Izuku's head hung low, the boy feeling rather ashamed of himself. He was glad that his classmates had tried to 'save' him, but that was outweighed by the realization that he couldn't even speak to a bunch of girls to explain the situation. All the more reason why he had to redouble his efforts on improving himself.
"We've got him." Setsuna announced, snapping him out of his reverie.
They found themselves in a remote corner of the cafeteria with not many other students nearby, headed towards a certain table where a girl sat patiently waiting. That same girl looked up upon hearing Setsuna's voice; dark circles surrounding one eye of the palest blue peeked out from silver-grey locks met Izuku's emerald ones.
The thumping in his chest increased twofold.
Somehow, Izuku sensed that this girl was somehow different from all the others he had seen so far. For one, she wasn't just cute… there was a quiet beauty to her that seemed ethereal and otherworldly, a delicate elegance that took his breath away. He didn't feel like he was romantically attracted to her, no—and yet he felt strangely drawn to her, an odd feeling that echoed of familiarity and kinship.
A sharp elbow in the side snapped him out of the dreamlike trance.
"Oi." Setsuna hissed. "Take your lecherous eyes off her. Starin' like you're undressing her with your gaze..."
"I wasn't—" Izuku stuttered, blushing.
"Now now, Secchan. Calm yourself." the girl nodded, beckoning them closer with a come-hither expression.
As they moved closer Izuku found himself mentally comparing her to a princess. She radiated an aura of elegance and calm tranquility, but there was a brilliant spark of intelligence that burned flare-bright within that glimmering sapphire gaze; drawing him in like a moth to a flame.
"Hello." she said in a quiet voice, a curtain of silver shrouding her left eye. "Take a seat."
He did, and fidgeted nervously while the others sat down around him alongside the circular table. Pony had stuck true to her word, and went back to buy him a burger while Kinoko and Setsuna began eating their meals.
"So you are the one I've been hearing about. Midoriya Izuku." the pale girl said politely, hands held in a strange, high posture that was somewhat connotative of a ghost. "I hope Tokage-chan wasn't too rough with persuading you to come here."
"She wasn't." Izuku mumbled, eyes flickering upwards to meet hers. "I think I owe everyone an explanation as well."
"Do you now." she hummed softly. "I didn't want to have us meet this way, but some alarming accusations have come to light regarding you and some of our classmates. I'm sure you understand."
"I assure you it's all a big misunderstanding, um…"
"Yanagi Reiko." the girl introduced herself with a humble nod, her short hair bobbing slightly as she did. "And I'm sure you've met my comrades; Komori Kinoko, Tsunotori Pony, and Tokage Setsuna."
Izuku nodded, cautious and considering what to say next. There was no doubt about it; if Setsuna had been the lieutenant of their little party then Yanagi was definitely their commander. He gulped, still determined to explain himself.
"Y-yeah. Anyway, I assure you I wasn't trying anything with your friends, Yanagi-san—"
"Call me Reiko."
"Um."
"I insist."
"A-alright… R-reiko-san." the boy blushed despite himself. Wasn't a first name basis only for close friends? Then again, Tsuyu also preferred everyone to call her by her first name.
"Hmm." Reiko glanced at him fondly, hands steepled and an odd gleam in her eye. "You're different, aren't you. I can tell."
"Huh?"
"It matters not. Secchan, would you do the honors?"
"Right." Setsuna grunted, having almost finished half her meal already. "Ahem! After a little investigation, we found out that broccoli boy here has been talking, or rather, flirtingwith three of our classmates."
"Um, I wasn't flirting—"
"Maybe he was just being friendly?" Kinoko agreed, nodding as she gobbled up another mushroom.
"Perhaps. However, we promised to launch this investigation to see if he truly is fooling around with their feelings like we suspected. If so, that is unacceptable." Reiko said, her gaze sliding towards him.
Just as Izuku was about to explain himself Pony returned with a fresh burger, handing it over to him with a wide, innocent grin. He thanked her and took a bite, sating his hunger just a tiny bit while Setsuna continued to talk.
"I've heard that you've gotten rather friendly with Kendo-chan. At first I thought it was normal since she's pretty easy to get along with. But then, Shiozaki-chan was acting weirdly around you during lunch the other day!" Setsuna grumbled in annoyance, the cockiness she had shown before vanishing under the concern for her friends. "I've never seen her that red, especially when she's cool as ice. But the most suspicious thing was your date with Kodai-chan! How the hell did you even manage to do that?! Our class can barely even tell what she's thinking most of the time! If you're taking advantage of her quiet, innocent nature I'll…"
"Whoa, wait! It's not what you think, I swear." Izuku held up both hands placatingly. "And it wasn't a d-date. How do you even know about that?"
"I saw you guys, shroom! You two were so cuuuttee." Kinoko cooed happily, pulling out her phone to show the photo she had taken. "Tada~!"
Sure enough, there was an image of Izuku and Yui on their 'date', looking awfully innocent and picturesque.
"Wait a minute. I could have sworn Kodai-san knew that it was a misunderstanding. Didn't you guys ask her or, well, Kendo-san or Shiozaki-san about what happened?"
"Pfft. Do you really expect them to give us an honest answer? Of course we didn't ask!" Setsuna pointed at him accusingly, eyes flashing. "You've charmed and tricked them, captured their maidenly hearts!"
[x]
Meanwhile, at the table of individuals who had been 'charmed' by Izuku…
"Hey…" Kendo looked around, her chewing coming to a slow stop before she gulped down her noodles. "Where is everyone?"
"No idea." Shiozaki said curtly from beside her, taking another bite out of an apple. "Have you seen them, Kodai-san?"
Yui shrugged and took another spoonful of ice-cream.
On another table a few meters away Ochaco was playing with her spoon, poking it gently while it floated into the air.
I wonder if Deku-kun's in any trouble… Midnight-sensei seemed a little serious just now.
[x]
"Look," the green-haired boy took a second to think. "I can explain what happened. It all started when I met Shiozaki-san at the park with my dog—"
"Oh, I love dogs!" Pony leaned in to listen, still munching on her own burger. "I have one at home, too."
"—my dog. She, um, kinda surprised Shiozaki-san so I wanted to apologize to her the next day." Izuku continued. "I just asked Kendo-san to pass on that message to her. As for how I know Kendo-san; I've met her before in public and she sorta recognized me from school. That's all there is to it. I'm not trying to f-flirt with them or anything."
"Is that so." Reiko said quietly, tilting her head.
"Oh yeah? Then what about your date with Kodai-chan? We have photo evidence!"
"I know this sounds crazy but Kodai-san is nearly identical to my younger sister; Kirimi. I, um, had mistaken them for each other and bought her some ice-cream. We found out what happened in the end and I apologized to her. That was all there is to it, nothing happened." the boy explained sheepishly.
An awkward silence plagued the table when the girls exchanged a myriad of dubious and incredulous glances, the corners of Reiko's lips turning upward just a tiny bit in amusement before Setsuna leapt from her chair.
"Bullshit." the schoolgirl scoffed, leaning into him and radiating annoyance. "Do you really expect us to believe that?"
"B-but it's true, I swear!"
"Yeah, and I'm your distant cousin." Setsuna grumbled sarcastically. "What kind of lame excuse is that?! At least have the common decency to come up with a reasonable explanation, dammit!"
"Just show her photo. Of your sis." Pony hummed in flawed Japanese, munching happily.
"Um, I don't have any on me right now." Izuku admitted, causing Setsuna's suspicion to grow even further.
"Aww, so it was nothing?" Kinoko whined, her mushroom hairdo seeming to deflate slightly. "And I thought you and Kodai-chan looked so cute together, too."
"Girls, are you really going to believe him?!" Setsuna looked around the table for support, eyes aflame with anger. "This ridiculous story sounds like an outright lie he came up with on the spot!"
"He speaks the truth." Reiko whispered elegantly, gaze never once leaving Izuku's face. "I can see it in his eyes."
"So it's all just a string of misunderstandings and events that led him into meetings with cute girls?! What, is the universe molding his life into a harem romcom or something?"
"I hope not." Izuku mumbled under his breath.
"Hmph! I don't know how he does it, but he's somehow manipulating things to get into situations that any guy would be envious of. Even now, he's sitting in the middle of a table full of girls! Maybe he wants the full set, like a bunch of trading cards since we're from the same class as those he flirted with, mind you. Coincidence? I think NOT!" Setsuna declared hotly, her accusation punctuated with a finger right in his face.
The girls shared a long look between themselves before Reiko sighed, making to stand. She placed a careful hand on her friend's shoulder.
"Secchan—"
"Don't 'Secchan' me—" Setsuna grumbled, whirling about and rounding on Izuku until their faces were barely an inch apart. "The broccoli boy is guilty!"
Reiko seemed to take a moment to consider her options before finally nodding, gently pulling her friend back.
"I believe him. What about you three?"
"Innocent." Pony smiled.
"Innocent." Kinoko agreed cheerfully.
"Guilty!" Setsuna hissed, cheeks puffing up into a pout.
"It is decided. The accused is cleared of all charges." Reiko said, her judgement causing relief to surge through Izuku. "Kinoko-chan, Pony-chan, would you mind taking Secchan back to class so she can cool off? I'll deal with Midoriya-kun."
"WHAT?!"
"Okies! Bye-bye, Midoriya-kun."
"Goodbye~"
"You're letting him go?!" Setsuna gasped incredulously even while her friends flanked her and had to practically drag her away. "He's guilty! You can see it on his smug little face! Guilty, I say guilty, guiltyyyyy—"
The girl's angry cries were drowned out as she was led away by her own entourage, Izuku unsure whether to feel glad that she was gone. At least the misunderstanding was cleared up with class B now, another loose end tightened.
"Poor Setsuna." Reiko said calmly after they were gone, sipping at her glass of water. "You should have seen how upset she got when she assumed you were two-timing and tricking Kodai-chan."
"I think I can understand how she feels. I mean, I would feel the same if someone tried to do that to my friends." Izuku mumbled. "If you don't mind, could you tell Tokage-san I'm sorry?"
"I will, though I think it will be quite a while before she calms down. That girl is known to hold a grudge, after all. Still, I don't think any of this was actually your fault."
Deep sapphire met emerald, and Izuku barely suppressed a gulp.
"Was it?"
"Nope. Wouldn't dream of it." he said quickly, turning away.
A short, restrained silence hung in the air until the girl let out a soft giggle, a delicate hand coming to her mouth.
"You are an interesting one, aren't you?" Reiko said wistfully, Izuku hoping that she couldn't see him blush at that angle. "How curious, yes."
The familiar chime of the school bell a moment later caused her to pause.
"Hm. It appears our time is up. Shall we?"
"Y-yeah."
The walk back to their classes was silent, though Reiko didn't seem to mind at all. There was something about her that Izuku couldn't explain, a weird feeling in his gut while he walked beside her. Yes, she was awfully pretty but that wasn't it. The girl radiated an aura of calm and camaraderie, something he felt was more than a general friendliness. His train of thought was promptly delayed by a rumble from nearby, only for the boy to realize it was his own stomach.
"Still hungry?" Reiko asked.
"I guess." Izuku said sheepishly, his face a warm pink. That one burger wasn't enough to keep up with his caloric intake, especially considering the strenuous training he was doing.
"Here."
She handed him a bar of something wrapped in light silver, the boy opening it to find the sweet and familiar scent of…
"Chocolate?"
"It's more of an emergency ration, really." Reiko returned his puzzled look with a demure smile. "Try it."
Izuku examined the bar cautiously, noting that there were no manufacturer details or markings of any sort, just the treat itself packaged in that weird silver material. Taking a bite, he found that it tasted delicious, dark chocolate and hints of vanilla that mixed together in a whirlwind of flavor. Just a few bites in and he was already feeling a little fuller, so he guessed it was some sort of protein bar as well.
"This is pretty good." Izuku said between bites, thinking of how his siblings would like some. "Where did you get this? I think I wanna buy some for myself."
"Trade secret." she said discreetly, coming to a stop just outside their classrooms. "Anyway, thank you for your time."
"No problem. And uh, this might sound weird, but…" the boy hesitated, feet fidgeting. "Have we met before this, Reiko-san?"
"No, I don't think so. Why?"
"Well, I got this strange feeling of familiarity from you; like I've known you from somewhere else." Izuku scratched the back of his head, deep in thought. "I don't know how to explain it…"
"Hm. Was that the line you used to charm my friends, Midoriya-kun?" Reiko's light tone turned mischievous. "My, my. How audacious, trying to add me to your harem right after I called you innocent."
"W-w-wha?! T-that's not what I meant at all!"
"Don't push your luck. You're cute…" she smirked. "But not that cute."
"R-reiko-san, please. I swear, I wasn't doing anything like that…" Izuku's head soon resembled a tomato, red at the middle and green at the top.
"Relax, I know you weren't." the gray-haired schoolgirl giggled, waving to him as she opened the door to her classroom. "I suppose this is farewell, though I have a feeling we'll meet again."
"U-um, yeah. See ya." he took a breath, composing himself and sending her a weak smile. "Thanks for everything. A-and the chocolate. Also, sorry about everything."
"No problem. One more thing, Midoriya-kun."
"Yeah?"
"Don't apologize." Reiko's single pale blue eye met his, reminding him of an endless sky when she smiled. "I never do."
Then she was gone, having rejoined her friends in the classroom. Izuku exhaled, rolling his shoulders. That girl was definitely something else. In the end, he was pretty glad that he managed to clear things up that quickly. The situation had actually gotten much better than he had anticipated, a far cry from the horrific worst case scenario his frightened mind had dreamt up. Now he should probably finish or keep the chocolate she gave him as well; the next lesson was about to start and he doubted Ectoplasm would like someone eating in his class. He decided he would save some for his sisters. Just as he slid the classroom's door open a trio of concerned voices surrounded him almost immediately.
"Midoriya-kun! Are you alright?!"
"Did they hurt you? Oooh, I was so worried!"
"Hmm. You look fine, kero. Was I mistaken?"
Izuku blinked, surprised to find Mina, Hagakure, and Tsuyu in front of him. He quickly remembered how they had tried to stop him from being 'kidnapped' and sighed, giving them a small smile to show that he was unharmed. If anything, he was really touched that they cared about his well-being as fellow classmates.
"I'm fine." he said softly, reassuring them. "It's alright, they just wanted to talk about a misunderstanding that we had. Everything's okay now."
The girls glanced at him skeptically, their eyes widening slightly at the half-eaten chocolate bar in his hands. Taking a quick look around Izuku noticed only a few people were back from lunch; he was early. Then he was distracted by what appeared to be Mineta seething with fury in the background until Mina huffed, folding her arms.
"So that's what it was, huh?" the pink girl hmphed, a cute pout on her face. "And to think we were so worried that you were getting bullied by those girls! Turns out you were just enjoying their company and getting love-choco to boot!"
"Eh?" Izuku said slowly, before looking down at the chocolate in his hand again. His gaze snapped upward to find all three girls giving him a flat look. "EEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHH?!"
"Hmph! Let's go, girls. Midoriya-kun clearly doesn't need our help." Mina said in mock annoyance, hiding a smirk when she turned her back to him. Hagakure played along, while Tsuyu was just glad her friend was unharmed.
"W-wait, guys! This isn't love-choco, it's just normal chocolate!" Izuku tried, before looking at the treat once more, eyes wide.
Perhaps Reiko had made it for herself at home, which would explain why it had no markings of any sort. Either way it finally sunk in that he had gotten chocolate from a girl for the first time in his life, causing him to turn a lovely pink. Of course this definitely wasn't love-choco, which was the kind of chocolate girls gave to guys they were interested in. Despite there clearly being zero romantic associations, it was still a milestone in his otherwise previously friendless life.
"Oh yeah? Then why are you blushing? It's not nice to tell lies~" Hagakure sang, holding back giggles while they teased him.
"Whatever you say, Midoriya-kun. I hope it's as good as it looks, kero." Tsuyu added calmly. "Enjoy your love-choco."
"It's not love-choco!"
[X]
Recovery Girl's walking stick clicked across the marble tiles with every step, making her way to the top of the building where a secret meeting between the government agencies and some of U.A's staff was about to take place. She entered the large meeting room to find Principal Nezu and All Might already there.
All Might looked exhausted, his skeletal frame seeming to droop while he continued to converse with Nezu. She pitied the poor man sometimes, knowing that the weight of the world was upon those fragile shoulders. He was a pillar, yes… but people often forgot he was just one man; mortal as any other. A single pillar could not hold up the weight of the world. All Might wanted to be out there saving lives, stopping villains, and training his successor for goodness sake. Instead he was forced to sit in meeting after meeting, each one draining the precious time in which he was able to maintain his hero form along with his patience.
"Toshinori." she nodded. "Nezu."
They sent her quick greetings in return, Nezu checking on his powerpoint slides to make sure everything was in order. This meeting was in fact about the anomaly, an incident that the Hero Association had done their best to keep under the radar. No doubt they would have their own internal meeting later, but Nezu had decided one was necessary now.
Recovery Girl took another look at All Might. He was shifting into his hero form now, giving her a reassuring grin when she sent him a concerned glance. All Might was the hero of heroes. The number one. The Symbol of Peace. He was the man that everyone looked up to, the pinnacle of justice and the pillar of society that single-handedly ushered in an era of peace. But with that glory came a price; namely the burden of responsibility befitting of a man his station, and more importantly…
Politics. How tiresome.
Hero of heroes he may be, but he was still subject to the whims of the system; the very same system that ruthlessly grounded up aspiring young students and spat out heroes of tomorrow. It wasn't a perfect system, far from it; and sometimes they longed for the Golden Age where justice and righteousness reigned supreme. The Hero Association of the present was a shadow of what it had once been; now it was tainted with numbing paperwork and spineless bureaucrats that were all afraid of 'rocking the boat'.
She knew that he'd been attending various meetings for the past few days, along with his regular hero duties and other events. All that time, wasted on discussions and talk when he only had three hours to maintain his hero form. It was sad, really. The invincible All Might, brought down low by politics and bureaucracy. If she were to guess, he had roughly around an hour, or maybe thirty minutes of his hero form remaining today. It'd be best to make this a quick meeting, then.
A few minutes later three representatives strode through the door; one from the City Council, one from the Hero Association, and one from the Hero Public Safety Commission. Recovery Girl narrowed her eyes at the last one. He moved like a predator, an urban shark in the murky waters of hero society. Politically speaking this person was undoubtedly the most dangerous among the three they had invited to U.A, and despite being known as the ever-cheerful Symbol of Peace All Might had a frown on his face upon seeing the man.
After sickeningly polite greetings were exchanged the meeting soon devolved into the verbal equivalent of a CQC battle. Accusations were made by the Council and Association reps, Nezu and Vlad King defending the school with facts and words instead of fists and blades. Shots were exchanged, each side prodding the other for weaknesses in their arguments. Throughout it all only the Commission Representative opted to stay silent and observe, Recovery Girl keeping a careful eye on him.
"—after the attack on USJ and the subsequent appearance of the villain only known as Surtur." a bulky man said, adjusting his thick-rimmed glasses. "The City Council proposes that the U.A Sports Festival be postponed to next year—"
"Unacceptable." Nezu seemed to radiate indignation from the high chair he sat. "The Sports Festival is a yearly event that is one of, if not the most watched sporting events in the world. If we were to postpone it, the implications are clear. We cannot afford to let the public, let the world think that Japan recoils in the face of these minor incidents. Increased security is one thing, but to even suggest cancelling the festival this year is outrageous."
"I have to agree with Nezu-san here. In the wake of Surtur's assault many have begun to question the effectiveness of our current heroes." a plump woman from the Hero Association was saying, voice strained. "The Sports Festival must serve as both a deterrent and a rally call to ease the worries of the people. To have a vigilante of all things solve the issue for us puts the entire industry in a bad light."
The woman's tone dripped with contempt at the word, and Recovery Girl watched as All Might's smile wavered ever so slightly.
"Perhaps. The very term to describe them is archaic, outdated." Nezu continued. "A relic of the old society that still persists to this day. Nevertheless, this one in particular has garnered our attention due to recent events."
The principal clicked his mouse to move to the next slide. Recovery Girl had a funny thought in the midst of all this seriousness. A mouse clicking a mouse. Heh.
"Valkyrie, Case file WWV 86B: Die Walküre. Name and age unknown. Previously thought to be mute, suspected to be faking it." Nezu said, laser pointer directed at the screen. The image on-screen showed the vigilante in her full glory, expressionless face staring right at the camera. The words 'DO NOT APPROACH' were plastered across the image in large red letters, a warning from the Hero Association. "Specializing in disaster relief and rescue scenarios."
Recovery Girl hummed to herself. In a way, Valkyrie was still the Hero Association's enemy. In fact, almost everyone knew they begrudgingly accepted her only because she had grown too popular before they could undermine her reputation.
"A new… situation has emerged regarding the girl. Observe."
Nezu thumbed a remote in his paw and the lights dimmed.
Footage from a security camera flickered into view. Brick and mortar flew outwards when the far wall it was facing exploded, a pickup truck bulldozing through in reverse. Men in ski masks popped out its side, firing wildly into the shadowy hole in the building.
Valkyrie emerged from the dark.
No longer was she featureless nor unclothed—now she was clad in a monochrome hoodie that bore All Might's chest symbol, but with it unzipped the symbol had distorted to form a V. A grey shirt underneath further contrasted her pale alabaster skin, a pair of black denim cut off shorts hugging her slim waist. Her long ivory legs ended with the only hint of color in the entire outfit; a pair of stylish sky-blue sneakers that Recovery Girl could have sworn she'd seen before.
"Oooh, digging the new look." Midnight observed, leaning forward with interest. "Is this her way of saying she's grown from her defeat?"
Valkyrie continued forward on-screen, the villains' Quirks doing nothing to slow her down. They might as well have been throwing peas for all the good it did. Tyres screeched against asphalt when the truck's driver decided they had to retreat, racing backwards into the street. Valkyrie did not pursue. Confused looks and murmurs were exchange until what happened next.
There was a flash of green followed by a tremendous crash when something smashed into the bed of the pickup feet first, jackknifing the heavy vehicle with a shriek of twisting metal. Emerald flames caused the criminals to scatter like roaches, and right into Valkyrie's waiting fist.
A girl strode out of the wreckage's burning light.
The first thing they noticed was the eyes. Curling wisps of flame trailed from their sides, contrasting jet-black sclera and glowing green pupils. Twin horns of ebony curved upwards from the girl's temples, making her look like some sort of cross between a regal demon and a bunny rabbit. If anything, those horns were reminiscent of the rabbit hero Mirko's ears.
She was clad in a pure white jacket with a grey fur collar—it was a limited edition misprint of the All Might Winter Series line that had the hero's chest symbol warped downwards, forming a V on the wearer's back. A tank top of the same grey peeked out of her unzipped jacket which fluttered in the raging inferno, unaffected by the hungry flames. Her short, fluffy grey hair was reminiscent of a thundercloud, the color blending in seamlessly with her skin. Frayed white jeans snaked down her legs and met a pair of lush green sneakers; identical to Valkyrie's except for the color.
The unknown girl flung one of the villains she'd knocked out onto the street effortlessly. Valkyrie stared at the unconscious man for a second, then gazed up at her counterpart.
"Oh man, they're gonna fight. Women hate it when someone else has a similar outfit. I can almost hear what she's thinking." Present Mic whispered to Aizawa, who was sitting beside Recovery Girl. "'Nice shoes, bitch.'"
Aizawa didn't seem to find his friend's attempt at humor very funny, lips drawn into a thin line.
The two girls stared at each other and looked like a pair of streetwear models on the catwalk, faces expressionless… until they turned to face the two remaining villains at the same time. Fire and Lightning personified started to advance on their quarry.
A single statement from Vlad King summarized how most of the room felt.
"Oh, shit."
The villains knew they were outmatched and made a break for it in opposite directions, running for the hills on shaking legs. They did not get very far before what happened next.
They had watched with equal parts amazement and dread as flames curled around the grey girl's hand, twisting and solidifying into a burning hammer. A construct made of fire; an echo of Endeavor's trademark Sunlight Spear attack. She flung the hammer faster than the video's framerate could catch, the short-handled weapon pinwheeling through the air.
Brilliant light filled the screen and the construct detonated upon impact, unleashing a roiling fireball that knocked out the villain instantly.
Valkyrie simply raised an arm at the other villain and aimed, pulling her middle finger back as if she was preparing to flick it. All Might nearly stood from his chair from the shock he felt. Recovery Girl recognized it too. That was... young Midoriya's—
A whirlwind hit the street when her snow-white finger shot forward. Valkyrie's Delaware Smash barreled through the air and straight into the escaping villain's back, slamming him into a wall and knocking him unconscious.
The video was abruptly cut short, frozen on the visage of the pair surrounded by those green flames.
A second Valkyrie. Valkyrie II. She was equally beautiful and fearsome, just as stoic as her counterpart. Though her Quirk differed greatly, the level of power she held in that short clip they witnessed was more than enough to send alarm bells ringing. The hubbub cleared a few minutes of mumbling and whispering, papers shuffled and faces grim.
"That face…" Vlad King began with the most obvious factor. "She looked like…"
"A younger Mt. Lady with shorter hair, yes." the Hero Association representative spoke up. "We had her in custody earlier, but she was released after we found no connection to the incident, no records of a sibling, a rock-solid alibi, and a very angry lawyer."
"Have we made contact with either one?" All Might asked Nezu, looking worried but biting back a frown at the representative's words.
"There were attempts, all of them non-responsive. You know how that girl is."
"This is getting out of hand. Now there are two of them!" Present Mic said, looking flustered.
"What do we know about this second Valkyrie? Name, alias, facial recognition, anything?" Midnight asked, showing her professional demeanor. "Any leads?"
"None. But the public seems to have given her a name based off the original's."
"A name?"
Nezu took a slow look around the room before nodding.
"Viking."
"Valkyrie and Viking, huh… The myth and the mortal. Can't say I like it too much, but I can see the theme they were going for." Present Mic grunted. "So any ideas on who she is then? Valkyrie's partner… her lover, her daughter?"
"She's her sister."
Every head in the room turned to Recovery Girl, who hadn't spoken a single word besides the greetings she had given them at the start of the meeting. The old woman rolled a haribo gummy in her palm wistfully before tossing it into her mouth.
"And… how do you know this, ma'am?" the Council rep asked curtly.
"Because I met them last week."
"You what?!" the Association rep practically screeched.
"Are you alright?" Vlad King began, visibly concerned.
"I'm fine, dearie. They just helped me cross the road. Thought I was a harmless old lady, you see. Which I am." Recovery Girl smiled. "And before you ask; no, they didn't talk to me."
"They how do you know—" the plump woman grunted.
"It was from the way they behaved around each other." Recovery Girl raised her roll of gummy candies. "I gave Valkyrie some of these as a reward, and you know what she did? She gave exactly half of it to Viking, shared it with her. The way they looked at each other, looked after each other… the love they showed for one another. That's when I knew."
"That doesn't prove anything. You can't base it off a single interaction with them."
"Call it women's intuition or a gut feeling, but I'm certain." Recovery Girl said. "I've taken care of children and teenagers for fifty years, Asakura-san. I've seen how siblings behave, and the behavior of those two was practically textbook."
"Siblings…" Midnight said wistfully.
"Aizawa-kun was with me as well. His Erasure didn't work on either of them, Nezu." The old woman turned to the principal. "I don't suppose I need to spell it out for you."
"I see. Thank you for this new information, Shuzenji-san. It puts a… different perspective to what I initially thought." Nezu said, putting a hand to a chin. "Moving on, there's something else I want to share. Zenkichi-san, would you kindly?"
"Noted. Please refer to the hologram."
Eyes turned to the Hero Public Safety Commission representative as he stood and straightened his tie, placing a tiny cube-shaped projector onto the table. There was a click and another image popped up next to the sisters, this one being a blurry snapshot of the opponent that had fought Valkyrie to a standstill. Surtur. They had specifically made the effort to put the two images side by side for an easy comparison.
"Oi." Present Mic leaned forward. "What does Surtur have to do with this?"
"Patience. Now look." Representative Zenkichi circled Surtur's silhouette with a handheld laser pointer, then did the same for Viking. More specifically, their long, pointed horns that resembled bunny ears. The resemblance was similar, but not identical. "What do you think that looks like?"
The room suddenly got very, very quiet.
"Do you see," the man clicked another button and rewound the video on-screen a few seconds to where Viking was moments away from smashing into the truck, crackling green flames bursting beneath her feet. The same flames that Surtur had shown he could fly with. "What we see?"
The air grew heavy as the gathered heroes started to understand what he was trying to imply. No one wanted to actually say it but All Might leaned forward, hands steepled in thought. Emerald flames, and a similar way of flying. Constructs of flame, one of Endeavor's trademarks. The analysis back then did show that Surtur had used a combination of both All Might's moves and Endeavor's. Iowa Smash, a move he rarely used due to it being overkill. And now, young Midoriya's Delaware Smash being used by Valkyrie. Too many coincidences to ignore.
"You're suggesting…" the blonde hero said reluctantly. "That Viking is Surtur. That they are the same person."
"Whoa, hang on a sec, time out." Present Mic interrupted, his hands forming a T-shape. "You're forgetting something important; Surtur is a dude. Well, as far as we can tell anyway. Also, it doesn't make sense that they'd be all buddy-buddy after trying to kill each other days ago."
"Our original hypothesis was that Valkyrie is an Abnormality—" the man began.
"Abnormality. Like people who don't know how to use their Quirks correctly?" Vlad King muttered. "They don't know their own activation parameters and stuff?"
"Partially correct. You are thinking of the most common type, Type-C Abnormalities." Zenkichi nodded. "As a whole, the term 'Abnormality' is used to describe various metahuman phenomena that results in the user being unable to control their Quirk. What most people don't know is that Abnormalities have the potential to be extremely powerful but unstable. Dangerous, uncontrollable. Quirk mutations, as some might say."
"A mutation?"
"Yes." the HPSC Representative nodded curtly. "If the theory of Valkyrie being an Abnormality is true, this would explain many things about her. She is unable to respond or behave normally as she is unable to control her Quirk. In the worse case scenario it's the other way around; her Quirk is controlling her."
The man paused to let that fact set in.
"Her Quirk is still unknown, but analysis from what available data we have previously implied that it has some sort of low-level master ability, judging by the calming effect it seems to have on others at times. In any case, we still have no idea what she is truly capable of even now. Perhaps her Quirk robbed her of her logic and made her act in a way that she assumed heroes were supposed to. In the skies above Musutafu City she finally met a worthy opponent in the form of Surtur. Thus, he was deemed an excellent host and infected."
"Infected?" All Might blinked. "With what?"
"With her." Zenkichi turned back to the screen stoically. "Our theory is that Valkyrie's abnormal Quirk has been utilized to transform Surtur, or whatever's left of him, into Viking. Like a virus assimilating a blood cell to create more of itself; she has turned him into a new 'her' that she now treats as a sibling."
The Representative's glassy eyes turned to stare directly at All Might.
"Thus, we hereby request that All Might does not interact with Valkyrie in any form; be it via verbal communication or otherwise. If the girl truly has an assimilation Quirk and favors strong opponents, it is likely she will seek out the Number One." His gaze was hard and unblinking as he met the hero's. "We cannot afford to lose the Symbol of Peace. End report."
There was a cold, uncomfortable silence as everyone struggled to comprehend what they just heard while Zenkichi sat down and gave a polite nod to Nezu.
"So… why tell us all this?" Present Mic ventured, only to grimace when Zenkichi rotated his head with a blank stare.
"All Might is here, along with several potential candidates for the future top heroes in Japan." the man replied calmly. "To an assimilator who seeks out strong Quirks, this place will undoubtedly draw them in like a kid to a candy store. It is highly recommended that you take measures to prevent an assault on the school by those Sisters."
All Might felt his hands clench under the table. The power to take others and make them into yourself... Could such a Quirk even exist? Of course it could. Once you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. He had also seen his fair share of Mutations and Abnormalities in his time as a hero, some of them wielding disturbing, abstract Quirks that defied human understanding and made a joke of conventional physics. Most of the time those people could not help what they were doing and ended up being shunned by their families. Perhaps Valkyrie was the same… and perhaps she desperately longed for a family to the point where she was willing to assimilate another. Yet another person he couldn't save. By the time his thoughts drifted back to reality Nezu was already making plans.
"—Mirko and Wash will be the first line of defense against the 'Sisters' if they turn villain. A Brawler and Blaster combo is the best option against the same." Nezu said. "Hawks, Edgeshot, and Ryukyu can lend support if things go downhill. That's the optimum battleplan I have against those two. I trust that the City Council, Hero Association, and HPSC are willing to share information if need be?"
The three representatives nodded.
In the end the meeting was short, ultimately amounting to the formation of a task force and a bitter taste in their mouths. Recovery Girl suspected Nezu had felt the need to assemble a team of trusted individuals to counter both Valkyrie and Viking if the need ever arose, especially when the Hero Association was unlikely to do anything. Those incompetent fools always relied too much on All Might and when a problem that he couldn't solve popped up, they'd panic and stick to a don't-rock-the-boat policy. She could practically imagine them running around in panic like headless chickens. That was one of the reasons why she hated them and their politics, why she had joined U.A instead despite the countless offers they sent her way. Again, it was all so tiresome.
Then there was Nezu, clearly acting out of his authority and jurisdiction. If the top echelon of the Government found out he'd done this… well, they'd all have to face the music together. Recovery Girl laid a hand on Nezu's shoulder as she began to leave, gripping her walking stick tight with the other.
"You're on thin ice, Nezu. Especially after USJ." Recovery Girl said, her voice a low whisper. "Be careful. Don't trust Zenkichi, the HPSC is monitoring you."
"I'm sure they are." The principal offered her a patient smile. "But I feel that it's better to be safe than sorry. I'm just making contingency plans ahead of time."
"Contingency plans. Feh! This is a dangerous game you're playing, old friend." she took one last look at All Might and Nezu before walking out. "It'd be best you remember that."
[x]
All Might held back a sigh as he watched Recovery Girl go. He then switched to a folder that Nezu had handed him, containing a report that Aizawa had compiled only yesterday. The underground hero Eraserhead; true to his name, had gone underground in search of information about the Sisters from Japan's vigilantes. At least, those that still existed. He still remembered each and every one of them, both the good and the bad. Shin Malphur, The Man with the Golden Gun. The Magical Girl Legion, mysterious and overwhelmingly powerful. Their rugged and charismatic male counterparts; the Riders. Gentle Vigilante, whose actions saved countless innocents during the Hokkaido Quake. The Naruhata Three, who triumphed where the Hero Association had failed. Even the notorious environmentalist Captain Planet, whom many companies still accused of being an eco-terrorist. And finally there was Valkyrie; their guardian angel.
All of them, glorious symbols in their own right. Most of them, gone and forgotten. The Riders had gone extinct after the horrific Purge, replaced by inferior government replicas known as Sentai Squadrons. Golden Gun had simply vanished one day, never to be seen again. Gentle was supposedly laying low, and Captain Planet was assumed to be KIA. So many allies of justice had faded away over the years. Aizawa had only managed to meet Crawler from the Naruhata Three and the Legion's Imperator; the latter had simply stated that the Sisters weren't theirs before teleporting away.
As for The Crawler, he had only a single statement to make about the twin vigilantes.
'I trust them.' he had said with honest eyes.
His word alone had been enough to help ease some fears of Valkyrie and her new sibling going villain. Still, there simply wasn't enough information. A new era, with new problems that the next generation had to solve.
"—ll Might?"
"Yes?" the hero blinked, back in the present. Midnight had called out to him, nodding respectfully.
"Meeting's over. But uh," the woman glanced over at where all but one of the visitors were shuffling their way out. "The spook wants to speak with you."
"Tch. Glow-in-the-dark motherfu—" Present Mic began disdainfully, cut short when Midnight quickly latched a hand onto his shoulder.
"Oi, Hizashi." she whispered hurriedly. "I don't like the guy either but he's where the funding comes from. Let's just go."
"Hmph. Dude looks like a lady." the blonde's eyes narrowed before shooting a glance at All Might. "Be careful, big guy. Can't trust them HPSC pricks."
"Duly noted." All Might said quietly.
A minute later the room was empty save for him and the Commission's representative, a pregnant silence filling the air. The Hero Public Safety Commission was not something one took lightly, not when they held power like an axe over the Association. Their new representative was an androgynous rail-thin man dressed in an immaculate suit, his only distinctive traits being his shoulder-length pink hair and the jagged, zigzag scar over his right eye that marred what would otherwise have been a pretty face.
"Representative Zenkichi." the Number One Hero began calmly, trying not to associate him with crimes the old Commission had perpetuated.
"All Might." the thin man replied, not a single trace of emotion in his soft voice. "Have a seat."
"I think I'll stand."
"Suit yourself." his eyes were lifeless glass marbles, one murky white and one rose-pink. "I assumed you needed a rest after all that time spent in meetings. A total of two hours, fifty-two minutes and thirty-three seconds, by my count."
The hero refused to let the surprise show on his face but felt his fingers curl inward. Was this guy trying to imply— How did this he… of course. He was part of the Commission, after all. Present Mic was right to suspect him, along with most of society who felt the same way.
"I don't know what you're talking about." All Might said slowly, expression taut.
"We know many things about you, Symbol of Peace. From your mentor's death on Tartarus at the hands of your eternal adversary—"
The room seemed to tense when All Might stepped forward, fury roiling off him in waves of brilliant gold. Burning blue coals glared down at the thin man who he could break with a flick of his pinky.
"Don't you dare." the hero rumbled, teeth grit under that strained, trademark smile. "Not after the incompetence and failure of your organization led to her passing."
The Representative said nothing for a moment, completely calm in the face of the Number One Hero whose fist could equal a battleship's cannon. Blue eyes stared into those lifeless marbles and found no semblance of fear or apprehension.
"We do admit that our predecessor was inefficient and flawed, but the Comission itself is under new management." Zenkichi stated nonchalantly, his face frozen in that unchanging, bored expression. "We'd tell you how many years of work he ruined in his prideful defiance against your mentor but we imagine you wouldn't care in the slightest."
"I wouldn't." All Might felt a nerve twitch in his forehead but calmed himself. "Is that all you had to say?"
"No. This is a private inquiry regarding your relationship with Valkyrie."
It took him several moments to process that statement.
"My what?"
"Most of the data we obtained from the Hero Association was borderline useless, but there were a few useful tidbits of information that we found interesting. Correlations and interactions." Zenkichi explained. "You have never truly engaged Valkyrie in combat. It was originally theorized that the cost of fighting her would not be worth the effort, especially at your weakened state. The reality is that you do not wish to harm her."
"Why would I? As strange as she might be, I believe that girl fights for peace and justice." All Might grunted. "She reminds me of the heroes of old, those who truly stood for what's right."
"You refuse to fight her despite the Hero Association's wishes."
"I may work for them, but I am not their puppet." the hero warned. "From my point of view, she has proven herself."
"Understood. However, there was always a popular theory that the public has speculated, one which has now emerged from within the Hero Association's think-tank as well. One we can no longer ignore. An alternate idea as to why you refuse to fight her."
"And that would be?"
"Because she is your daughter."
The words stun him like a slap to the face, and All Might's impervious smile cracks for the first time since USJ.
This wasn't the first time he had heard such a theory, but hearing it from the mouth of an official elevated it from a crazy rumor to an uneasy possibility. Countless miscreants have tried to claim that they were his forgotten lovechild, all hoping to leech off his fame and status. His old partner Sir Nighteye had investigated and dispelled all of those rumors, but a feeling in his gut told him this was somehow different.
The very notion of it was ludicrous, absurd… he was the Symbol of Peace! He had no time for a family, having dedicated every part of himself to serving society. And yet, the representative's accusation was a lance of doubt that sank deep into his heart. In his time as a hero, before he was number one he had… loved someone. A woman he truly loved, and one he left for her own safety. He felt the prickly sensation of alarm seep through him and tried to match Valkyrie's face with the face of that same woman; and to his horror, there actually were a few similarities. He had never thought to do a cross-examination before but now… he felt the dread pool in his gut like icy water.
Valkyrie's long, straight hair, which looked just like hers when she undid her bun. The shape of her face, a soft beauty that was somehow nostalgic. Valkyrie looked young, and if he estimated her age and counted backwards… he would find himself in a time where he was still young and foolish. Back then he was so, so reckless.
There were traces of light blue eyes behind that milky fog and those green wisps, like clear cuts of sapphire. A shade too similar to his own. And those smash attacks she liked to use.
All Might's chest grew tight and heavy. Had the woman he onced loved birthed his child and raised her without telling him? A child who wanted to be a hero but never could. A child who mimicked his attacks and beliefs… to be just like daddy.
Roiling waves of sickening nausea and guilt coursed through him when he finally considered that thought seriously for the first time. Did he unknowingly leave a woman and child behind while blindly focusing on his duty?
But there was one thing that really caused his heart to wrench painfully. Valkyrie had took on the form of Shimura Nana…
One for All, passed down by DNA. No. Perhaps not One For All, but rather… a fragment of it. Just like how aspects of Quirks can be passed down from parent to child.
"Don't be ridiculous." All Might found himself saying, voice steady despite the internal turmoil he felt. "I would be the first to know if I had a kid."
"Perhaps." Zenkichi said calmly. "Perhaps not. Then there is the issue of her 'sister', Viking."
"That girl deserves a chance. We still don't know anything about her but she is clearly trying to help—"
"Yes, she is. And therein lies the problem." the thin man nodded. "She has the same mindset and beliefs as her sibling, and they fight together as a team. The same ideals, and similar forms. But what concerns the Commission is how she came to be; if she is truly the result of Valkyrie assimilating Surtur. A Quirk to take away other Quirks and make them your own. Does that sound familiar, All Might?"
The hero paused when dread filled every crevice of his heart, feeling it sink like a rock. Somewhere in the back of his mind he heard a deep, familiar laughter, taunting him just like before.
'Thank you for such wonderful comedy.'
"No…" he whispered, fists clenching hard enough to hear his knuckles pop.
"Yes." Zenkichi's voice was monotone, only adding to the cold permeating the air. "We believe that Valkyrie is either your daughter, or the child of your eternal adversary."
The room was silent save for the low hum of the air-conditioning above. Despite the cool temperature All Might felt his blood boiling, the rage he felt nearly etched on his face if not for the years of self-control that tempered his will. His greatest enemy, the monster known as All For One… could have a legacy. The fury he felt at the idea of that man imposing his poisonous ideals upon an innocent child could have melted steel.
But if she truly was the demon's spawn, why did she and her sister behave like heroes? His rage cooled and turned to confusion. Had she denied his teachings and decided to live her own life? So many questions, so little answers.
"Take this. It contains all available data we have on the Sisters." Zenkichi dropped the cube-shaped holoprojector into his hand. "We shall do our best to update you when possible. Goodbye, All Might."
The next few moments were a blur as the man swiftly left the room, leaving All Might alone with his thoughts. Valkyrie, the strange girl he thought of as an ally… might be his child or the progeny of the man who murdered his master.
Deep down, he wasn't sure which option was more preferable.