Lots of complaints about the recent delays in chapters. Sorry but I've been busy lately. Anyway, let's see how it goes today. If I can complete the chapter I am working on in three hours after this goes up, I'll upload a bonus chapter.
If I can't ... Well, pray I get some motivation.
_
[NEWS FLASH – NHK SPECIAL REPORT – 8:30 PM]
The city was paralyzed. Across every digital billboard in Mustafu, the usual colorful advertisements for hero merchandise were replaced by a stark, black-and-white emergency broadcast.
"...repeating our lead story: The Yamanote Line Express, which departed Mustafu Station at 1:05 PM, remains missing. Authorities have officially classified this as a Class-S Villain Attack. While the League of Villains is the primary suspect, no ransom demands or manifestos have been issued, not has any other group claimed responsibility. The National Police Agency is working alongside the Hero Public Safety Commission, but search efforts are at risk of being suspended due to the severe weather front currently hitting the coast."
The reporter's voice wavered. "At this time, we have been asked not to release the passenger manifest to respect the privacy of the families. However, sources confirm that over seven hundred individuals were on board..."
In homes across Mustafu, the news hit like a physical blow. Families of commuters stared at the screen in paralyzed horror, realizing the "delay" they had been complaining about was a villain attack.
"The HPSC has issued the following statement:"
The screen cut to Madam President at a podium, her expression carved from stone.
"This attack represents an escalation in villain activity that we cannot and will not tolerate. The League of Villains has demonstrated a willingness to commit mass murder to achieve their goals. We are mobilizing every available resource to locate survivors and bring those responsible to justice."
"The search will continue regardless of weather conditions or operational difficulties. We will not abandon hope. We will not stop searching."
Cut back to the anchor.
"Family members of the missing passengers are asked to contact the dedicated emergency hotline. We'll continue to provide updates as this situation develops. For those with family members who may have been on the affected train, please stay tuned to this channel for ongoing coverage. We will bring you any developments as they occur."
The anchor's tone softened even more.
"Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragedy."
__
[YAMANOTE LINE OVERPASS – 9:40 PM]
The rain had started an hour ago.
Aizawa stood at the edge of the platform where the portal had appeared, hands in his pockets, capture scarf hanging limp and soaked around his neck.
Below him, the tracks stretched empty in both directions. Police tape fluttered in the wind. The forensic teams had finished hours ago, leaving behind only chalk marks and evidence tags that were slowly being washed away by the rain.
He'd been standing here for twenty minutes, just... looking.
Trying to understand. Trying to see what he'd missed.
The sound of footsteps on wet concrete made him turn.
Detective Tsukauchi approached, umbrella in hand, though he wasn't bothering to use it. His suit was as soaked as Aizawa's hero costume.
"Thought I'd find you here," Tsukauchi said quietly.
Aizawa didn't respond, just turned back to stare at the empty tracks.
"The search teams are being recalled," Tsukauchi continued. "Storm's too dangerous. They'll resume at dawn."
"And what are they expecting to find at dawn? Bodies?"
"...Probably. Not if All Might can help it though."
".."
Tsukauchi rubbed his head awkwardly. "I'm sorry. That just ... Slipped out."
"It's fine. You're probably used to comforting people like that." Aizawa uttered. However strong The symbol of peace was, he would be of no help in the current situation. "The satellites?"
"The storm is obscuring everything now. Thermal imaging is useless. If there's debris, it's being scattered a thousand miles apart."
He paused.
"The official report will list them as 'Missing' for the next 72 hour. After that... they'll change it to 'Presumed Deceased.' Tsukauchi said, looking down at his shoes.
"The HPSC is already talking about the 'Liability Shift.' If the public finds out the League targeted this specific train because a U.A. student was on it—the one who just became the face of the Hosu rescue—there will be a riot. They'll blame the school for bringing the war to a civilian commute."
"Let them blame us," Aizawa said, his eyes flashing red for a brief, useless second. "I'm the one who told him to go home. I told him he'd be safe if he just took the train and stayed out of the spotlight."
"Eraserhead ..." Naomasa sighed helplessly.
"Don't mention it." Aizawa cut him off. "I can't help with this situation. Worrying more is useless, so I'll put my efforts in areas I can actually work on."
"That is?"
"Finding the League."
There was a long silence between them. Finally, Naomasa sighed again. "I'll let you know if anything comes up. They're probably a lot of families I have to face back at the station."
"Go," Aizawa muttered indifferently. "I'm staying here a little longer."
That was the end of it.
As the detective walked away, Aizawa reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, crumpled piece of paper. It was a permission slip for a training exercise Yuta hadn't signed yet. He stared at it until the rain turned the ink into a blue blur.
"You'd better be swimming, kid," Aizawa muttered, his hand trembling slightly. "Because if you're not... I'm going to burn that League to the ground."
His thoughts were interrupted by the ringing sound from his pocket. He took the phone out, the screen was slick with rainwater. Looking at the name NEZU glowing through the blur, he answered.
"Eraserhead."
"Shouta," Nezu's voice came through, uncharacteristically devoid of its usual high-pitched cheer.
"I assume you've seen the HPSC's latest directive.
"I have." He uttered blandly. "What about the family?"
There was a pause on the other end. Aizawa kept on walking until he stood under the eaves of a closed convenience store to keep out of the rain.
"That is why I'm calling. Where are you?"
---
Thirty Minutes later, The Taxi stopped on the block in Hinohara City.
"I'm here."
He said after the call went through
"Midnight is already there. She's waiting two blocks from the Akutami residence. Shota... I will be blunt. This is the hardest part of the job, and you have had a very long day. If you wish to return to campus, I can have Vlad King or even myself handle the notification."
"No," Aizawa cut him off.
"Shota—"
"I was the one who authorized his early departure," Aizawa said, staring at his reflection in a dark puddle. "He was my student. My intern. I was the one who told him he'd be safe. If she has to hear that her son is possibly dead, she deserves to hear it from the man who failed to protect him. And I..."
He paused.
"I deserve to see exactly what my 'logical' decisions cost. It's a burden I won't pass on to anyone else."
There was a long pause on the other end. "Very well. Midnight has the official HPSC dossiers. Godspeed, Shota."
The line went dead. Aizawa pocketed the phone and stepped back out into the rain.
_
[THE AKUTAMI RESIDENCE – SIMULTANEOUSLY]
"Can you believe this?" Rin said, staring at the TV in Aiko's living room. "An entire train. Just... gone."
Aiko shook her head, eyes on the news footage. "716 people. Those poor families."
"Do they know what happened? I mean, really?"
"The news says it's the League of Villains. Some kind of warp quirk. But..." Aiko's voice dropped. "How do you make a train disappear?"
Eri sat on the floor with her coloring books, only half-paying attention.
"Mama Aiko, when is Yuta coming home?"
"Not for a few more days, sweetie. He's doing his hero internship."
"Oh. Okay."
Aiko turned back to Rin.
"I can't imagine what those families are going through."
"I know right? Honestly, villain attacks are getting more frequent this year. First U.A, then Hosu. It's barely been a day, now this." Rin looked at her and smiled.
"It must be hard for you. Having such an outstanding son, yet worrying so much for his safety. You're the most popular mother in the prefecture right now."
Aiko let out a forced smile, knowing she was referring to Hosu. "Yeah ... It's, exhausting."
The heater was humming, and the scent of ginger tea filled the air.
"I just wish he'd be a little less popular in the 'getting into danger' category," Aiko replied, though she couldn't hide the pride in her voice.
Internally however, her heart was a battlefield of conflicted feelings. Pride and worry.
She kept replaying the news footage from Hosu, and kept sighing every time. "I'm just glad he's with his teachers," Aiko murmured. "With everything going on, being with pros from U.A is probably the safest place in Japan."
She wanted to wrap him in a blanket and never let him leave the house again, but she knew that wasn't the life he chose. Or the life that chose him.
'Just let him have one normal week,' she prayed silently. 'No monsters or villains. Just homework and ...'
The conversation drifted to lighter things—the garden, the upcoming local festival, and Eri's progress with her drawings—creating a small bubble of domestic bliss. Aiko felt a rare moment of stillness, unaware that the very train she was mourning for was the one Yuta had secretly boarded to surprise her.
That bubble burst with three sharp, heavy knocks on the front door.
Rin froze, her hand hovering over a plate of cookies, while Eri looked up from her coloring book with wide, curious eyes.
"That's strange," Rin whispered, glancing at the clock. "It's a bit late for visitors."
"Is it Yuta?" Eri asked with bright eyes.
"Maybe it is. Hold on, I'll go check."
__
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