U.A. High School - Lunch Room - 12 PM
The cafeteria was packed with students, all of them focused on the large television whose broadcast was particularly interesting because it was covering major hero activities across multiple continents simultaneously.
"—unprecedented cooperation between French and German hero agencies has resulted in the capture of Le Fantôme, France's number one villain for the past five years," the news anchor announced, her voice carrying professional excitement. "The operation, led by French hero Marianne and German hero Eisenbrecher, successfully apprehended the ghostly villian after a coordinated ambush in the Paris catacombs."
The screen showed footage of a very pale man in chains being led away by a dozen heroes.
"Moving to South America," the anchor continued, "where Brazil's recovery efforts continue after last week's devastating ambush in the Amazon. The Worlds number nine ranked hero, Tempestade, remains in critical but stable condition after an attack by the Anaconda Cartel that left twelve heroes injured and three confirmed dead."
The footage shifted to aerial shots of jungle devastation, burned trees, cratered earth, entire sections of rainforest reduced to ash and ruin. Medical helicopters evacuated wounded heroes while armed military units established perimeter security.
"The Anaconda Cartel, believed to be funded by international narco-terrorist organizations and suspected ties to the Infamous Villain Bane, deployed an estimated forty Quirk-enhanced mercenaries in the coordinated assault. Brazilian authorities are requesting additional international support to combat the growing threat in their Amazon territories."
"Turning to Asia," the anchor said, "where Japan continues to deal with rising villain activity following the capture of the notorious Hero Killer, Stain. While the immediate threat has been neutralized, authorities report increased villain groups inspired by Stain's ideology."
The screen showed Stain's mugshot, his face covered in bandages, his expression somehow defiant even in custody.
Midoriya felt a complex mix of emotions seeing that image. He'd fought Stain personally in Hosu City, nearly died in that encounter, and still sometimes wondered about the man's twisted ideology. Stain had been wrong, absolutely, murderously wrong, but some of his criticisms of hero society had contained uncomfortable truths.
"However, not all Asian news is negative," the anchor continued, her tone brightening. "Mongolia has officially been declared a first villain-free nation after a whole year without any reported Quirk-related criminal activity."
"That's incredible!" Kirishima pumped his fist enthusiastically. "A whole country without villains!"
"In the United States," the anchor said, "America's number one hero, Stars and Stripes, held a press conference today regarding her ongoing operations against the Golden Coast Coalition."
The screen shifted to show Stars and Stripes in her iconic costume, red and white stripes, blue cape, the living embodiment of American heroism. She stood at a podium surrounded by reporters, her presence commanding absolute attention.
"We are close to dismantling the Golden Coast Coalition completely," Stars and Stripes announced, her voice carrying unwavering confidence. "Within weeks, we will have neutralized this threat to California's citizens. I give you my word as America's Symbol of Hope that these villains will face justice."
"She's so cool!" Ashido squealed, practically bouncing in her seat. "Her Quirk is insane," Kaminari added, The broadcast continued: "However, we bring more news of the ongoing crisis in Gotham City, where crime statistics continue to reach unprecedented levels."
"Gotham City continues to report crime rates that exceed any other major city globally," the anchor said, her voice losing its optimistic quality. "With a population of approximately twelve million, Gotham averages well over two hundred violent crimes daily, including multiple homicides, assaults, theft and organized criminal activity."
The footage showed burning buildings, police barricades, news helicopters filming chaos from above. It looked like something from a disaster movie.
"The fuck?" Bakugo muttered, his eyes narrowing. "That's a real city?"
"Gotham's hero presence has declined to approximately one hundred active heroes," the anchor continued. "This represents the lowest hero-to-citizen ratio of any major city in the developed world. Federal support has been near non-existent despite repeated requests for additional resources."
"One hundred heroes for eight million people?" Iida stood up, his expression shocked.
"Why doesn't America send more heroes there?" Uraraka asked, genuinely confused. "If it's that bad, shouldn't they be helping?"
Todoroki spoke and everyone turned to him, though his tone suggested he didn't fully understand it either. "My father mentioned once that Gotham is considered... unsalvageable by the American hero commission."
The broadcast shifted to highlight specific incidents: "In recent villain activity, Gotham hero Nightwing successfully apprehended the villain known as Mad Hatter, also known as Jervis Tetch, following a two-week investigation into multiple kidnappings."
The footage showed Nightwing, a hero in a black and blue costume with an acrobatic fighting style, delivering a man in a purple and yellow suit and a large top hat to GCPD custody. Multiple women were being escorted out of what appeared to be an abandoned theater, their expressions showing trauma and confusion.
"Mad Hatter's Quirk allows hypnotic control over individuals with weak mental defenses," the anchor explained. "He had kidnapped seventeen women over the past month, but we don't have details of what the deranged man has put them through and perhaps that is for the best."
"That's horrible," Jiro said, her expression disgusted.
"In other Gotham news," the anchor continued, "this blurry photograph allegedly shows the vigilante known as Red Hood engaged in combat with the serial killer Victor Zsasz in Gotham's financial district two nights ago."
The image was indeed blurry, clearly taken from a distance with a cheap camera or phone, but it showed a figure in a red helmet and leather jacket fighting against someone covered in scars. The outcome was impossible to determine from the frozen frame.
"Red Hood is a highly skilled vigilante who operates outside legal authority," the anchor explained. "While technically classified as a criminal due to his methods, which include lethal force, he has been credited with eliminating multiple high-threat villains such as the serial killer dollmaker. Victor Zsasz, another serial killer with over two hundred confirmed victims, was last seen fleeing the encounter. His current status is unknown."
Kirishima began speaking slowly, working through the ethics, "isn't that still good? Like, if someone's killed hundreds of people, maybe stopping them permanently is the right choice?"
"That's a dangerous line of thinking," Todoroki said. "Once you decide killing is acceptable, where do you draw the line?"
The debate might have continued, but the broadcast moved to its next segment: "The World Criminal Database has updated its most wanted list, with three Gotham villains now ranking in the global top ten."
The screen showed three photographs side by side:
The Joker, bleached white skin, green hair, permanent rictus grin, looking like death wearing a purple suit. "Ranked the number two most dangerous villain globally and quirk and identity remains a mystery."
Two-Face, half-handsome, half-horrific. "Ranked seventh most dangerous villain globally Quirk 'Duality' and leads extensive crime operations throughout Gotham."
Bane, a massive man whose very presence suggested overwhelming physical threat. "Ranked ninth most dangerous villain globally. Quirk 'Escalating Rage' grants exponentially increasing strength during combat. Leads international terrorist organization with confirmed operations in twelve countries."
"Three of the world's top ten villains in one city," Yaoyorozu said quietly, and they looked at the screen again
"Gotham also has numerous villains approaching the list and a day might come where this city's villains fill it out completely", the broadcast suddenly shifted: "We're going live now to Gotham's Upper East Side, where Batman is currently engaged with the villain known as the Riddler."
The entire common room erupted in excitement.
"BATMAN!" Tokoyami practically shouted, his usual stoic demeanor completely abandoned. "They're showing Batman live!"
The dark hero was his idol, and had been since childhood. A hero who operated in shadows, and proved that you didn't need an flashy heroic Quirk to be effective against the worst villains imaginable.
The live footage was aerial, filmed from a news helicopter maintaining safe distance. The video quality was exceptional, showing a rooftop battle between two figures.
Batman was unmistakable, cape flowing behind him like living darkness, movements that combined martial arts mastery with tactical genius. His costume was all blacks and grays, designed for stealth and intimidation rather than flashy heroics.
The Riddler was his opposite in every way wearing a bright green suit covered in purple question marks, and was very theatrical in his movements. As Batman pursued him across the rooftop, the Riddler triggered device after device.
"RIDDLE ME THIS, BATMAN!" The Riddler's voice carried across the rooftop, picked up by the helicopter's directional microphones. "What has cities but no houses, forests but no trees, and water but no life?"
"A map," Batman said flatly, his voice modulated to remove identifying characteristics. "Your riddles are getting worse, Edward."
The Riddler triggered something, and an entire section of the rooftop exploded upward—not with fire, but with mechanical question marks that shot toward Batman like projectiles. The Dark Knight dodged with impossible precision, his cape wrapping around him defensively while he closed the distance.
Midoriya was scribbling frantically in his notebook, his analysis going into overdrive.
"That's cool and all," Bakugo said, though his eyes were fixed on the screen, "but All Might would end that fight in three seconds. One Detroit Smash and Riddler's done."
"Batman doesn't have All Might's Quirk," Lida observed. "Whatever his Quirk is, it's subtle enough that no one has ever identified it after years of hero work."
The fight continued, Batman systematically dismantling the Riddler's traps and tricks. Question mark-shaped explosives, puzzle boxes that released smoke, mechanical devices that tried to cage or restrain him, all of them overcome through a combination of skill, experience and what must have been a lot of preparation.
"He's predicted every trap," Iida said, leaning forward. "How is he doing that? Does he have some kind of analytical Quirk that lets him calculate the Riddler's strategies?"
"Or he's just that good," Kirishima said, awe in his voice. "Like, maybe he's studied Riddler so much that he knows exactly what the guy will do".
That's so cool! Winning through pure skill and preparation!" Uraraka added.
The final moments of the fight were almost anticlimactic. Batman cornered the Riddler on the rooftop's edge, and then delivered a single perfect strike that dropped the villain like a puppet with cut strings.
GCPD vehicles arrived within seconds, they'd clearly been coordinating with Batman throughout the pursuit. Officers in tactical gear swarmed the rooftop, securing the unconscious Riddler.
The U.A. cafeteria erupted in cheers.
"YES!" Tokoyami was on his feet, Dark Shadow manifesting from excitement. "Batman's effectiveness never ceases to inspire! He's the perfect example of skill and preparation triumphing over flashier opponents!"
"Did you see that final strike?" Ojiro said, his tail swishing with enthusiasm.
Even Bakugo looked grudgingly impressed, though he muttered, "Still would've been faster if he just blasted him."
The broadcast returned to the aerial view as GCPD loaded the Riddler into an armored transport vehicle. The villain was conscious again, laughing despite his capture, his voice carrying across a large crowd with manic energy.
"BATMAN!" Riddler called out,
"RIDDLE ME THIS ONE LAST RIDDLE BEFORE YOU DISAPPEAR INTO YOUR PRECIOUS SHADOWS!"
Batman had been moving on the building's roof again, clearly planning to vanish before media could interview him, his standard procedure, but paused, turning back to face his captured enemy.
"WHAT WEARS MANY FACES BUT SHOWS NO MERCY?"
"WHAT BRINGS THE STRONG TO THEIR KNEES WITH NOTHING YOU CAN SEE?
"WHAT GROWS WINGS IN THE DARKNESS AND WILL BRING THE APOCALYPSE TO GOTHAM?"
The Riddler's voice rose to a fever pitch, his expression showing genuine terror mixed with his characteristic mania. "IT'S COMING, BATMAN! AND WHEN HE COMPLETES HIS MASTERPIECE, EVEN YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO SAVE THIS CITY FROM THE NIGHTMARE IT DESERVES!"
Then he dissolved into hysterical laughter as GCPD officers forced him into the transport vehicle.
Batman remained motionless for a moment, his expression unreadable behind the cowl, processing the riddle with the same analytical intensity suspecting a new joker attack; perhaps he would need to look into this later.
Then he turned and leaped off the building's edge, his cape spreading into glider configuration, disappearing into Gotham's shadows before the news helicopters could track him.
"Well, that was dramatic," the news anchor said, her voice trying to maintain professional composure.
In the U.A. Cafeteria, the mood had shifted from excitement to confusion.
"What was that about?" Kaminari asked, looking around. "Was that supposed to mean something?"
"Riddler's insane and he just lost," Sero said dismissively. "Dude's completely lost it, probably just rambling nonsense because he got caught."
"Just another crazy person in a city full of crazy people," Bakugo said, standing and stretching. "Gotham's a shitshow. That's why real heroes like All Might stay in countries that actually matter, like Japan."
The news broadcast moved on to other international stories, and gradually the students dispersed to their classes.
Midoryia was one of the last to leave looking over the notes he took. Then he closed his notebook and headed to class, and like the others quickly put what they watched into the back of his mind.
After all, Gotham was on the other side of the world, and Class 1-A had their own challenges coming up, exams and their summer training camp, and to keep continuing to grow into the heroes they aspired to become.
Whatever was happening in Gotham City, it wasn't their problem.