Chapter 29: Midoriya Izuku XXVI

A/N: Last minute changes ahoy! (Not that any of you will know what it is, hehe). This new departure from my original plans is only somewhat major, so it's nothing you all need to worry about. It'll just be moved to a later point in the story; fits a better purpose that way, I think. Anywho, onward to the story!

Sometimes, Izuku wonders what his outlook on life would have been like if he had just had the chance to embrace his childhood to the fullest.

For example, from day till night the children he's currently watching across the street laugh and play to their hearts' content. They run about, free of the harsh realities of the world; their only concerns are tied to the self-contained world of their orphanage.

He wonders if maybe, right now, he'd be in Yuuei as a normal student, his grudge over Endeavor having dissipated long into the past. Or if in the scenario that he still casted off any sort of ideas of super-heroism, at least working to become a doctor or rescue worker of some sort.

Izuku finds these likely scenarios if he hadn't experienced the abuse and neglect throughout his early life. If he had lived like these carefree children before him; spent a large portion of his childhood in the comfort of peers who wouldn't belittle him or make his everyday life a living hell. He'd be happier, less angry towards the world.

And yet, Izuku doesn't envy them.

Their presence in the orphanage alone means that they've been through a lot despite their short lives. It's the same whether they're victims of money hungry parents who sent them off without a second thought, or were originally orphans who were taken in due to "hidden potential," and then unceremoniously abandoned when it was clear they didn't make the cut.

They've all faced their own sets of hardships — hardships similar to Izuku's own, even. They've been through things that he'd never wish upon anyone.

And even if they're past that, no longer dwelling on the past like Izuku does, that doesn't mean that their innocent and carefree lives will last forever. When they finally outgrow their need for the orphanage, they'll branch out and have to face the true struggles of the world; learn to adapt to a world less likely to cater to their needs. They'll be disadvantaged every step of the way, having the choice to either grow into complacency, or lash out in pain and anger.

It's this exact scenario that helps ground Izuku, helps remind him of the myriad things that he's fighting for. And it's that small comfort that puts him at ease, bit by bit.

"You know, this is normally the part where I'd beat you to a bloody pulp and then, ahem: entice you to abandon your pedophilic ways. Though, somehow I don't think that this conversation is going to be heading that way today."

Izuku lets out a slight chuckle and nods his head to the man. "Hazuki-san."

"Midoriya. It's been some time." Hazuki Akane, the man more commonly known as Crimson Riot, nods back. He's wearing casual wear and holding two handfuls of plastic bags — from a trip to the local convenience store. Most would see him as any normal civilian; Izuku's certain that that's exactly the man's goal.

"It has." Izuku lets out a hum. "How'd you know that it was me?"

Hazuki scoffs. "After what I did to the first three offenders, only the foolish or people I personally know would even think of standing in front of my place, leaning against the wall of an abandoned building all carefree like you are."

"Hmph. That so?" Izuku smiles. "Anyways, I hear that the All Might Agency is being fairly charitable these days, reaching out to all sorts of places: Juvenile reformatories, shelters, orphanages, and the like. I'm sure that you got some of that charity even despite where you're located, hmm?"

"Yep," Hazuki confirms. "Still have no doubt that we ended up receiving the shorter end of stick, however. Though, I can't survive off of what's left of my hero salary and movie deals forever, so I am thankful for the monthly welfare check."

"Finally some good will after all these years, hmm? Seems the oaf just needs some stern talking too for him to actually do some things. Who would've known, right?"

Hazuki raises an eyebrow at that, but ignores the comment for what it is. "Ya know, I was wondering how long it'd take until you'd show your face here again, you being 'missing' and all. Suppose that I should've expected something as big as Hosu to spur you into visiting, though."

Izuku blinks. "Oh? What do you mean?"

"Don't play me as a fool," Hazuki chides. "It may be all hush hush at the media level, but down here with us lowly folk? It's common knowledge that Whisper controls sound to a large extent. And sure, sound control ain't exactly unheard of. But a vigilante with such a rigid ideology and with such a fine mastery over their quirk? One person came to mind quite quickly."

"Besides," Hazuki continues, "I saw it in your eyes when you stormed off just after I had told you what had happened to Shiozaki. It was the look of someone out for vengeance, one who would stop at nothing to reach their goals. When I heard about your disappearance I knew that something else was going on. The emergence of Whisper just proved my point."

"Hmph. Well, that saves me some time." He sighs. "Tell me: you lied, all those years ago, didn't you? The orphanage here is Kamino plays the same role as the one you ran in Kumamoto; you're not caring just for kids from the area, you're also catering to those kids who flunked out of the HPSC's child indoctrination program. Aren't you?"

"I guess that's one say to see it." Hazuki grumbles. "Figured that out, did you?"

"Didn't take too much digging once I knew where to look," Izuku responds. He spares a glance towards the man. "I knew that there was a reason that I liked you. We're both doing what we can to strike back at the system."

Hazuki sets his bags down on the ground and crosses his arms together. "I hope this isn't a recruitment pitch? Because if it is..."

Izuku shakes his head. "Of course not. You have too much on your plate with the orphanage and all. I just can't help but see common ground where it stands. This establishment alone is a big middle finger to the government; raising the rejects of its special programs — kids unable to become the next Lady Nagant or Hawks. It's admirable, really."

Hazuki hums. "Thank you, I suppose."

Izuku nods. "Of course. But I'm just speaking the truth. Though, if you want to know why I'm here… Really, it's rather selfish. I'm… seeking your opinion."

"Of your actions as a bloodthirsty and relentless vigilante-slash-villain-slash-revolutionary?"

"Well, when you put it that way…"

"You're aiming to rectify all of the wrongdoings and injustices created by those in power. Most would call such an… such a venture foolish." Hazuki says. "I have no doubt that you know that. And yet you're doing what you think is right, no holds barred. That by itself is pretty manly in itself."

Hazuki points a finger at Izuku. "I've heard the stories. Fast and ruthless beatings to criminals of the highest degree, but a policy to preserve innocent life when possible. You appear like a true bogeyman that only goes after those who deserve it, with a methodology so concealed that most of the public is unaware of your actions. Almost like something you'd imagine to hear in stories rather than reality."

Izuku licks his lips. "And?"

Hazuki shrugs. "I approve."

"... Just like that?" Izuku chokes. "But what about all those people who died? I'm responsible for them. And then Hosu, it's in ruins because I couldn't convince the others to stray away from the plan! It'll only get worse from here if—"

"Oi!" Hazuki interrupts, chopping Izuku at the top of his head. "Don't be such a pessimist. Yeah, people died. And that's something that you'll need to live with. But there's no point in dwelling in the past. Uprisings are very rarely bloodless in any way. You're doing your best as is, so I don't want to see you bringing yourself down, you hear? I can't place my hopes on someone who breaks down into a crying fountain the moment someone dies."

Hazuki sighs. He lowers his voice and takes a much softer tone. "Look. So long as the path you follow remains righteous and manly, there's not much I can criticize you on. I mean, to be fair; I might have gone down the same path you're on if I hadn't found twelve needy kids suddenly placed into my lap. But I'm an old man now. Revolution is more of a hobby to you young folk, ya know?"

Izuku lets out a sigh. "Wow. I… thanks…. This is going a lot smoother than I thought it would, you know?"

Hazuki grins. "Never would have guessed."

Izuku takes a bit to recompose himself. He eventually turns to Hazuki. "Hey. Mind me asking something else of you?"

Hazuki lets out a laugh. "She's fine, mostly. She doesn't come as often as she did before due to her newfound enrollment at Yuuei, but the kids still love her. She acts like your disappearance hasn't affected her, though it's clear that it does. But she's powering on, right as rain. She won't waver from her path, I'm sure because of your influence on her. She'll survive for however long you need."

Izuku lets out an exasperated sigh. "Am I really that transparent?"

"More like the two of you are," Hazuki corrects. "Though you've got to understand that I still don't believe all that nonsense of you two being simple friends. So maybe that's clouding my judgement."

"Yeah…" Izuku clears his throat. "Right."

Hazuki lets out another chuckle. "You know, I'm curious. What exactly were you planning on doing if it turned out I wasn't sympathetic to your cause?"

"I didn't have anything planned. "Izuku shrugs. "I had an educated gut feeling."

Hazuki rolls his eyes. "Stupid and yet intelligent. Reminds me of myself when I was your age." He shakes his head. "Tell you what, why don't you come in for dinner? My treat. I can assure you that Shiozaki won't be interrupting us this evening."

"Can't," Izuku tersely says. "Too risky. I'd blow my cover with the kids or through something equally avoidable. I'd rather not involve you and the kids if things end up geting dicey with me."

Hazuki nods. "Fair." He sighs. "Guess that you're leaving then?"

"I've been out long enough. I should head back."

"QWell, don't forget about this old man here then, ya hear?" Hazuki says, roughly patting Izuku on the back. "I expect another visit before I kneel over and die."

"Revolutions can take quite a bit of time, you know?" Izuku lets out a chuckle. "I'll try my best, though. Till next time, Hazuki-san."

And with that Izuku walks off, the words of Crimson Riot stitched to his heart. He knows that he'll need them.

His brief visit to Hazuki is just one of many things that came as a result of the Hosu Incident (as the media has come to call it). Once his initial high had died down after his escape from Endeavor, loads of things came crashing into focus.

The next morning, the news revealed that thirteen people had died. It's a number nowhere near what could have been if Izuku hadn't acted beforehand, but the number still got to him.

The resulting tantrum from Tomura over being overshadowed by Stain saw the need to move the recovering individual out of reach, but the incident was nothing compared to Izuku's internal turmoil. Because for the first time, he had let innocents die.

He spent four days lingering over that fact, waiting ildy for Stain to wake while doing his best to address other concerns that had come to mind.

But it wasn't enough.

He needed some sort of outlet. But with Sensei being a homicidal chuunibyou demon lord, Kurogiri having the emotional depth of a bottle cap, and both Ibara and Todoroki being out of reach, Izuku found himself in a tough spot. So he went with the best next thing and went to visit the one and only Crimson Riot.

The fact that Hazuki Akane, a well-renowned and true hero of his age, had all but urged Izuku to man up and learn from his mistakes, to not get held up over unfortunate circumstances, and to remember that what he's doing is for the sake of all of Japan… It was exactly what Izuku needed to hear.

So when he set off after the encounter, his mind was finally clear to process and think up new plans, to decompress and consider all the ramifications to come and what steps to take next.

That went on for a good while.

However, while the walk from Hazuki's orphanage to the League's bar can't necessarily be called short, the distance between is still manageable with both being located in Kamino Ward. As such, Izuku's walk couldn't provide enough time for him to think. For, as the bar entered his range, his thoughts came to a halt as he sensed two unknown presences within the establishment.

His first guess is that they're new recruits. This is mostly attributed to the fact that Izuku can sense Giran in the bar, with his bad lungs and all. So the logical deduction would be that he brought them in.

Individuals potentially called forth due to Stain's message, perhaps? In that case, things seem to be going well.

After a few minutes, he eventually reaches the front door. As he reaches into his pocket and places his mask over his face (can never be too cautious with the unknown), he mentally prepares himself for what's to come.

There can be a whole slew of reactions that the newcomers can give, and he tries to envision multiple scenarios of what the first few moments between himself and his new potential teammates will be like.

Though, that doesn't mean that he expects the glint of a knife inches away from his face the very moment he opens the door.

He almost didn't see it coming. One second his attacker is across the room, the next she's gone and suddenly in his face.

But he dodges, just barely, leaning his head back and away from the swipe. Izuku thinks himself lucky; he doesn't think that he would have been able to dodge if he hadn't already seen that disappearing trick before.

Really need to learn how to do that. Even if just to learn how to properly counter it, at least. The fact that two opponents of mine have possessed the ability means it can happen again. And I'd rather be ready before that happens.

"Oh!" Izuku's attacker, whom he readily identifies as a girl, cheers in a fairly bubbly manner. "Your reaction speed really is as good as they say!"

Sensing and hearing no other sudden advances coming from his attacker, Izuku takes the time to narrow his eyes in caution at the girl before him.

She has untamed ashy blonde hair to match her catlike yellow eyes, which stare down Izuku as if he were prey. It's a complete contrast to the seifuku she wears, which Izuku is sure fools most people into believing her guise as an innocent school girl.

Izuku recognizes her of course; hard not to when facing someone so prolific. Toga Himiko was cast aside by all of her family and friends due to the special conditions of her quirk.

Blood-based transformation, allowing her to take up the appearance of whoever's blood she would consume. Of course she would take on a craving for blood. It isn't uncommon for quirks to induce unusual cravings or habits into people, after all. But of course she was seen as a monster because of that — because of something she couldn't control.

Now she wanders the streets, fulfilling her cravings by catching unsuspecting people off guard. Izuku's at least happy that a good half of those people deserved what was coming for them. All in all, she's a tried and true basis for what the current society spits out as unwanted.

Izuku wouldn't mind working with her, if it weren't for her homicidal, sadistic tendencies and her warped sense of the world. Though, he's willing to work around that, considering that it's not her fault that she ended up the way she is. He just needs to steer her in the right direction.

Izuku eventually hums, staying wary but deciding to finally speak. "Hmm. Toga Himiko. Greetings."

Her whole body seems to violently tingle at the reverberating words that travel through the air. A much different response than Izuku was expecting.

"Whispy knows my name!" Toga exclaims, waving her up against her blushing face. "I can't believe it!"

Izuku nods. "Of course. I—" He's interrupted by suddenly finding Toga right in his face.

"Now all I need is to see Stainy!" Toga continues unabashed. "Can you take me now to see him? Where is he? They won't let me. Crusty especially!"

Izuku moves his gaze to the boy in question. Tomura is leaning against the bar, staring Izuku down with a critical eye. The untold challenge is clear in the air… Almost as if he approves? Hm.

Izuku then moves his gaze to side-eye Giran.

–What?– He says, barely above a whisper. –You wanted recruits, didn't ya?–

Izuku gently pushes Toga away, sidestepping away from her. "Maybe later. Let me meet your friend first before we get too into things, yeah?"

"Aww." Toga pouts in response. "Fine."

Izuku takes a look at the other present individual who has remained quiet even until now. The boy is much more memorable appearance-wise, and Izuku would have to be an idiot not to recognize him.

The scarred and blue-haired Dabi seemingly appeared from nowhere overnight, making a bang by blowing a whole convenience store to smithereens.

In terms of his backstory, his motives, and similar aspects, there is not much to go on. Well, not for the everyday populace, at least.

Izuku wouldn't be surprised if Giran knows, but had just decided to keep quiet on the whole thing.

After all, it just takes a few leaps of logic and several inferences to sew the pieces together. Plus, it also helps that Izuku is so well informed on all things Endeavor.

Not many know of either the internal dynamics or the early years of the Todoroki family. No news of quirk marriages, or children being sheltered in their home, or the harsh training sessions being held within the walls of their home.

Toya Todoroki is the product of that; a boy raised to be his father's weapon, expected to surpass him in every way in order to reach the number one spot in the hero rankings. But he broke because of that; an obsession turning the boy into a vengeful spirit.

When he disappeared he was forgotten, and as time passed his existence became a rumor; a tall tale of Endeavor enthusiasts and the like.

The fact that a large forest fire consisting of blue flames just so happened to coincide with Toya's disappearance was ignored. Terms like distance and the boy's age were factors; but nobody ever considered the possibility that a boy with a goal ingrained in his head since the moment he could think for himself could do it.

So as Izuku walks up to the boy, he can't help but smirk as they come mask to face. "And the illustrious Dabi," he says. "A pleasure."

Dabi huffs. "Sure. Whatever."

Izuku smiles at that. Even if he sounds standoffish and indifferent, Izuku can tell: the is interested.

"Hmph." Izuku takes Dabi's reaction in stride; it's to be expected from him, after all. As for Dabi's secret… Izuku will withhold it for now. You can never know if it'll become useful in the future, after all.

"Well," Izuku says, looking at both Dabi and Toga as he backs away from both of them," nice ro meet you two. But if you don't mind, I'll be talking to Giran for a moment."

He walks over to the info broker, flawlessly erecting a bubble of voided sound as he approaches.

"What's with you sending me all of these mentally unstable killers lately?"

Giran lets out a chuckle. "You said getting people to get along with you would be your problem. My job is just to lead promising folk to ye."

"Besides," Giran continues, "if I remember correctly, you sought out Stain all by yourself. How's that any different? I'd say that he has just as many loose screws as you and me, let alone Dabi or young Himiko there!"

Izuku sighs. "You know that if—"

"Uh uh uh! Tut tut," Giran interrupts. I'm sure that you sense that."

Izuku does; it's Kurogiri approaching them.

"Fine," Izuku grumbles as he turns, just as Kurogiri enters the bubble. "Yes?"

"Our guest has finally awoken," Kurogiri simply states. "I thought it best not to delay the news, lest Stain do anything rash."

Izuku groans. "Really? Now?"

Kurogiri nods. "I'm afraid so."

Giran lets out a laugh. "Good luck with that! I'm sure that he's gonna be all sunshine and rainbows when ye get there."

Izuku shakes his head. "Portal?"

Kurogiri nods. "Of course."

Then "I'll be back in a bit, Kurogiri. I trust that you can handle the three of them while I'm gone?"

Kurogiri raises an eyebrow. "Three?"

Izuku nods. "I'm including Tomura, of course."

"Ah. Well, in that case yes."

"Good." Izuku says as he faces the portal. "Try not to mention where I went, alright? Especially to Tomura."

"I shall try, Midoriya. Until later."

And with that, Izuku heads in.

A/N: And… yeah. This one is especially late. No excuses. But that's just life, I suppose. I'll try my best to have next chapter be on time, though no promises. Anyways, until then!