Chapter 23: Midoriya Izuku XXI

A/N: This time, in this chapter of Izuku's conflicted and complicated life, we present to you some morally questionable dastardly deeds! Just what will they entail? Keep reading to find out!

In regards to the lavish and ornately built penthouse across the street from him, most people who would gaze upon the lives of its current residents would believe themselves to have found the epitome of a perfect family.

First of the trio is Kaede Hiroko, a lovely woman who just about everyone in her neighborhood loves. She owns a mildly successful cafe out in the midst of the city, a fairly large factor to her all encompassing reputation. What time isn't spent at home is spent working directly at the cafe and giving her appointed manager a break.

And then there's the patriarch of the three: Kaede Yoshi, a widely sought after consultant who goes around working for various engineering companies across the country. Most who meet him remember him for his odd mix of a polite attitude and a push-come-to-shove mentality against those working against his agenda. All and all, he's a man memorable for his successful ventures and exceeding results.

Kaede Hikari, on the other hand, is the excitable daughter of Yoshi and Hiroko. Just like her parents, she excels in all her efforts. Being a rising star in her school's track team, a prodigy of exceptional grade level, and a force of change and influence amongst her peers, her prospective future seems to be heading into quite an excellent one.

The Kaede family's years of reputable goodwill and outward presentation have resulted in their presence to grow quite favorably towards the residents of their neighborhood — enough so that the truth would seem like an unfathomable blasphemy on the three's image.

But Izuku knows something that most don't. He has been watching the family for three days, and with his quirk it was a simple matter of lounging around the area to discover the hidden personas entrenched deep behind the veil of familial innocence.

The root of the problem doesn't lie in Hiroko. Rather, it originates from Yoshi and, surprisingly, Hikari.

Yoshi's supposed position as a freelance consultant and the attached salary to such a position provides him ample excuse for all of his travels and income. After all, when such a high ranking member of one of the most notorious yakuza groups around needs reason to do as they please without gaining serious attention from the law, that is one way to do it.

As for Hikari, she had discovered her father's secret double life a few years ago in a way only nosy little kids can. Yoshi hadn't become privy to the fact however. And Hikari, rather than do what would be considered the right thing to do when discovering somebody is responsible for the distribution of drugs and illegal weaponry, kept her knowledge to herself.

Izuku understood to some degree, of course. He isn't sure that he wouldn't have done the same with his own father, after all. The dilemma of sticking to family or betraying them to the law is one that has plagued the human state of mind for centuries, and most would find at least some sort of hesitation in such a situation.

Izuku is far from that point, however. Sure, when he had arrived to do the deed over three days ago, he had been ready to do whatever needed to be done if it meant proceeding with his goals. The picturesque family that he had come across had led to that fire sputtering out at first, but the days since then had reignited into a blaze.

Izuku reminds himself that he's out working against the system in order to elevate it from the corrupt cesspool that it is. He isn't blind to what he has to do. Even if it's only towards those who are the root of society's problems, his hands will be dipped in blood long before his ambitions will be reached. Such an eventuality is unavoidable; especially with the condition that some innocents will be harmed along the way.

He needs to get used to the horrors of what comes when planning a revolution. He can't break down in the midst of a fight or let his ideals push him into a corner that can get him captured or killed. It just wouldn't be smart. He needs to harden his will; push that softness to the back of his conscience for the greater good.

So, if that's what needs to be done... Why not start now?

Is that what you're telling yourself these days?

Izuku narrows his eyes, listening in to the penthouse that holds the family. He reaffirms that Inside, all three of them are present.

Normally, Izuku would wait for his target to be alone and out of the way to prevent civilian involvement. But Kaede Yoshi seems to never be alone, and frustratingly always on the move.

I suppose it makes sense. Those of higher rank in the yakuza are valued; it would inevitably result in them receiving some rather useful benefits to ensure their comfort and safety. It just so happens that said comforts and benefits include a high tech armored limousine and a fully armed entourage.

Attacking him in his home is the only option Izuku has. The man feels completely safe there — as evidenced by his stubborn desire to dismiss his followers when he's home. It makes sense, given the fact that his double life is completely under wraps.

Except for a few ripped patches here and there, anyways.

Plus, Izuku isn't too worried about the police response. Nevermind the fact that the family's position on the top floor of a twenty story building already provides ample stalling time. Rather, Izuku's counting on the fact that even days after the USJ Incident, the police force of Shizuoka and the greater Tokyo area are still in a mad scramble. They won't be able to respond before Izuku is long gone.

That leaves him with his only one worry; that being the unpredictable nature of the family. Most wouldn't take well to the news that their family member would be getting abducted right in front of them, after all.

Izuku fully expects some sort of resistance — but he'll just have to wing it. Aside from Yoshi's quirk, the other two shouldn't pose a problem. On demand plant growth and plant empathy don't have much in the way of combat potential, after all. But that just means that he'll have to keep things under wraps. And although easier said than done, Izuku has a plan.

After checking over his laptop one final time, making sure that everything is up and running, Izuku reaches for his phone and calls for the lynchpin of his plan. "Kurogiri?"

The man's answer is immediate. [Yes, young Midoriya?]

Izuku sighs. He takes a moment, making sure that his mask is fully attached to his face. "I'm ready."

[Then let me send you off then]

The portal opens in front of him, and Izuku walks through. It only takes an instant, of course. Izuku finds himself in a rather large and decorated bathroom. His immediate surroundings are completely void of signs of life except for the muddled voices coming from further in the penthouse.

Once he settles in, Izuku reaches out with his quirk and reorients himself and his knowledge of the positions of the building's residents.

"Infiltration successful," Izuku tells Kurogiri, making sure to keep his voice contained to a small area around his phone. He places his phone back into his utility belt, but refrains from hanging up. "Standby. Wait for further instructions."

Izuku makes a mental image of the Kaede family's positions. All three of them are currently seated at the dining room table eating dinner. They haven't moved since he had last checked in on them, and for that Izuku's glad.

A family meal is perhaps when one is most vulnerable, after all.

Izuku goes over to the bathroom counter and plants his laptop onto its surface, opening it up and typing a few commands in. It's not long before Izuku hears the telltale sound of Yoshi's phone ringing from the man's pocket, interrupting the family's conversation of Hikari's day.

Izuku hears the way Yoshi narrows his eyes (and the way Hikari gulps, too, hiding it with the action of swallowing her food) — no doubt in recognition of the specific tone coming from the phone.

–Sorry you two– Yoshi says, standing up from his chair and moving in the direction of his personal office. –I've got to take this. Important business and all. You know how it is. I'll be back as soon as I can–

Hiroko smiles, oblivious to the truth behind her husband's actions. –That's fine dear! I know how busy you can get. Just come back soon, okay? Don't want dessert getting cold!–

–Yeah dad!– Hikari calls out, voice faltering only in such a way that someone like Izuku would notice. –Try not to keep us waiting! Last time you spent over an hour cooped up in your office! And I want to eat the pie soon-

–Don't worry, honey! Whatever it is, it shouldn't be anything big. I'll be done A.S.A.P. And then we'll dig right into that pie, you hear?–

Izuku winces upon heading the conversation. He'd much rather drown it out, but it's a bit hard to do so when he needs to keep his attention up to ensure nobody discovers his hiding place.

So he does his best to simply push down the feelings that arise as he witnesses the familial confrontation, and reminds himself that he needs to keep his head in the game.

For the future.

Yoshi continues his walk towards his office, keeping his stride up as he reaches for and answers his phone. He enters his office, and once behind closed doors, heutters a single word into the phone. –Geas–

Izuku doesn't waste a second. He speaks into his laptop's microphone, making sure to mask his voice as to one belonging to a raspy old man. "Snow."

Being able to hear both the receiving and outgoing end of a call definitely has its advantages. Especially in the manner of knowing secret passcodes.

Yoshi lets out a breath. –Oyabun. Greetings–

Izuku smirks. Easy as pie.

"Saiko-komon."

Yoshi sighs in return. –Alright. What's up? You know it's my day off; I thought that you told me that you could handle one day without your advisor. Or are you admitting that you were actually overestimating your abilities, Dar-kun?–

The man's familiarity with his boss is something Izuku isn't all too surprised over. It makes sense in a way; one would often trust their advisor with their deepest secrets and worries. It wouldn't be amiss for two such individuals to grow close, if not having already been so upon the eventual appointment of their role in the organization.

"Nonsense, Yosh. You really think that I can't handle a few days with these idiots?" Izuku picks up his laptop and heads out of the bathroom. He keeps his senses up to ensure he doesn't run into either of the other two individuals present.

"No, no. It's nothing all too serious. I just… I had a thought come to mind."

–Oh?–

Izuku finds himself right before Yoshi's door. All that's left is getting the man in position. "Yeah… Do me a favor. You know that window in your office? Go look out of it."

Yoshi laughs. –If I didn't know any better, I'd think that you'd be setting me up to be taken out by a sniper or something– Yoshi nevertheless complies with the request, moving to look out his office window. And thus leaving his back exposed to the door.

Izuku swings the door open without another moment wasted.

"So," Yoshi says into his phone, oblivious to the happenings right behind him, "what is it that you want me to see, exactly?"

Izuku throws his laptop to the floor and slams closed the door to the office. In any normal situation, Yoshi would already be alerted to the intruder in his home. He'd be throwing his phone aside, reaching for the underside of his desk for his firearm, and swiftly turning to face whoever had decided to barge into his auspicious abode unannounced.

But with Izuku's quirk? And with the newly made sound canceling bubble surrounding the office? The hasty and normally obtrusive actions go completely unnoticed by not just Yoshi, but the other two occupants of the household.

Quite ironic, that something so eerily similar to his quirk will be what brings him down.

Izuku swipes a syringe out from his pockets and dashes forward. Yoshi is completely unprepared for the thin metal rod that impales itself into the skin of his neck, and he's entirely too slow to prevent the cocotion stored in the syringe to be injected into his system.

"AGGHH!" Yoshi screams, quickly jerking around and swiping in a wide arc in front of him.

Izuku dodges the clumsy counterattack, keeping his eye on the target and making sure the bubble around the office stays up. He doesn't need the other two running to Yoshi's aid, after all.

In the meantime, Yoshi, eyes wide in recognition of the figure before him, moves towards his desk.

Unfortunately for the man, Izuku is more than a step ahead of him. Izuku dashes forward once more and intercepts Yoshi before he can ever reach his destination.

One moment the man is reaching for the gun holstered on the underside of his desk. The next, he finds himself dragged to the floor and with the infamous Whisper atop his back, pinning him down to the fllor.

"Really?" Izuku asks, still using his previous voice. "Is that all you got?"

Yoshi growls. "So it was you. It was never Daruma on the phone, was it?"

Izuku shrugs. "What do you think?"

Yoshi shakes his head, his eyes growing weary. "The hell did you inject into me, you vigilante freak?"

"A simple sedative. One hand-crafted through years of research by the Doctor."

Yoshi's eyes grow wide at that. "Doctor? That Doctor?" He yells, trying his best to shake Izuku off. "You can't do this! You can't! I've heard the stories! That monster—"

"If you want your family to stay out of this, you'll keep quiet."

Yoshi stills. "You wouldn't—"

He's right. I wouldn't. But he doesn't need to know that.

"Silence." Izuku pushes his hand against Yoshi's neck. "Now rest. It'll all be over soon."

"You—" Yoshi gasps, partially over the constriction over his neck, and as well with the effects of the serum taking into effect. "You promise to keep them out of it?"

"To my dying breath. In my honor, I swear it. It is you who needs to atone; not them. It's as simple as that."

Kaede Yoshi grimaces. "Then… I see." His expression loosens, his eyes going distant. It's clear that he's in concession. For the good of his family. For their safety. His comfort, for theirs.

It's not long after that Kaede Yoshi falls into a deep slumber.

Afterwards, Izuku doesn't exert the effort to erase the signs of a struggle.

He simply calls up Kurogiri, and leaves with the unconscious form of Kaede Yoshi in tow. All the while, in his mind, he can't stop thinking about what he's doing.

Hikoro and Hikari are sitting at the table waiting, a steaming pie ready to be eaten and with expectations positive and unyielding.

But they'll be waiting for a man who's taken into the darkest depths of the unknown. And they'll never know if they'll see the man ever again.

"Back so soon? I would've thought that your stomach couldn't handle another visit for at least another month. Call me surprised."

Izuku exits the portal, dragging Kaede Yoshi on the ground behind him. As he appears within the Doctor's lab, he notices that the eccentric old man is once again working on a body — fortunately, it's one that he doesn't recognize.

"I couldn't really be helped," Izuku admits, depositing his unconscious passenger on the floor.

"Then I have to admit that you work fast," the Doctor muses. "I mean, another potential addition to the roster in less than a week? What ever happened to slow and steady?"

Izuku sighs. "Something… came up. As in, Sensei gave me new information on another… candidate. All things considered, everything would have turned out better if I went ahead and captured the target rather than holding off the extraction for a later date."

The Doctor hums, lifting his tool out of the cadaver before him as he formulates his thoughts. "And you mean to say that you did it yourself? I mean, I understood the first time with the mutant. But now? With somebody of which you hold no emotional line to whatsoever?"

Izuku shrugs, averting his eyes. "Sensei had to have been offering the info to me for a reason. He just doesn't… do kind of that stuff without expecting something in return. Without expecting some sort of results. I— I had a feeling that Sensei wanted me to do what I did. Nothing like his subtle manipulations; no puppetry from behind the scenes or anything as such. But just… expectation. Anticipation. And I don't really want to know what it's like to displease Sensei, you know?"

"Hmph." The Doctor shrugs, heading back to his work. "If that's how you feel, I won't question you for your decisions. Especially not if it means you keep delivering results for me."

"Glad to know that you care," Izuku mutters under his breath.

"I know right?" The Doctor grins. "Anyways; what do we have this time? What makes your new victim so interesting, hmm?"

"Hushed," Izuku responds. "A quirk which grants the willful ability to cancel out any audible external stimuli that the user inflicts upon the environment." He wanders a bit as he talks, eventually moving towards a specific wall of the room.

"Huh. Sounds quite like yours — but more limited, right?"

"Much more limited," Izuku says as he eyes the small items that line the wall before him. They're vials — rows upon rows of them, all containing the replicated genetic material capable of emulating the quirks of all of the Doctor's subjects from the countless years.

"Don't think that I don't see you over there," the Doctor calls out. "You're fine to look, but no touching. Don't need you breaking any of my work."

Izuku nods absentmindedly at the words. His eyes rove, eventually falling upon a cluster of vials stored at one corner of the shelves. "Are those them?"

"Huh?" The Doctor looks up from his work, gazing over to where Izuku's eyes had fallen. "Oh! Yes, yes. Those are indeed they. All of your hard work confined and miniaturized into such small things, and yet being capable of such earth shattering effects. Fascinating, isn't it?"

"Yes," Izuku says without inflection. "Very."

He recalls what the swirling liquids within the vials used to be.

Jagged Edges belongs — belonged — to the aforementioned con man. Abducted in the middle of the night in his home by Kurogiri and his portals; Izuku aiding from the sidelines by providing live positional information.

Izuku was lucky to have found the man; the initial lines leading to his discovered existence having been threaded by Izuku's interest in Kamakiri Togaru of class 1-B and his own quirk, Razor Sharp.

The ability to instantly generate sharp blades from anywhere on one's body sounded too good to pass up — the only problem that cropped up Izuku's hesitation was the fact that Kamakiri is an innocent in the grand scheme of things.

But a distant cousin responsible of conning millions from people — even if his quirk was a much more crude and somewhat less reliable version of Razor Sharp? A godsend if it meant crossing Kamikiri out of any potential hit lists.

And then there's Cockroach. Similar to the mass of Super Regeneration quirks the Doctor has stockpiled to the brim, but different in that Cockroach focuses more on outright durability first, and regrowth second.

It's possession was entirely what let the notorious criminal who had held it to have persisted for so long in the lawless landscape. Though, the man's overconfidence and overreliance in his quirk is what led to his downfall when Sensei's thugs came for him.

And then there's the third vial — a new addition since his last visit. He doesn't even need to try to know what that means.

If anything, he's just glad that it's present. After all, if the Doctor had kept his word, that means Invisible Wall is out and about — hopefully having learned his lesson — and not floating in one of the countless vats that line the complex or lying dead in some ditch.

With that vial done, Izuku can finally check to see if his hopes that Invisible Wall's… wall crawling ability could be retained. After all, while the villain's real quirk had been his camouflaging, his ability to scale walls is an aspect of the physiology he inherited from his parents.

He could ask the Doctor, of course. But Izuku would rather not. He can always check the data logs later, after all.

If the Doctor was able to recover Invisible Wall's wall climbing ability, it'd be a great boon. If not, He'd need to find another individual whose quirk allows the adherence to sheer surfaces…

"Oi! Instead of wasting your time standing there, staring, and wallowing in your regrets, you should be worrying about the fact that you need a host subject if you want to be done anytime soon, you know?"

"I know that, Doctor," Izuku says, turning to the man in question. "But I just can't choose something like this on a whim. You've told me, and I've gone over the notes — the host body acts as a conduit for all the other quirks. It provides resilience; the ability to survive the strain enacted by having so many quirks at once. And perhaps the most important thing is their base quirk, since that's the aspect that is boosted the most aside from the default improvements to speed, strength, and their reflexes. These factors are exactly what allows Gigantomachia to be as effective as he is today. So if I want success, I need to consider my options. I'm not like Tomura who'd just pick the first thing he sees."

The Doctor nods to himself. "Well, I can at least say that I admire your tenacity and willingness to engulf yourself so deep into my work. I can work with your understanding of where and how your project stands in full. Just know that sooner is better than later."

"Of course," Izuku says, pulling out his phone. "I suppose that I should be going now. Things to do and all."

"Splendid!" The Doctor cheers. "I don't need you here any longer if you aren't going to be helping directly. You'll just be a distraction if I have to keep an eye on you as long as you are in the presence of my vials. So shoo! Nice talk."

"Right," Izuku mutters, entering the forming portal.

The Doctor didn't even mention the other thing — I still have enough space for two quirks. The only question is: where am I to look next?

He shakes his head. Nothing I should be worrying about now. Giran is waiting with the good news, after all.

A/N: Cursory yakuza research was made instead of the usual deep dive into knowledge. So if the terms I used weren't accurate, just know that that's why.