Izuku frowned, glancing at his mom, "Uh, no? I'm... sorry, I must have missed that." He had been so busy getting ready for the entrance exam and the subsequent recovery that he had no idea a care package arrived. It was about the time one would have arrived, but Izuku's mind was more worried about the results of the entrance exam than anything else.
"That's good, that's good," Hisashi nodded, then back pedalled at Izuku's baffled face, "I mean, we were trying to hide it from you. We didn't want the surprise spoiled, that's all."
"Surprise? What surprise?" Izuku asked, before his mother took the tablet from his hand, then slid the briefcase into his lap instead. Inko flipped the camera around so that she could see her husband's face, but so he could see Izuku.
"Go ahead, Izuku, open it up," Inko gently said. With some hesitation over his parents' weirdness, Izuku turned to the briefcase, and flipped open the latches, opening it up. Then he gasped, stunned at what was inside of it.
It was a green jumpsuit, folded up neatly in the center of the case. Below it rested a utility belt, with shin guards and boots on the right side, as well as arm guards and hood to the left. A respirator rested above everything.
It was a hero costume. One that Izuku thought he knew better than anyone else, "How... how did you know?" He whispered, trying to hold back his tears.
"When you gave me that notebook of yours on your meal plan, you must have missed that you drew this design out in an earlier page," Izuku's mom replied, her own tears glistening her smile, "I quickly took pictures of it, then sent it to your father to see if we could come up with something."
"And we happened to be in luck," Hisashi replied, as Inko flipped the camera back so Izuku could see his father's face, "We had a bunch of old nanoweave fabrics that we needed to get rid of here at the agency. I double checked with Mister Drive about it, and he said that my car could be the trash can." Izuku's father then shrugged, trying to seem casual, "So I got as much of the green as I could, along with some white and black, and sent it over with some starter hero gear."
Izuku's mother took over the story, "By this point, I drew up the patterns with Mitsuki, and I got sewing and stitching. I got it done, just in time for tonight," she released a big sigh, "I'll tell you, sweetie, that nanoweave fabric is pain to work with. Your father had to send over new tools for me, and it was still a pain to cut through that fabric."
Izuku brushed his hand over the costume reverently, feeling the rigid texture of the nanoweave. His vision blurred, as he tried to blink back tears, "You... went ahead and made this? Even though we have no idea if I'm... even going to get into U.A?" Seven minutes remained before the time was out.
"Izuku, the fact that you tried at all, even without a..." Hisashi stopped, taking a deep breath, then continued, "Son, you have an heroic heart, no matter what anyone says. You proved it when you went to save the Bakugo kid from the sludge villain. You proved it when you decided to go clean up that beach. You proved it when you got hurt saving that girl from those thugs."
Inko nodded, "You have always loved heroes, Izuku. You and your father share that. But in the last year, I've seen you grow from dreaming about becoming a hero, to working on it, and taking it far more seriously than ever. I don't know what sparked this change, but ever since you've started this training regiment... You've been smiling again. Like you did when you were little."
Izuku glanced down, trying to hide his blush, while his father gave some more remarks, "I know it's rough waiting to see the results of your efforts, son. I was pacing a mad storm in the days before I got this job," he gave a loose chuckle, "But hang on, the bell hasn't rung yet."
His father's words were technically true. There was five minutes to go. Izuku looked back at his parents, trying to get the words out, "...But, what if... I didn't get in. What if you made this costume for no reason?"
"Izuku, I didn't make this costume for no reason. I made it, we made it, for you, because we believe in you," Inko replied, grasping her son's hand, "It doesn't matter if you don't get into U.A., because even if you did, I'm sure you'd want a better, more state-of-the-art costume anyways. This is just meant to show you that we support you, no matter what form the future takes."
"With the prepwork you have done, Izuku, even if you don't get into U.A., you'll be able to finish high school with solid grades," Hisashi elaborated, "I have some connections to I-Island, there might be a path for you there. It's not like David Shield had the best Quirk, but he was able to work alongside All-Might himself for years!"
Izuku slowly nodded, "Yeah, I guess that's true..." Even if he really wanted to go to U.A., I-Island wasn't a bad option either. If his parents wanted to keep supporting him... If he really had the potential that All-Might, Emiya, Uraraka, and the Pendragons had in him... Then he had to act on it. Izuku had to keep moving forward. Like Uraraka said, he had to stay positive...
A knock at the door froze the apartment. Izuku snapped his gaze to his mother, then set the briefcase down on the coffee table. He walked over to the front door, and opened it. There stood one of U.A.'s service bots, beeping out, "Are you Izuku Midoriya?"
"...Yes, I am," Izuku replied, breathlessly. He scanned his palm on the touchscreen that the bot had, daring not to hope. The bot confirmed the scan, then deposited a round holoprojector into his hands. Then it sped away, bumping down the outside steps.
He turned back to his parents, holding up the holoprojector, "...It's here." The final decision that U.A. had made. It being here was a good sign, but it wasn't confirmation. Thousands of applicants came through, so the holoprojector messages came in waves. Hundreds of people would be disappointed tonight, with only thirty-six confirmations and eighteen backups who could enter the ancillary courses; Medical, Support, or Management, until they could try again for the Hero Course. Who knew if Izuku would even be one of those backup students?
"Well, come on then!" Izuku's mother frantically gestured, "Let's see the results!" Izuku nodded, then set the holoprojector down and logged into the device. It spun up the video, as Izuku flopped onto the couch. It was time to face the music. It was time to see what the future held for him.
Briefly, he wondered how his friends were doing, and if they had received their holoprojectors tonight as well...
Arturia and Shirou were circling each other in the dojo, eyes piercing each other. Arturia held her shinai forward, ready to strike or parry when the time came. Shirou held his two small shinai out at his sides, a teasing smirk egging her on. Arturia was determined to win this match, Shirou's winning streak had to end today. It was all they could do while they waited for...
The door to the dojo ripped open, and Miyu's head popped in, "Shirou! Artie! The results arrived!" Shirou snapped his head to her to confirm that they would come in, but Arturia saw a chance!
She leapt forward to swing at his neck, confident that he was sufficiently distracted. He was not, as he ducked down, dodging her shinai. Then he stepped back, as Arturia stumbled right in front of Shirou. He then moved fast, dropping the right shinai as he caught her wrist, keeping her strike at bay. Shirou moved his left shinai to her throat, smiling, as she glared up at him.
"That was a dirty move," Shirou retorted, smiling, "Good job. You almost had me." Arturia huffed, as they separated, then started to head out of the dojo.
"Whatever, let's just see how well we did," Arturia replied, "We better have made the top five, I want Hawks to owe us that buffet." Shirou chuckled, as they arrived at the round dinner table, where Gawain and Lance were already sitting.
Kay was hooking up the two holoprojectors so they would display the messages in sequence. A feature that not many households used, but useful in their case. Kay remembered it from when he and Lance had applied for U.A. years back.
Miyu took her seat, while Arturia and Shirou logged into their respective holoprojectors. As they sat down, Arturia took a deep breath, then relaxed. She knew she was good enough to enter U.A. The question remained, had the others?
Ochako set the holoprojector down, sitting between her parents. Her father and mother rubbed her shoulders while she logged in, marvelling at the holographic display. Her parents were impressed as well, her father chiming in, "Wow, you'll be attending a fancy school, Ochako! Do you think you get to keep the projector even if you somehow don't get in?"
Her mother teasingly slapped her father's shoulder, while Ochako was distracted by the second part of that statement. If you somehow don't get in. Her father just meant it to be a slight tease, but it was a real worry. Ochako had a fair amount of confidence in her own abilities to get in, but there was still a chance she hadn't made it...
...And there was a chance that Midoriya didn't make it either. Ochako tried to convince Present Mic to let her give some of her points to Midoriya, but the Voice Hero had blown her off. All he would say is that she should worry about her own exam, smiled, then walked away.
So as the holoprojector spun up the message from U.A., she hoped that she wouldn't only see her name, but Midoriya's as well as everyone else's. Ochako wanted to attend the hero course with everyone, she had to.
She had to...
Fumikage sighed, as he placed the holoprojector down and started to log into it. The light from the device was the only light in the apartment. Since his uncle was out on business, Fumikage kept all of the lights off, since that's how Dark Shadow liked it. While such an environment was a risk with her temperment... Fumikage wanted to let her relax when she could as well.
"Do they have to make those things so damn bright?" his spectral companion cried out, squinting at the holoprojector. Fumikage smirked, as he straightened up, folding his arms as the message spun up.
"It's a message, a calling," Fumikage mused, "A signal to those who would want to become a hero." Which begged the question, who would be answering the call? Those that were bright, like Pendragon, Midoriya, and Uraraka? Or those who were comfortable in the shadows, like Mitsuzuri and Emiya?
Fumikage was interested in learning, so he sat back down, scratching Dark Shadow's head as the message finally began to play...
The message began, displaying a small stage, decorated with banners reflective of U.A. Blue banners hung on each side, with the school's distinctive logo emblazoned upon them. Stretching between them was a red one which read Plus Ultra, creating a neat frame for someone to step into.
And someone did, a small, white furry creature did. Dressed in a smart suit, and holding a tea cup, the creature waddled to the front of the display. He adjusted his collar with his left paw, then smiled, "Hello everyone! You may be wondering if I could be a dog or a mouse or a bear or a stoat, but in fact... I am Principal Nezu!"
He gave a pleasant wave, before sipping from his tea, "We have had a wonderful turn out this year, and I am proud of every single one of you! If I was able to accept you all, I would do it in a heartbeat. I want to see you reach your full potential, and I believe you all would do well here at U.A. Academy."
The principal started to wander back and forth, "Of course, we can't take everyone. We simply lack the resources to ensure that level of quality for everyone here. So, this exam becomes necessary. To find the individuals who take their schooling seriously. To find those that are willing to risk their wellbeing in the throes of combat. We are looking for those who can do as this school's motto asks of us."
The display flashed to show the full faculty of U.A., all of the teachers and Pro Heroes they had on staff. They were all standing in a semi circle, waiting for the cue. In one voice they all chanted, "Go Beyond... PLUS ULTRA!"
The display switched back to Principal Nezu, who remained on the holographic display. The stage itself, however, was replaced with a row of six holographic displays in front of him and two displays behind him.
"These displays are for those students who have made it into our esteemed hero course, with the exception of our students by recommendation, of course," Nezu explained, gesturing to them, then pointing to the ones behind him, he added, "These displays are for the students who will be accepted as our backup candidates for the hero course, who can apply to be in our other courses we hold here at U.A."
Nezu stopped to look into the camera, "I will soon reveal the names on each list. When I do, this message will end temporarily so you can find your names. Once you confirm where you are on this list, you can continue the message, where we will have further instructions and a special message for all of you."
Nezu took one last bow, "Thank you all for attending, I cannot wait to see how this class grows in the coming years. I have spoken long enough. Please greet... the Hero Course of 2119!" The principal threw his arm up, and the displays lit up with numbers with names attached to them. Each of the six Hero Course displays had six names attached, while the two backup displays had nine names each. The message froze, just as Nezu said, so that every applicant could find their name...
Fumikage released a breath of relief. Eighth place. Not bad. He was happy with that result. He turned to Dark Shadow, who flashed a thumbs up, before they fist bumped. All of that work paid off. They were done dealing with the likes of Okamoto and Masuda.
In fact, Fumikage was pleased to see that they didn't even make it onto either list. A vindictive feeling that a hero shouldn't be embracing, but Fumikage would worry about that later. For now, he would simply celebrate being free of the shackles of that school.
However, his curiosity persisted, so Fumikage and Dark Shadow decided to look over and see if any of their newfound flock of friends would be joining them...
Ochako stared wide as her parents shook her side to side in celebration. Twelfth place. She hadn't just passed, she had done really, really well. Not as well as some of her friends, but still... She was proud of her rank.
However, even as her parents continued to cheer her on, Ochako had a thought that caused her stomach to drop. Midoriya's name hadn't appeared before hers, and she had no idea if it was anywhere on this list yet. She leaned forward, looking for her plain green friend anywhere on this list.
Please... please let him be on this list.
Shirou let out a silent chuckle as Arturia let loose a celebratory cry. A cry that was abruptly cut off when her older brother Kay got up to give her a noogie for being too loud. They then ended up wrestling on the floor.
Shirou shook his head, sharing an amused expression with Miyu. Despite Kay's objections, Arturia had every right to cheer and celebrate. She had won the coveted first place, beating everyone else out, including Tenya Iida at fourth. Not to mention beating Shirou himself who had scored...
...Sixth place. A respectable place, for sure, but clearly he had taken some hits on the written exam or in the interview. Uh oh. He didn't mind getting sixth place personally, far from it. As long as he was able to attend U.A. to satisfy the Robin Ward Laws requirements and to become a hero that could provide for Miyu, Shirou didn't care about the rankings of it all.
...But Arturia did, especially with the bet made with Hawks. The bet Shirou just lost them by one rank. Shirou glanced at Gawain, who had clearly noticed. The father of the Pendragon household just smiled, "You can explain to her after she's done with Kay."
...Shirou started making mental plans on how much food he'll need to make Arturia for the next month. To distract himself from that oncoming disaster, he turned his gaze back to the holographic display, looking for a certain greenhead's name...
Izuku Midoriya frantically poured over the list, his brain struggling to read the characters on the display. Where was he, where was he, where was he...
His mother gasped, and Izuku jerked his head to her, preparing for the worst, his voice cracking with the question, "What is it Mom?" Instead of replying, Inko just pointed to the holographic display. Izuku looked to where she was pointing.
...Twenty seventh. Right there, his name was right there! On the lower end of the Hero Course rankings, sure, but he made it. He didn't fail All-Might, or his parents, or his friends. He really made it. He was going to go to U.A.!
Izuku turned to his mom, then glanced down at his father's face on the tablet. Both were gobsmacked, as they turned to face their son, "Izuku..." they said in unison... "You did it. How did you do it?"
Izuku released a big sigh. Mostly out of relief, but also to prepare for the story he had prepared ahead of time, "So... you remember that sludge villain attack from last year?"
His parents nodded mutely, so Izuku continued, "Well... someone there told me that the way I was moving looked familiar to him," not untrue, "He was the one who pointed out that my body just might need some training for a Quirk to manifest," less true, but it worked, "So I got a plan together and... Managed to activate my Quirk at the entrance exam."
His parents stared at him, barely blinking, "You... have a Quirk now?" his father asked, his voice strangely flat... "What... is it?"
"I call it Surge," Izuku said, which wasn't a lie. To everyone that wasn't All-Might, that's what it was going to be called, "I think it works by storing excess kinetic energy, then unleashing it. A strange mutation of both of your Quirks."
That part was a lie, obviously, but his parents couldn't learn about One for All. They seemed to buy it, however reluctantly, as they glanced at each other, then back to Izuku. His mother took a deep breath, before asking, "Izuku, dear... Can we... see it?"
"Uh... I could show you..." Izuku winced, "But... I would probably end up breaking... the apartment..." Inko's eyes widened, while Hisashi's narrowed in concern. Izuku continued, "As well as my body. I haven't really figured out how to use only a part of the strength available to me, so it's all or nothing."
"And... you still want to be a hero?" Izuku's father asked, blinking at him, "Even if your... Quirk... does this to you?" Izuku nodded, causing his mother to cover her mouth with her hand.
"Yeah, I do. It's like you two were saying before, this is what I've always wanted to do. In fact, the first time I used my power was to save a fellow candidate," Izuku replied, "...Granted, I did break both of my legs, but that's why I'm going to U.A., right? That way I can learn how to control this power..." Izuku trailed off, suddenly worried about his parents' silence, "You... are still okay with me going."
Hisashi and Inko glanced at each other, a silent conversation occurring, before they released a sigh, "Of course we are, Izuku," his father replied, "We're not going back on our word. If you want to still pursue U.A., then we will make it happen."
"We're just worried about you. Breaking your body every time you use your Quirk isn't exactly... normal, sweetie," his mother added, "Please, please, promise me that you will get this under control?"
"Of course, Mom, I wouldn't be a good hero if I was constantly getting hurt," Izuku nervously chuckled. The second All-Might was able to talk, he was going to figure out how to get One for All to behave under his control. What on earth was the Number 1 Hero up to?
Shaking his head, Izuku turned back to the holoprojector, "They said they had a special message, so do you two want to hear it?" Izuku's mother nodded, while his father yawned and gave a big stretch.
"Absolutely, son, but then I'll need to hang up, unfortunately," Hisashi replied, "I still have the rest of this report to fill out, and then maybe catch a nap." He took a big swig of his energy drink, "Who knows what other surprises they have for us now?"
"No idea," Izuku chuckled, before hitting enter on the holoprojector, "but I'm sure U.A. will find some way to surprise us."
Once the video resumed, Nezu brought his hand back down, as the ring of holographic displays vanished. The stage from before faded back into view, as the principal sipped on his tea, "To those who made it into our Hero Course, congratulations! As well to our backup candidates, who will still attend here in our other important courses. We are excited to work with you and see you all expand your potential."
Nezu started to head stage left, as he continued to talk, "And now, for our special message. You see, this year we have a new teacher joining the ranks of our wonderful faculty," he reached his intended spot on the stage, and reached to his right, "He's a wonderful alumnus of this school, a shining example of heroism across the globe!"
"Oh, you are too kind, Principal Nezu!" a booming voice, as bombastic music blared from the screen. Emerging from the shadows off screen, dressed in his golden age costume, was All-Might himself, making great strides forward, "But it is true, young students! I AM HERE! TO TEACH!"
"All-Might has graciously agreed to help us train the next generation of heroes here at U.A. Academy!" Principal Nezu exclaimed, glee dripping from his voice, "He was a wonderful student in his youth, and I'm sure he will be a wonderful teacher!"
"HA HA HA HA! If I'm a worthy teacher, it'll be thanks to your help, Principal Nezu!" All-Might chuckled, then turned to the camera, "For you future students, know this! I have seen all of you take the practical exam. I have taken notes on all of your interviews. While I had no say on how to rank and grade any of you..."
All-Might thrust his finger at the camera, pointing right to the heart of every prospective student, "I know each and every one of you is going live up to the ideals expected of U.A. students! I know that deep inside of each and every one of you, there beats a heart full of courage and hope. Each of you has the makings of a great hero!"
All-Might flexed his arms as he set his fists against his waist, his ever present smile beaming through the camera, "I know you all will make my Alma Mater proud, and I can't wait to see where you go. So I want all of you to take a deep breath, and then..." a drum started, as All-Might thrust his fist into the air, "GO BEYOND! PLUS ULTRA!"
All-Might put his hand back down as Nezu chimed in, "After this message, this holoprojector will grant you access to the forms you will need to fill out before the first day of classes. Please fill them out and submit them before the first day of classes. If anything needs to change, you have until the first bell of school rings. Thank you for choosing to enter U.A. Academy."
"I know I speak for all of U.A. when I say we are excited to start the new school year with each and every one of you!" All-Might added with a wave. With that, the message came to an end.
"Who the hell let Midoriya into U.A.?" Aizawa asked point blank to Nezu, who simply looked up at him from the game of chess he was playing on his tablet, "More importantly, why the hell is he in my class?"
"My, you are being quite irrational there," Nezu responded instead, "How about you take a seat there? Have some tea and some snacks, Lunch Rush really has outdone himself today," Nezu took a sip of his tea to make a point, "Let me finish, and then I can address your concerns."
Aizawa took his seat, but refused the refreshments, choosing to just stare at the principal. The underground hero just stared, unblinkingly, unamused, at Nezu, who continued to play his game. The only reaction Aizawa gave was a twitch in his eye when Nezu paused to sip his tea.
Finally, after Nezu had put the black king in check with his queen, a knight, and a rook, he put his tablet down and turned to Aizawa. The principal's usual pleasant demeanor was plastered on, as if he was talking to a student he was frustrated with, "So, are we feeling rational yet?"
"I am being rational, it's everyone else who isn't," Aizawa retorted, holding up Izuku Midoriya's file, "He scored well enough in the written exam, but he broke his body during the practical," he slammed the file down on Nezu's desk, "He's going to be a complete liability in the field, he shouldn't have been given the points he got in the Interview."
Nezu simply pushed the file back, "I have memorized everyone's files, you don't need to remind me of any details," he then glanced back up, meeting Aizawa's stare dead on, "Do I need to remind you that Young Midoriya earned those points with his rescues during that same practical? The very reason he broke his body?"
U.A. wasn't blind to how combat focused the practical exam was. To counter this, the interview section held a secret score within the calculations. Rescue Points, the actions that the candidates performed to aid their fellows. They were measured and judged by each of the teachers involved in the entrance exam based on intent and success. Then they were tucked away, known only to the staff at U.A.
This was the only way Nezu could measure true heroism, shy of crafting a Ring of Gyges for each candidate. But an experiment like that was a bit out of his budget.
"If it was just based on his earlier rescues, that would be fine," Aizawa retorted, "He was clever in his usage of the villain bot shields, even if he could stand to be more aggressive so he'd actually score some points," the Erasure Hero shook his head, his scraggly mane waving back in forth, "But the recklessness he had, breaking both his legs and one of his arms, let alone his other injuries... all to destroy a faux villain that he understood to be worthless..." Aizawa tilted his head down, "We should not be encouraging that sort of martyrdom here."
"Am I encouraging it?" Nezu asked, "Far from it. But I do understand it. Young Midoriya won over nearly the entire exam board, with the exception of you of course. Instead of worrying about his entry, you should accept it and plan your lessons accordingly. That would be the rational thing to do in this circumstance."
Aizawa squinted his eyes at the principal, "You literally cheered when Midoriya caved that Executor in."
"I cheered when Young Midoriya and Young Emiya destroyed their respective Executors," Nezu pointed out with a chuckle, "Who, by the way, I don't see you complaining about. Young Emiya also rushed in when he should have stayed back, same with Miss Pendragon. Both of them will be attending your class as well."
Aizawa's eyes shot wide, as he looked over his class roster again, "...Shit, you really gave me all three of these problem children?" Nezu couldn't blame him for the reaction. Midoriya and Emiya being problem children was self-evident. Then you factored in that Miss Pendragon's older brother was Lance Pendragon, a third year here...
Yes, Aizawa had every reason to be concerned with his class roster. Nezu chuckled again behind his tea cup, "Of course, I believe you to be the optimal one for their growth."
Aizawa's perpetual frown deepened, "Why me? Vlad King has had plenty more experience with hot heads like these kids."
"Vlad King is a phenomenal teacher, and he is best at encouraging the more practically minded students to reach out and take a risk," Nezu elaborated, "You are complimentary to that. I give you these kids so that you can teach them how to reign it in, and to use that rational thinking you are so fond of espousing."
Aizawa folded his arms, closing his eyes to think over the situation, before releasing a sigh, "Do I still have my authority to expel any students I see fit?"
"From the Hero Course? Yes," Nezu acknowledged. It had been a compromise from when he had hired the Erasure Hero a few years ago. Aizawa had wanted to be able to expel them from U.A. permanently, but Nezu felt that was too much of a waste.
Being kicked from the Hero Course served the same lesson that Aizawa wanted to teach without being unnecessarily cruel. Nezu added a further comment, "At least try to give them a shot. I would hate to have to fend off another set of parents." Their teacher expelling an entire class would do that to a principal.
Aizawa scoffed, "Of course. Everyone acts like I kicked my class all at once, just to have more hero time," the Erasure Hero shook his head, "No, I still gave teaching my full attention, and I made sure everyone knew where my standards were before I cut them."
Nezu nodded to concede the point. It had taken the course of the Spring and Fall semesters before the last of Aizawa's starting class from last year were kicked, by which point Aizawa had already picked out students from the backup lists to try out in the Reapplication Exams. For better, or for worse, Aizawa did not mess around when it came to teaching.
"Very well then, I'm sure this year will be incredibly exciting," Nezu remarked, snatching a cookie to nibble on, "I suppose you will be doing your traditional Apprehension Test this year again?"
"Always do," Aizawa remarked, before standing up, "Who knows, maybe I'll get lucky and Midoriya will blow his legs out again. Maybe then he'll learn not to use a Quirk he hadn't properly trained for hero work." With that vindictive comment, Aizawa stalked out of Nezu's office.
Nezu sighed, shaking his head before returning to his monitor. He had been working on a research project earlier, before Lunch Rush arrived with his refreshments. Then Aizawa had burst in to address his own grievances, further delaying the principal's crossreferencing. Nezu didn't mind, however, as he wanted to ensure a healthy work environment for all of his students and teachers.
Nezu shook his head, as he pulled up his tabs. Shota Aizawa was particularly difficult, even on his better days. He had always been such a tsundere, even back in his youthful days here. Nezu remembered Aizawa's younger, scragglier self being dragged around by Hizashi Yamada, Nemuri Kayama, and... Oboro Shirakumo.
Nezu rubbed his head. That tragedy had stuck with him the longest as a teacher. Oboro was a shining example of heroism, a bright light to everyone who knew him. His death had had a profound impact on all of his friends, Shota Aizawa taking it the hardest.
The life of a hero was one rife with tragedies. Even in this age brought about by the Symbol of Peace, the world kept turning. Days became nights, the pendulum swinging between comedy and tragedy. To be a hero meant walking steadfast into every form of hell there was, looking for the ones that couldn't escape themselves.
Despite his position as a principal here at U.A., Nezu was still an experienced Pro Hero. He understood the ventures into hell that it took to save lives. If it wasn't for his duties finalizing the new year's applicants, Nezu would have spent the last week looking for the Aoyama family's killer. Those damn mages had barely given him any scraps of information.
Thankfully, Nezu did have allies he could trust. Touru Nara, the Pro Hero Snipe, had finished his reports for the entrance exam with expected speed. Nezu had tasked him with the Aoyama investigation, and Snipe had delivered. The Pro Hero had found some significant info regarding the uncertainties of the case. With the Straight Shot Hero continuing to work on the case, the U.A. principal could focus on the entrance exam... as well as other mysteries surrounding it.
"So then, what is your story?" Nezu remarked to himself, as he examined the data from two different documents. The first was the police report that Saber Shine and Hawks filled out about the Takoba Beach incident. The second was Nezu's annotated readouts from the Executor that Emiya destroyed.
He zoomed in on a picture taken by the Executor's cameras, which displayed Shirou holding a giant metal mass shaped like a bladed club over his shoulder. The young man's eyes were narrowed, expressing pain, grief, and regret.
"What was the tragedy... that formed you, Shirou Emiya?"
Tomura readjusted Father's hand resting on his face, just as Jester pulled a knife to spin around, "Speaking of Diamond Level Players... Shirou Emiya. Are we ready to talk about him? Cuz how Queen Bee talks him up I'm mad I ditched the fight."
"Yes, that's a fair point," Tomura glanced at Kiruka, who cracked her neck, meeting his gaze, "We've been waiting long enough. Let's recap; Shirou Emiya and his sister were living on their own in Alimango Island, before some villain group we've never heard of called the 'Ainsworths' tried to kidnap the sister. Emiya fought his way to her and managed to escape, ending up at Takoba beach, somehow," Tomura glanced at Kuin and Jester, "Which was when the two of you decided to grief him."
Kuin pouted, glancing away as she sipped at her lemonade. Jester was unrepentant, "Yeah, so what? It's over now, so what if we lost Mummy and Spike," Arashi and Kiruka joined Tomura in glaring at him, causing the shape shifter to blink, "...Too soon?"
"...Too soon," Tomura's voice gritted out of his throat, "They would have been valuable in our attack against All-Might," he released a sigh, tilting his head down to rub his forehead, "But that's in the past now. Let's see if losing them was worth the info we got. Slice, did you find anything more on Shirou Emiya."
"Not directly," Kiruka responded, pulling her tablet out, "But rather... The week I started my investigation, the only information I could track down was what the police and medical reports stated. I couldn't find anything else before Arashi and I had to go back to Fuyuki to help Doctor Garaki with Shumatsu."
Kiruka showed her display, swiping through documents that appeared on screen, "No birth certificates, no school records, no archery competitions, no rental agreements, nothing." However, as if challenging her story, each of those documents appeared on her display, for both Emiya siblings.
Tomura tilted his head, a slow smirk crawling through his face, "But when you two got back from Fuyuki... Heh, all of the sudden someone put everything into place," Tomura let loose a small chuckle, "That means he really is affiliated with some group. The question is, who?"
Kiruka swiped to display a new picture, showing Shirou Emiya and Miyu entering a grungy medical office in an alleyway, "I see two potential candidates as of now. The medical report for Shirou Emiya came from Doctor Touko Aozaki. She was the one who treated Shirou Emiya, and currently serves as the Emiya siblings' therapist under the Robin Ward Laws."
"Touko Aozaki? Scarred Red herself?" Kuin whistled, and Tomura couldn't help but agree. Scarred Red had been a fearsome villain back in the day, rivaling even Master. However, she was eventually defeated by All-Might himself, alongside some other allies like Pro Heroes and undercover Enforcers. Aozaki was imprisoned by both the Safety Commission and the Neo-Mage's Association, but it seems she was let out. Probably under Geas Contract, if Tomura had to make a guess.
With that understanding, Tomura understood where Kiruka was going with this, "So, it's either the Safety Commission or the Neo-Mage's Association that is covering for the Emiyas. How very intriguing. Do we have any other information that could..." Tomura had been scratching his neck as he spoke, but he stopped as a thought struck him, "...Who adopted them under the Robin Ward Laws?"
Kiruka swiped the display, showing a Pro Hero dressed in a black spandex suit, adorned with a golden sun sigil made with cavalry saber motifs, and complimented with silver capes for both waist and collar. "Saber Shine took them in. He was one of the Pro Heroes who responded to All-Might's distress call."
Tomura took another swig of his drink, considering the Pro Hero. Saber Shine was the former Number 2 Pro Hero during his days in England. The British All-Might, he was referred to as. Saber Shine didn't quite reach the pinnacle of All-Might's days... but he was far from a pushover.
Tomura was stirred from his thoughts when Jester leaned forward, "Great, so I can just sneak in and kidnap Shirou Emiya so we can find out how he ticks. Then I can have my turn with him," his eyes got extremely wide, "IT'LL BE SO MUCH..."
"You will not," Arashi and Tomura both commanded at the same time, causing Jester's jaw to snap shut as the six-hearted man glared at the two.
Arashi continued, "Even if you were able to sneak into the Pendragon estate and kidnap Shirou Emiya without causing any problems, that would only lead to Saber Shine trying to hunt us down as well. With his powerful allies within P.U.C.K Industries to call upon, we would only bring more trouble for us."
Kuin grimaced, "So, what, he and Midoriya both get to make a fool of us and we'll do nothing about either of them?" she let out a groan, "Man, this group fucking blows." Jester hung his head back, growling as well.
Tomura slowly shook his head, "No... we'll do something alright. The key is to make them casualties, not targets," he snapped his fingers, pointing at Kiruka, a slight smirk dancing on his lips, "If they were adopted under the Robin Ward Laws, then one of the Emiya siblings will need to attend a Hero Academy. If I remember right, Saber Shine already has a kid at U.A."
Kiruka nodded, "He does. Lance Pendragon. He'll be going into his final year at U.A.," she took a sip of her beverage, a well-aged liatiko wine, before she continued, "So, supposing that Emiya enters U.A., your plan is to ensure that he is collateral damage when we strike at All-Might?" Her question carried a tone of caution and intrigue. Kiruka wanted to continue, but Jester interrupted her.
"Works for me! Dibs on fighting the bastard!" Jester chortled, glancing towards Kuin, "Queen Bee and I have been bouncing ideas around, so we got a solid plan together. I am so ready for his sword spamming," Jester bounced his hands against the table, "...But when do I get my payback on Midoriya? I was good during my investigation. I really, really, need to teach the quirkless bastard a lesson."
Tomura glanced at Arashi, trying to figure out how to pacify the murderous psycho. If they didn't, then Jester would run off and murder their newfound One for All lead. Thankfully, Kiruka had an answer ready, "Once we kill the Symbol of Peace, the world will descend into chaos. Who is going to care if one little boy goes missing?
Kiruka leaned forward, her hair raising as she shifted into her Slice persona, "Go after him now, however, and you risk jeopardizing everything that we have been working towards," her eyes seemed to glow as she stared down Jester, "So you are going to be a good boy here, sharpening your knives, and prepare for your fight against Shirou Emiya. Do we have an understanding?"
Jester nodded vigorously, his face a blatant mix of fear and challenge. Kiruka leaned back, releasing a sigh. Tomura noticed that Arashi moved to catch Kiruka's hand in his, mouthing thank you to his lover.
...Goddamnit, Arashi, you told Kiruka about One for All? Whatever.
Though, that did bring to mind another problem. Tomura had no doubt that Midoriya would end up passing U.A.'s entrance exam once All-Might gave the runt One for All. While that didn't necessarily mean that Midoriya and Emiya would end up in the same class... That would be both the most ideal and most risky situation.
Ideal, because it meant that Tomura and Arashi could have Jester distracted fighting Emiya while they secured Midoriya for extraction post All-Might's death. Risky, because that meant dealing with not only All-Might and his heir, but the mysterious blade wielder known as Shirou Emiya.
Tomura glanced at his table. Jester was durable, not powerful. Regardless of his plan with Queen Bee, it was unlikely that Jester would actually beat him. Tire Emiya out, absolutely, but not beat him. Jester was better at hit and run tactics, but Kuin had also tried those against an exhausted Emiya and failed. Jester would probably lose against a fully rested Emiya spamming swords. Especially if Kuin was right, and this guy really could make mystic codes.
Jester's focus on Emiya also left a hole in Tomura's strategy in handling All-Might. None of the grunts they had recruited would hold the Symbol of Peace down for long. Maybe Dozaemon would be up to the task, but All-Might would need to be trapped in the water for that to work. Their main weapon would also be suffering a water-based debuff, so Tomura set the idea aside.
Tomura turned to look at Kurogiri, who was working on getting the table another round of drinks to enjoy. He seemed normal, except that his eyes were red. Not their usual yellow. Master was listening to this conversation.
He turned back to the conversation, "Jester, are you sure you want to be the one to hold off Emiya?" the psycho blinked, nodding his head. Tomura nodded back, "Then that means you won't be around when we take on All-Might." Jester froze, the realization hitting the table at once.
Tomura continued, "That leaves only myself, Arashi, and Kiruka to fight All-Might and the other Pro Heroes, along with Kurogiri and Shumatsu," Kuin wouldn't be participating, nor was she a good fit for the operation anyways. Tomura took a deep breath, then stood up to look at the vaporous bartender, "Master, I am going to need another Nomu for this mission. One that is more DPS-oriented."
Kurogiri stopped what he was doing, looking to Tomura. Before long, the Warp Gate user suffered a full body convulsion, before a red line appeared between his two eyes. Kurogiri's head split down the side, each side resting on its respective shoulder. Taking the space was a large speech bubble, displaying Master resting in his hospital bed, his fist resting against his chin. Doctor Garaki was on his other side, tending to the medical needs of All for One.
Tomura fought back a shudder. Even now, six years after All-Might's attack on Fuyuki, where Master had fought the Symbol of Peace in the fires of Mount Enzo, the scars remained. Master's face was completely melted down, leaving only his smirking grin. His arms, the only part exposed from the hospital gown, were laced with scars and burns that Master had gained, crawling from the fiery mud he had fallen into. That All-Might had cast him into.
If nothing else, Tomura would kill All-Might for what he had done to Master.
"Oh, heheheheh," Master's voice came through Kurogiri as if he was resting in the same room as everyone else, "Do you really believe that you and your team are so weak as to need more of my benevolent assistance? Are you sure you want to strike at All-Might now?"
"It's not a matter of weakness, but of matchups," Tomura stood firm, his eyes making sure to stay pointed forward, "We need a well-balanced raid party to kill the Boss. Shumatsu and Kurogiri will be able to hold All-Might down for me, but we will still have Thirteen and either Erasurehead or Vlad King to fight.
"Not to mention any other hero wannabes who may prove to be trouble." Tomura tried to imply Midoriya and Emiya in that last statement. He gestured to his team, "Arashi is good for support, and Slice is an excellent jungler. I need a cannon. One that can take out a mini-boss or two and still be around to help with the big guy himself."
"Hmmmm, your logic is sound..." Master put his fist to his chin and leaned forward in concentration. Humming for a second, he then leaned back, his terrifying grin splitting his face, before he turned his fist around, and held up two of his fingers, "Two. I shall give you two more Nomu."
Tomura, Arashi, Kiruka, Kuin, and Jester all blinked, too stunned to say anything. Doctor Garaki, who was still attending to Master, was the one who said what they were all thinking, "Master! Are you sure? Even sparing one more Nomu would be a considerable cost. The resources needed to get them to reach High End status would be better suited for other projects like..."
"If we want to ensure the destruction of the Symbol of Peace, then adding more resources is the best use case for them," proclaimed the wounded ruler of the underworld, "As long as this venture doesn't lose the eight or nine Quirks I will be giving to these Nomu, then I see no problem adding to their ranks."
Tomura and Arashi forced themselves not to make eye contact. They got the message. Master had been listening to the whole conversation, after all. Not only would Tomura and Arashi need to make sure they killed All-Might and brought his intact corpse to Master, but if All-Might had indeed passed on One For All to Izuku Midoriya... They would be bringing the Ninth Heir in as well.
Doctor Garaki had continued to protest this decision, but Master held up his hand, "I already have the two Nomus in mind. Once you have finished my treatment here, we will go prepare them together. Our efforts should have them ready in time," Master leaned back, putting his hand back to his chin, "In all honesty, I should have prepared them sooner. The numerology of sending four Nomus is better, rather than just Shumatsu and Kurogiri."
Though his face lacked eyes, the wielder of All for One still seemed to gaze across the table. Kuin, Arashi, Kiruka, Tomura, and even Jester flinched as they felt Master's attention fall upon them. Then the smile deepened, before Master said his parting words.
"When Tomura and Arashi put together this plan to eliminate All-Might, I was skeptical but intrigued. I saw it as a learning opportunity for the two boys I see as my own sons. How will their scheme hold against the damned hero who tore my empire asunder.
"I am still eager to see how things will progress, but I have full confidence in your group's abilities moving forward. I have high expectations for each of you moving forward. I am at the edge of my seat in anticipation. We shall see if the Symbol of Peace will fall." With that, the display winked out, and Kurogiri's head reformed back to his natural state. The red eyes faded back into yellow, as Kurogiri returned to his duties at the bar.
Tomura turned back to the table, failing to hide the shock in his eyes. No one at the table blamed him, after all, they were all surprised by Master's generosity. Kiruka was the first to chime in, "Two more... He's going to give this mission four of his prized weapons?"
Arashi simply grabbed his glass and chugged the whole thing, "He's going to have our hides if this thing goes sideways," He glanced to Tomura, storm gray eyes pinning down his brother in arms, "If you aren't one hundred percent confident in this mission, I can take it from here."
"And lose out on the shot at All-Might?" Tomura chuckled, taking a deep breath before he gave a feral smirk, his red eyes gleaming, "Fat chance, Arashi. Master is right. With four Nomus at our side, we will definitely bring this false world to its knees."
"Then rejoice, young villains," a dark, booming voice called out, as the doors to the bar's kitchen were opened. A tall man, dressed in a tight black shirt, as well as blue apron with matching bandana, pushed a cart into the main room, "For your wishes will soon be granted."
Tomura's smirk faded into a more sincere smile, "Ah, George, is the food finally ready?" The cook simply matched his smile, as he passed out the dishes for everyone. Kuin and Jester opened theirs the second they got it, only for the meal to disappoint them.
"What the hell, mapo tofu?" Kuin blurted out, Jester covering his nose in disgust, "What possessed you to make this? I thought you knew we preferred your Italian dishes."
"And the pies," Jester commented, "Where the hell are the pies?" he pushed the Mapo Tofu away in disgust. He wasn't the only one unwilling to eat this. Kuin left her dish where it was as she sipped at her lemonade, glaring at George. Arashi couldn't even eat it, as he leaned away from Kiruka. She only ate because she refused to waste food.
"Do not worry, I have some pies in the oven, they will be out in a moment," George responded, his serene face hiding his amusement at their reactions, "As for why mapo tofu today, it's what I had the ingredients for. Though," he glanced at Arashi, a smirk threatening to break free, "I failed to recognize the... allergies that this dish would provoke. My apologies."
Arashi was too proud to respond to George's shade, so he just glared at the bar's cook. Tomura smirked, before opening his meal and pulling a spoon from the utensil package, "It's fine, George. I'm glad you made this."
After his remark, Tomura scooped a bite of the mapo tofu into his mouth, making sure to keep his pinky off of his spoon. The second the dish hit his tongue, Tomura began sweating. The spicy oil and red pepper was overdone, and it felt like his tongue had been stabbed, then had every form of seasoning poured into it. Even a devil would cry at the infernal heat radiating from the boiling dish.
Tomura loved every second of it. He continued to scoop it into his mouth, even as his eyes watered and his lungs panted, eager to be free of the sensations of George's cooking. Tomura didn't even stop to drink more from his glass, as Arashi just passed him his own dish in disgust. George simply smiled. His cooking was perfect in every dish he made.
In this particular case, it was perfect in how well it created a sense of despair in those who partook of this meal.
Tomura knew that there were many trials ahead. Even so, he felt content at this moment. Their debut was coming soon. By the time of the season's change, the whole nation, no, the whole world will fear the name of the League of Villains.
Shirou felt a sense of unease pass through his body. He knew rationally, he shouldn't. It was the day after Shirou and Arturia received their acceptances into U.A., which was why they were here at Takoba beach with Miyu. Arturia and Miyu were busy building a sand castle, while Shirou stood further back, staring out into the ocean waves. It was almost evening, causing the setting sun to emit a warm light from behind the group.
Shirou narrowed his eyes, peering into the crashing waves. After everything that it took to get here, he knew he should be excited. He had always wanted to be a hero, an Ally of Justice. Now he would be able to go attend a school that would allow him to not only do that, but be able to support his family, to support Miyu, while doing so.
And yet, the regret he had... the fact he allowed his old world to perish, still wore on his soul. Shirou would never regret choosing to save Miyu, or coming here, to this world. Seeing Miyu and Arturia laugh as they dug into the sand to build their castle was only the latest evidence that this had been the only path.
But Shirou hadn't forgotten the price that he had paid for this small share of happiness. The cold, forgotten world that he had abandoned. The young woman he rejected, who paid for that rejection with her blood. The student council president who actually held to the principles of Justice. The dolls that he had cut down, a physical representation of the lives that would be lost.
I don't deserve this world. I'm unworthy of all this.
Shirou's phone buzzed, so he pulled out the device and unlocked it. It was the latest message from Midoriya, following up on the last few they had exchanged a few minutes ago.
Shirou: Hey, Arturia, Miyu, and I are all at Takoba beach. Do you want to join us? We invited Tokoyami and Uraraka, but they're too far out of town. They'll come after school starts.
Midoriya: Wait, are you there right now? Like, right now right now?
Shirou: ...Yes? Do I need to be worried about some rampaging Villain in the area?
Midoriya: No! No, no, nonononononononono. Nothing like that. I was just surprised that you would be there today. I actually had plans to go there, so I should be there soon.
"That's... a lot of noes," mused Shirou as he considered his response. He had planned to respond with an affirmative, but Arturia had explained before that most people just preferred a thumb's up 'reaction' to their messages when there's nothing else to add. She also teased him, saying he texted like an old man.
Shaking his head, Shirou did as Arturia taught him, before pocketing the phone, and looking back to the sandcastle the girls were working on. It was coming along well, with four major towers already constructed. Miyu was working on the walls, while Arturia was digging a moat around it and filling it with ocean water.
The girls were dressed in matching sundresses, with Arturia's being soft black with a star pattern, whereas Miyu's was dressed in a sky blue with clouds on it. Shirou himself wore a shorter sleeve version of his regular black and white jacket, alongside some matching shorts.
Shirou took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the ocean, before releasing it. Gawain and the Pendragon boys were off finishing work for the hero agency, before they'd pick up ingredients for a barbeque that Shirou and Miyu would handle. They would be arriving at any moment, so Shirou continued to watch the crashing waves and the young women building their castle.
The sound of a car engine rumbled into range, but it didn't match the Pendragon's car. It was deeper, one belonging to a truck. Shirou turned around to stare at the arriving vehicle. It was a sturdy white truck, with hints of rust telling of its age.
Shirou held a hand out of habit, his fingers spread out. He hadn't yet called his sword out, but it never hurt to be prepared. Arturia had also heard the truck, even over the ocean, and snapped her gaze up to see what had arrived.
"Shirou, let's just hang on a moment," Arturia stated evenly, alert even as she stood up to head over to Shirou, "We don't know who this... Oh!" she stopped, her voice going from surprise to recognition, "Hello, Mister Yagi!"
Mister Yagi, as Arturia called him, was tall, even as hunched over as he was. His scraggly blonde hair waved gently in the wind, as dark shadows hid Mister Yagi's eyes in his gaunt face. He was dressed casually, a white t-shirt with green cargo pants, a prominent belt buckle displayed. Mister Yagi looked over to the two teens, before his eyes lit up, "Ah, Miss Pendragon! It has been a minute since we last chatted. How has your father been?"
Arturia placed a hand on her hip while Mister Yagi made his way over to them down the steps, "He's doing alright. He's actually on his way over now, with some barbeque stuff if you want to stick around," Arturia glanced at Shirou with a smile, "This guy is a fantastic cook, alongside his sister." Miyu had been watching the exchange from the sand castle, and started to walk over when Arturia glanced over to her. Caution followed her footsteps, but curiosity guided her eyes.
"Indeed? It's been a minute since I've had some good barbeque," Mister Yagi mused, paying more attention to the teenagers before him, "Though sadly I must decline for health reasons. Barbeque doesn't agree with my stomach anymore."
The gaunt giant turned to look Shirou in the eye, "You must be Young Emiya, then. All-Might has mentioned you and your sister to me, from both the Trigger incident that happened here and the U.A. entrance exam." Shirou blinked, his wariness elevating ever so slightly. Miyu was also hesitant, standing carefully behind her older brother.
Thankfully, Arturia knew how to reassure them, "Mister Yagi is All-Might's secretary at his hero agency," she explained to the two siblings, "He'll even attend some events if All-Might is too busy to show up. Though, I wonder what your job is going to be like, Mister Yagi, what with All-Might teaching at U.A. this year."
Mister Yagi gave a soft chuckle, "Ah, same as it ever is. Making sure that the Symbol of Peace can do his job no matter what. Whatever he needs to do to help the people out," he casually shrugged, "I'll do what I can to support."
Miyu continued to stare at the gaunt giant from behind her older brother, but she finally chose to voice a question, "What does that mean, that you... support All-Might?" she asked, glancing Mister Yagi up and down, her eyes searching for some detail, some answer to a question only she knew.
"I guess... it just means I do the paperwork and busywork. That way, All-Might can focus on helping others and stopping villains," Mister Yagi rubbed the back of his head, "Did you expect me to go out and fight villains as well, Miss Miyu?"
Arturia chimed in, "He basically does the same kind of stuff that Miss Arima does for Dad. All of that boring paperwork stuff." Despite the explanation, Miyu seemingly ignored the words being spoken. She just continued to stare at Mister Yagi, her eyes flickering between his stomach, then back to his eyes.
"...If you say so," Miyu finally responded, "...Just tell All-Might thanks for saving Midoriya and my big brother that day," with her piece said, Miyu headed back to the sand castle, scooping up sand to reinforce the walls.
Shirou could feel a question mark appear above his head, with matching ones over Arturia and Mister Yagi. He turned to the older gentleman, "I am... so sorry, sir. Miyu's... still working on her socialization skills."
Mister Yagi simply shrugged, "I wouldn't worry about it. She's simply being inquisitive," he looked around the beach, which maintained its cleanliness a bit better these days, "Though, I have to ask, why come here, to Takoba? Weren't you attacked here, Young Emiya?"
Shirou glanced to the side and nodded, "Yeah, we were. Miyu, Midoriya, and I, right at this very spot," Shirou gestured to the area they were standing, Mister Yagi's eyes wide in surprise. Shirou continued, "The thing is, this was what I was fighting for."
He glanced back to his younger sister, "Miyu... always wanted to go to the beach. Before I could take her... some villains tried to kidnap her." From where she was, Miyu couldn't hear the words that were being spoken, as she carved little turrets out of the walls of the sand castle.
"It was a miracle that we ended up here when we escaped," Shirou let out a sigh. "I'm not letting anyone, or anything take that away from her. Like how you'll always support All-Might in his mission, I will help Miyu achieve any dream she has."
Arturia chuckled, "You always have, like a good big brother should," she turned to Mister Yagi, a proud smile on her face, "Shirou's been helping this kid named Midoriya clean this beach ever since his recovery. I still can't believe those two pulled it off, it was a mess here."
"No kidding," Mister Yagi remarked, "I... uh, saw the aftermath of your fight here, Young Emiya. It's impressive the level of service you provided here, to make this beach a safe place to visit."
Shirou shook his head, "It was all Midoriya. He was the one who first saw that this beach needed cleaning. That's how Miyu and I met him, he was showing up to clean all by himself," Shirou glanced away, "If anything, I was only making up for the damage I caused during my fight with the thugs."
Mister Yagi gave Shirou a reproachful look, "It's true, you did cause a lot of damage to the environment here, but you did it to save lives," he gestured to Miyu, "Not only to save your sister, but if the two of you weren't here, then those thugs would have just found Midoriya cleaning the beach alone. How do you think that would have gone?"
Shirou's breath caught in his throat, as he realized exactly what that gang would have been willing to do to Midoriya, just to have a laugh. Especially with how Miyu talked about that shapeshifter who went after her and Midoriya. Not to mention how liberally the Bee user was trying to poison Shirou with that Trigger drug. If she had gotten to Midoriya, with the power of the green head's quirk, with that poison...
Mister Yagi continued, "So, do you hold a responsibility to the land here? Perhaps, and it is good that you acted upon that feeling. It's never wrong to help others," he gave a large smile, one that bordered on being familiar to Shirou, "And now, you and Midoriya have helped this beach become a place worth visiting again."
Arturia tilted her head, "That reminds me, what are you doing here, Mister Yagi?" the gaunt giant flinched, turning in surprise to her as she continued, "All-Might's agency is all the way in Minato. Why would you be over here in Mustafa?"
Before Mister Yagi could respond, the thudding of footsteps heralded the arrival of Izuku Midoriya, who leapt down the stairs to join everyone, "Oh, uh, hey guys!" he greeted as he slid to a stop by the group. The green haired youth was wearing regular jeans and a t-shirt that said... T-shirt.
"It's nice to finally see you, Al-, uh, Arturia, Emiya, and," Midoriya took a deep breath, "...Mister Yagi." On his back, Midoriya had his yellow backpack, but also a long, cylinder package over his shoulder. It took a second for Shirou to realize that it was a portable lamp, as Midoriya shrugged it off his shoulder and started to set it up.
"Oh, uh, hello, Young Midoriya," Mister Yagi coughed, looking back to Shirou and Arturia, "Er, you see, I met Young Midoriya before. Right after the incident here, actually. All-Might decided to give him a tour of U.A. as a reward for his help in that situation, but since he had to leave earlier, I arrived to U.A. to watch over him until his mother arrived to pick him up."
Arturia put her hand to her hip, her lips pursed with hidden amusement, "I see, how lucky for you, Midoriya. Getting to meet the Number 1 Pro Hero here must have been an honor." Shirou frowned at her coy attitude. She had shared with both Miyu and Shirou her theory about Midoriya's parentage. Shirou wasn't sure if he believed it. Miyu seemed to find it plausible.
Midoriya let out a chuckle, rubbing the back of his head as he continued to set up the lamp, "Yeah... It was nice to see him..." he stopped, looking back to Arturia with wide eyes, "Oh, right, congratulations on getting first place! You definitely deserve it after saving Uraraka and me."
Arturia blinked, then smirked, waving her hand dismissively, "Oh, that? I swore that I would get first place, so I did. If only someone else remembered to make the top five," she turned to glare at Shirou, who held up his hands in mock surrender, "Oh well, at least you're making some barbeque later, once Dad gets here after he's done with his work."
"Oh, your dad will be coming here?" Midoriya tilted his head as he continued to put the final touches on the lamp he had brought, "What does he do for work?"
"He's Saber Shine," Arturia responded bluntly, just as Midoriya flicked the light on the lamp on. Her amusement showed through as Midoriya started gasping as he whipped his head to stare at her, "...I take it you're a fan of his?"
"Oh my gosh, yes!" Midoriya responded, ripping open his backpack to pull out his notebook, "He showed up to help here back in January, he was so cool! I was so upset with myself that I couldn't get his signature," a thought struck Midoriya, as he snapped his gaze to Shirou, "Wait, that'swhy you and Miss Miyu are staying with the..." he slapped a hand to his forehead, "Pendragons! How did I miss that? It was right in front of me this whole time!"
Arturia chuckled, "Yes, our family took in the Emiyas under the Robin Ward Laws. As for Dad's signature, I'm sure he'll be willing to give it," Arturia tilted her head, her next question expressed in a practiced, casual tone, "What does your dad do, Midoriya?"
"He handles legal matters for Star and Stripe in America," Midoriya's response was flawless. There was no hint that this was a rehearsed story. Midoriya simply retold what his dad did for a living. Shirou smirked as Arturia pouted. That was a substantial blow to her theory.
At this point, Miyu had jerked her head to see where the sudden light was from. When she had recognized Midoriya, she proceeded to rush back over, coming to a stop by slamming into his side with a hug.
Shirou was caught off-guard by the display from his sister. Midoriya was completely startled, waving his arms around, looking to the group for help. Arturia was too busy laughing, amused by Miyu's sudden show of affection. Even Mister Yagi had a light in his eye as he watched Midoriya try to handle Shirou's younger sister.
"Oh, uh, er, hi, Miss Miyu," stammered Midoriya, looking to Shirou for guidance. Shirou shook his head, smiling, before nodding his head to his sister. Midoriya gingerly put his arms around Miyu, returning the hug, before they separated. "How have you been doing?"
"Worried sick about you!" Miyu retorted as she pulled away, stomping her foot into the sand, "Artie told me that you hurt yourself in the entrance exam, and then you told Shirou that you couldn't focus on this place," Miyu pouted at Midoriya, pinning him with the weight of his sins, "What do you have to say for yourself?"
Midoriya rubbed the back of his head, glancing aside, "...I was busy getting ready for my end of year finals," he muttered, not even believing his own excuse. The green haired boy glanced over to Shirou, Arturia, and Mister Yagi, before glancing back to the irate fourteen-year-old, "I'm sorry, I really was worried over the results of the entrance exam. I'm not sure if Emiya or Pendragon told you, but I didn't exactly do well in the practical..."
Miyu winced, and Midoriya nodded, "Yeah... I kind of hurt myself during it. I didn't know if I was actually going to get into U.A. or not," Midoriya shrugged, "I just... didn't know if I was going to be able to keep trying to become a hero."
"You saved me, you are a hero," Miyu replied bluntly, "Just like my big brother," she turned to glare at Shirou, who also glanced away with a grimace, "You're both kind of similar, now that I think about it."
Miyu had torn into Shirou when he and Arturia had gotten back from the entrance exam. She had been fine with Shirou using her power to save the other contestants... She wasn't as okay with the burned hand and the overextension fatigue.
Arturia snorted, "Yeah, actually, I can kind of see it," Shirou and Midoriya turned to look at the blonde young woman, who just smirked, "You're both reckless do-gooders, ready to throw everything into helping someone in need. You both took down an Executor, for crying out loud," she shrugged, grumbling to herself, "Man, I need to take a shot at one myself."
Mister Yagi chuckled, "Taking down an Executor may seem like a great deed, but it's the reasons the two of you did it that define that action as heroic," he turned to Arturia, a gentle smile on the gaunt giant's face, "You asked me earlier what I was doing in here in Musutafu, rather than Minato. I was turning in some paperwork to U.A. to solidify All-Might becoming a new teacher this year. He's incredibly excited to work with all of you, to see the next generation of heroes rise to the challenge. He won't shut up about what he saw at the entrance exam to anyone he's allowed to talk to about it," the gaunt giant chuckled, "He's been annoying even me with how excited he's been."
Mister Yagi stopped talking for a moment, seeming contemplating something. The gaunt giant started to walk down the beach, passing by the sand castle, and heading for where the waves lapped up over the sand. The group of teenagers followed after him, Arturia and Miyu to Shirou's left, Midoriya to the right.
Mister Yagi stood looking out to the ocean for a moment, looking for an answer that seemed to elude him, before he turned around back to the group, "I know I don't look like some great epic hero like All-Might, but I happen to know a thing or two. I've been in this field for a long time. A long, long time. So... If you all want, I would like to tell you what All-Might would have told you, if he could be here, standing before you all.
The group of teens nodded with bated breath. For a moment, all they could hear was the ocean's waves continuing to rise and crash down. Mister Yagi took a deep breath, then turned to Arturia first, "Congratulations on reaching first place in the entrance exam, Miss Pendragon. You defeated every single challenge that was set before you. Your victory was well-earned."
Arturia glanced at her feet, trying not to preen at the compliments. Mister Yagi chuckled, "It's fine to take pride in your achievements. However, do not let that pride consume you. You are a hero first. Helping others is the goal, that is the true victory that we are seeking in the field."
"Yes sir," Arturia responded, bowing her head respectfully. Mister Yagi smiled, a wave of... nostalgia passing over his face.
"Your mother would have been proud of you," the gaunt giant said simply, "I hope your father has told you that."
Arturia hadn't been expecting that response, her eyes wide as if she had been slapped, "...He has, sir," her right arm found its way to her left bicep, "Thank you for the compliment."
Mister Yagi gave a solemn nod, then turned to Midoriya, "I seem to recall that you gave me a full history on U.A. during our tour there, Young Midoriya," the group chuckled, including Midoriya himself with a blush. Mister Yagi gave a kind smile, "How does it feel to be officially a part of the Hero Academia?"
Midoriya's blush faded as he pondered the question, "It's... always been my dream to be a hero. I'm glad to have made it into U.A., but..." he shook his head, "I don't know how I passed. I didn't get any Villain Points, and I was only able to use this power to save Uraraka," he clenched his fist, "I have to be better. Too many people have helped me to get here. I can't settle for only twenty-seventh place." Arturia put a hand on her hip, flashing a competitive smirk, while Shirou and Miyu nodded in encouragement.
"Only twenty-seventh place?" Mister Yagi gave a hearty chuckle, "I like your drive, Young Midoriya, but don't dismiss what you've accomplished so far. Do you know how many students apply to enter U.A.'s hero course each year?"
Midoriya thought for a moment, recalling the answer. When he did, he started to blush, looking like a tomato with his red face and poofy green hair, "...A few thousand. Only one in thirty students tend to get into the Hero Course."
Mister Yagi nodded, "That's right, and out of those thousands, only twenty six students managed to surpass you. Two of them being right here," he gestured to Arturia and Shirou, "Do you find any shame in being behind them?"
Midoriya shook his head, "Of course not! Emiya and Pendragon... you are both amazing," he glanced towards them, then away again, "They are going to be great heroes, I know it. I want to, no, I need to be able to stand alongside them in the future."
"Then you have to get your Quirk under control," Arturia remarked, "You can't break your legs every time you leap into action. Don't worry, Shirou and I can help whip you into shape!" Arturia flexed her bicep, like she was on the cover of an old We Can Do It poster.
Mister Yagi chuckled, "Yes, working with others is a good way to build strength," he turned back to the green haired youth, "She is right, Young Midoriya. I'm sure that All-Might has some ideas on how to help you control your power," Shirou frowned at the weird emphasis as the gaunt giant continued, "But relying on your friends until you get there isn't a bad way to go. Even All-Might had his allies, like David Shield and Sir Night Eye."
Midoriya frowned, looking down to the sand. He looked like he was trying to figure out how to ask a question, but it took a second before he asked, "...Did I have allies in the entrance exam?"
Mister Yagi raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Do you think that the short time you have met All-Might in was enough for him to speak up and use his influence to get you in?" the gaunt giant shook his head, "No, you did have allies in the entrance exam, like Miss Pendragon here, but you got in on your own merit," Mister Yagi's eyes narrowed in focus, "I can't get into the details on how you passed, but know it was because of your heroic heart. I can't wait to see what you will do in the future."
Midoriya clutched his chest, fighting back tears, managing to reply with, "Thank you, sir." He sniffed, trying to get his emotions under control, "I won't let you down."
Mister Yagi nodded, then turned to Shirou, "As for you, Young Emiya..." He stopped for a moment, considering the young man for a moment, "Your fight here on the beach... It wasn't your first time fighting a group of thugs, was it?"
Shirou tilted his head, "...No, sir, it wasn't." He wasn't sure where this conversation was going. Shirou had no idea what advice Mister Yagi would want to impart to him. He was especially surprised when Mister Yagi started chuckling.
"That's what I figured. Don't tell anyone I said this," Mister Yagi glanced around the group conspiratorily, "But All-Might has been fighting thugs all the way back before he even chose his hero name. It's how he met his mentor, actually," he gave a soft chuckle, "But that's a story for another time."
Shirou shifted on his feet as Mister Yagi continued, "Young Emiya, it's good that you know your way around a fight. Your Quirk is excellent for getting yourself the tools you need, you have the skills to leverage them, and you have the heart to protect those around you," Arturia, Miyu, and Midoriya all nodded as Mister Yagi continued, "You have shown these qualities both here at Takoba and at the practical exam, at least from what I've heard. It's almost as if you have trained already to be a hero."
Mister Yagi put two fingers near his eyes, then pointed them to Shirou, "It's your eyes that worry me. I can tell that you have seen things no kid your age should have seen," Shirou glanced aside, as Miyu leaned into him.
Arturia glanced at him, but Shirou wouldn't look back at her. He had shared some things with her, but not everything. Arturia thought she understood, and Shirou didn't want to give her a hint otherwise.
Mister Yagi nodded, "Every hero has a tragedy that has spurred them on. Even if you don't enter this field with one, there will be a day where you can't save someone, and it will haunt you for the rest of your days. There is no true hero that is exempt from this. Even All-Might has failed to save others."
Shirou knew that. If anything, he felt that he knew this fact better than anyone else here. From the disaster that Kiritsugu saved him from at Shinjuku, to his own rampage in the Holy Grail War. No one could save everyone.
"I see, you have failed to save others as well," Mister Yagi quietly replied, "Remember them. Never forget the lives you have failed to save. Take the time to process and grieve those that have fallen," Mister Yagi's words carried through to Shirou. The redhead looked up to the gaunt giant's eyes, and an understanding passed between them.
"But when it comes time to go once more into the breach, do not let your own personal demons fight alongside the villains and disasters," Mister Yagi declared, clenching his own fist, "Do not spare anything for hesitation or self doubt. You have to give the people hope, a smile to rely on during the disaster. Don't worry about what came before, focus on giving a hundred percent of your efforts to look forward and save the next life on the line," Mister Yagi shook his head, throwing his arm aside "No, not a hundred percent, more than that. You have to go further than that."
"Go Beyond, Plus Ultra!" Miyu responded, sounding strangely enthusiastic. Arturia and Midoriya chuckled, but Mister Yagi enthusiastically pointed to her.
"Yes, that's right, Miss Miyu! You know what heroes are made of!" Mister Yagi's grin was wide, almost terrifying. But even with the dark circles under his eyes, a light shined in them that was too encouraging to deny, "So tell me, young miss, do you think we have a good batch of heroes here?"
Miyu stopped to look to Midoriya, then to Arturia, then she nuzzled back into Shirou, "Yeah, we do," Miyu's voice was calm and clear, carrying the maturity of an adult but the hope of a child, "They're all going to be great heroes."
Mister Yagi nodded, "I think so too. I know All-Might is excited to whip you all into shape, you bunch of noobies," the group chuckled, as Mister Yagi checked his wrist watch. He released a slow sigh, "Well, I had wanted to stay around to see Saber Shine, but if I don't leave now, it'll be late when I get back to the agency office."
"Duty never rests, huh?" Arturia replied, causing Mister Yagi to nod with a chuckle.
"No, it certainly doesn't," Mister Yagi started to head back to his car, "So take the time you can. That goes for you two, Young Midoriya and Young Emiya. Enjoy this time while you can." With that, the group of teenagers watched as Mister Yagi got back into his beat up truck, and drove off.
Shirou turned his gaze back to the ocean's horizon. He expected Arturia and Miyu to go back to the sand castle, maybe with Midoriya helping them. Instead, everyone seemed to be pondering over Mister Yagi's words as they watched the waves crest and listen to the crashing waves.
Shirou inhaled a deep breath, smelling the salty breeze, then glanced at Arturia. She stood forward, resting her body, her soft black sundress swaying in the salty seabreeze. Seeing her with the evening sky behind her, the clouds flowing by, Shirou thought she would look more natural holding a sword, though he didn't know where that thought came from. Her gaze seemed to look forward, ready for the trials ahead.
Movement from his side caused Shirou to turn to look at Midoriya. The green haired youth had moved his palm up, staring at it, before clenching his fist. For a brief moment, Shirou felt a wave of power emanate from Midoriya. It passed, and Midoriya released a sigh, before he gave a confident smile.
Shirou glanced down at Miyu, wondering if she had felt anything. However, she seemed to be staring out into the ocean, lost in thought. She noticed Shirou's attention on her, however, so Miyu just smiled and leaned into her older brother. Shirou smiled back, then looked back into the ocean, lost in thought.
A new, more familiar car drove up to the breach, breaking the moment. Arturia turned to the car, exclaiming, "Oh, Dad's here!" At the mention of Gawain, Miyu turned from the ocean and started rushing with Arturia, who called out in excitement, "Come on, Shirou and Midoriya! Let's get this barbecue started!"
Midoriya was startled, but raced after the two girls, "Oh, right! I'll come help," he only made it a few steps before he stopped, noticing that Shirou was still staring out into the ocean, "Are you alright, Emiya?"
"Shirou?" Arturia replied, stopping to see what the matter was. Miyu also paused, a few steps further from her. Above them, Gawain, Kay, and Lance were starting to unload the supplies already. Arturia then asked, "Aren't you coming with us?"
Shirou stayed for a moment longer, staring out at the crashing waves. He then glanced down, taking a deep breath in, then turned around, "Yeah... I am." With those words, Shirou started to run up, catching up with Midoriya, Arturia, and Miyu, as they all rushed forward.
Forward... into their new future.