"…And that's about it." Kaina was finishing saying over the phone, and Toshinori couldn't help the sigh that escaped his lips as he processed what he had just been told.
With the students out on their internships, the reduced workload at the academy resulting from that, and with his time limit having been spent (more evenly throughout the day, lest Nezu start lecturing him again…) the emaciated man had figured that things were gonna be quiet. Midoriya-san had even invited him to one of the dinners that had started becoming part of his routine in the months before his start at U.A, even if her son was absent, and while he had been a bit hesitant, eventually he had figured that stewing on his own regrets and feeling miserable and alone wasn't doing anyone any favors, and that some socializing with a friend was as good a way as any to get his mind off it. It had been shaping up to be a quiet, pleasant evening.
A call from the principal and a quick turning on of the dorm TV had very swiftly disabused him of such notions, as well as caused him quite the bloody cough out of shock.
Needless to say, he tried to get in touch with both Kaina and his other contacts as soon as he could, but it had taken a little while for the heroine to get back to him and report every detail, giving the emaciated man the prime scoop of what had happened that even the news channels had yet to completely piece together.
To think that an attack of that magnitude had happened… The so-called League of Villains had already proven just how brazenly they were willing to act with the stunt they had pulled at the USJ, but this was something else entirely. Frankly speaking, it confused and worried Toshinori. Tenko… Tomura, from what he'd seen in reports and what little he had witnessed himself, had shown himself to be impulsive, vicious and reckless enough that'd he certainly wouldn't hesitate to do this, but it felt off that he'd be allowed to. Destruction and chaos had been tools that his old nemesis had never hesitated to make use of, sure, but there had always been some other greater goal, some purpose to be fulfilled, and for the life of him the number 1 hero couldn't see what that could be here. If it had been an attempt to catch heroes unawares and discredit them, then going by the results it had certainly failed. The Noumu had been stopped (permanently, in some cases) with no civilian or hero casualties, so all the League had done was lose time and assets (He had little doubt that be how he would see the loss of the bio-engineered creatures, at best) for the sake of some property damage. There were pieces missing to this puzzle… And that was far from his only concern right now.
"I hope that Tsuragamae-san didn't react too badly?" He inquired, not quite able to mask the exasperation from his tone. It would be beyond ridiculous if Midoriya had gone through another mess relatively unscathed only to then get in trouble for saying the wrong thing…
"Nah, if anything he seemed amused by the sheer guts and commented that it was refreshing for someone to ask that to his face rather than whisper it behind his back." Came the reply, to his relief. "The worst he's gonna get is the chewing out I'm gonna give him when we get back to base."
Toshinori could only pray it'd do some good, even as he pondered further. Midoriya was specifically targeted by the Noumu, which made sense with the grudge Tomura had previously shown, but that from what he just heard that sounded more like an opportunistic attempt than anything planned. And while Midoriya himself didn't realize it, his testimony seemed to imply some sort of contact between the League and Stain. Had that been the whole point of this thing? Had the League been trying to flush out Stain either to recruit him or eliminate potential competition?
Too many questions and not enough answers…
But at least one very dangerous villain was behind bars, and the children were safe. Of course, the faculty would have to talk in greater detail of what do with young Iida, but going by his quick chat with Nezu the principal was already on that. Personally, while he too couldn't really approve of the boy's actions, Toshinori felt ashamed that he hadn't picked up on his emotional state being this volatile. He expected that, whatever else Nezu would decide, there'd be mandatory sessions with Hound Dog in the boy's immediate future.
Still, all in all, now that he'd heard exactly what happened, Toshinori could feel some of the worry and alarm leave him, secure in the knowledge that the danger had passed at least for now.
"Alright then, Kaina, thank you for letting me know. Keep me posted on how things go." He said, before glancing to the side, to where Midoriya-san was watching him, her expression unchanging, but a certain weight of expectation in her eyes. "…And tell young Midoriya his mother and I are glad he's safe."
"Will do, Toshinori." The heroine replied, and the line went dead. He imagined she was quite understandably exhausted after that whole ordeal.
Now then…
"Well, Midoriya-san," He started, looking towards the woman he had come to consider a friend. "I can reassure you, your son is safe and sound. While young Midoriya was involved in tonight's accident, he's none the worse for wear, baring a few bruises."
"Well, that is a relief to hear." Midoriya-san replied, her tone as chipper as ever, although Toshinori did not miss the relief. "Not that I doubted it for a second, of course. If there was anyone who I'd trust to handle himself in the chaos the news were describing, it'd be Izuku."
"No arguing there." The emaciated man conceded, hesitating slightly before he continued. "But I need to be honest and inform you that the League of Villains were involved, and they did target young Midoriya again when the opportunity presented itself. Of course, if you wish to have your son's internship end early due to this, I can always talk to Kaina and Nezu about-"
"Nonsense, Yagi-san." The woman immediately cut him off with a shake of her head that seemed downright amused at the idea. "Unless Tsutsumi-san herself deems it necessary, I see no reason to deny my son the opportunity just from this one mishap. I'd never do something so cruel to him."
"…I have to say, Midoriya-san, you are taking all of this remarkably well." Toshinori couldn't help but comment, after a moment to process that surprise at being so easily cut off. He had known Midoriya-san for long enough to understand that she was a woman with a remarkable, sometimes downright Zen aptitude for taking things in stride, but still…
"Oh, don't be so surprised, Yagi-san." The mother stated with a knowing chuckle, as if she could read what he was thinking from just his expression. "Izuku is my son, of course I will always worry about him and the things he gets into. It's just that I have long since come to realize and come to terms with what my son was getting into. He wants to be a hero, and nothing will dissuade him. For his sake as well as my own, the best thing I can do is to just have faith, to believe that he will keep coming back, and to be here for him when he does. It hasn't steered me wrong so far."
…
…
…
"As you say, Midoriya-san." The emaciated man relented. For really, what else could he say in the face of that? Toshinori had been an orphan, he had never even found out who his parents had been. He had tried, but that information had been lost to the system in the tumultuous times of his youth, and the closest thing he'd had to a mother figure in his life had been the master who'd so brutally been taken from him by a monster. All the same, it was at moments like this that he realized just how fortunate young Midoriya was, to have someone who had such unshakeable faith in him (and in all honesty, how fortunate the rest of the world was for it). It gave him an odd feeling, one that was warm yet melancholic, to consider a simply luxury he'd never had the chance to properly experience.
Of course, that then brought to mind all the people he hadmade connections with over the years. And how one of them in particular happen to intersect with some plans he was making. Maybe he should make that call to David sooner rather than later…
/
"Well then, Iida-san, I think it's safe to say we all know why we're here today, yes?"
Iida had to admit, he had never, in his entire life, thought that he would ever find himself in this position. A small part of his mind couldn't help but wonder if the room had always been this large and oppressive feeling or if that was just his own dread talking.
After the debacle at Hosu, on the morning after he had left the hospital his internship with Manual had been suspended. There was a whole cover story that had been created for that, about a mishap during a training session due to some excessive rashness on Iida's part. At least the Normal Hero had been understanding and forgiving, even making a genuine offer at new internship later once Iida "sorted himself out", and their parting had been amiable. It made the boy feel all the more ashamed.
Then he'd been taken home, were he had spent his day with a family who were immensely relieved to see him safe and sound. Not that it had saved him from the first (and hopefully only) dressing down his parents and brother had ever given him. That had certainly been an experience. Now at long last Iida understood why some of the troublemakers he had reported to the teachers throughout his school years had seemed so distressed at the notion of their parents learning of their misdeeds, and in the privacy of his own mind he issued an apology to each and every one…
He honestly believed the only reason he avoided being grounded for the first time at home was simply because of what was happening now the very next day, as he sat before Nezu-sensei in the principal's office in the academy. He wasn't alone of course. His mother sat by his side (father also wanted to come, but he was busy managing the affairs of the Ingenium agency after his brother's incapacitation), and to the side stood Aizawa-sensei and Midoriya-san, whose respective expressions felt almost like polar opposites to each other.
"Yes, Nezu-sensei, I understand very well." The boy finally found the nerve to reply, after a moment to gulp nervously. He would accept whatever verdict was coming his way, of course, but despite his best efforts he couldn't help but worry.
"Good, very good." The principal replied, sounding entirely too chipper in the face of the boy's clear discomfort. Iida had heard the rumors of the renowned hero's… less than heroic tendencies, but only know was he beginning to think that there may be truth to them.
"May I ask then, what will the Academy be doing in regards to my son?" His mother asked the question he didn't dare, and Iida lowered his head, bracing for the worst…
"Well, we're not expelling him, if that's your concern, Iida-san." Nezu replied pleasantly.
…Wait, what?
Immediately the boy's head darted upwards to stared wide-eyed at the principal, who chuckle at the reaction.
"Oh, do not look so surprised." The animal said, sounding like he was enjoying this entirely too much. "Expulsion is certainly an option that got thrown around once we learned what had happened, but it was swiftly discarded. Considering the arrangements that were made regarding the situation, such a harsh punishment would just bring the entire thing into question, and that'd defeat the whole purpose, now wouldn't it? Besides, as you may have heard already, the academy is not going to deny our own faults that allowed for this to happen in the first place."
Iida had to admit, he could scarcely believe what he was hearing. So at the end of things, he was actually getting away scot-free? Much as he felt massively relieved, some part of it couldn't help but feel it wasn't… right…
"But of course, there still need to be consequences for your actions, Iida-san. And that is why there's three of us from the faculty today." The principal replied, as if had been waiting for just the exact thought to pop into Iida's mind. "On my end, I am enforcing mandatory after class therapy sessions with Hound Dog, until such a time as our Guidance Counselor is suitably convinced that you will be able to properly handle your emotions in the field."
Then, as if on cue, Aizawa-sensei stepped forth.
"Effective immediately, you are removed from the position of class vice-president. We'll hold a vote for your substitute once the others return from their internships." He said, his expression one that Iida couldn't really determine whether it was sheer disapproval at his conduct, or exasperation at having to go through that vote again. All the same, Iida froze, so suddenly you could almost hear cracking glass, a little part of him dying on the inside at the thought of such a demotion…
And then, to his surprise, it was Midoriya-san that stepped forth.
"Until the summer vacations, and for the month following them, you are going to be in charge of clean up in the dorm. All by yourself." She said, with that ever present smile of hers, if one the for some reason felt rather… foreboding to Iida.
"I trust that you will have no issues with this, Iida-san?" The principal inquired, small beady eyes almost piercing through the teen.
Iida for his part, took a moment to process everything that had happened, everything that he had just heard, and with a long deep breath, he sat as straight as he could manage (which unknown to him was frankly far straighter than most human beings would find comfortable).
"No, Nezu-sensei. I fully accept these punishments as the consequences of my foolish actions. And I promise to do better."
Funny, Iida couldn't help but think. Despite being given punishment for the first time in his life, and with the promise he was making, to those around him and to himself, he couldn't help but feel somehow… lighter.
Chapter 44
"I see," Momo said, allowing the final bits of tension she had been feeling since the news she had seen the previous night fade into relief, leaning back in the bench she was sitting at in the agency's hallway so her back was against the wall. "I'm glad to know, I will see you back in class, then."
Needless to say, the pony-tailed girl had been besides herself with concern when she had learned of the attack in Hosu. Unfortunately Fat Gum's agency was too far way for mobilization to be practical, and the chaos had settled far too quickly for it to matter much anyway, but she couldn't help but fret. Two of her classmates were again at the ground zero of a villain attack, and she had to be sure they were alright.
Fortunately, Fat Gum-sensei had immediately reached out to his contacts with both the police and hero colleagues that he knew in the area, and had been quick to reassure her that, while by all the reports UA students had been involved in the mess, they were all ok. That had helped a lot in settling her nerves, but it wasn't until now that she had finally been able to get a hold of her classmates that her concerns could be laid to rest.
To hear that Iida, the most rule-abiding, straight-laced boy she had ever known, of all people, had gotten into trouble in his internship and thus had not been part of the chaos was shocking to say the least. She had been concerned about his state of mind after what had happened to his brother, but to have affected him that much…
On the other hand, it certainly said something about her that learning that Midoriya not only had somehow gotten involved, but also ended up facing the Hero Killer of all people, did not surprise her in the slightest, but she couldn't for the life of her tell what that something was. Far be it from Momo to think badly of the boy that had saved her life at the USJ, but it had been made abundantly clear on many an occasion that the concept of self-preservation was foreign to him…
And that wasn't even getting into how there was something that felt off about the whole thing, something oddly convenient in Iida's absence and Midoriya's presence. It wouldn't be weird for the green-haired teen and his mentor to be called in when they had been so close to Hosu, but her thoughts couldn't help but go back to the request that she had made to him…
Ultimately, Momo shook her head, deciding to drop the matter for the time being. What mattered now was that her classmates were safe, and she could try to figure out the details that weren't sighting right with her by asking them in person back at the academy. Still, though…
"So, did ya hear from your friends?" A cheerful, gentle voice brought her out of her musings, making her turn to see Fat-gum approaching her.
"Oh, Sensei." She greeted with a slight startle. "Yes, I just heard back from all three of the ones I thought might be involved. I've been assured they're all doing fine."
"Well, that's always good to hear. Mind if I sit?" He asked, casually plopping down next to her once she'd nodded. "You kids shouldn't be getting dragged into messes of this magnitude this early on, but from what I've been hearing through the hero grapevine, dang if your class hasn't been making waves. Helping to take down Stain… that's a heck of a gold star on anyone's resume!"
"Yes, it is certainly impressive…" Momo conceded the point, somewhat hesitantly.
"Hey, hey, why so down, kid?" The portly hero asked teasingly, before his expression, while still gentle, took on a more serious edge. "Look, for real now, I know that sometimes talking about things isn't easy, and you don't need to say nothing to lil'ol'me if you do not wish to, but helping people is kinda my job, and from the moment you've stepped through my door I got the impression that something's been bothering you. I was waiting to see if you were gonna come out with it yourself, but these news seem to have added to what's eating at you. Anything you want to get off your chest?"
For a moment, Momo could only stare wide-eyed at the hero, surprised that he had so easily seen through her. Was it really that obvious that she was struggling…?
…
…
…
"I just… don't feel like I am doing enough." She eventually replied with a long sigh, not seeing much of a point in avoiding the subject. "For as long as I remember, I have wanted to be a hero, to give something back for all the good I've had in my life. I put in the work, I learned my quirk, I studied hard, I've been at the top of my class in all my years as a student. I entered the most prestigious hero academy of the country, on a recommendation. And yet, whenever theory turns to practice… I seem to fall short. I hesitate, I freeze, I make mistakes I should've known to avoid. At the USJ I could barely do anything. At the tournament, I got taken out the moment I got to actually try to do anything. And now, I couldn't do anything while my friends were in danger. We all started on equal footing, but now… I can't help but feel like I am falling behind. Like I am not living up to all that I could be…"
For a good long moment after her admission, there was silence in the hallway. A silence that, to her surprise, was broken by a soft, amused chuckle.
"Oh dear Lord," Fat Gum said softly, still chuckling, his tone amused, but not unkind. "protect me from over-achievers."
…
…
…
"Come again?" Momo asked, staring up at the hero in open incomprehension.
"I'm gonna be real with you, Yaoyoruzu-san." The round man replied, grinning widely. "Any hero that is worth the name will, every once in a while, come to a point where they start worrying whether they are doing enough. It can be because they're worried about keeping the paychecks coming, it may be because they genuinely wish to do some good in this world, and anything in between in a rather wide spectrum. Thing is, they don't usually start doing it thisyoung."
Momo made to reply, but before she could the man turned towards her, arms wide.
"I mean, for crying out loud, girl, you're 15 years old! Nobody is gonna expect you to have all the answers just yet. You are a student, you are supposed to be learning. This is the point where you can afford to make some mistakes, so you know what not to do later." His amused expression then took a more somber turn. "Now granted, you did go through an experience that nobody your age should've gone through just yet, something you were not prepared for, but that is why I can guarantee you that nobody would've expected you kids to fare as well as you did. You walked out of a villain ambush unscathed, there is no failing there when it coulda gone so much worse. And besides, you said it yourself. You got into UA on a recommendation, you think that is anything to scoff at? Sure, you may have had some struggles, but you're already on the top 5% of hero students by default, how is that not impressive?"
Momo tried to come up with a reply to that, but found herself coming up short. At that, the hero chuckled once again, and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Look, kid, fact of the matter is, perfection is a myth. Nobody, hero or not, is gonna manage to get everything right. I've made my fair share of mistakes too, I'll have you know. And if you keep expecting perfection from yourself, you are gonna come up short every time. You should look to what you have already accomplished for what it is. Not something to doubt, but something to be proud of. And what you haven't accomplished yet? Well, that's why you're learning, isn't it? And believe you me, it becomes a lot easier when you're not going at it alone. It ain't weak to accept help, after all, it's why you're here, ain't it?"
…
…
…
…Despite herself, despite all the rules of etiquette and propriety that she had been taught, Momo couldn't help the sniffle that escaped her.
"T-thank you, Sensei." She said, rubbing at her watering eyes. "I think I needed to hear that."
"It's what I'm here for, kid." The hero replied gently. "Now, what say we got find Amajiki and head out for some grub. Food's always good for lifting the spirits, and I don't know about you, but I'm starving!"
"I'd like that." Momo agreed, suddenly finding herself feeling quite puckish too.
Take pride on what she had already done, uh…? She supposed that she could try.
/
Well, this had certainly been one of those weeks, Kaina couldn't help but let the thought cross her mind, as she watched the kid going at it in the firing range (she was definitely going to have check whether she could get the bulk discount on getting more practice drones…).
At least, there had been nothing quite as extreme as Hosu going on the rest of the week. Clearly the villains in there and the surrounding wards were smart enough to lay low and don't stir up too much trouble while the heroes where in heightened alert. Even Narushada had grown quieter during their nightly patrols, which was honestly, in Kaina's experience, and accomplishment in and of itself.
On the plus side, it had given Kaina the excuse to have fewer patrols and focus more on working with the kid at the shooting range. Where it had become increasingly, painfully clear that they weren't gonna be sorting out the kid's issues in just a week.
I mean, don't get her wrong, if one looked only on the bright side, the kid now: a) actually tried to aim his shot rather than just point a gun in a general direction, b) didn't scream out his warcry every time he opened fire and c) didn't always unload an armory's worth of ammunition. But the amount of optimism needed to for that bordered on the hopelessly naïve…
Helping him to become a hero was going to be a long term project, she realized.
But then, a little chat she had had with the kid's mother had given her an idea that might help keep things on track (or if the coin lands on the other side, make things much worse, a small part of her helpfully supplied).
"Alright, kid, that's enough." She called in the lull that followed his latest rampage. As expected, the drones were in ruins, and she was definitely gonna have to see with the higher ups about getting a budget on fixing that wall. "Come here."
"Yeah, Boss?" The teen replied, as he obediently stomped towards her.
"As you know kid, the internship week's almost over." The heroine replied. "It was one of the most exhausting weeks of my entire life, to be honest. You got a long road ahead of you to become a hero. That being said, for all of the things that need work, you haven't actually done anything strictly wrong while working with me. Reckless, yes. Risky, absolutely. Wrong? Against my better judgement, no. And so, I got something to show you."
With his curious, red eyes following her all the while, the heroine went to her collection, and opened one of the cabinets, pulling out a something that made said eyes go wide.
It looked, for all intents and purposes, like someone had taken a pistol's grip and frame, and shoved the barrel and receiver of a bolt-action cannon onto it. It was, it was…
"Wot a beaut…" Izuku commented in an awed daze, as if he was looking upon the holy grail itself.
"Isn't it?" Kaine replied, pleased despite herself, wasn't often she got to show off her collection to someone with an eye for it. "The Noreen 50BMG. Pistol. The power of a fifty caliber rifle in pistol form. Can't fire this baby without some serious kick, all but impossible to fire it at all one-handed." She stopped, looking him square in the eye, amused at how downright hypnotized by the weapon he looked. She could've moved the thing around and the kid'd prolly bang his head against the wall trying to follow it. "You're on the right track kid. If you keep at it, if you keep working out the kinks, if you manage to become a hero… then when you are a legal adult, have your official hero license, and the necessary gun permits, I'll let you have this one. What do ya say?"
The kid looked like every single birthday and Christmas of his entire life had just happened at the same time. Made it hard to think that this was a mistake, at least for the moment.