Chapter 40: Midoriya Izuku XXXVI

A/N: And here we are at the cusp of the incident. Just what does Izuku have planned? Stick around to find out…

"Michi-kuuuuunnnn!"

Izuku sighs. "I already said no, Hatsume." He pushes the dressed up girl draped across him, causing her to drop to the floor in a slump. "I already went with you yesterday to All Might's thing. That instance alone provided me with enough social interaction to make me want to hide away in a cupboard for a month."

"Oh come on," Hatsume whines, picking herself off the floor. "You enjoyed my plans! You were laughing, even!"

"Alright. I'll admit that the little thing you convinced me to do with Todoroki and that Yaoyorozu girl was fun, if only for reasons you don't really know of," Izuku concedes. "But," he continues before Hatsume's able to put in her retort, "But. That doesn't mean that I feel like doing anything of the sort tonight."

"But what about—"

"And that's final," Izuku interrupts her, face stone cold. "You can go off to the gala by yourself; I'm mentally drained. Have fun; talk to Melissa or whatever. But I don't need to accompany you, alright?"

Hatsume groans. She leaves her sign of displeasure hanging in the air for a few moments. When it's clear that Izuku won't back down, she relents. "Ugh. Fine. I will just go with Melissa then! Too bad for you, you'll be missing out on all our invention talk!"

Izuku chortles. "Pretty sure you're largely overestimating my dedication to your cause there, Hatsume."

The girl harrumphs. "You just haven't come to the revelation that inventing bears! You'll see! It's only a matter of time!"

"Yes, yes. I'm sure." Izuku says, the small smile on his face not leaving her face. He looks over at a clock to check the time. "Won't you be late if you don't get going right about now?"

Hatsume's eyes drift over to the clock, only for them to widen in response to what she sees. "Oh shoot! Alright, gotta go!"

She's halfway out the door when Izuku calls out: "What about that gear that you wanted to show to Melissa?!"

"Shoot!" She races back in, grabs her bag, and runs back out. "Thanks!"

"Good luck!" Izuku calls out before the door slams shut. He means it, of course, given what's bound to go down tonight. And that pack of her inventions plays a role in that. After all, it was his idea for Hatsume to bring a couple of her inventions to 'share with Melissa.'

Besides, f the curvilinear taser gun and the short range electromagnetic pulser just so happen to be marvelous at taking down small robotic opponents… Well, just a coincidence, right?

He stands idly in the room for a moment, listening to Hatsume make her way into the elevator, down to the lobby, out the front door, and a good block away (for safe measure). Deeming her far enough, he goes over to his bags and shuffles around until he uncovers his gear.

His costume.

Time to get going then.

Luckily, on an island filled to the brim with industrious scientists and researchers, not many bat an eye to someone lugging around a suitcase bulkier than one would normally find. Such a quirk of the island's culture is what allows Izuku to move briskly through the streets, carrying both his laptop and his costume on him with relative ease without fear of discovery. It is rude to interrupt a person who obviously needs to be somewhere, after all.

So it's with little fanfare that Izuku makes it to the base of I-Island's central tower, just shy of a few minutes of Hatsume's own arrival. And even better, the security settings aren't set in place yet. So he takes the time to learn about the battlefield.

Hmm. I can hear them, Wolfram and his crew, making their way up to the security room near the top. By way of the elevator they're on floor eighty-seven now… I say it'll be around five minutes before they get there and completely set up shop. Plenty of time. Let's see what else…

He hears Hatsume in the main lobby, lounging around with a couple other students from Yuuei. Todoroki is among them, alongside Yoarashi, Kaminari, Kendou, and a few others Izuku could care less for.

Seeing as that avenue of entry isn't a viable choice at the moment, he decides to circle around to the back. It's woefully unguarded; partially due to it being an exit from the kitchen to discard of trash, and partially due to Wolfram's changes to the night's security plan. They had used the same entrance, after all. He had heard them, while he trailed far behind.

He makes it in rather easily, using his quirk to avoid wayward kitchen crew and any wandering guests. Plus, he doesn't need to worry about cameras recording his actions, seeing as Wolfram disabled them for his own entrance to the building. From there it's only a matter of time until he finds the janitor's closet that he had earlier marked down as his first destination.

Having obtained the floorplan and the schematics of the building through his access to the island's systems, it wasn't a hard choice for him to choose the room once he came across it. For one, it's location makes it less likely for someone to randomly stumble into him, whether it be when he's changing into his costume or enacting the second step of his plan.

A second step, which is also reliant on the room's specific nature location. Wires and cables run throughout the building, but very few of them relay direct access to the more sensitive and integral systems. The one running across the room's west wall just so happens to be one of those, however.

The best part? It's all because the janitor-robot belonging to the room is of the same make as the island's security bots, and is thus connected to the same system responsible for security purposes. A rather fatal flaw, but one he definitely appreciates at the moment.

So, once Izuku's in costume, he gets to work. The robot's charging station provides an ample port for his infiltration once it's connected to his laptop, so he sits down and gets to work.

All that's left is to inform his inside man on the plan. So he readies his quirk, sets up a field of negation around his target, and speaks right next to a certain blond's ear.

"Yo."

"Son of a—!" Kaminari jumps, very nearly stumbling his own feet. It takes a few seconds of contemplation (Izuku can tell based on the way the boy's face shifts) and deep breaths before he answers back with a minute whisper.

–They can't hear me?–

Izuku smirks. "Smart. You're learning from your mistakes. I would've been disappointed if you hadn't, given my lesson the other day. How's it feel, improving upon yourself?"

…

Izuku nods to himself. "Even better. Yes, they can't hear you. You're free to talk."

Kaminari lets out a sigh. –You–

"Remember," Izuku interrupts. "Just because they can't hear you talk doesn't mean they can't see your lips moving. See that security panel on the wall across from you? Go up to it. Then we'll talk."

Kaminari does as he's asked, making a swift escape from where the others are having a conversation. He walks up to the security panel, and stares straight ahead. –This good?–

"Perfect. Now, take your phone out and pretend that you're using it. Then listen."

Kaminari does just as he's asked.

"Now. Right before you is one of the many security panels present around the building. With the right codes or the right knowledge, one could use one of these to directly access a magnitude of systems on the island. And yes, I know what you're thinking. Normally, you would expect things like this to be hidden, right? Not out in the open?"

Kaminari stops himself from nodding, and instead answers with a simple 'yes.'

"Well," Izuku continues, "it just so happens that all the security measures built into the thing make it nigh-impossible to crack open. It's location is simply for ease of access in case of an emergency. Little do the designers of this building know that such a decision was a mistake."

–Why?–

"Because we're going to use it to give me an entry into the building's systems."

–But I thought that you just said–

"I know what I said. And what did I say, exactly?"

It takes a few moments before Kaminari responds. –Nigh-impossible–

"Exactly. Which means there's still a way. Have an idea what that is?"

–Well… Seeing as you're babying my way through this… I'm probably important to the plan. I'm guessing… My quirk? To overload the system? Since most people who would be trying to take advantage of these things wouldn't be lugging around a generator without getting some looks?–

"Well thought out. Yes, you're right. The timing must be precise though. All you have to do is put your hand on it and give it your all when I say so."

–My all?–

"Your super move, of course. It won't have any lasting effect but it will short-circuit the system for a second or two before it reboots. Much the same system that Tartarus implements, actually. But that's all I really need; just enough time to sneak right on in without notice from the people currently in charge of the system. And the only repercussion on your end is having to spend a few short minutes being short-circuited yourself. Not that bad of a hand-off, don't you think?"

–Oh. Right– Kaminari lets out a sigh. –I… I know about the storage room at the top of the tower. And since I doubt you're actually planning on hurting anyone here… I'm helping you steal something, aren't I?–

Izuku lets out a laugh. "No, Kaminari. Don't you see? We're sabotaging a heist tonight. Not partaking in one."

Kaminari blinks. –We're doing what? I… You mean. There's somebody else planning on stealing from the tower tonight?–

"Mhm."

–But… I…! We need to tell somebody! Like security or something!–

"The villains are already in the building. They're setting up shop as we speak. No use calling for the fuzz when by the time they get here it'll be too late. Besides, who needs the cops when you have me already in position?"

–But… but…–

"Don't worry. We're after the same thing here. And, well. Seeing as you and your friends haven't actually gone to the gala proper yet, you'll likely be caught outside of the villains' initial attack, free to act as you are. No need to guess what the course of action will be then, hmm? So even if I fail, you and your friends are the backup. No bad, eh?"

–Michimoto–

"Oh. Not much time, they're about to overtake the system at this very moment. Hand on the panel."

Kaminari slowly follows through. His face contorts, conflict clear on his face. But Izuku knows that he can count on the boy. In his perspective, his mother's life is on the line, after all.

"Once you get your senses back just blame the lockdown for an overreaction on your part. Little discharge accident, you know? Ah. Three… two… one… Now."

The security barriers go over the doorways, the lights going out as thousands of robots begin their march across the island and within the central tower. But at the same time, Kaminari lights up, electricity crackling into existence as his quirk goes into overdrive.

The little blip is indistinguishable unless you know what you're looking at. So Izuku sees it, but the hacker holed up in the security rooms doesn't. Otherwise his laptop would be flashing up a storm. That fact that it isn't means that he has a solid connection to the tower, and will continue to do so once he unplugs.

"Perfect," Izuku mutters to himself. "I'm in. My thanks, my little spy."

Izuku hurriedly moves to stand, not planning on wasting a single moment. In his haste, however, Izuku inadvertently ends up bumping into something.

"The heck?" Izuku jerks around and backs away, instinctive reflexes already kicking into effect. His eyes scan the room, and he performs a quick purview with his quirk.

Ultimately, he finds nothing except for the shelving unit that stands behind his previous seated position on the floor. Nothing's amiss, except for the fact that a few bottles of cleaning chemicals are now on their sides when before they had been standing upright. But, he supposes that the oddity can be easily explained away if he had collided with the shelf.

"Huh. That shelf must have been closer than I thought… Weird." He moves over to retrieve his laptop, only stopping for a moment as he catches a whiff of a certain scent.

"Hmm. Vanilla lavender scented cleaning supplies? Not bad taste, I suppose." He packs up his laptop and suitcase, and heads out of the room, already putting the incident behind him. He has bigger things to worry about, after all.

It's as simple as setting up a few playback loops to avoid his presence from being noticed on the myriad cameras he runs by on the stairway up. It is a bit of a pain, for sure, having to stop every now and then to prepare the same process for the next couple of floors up.

It's a necessary course of action however. He can't quite use the central elevator just yet. Not when he knows that the villains will use it the moment they realize a bunch of Yuuei students are running around aiming to stop them.

So he bids his time, steadily making his way up the stairway until the kids get themselves caught. He knows that they can't avoid notice forever, seeing as they lack his specific edge on their opponents. Or, more specifically, the hacker that's keeping up the fort near the top.

The only concern Izuku really has is the hacker's identity. Given his height, his stocky build, his rather rich facial hair, and the cigarette in his mouth, he's someone that Izuku doesn't recognize. In other words, he isn't the usual member of Wolfram's team responsible for the hacker role.

Izuku's best guess is that the man's a free agent. It would explain why he wasn't in the tunnels with the others yesterday. He wouldn't have to stick with them, only having the need to meet up when the operation went into motion.

Just means that there's a level of randomness for me now. Not that I can do anything about it. And nothing to complain about either. No plan survives contact with the enemy, and all that.

As Izuku continues up this path, he eventually finds himself nearing his next destination: the eightieth floor. A plant cultivation room, and all things considered a place not too worthwhile. That is, that would be the usual case, if not for the people currently occupying it.

The Yuuei students from the lobby had arrived on the floor not long before. No doubt they were initially planning to waltz through the area to continue their upward climb. However, their plan came to a halt as two of Wolfram's cronies — Nobu with a spatial distortion quirk and Daigo with an overall attribute-boosting transformation quirk — arrived on the floor via the elevator.

Luckily for them (and much to Izuku's amusement) Bakugou and Kirishima Eijirou ended up bumping into the villains head on. The fact that they had done so because they were lost and wandering around made Izuku even more amused.

So Yoarashi ends up lifting himself and the others up to the walkways further up in the room. Kirishima gets tossed aside and into a wall, Bakugou ends up facing Daigo, and Todoroki begins his fight with Nobu.

Prime time for a nice chat, I think.

He readies up his quirk, preparing a move that he's really only practiced, not having the chance or conditions to use it in the field. He focuses around the headspace of the running Nobu, and screams.

A cacophony of screams, bloodcurdling in volume and tone, endlessly repeating around him nonstop. The man flinches rather violenting, and trips over his own feet. He tries to cover his ears with his massive hands — all to no avail. The screams continue to eat away at him, his face contorting in anguish. It's just the distraction Todoroki needs to subdue the man in ice with ease.

Todoroki is audibly confused, with narrowed eyes and a tilted head aimed towards the captured villain. His demeanor changes, however, the moment that he sees Izuku step out from the shadows.

"YOU!" The words reverberate through the air, causing Izuku and Todoroki to look straight at its source: Bakugou. The agitated teen has his eyes locked onto Izuku's form, words of promised pain seething from his mouth. "When I'm done with this big gorilla— "

Bakugou's cut off, forced to dodge another one of Daigo's kunging attacks. Seeing the interruption as an opportunity, Todoroki begins to erect a wall between Izuku and himself, and the current ongoing battle.

"I'll handle him," Todoroki calls out, his voice as stoic as ever.

Bakugou easily hears him despite his ongoing fight. He turns once again and shouts," "Oh no you don't, you half and half bastard! I have a fucking bone to pick with— arrgh!"

Izuku nearly falls over laughing as the ice wall fully grows up in height. "Oh my… Did you see his face when that first caught him in the gut? Priceless!"

Todoroki doesn't initially respond, eyes still fixated on the wall he had just erected. "Erm…"

Izuku takes a breath, clearing his throat. "Don't worry, he's fine. It is Bakugou after all. On the other hand, we really do need to stop meeting like this."

Todoroki scoffs. "Aren't you the one who decided to announce his presence with a prank, rather than a normal greeting?"

Izuku shrugs. "Not my idea."

"Right…" Todoroki narrows his eyes. "That support course girl. What is she doing with you?"

Izuku shrugs his shoulders. "Heck if I know anymore…"

"Hmm. And these villains? Are they with you?"

"Oh come on. You just saw me help you with that one. What do you think?"

Todoroki merely looks at him.

"I'm just here to stop their operation," Izuku says. "It's a heist, just so you know. Pretty simple thing to prevent: just need to make sure they never get their prize and all."

"And take whatever prize it is they're after for your own?"

"Perhaps." Izuku huffs. "Either way, they stand as a plausible danger to innocent lives. And I shall be stopping them because of that reason regardless."

Todoroki hums. "There a reason you're here then?"

"Just wanted to chat." Izuku gestures over to the elevator at the center of the room. "And I wanted to use that too. Running up stairs is a bit of a hassle, you know?"

Izuku walks over to the elevator, bringing his laptop out and typing in a few commands. "Got to go; sounds like Bakugou's almost done." The doors to the elevator open, Izuku walking inside without wasting a step. Though, before the doors close, Izuku does yell out one last thing.

"Watch out for the security drones; no doubt the guy up top will be using them after these twos' failure. Can't deal with them myself lest I alert the villains I'm here, so you guys will have to deal with them yourself, alright?"

Todoroki blinks. "Security drones?"

The doors close, and the elevator begins to speed up towards the top of the tower. Though, even as he's speeding towards his destination, he can't help but keep his attention planted down below.

–Where's the bastard?!– The ice wall crumbles to an explosion, Bakugou barreling through with frantic eyes scanning the landscape.

Todoroki hums before answering, averting his eyes from the ascending elevator. –He got away–

–He what?! How the fuck did you let a shitless weakling like him get away?!–

–Last I recall, he's the one that beat you back at the USJ, isn't here?–

–Why you!–

Even as he nears closer to the final confrontation, Izuku can't help but let out a laugh.

A/N: Yeah… A little short and more setup than anything… But we're getting there.