Chapter 7: Midoriya Izuku VII

A/N: A focused interaction this time around. Let's see if you can guess with who before they come about. Otherwise, enjoy!

[Train Brakes Malfunction During Noontime Rush! All Might Saves Fifty!]

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[Hero Commission To Issue New Regulations in Light of Recent Developments.]

Swipe.

[Lady Nagant Sentenced to Life in Tartarus After Killing Pro Hero Night Sparrow In Cold Blood!]

"WHAT!?" Izuku exclaims, nearly dropping his phone as he recoils in shock. "But why? I thought she was clean!"

"And I thought that you came here to rest," Shiozaki chides from her spot lying down on the grass next to Izuku. "The sounds coming out of your mouth don't seem like the ones that a mind at peace would be relaying, in case you aren't aware."

Izuku groans. He places his phone face down on the ground beside him, leaving his eyes free to watch the clouds drift on through the sky.

"I know," Izuku starts. "I know what I said. Rest, talk, spend some time with you…" He sighs. "But I kind of also want to catch up on the news from over the past few days, you know? It's a bit hard finding the time between Bakugou's usual antics and how hard of a nut to crack Todoroki is."

"Ah, yes," Shiozaki says with a smile. "Your very own 'kindred spirit,' as you call him. You haven't updated me on that situation in quite some time. Mind me asking how things are progressing with him?"

"Of course not," Izuku says. "It's been months, but as things are it's still slow going. As per usual. But I'm fine with that. I don't want to abandon him and leave him all alone to Endeavor after all."

"It's an admirable cause that you've taken up," Shiozaki praises. "But I have to ask: what of his siblings? The youngest Todoroki has two of them, does he not?"

Izuku scoffs. "They're basically enabling the steaming pile of s—" Izuku cuts himself off, remembering his company. "Right, ahem. They're enabling Endeavor, for all intents and purposes. They let him do what he wants with Shoto and only butt in after the fact."

Shiozaki hums in thought. "And you're sure that there's no chance of alerting the authorities?"

"Not without any hard evidence," Izuku admits. "And I'm certain that nobody in the house would be willing to give any. And before you ask; no, my word wouldn't mean anything. I mean, a nine year old versus Japan's Number Two? I'd be booted from the police station for an overactive imagination. Nevermind the fact that I'd be admitting to illegal quirk use."

"Despite it being for a good cause?" Shiozaki asks. "The police won't consider that aspect of it?"

"Nope," Izuku says. "Quirk use without a hero license paints you a criminal. Or even worse."

Shiozaki frowns at the information. A few moments of silence pass before she sits up from her position and turns her head towards Izuku. "You know, all this negative talk is quite adverse to your original goal of coming here, Midoriya."

"I— Well— You—!"

"I'll tell you what," Shiozaki interrupts. "I know something that will keep your mind off of all of this." She stands up, reaching into her pockets of her sundress. She pulls out a red badge made of felt and hands it to Izuku.

"What's this?" Izuku asks, eyeing the object's odd shape. Aside from it having a rectangular base and three triangles pointing upwards, he has no idea what it could stand for. He turns it around and notices the safety pin jabbed into its backside. "Is it some sort of patch I have to wear?"

"Correct," Shiozaki says. "It's for something that I've been meaning to bring up to you for some time now."

"Then why suddenly now of all times?" Izuku asks, standing up.

"I told you, did I not?" Shiozaki asks, a tranquil smile on her face. "I need to keep my friend preoccupied from the horrors of the world. Today presents the opportune moment to do so." She pauses for a moment, taking a look back at Izuku. "Unless you're against this?"

"I…" Izuku lets out another sigh. He simply places the badge onto his shirt, and picks up his bag from the ground. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see," Shiozaki says. "But we need to leave now if we want to keep to his schedule. Come."

Izuku began to grow a bit nervous. Not that he didn't trust Shiozaki, of course. He trusted her with his life — and if that trust was ever proven to be misplaced, well… Izuku doesn't like to think about what he would do with himself.

No, Izuku's nerves had nothing to do with Shiozaki doing anything to hurt him, let alone the possibility of her doing so purposefully like all the other kids at his school did. Rather, it was the route that they were taking to get to whatever Shiozaki had planned.

They were in the midst of the more dilapidated zones of Yokohama. Or, more specifically, the Kamino Ward — the same area that Izuku knows Sensei haunts. He fears that Shiozaki's route will lead him to close to the bar.

He's not worried about the likes of Sensei or Tomura learning about Shiozaki. After all, Izuku has no doubt that they already know every single detail and nuance of the girl known as Ibara Shiozaki. Sensei knew where he lived just after a few minutes of conversation, after all.

And besides that, Izuku did a bit of digging. Cross references amongst various resources of the criminal underworld mentioned a 'Bogeyman.' A villain so shrouded in mystery that nobody knew what they looked like or had seen them and lived, and yet had heavy influences in all aspects of villainy and crime, subtly controlling things behind the scenes.

Nevermind what Sensei had said to him the first time they met, or the fact that way too many eyewitness reports on the dark web oftentimes mention a mysterious black mist acting as the herald of various unexplained events of chaos or destruction.

But the few subsequent times that he's met with Sensei face to face… Well, Izuku just couldn't shake off the feeling that the man knew of the information he was compiling of him.

Izuku knew that there was no backing out of what he had gotten himself into. He's almost certain that he's being watched like a hawk does with its prey. And Izuku's also certain that as long as he does nothing that endangers Sensei, the man won't do anything similar in return.

But there was a limit to that. Izuku would do anything to ensure that the miniscule possibility that Shiozaki would become involved would stay as such: miniscule. Even if it meant his death.

However, much to Izuku's relief, it seemed as if he wouldn't be having to do anything of the such. They've been walking for quite some time now, and by the current point in their travels they were past the point where they would have gone within Sensei's presumed sensory range. Unfortunately, all that did was bring up some new fears to the forefront of Izuku's mind.

In the past, he's noticed something during the visits that he's made to the area. Despite his perceived notions, the area's crime activity is much more active in the day than it is at night. Mixed in with all the normal folk, Izuku can sense the happenings of drug deals and pickpockets all around.

Even now, he can sense unsavory folk watching their movements, eyeing them travel down the streets. Normally, Izuku wouldn't mind; he could sense if he was in danger well in advance. But with somebody else with him...

Izuku takes a breath. "Um."

"I'm surprised," Shiozaki says. "Your mind has been clouded by a storm for a while now, ever since we entered Kamino. What broke you out of your trance all so suddenly?"

Izuku refocuses his hearing around the thugs hiding out in an alleyway before speaking up. "You're aware that there are… people watching us, right? Like… Not that I want to judge, but they're… shady looking types."

"The scum and defiled souls of this place won't bother us," Shiozaki says nonchalantly. "Not if they know their place and value their stances in this environment."

"And you know that because…"

Shiozaki taps the red badge on her chest. "They're handmade, and quite honestly very poorly so, but these badges have meaning here. Nobody endangers those under Hazuki-san's protection if they know what's best for them."

"And Hazuki-san is?"

Shiozaki lets out a small giggle. "That's a surprise. For you. But that's for later. I'm sure that you've picked up on our destination; it should be within range of your quirk by now."

Izuku's not entirely sure what Shiozaki is talking about at first, but he begins to have a slight idea when the voices enter his awareness — young voices, ones filled with laughter and joy, and all centered in and around a single building.

Izuku then recalls all of the offhanded mentions his friend has made off her volunteer activities in the past, and suddenly he's dreading arriving at their destination. Unfortunately for him, the face he makes is easily caught by Shiozaki.

"Don't worry, Midoriya," she says. "It'll be a learning experience. And if anything, you'll love the things that Hazuki-san will talk about. Believe me."

"But an orphanage!" Izuku hollers. "With kids!? I don't know how to act around kids!"

Shiozaki stifles a laugh. "You'll deal. You've handled worse."

Izuku never thought that he'd find an orphanage so deeply entrenched in such an impoverished area of Yokohama. And that's without mentioning the twenty kids within the crowded three-story premises.

As the duo enter through the gates, it quickly becomes obvious that Shiozaki is a common visitor. The ten kids playing in the yard rush into a stampede upon seeing Shiozaki, hugging onto her legs and pulling at her hair once they reach her.

"Oh oh!" One of the kids says with a garbled voice, one obviously attributed to his distinctly apparent insect mutation. "Who's that Shiozaki-chan?"

The kids suddenly turn their attention away from Shiozaki and towards Izuku, half of them scrambling over to greet him in a similar manner. They all begin pulling at his clothes and hugging his legs and arms, and Izuku knows that they're all being friendly. But he still can't help but freeze.

"OI!" A booming voice erupts from the orphanage's entrance. Izuku looks over and spots a burly man with greying red hair that runs past his shoulders. Despite his loud nature and his daunting face — complete with a rather large scar over his left eye — the image of intimidation is broken by the fact that he's wearing a frilly pink apron and seems to be mixing a bowl of cooking batter.

"You kids are overwhelming the new help!" the man yells. "Stop this instant or you won't be getting any cake tonight!"

The kids quickly scramble off Izuku and Shiozaki with an insincere, if playful, 'Yes, Hazuki-san!' before they go off and start playing again in the yard.

"Hello Hazuki-san," Shiozaki greets once the kids are gone. She moves to walk up the stairs of the house, Izuku following closely behind.

"Ah, Shiozaki!" The man bellows. "What's with the impromptu visit? It's only been three days since the last time! And not only that, but suddenly I find you coming here with your boyfriend!"

Izuku's face quite predictably lights up like a tomato.

"He's merely a good friend, Hazuki-san," Shiozaki retorts unfazed, albeit with a lighthearted smile. "I brought him because I felt helping around here would give him a nice distraction."

"Ah. One of those, eh?" the man surmised with a knowing smile.

Shiozaki nods. "That, and I believe that he would have a wonderful time talking to you."

"Oh?" Hazuki lets out a loud, thundering laugh. "Is that so?"

Izuku, finally calming down from earlier, can only say one thing in response. "Umm…"

"Ah! Where are my manners!" The man stops mixing for a moment, holding one of his hands out. "Hazuki Akane. A pleasure, young man."

"Midoriya Izuku, sir." Izuku takes the offered hand, and is surprised with the amount of force behind it — both with it's grip strength and energy. After all, if Izuku were to make a guess, the man whose hand he's shaking is, at the very least, in his late sixties.

"Splendid!" The man exclaims, turning around and heading back into the house. You two come on inside! There's plenty to do!"

Izuku spent much of the remaining day helping around the house. Whether that meant doing the laundry, dusting around in some hard to reach places, or picking up after the kids, Izuku did it all alongside Shiozaki.

He wasn't sure what his friend's intentions of bringing him here were at first. But it soon dawned on him as the hours flew past. Despite the conditions of the place not exactly being luxurious, despite the fact that the children didn't have any families, despite the crowded spaces and the need for sharing… Despite it all, the kids were happy. Playing around, cheerfully talking to one another… All without a care of the world.

With their pleading eyes and adorable expressions, Izuku ended up getting roped into a few of their games once all the chores were over. He spent an hour or so just getting lost in the fun, feeling the most unburdened that he had felt in a long time.

A simple glance over at Shiozaki's brightly smiling face as they played, and Izuku knew what the trip was all about.

Eventually, the fun had to come to an end. Dinner time eventually came into play, with all the kids crowding themselves in the dining room — which surprisingly enough took up a rather large portion of the first floor.

And so there he and Shiozaki were, chowing down on some rather delicious food created by none other than Hazuki-san himself. All while surrounded by twenty-one individuals of whom Izuku know nothing of in regards to their quirks.

However, the one that interests Izuku the most isn't actually one of the kids, but Hazuki-san himself. Izuku can't kick away the thought that the man looks oddly familiar in a way he can't comprehend. And considering how fit he is despite his age, that single fact hints to a robust past filled with training.

Thankfully, much to Izuku's delight, all of that held in excitement and intrigue ends up coalescing into a single situation.

"I finally did it!" One of the children, a black-haired girl by the name of Hanako, cheers. She raises her hand up towards the ceiling, and before Izuku can blink a globe of water is suddenly in her hand, deftly procured from the water in her drinking glass.

"What did I say about quirks at the table!" Hazuki exclaims.

"Sorry Hazuki-san!" the girl says with a mischievous smile. "I won't do it again!" She says this, all while the globe of water in her hand travels its way back to her glass by floating in the air.

In response, all Hazuku can do is slap his hand over his face. "Honestly. You kids are going to kill me before my age."

"Still!" Hazuki lightly slams his fist on the table. "I'm proud of you, young Hanako-chan! I told you that you would eventually! Today, young one, your manly spirit prevails!"

It clicks. Izuku shoots out of his chair.

"You're Crimson Riot!"

The man in question pauses before letting out a chuckle. "Took you long enough, kid."

"I— I have so many questions!" Izuku exclaims, bouncing on his feet.

"Whoa kid!" Hazuki exclaims. "Calm down, we can talk later. But dinner first, ya hear?"

Izuku nods his head and plants himself back down on his seat. Beside him, Shiozaki lets out a knowing giggle.

"Why didn't you tell me?!" Izuku asks with a barely concealed whisper.

"Shouldn't you be eating?" Shiozaki asks, her face seeming as serene and innocent as usual. "The faster you're done, the sooner you can start washing the dishes you know?"

"I—" Izuku harrumphs. "Fine!" And he digs into his food like a starved wolf.

This is my chance. I can wait a bit longer.

Dinner ends, and it's not long after that the dishes are washed and put away. Bedtime comes next for the children, and Shiozaki takes it upon herself to read the kids to sleep. Much to Izuku's glee, that leaves him and Hazuki alone to converse.

"So," Hazuki begins as he sits himself down on the couch across from Izuku, "what do ya have for me, kid? It's not often that I get any fans visiting me in this day and age."

"But that's because you dropped off the map!" Izuku bursts out. "You were a rather private man after all! After your retirement nobody knew where you went! I couldn't even find anything despite all my digging! The best I could piece together was that you were living in Kumamoto! Ah. Which is… obviously wrong, considering you're here."

Hazuki lets out a chuckle. "Impressive. You're informed, kid."

Izuku blinks. "Huh?"

"I did live in Kumamoto a couple years back," Hazuki's gravelly voice reveals. "I was holding together another orphanage just like this one. Though, I am surprised that you know that much. I swore my kids to secrecy after all!"

"Well, I didn't get the information through any people. I ended up having to ha... nevermind." Izuku clears his throat, then tilts his head in thought. "Why such a drastic move though? Kumamoto's pretty far from here."

Hazuki shrugs, leaning back in his seat. "Technically... it's classified. But that's debatable, depending on who you ask."

Izuku raises an eyebrow. "Even though you're retired? But why?"

"Classified, remember?" Hazuki chortles. "But considering the fact that you deduced I was in Kumamoto in the first place… Eh. I'll let you come to your own conclusions."

"Hmm… Fair enough." Izuku's face scrunches up in thought. "If you don't mind me asking… Why run orphanages in the first place?"

"Why wouldn't I? Helping these children out is my life!" Hazuki says, spreading his arms out. "Nothing makes me feel more alive and manlier than seeing the cheerful faces on these kids all the time, you know?"

"It must be pretty taxing on you though, dealing with twenty growing kids."

Hazuki nods. "Well, that's tru—"

"And it must be even harder to bear such a responsibility in a part of town so dangerous and crime-ridden."

Hazuki blinks. He looks over at Izuku, only to find an unreadable expression on the boy's face. He huffs in exasperation. "You don't hold your punches, do ya kid?"

Izuku shrugs, his expression of innocent curiosity and joy returning. "Just curious, is all."

Hazuki robust man before Izuku seemingly shrinks in on himself, with his loud demeanor dumbing down. It's not long before all Izuku can see is an old man whose years as a hero haven't done him any favors.

"It's simple, really," Hazuki mutters with a frown. "If I don't help them, who will?"

Izuku lets Hazuki have a moment to think — he knows that he's hit a sensitive spot. After a bit, Izuku begins. Slowly. "I'm assuming that all the kids here have been abandoned by… well, people from around the area?"

Hazuki huffs. "You catch on quick, kid... But yeah, you're right. And it just sucks because—!" He shakes his head.

"I mean, there's a reason you have that patch on you," Hazuki points to the badge Shiozaki had given Izuku earlier. "The crooks around here know not to mess with me. One step out of line, one miniscule slight towards any one of my kids, and suddenly I'll be knocking down their doors. And if that ends up happening, it won't end well."

"You mean... like a vigilante?" Izuku asks.

Hazuki grimaces in response. "I hate that it's gotten to that point... but yeah. I can't just stand around while injustice runs its course; it's unmanly!" He slams a fist into his open palm.

"And yeah, I may be old. But I can still fight!" he exclaims. "There's not much street-level scum can do against an impenetrable fortress after all!"

"You don't seem to have any… reservations about telling me," Izuku says slowly." I mean, are you not afraid that I could report your acts of vigilantism to the police?"

"You won't," Hazuki says firmly. "You're not the type. Just based on our conversation right now I can tell that you go around bending the law as well."

Izuku licks his lips. "And you don't have a problem with that?"

Hazuki scoffs. "I'd be a hypocrite if I did! Besides, it's not like you're putting yourself in danger or breaking the law for malicious purposes… Unless you are. Because in that case—"

Izuku held up a hand to his chest. "Of course not, sir!"

"Good!" Hazuki bellows a laugh. "I was worried that I'd have to beat you up and teach you a lesson!"

"It, um, shouldn't ever have to come to that," Izuku mutters. He clears his throat once more. "But! Uh, I have another question!"

Hazuki nods. "Shoot."

"Why don't you just petition a hero to start patrolling the area?" Izuku asks. "I mean the word of someone as influential as you would surely get the Commission's attention!"

Hazuki fully ended up blowing a raspberry at the remark. "I wasn't that popular, kid. Best I ever reached was Rank #97 on the Billboard Charts."

Izuku snorts. "The Billboard Charts are a bunch of crap anyways. It's just a glorified popularity contest."

Izuku suddenly finds himself engaged with a wide-eyed stare from Hazuki. The air of surprise, however, gradually begins to die.

"Again with the spunk kid!" Hazuki chuckles, shaking his head. He lets out another sigh. "But seriously, I gotta be honest with ya kid. That's just not how the system works. No matter how much the media portrays otherwise."

"What do you mean?"

Hazuki frowns, crossing his arms before leaning back in his seat. "It's one of the harsh realities of the world, Midoriya. The Kamino Ward has never been the same since the initial quirk riots broke out over a hundred years ago. The ward is now dilapidated beyond repair — a money sink for the government for all intents and purposes. Reconstruction isn't a project that they're willing to invest in, especially when their funds are being pulled towards all the property damage that accumulates annually among hero fights in more populated areas."

Hazuki twists his lips. "Nevermind the fact that Japan's so-called 'slums' are stock-full of the impoverished. People in need, constantly in danger in such high-risk areas; they're all over the place! But do you know what the government sees?"

Izuku shakes his head.

"Abysmal tax revenues," Hazuki clarifies. "And yeah, I know what you're thinking: 'What does taxes have to do with the current topic?' Well, it's rather simple when you look at it. Kamino Ward has an impoverished population riddled with a high crime rate. The more crime, the more likely people are to move out, and the less tax revenue there is to fund the local governments. And you know what the government funds?"

"The heroes," Izuku responds, wide-eyed. "Their salaries, property damage that's supposed to be covered from their fights, everything that builds up the basis of the hero community…"

"Exactly," Hazuki interrupts. "In a place like the Kamino Ward, in the current status that it is in? The Commission has no need to be sending out their flashy, ratings-raising heroes. It'd just be a waste of resources to them. Why do you think I haven't been caught yet? They don't send any of their agents out here. The Commission just doesn't care."

"That's… harsh," Izuku frowns. "Not right."

"That's reality, kid." Hazuki huffs. "Hey, I think that's enough on the hard topics for today. No need to bring the mood down even more, eh?"

Izuku quickly nods. "Of course, sir. Whatever you want. I wouldn't— Oh!"

"What?" Hazuki asks.

"Your autograph!" Izuku exclaims, nearly jumping out of his seat. "I'd like your autograph!" Izuku suddenly blinks, clearing his throat. "Um, if you're alright with it."

Hazuki lets out a laugh. "Sure thing kid! Let me just get—"

"Dang it!" Izuku interrupts, his arms falling to his sides after rifling through his bag.

Hazukui freezes in surprise. "What's the problem, kid?"

Izuku rubs the back of his head, his sheepish expression taking up on his face. "Sorry, I didn't mean to yell. It's just that I have these specific things at home where I write down all of the observations that I've made over the years and it's just that I have a page for you but I don't have it on me right now and…"

Izuku stops himself in the middle of his muttering. "That's it!" He pulls his phone out and sends out a message. Afterwards he sets his phone down inside of his bag and sits in place, smiling at Hazuki.

"Uh… kid. What's up? You just—"

"Aha!" Izuku exclaims. He reaches into his bag and suddenly pulls out a notebook, handing it over to Hazuki.

"Hero Analysis #6?" Hazuki asks himself. He opens up the notebook, flipping through the pages with progressively widening eyes. "Dang kid! How many of these do you have?"

Izuku smiles. "A little over thirty."

Hazuki lets out a whistle when he stumbles upon his own entry, his eyes taking in every minute detail on the pages. "Now that brings me back," he says, pointing to Izuku's hand drawn sketch of him in his hero costume. "You're quite the artist, kid. Seems like you're full of surprises."

Hazuki stands up and retrieves an inkwell. He smirks, and much to Izuku's glee the man's skin suddenly takes up a much more rigid texture.

Hazuki's hands move towards his hair, where he ends up breaking off a thin, pen-like piece. He dips the tip of the hardened hair into the inkwell, signing 'Crimson Riot' onto his portrait. Once he's done, he closes the notebook — complete with the makeshift pen inside.

"A bit of a souvenir for ya," Hazuki grins, then losing his trademark hardened form. "For being such a manly conversationalist not afraid to speak his mind. "

"Wow!" Izuku cheers, bouncily reaching for the notebook. "Thank you!"

But Hazuki pulls away at the last second, his smile turning into a frown. "One last thing before I hand this back."

Izuku nods his head, asking slowly. "Yeah?"

"You said that this thing was at home, didn't you? Did ya use your quirk or something to get it? Or a friend?"

"Perhaps…" Izuku tilts his head. "But that doesn't really matter to you, does it?"

A grin broke out from Hazuki's frown, all previous tension leaving his face. "Ha! Right you are kid!" He hands over the notebook. "Don't lose that spunk kid, ya hear me?"

Crimson Riot was everything Izuku thought he'd be. And more.

Chivalrous to a fault, selfless to the very end, and the pinnacle example of what it means to be a true hero. But… At the same time he was also a man morphed by his years and experiences, forced to act as society pushed him into a corner.

Seeing how such an outstanding and heroic figure had turned into such a cynical old man thrown aside as society's trash… It was enlightening. Seeing a fresh perspective that not only gave him new ideas, but even confirmed all that he knew beforehand…

The only thing that he remained in the dark about was that business regarding orphanages and Hazuki. But even that paled in comparison to Crimson Riot's overall commentary.

Knowing that even heroes like Crimson Riot ended up having to turn to being a vigilante in their later years... It made Izuku feel a bit better about colluding with villains.

"So?" Shiozaki asks from beside him as the two begin their walk back towards Shiozaki's house. "What did you think, my friend? Was Hazuki-san all you believed him to be?"

"That and more." Izuku let out a full-blown grin. "Thank you Shiozaki. You're the best."

A/N: And there's a bit of Crimson Riot for you all! Reappearance pending, but his influence and ideas towards Izuku will be around in the long run. Stay tuned for next time!