Ten years later,
Luke looked outside the limo's open window, Hawks sitting next to him.
"So that's how it was…" Hawks nodded, behaving as if he didn't know it already. "I don't
know what would I have done if I were in Mr. Saionji's place. But…"
"… It's alright," Luke said, still looking out. The lights, the rush, the people, the air… it made
him feel alive. He faced Hawks and smiled. "It doesn't matter."
Hawks' mouth flattened into a thin line.
It wasn't the first time he was meeting with Subject Minus One.
A few years after assuming the position of the Chairman of Hero Public Safety Commission,
the famous tycoon of the Saionji Group, Mr. Reijirou Saionji had contacted him, letting him
know a few secrets.
Hawks had been shocked beyond words to learn that the man wasn't Quirkless.
But as he talked more with Mr. Saionji, things had become clearer, letting Hawks learn a
bitter truth — The tycoon practically owned the Japanese Government!
As if that had not been enough, Mr. Saionji then revealed the existence of Subject Minus
One.
Bioalchemy… Hawks thought, recalling the info on Luke's Quirk. If All For One had stolen
it…
Hawks imagined the All For One at the end of the Final War… with an army of monstrous
animals and plants with strange powers… and a chill ran down his spine.
Now, Hawks felt he had unconsciously lied to Luke. He knew exactly what he would have
done if he was in Mr. Saionji's place. He sighed, feeling guilty for no reason.
"Aren't you angry?" Hawks asked, seeing the sheer joy on Luke's face. "… for what they did
to you… holding you there for a decade… experimenting on you…"
For a moment, Hawks noticed the tremble in Luke's eyes. If he had learned to hide his
emotions, Hawks didn't know. But… for that tiny moment… he sensed something more than
anger.
"Why did you agree to it?" Hawks asked, changing the topic. "To the marriage."
Luke brought his thoughts to the present and recalled the moment when his father had come
to him.Saionji Group and the Yaoyorozu Family had set up a Quirk Marriage between Luke and the
current No. 19 Hero, Everything Hero: Creati.
If Luke agreed, there would be no need for him to remain in the labs anymore. He could go
out… have a family… live…
… too much to ask from someone who had never had a single friend in his entire life, no?
Luke didn't say that, though, accepting his father's request on a single condition.
"From a scientific perspective, it does make sense," Luke answered Hawks. "If I and Momo
have a child, the chances of the child having a Quirk with both my and her Quirks' traits are
over 90%.
"With the doom planned by Quirk Singularity, the birth of such a child is humanity's only
salvation. A fusion of Bioalchemy and Creation can theoretically let one manipulate Quirk
Factors at will in all organisms.
"But that's not why I agreed to the marriage."
Hawks looked at the hope of humanity with a troubled gaze.
On one side, it was Luke, hidden and secured from the outside world. On the other side, it
was Momo Yaoyorozu, protected by secret forces all her life.
It had shocked Hawks beyond measure when he had learned that there had always been Quirk
users watching over Momo, making sure she didn't get mortally wounded. Some had even
died in her place.
Hawks was sure that if she hadn't been the daughter of the Yaoyorozu Family, then Mr.
Saionji would have locked her up as well.
"Why did you agree, then?" he asked.
Luke grinned. "I told my father I will only agree if I get to present my research to the world!"
Hawks brows shot up. "Quirk Conformity?"
"Yup…" Luke looked outside, taking a deep breath.
Hawks shook his head. Even after knowing that the theory of Quirk Singularity wasn't just a
myth, but a cold, hard truth, he just couldn't see any sense in Luke's research.
Not only him, but no one in the world believed it, Hawks knew.
Before Luke came out, Saionji Group had published the research for the entire world to see,
attracting public outrage and mockery from thousands of scientists. They had, of course,
ignored it.
Now, Hawks knew why Saionji Group didn't try to defend the theory.They don't believe it, either… Hawks concluded. It was just a condition…
"You don't want to marry at all, do you?" he asked Luke.
The man wearing a white lab coat shook his head. "I will do it," he said, feeling the wind on
his face. "I know what's at stake here, Hawks. My life… was always supposed to be a
sacrifice… that's my fate."
Hawks stared at Luke with… admiration.
If we can save the world by this marriage, then I will do it… These were the exact words
Momo said, Hawks had learned.
It felt like… she needed help… "You know…" Hawks said, recalling Luke's words from half
an hour ago. "You would have been a great hero."
"Yeah?" Luke asked. "How do you know that?"
"Because we are the same," Hawks said, smiling. "You are just me if Endeavor had never
saved me from my father…"
In his childhood, Hawk's father would force him to stay locked up in the house to ensure no
one could discover and capture him, and he was unable to interact with the outside world or
anyone his age.
Furthermore, he was subjected to constant physical and emotional abuse by his father.
Hawks would be kicked simply for turning his back to his father, who would constantly say
how it would've been better if he was never born.
It was only after Endeavor arrested his father that Hawks escaped his hopeless fate.
A hopeless fate… that Luke never escaped, it seemed.
"Hey, Hawks!" Nyx cawed suddenly, perched regally between Luke and Hawks. "How about
opening a bottle of champagne for this big sister?"
Hawks' lips twitched. "Crows and Hawks aren't…"
"Crow your mother! I will murder your ass!!"
Nyx lunged at Hawks, brandishing her claws. Luke tried to grab her, a few tiny feathers
battering against the wind.
"Cough…" Hawks cleared his throat as he heard Nyx's indecent curses. "Sorry. I meant
raven… big sister…"
Nyx took several deep breaths and started attending to her feathers. "Humph!"
…To celebrate the joining of their families with marriage, the Saionji Group and Yaoyorozu
Family arranged a grand party.
Primarily, it was to formally let Luke enter the world, presenting him as Mr. Saionji's son
who had been earning his doctoral degree overseas… to tell the world that he didn't have a
Quirk.
With the rise in international crimes, they had decided to never let anyone know that Luke
even possessed a Quirk. If someone even got a hint of it, and acted out against him hoping to
steal or copy his Quirk, injuring him meanwhile, then…
It would also be the first time for Luke and Momo to meet each other, both knowing the
hidden implications behind the marriage.
In a Great Hall, many famous figures had gathered, the sound of soothing music decorating
the background.
Izuku Midoriya, Ochaco Uraraka, Shoto Todoroki, Katsuki Bakugo, Tenya Ida, Denki
Kaminari, and Kyoka Jiro were standing together dressed formally.
"There she is!" Uraraka almost screamed cheerily.
Momo, wearing a long green gown, walked up to them. "You guys made it!"
"Tch!" Bakugo tsked, loosening his tie. He pointed at Izuku, then. "This idiot practically
dragged me here…"
Shoto smiled. "Never thought you would be the first one to get married. Congratulations."
Tenya held up a large gift-wrapped box. "Congratulations! From all of us!"
Momo accepted the gift, a wry smile dancing on her lips.
After talking with the old 1-A gang for a while and sharing a few laughs, Momo slipped
away, her gaze shifting left and right.
Kyoka Jiro caught up with her, frowning. "What's going on, Momo?" she asked. "What aren't
you telling us?"
Momo and Kyoka were best friends. Yet, it was only yesterday Kyoka learned about this
marriage nonsense. It was clear something was off with whatever it was.
When Momo didn't reply, Kyoka held her hand and pulled her away before pointing
somewhere.
Momo followed Kyoka's finger and saw him sitting at a table in a far corner, with a bird on
his shoulder. He was wearing a black shirt and pants.
But his hair wasn't blond and his eyes weren't blue as was told to her."He's been sitting there since the moment he arrived," Kyoka said. "Also, what's with the
freaking bird?"
Suddenly, they saw a little girl approaching the man.
Momo elbowed Kyoka.
Hearing Hero: Earphone Jack rolled her eyes.
The earphone jack on her right earlobe extended, embedding itself into a pillar next to them.
She pressed a switch on her belt and gave Momo an earpiece.
…
"… Can I pet her?" the girl asked, pointing at the bird.
"I am Nyx," the bird cawed, jumping off Luke's shoulder. "You, little girl… you are cute. I
will allow you to worship me."
"Nyx…" Luke stared at the bird. He nodded at the girl. "You can pet her."
The girl stood on her toes and put her finger on Nyx's head, a brilliant smile surfacing on her
lips. "… so smooth…"
"Of course!" Nyx cawed, stretching her wings. "I wash my feathers daily with shampoo and
conditioner."
"Wow!" the girl had stars in her eyes. She then looked at Luke. "Are you a Hero?"
Luke stiffened. "… no…"
"Whoa! I thought the bird was your Quirk…" the girl said.
Seeing Nyx's furious expression, Luke laughed. "Haha! No. She's just an old woman trapped
in a bird's body…"
"How dare you, you mongrel?!" Nyx hissed and lunged at Luke's face, slamming his cheeks
with her wings.
On the side, the girl began hammering Luke's legs, too. "Yes! How dare you, you mongrel!!"
After a few moments, Luke spied two figures approaching them. He recognized one of them
instantaneously.
As the unknown girl with long earlobes took away the girl, Momo sat down opposite Luke.
Nyx, sensing the oddness, stopped slapping Luke's face and turned around. "Whoa! Huge!!"
"Nyx!" Luke gasped.
Momo frowned.Nyx hopped to Luke's shoulder and smiled, covering her beak with her wing. "Hehe! You
lucky bastard! She's packing!!"
"Nyx!!!" Luke looked at Momo, horrified.
Momo's frown deepened.
"My father told me… about you," she said, taking a deep breath. "With your Quirk, you could
have easily broken out of that place. Why didn't you?"
Luke stared at the spotless tablecloth. "Running away… is easy."
Momo smiled, but the smile vanished before Luke or Nyx saw it. "You published Quirk
Conformity, didn't you?"
Luke's head snapped up. "Who told you?"
Momo ignored the question. "Your research claims that all Quirks have originated from one
source," she said. "That the Quirk Singularity is nothing but an effect to this cause… I am
no scientist, but I agree with those who are. Isn't it a little too absurd with the little data we
have?"
Nyx's eyes went hard.
Luke's head slowly fell again.
Momo continued uncaring, though. "However… that's not what you were really trying to tell,
were you?"
Luke's head jolted up. Again.
Momo's eyes held intelligence as she looked at him. "You were saying that… a Quirk like All
For One is not only inevitable but also repetitive in nature."
Luke stared at Momo stupidly.
Hundreds of papers… Thousands of calculations… Tens of thousands of hours…
The world's greatest scientists had read Luke's research even before it had been revealed to
the outside world. Yet, no one inferred the true meaning he wanted to tell through it. Not even
Dr Donald, the Chief Scientist.
Momo did it right here in front of him… in a few sentences.
Nyx whispered in Luke's ear. "I like her."
For the first time, Luke truly looked at Momo.
He didn't know why, but his heart was thumping. "You are… beautiful."Momo smiled, getting up. As she walked a few steps away, she paused and looked over her
shoulder. "You aren't bad, either."
"… Hmm?" Luke didn't understand.
Nyx facepalmed. "It means she will reproduce with you."
"Nyx!!!" Luke gasped.
*
*
One year later,
"Who are you talking with?" Luke asked.
In the mansion's hall, Momo was seated on a sofa by the fire, gently caressing her belly. "To
our daughter. We talk sometimes…"
Luke smiled and sat down opposite her, her eyes landing on the framed photo of their
wedding on the mantelpiece over the fire.
Unknowingly, his mind went to the times when his father had adopted him… when they
forced him to use his Quirk day after day, cleaning the blood off him so that he would always
remain clean… clean… very clean…
Luke looked at Momo and his vision blurred.
She held his hand, looking into his eyes. "What's the matter?"
Luke shook his head, smiling. "I don't know… but… when I look at you… it feels like…
finally, there's some meaning in life… that… it wasn't all pointless…"
Momo got up and sat down on Luke's lap, hugging him.
From somewhere, Nyx landed on the mantelpiece. "If I had a wife who would press those
bazoombas on my face every day… then I will find meaning in life, too."
"Nyx!!!" Luke and Momo both gasped.
[RUN! IT FOUND US!!]
Huh? Luke's mind rocked. Who was that?!
Contrary to him, Momo's entire face paled all of a sudden.
"Use your Quirk on Nyx! Now!" As she screamed, she was already activating her Quirk,
simultaneously pressing the switch on the sofa that would alert all guards outside.Luke, though flabbergasted by the voice and his wife's sudden action, didn't wait for
explanations. With an urgency, he lifted his hand and…
BOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!
…
Fire was everywhere.
Someone was screaming miles away.
No matter how the tongues of fire licked his face, he didn't feel the heat.
Only inches away from him, washed in blood, was Momo, looking at him with her remaining
eye. Between them, Nyx lay dead.
Why? Luke's hand moved, his fingers dragging themselves toward them. Why? How? There
were dozens of bodyguards outside… all with powerful Quirks…
Momo reached out to him. "Our…" blood foamed in her mouth. "… daughter… she is…"
Why? Why was it happening? Why didn't his father see this? He saw everything…
everything!
Steps rang in Luke's ear. Someone was standing on top of them. He looked up. No… Why?
Katsuki Bakugo, the head bodyguard assigned to them, was surrounded by a fuming, red
mist, his eyes glowing bloody red. He pointed his palms toward them.
Something snapped within Luke, a silent scream of buried rage bursting out of his lungs.
Sparks oozed out from Bakugo's palms as he smirked. [Die!]
And then everything went dark, a gray fog lingering in the back of Luke's broken mind.