. It's done]

"Yeah, uhm...for the time being, why don't you head to work?" Pop Step said.

"I'll be heading out as well" I gave Knuckleduster a challenging look before walking out the door. I opened the door when I hear Knuckleduster's voice.

"Are you going then?" I looked down on the ground, tightening my fists again. I didn't answer, because the question had already been answered. I'm a vigilante. It's my job to save people. "Alright kiddo, good luck on your mission"

I smiled as I walked out of the house and headed home. Decided on resuming back to my old plan, help U.A and stop the villains.