(Rumi POV – Café Opposite League's Hideout)
"What's with that look?" I squint at Kata as he keeps staring blankly into the air.
He blinks and finally focuses on me. "I figured out why I felt like someone was watching me." He says, standing up from the café table casually. "We've been discovered, so—"
I'm already on my feet before he can finish.
"We can fight?!" I grin, and as soon as he nods, I begin dragging him up by the wrist and marching toward the exit. "Finally."
"You're being so loud." He muses. "They might've heard you and run by now."
"What? You want me to whisper my way into their den?" I snort. "Relax. If they try to run, I'll just catch them."
I bare my teeth. "I actually hope they try and run."
"…I don't know what I expected." He mutters. "Go wild. I'll make sure you don't cause any damage to the surroundings."
"Couldn't ask for a better partner." I laugh, ruffling his hair, much to his displeasure.
We reach the shady bar they've been squatting in.
I lift my fist slowly in a knocking gesture.
"Knock knock, shitheads—!"
A punch meets the door, and wood explodes inward. The concrete walls fracture as the door and part of the wall become shrapnel, blasting into the room in a storm of splinters and dust.
I step through the dust with a grin stretching my face.
Their eyes go wide.
Fear.
Shock.
Panic.
'Ahh… there it is.' I think, before finally appraising them. And…
"Tch." I click my tongue, disappointment and annoyance adorning my features. "You guys look weak."
Spinner jerks up, pointing his sword at me like it'd scare me. "H-Hey! What are you doing here?!"
Magne sets her drink down slowly, fingers slipping toward the magnet leaning against the bar.
Giran's already edging toward the back door.
Dabi narrows his eyes, flames flickering to life around his hands.
"…Where are the bird guys?" I ask, craning my neck. "Those guys could probably take a few hits."
"Four kilometers that way." Kata says mildly, pointing outside. "We can head there after."
I nod. "Cool."
Then I look back at the room.
"I'll just consider this a warmup."
Spinner raises his sword. "We'll never surrender to heroes like you!"
"So dramatic." Kata mutters.
"What did you just—"
To them, it probably looks like I teleported to Spinner as my foot slams into his chest.
The impact folds him in half and launches him across the room. He travels like a boomerang… bent at an angle, and smashes into the far wall before crumpling face-first to the floor, out cold long before he even hits the floor.
'Weak.'
"If you're gonna talk shit, at least have the strength to back it up." I mock, dropping my foot, as I make a little hop backward, and a blue inferno roars past my head.
"You're quite hotheaded. Maybe you ought to cool down a bit." I turn my gaze to the culprit.
Dabi freezes, then slowly lifts his hands. "Woah, woah… hold on. I think we got off on the wrong foot here. Let's talk this out."
Before I can respond, I feel something pulling me backwards.
I raise an eyebrow, digging my heels into the floor and snapping my arm up—
Thud.
Magne's magnet slams into my palm, and I catch it.
Her eyes widen.
"We can talk…" I say sweetly, my hand squeezing the magnet, and cracks spread across the metal.
"With our fists." I finish.
"Shit—" Magne curses as I swing her overhead and drive her into the floor hard enough to crater it. The magnet tears free from her grip and like a spear, I hurl it straight at Dabi.
He barely manages to spit—
"Fuck—"
—as it slams into his gut.
(Kata POV – Kamini Ward, Nomu Factory)
'…Yeah. The police definitely needed to be called.' I think as I watch Rumi stand proudly, hands on her hips, grinning at the carnage she's just caused. 'Not sure who deserves to be arrested more now.'
The factory itself is mostly intact, all thanks to me reinforcing it with my quirk, but the Nomu…
The floor is soaked, and walls are splattered in blood, as limbs and blackened flesh are strewn across the room like broken mannequins.
Rumi's covered in blood, none of it hers, and seems happy about it.
"You could've just knocked them out." I say flatly. "Was all of this necessary?"
'Even if Nomu are just walking corpses, at least kill them cleanly.' I grumble internally. 'All she's done is make a mess.'
She glances around, then at herself. "What?" She asks, tilting her head innocently. "They're tough, so I went all out."
"…You look more like the villain right now." I sigh.
Police officers skirt around her like she's radioactive, pretending very hard not to notice her current state, lest she dismember them next.
Yellow tape goes up, sealing the factory, as they begin confiscating documents, suspicious items, and taking images of everything.
One officer approaches me cautiously. "Uh… sir? Can we get a statement?"
I nod. "Sure."
Rumi smiles maliciously. "Make sure to question him thoroughly. It's part of the process of learning to be a good hero." She chuckles, before quickly escaping, and offloading the work onto me.
"…Yes, ma'am." He says as she leaves, and starts asking me questions.
Detective Tsukauchi isn't here, probably buried under Nighteye's case. It's odd not seeing him when things involving AFO and the League go down. Magne, Spinner, and Giran are cuffed and carried away, unconscious and severely injured after Rumi's beating.
As for Dabi…
He floats quietly behind me, invisible to everyone but me, and thoroughly bound.
Once statements are taken and the scene is secured, we're finally able to leave.
Rumi cracks her neck. "Man, that was fun. Bit disappointing, though. I was expecting more."
"Why not just go and fight All Might, then?" I say sarcastically.
"Good idea." She nods seriously. "Wonder if he'll accept a spar?"
"…I give up." I sigh.
"Anyway… What're you gonna do with that one?" She gestures to Dabi.
"I don't care about him personally." I say. "But he's related to someone I know. They're a hero family, so I'll let them handle it as they see fit. Otherwise, I'll just drop him off with the police."
She hums. "Sounds messy."
"It is."
"Guess that's your problem now." She shrugs. "I'm gonna keep patrolling. The night's still young."
"You're not concerned?" I ask. "About me taking a villain with me?"
She snorts and punches my arm 'lightly'. "Please. You don't give off 'secret psycho' vibes."
"I'm flattered?"
"And hey…" She adds while grinning. "As long as he doesn't hurt anyone again, do what you want. I trust you."
"Thanks…" I say with a small smile.
"If you're really thankful, let's spar some more." She waves lazily and takes off, leaping over buildings and into the distance.
I watch her go.
Then I look at the unconscious man floating behind me.
All that's left is setting up the reunion.
(Todoroki POV – Hospital Room)
The late evening sun filters through the thin curtains, painting the walls in pale gold, and a light fragrance lingers in the air from the flowers I brought.
She sits upright on her bed, hands folded neatly in her lap, listening to me with the same gentle patience she always has.
"…and when Yaoyorozu came up with the plan, we managed to catch Aizawa off guard and pass the exam." I finish. "She's really amazing… all of them are."
A small laugh escapes her. "You sound proud."
"I am." I say, the words coming easily. "They're strong and kind. When I'm with them… I don't feel alone. I feel like I belong."
Her eyes soften. "That makes me very happy, Shouto. I'm glad you've made such wonderful friends."
She tilts her head slightly, thoughtful. "You should bring them to visit one day. I'd like to meet them."
"I will." I nod. "I'll ask them."
A tranquil silence settles between us. There's no awkwardness or pressure. It's the kind of silence that doesn't need to be filled.
Seconds pass before she speaks again, her voice careful. "There's something on your mind, isn't there?"
I glance down at my hands. "…Is it that obvious?"
She smiles faintly. "You're not very good at hiding it.' She giggles.
'Everyone else says I'm hard to read though.' I can't help but think.
I hesitate for a moment. The words feel dangerous. Like if I say them wrong, they'll dig up old wounds…
But I speak anyway.
"I want to train harder." I say. "There's someone in my class… Kata. He's always ahead, and makes everything look so easy." My fingers curl slightly. "I admire him. But… I don't want to fall behind him either."
Her brow creases… not in disapproval, but concern.
"Are you chasing him…" She asks gently. "Or chasing your own strength?"
"…Both." I admit. "As much as I want to catch up, I also think he'll be an amazing hero, and I want to aspire for that as well."
I lift my head to meet her gaze. "I know what you're thinking. But I won't become like Father."
She reaches for my hand.
Her touch is warm and comforting.
"I know you won't." She says reassuringly. "I just don't want you pushing yourself and getting hurt."
Despite her words, her voice is a bit strained as she speaks.
"I won't." I say quietly. And I mean it.
For a moment, it feels like everything is calm. Like this room is its own small world, untouched by anything bad.
Then my phone vibrates in my pocket.
I frown slightly as I pull it out.
"Kata?" I murmur. "That's… unusual."
"He doesn't call often?" She asks curiously.
"No. He usually just texts."
She nods toward it. "Then you should answer. It might be important."
I nod, then pick up.
"…Hello?"
"Hey." Kata says, voice as calm as ever. "Are you busy?"
"I'm visiting my mother." I say simply. "Did you need something?"
There's a pause on the other end of the line.
"…I have something important to tell you." Kata says. "It would be best if no one else could hear."
I glance at Mother. She's watching me with gentle curiosity, but shouldn't be able to hear what Kata has to say.
"…It's fine." I say. "No one else can hear you."
Another pause. Longer this time.
"…Don't panic because of what I'm about to say." Kata warns. "I need to ask you something. It's about your older brother."
"My brother?" I frown. "Natsuo? What about him?"
"No." he says. "Not him."
My chest tightens.
"…Toya?"
"Yes."
The name feels heavy, like it drags the air down with it.
"Wait," I say sharply. "How do you even know about him? And why are you asking?"
"Does he have white hair?" Kata continues evenly. "And a fire quirk so strong it damaged his own body?"
My breath stutters.
"H-how do you know that…?" My fingers curl tighter around my phone.
"Stay calm." He says. "When he 'died'… was his body ever found?"
"No…" I answer automatically.
"What I'm saying," Kata continues, "is that I've found someone I'm almost certain is Toya Todoroki."
The world tilts.
"That's impossible!" I say immediately. "He died in a fire. If this is some kind of joke—"
"It isn't." He says, and I can barely breathe.
Father buried that incident. The public barely knew. No one outside the family should know those details.
'There's no way Kata could know this much unless—'
"You don't know what you're talking about." I say, even as doubt claws up my spine.
"I'm certain." Kata replies. "Your DNA matches his quite closely."
Pain spreads through my chest.
How did he test that?
How did he even find him?
How could this be real?
"He's dead." I say again, louder now. "Father saw it himself and—"
"Todoroki, calm down."
"How can I?!" Anxiety creeps up my spine as my pulse hammers in my ears. "If he was alive… then why didn't he come back? Where was he? Why didn't he—"
A dull sound cuts through my thoughts.
Thud.
I look up.
Mother is staring at me.
Her eyes are wide. Her hand trembles as it rises to her mouth.
"Shouto…" Her voice shakes. "Did you just say… Toya?"
My throat locks.
I freeze, unable to even answer her.
The phone is still pressed to my ear, but I barely feel it.
"…W-what's going on?" She whispers.
I don't know what to say.
********
A/N: Hello Everyone! How are you all? If you've enjoyed the chapter and book thus far, please consider leaving me some comments, reviews, or power stones. It really helps the book out.
So, the Todoroki portion was what caused the delays. I wasn't happy with how it was before, and wanted a bit more feels there, which hopefully, I successfully implemented.
I wasn't sure of a better way to call someone and be like "hey, your dead brother ain't actually dead", and have their mom overhear. Point in case, Todoroki wouldn't have been expecting it, hence his behaviour. As for Kata saying the DNA thing... Call it bullshit on his end of you will😭. He's scanned everyone, so this possible. Todoroki believing it is the bullshit, hence flossing it over.
Anyway, that almost puts an end to this arc, with the next chapter probably being the last, and I-Island the chapter after, or the knee after that.
You can also read 10 and support me at [email protected]/AMV_WEAKLY
Hope you all enjoyed, and have a wonderful rest of you day/night😁.