AN ( HAPPY NEW YEAR !! Everyone ! )
Takeru POV
Hosu filled the main display in Endeavor's briefing room, layered with traffic flow, emergency response times, and crime reports that updated in real time. From Takeru's perspective, it resembled less a city and more a system under constant pressure, with patterns emerging as clusters of incidents rather than isolated events.
Endeavor stood facing the screen, his arms folded as he studied the data. "Hosu is experiencing a rise in criminal activity following the Sports Festival," he said calmly. "Not because organized groups are making a move, but because individuals believe attention has shifted elsewhere. When heroes are perceived as distracted, people test boundaries."
He turned to face them, the heat around him restrained rather than flaring. "These incidents are minor on their own. Theft, assaults, low-level villain activity. These are lone wolf attacks, in some ways these are for more problematic and harder to predict. There are also unconfirmed reports that Hero Killer Stain is on the prowl in Hosu."
Shoto listened in silence. Takeru was texting Shun-san under the table, so HPSC camera drones could be deployed to follow Takeru and capture his Heroics . Takeru had captured the publics imagination during the Hero festival now he had to fan the flames.
"Our presence here will act as a deterrent," Endeavor continued. "We are here to reinforce local heroes and restore order."
He highlighted several districts on the map. "These areas show the highest concentration of activity. Learn the maps and alleyways we cannot have any of lost in the chaos. A delay due to failure in navigation could result in criminals escaping or worse civilian deaths."
Shoto spoke then. "What is our role ?."
"Observe as usual" Endeavor replied. "And intervene only when commanded to. Only on command !" Endeavor added with glower towards both Shoto and Takeru. Burin and the other Endeavor sidekicks sniggered.
"We will patrol," Endeavor said. "You will observe how a professional evaluates a city in motion. By the end of today, you should understand why Hosu requires attention now rather than later."
The room fell quiet as the weight of the assignment settled in, and Takeru tried to stifle a yawn, He was hoping for some excitement. Things were getting awfully dull and Takeru knew none of these low-level bums were remotely a threat to him.
Midoriya POV
Izuku's phone vibrated just as he finished listening to Gran Torino complain about train schedules and "kids these days." He glanced down automatically, then froze when he saw Iida's name.
The message was short. A location....
WHY?? STAIN ?
Izuku's breath caught. His chest tightened as every half-formed fear he had been carrying for days snapped into place. Iida-kun must have found Stain."I—um—Gran Torino!" Izuku blurted, shoving his phone into his pocket as he turned. "I just remembered something! A—an emergency! I'll explain later!"
"What?" the old hero barked. "Oi, brat—"
Izuku was already moving, sprinting for the station exit as his thoughts spiraled. He didn't wait for permission. Midoriya was thoughts were racing a hundred miles an hour.
I knew it. I knew this was going to happen.I should have done something.
The city rushed past him as he activated Full Cowling at eight percent, the familiar strain lighting up his muscles. He vaulted the railing and hit the street running, heart pounding so hard it drowned out the noise of traffic.
I should have stopped him. I should have been there for my friend.
Ever since the Sports Festival, Izuku had been watching Iida closely. Too quiet, Iida usual enthusiasim was gone replaced with cold focus. When Iida chose a lower-ranked hero like Manual for his internship, Izuku was suspicious but did not voice his concern.
It all made sense now. Why else would Iida-kun choose a water based rescue hero for his internship. It was the Hero Killer he was after.
Izuku grit his teeth and pushed harder, Blackwhip flaring instinctively as he lashed it toward a building to pull himself forward. The quirk was still barely under control but Izuku needed the speed, every second he delayed could mean Iida fighting that serial killer alone. Stain had killed a dozen pro-heroes and crippled a dozen more.
I should have gone to Aizawa sensei with my suspicions.
His mind flashed back to the message he had sent earlier, fingers hovering before finally hitting send.
Takeru-kun. I think Iida is going to do something reckless. Please keep an eye out.
No reply from his class president the message was simply left on read.
Please dont be dead ! . Please just be chasing a lead.
He rounded the corner and saw the alley.
The smell of blood hit him first.
Native was slumped against the wall, eyes wide, body rigid and unmoving. Izuku's heart dropped straight through his chest.
"No… no, no—"
Iida stood a few steps away, frozen mid-stride, his expression twisted in horror as a tall figure loomed over him, blade raised with calm, deliberate intent.
"STAIN!" Izuku screamed.
His feet moved before he could think.
Blackwhip burst from his arm, wild and uncontrolled, snapping around Stain's wrist and yanking him back just enough for Izuku to slam into him with a punch. The impact rattled his bones, but Stain flew off a dozen feet before landing his feet digging into the pavement.
Stain's eyes lit up with malice. Izuku could feel the murderous aura emanating from the Hero killer, Izuku could barely move.
"Another child playing hero. leave your friend has earned his fate by his foolish actions." he said quietly. "A true Hero serves justice, not vengence."
Izuku attacked again, using black whip to capture Stain limbs and dragging Stain into his kicks, but the power fought him as much as it helped him. The tendrils lashed out in the wrong directions, smashing into walls, snapping back toward him, breaking his rhythm.
Focus. Focus!
Stain flowed through his attacks with terrifying ease" your heart is true but... you are still too green.". A flash of steel. A sharp, burning pain.
Izuku collapsed as his Achilles tendon gave out, his leg screaming in protest. He hit the ground hard, breath knocked from his lungs. He tried to move get back on his feet by he could not move.
Stain crouched, eyes never leaving him, and dragged the blade across his tongue.
"It is over now..... you have fought well like a true hero but your friend and Native are scum who must be purged." Stain said calmly
The paralysis hit instantly, freezing Izuku in place as panic flooded in. He couldn't move. Couldn't breathe properly. Izuku strained with all his might but his muscles were simply limp and unresponsive.
I'm too late. I failed again.
Above him, Stain straightened, blade lifting toward a paralyzed Iida.
Izuku stared at the alley ceiling, fear clawing at his chest, and prayed with everything he had left that someone—anyone—would arrive before the Hero Killer finished what he started.
Takeru POV
Takeru felt it before the phone vibrated. At the same moment, Shoto's phone chimed beside him. They both stared at each other before looking down at their screens.
Shoto looked up, eyes sharp. "Midoriya."
Takeru nodded grimly. The message was simply a location. He could hear Endeavor's steps slow behind them as the weight of it settled. Shoto took a half step forward, already turning toward the street.
"We go," Shoto said.
"What is happening here?" Endeavor demanded. "Our friend is in trouble, we have to help?"
"There are Nomu here," Takeru said, his tone firm. "If these are as strong as the USJ ones, the heroes are going to need help—or thousands of people could die."
He pulled up a second feed, one Shun had insisted he keep active, and turned the screen toward Endeavor. "Multiple signatures," Takeru said quickly, already moving. "We need to destroy these Nomu immediately."
Endeavor's sharp eyes scanned the map, calculating.
Shoto looked torn, fists clenching. "Midoriya—"
"I know," Takeru cut in. "That's why you go. We'll handle the Nomu, and I'll catch up as soon as I can."
Endeavor studied him for a fraction of a second. "You're certain."
"I am," Takeru said. "I can fly. And we don't have time to argue."
Shoto hesitated, then met Takeru's eyes. "Don't be late."
"I won't be," Takeru said, and meant it.
Endeavor gave a short nod. "Shoto, be careful." Then, to Takeru, "We're going now."
Takeru didn't wait. He stepped in, one hand braced at the base of Endeavor's neck to keep his spine aligned, the other hooking Endeavor's arm over his shoulder. "Hold tight. Close your eyes and hold your breath."
The city blurred as Takeru flew just under Mach 1 to avoid causing damage to Endeavor.
They tore through the air, wind screaming past as Takeru adjusted his grip by instinct, compensating for drag and turbulence, keeping Endeavor steady as buildings blurred into streaks of light and shadow. Sirens rose below them, overlapping into a single frantic noise. Takeru's focus narrowed, every sense locked forward.
He saw the Nomu before they reached street level.
Black. Massive. Moving on pure instinct bad memories began to bubble to the surface of Takeru mind.
Black Nomu had Manual pinned, its foot crushing down as the hero screamed, the Nomu's arm drawing back for a finishing blow.
"Endeavor, brace," Takeru said, releasing the number two hero and diving toward the Nomu.
The punch landed before the creature could react. The impact detonated outward, a concussive wave that shattered glass across two city blocks and sent cars skidding. The Nomu's head snapped back, its body folding around the blow as it was hurled through concrete and steel.
Takeru didn't slow. His visor locked onto the next target. He pivoted, grabbed the winged Nomu mid-launch, and tore it apart with a single brutal motion, wings ripping free as the body split down the center. Green blood sprayed across the pavement as the remains collapsed.
The third Nomu lunged, its tongue whipping forward like a spear. Takeru caught it barehanded, muscles tightening, and ripped it free with a violent wrench that made the creature shriek. He slammed the severed appendage into the ground and finished the Nomu with a blow that caved its torso inward.
Silence followed, broken only by distant sirens and the crackle of flames.
Before the black Nomu could rise from the crater, its body already stitching itself together, Endeavor landed beside it.
"JET BURN!"
Fire roared as he incinerated what remained, ensuring nothing twitched back to life.
Grand Torino dropped in moments later, eyes flicking between the wreckage and Takeru. "Figures," he muttered.
"Shoto," Takeru said to Endeavor before launching himself toward the location Midoriya had sent, now glowing on his visor.
Out of the corner of his eye, Takeru saw HPSC drones circling, recording everything.
Then realization struck him.
Stain.
Iida. Midoriya.
The entire ordeal snapped into place. Was Stain working with the League of Villains?
Takeru's blood began to boil as he spotted a burst of flame ahead.
"Shoto!"
He reached the location in a second, not bothering to slow his landing as he shattered the pavement, a shockwave rippling across the street. Takeru analyzed the scene with cold fury. A D-list hero lay bleeding against the wall. Both Iida and Midoriya were immobilized. Shoto had two wounds—one across his cheek, another across his thigh—blood soaking his uniform.
And then Takeru's gaze locked onto the culprit.
A man wrapped in a disheveled scarf, tongue hanging grotesquely from his mouth, a grin carved across his noseless face.