As Hisashi and Endeavor had their conversation, another equally important one was happening in a different area of the hotel. Said area could only be reached via the stairwell, going down two levels below the main floor. While the main floor could be described as 'grandiose', this floor simply said 'professional'. The hallways looked like they were made of ordinary plaster, painted an eggshell with the occasional darkened windows surrounding nameless wooden doors. Apparently, these were used by business leaders when traveling to I-Island to work out deals and the like. As such, the security that went along with them was no joke to ensure no one else could listen in or spy on the meetings going on inside.
And it was in one of these rooms where Melissa and Izuku found themselves. Both sat in fine leather chairs on either side of a small, rectangular glass table. The walls of the room were bare, save one that had a large screen on it that was blank, save for the words 'Audio Only'.
"Can you hear us alright, Uncle Might?" asked Melissa as she stared at the screen.
"Loud and clear," came All Might's voice. Though it lacked a lot of its usual bombastic energy. There was a quiet seriousness to it that Izuku had never heard the man use when they were in class. "Sorry for calling you both out like this. Given everything both of you have been through, you deserve to have a few more good memories of I-Island before you leave."
"It's no problem, All Might," said Izuku. There was silence for a moment, and Izuku could almost imagine seeing his hero smiling at him.
"Thank you for saying that, Young Hero," said All Might before letting out a tired sigh. "What I am about to tell you both is something that I would have preferred to do in person. Not because it is proper, but because it's what you two deserve. I was wrong for what I said to both of you. I am sorry."
Izuku's shock was so powerful that he nearly fell back in his chair; the only thing preventing that from happening was a quick grab of the table. He then looked over at Melissa, whose glasses had nearly fallen off her nose. To be honest, their shock was understandable. All Might, the Symbol of Peace and Japan's Number One Hero, was telling them he was wrong. How often did that happen?
"Young Melissa," continued All Might. "I have known you ever since you were a child. I knew that you always dreamed of becoming a hero. And while it was what your heart yearned for, you lacked the body of one. After a while, you seemed to accept this. You began to study harder, learning all you could in order to become an inventor, building the support technology that heroes use every day. I honestly thought you were happy with that path. So when you said you had found a way to become a hero using all those skills, I was taken aback."
There was then a pause. "I had long since defined heroes by both their spirit and their quirks. And I have seen, far too often, what happens to heroes who rely too heavily on support equipment," admitted All Might. "Young Melissa, I allowed my own short-sightedness and prejudice to dictate my actions. Instead of seeing what you had built, giving you a chance to show me what you could do, I dismissed it like it was nothing. Like your hard work meant nothing. And for that, I am deeply ashamed of myself. What you have built has far exceeded anything I could have ever imagined was possible."
A hacking noise was then heard over the speaker, quickly followed by something wet and gushing. Again, the two teens' eyes met as a question passed between them: Was All Might alright? Was he sick? Had that been the reason he had to duck out of the fight? Or had Dr. Shield been correct, and that All Might was running out of time?
"Young Midoriya," said All Might between his pants, grabbing their attention. "What I did to you was equally bad. Young Melissa, what I am about to say will only deepen my betrayal of you, but I had asked-"
"I," began Izuku, interrupting the hero. "I already told her about that. That you asked me to publicly take back what I said. And…I also told her that I wasn't going to do it."
"I see," said All Might. "You have the strength to stand by your convictions. That's good. It was wrong of me. Both to drag you into what should have been a private matter between me and Young Melissa as well as putting pressure on you to go back on your beliefs. I see that now. I'm just glad I realized this before I made things more awkward for all of us. At the very least, I understand your words that day. It doesn't matter if you have a strong quirk, a weak one, or none at all. We are all born with the same tools. We just need to figure it out. I just hope that you can forgive this foolish old man."
"O-Of course, All Might," replied Izuku, tears forming in his eyes. He felt choked up by All Might's honest apology and was fighting hard not to flood the room with his tears. "And you're not that old."
"Uncle Might," began Melissa as she wiped away a few smaller tears of her own. "I need to ask you something. My acceptance into U.A." The girl then faltered, unable to ask the question that was clearly on the tip of her tongue.
"I merely suggested it when I spoke to Nezu and Gremory," admitted All Might. "While guilt over what I said did motivate my actions, I would not have acted on it if I didn't think you were capable. Furthermore, I did not force the issue. Your acceptance into the U.A. Hero Course was not an accident or given to you by favoritism, but the earned result of your own hard work and the results of your suits 'field test'. But, even if you didn't get into the Hero Course right away, I still would have brought you to U.A. as one final favor to your father."
"My…father," said Melissa slowly, her voice sounding a little hollow. Looking at the blonde, it looked like she was finally feeling the full weight of the situation. There were no villains to distract her. No heroes chastising her. No awkward morning where they were all getting out of bed. Just the realization that the man she had respected so much, to the point where she made an AI based on the man to support her in combat, had betrayed everything that she and the island believed in. No doubt, had she stayed here, things would have been difficult for her.
"Uncle Might," said Melissa after a moment, pausing for a moment to use her wrist to wipe away a stray tear. "My fa-, er, Dr. Shield told us why he did what he did. That you were getting weaker. That soon you wouldn't even be able to be a hero anymore. Was he right?"
For several long minutes, there was silence. Not from either of the teens who waited to hear from the hero with bated breath, nor from the man himself. And with only the audio, neither of them could see his expression. Was he shocked? Panicked? Or was it something else? Eventually, it got to the point where Izuku and Melissa silently feared that they had been disconnected from All Might. Then, before they could do anything, he spoke.
"Whether he was right or wrong does not excuse his actions," said All Might definitively. "With that said, yes, my time as a hero is coming to a close. No one can be a hero forever. Not even someone like me, All Might." There was then more hacking followed by a wet sound from the other end of the line. But when All Might spoke next, he somehow sounded stronger than ever. "But, after what I saw last night, I don't need to fear. Why? Because both of you, as well as the rest of my students, will be there to take my place."
-x-
Elsewhere, at the same time, Kaina found herself in a massive room at the top of the Gremory Hotel. She sat there on a couch, looking down at her right hand while lightly touching it with her left. The fingers of her left hand gently held onto it in the same manner as Midoriya had done several hours before. She recalled the warmth she had felt, the words he had spoken. Things that meant so much more to her than anyone would ever truly know. Now, however, that comfort was slowly fading as she awaited her fate.
Lifting her head slightly and looking through her purple locks towards her right, she spotted perhaps the one person in the room who might be able to save her: Gremory. The man sat behind a desk that looked like it should belong to Sauron from The Lord of the Rings. It wasn't made of wood, but an obsidian material that had wicked spikes at the ends and clawed feet that reminded her of a dragon. On the front, the creator of the desk had carved into it two people fighting. One looked like a man in lion-themed armor while the other looked like a dragon-human hybrid. Behind the red-headed man, who was currently sipping tea, were large ceiling-to-floor windows that allowed a view of the island all the way to the wall that surrounded it.
Gremory, as a member of the I-Island Council, could use his authority to protect her as she was in his jurisdiction. Though how much he was willing to go against the Japanese government remained to be seen.
Also with him was the Principal of U.A. The mouse, bear, dog…thing, was seated on the desk near Gremory. A small, circular table had been placed onto it along with a wooden chair, both looking like they had been crafted specifically for the small mammal. Though how they had been made so quickly was unknown to Kaina. Like Gremory, he too was sipping tea without a care in the world.
Taking in Nezu, there was a chance he might speak on her behalf, but she wasn't going to get her hopes up too much. Since he was a principal, he might act in her favo,r seeing that she was no older than one of his students. Though given what she had done in her past, as well as the fact that she was actually much older, could also cause him to act against her. Then again, what could he really do? He was just a principal at one school. How much authority did he really have in this situation?
Finally, Kaina shifted her gaze to the last person in the room. And, when he did, she wished more than anything that Midoriya was here to hold her hand because it was taking all of her willpower not to shoot her. This, from what she now knew, was the president of the HPSC. But to Kaina, she would also be the person who had tagged along with the bastard who had approached her with promises of making her a hero. The person who watched as she was trained to become the government's fixer, a tool meant to keep up the illusion of a perfect hero society. The person who had sent her to Tartarus after she had shot the former president. So if there was anyone else in the world who deserved to get shot in the head, it was her.
Though Kaina had to admit there was something different about her. And not just how much the woman had aged since the last time they had seen each other before Kaina was sent to prison. Since the moment they had sat down in this room, the president of the HPSC had just stared at her with the most awkward expression. Her normal, stone-faced and impassable features were nowhere to be seen, replaced with a mouth that hung open and the type of eyes one associates with just spotting a ghost.
Finally, the silence in the room was broken by Gremory.
"Well, I think it's well past time we began," he said, setting down his teacup before picking up some papers that were also on his desk. "Regarding the actions of Dr. Shield, the Council had no knowledge of any of his actions leading up to the hostile takeover of the island. The current head of security has been taken into custody along with all of the agents under his command. They will be questioned, but our initial findings show that all of them were unaware of the villain takeover plot, with only a handful being aware of his illegal and unethical experiments."
"I suppose that makes sense," replied Nezu. "The more people who knew about it, the greater the odds someone would slip up. Or would have a change of heart at the last minute. What is your plan for dealing with them?"
"Dr. Shield and those who we believe were in league with him will be given a fair trial," replied Gremory. "Though it will not be a public with the records heavily censored. The reputation of I-Island has already taken a significant blow with how easily they were able to get around our security, and having one villain actually using our technology to cause havoc. Should word get out that we were bringing in prisoners to be experimented on and then disposed of will only worsen matters. For us as well as all the other nations that consented to it."
Upon hearing that, the president of the HPSC snapped to attention. "On behalf of the Japanese government and the HPSC, I have been authorized to announce that we were unaware of what was happening."
"Yeah, sure," snorted Kaina, unable to help herself. "How convenient that multiple prisoners were shipped off to a high-tech island and no one noticed." Her statement caused the president of the HPSC to snap her head in the direction of Kaina.
"I don't remember you being this, er, vocal before," she said softly.
"Oh, I'm sorry," replied Kaina, her cheeks burning as she stared back at one of her former bosses. "But you'll forgive me for not being able to hold back my tongue since I was one of those people you shipped across the ocean in a metal container, was gassed, my clothing stripped off me, de-aged, and am now getting the wonderful opportunity to experience puberty again!"
"I didn't," began the HPSC president, her voice heated before pausing. Kaina then watched as the older woman took a deep breath, her features returning to their normal state. Then, when she spoke again, she did so in a more business-like tone. "Tsutsumi, do you really believe that I would ever condone something like this? If Dr. Sheild's plan ever reached the public, it would be a matter of time before they found out how the man tested his machine. It would be bad enough if the people learn that our prisons helped supply unwilling test subjects, eroding the trust the people have in the system. But if an official government organization were doing so willingly? We're talking a total collapse."
For a moment, Kaina narrowed her features as she stared at the woman, waiting for her to blink or look away. When she didn't, the sniper woman sighed as she leaned back into her seat. As much as she hated to admit it, that did make sense. The whole point of her job had been to make sure everything looked squeaky clean to the public. Sure, it was done in the worst way possible, but it was how they operated. But Dr. Shield's plan? That was something too big to cover up if it ever got out, something that the president would have considered.
"Furthermore," continued the president. "This machine of Dr. Shield's would cause far more problems than it would solve. The moment people learn that there was a machine that could return their youth, give them more time, there would be a free-for-all to see who would claim it first. Politicians, the wealthy elite, and other such people would stop at nothing to get their hands on it and hoard it for themselves. Some might even use it to sell a service, forcing people to pay enormous amounts of money. And, even in the best-case scenario where it is shared freely, there will be massive issues. Doctors, paramedics, plastic surgeons, funeral directors, and so many more will be put out of work if there is a machine that can just rewind you back to a point in your life that you wish. Sure, there will still be a need for them, but at least ninety percent of them will become unemployed.
"And even if this device was used only as Dr. Shield intended it, to be used only for All Might, there is still a high chance things could backfire. While Dr. Shield is a brilliant man, he forgets that All Might is still a human being. Being pressured into returning to his youth just to maintain him as the eternal symbol of peace? That runs the risk of him, over time, becoming disillusioned or reaching a point where he is burnt out. Then what would we do?"
As she said that last part, Kaina looked away as she recalled what happened to her when she reached her breaking point. When she became disillusioned. She killed her boss. But she could be taken down, stopped by others. Who could stop All Might if he went down that path?
"Ok," said Kaina after a moment. "If you didn't give this the all clear, who did?"
"I'm not sure," replied the president of the HPSC with a heavy sigh. "Though, thankfully, the list of people who could do something like this and keep it from me is few. Very few. I plan on speaking to Dr. Shield more in-depth on this matter. If he cooperates, then I will assign Hawks to this case."
Hawks. Kaina had heard of him. Most likely her replacement.
"So both Japan and I-Island are going to sweep this under the rug," said Kaina. "What happens to Midoriya, Kendo, and Dr. Shield's daughter? From what I heard, the doctor told them everything."
"I will be speaking to them about that," replied Nezu. "It will be part of the cover-up dealing with their involvement. Though I will be explaining to them why, using some of the reasons that the HPSC gave on the matter."
Hearing that, Kaina nodded, feeling relieved. "Then I guess there's just one last loose end you need to deal with," she said, stealing her resolve. "What happens to me? Back to Tartarus?"
For a moment, all of the other people in the room exchanged a look.
"Tsutsumi, your situation is…complicated," began the president of the HPSC. "You see, back when you were arrested and sentenced, I could have easily had you executed for your crime. The reason I didn't was that I felt guilty myself. I never agreed with the previous president's…methods. So, rather than taking your life, I believed I was showing you a kindness by sentencing you to Tartarus for the rest of your life."
Upon hearing that, Kaina rolled her eyes. The president of the HPSC was doing a good job of not spilling the beans on what really went down. And yes, she was aware that she should have been killed, as that would have guaranteed that all their dirty secrets would have died with her. However, the way she was treated in Tartarus wasn't anything close to humane.
"You sent me to hell," said Kaina.
"Actually, I've been to hell," said Gremory with an odd chuckle. "Trust me, you had it worse in Tartarus." Upon hearing that, both women and Nezu looked at the red-haired man. While Nezu's expression was unreadable, both women were giving him a 'what the fuck' look. This lasted only a minute or so before Kaina looked away, assuming that it was a joke or something to the affect.
"Moving on," said the HPSC president, looking like she wanted to roll her eyes at that. Then she looked directly at Kaina. "I didn't have many options at the time. But now, the situation has changed. I could send you back to Tartarus, though, with the way you are now, we'll both he placed in a situation that neither of us wants to be in. The inmates and guards will begin asking questions if I place a fifteen-year-old girl in the cell of Kaina Tsutsumi. There is a good chance that, despite my best efforts, theories about what happened to you will spread. Either by a quirk or my science, you have regained your youth. And once that happens, people will begin poking around. Including some rich and powerful people. You will be 'safe' in prison, but there will be plenty of chaos for me to clean up. I could prevent this by isolating you further, but that has its own problems. Not to mention the media nightmare that would be caused by finding out that I placed a young girl in Tartarus. As you can imagine, that option is not so appealing. But, luckily, we have a second option."
"Which is becoming a student at U.A," announced Nezu cheerfully, raising his teacup in a brief salute as he spoke. Kaina's head whipped around to look at the mammal so quickly she could have snapped it herself. "Under past circumstances, I would have laughed off such an idea even if it came from a mind as brilliant as mine. However, recently, we accepted another student who, shall we say, had extenuating circumstances. Since then, we have seen remarkable improvement. While I haven't been briefed on all the details of your situation, what I have heard makes me believe that there are similar circumstances. That, along with the fact that you helped my students, makes me wish to take a chance on you."
"If you accept this, we will announce that Kaina Tsutsumi is dead," continued the HPSC president, drawing Kaina's attention back to her. "The HPSC will begin crafting you a new identity, along with all the paperwork you need to function in society. Your backstory is that Kaina Tsutsumi was your mother. Your father had a quirk that made his genetics completely recessive, basically making you a clone, and thus he gave you the same name as your mother. Principal Nezu found you living here on I-Island as another one of Dr. Sheild's illegal experiments." Hearing that, Kaina turned her head to give Gremory a questioning look.
The man shrugged, clearly understanding the unspoken question. "Given the list of crimes he has committed, adding this to the list will just be another drop in the bucket," said Gremory. "Besides, it isn't like we're lying. He was caught experimenting on you, and this way, he still faces accountability for what he did to you, with it being on the record."
"If you wish, you can still use the alias Lady Nagat," added the HPSC president. "While I am aware that the name holds some bitter memories for you, the new you could change it around. Besides, it's not like there haven't been other legacy heroes out there." She then paused for a moment, looking serious. "But, just so you are aware, if you take this offer, that doesn't mean we're going to leave you alone completely. We shall be monitoring you online and will be making random visits to U.A. to check on your progress. If we feel like you are about to do anything that will disrupt the peace of Japan, then we will take action."
Kaina bit her lip for a moment as she thought over the offer. Basically, leave things as the status quo, and you get to live your life. On one hand, she hated this. It meant that the rest of Japan would continue to live in a fool's paradise, never knowing what was lurking underneath the surface. That the HPSC would do their dirty deeds in the shadows. But, on the other hand, she would be free. She could be the hero that she once dreamed of, the right way this time. And she wouldn't be alone.
And maybe there was a chance that she could still take down the HPSC. Midoriya already knew about what they did to her. What she had done under their orders. She had an ally and friend in him. So maybe they could work to reshape hero society. To become heroes who were so popular and powerful that nothing could stop them!
"Alright," she said at last, looking back at her former boss with a fire in her eyes. "I'll do it."
"Wonderful," said the HPSC president, her tone returning to a business-like manner. "Now, all we have to do is discuss your living arrangements. Then you can do some shopping so that you're not walking around in a robe all day. Nezu here is offering a dorm room for you on campus. But, if you prefer, we can have it arranged so that you can live off campus in your own apartment."
Kaina was about to bring a hand to her chin to go over the pros and cons of her options, but Gremory interrupted her.
"Actually, are we sure we want her to live alone?" he asked with a smile that made the girl's hair stand on end. "I mean, she has been living in Tartarus in a cell all by herself for ages now. Perhaps having her move in with another family would help ease her back into normal society. Or wait! Adoption! Yes! We could have a family adopt her, providing her with a place to stay, having people watching over her transition, and providing her with a positive environment, all while allowing her a new family name."
Kaina stared at the man, her mouth dropping. Wait, was he being serious right now? Who would take someone like her in just like that? And why was he smiling? Wait, was Nezu also grinning?
"A wonderful idea, Gremory," said the U.A. principal. "But who could we get to do this on such short notice?"
"Well, there are two men here on I-Island with children who are going to U.A. I'm fairly sure I can convince one of them. After all, this isn't the first time my family has done something like this," said Gremory, his tone causing a pit of…something to form in Kaina. Not fear. Maybe anticipation? Excitement?
And why did she feel like she just made a deal with the devil?
-x-
"How are you holding up?" asked Izuku.
"All things considered, not too bad. Principal Robstone got in contact with my family. Most of them were not surprised by what he caught my parents doing. They all had a feeling what was going on, but no proof. That and they were too scared of my dad. My Aunt Beth is going to be taking me in and paying to continue my education," replied Andrew as the pair walked a mostly deserted street towards a beach area. A place where he would be meeting up with both his friends and his father before they left I-Island.
As they walked, Izuku couldn't help but notice the striking difference in the island. Yesterday, the streets had been jam-packed with heroes, civilians, scientists, and so much more as they celebrated the wonders of support technology. The air had been filled with an energy that had made him smile. But now? Now, everyone was heading to the airport in a hurry, taking emergency flights to get off the island as quickly as possible due to the devastation. Apparently, the damages were more severe than he was led to believe, with the entire island being effected in one way or another. So much so that the Council was doing everything in its power to help people who had another place to go get their while the rest stayed to repair the damages. Even with their advanced technology and quirks, it could take months to fully repair the damage.
Due to so many places on the island currently being closed, Melissa had suggested the beach as a meeting place while she went back to her place and quickly pack. Naturally, Izuku was hesitant about this, seeing that he still needed to get back to the hotel to collect not only his but all of his friends' luggage. This issue was rendered mute as Melissa quickly explained that she would have it handled, sending robots to collect their stuff.
Seeing no other reason to argue with her, Izuku sent a quick text to his friends and dad telling them where to meet before heading there himself. Which was where he bumped into the symbiote-wearing teen.
"That's great," said Izuku, happy to know that things were looking up for the American teen. Then, Deku realized what an opportunity he had. Here, walking beside him was someone he could relate to more than anyone else he knew. Someone who knew what it was like to be quirkless in a world of superhumans. Maybe he could even ask Andrew for his opinions, with one coming to mind instantly.
"So, do you plan on telling your friends the truth?" asked Midoriya, keeping his voice low despite how deserted the streets were.
"The truth about wha…oh," finished Andrew, before looking nervous. Some of Angel's biomass began to creep up his skin, momentarily covering the American's face before it receded just as quickly. "No, I-I. That's not something…what I mean to say is I want to, but…it's complicated."
Calm down, Andrew, said Angel, popping her little head out onto his shoulder before rubbing a tentacle down his sweaty cheek.
"Sorry, I didn't know this would upset you so much," added Izuku quickly, holding up his hands as he spoke. In truth, Andre looked like he was about to have a panic attack at just the suggestion of telling them about Angel.
"No, it's," began Andrew as Angel wrapped two tentacles around his neck in a hug. At the same time, Izuku couldn't help but notice how tiny veins seemed to latch onto the teen's neck. If this caused Andrew any discomfort, he didn't show it. Rather, he seemed to calm down a little as he looked over at the tiny head of Angel, the two appearing to have a private conversation, which also seemed to help ease the teen's nerves. Then, Andrew turned to Izuku. "Look. I'm not really a 'people' person. My parents, well, you know what they did to me after they found out I was quirkless. But it wasn't just them. Everyone I knew treated me differently. All my friendships just vanished. No one called or anything, save a few members of my family. Then, when I got Angel, well, suddenly I was 'worthy' of living with my parents again. And, ah, after that I wasn't exactly the most social."
"The fact that you also have a 'resting murder face' probably didn't help you make friends," added Angel, causing Andrew to react like he had been stabbed in the back.
"But when I went to Detroit Mercy, I felt like I finally made real friends," continued Andrew. "They make me feel like I'm a real person and not a live-in babysitter. Or…a punching bag. They've stood by my side, even after Will attacked the school. I want to believe with all my heart that, if I ever told them the truth about Angel, they would understand. But, at the same time, I've been lying for so long that I'm afraid I'll lose all their trust. Or if they…I don't think I can handle going through all that again. And if Alexis…I don't…I don't…" Talking suddenly became harder, his words getting choked up by the fear. Mostly when he spoke of the grey-skinned girl.
"Sorry, I should have known better," said Izuku, meaning it. It was still easy to recall the moment he heard he was quirkless, that it would be impossible for him to be a hero. He could still recall the same soul-crushing pain that came with it. The way the other kids began treating him, the way the adults' expressions shifted. And how the next ten years of his life were filled with pain caused by Bakugo and ridicule.
Honestly, he should have realized that Andrew would have reacted like this, as he had had it much worse. While Izuku's dad had left, he at least had a loving mother who fretted over him to the point where she began overeating due to stress. He had a safe place where he could go to, a place to retreat when the rest of the world became too much. But Andrew? His parents disposed of him like he meant nothing, just leaving him with his grandparents and only being brought back when his 'quirk' appeared. That sort of experience would scar anyone emotionally. Andrew might even be afraid of what he might do if all that happened to him again. If everyone just abandoned him.
As for Izuku, he feared it as well. The only person he knew for certain who would have his back was Himiko, mainly because she had figured it out on her own. But the others? Izuku would put his faith in Itsuka and Pony, given all they had been through. He believed that they would be hurt, that he had not trusted them with this information, but believed that they would at least give him a chance to explain with Toga backing him up. Melissa might also give him a chance to explain himself as well, seeing how she was quirkless as well, but might get angry at how he was presenting himself. Tsutsumi, well, that was up in the air, but at least she understood what it meant to keep secrets. But the rest of the class? He feared that Tetsutetsu would call him 'unmanly' for not trusting them. Or having Shishida shaking his head in disappointment. He feared that the others would say it's unfair for him to be a hero with a Sacred Gear instead of a quirk.
Oh god, what would the school do if they found out?
"It's fine," whispered Andrew, his words pulling Izuku out of his thoughts. He then took a breath. "I mean, I get it. It's not like I have never thought about telling them the truth before. And I'm sure you have too. But…they don't know what it's like to be born quirkless. You're either treated like you're fragile glass or exist just to be pushed around. Like you choose this and deserve to be punished for it! The only one I know who kind of understands what it's like is Alexis, and that's because she deals with people who are prejudice for her having a mutation quirk."
"Yeah," said Izuku with a nod. "Pony went through some of that as well. She told me about how people treated her like an animal."
"Hey now," said Angel, waving some tentacles in the air as she spoke. "If you hadn't been born quirkless they we never would have become a team."
At that, Andrew allowed himself a brief smile. "When you put it like that, I guess I lucked out."
From there, the pair made their way to the beach, which soon came into view while Angel disappeared from view. Already, several people were there. Pony and Himiko were setting up a beachside karaoke set, using the ocean behind them as the backdrop, while the other students from Detroit Mercy seemed to just relax for a while. All but one. Gel, had been looking around, holding the handle of a bag tightly as she did. And when she looked in the direction of the two secretly quirkless heroes-in-training, she sped towards them.
"Andrew, I wanted to go back to the Tower and collect the pieces of your book," she said with a shudder. "I know it was ruined, but since it belonged to your grandpa, I thought you would like to at least keep a piece of it to remember him by. But I was turned away. Everything there was probably collected for evidence. So, I got you this." With that, Gel reached into the bag to pull out a copy of The War of the Ancients Trilogy.
Upon seeing this, Andrew's eyes lit up. "Alexis, where did you find," he began as he picked up the book.
"Well, you remember that old bookstore we went to earlier?" she said. "I spotted it there. I know it doesn't hold the same memories as your old book, but-" Alexis was then cut off as Andrew closed the distance between them and wrapped her in a hug. Tears began running down his face while he whispered his thanks.
As the two continued their embrace, Izuku excused himself. Rather than heading towards Pony and Himiko, the green-haired teen walked towards a bench overlooking the ocean. The bench where his father was seated, waiting for him.
"I'm ready to have that talk now," said Izuku once he was seated, feeling both nervous and curious at the same time.
Hisashi, meanwhile, nodded while clasping his hands together, before beginning. And he began right from the beginning, starting with what his life was like as a teenager. How he had the same mentality as Bakugo, looking down at his quirkless grandparents. It honestly shocked and horrified Izuku to know that he was related to someone who could do all those things. Then, Hisashi spoke of how they died and how that changed him. How the man turned his life around and met his mother. How misfortune seemed to always affect those around him. About how, when he was born, Hiashi wanted to become a sidekick to not just secure a better future for the family, but also so that he could be someone Izuku could be proud of. With all the twists and turns that had happened in Hisashi's life, Izuku was struggling to pinpoint how he felt about the man. From boy, to monster, to man, to father, to sidekick.
As his father began to talk about his time with the Todoroki family, a certain clarity came to Izuku. The people he had seen his father with, the people he had seemed so warm and friendly with, had been Fuyumi and Natsuo. And, knowing that, Izuku couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. That they had gotten to spend time with his father while he hadn't. That his father had spent all that time with him, acting like a member of the family to them instead of being with his actual family for years.
That jealousy, however, quickly turned into guilt when Hisashi brought up the contract he had signed with Endeavor. About how the man would have written him a letter of recommendation to get into U.A.
Finally, Hisashi got to the end of the tale, and neither Midoriya could keep from crying. Izuku was told about the day Toya died. How it was the same day it had been discovered that Izuku was quirkless, and how hearing that had affected his father. If the man was telling the truth, he had cared about his son and the future that seemed to be ripped from his hands. Then Toya had gone missing before a fire went out of control.
"I blamed myself for all of it," said Hisashi as his story ended. "I honestly believed that the happier I was, the more those around me suffered for it. So I had to be miserable, even if it was by my own making. That's why I took a job across the ocean, far away from the people who mattered to me and working at a place I hate."
"So, if all that's true," began Izuku, speaking for the first time. "Why did you agree to go to the Expo at first and then change your mind?"
At that, Hisashi smiled a little as he looked at his son. "Because I missed you so much," he said. "I was feeling so proud of you. I stayed up just to watch the Sports Festival, knowing you would be there! And when you fought that rock kid with the super strength, I nearly started jumping up and down. Then, when you called me to ask if I wanted to join you? I just…I knew you were reaching out with an olive branch that I wanted to take so badly. A chance to get to know you. I thought I had accumulated so much misery that I could have a cheat weekend." Then Hisashi's face fell. "Then I panicked. I was afraid I'd be too happy, and something would happen. To you. To your mom. I just freaked out and took the next big job, completely forgetting it was happening the same week as the Expo."
"…Then, why are you telling me this?" asked Izuku, feeling confused. If the whole point was for him to be miserable, then wouldn't it make sense to not tell him anything? To just walk away and disappear without another word? If he had done that, then Izuku was sure he would never be able to forgive the man.
"Because I'm tired of letting this fear rule my life," said Hisashi, his voice firm. "Last night, I almost lost you. No, I already lost so much time with you. Time I should have been there when you needed me the most. So, I'm going to face this head on or hope that its gone." He then looked Izuku directly in the eyes. "I know I have no right to call myself your father. And you have every reason in the universe to hate me. But I still want to try."
"For what? The next couple of years?" demanded Izuku, heat rising from his gut. He couldn't believe it! His dad was just expecting a relationship after being gone for so long and only coming back when he was in High School? To be a father for three years and that's it?
"I'm not expecting something right off the bat," said Hisashi quickly, his tone suggesting he understood Izuku's anger. "Look, I already accepted a job back in Japan. I'm going to be there for you and Inko. Really be there. And I know there's going to be some tension between us. But, I'm willing to put in the work for a second chance."
For a moment, Izuku wanted to stand up and tell his old man it was too late. That he had over ten years to put in more of an effort, and he wasted them. To just close the door on this for good. But before he could do any of that, he heard the laughter of Himiko. Turning, he looked at her and found that the bloodsucker was giddy with excitement at a song she found. And as he looked at her, his frustration began to die down as well. He had given Toga a second chance, knowing what she had done, and was helping her to be a better person. And he had made that same offer to Tsutsumi, knowing that she had killed a lot of people.
So what did that say about him that he was only willing to help others but not his own father? Was it because he had hurt him personally? Or was it because they were girls?
Taking a breath and closing his eyes, Izuku thought about the situation a bit more. If his father was telling the truth, then he was at least making an effort. So, as a hero, shouldn't he support someone trying to better themselves? But, as a son, he couldn't completely forgive the man for all the years they had missed. He still recalled the time when he had waited all day when he was little just to see his dad, the one time he came home. And he also recalled how it felt when his dad left while he was asleep.
"…I guess we can give it a try," said Izuku at last, his tone hesitant. While the pain he felt from being neglected by his father was still there, he could at least see that his father was already trying. Like when he stood up for him with the other heroes, or when Will was about to crush him. He just wasn't going to pretend like everything was water under the bridge.
And, at the very least, he was certain that his father was telling him the truth, that it wasn't because of Izuku's quirklessness that he left. If that was the case and he was only coming back because of said 'quirk' finally showing up, he would have done so sooner. Like when he got accepted into U,A. or when he won the Sports Festival.
"That's great," said Hisashi with a beaming smile that reminded the teen of his own genuine smile. He then leaned a bit closer, his expression becoming a tad more serious. "So, if I'm overstepping or anything, you don't need to answer. But I need to know something. Which one of those girls are you-"
"MR. MIDORIYA!" came a loud, energetic cry. Both Midoriya's rose to their feet before looking over in the direction the voice came from, finding a sandstorm heading their way! And in the front was a woman! She wore a tattered business suit that had several rips and tears, including a few around her rather modest chest. As she came closer, both men could see her eyes, which were wide and filled with hope and joy that matched the beaming smile she gave as she waved at them. And what was most striking was her long, thick golden hair, which was tied up in the back.
"What the," began Hisashi before he was suddenly tackled by this new blonde, causing him to stumble back a few steps but remain standing.
"I'm so glad you're ok," began the unknown woman as she began to cry into Hisashi's chest, Izuku's expression becoming rigid by the display. Meanwhile, the older Midoriya just looked at the girl and then at his son, fearing that things had been ruined before they even began. But, luckily for him, the blonde continued to wail and talk at the same time. "Oh, I was worried that I would never get to apologize to you. I said such mean things to you. You're not a drunk."
"Wait, Ms. Pan?" cried out Hisashi, unable to hide the shock from his voice. "What happened to you? Your hair! It's blonde!"
"Oh," replied Ms. Pan as she jumped back, her crying seeming to stop instantly. An act that surprised Izuku, as he had a feeling that those were not fake tears. She had sounded genuinely sa,d and his father still had a wet stain on his shirt. But now, she looked like she was a ball of sunshine. "That's because of my quirk: Negative Energy Stockpile. Whenever I feel angry, frustrated, greedy, sad, depressed, and anything else that isn't good, a portion of those emotions are store within me. My hair acts like a meter. Here, take a look."
Ms. Pan then pulled her hair around to show the two Midoriya's who crowded around it in curiosity. While it was mostly blonde, the very tips at the end of her long hair were now black. Almost as if it had been dipped in hair dye.
"The more that is stored, the more it begins to affect my personality," she continued, pulling the hair away.
"So the reason you acted like a rude, greedy…person was because of your quirk?" asked Hisashi, choosing his words carefully.
"Yeah. And when I reach my limit, all that emotional energy is transformed into physical power in one go. Then the real me comes back out! Ah, what are you two doing?" she finished in confusion, placing a finger on her chin as she watched the scene before her. Izuku had quickly pulled out his notebook from somewhere, scribbling all he could about her quirk at a frantic pace. At the same time, Hisashi had pulled out his own notepad.
"This is such a fascinating quirk," exclaimed Izuku. "I have so many questions. Does the length of your hair extend the storage? Is that why you grew it so long? If so, what would happen if you cut it while the storage was half full? Have you tried using your quirk when it wasn't full? So many questions, so little time."
"Abysswell should have none about this condition caused by your quirk," grumbled Hisashi before tearing out the sheet of paper he had written on and handing it over to a confused Ms. Pan. "Head to the department and fill out the form that I have written here. Now, HR is going to want to pretend they didn't drop the ball, so they'll try to sideline you. Make sure you have a copy of your Quirk Identification Card with the U.S. seal on it, as well as your driver's license. There is also a name at the bottom of the paper. He's a part of Abysswell's legal team. See him if HR doesn't comply and explain the situation. He'll make sure that your condition is properly noted, but that you also get the quirk services that you should have gotten as well as some compensation."
"Really, they can help me?" asked Ms. Pan brightly. Then her face fell. "But why are you giving me all this? Aren't you going to come with me?"
"I'm actually quitting," said Hisashi. "I'm moving back to Japan to be with my friends and family again."
When she heard that, Ms. Pan looked ready to cry. As her now brighter eyes filled with tears, Izuku noticed how the black along the tip of her hair grew slightly. But only for a moment as she seemed to instantly calm down.
"Understood, boss!" she exclaimed while giving Hisashi a salute. "It was nice working under you. Don't worry, I'll take care of everything here and make sure the island gets all the money that they are owed!"
Soon, the others began to show up. First was Itsuka, who seemed to be vibrating with pure excitement. And when Izuku found out why, he too could not contain himself. Why? Because in Itsuka's hands was a poster of the hero whose bike they had 'barrowed': a man with a flaming skull for a head. While he had been miffed that they had taken his bike, he was happy that it had been returned in one piece, as well as knowing that it had played an important role that night. So, to thank her, the hero gave her his autograph as well as one of his leather biker jackets. While it was a bit too big for Itsuka, she was happy.
Later, Tsutsumi showed up, no longer wearing the white robe. Instead, she was wearing black carpenter jeans, a purple blouse that exposed her shoulders, and a light black jacket. She had also tied up her hair into a ponytail, which seemed to bounce with every step. When she saw Izuku, a blush appeared on her face, but she didn't say anything. Something that left Izuku very confused.
As Gremory seemed to show up out of nowhere to speak with Hisashi, Melissa showed up as well, along with a couple of robots who were all hauling her stuff.
It was then that Himiko went to the karaoke machine to begin her final song on I-Island.
Take a look at all that we've accomplished, it feels like a lifetime
In this moment we are free.
Surrounded by a thousand friendly faces
We are dreamers, guided by our heartbeats.
We won't forget all that we've left behind and all we've been through,
The battles we've lost and we've won
Forever part of our memories
Pushing on to tell their stories!
Take my hand, scream it out
We ain't ever backing down!
Whoa-oh-oh We ain't ever backing down!
Our fate won't wait
Right now, we're stronger than ever
Side by side we'll make it through, again and again
The futures lookin' bright, I know you got my back 'til the end
Let's raise a toast to all we've won
To each and everyone of us
Whoa I just need to!
Take my hand, scream it out
We ain't ever backing down!
Don't wait!
Right now, we're stronger than ever
And we're never backing down!
-x-
As the song ended and everyone began getting ready to head to the airport, another figure looked around his cell with dull eyes. The room looked like it was made out of a single piece of metal, carved out to hold him. Hell, Will couldn't even tell where the door was. The only sign that there was a door was the square peephole directly in front of him. Will would have paced the room if he could, but that was denied to him just like so many other things he deserved. The American teen was in a standing position, bound to a metal slab. His legs, from his feet all the way to his upper thighs, were covered in metal, while the same treatment was given to his hands, going up to his elbows. Finally, a metal dome-shaped cap was placed on his head. What it did, he didn't know. Maybe it was to suppress his quirk when it came back?
Yes, Will's power had seemed to vanish after that fight. He recalled he had tried to use it back when that blonde chick who was stupidly dressed as a nun healed him. He had tried to summon the earth to make a golem or a weapon or anything that could get him out of that mess. But nothing happened. And he had tried over and over again. Was this some sort of side effect from that device? Or maybe something had happened when someone shot the thing while it was still on his head.
Whatever the case, Will was certain he would regain his quirk in time. He just needed to bide his time. His parents would do everything in their power to throw Andrew under the bus since, after all, everything that had happened was his fault. And if that failed, then he would just break out when his quirk returned, kill whoever stood in his way, and find a new way to become a hero.
Thinking about that, Will retreated back into his own mind. There, he saw himself standing at the center of a parade just for him. The crowd was chanting 'Rockback, Rockback' as he waved at them. Women threw their underwear at him. Men toasted bears in his direction. He was the star. He was the center of everything.
Then, suddenly, he was pulled out of his brief dream as he caught sight of someone entering the room.
"Robstone," growled Will, his seething rage returning as he looked at the man. For the first time, he struggled against his bonds in the hopes that he could reach the fucker. To strangle him. To get his hands on his stupid cane and beat him to death with it.
"As your former principal, I thought it only right to inform you of what is happening," said the man with a frown. "The I-Island Council is right now in talks with the United States, given that you are a wanted man over there as well. Both parties want to bring charges against you, though I-Island is willing to hold you accountable for your crimes in the states as long as they get to imprison you. It seems they want to make an example out of you."
"Robstone, I'll kill you! I'll kill all of you!" raged Will, still struggling against his immovable bonds.
"And until then," continued Robstone, speaking over Will. "Both I-Island and the United States have asked me to ensure you don't escape again. Meaning they are permitting me to use my quirk on you."
If Will heard this, he didn't cower in fear. In fact, he barely registered anything as Robstone reached out his hand to touch Will's forehead. All Will could think about was how much he hated Robstone. How, when he was first trying to kill his brother, Robstone had stepped in to save the worthless freak! He recalled how Robstone, while they waited for the police, kept him bound as they held a funeral for his hero identity out in the open, publicly incinerating his hero costume to show Rockback was head. Because of that, he would never forgive this fool who chose Andrew and those other rejects over him! He was greater than everyone! He was better! HE WAS ROCKBACK! AND HE WOULD-
At that moment, Robstone made contact with Will with all five fingers. And in that moment, Will seemed to freeze. He seemed to be lunging forward, mouth open with spittle coming out of his mouth, his eyes frozen with hate.
"This will be worth giving up a year of my life," muttered Robstone as he turned away. His quirk, Temporal Dilation, allowed him to adjust the flow of time around whatever he touched with all five fingers of one hand. He could, for example, slow down time around himself, allowing him to move faster. Or he could reverse the process, like what he had done to Will, time moving faster around him, making him appear stuck in slow motion. However, this quirk came with a heavy cost: shortening his own life. It was why he looked the way he did despite being only thirty-eight.
But a year of life was a small price to pay to ensure that this crazy kid faced justice.
-x-
A short while later, Gremory sat within his office. Though, for the first time all day, he looked nervous. Sweat appeared on his brow, which he lightly dabbed at while his eyes remained focused on the only other occupant in the room. She sat there, eyes closed, with her favorite tea placed before he,r yet it was still untouched. A dangerous sign indeed.
"I am very disappointed in you, Millicas," said Asia at last. "Not only did you have a Sacred Gear right under your nose, but you also allowed things to escalate this far."
"Hey, hey. Come on, Big Sis Asia," exclaimed Gremory, sounding more childish in that moment as he waved his hands around. "Don't you think you're being a little harsh here? I have an entire island to secretly manage!"
At that, Asia turned to look at him with an expression of pure disappointment. "Harsh?" she asked. "Considering that you failed to even notice a Sacred Gear getting smuggled into the island is bad enough. But to allow Dr. Shield to experiment with it to such a degree? All the poor souls that were lost due to your carelessness? Just be lucky that I happen to be working at U.A. and was called in, or else Rias would have come personally."
Hearing that, Gremory let out a groan as his head nearly fell onto his desk. Nearly. He had lucked out. After Rias had taken over as the leader of Hell, she had been more than a little stressed. And ever since the death of her husband, she had no way to relieve that stress. So, as much as he adored his big sis, having her come to his island while upset was not something he wanted.
"Ok, ok. I get it. I'll be more careful in the future," he said. Then, a small smile appeared on his face. "And I have been doing my best to make up for this mistake. I've already spoken to Dr. Shield privately about how he acquired The Flood of Youth. I have the name of the people who were in charge of the auction."
Hearing that, Asia picked up her teacup and took a small sip. A good sign. "I suppose that's something," she said. "Now we just need to find out how many other Sacred Gears this organization was selling before something worse happens. We already have one man-child out there with a quirk and a Sacred Gear. The last thing we need is for there to be more before our latest dragon is ready to deal with them."
"Yes, well," began Millicas, clearing his throat before continuing. "I did speak to Dr. Shield about other items that were bought. Apparently, most of them were acquired by a woman. Shield didn't know her name, just that she had long black hair and sat with a man wearing a plague doctor's mask."
"A woman with long, black hair," echoed Asia, pausing to stare down at her tea for a moment. "And a man in a plague doctor mask. An unusual couple."
"There's more," continued Millicas. "Apparently, from what Dr. Shield heard, those two have been showing up to every auction and buying up everything they can. And I mean everything. At the auction that Dr. Shield went to, they bought several bottles containing a liquid that, judging by how he described the color, might be Phoenix Tears. He also showed interest in The Flood of Youth, but lost the bid due to not having enough capital on hand. The plague doctor then spoke to Dr. Shield, asking if he would be willing to sell it after he was done with it."
"What did Dr. Shield say?" asked Asia.
"Just that it would depend where he ended up after everything was said and done," replied Millicas with a wave of his hand. "Shield said that he only said that to get him to back off without refusing him directly. It seemed to work as the man walked away."
"Then we'd better figure out who this man is," said Asai, gaining a hardened look before standing up. "If he knew what The Flood of Life could do and was willing to walk away that easily means he might have something worse up his sleeve."
-x-
Later that day, Izuku stood in front of the door to his family's apartment, flanked on both sides. To his right, sweating up a storm, was his father. And to his left was Kaina, who stood there fidgeting and looking nervous. Not that he blamed her, given the bombshell that she had been adopted into the family.
The plane ride back to Japan had started out pretty well. Thanks to outside forces, either the people on I-Island or Nezu himself, Izuku was able to give his last ticket to Kaina, allowing her to sit next to Pony. The only issue with that was that she had to wear a special bracer on her right arm, a black band that wrapped around it completely and would prevent her from using her quirk until it was taken off. But it was a minor issue as everyone, including Kaina herself, understood since, well, her arm turned into a gun. Meanwhile, Melissa was traveling with the teachers from U.A.
Then came the first real surprise. Hisashi was on the plane as well. Somehow, he had gotten his hand on a ticket, and his seat was close enough to Izuku's. And when Izuku had questioned how this was possible, Himiko had just grinned before whistling, causing the green-haired teen to wonder if she had done it. But that thought had only lasted a few minutes before he dismissed it. Even if she used that weird credit card that her grandfather gave her, it was unlikely that he could have gotten that specific seat for that specific flight on such short notice.
His best guess was that Endeavor had pulled some strings. Apparently, the man was helping Hisashi move back to Japan, sending some of his interns to head to Hisashi's place to pack his things while personally handling the termination of the man's lease.
It was then that Izuku was pulled out of his thoughts as his father dropped the two biggest bombs of the teen's life. Hisashi wanted to surprise his mother! Yes. The man had decided to tell his mother, in person, that he was moving back to Japan. No warning. No phone call. Nothing, as he felt that she deserved to hear the news in person just so that he could confirm that it was really happening. And if she told him she needed some time, he would respect her decision and find a hotel to stay at before making his next move. Then, before Izuku could comment on that, he said there was something else he needed to tell Inko: they had a daughter. Shocked, Izuku and Kaina (he couldn't call her Tsutsumi anymore) listened as he had somehow fast tracked the adoption process so that the purple-haired girl was now a Midoriya!
"Ok, I can do this," breathed Hisashi as he slowly made his way to the door. "I can do this."
"So," whispered Kaina as she leaned over to Izuku. "How do you think this will go? Is she going to kill him or…"
"If she does, then I'm going to help bury the body," whispered Izuku flatly, watching as Hisashi knocked on the door. Then he turned to Kaina, his expression softening. "But you don't need to worry. My mom has a big heart. Once we explain the situation ,I'm sure she'll let you stay."
Before Kaina could reply, the door opened to reveal Inko. The woman looked like she had just left the sink, drying her hands with a cloth as she came into view. Then, as she was about to greet her guest, her eyes grew wide as she realized just who was standing at the door, the cloth falling to the ground.
"Hey Inko," said Hisashi, unable to hide his nervousness and stumbling over his words in a way that made Izuku facepalm. Hard. "Ah, I'm back? And I mean for good. I, er, got a job back here in Japan." As Inko just continued to stare at him, more sweat began to appear all over the man's face. So, feeling more nervous, he took a step back and moved behind Kaina. "And look, I brought home another member of the family! Remember? Back when Izuku was born, we talked about getting him a sister. Haha?"
Kaina just had a deadpanned expression while letting out an irritated growl. Izuku, meanwhile, just shook his head. Either his mom was going to explode with rage, start crying the famous Midoriya tears, or-
What happened next took everyone by surprise. Inko used her quirk to pull Hisashi into the apartment in a single pull before slamming the door shut. There was only a moment for Izuku and Kaina to look at each other, silently asking the other what they should do before the door opened again. This time, Inko shoved a wad of cash into Izuku's hand before placing a sock on the doorknob and closing it once again.
"Why did she do that?" asked Kaina, tilting her head as she stared at the sock. "Is this some weird tradition that I'm not aware of?"
"I have no idea," answered Izuku as he pulled out his phone, ignoring Albion's warning of 'you don't want to know'. Shaking his head, he typed in his search request while Kaina stood behind him.
The answer…made them blush. And the sudden noises they heard coming from inside the apartment made them both take a step back.