Izukus point of view:
I was dragged back into the plush upper lounge like a prize caught in a net, one hand held firmly by Momo, the other by Saiko. It would have been cute if the moment we crossed the threshold, a cold, sharp sense of foreboding hadn't slithered down my spine.
Everything looked the same as we'd left it. The women were still seated together, chatting. But why was Mom holding her phone? My mind raced. She's just getting their numbers for polite texts, maybe planning a lunch. It's fine. It has to be fine.
The men had returned from Renjiro's study and looked more relaxed, though Renjiro's ears were still faintly pink. I sniffed the air discreetly—a faint, peaty scent of good whisky. I looked at the three of them.
"Do you all have a high tolerance?" I asked, mostly directing it at Kenji Intelli and Renjiro. "I know Hikaru can hold his whiskey."
Renjiro gave a dignified sniff, though his eyes were a touch brighter than before. "A man cannot be a proper CEO if he cannot hold his liquor, young Midoriya. One must be steady in all things."
Kenji nodded in sage agreement. They seemed fine. One drink each, probably.
Then, all the adults turned their attention to us. The women's smiles were warm, but the look in their eyes... It was a terrifying, sparkling blend of amusement, conspiracy, and intense curiosity. Mom's gaze was the worst. For a split second, I swear her pupils flickered into those sharp feline slits. My soul tried to vacate my body.
And Hikaru. He was just grinning at me. A slow, knowing, cat-that-got-the-canary smirk that said he'd seen everything and was now holding the metaphorical cookie jar over my head.
Panic mode: activated.
I quickly let go of the girls' hands as if they were red-hot. "Thank you for the tour, Yaoyorozu-san, Intelli-san," I said, my voice a little too high. "It was, uh, very educational. I'm going to check if anything's happening downstairs. Bye!"
I made a beeline for the one-way glass, seeking the safety of impersonal observation.
"Izuku, sweetheart," Mom's voice, sweet as syrup, stopped me in my tracks. "Did you enjoy your tour of the Yaoyorozu estate?"
I turned back slowly. Renjiro and Kenji were now both staring at me. Renjiro's gaze had hardened into something distinctly paternal and unamused. I saw his hand twitch towards the ornamental letter opener on a side table. Before he could grab it, Sayuri's hand shot out with snake-like speed, plucked it from the table, and smacked him lightly on the wrist with it. He winced, the murderous intent fading into a grumpy pout.
I swallowed. "We only went to two places. The east garden, which was beautiful, by the way, Mrs. Yaoyorozu. We, uh, met Mob. The koi fish." A faint smile touched my lips despite myself. "Then we went to the library."
I sighed, the memory of the mental barrage returning. "I... kind of killed the mood for a second because I remembered something that made me angry. So, as an apology, I told them I'd answer any questions they had." I looked directly at Mom and Hikaru, letting the full weight of my exhaustion show. "It was the worst mistake of my life. So. Many. Questions." I finished with a haunted look. "But... at least they were happy."
As I spoke, Momo and Saiko had adopted poses of pure, wide-eyed innocence behind me. Momo was even clutching the gift-wrapped tablet I'd given her to her chest like a shield. The adults all broke into soft laughter at our contrasting expressions—my shell-shocked horror versus their angelic guile.
The moment passed, and I turned back to the window, looking down at the gala still in full swing below. My earlier sense of unease returned, sharper. Something was off.
"Jarvis, scan the crowd. Where are the heroes?"
"Scanning, sir," his voice murmured in my ear. A moment later. "Analysis complete. All pro heroes who were in attendance have departed the premises within the last twenty minutes. Local police band traffic indicates a sudden, coordinated spike in villain activity across three districts in central Musutafu. All available heroes were dispatched."
A coordinated spike. To pull security away from a high-profile event. My gut twisted. "Monitor all emergency channels, police bands, and traffic cams in a five-kilometer radius. Alert me to any anomaly, especially converging movement patterns towards this location."
"As you wish sir. Monitoring protocols have been activated."
The bad feeling in my gut didn't leave. It sat in my stomach like a cold stone.
We all sat down as Alfred and a few other servants brought in a late supper—elegant small plates and desserts. The food was amazing, however, my attention divided. I did notice, with a flicker of pride, that Mom and Hikaru were actually... enjoying themselves. They weren't just talking to the others; they were talking to each other. Smiling. Leaning in slightly during the conversation. A huge win for Operation: Parental Lock. Normally, I'd be internally cheering, but the cold stone in my gut killed the mood.
I stood up again, drawn to the window, my eyes scanning the party below not for spectacle, but for threat patterns.
Renjiro's voice broke the quiet social bubble. "Well, look at the time. It's almost midnight." He stood, smiling warmly at Momo. "Almost time to sing for my birthday girl."
Momo blushed furiously, hiding her face in her hands as we all chuckled. But my smile died instantly.
My enhanced vision, coupled with Jarvis highlighting details on my HUD, caught what the others missed. The catering staff. They were too alert. Their heads were on a swivel, not focused on their tasks, but on the room, the entrances, the guests. Their movements were synchronized in a way that spoke of training, not service.
Then, as the clock in the lounge softly chimed the quarter-hour, I saw it. In near-unison, a dozen of the "servers" reached inside their uniform jackets.
"Shit," I breathed, the word dropping into the happy quiet like a lead weight.
Everyone turned to me. Mom opened her mouth, her 'no-swearing' scold already forming.
It never came.
BANG. BANG-BANG!
The sound wasn't deafening from up here, but it was unmistakable: gunfire. Sharp, controlled bursts from below.
Everyone in the lounge jumped. Sayuri gasped, pulling Momo close. Hanako Intelli's hand flew to her mouth. Kenji and Renjiro shot to their feet, faces pale.
A switch flipped in the room. The pleasant atmosphere shattered, replaced by a thick, choking fear.
Everyone looked terrified. Except Hikaru.
He was already moving, a silent shadow. In two strides he was beside me at the window, his earlier amusement gone, replaced by a lethal, focused calm. His posture was relaxed but ready, his golden eyes scanning the scene below with the detached efficiency of a predator assessing a hunt.
We looked down together. The party had dissolved into chaos. Guests were on the floor, screaming. Men and women in server uniforms now held compact submachine guns, herding the terrified crowd into the center of the hall. More armed figures poured in from the service doors, securing the perimeter.
Then the main double doors burst open.
The man who entered made Hikaru look almost average-sized. He was a mountain of muscle stuffed into a tailored suit that was about to split at the seams. A jagged scar ran down one side of his shaved head. He didn't shout. He just stood there, and the room fell into a terrified hush. He was clearly the boss.
My mind, cold and clear despite the hammering of my heart, processed the data.
Hostage situation.
Professional team.
Target: Yaoyorozu estate. Possibly the family.
Heroes are gone. Police response will be delayed, confused by the decoy attacks.
We were in a secure room, one floor up. But we were also trapped.
I looked from the terrifying scene below to the frightened faces of my mother and our new friends. The cold stone in my gut turned to ice.
"We need to move," I said, my voice low but cutting through the panic. "Now."
My mind was a cold engine, firing on all cylinders. Instincts forged in sand and blood took over. Information. I needed a complete picture.
"Jarvis," I snapped, my tone leaving no room for anything but obedience. "Hack the estate's security grid. Full access. If they planned this, they've compromised the cameras. Make it look like the system is dead to them, but I want our eyes everywhere. I need a full threat assessment. Facial recognition on every armed hostil. Quirk databases, criminal records, everything. Priority target: the giant in the suit. I want his entire life story in sixty seconds."
"I'm on it, sir," Jarvis's voice was calm, a digital anchor in the rising tide of fear. His sleek head turned, his sensor-eyes glowing faintly as he accessed the local network.
I turned to the Yaoyorozus, my voice measured and composed despite the adrenaline. "Is there a panic room or secure location in this wing where we could hide?"
Renjiro, his face pale but fighting for control, shook his head. "The primary safe room is in the west wing. The secondary is two floors down in the central gallery. We would never make it. The hallways are too exposed."
I let out a sharp sigh. "Of course it isn't. Why would life ever make things easy?" I muttered under my breath, then spoke up. "Alright. Is there another room close by? Even a disused storage room or closet? Somewhere not on a main thoroughfare."
Renjiro's eyes darted, thinking. "There is... the old morning room. Just a few corridors east. It's been used for storage for years. No one goes there. But there are no servant passages. We would have to use the main hallways."
"It's our only option," I said, my decision made. I shifted into a command posture. "Hikaru, watch our six. Ladies, Alfred, stay in the center with the girls. Mr. Intelli, you're with Hikaru on rear guard. Renjiro-san, you lead. I'll be with you on point."
Before we could move, Jarvis spoke. "Assessment complete. The security grid was compromised at 23:47. External access is severed; I cannot safely re-establish a link without alerting the intruders. However, I have full internal visual control. All hostile elements are currently consolidating their position on the ground floor. No incursions into the upper residential wings have yet been made. Your window to relocate is narrow but present."
"Then we move now," I said. "Quietly, and quickly."
Renjiro led us out of the lounge. The grand hallway outside felt cavernous and sinister, every shadow a potential threat. We moved as a tight, silent group, our footsteps muffled by the plush runner. The distant sounds of shouting and chaos from below were a constant, chilling reminder of the danger. After two tense turns, Renjiro stopped before a set of polished oak doors, less ornate than others. He unlocked them with a key from his chain, and we hurried inside.
The room was spacious but crowded with sheet-covered furniture, stacked paintings, and crates. It smelled of dust and lemon polish. As soon as Hikaru closed the door behind the last of us, the fragile composure of the group shattered.
Momo was shaking violently, her breaths coming in sharp, ragged gasps as her parents tried to calm her. Saiko was trembling, her usual analytical calm gone, as she clinging to her mother for dear life. My mom was pacing a franticly in the small clear space next to the sheet covered couch in the middle of the room, her hands were clenched and her knuckles were as white as snow. Alfred stood rigidly by the door, his face a mask of professional distress. The Intelli parents held each other, looking shell-shocked.
Renjiro sagged against a covered grand piano. "This room is soundproofed," he said, his voice hollow. "We can speak freely here without worrying that we could be heard."
But the physical security did nothing to ease the terror in the room coming from every one around me and Hikaru. We were hidden, but we were cornered in a situation that was not in our favor. And I fucking hated it!!
Then a cold calm took over. The anger was still there, but now it was quiet and sharp. I was glad I had come prepared. My suit, my tech, Silk and Jarvis.
Then I looked at Momo. Her parents were trying to calm her down. Her mom hugged her, and her dad spoke softly, but Momo was shaking. Her eyes were wide with fear, and she couldn't catch her breath.
Saiko let go of her own parents. She walked over and knelt by Momo. "Momo, it's me. Look at me. We're okay right now. We're safe in this room." Saiko's voice was steady, but Momo just stared, lost in her panic. Seeing Momo like that, after her happy tour and her bright smile, made my anger burn hotter. These people ruined her night.
"Jarvis," I said, keeping my voice low. "I need you to find their plan. Hack their devices. Get me everything you can."
"Right away, sir," Jarvis answered. "I am accessing their network now."
I looked at my mom. She was standing alone, her arms wrapped around herself. Hikaru saw it too. He walked to a sheet-covered armchair and sat down.
"Inko. Come sit down," he said.
She shook her head. "I can't just sit, Hikaru. Not now."
"Yes, you can," he said. His voice was normal, but it had a firmness that made her listen. "You're standing there worrying. That doesn't help anyone. Come here."
She hesitated, then walked over and sat on the edge of the chair beside him. He didn't ask. He just put his arm around her and pulled her gently against his side. She made a small, surprised sound, and her face turned pink.
"What are you doing?" she whispered.
"Keeping you still," he said simply. "If you're next to me, I know you're safe. And you can stop shaking. My job is easier this way."
It wasn't fancy flirting. It was just Hikaru being straightforward. But it worked. My mom stopped trying to pull away. She relaxed into him, her head resting against his shoulder. Some of the fear left her face.
Mr. Yaoyorozu watched them for a second, then turned back to his crying daughter. He looked tired.
Saiko was still trying with Momo, but it wasn't working. Momo was crying softly, trapped in her fear.
Seeing her break down like that decided things for me. We weren't just hiding. We had to act. But first, I had to fix this.
"Jarvis, Silk, get off me for now please," I told them quietly.
In a smooth motion, Jarvis uncoiled and slid down to rest on the dusty floor. Silk hopped from my shoulder to a nearby crate. I walked over to where Momo was curled in on herself, with Saiko desperately hugging her.
I sat down right in front of them. Saiko looked up, her eyes wide behind her monocle, full of fear and frustration that she couldn't help her friend.
Without a word, I reached out. Gently, I pulled Momo from Saiko's grasp and guided her until she was settled in my lap. I wrapped my arms around her, one hand cradling the back of her head, the other rubbing slow, soft circles on her back.
"Momo," I said, my voice low and calm, the nicest tone I could make. "You're safe. I'm here. Your mom and dad are here. Intelli-San is here. We're all right here with you."
She kept crying, her body trembling without signs of stopping but I kept my voice steady. "Listen to my heartbeat, okay? Just focus on that. Try to match your breathing to it. In... and out. Just like that. You're not alone."
Over Momo's shoulder, I saw Saiko watching, her own fear clear as day for all to see but she was trying to be brave. I reached out with my free hand, grabbed her arm, and pulled her into the hug too, so she was leaning against my side. She let out a little gasp but didn't resist. "You too, Intelli-san. Relax. It's okay to be scared, but you don't have to hold it all by yourself. I am here for Momo and I'm here for you aswell."
I felt Saiko tense for a second, then she slowly relaxed, leaning into the group hug. I kept my voice soft, while talking to the both of them. "I just met you guys tonight. But you're my first real human friends. I don't want you girls to be sad or scared. I want to see you smile and laugh again, like you did in the garden and in the library."
Momo's crying had quieted into hiccups as she came back to reality. She was listening to my words and heartbeat witch was a good sign. Then, I felt her freeze. She must have realized that she was sitting in my lap, and being held against my chest. A second later, a massive, hot blush exploded across her face and neck, so intense I could feel the heat through my shirt which was impressive considering that my suit is reinforced. She made a small, strangled noise but she did not jump away from me.
I took a chance, to calm her down further quickly not wanting to loose whatever progress I made so far.
"You know," I said, a hint of a smile in my voice. "If your dad's koi fish, Mob, could see you right now, he'd probably swim over, give you a fishy glare, and say, 'This is my pond to panic in. Get your own.'"
There was a beat of silence. Then, a wet, shaky giggle vibrated against my chest. Another one followed, from Saiko, a little clearer. I looked down. Momo had lifted her head slightly, her eyes red and puffy, but a tiny, real smile was touching her lips. Saiko was smiling too, a relieved, fragile smile. But it was a smile non the less.
"That's better," I said softly, smiling back at them. Momo's blush was still there, but the crushing fear was gone from her eyes and now it was mostly embarrassment.
I looked over at the adults. My mom was watching from Hikaru's side, her eyes soft with pride. The Yaoyorozus looked stunned and the Intellis seemed amazed by my actions.