Chapter 148: Meeting the Hero Killer
When Yoshikage Kira and the others arrived at the special ward on the upper floor, they were surprised to see Detective Tsukauchi, with whom they had dealt several times, standing outside the door, questioning the two guards on duty. The detective was, as usual, in his light trench coat, looking less like a police officer and more like a private detective.
"Allow me to introduce you," Shosei Meisei said, stepping between them. "This is Detective Tsukauchi, sent by the Tokyo police to take over the Hero Killer Stain case. He's in charge of all cases related to the League of Villains."
"Kira-kun, we meet again," Tsukauchi said, nodding to Kira. He then tipped his hat to Aizawa. "Aizawa-sensei. It's been a while."
"So you two know each other. Right, the League of Villains did make their debut at U.A.," Shosei said, putting the pieces together. "Kira-kun, why don't you share your thoughts here? The police might as well hear them too."
"Mr. Aizawa, so that was your plan all along..." Kira said, not speaking, but instead turning his gaze to his teacher.
"Ahem. I just thought your theory was very reasonable and might be of some help to the police," Aizawa coughed.
"Oh? Does Kira-kun have a new theory? I'm very much looking forward to it," Tsukauchi said. During the Nomu incident, it had been Kira's discovery that had allowed the police to conduct their research on the creature, leading to a major, nation-shocking revelation. After discussing it with All Might, they had decided to temporarily keep the discovery a secret.
(While it was a bit unfair to Kira, the provider of the information, Tsukauchi hadn't told him for his own protection, and All Might had strongly agreed. The detective had always had a great deal of faith in Kira, believing he could become an outstanding Pro Hero.)
"Alright, if you don't mind an amateur like me voicing his opinion." Yoshikage Kira shrugged and, integrating the points he had made in class, slowly began to explain...
"...Yes, I understand what you're saying. Stain was in America during the years he was missing? That is certainly a possibility. He never applied for a passport, and while there would have been a risk of being discovered as an undocumented person, if he hid in the slums, he wouldn't have been easily found." After hearing Kira's analysis, Detective Tsukauchi stroked his chin, and after a moment's thought, he looked up and smiled. "Kira-kun, you've once again provided us with a new line of thinking."
"It's nothing. Finding out the Hero Killer's identity sooner is a good thing for everyone," Kira said. He thought for a moment, then added, "Detective, I have a small suggestion. If you're going to investigate, I recommend you start with some of the vigilantes in America. An ideology like Stain's isn't formed overnight. He must have been following a hero, learning his killing techniques while his own worldview was being subtly changed."
"The police will consider your opinion," Tsukauchi said with a nod. He closed his notebook and handed it to another officer. "Take this notebook back to the investigation department now. Have them contact our embassy in the United States. They should have data on some of the vigilantes who have cooperated with the police there. Make sure it gets reviewed."
"Yes, sir, Inspector!" the young officer said with a salute, then ran off.
(While you needed a hero license to open the side door from the outside, from the inside, you just needed to ask the front desk for the daily password. Even a non-hero could leave this way.)
"Has the Hero Killer woken up yet?" Shosei Meisei asked, looking through the window on the door. The criminal, Stain, was bound with the same material as the capture weapon around Aizawa's neck. His body was covered by a blanket, so his full condition was unclear, but an IV was in his wrist. He had his eyes closed and seemed to be unconscious.
"He's been awake for a while. He just doesn't want to talk to us," Tsukauchi said, taking out his phone and opening an interface that displayed a line graph. "This is connected to his EEG in the room. As you can see, his brain is very active. It's clear he's awake."
"Should I give it another try?" Shosei sighed. "I've already talked to him a few times, but each time he just gives me a couple of short answers and then goes silent. My proud communication skills are useless on him..."
"Has Stain revealed any information?" Aizawa asked the detective.
"He's extremely tight-lipped. The only thing he said was when we mentioned the League of Villains, he said, 'That brat is no partner of mine.' He must have been talking about Tomura Shigaraki. This is our initial confirmation that he and the League are not affiliated," Tsukauchi said, also looking helpless. "But even if we know this, we can't announce it to the public. It's already public knowledge that the Hero Killer is a member of the League. Unless he clarifies it himself, no one will believe us."
Shosei, with a smile that was either genuinely concerned or secretly gloating, looked at Aizawa. "The League must have recruited a lot of new members using the Hero Killer's name. When do you think their next attack on U.A. will be? Next week? Next month? Or... tomorrow?"
"We have no way of knowing the League's actions. What we do know is that the most important thing right now is to get the information we need from Stain, who has had deep contact with them, as soon as possible," Tsukauchi said, turning off his phone and putting it in his pocket. "Don't tell me... we actually have to get All Might himself to make Stain talk?"
"That's the last resort," Shosei shrugged. "But having All Might personally interrogate a criminal... it just feels a little strange."
All Might. The one true hero in Stain's eyes. If All Might were to question him personally, then Stain, as his fan, would surely open up—this was the unspoken assumption of everyone present.
No, wait. There was one person who did not agree with this assumption.
"Anyone can go. But All Might cannot be the one to see him," Yoshikage Kira said, his words stunning everyone.
"That's impossible," Shosei said, finding Kira's statement absurd. "Even if I admit that what you said before is highly likely the truth, that only tells us his reasons. But All Might is the hero he himself acknowledged."
"And at the same time, he himself acknowledged that All Might is the only one who can kill him," Kira said, meeting Shosei's gaze calmly. "As a martyr, I have no doubt that his current silence is just a ploy to make you believe that only All Might can make him talk. He is waiting for All Might's arrival, and then... he will die before him, with no regrets."
"That's...!" Shosei was speechless. He thought back to his own face-to-face encounter with the Hero Killer in the alley, to the red glint in his eyes. Subconsciously, he felt that what Kira was saying was highly likely... it might even be the truth.
"If Stain dies in front of All Might, we, the police, will be forced by public pressure to announce it. And All Might, out of his own sense of responsibility, will confirm the truth of that announcement," Tsukauchi said, rubbing his temples with a headache. "If that happens, it could stir up social conflict. All criminals will see dying at All Might's hands as an honor. And then, U.A. could be subjected to non-stop attacks from enemies. The safety of the students could no longer be guaranteed..."
Shota Aizawa could already imagine the scene: a student is kidnapped by a criminal, who then specifically demands to meet with All Might. Under pressure from society and the parents, All Might would have to go. And even if he saved that one student, there would be no guarantee that other criminals wouldn't target other students.
If it were All Might in his prime, he would have nothing to fear. But Aizawa knew that in his current condition, All Might couldn't withstand an unending series of challenges...
Tsukauchi also frowned. He didn't want All Might to take that risk for the sake of some unknown piece of information.
Yoshikage Kira, having seen everyone's reaction, suddenly spoke up. "If you don't mind, how about you let me try? The situation can't get any worse."
"Kira, get behind me. You shouldn't get involved in this," Aizawa said with a frown.
Midoriya and the others had already been through one crisis. He didn't want to put his students in danger again. He had only wanted Kira to provide his theories, to get his name in front of the police and lay a good foundation for his future career. He had no intention of letting him take this risk.
"Little student, I admit that what you said is highly likely, but..." Shosei placed a hand on Kira's shoulder. "This is our job as Pro Heroes and the police. Trust us adults."
While the two Pro Heroes were objecting, Detective Tsukauchi looked up and looked Kira straight in the eye. "Are you really willing to do this?"
"Inspector!"
Tsukauchi held up a hand, silencing Shosei and Aizawa's protests. He looked at Kira. "You've been in the same room with a Nomu before. I believe you can protect yourself. But... the Hero Killer's greatest strength isn't his Quirk or his power. It's his ideology. Are you confident you won't be influenced by him?"
Kira smiled. "On the contrary. I want to correct his twisted ideology."
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