My name is Izuku Midoriya. And, I wanted to be the greatest hero, like All Might. In a once in a lifetime chance, I was given the opportunity to be 'All Might.'
Training for ten months, I could tell I still wasn't ready, but I had to be in Yuuei High School. It's the greatest hero school in the world! And if I wanted to be like All Might I needed to attend!
That's what I thought, but something recently changed. Dae-kun. A strange person I met during the entrance exams, and now my classmate. I've been trying to him figure out. But he's an anomaly I can't quite write down. In my notes, Dae mentioned that his quirk is called 'Restless Mind', which affects his personality. But something feels off about it, like a lingering sadness. In the changing rooms, I did see Dae have a lot of scars, but Kirishima complemented him, and Dae didn't seem to mind. So, maybe Dae trained a lot, just like me.
Either way, Dae's quirk is stronger than most pro-heroes. He's able to exert incredible feats of strength. I even thought he could've been another 'All Might' wielder. Dae also has incredible intelligence and combat skills, but when I asked All Might, he denied it.
To be honest, it's a bit unfair. But, there's no need to worry, Dae's a good person? He stood up for me when Iida-kun thought I was too noisy. He is also teaching me how to use my quirk… better than All Might. But, there is a shadow of doubt I'm embarrassed to even think about. When Dae acts like a bad guy… he's too… convincing. I… When I was on the ground…. and saw Uraraka being held by her throat… the only thought in my mind was… He is a villain.
This shame continues to haunt me. But, in that moment of conflict, I learned my true goal. Be a hero for people, not to *be* All Might. The next symbol of peace doesn't need to be me, I just want to be a hero. So… Dae is a good guy! He was elected as class representative. He subverted panic when the reporters broke in. And… he acted first when real villains appeared. I was a coward! I froze! I'm the successor of All Might, and all I did was watch in fear.
I felt despair… real villains… actual villains! I'll die! I'll actually die! This was not behind a screen. Not by word of mouth. But, in front of me, was a villain, trying to kill. I thought… I had thought I would be courageous, laugh in the face of evil, smile when the odds are against me. I thought I could act like I did when I saved Kacchan. It was the reason All Might chose me. And… I… I feel ashamed, wondering… why was I given this power? Why not anybody else? Why not Dae? That thought flashed in my mind when I saw him act.
We spoke in denial, confusion, or fear. But Dae spoke with action. When he shouted at Sensei, I thought he was crazy, Aizawa-Sensei is not a person to be bothered. But I was surprised when Sensei also warned the class. Villains are here! A wave of confusion. What? Villains? Here? Yes, and they came through a strange shadow. My mind was racing! What do we do!? Run! Hide! Call for help! Call for heroes! But we are heroes… at least, we are training to be. It was a conundrum; we are too green for this!
That thought was broken at the sight of Dae's bleeding nose. Sensei told us Dae was using his quirk. Was the price of his quirk damaging? Is that the reason I felt like he was so sad? Dae warned that we were on our own, to use our quirks with each other like in club practice. There was a small commotion that he was leaving us alone, but I knew that meant Dae was going to be in the most danger. Too much danger to help us. We instead needed to protect him by being safe.
This… His actions made me… frustrated. Guilty. Ashamed. I need to apologize to him. He… he is a hero. A hero like All Might. When I saw him leap down those stairs… I felt… I need to follow. To be a hero, I need to leap with him. Together the class ran, and together we captured the villains. Kacchan went and secured the surroundings, while Dae and Todoroki dealt with the monster. Luckily we had sensei with us, he took the front charge while we followed.
I couldn't use my quirk all at once, there were too many villains, I had to use Full Cowling. With Full Cowling, I took down a few villains. I was surprised; my power was a lot more effective. I think I got used to using my quirk against Dae that I forgot they don't have his resistance. Even as I was stiff, my speed and heavy punches worked well against the villains.
When all the villains from the center were restrained, we were shocked by a loud noise. I occasionally glanced at Dae's situation and worried, but we were preoccupied. But now without villains around, we looked. Dae was no longer in sight, and the monster flew in the air and through the wall. That cone of destruction had All Might's strength. I had to look around, questioning if All Might arrived. Was that a Texas Smash? But he wasn't there. I only saw Dae start walking to Sensei restricting the frightening villain leader.
That power, shrugged off? Before, I might've thought that Dae was a competitor to being the number one hero, but now, Dae is a friend. A friend who fights on the side of good. I will catch up!
…
That guy is a pain.
He gets in my way. To get revenge against my 'father,' how could I not have used fire to stop him?
That thought vanished when I saw him leap. What the hell is that? He's been a thorn to my side, yet he turned my dislike to admiration. Even noticing this, how can I stay mad?
It all started when he first spoke to me.
My initial thoughts were, 'his toss is strong but that is just physical power, my ice is stronger. Is that all from the exam first place? It's merely brute strength.' And, when he spoke. He spoke with such vulgar words. Disgusting.
It was a man-child trying to be superior. He said that it was part of his quirk, but it's hard to separate the personality when it's my first impression. Especially when he mentioned… my scar. Before, I could tolerate it. The class was already filled with useless people. But I nearly lost my cool when he mocked me. Though, I did see he had his own scars. So, I held it in, I blamed it on his personality, quirk, anything to not freeze him there.
Somehow, he knew. Was he sent by Endeavor? That troublesome guy, Dae-Gon, said it was a feature of his quirk. What kind of quirk was it? To be strong and able to read someone's past, that is… two completely different things. Who are his parents? Is he lying? No, at least, it didn't seem he was lying.
But, his quirk is odd, it has so many features that Endeavor would be jealous. Whatever.
Either way, I misunderstood him, Dae-Gon, he's an eccentric guy, but he's not malicious. He somewhat helped me. It makes me frustrated that he did, but I can't deny he did. To deny it would be a worse feeling.
I was under Endeavor's control. It was idiotic of me, I had not thought of anything beyond becoming the strongest. Stronger than All Might? Who cares? Endeavor cares. So then why should I? It's laughably stupid, but I won't laugh, it's tragic. Tragic how I've isolated myself and others.
My quirk, is used by a hero, not the strongest. My mother told me that. I just needed to remember it to heart… It's frustrating being grateful to someone you dislike. I've been internalizing the new thoughts, so I needed some time. I wonder if I should visit mom sometime. Maybe bring Dae-Gon so he can… perceive something. Help her like he did me.
Dae-Gon is a mysterious person. I feel strange hating him but also sense he wanted that. He's a bit too good. He made me more perceptive. And, watching his power it… It feels like I'm acting like Endeavor. But that will never happen. Dae-Gon is not my All Might, he'll be my comrade. That will spit in Endeavor's face. As long as I help people and protect families, I don't care who's stronger.
When villains appeared, it was from Dae-Gon's warning we were aware. I felt concerned. Not by the villains, but for the safety of my classmates. They're so feeble that I need to protect them. That was not good, having a liability. And, when Dae-Gon ordered the class, I understood he was under a lot of pressure. He would take the brunt of the attack. It seemed that there was a higher threat. Yet, he still leapt. And, despite my power, *I* hesitated.
I never fought like this before, I wasn't prepared. Yes, I had sparred, with Endeavor. But that was only for maximizing my quirk to exhaustion. At least a plan should be made, but Dae-Gon went without hesitation. He's good, acting like a hero. Made me feel compelled to follow. Made the entire class compelled. So, I followed. He was the leader this time, I'd follow his orders.
I asked him what his plan was, and he said to support him. Support? Why would I need to do that? So, after the explosive guy blew up the bottom of the stairs, I froze the fallen villains. I created a slope of ice above them, capturing them easily. As long as they don't stay too long, they wouldn't die of hypothermia. Why did Dae-Gon need help? That was easy, the villains were mooks. But my judgement was wrong.
He knew something, something about what would happen. A massive fist nearly blew his head off. But, Dae-Gon dodged and leaped out into the open. Away from the class. That was what he said would happen. I made the wrong move, I needed to help him, not waste stamina on grunts. I hesitated again. But the class, could they survive?
Again, I was wrong, they were already capturing villains. The trust Dae-Gon put in the class, I needed that too. So, I assisted him. When I saw him in the air, I knew I had to stop the large creature. Trust the class, Trust Dae-Gon. That's what I believe we all thought. And, in the end, we were victorious.
It was exhausting, but fairly simple. I think if the shadow and monster were attacking, without Dae-Gon, we'd all be dead, because he nearly died. I don't think many saw it. The loud noise either drew eyes or closed them. I saw. A flicker of light exploded from Dae-Gon as he punched the creature through the walls of the USJ. That's where most open eyes looked at, but I looked at Dae. He flew backwards, with his entire right side gone. He's insane.
But he remined me of what I wanted to be. A hero. I couldn't shake off those thoughts. I couldn't deny it any longer. When his fatal wound regenerated, I felt a disparity between our powers. That was the moment Endeavor and All Might clicked to me.
…
Sensei s-said it would be easy! H-he was w-wrong! G-god, I can't t-think! I need my father! AH! Shit Shit Shit! I'll kill him! Fuck! I'll kill him. Kill! AH! My neck burns! Burns! Fucker! He said Tenko?! Who's that? I'm goddamn Tomura Shigaraki! FUCK! Peel my skin off! AH! Kurogiri is gone and Sensei keeps talking to me! Keeps talking down to me! Fuck! FUCK! That kid was too strong! That smug fucker! I'll kill him! Turn him to dust! Hah~ yes. I'll kill him. Then, I'll deal with All Might. Yes...
…
[Wake up.]
'Soldier, rise and shine! There is war ahead! Hop to it, maggot!'
'You feel your shirt displaced. Like it was taken off, then back on.'
'A lingering scent of a female is rubbed onto your clothes.'
'You remember this as Midnight's scent.'
[You open your eyes to a white ceiling.]
'Classic white ceiling. This means you're still in the med bay.'
'It would be nice to have a more extravagant paint job. It's too sterile.'
'Your body feels fine. No creaks of joints or heaviness. Only the blood in your body pooling from gravity. Too long laying down will cause bed sores and slow blood flow. Get up, stretch a little, then get moving.'
'Check yourself.'
[You lay up from the bed. Looking down at your shirt, it seems to be fine.]
'Underneath, lies scars. From before you could regenerate. Warning. Don't look.'
'An itch bubbles up from your skin.'
[You sigh and feel around your pockets.]
'The slight smell of formaldehyde.'
[You grasp a severed hand and put it on your face.]
'…'
'…'
'Nezu will want to talk.'
[Then, you put the hand in your pocket. And, get down from the bed. Feeling refreshed, you start stretching a little, side to side, then arms behind your back. You roll your shoulders and look up, taking a deep breath.]
'Your throat feels good.'
'Behind the curtains, you hear the sound of an elderly lady.'
["Dae? Are you awake?"]
[You nod, even though she can't see it.]
'These small repeatable actions are what make you perceived as human. It's a learned instinct at this point.'
[Struggling a little, "…Yes." Then with a cough, "Yes, I'm awake. How long have I been asleep?" You move the curtain away to the side, revealing the room.]
'From the looks of it. She's here. The sunlight's minor shift. The papers on the desk. And smell of Midnight's perfume. A day has passed. Around 20 hours.'
["Honey, it's been a day. Ho~ you must've been exhausted, Dae-chan." Recovery Girl sighs, "Nezu requested that I send you over once you wake up." She scoffs, "Sheesh, they do whatever they want."]
'Chan is a word of endearment, not feminine in nature. Don't get it twisted.'
["Thank you, Miss Recovery Girl." You bow, "I also want to speak to Principal Nezu, so don't worry for me."]
'The voice that comes from your body elicit fond memories for you.'
[She lazily smiles, "Sure sure, boy. If your done, get a move on."]
'She's clearly worried about your wellbeing. It's safe to presume that Recovery Girl is a top-tier hero who'll do a lot to protect the younger generations. Even to the extent of not healing them.'
[You bow again, then walk towards the entrance doors. You pause as she remembers something.]
["Ah, boy."]
["Hm? Yes?" Turning your head.]
["Sweets?" She raises a small tin with candy in it.]
'Take a few! The delicious flavors will occupy the empty taste buds. You crave something to eat, so might as well simulate your palate.'
'Pick the interesting ones. Try things.'
[You nod and grab some candies, "Thank you."]
["I hope I only see you here for sleeping, boy."]
[You nod, "I assure you I will be responsible."]
[She takes a deep breath and nods, "Take care of yourself," then shoo's her hands away, "Go, go."]
[You nod and step out the med bay. The window walls reveal the sea and a bright sun. Taking in the view, you unwrap a candy and pop it in your mouth, putting the rest into your pockets.]
'A strong taste of ginseng. Very medicinal. It's an acquired taste, and you like it.'
'Your saliva builds to conquer the hard ginseng candy.'
[Licking the candy in your mouth, you walk to the principal's office. Up the stairs and far away, tucked into a corner.]
'The school is empty. It has been a day, yet there are no students? Obviously the day is taken off, a surprise villain attack had occurred. The school needs time to react. At least, that's the perception. We've already reacted.'
[You knock on the door. And, after a few moments, the door opens revealing Midnight.]
'She wears her hero outfit, a skintight flesh-colored body suit, with the lower half of a black leotard. Thigh-high garter stockings, and knee-boots. A small red mask, lifted up. And, loose hand cuffs on each of her wrists.'
[She smiles, "Oh~ Sleepyhead woke up."]
[You smile and nod, "Mrs. Midnight. Yes, I've woken up." Tilting your head, "Are you here discussing the USJ incident with Nezu?" ]
[She nods, "Yes. But, please call me Ms. Midnight."]
'She knows some parts of your involvement. Her facial expression has her lips pursed and eyelids slightly lowered despite you being taller. Expectations and concern. She's seen some footage of the events; that would explain it. But not enough.'
[From behind Midnight, you hear Nezu speak, "Let him in, Midnight." She hums and backs into the room, sitting onto a blue couch, letting you in.]
'Nezu is in his usual business suit attire.'
[Stepping in, Nezu continues, "Student Dae, nice to see you awake." He fiddles on his tablet, "I've just sent a notice for a special meeting. In an hour, with a select few teachers and Detective Tsukauchi, we'll discuss the U.S.J. incident."]
'Detective Tsukauchi? Is that name is familiar? *Yes* Makoto Tsukauchi, General Manager of the Captain Celebrity Corporation. Her brother, Naomasa Tsukauchi, is a detective in Japan. A brief look into the detective, he remains low from the spotlight, but the cases he's involved in are a lot. Interesting.'
[Midnight glances at you.]
'Her gaze does not change. She is still curious about you.'
[You bow, "Alright." Then, you sit down on a seat in front of Nezu, "Can you debrief me on the aftermath?" He hums and presses another button on his tablet, opening up part of the wall, revealing a screen.]
["Knowing that the attack could come at any time, I installed cameras into every part of the school." The screen shows a paused video of the villains appearing out of the warp. "With this, we have evidence of the attack. And, evidence of the school's control." He smiles, "This means, that all the villains will be getting bigger sentences, and our school can control the information of the incident." He looks at you, "299 villains have been documented, captured, and arrested."]
'That's a shit ton of villains. Luckily, your class didn't meet even 80% of them. The rest were captured by All Might and the Pro-heroes around.'
[Nezu stares, "Luckily, the warp-gate quirk wielder spread out the villains, otherwise it would've been harder."]
'He knows the villains were weak, just grunts. And it would've been slightly harder to deal with them if they didn't spread out. What he is implying is that the League of Villains has some intelligence. First, the number of villains is very high; second, they had a strategy going in; third, only the few villain 'heads' had very strong quirks. In all, this implies the League of Villains is holding back.'
[Nezu smiles, "It seems they're trying to make a name for themselves." He clicks a button, and the screen shows the shadow man, Kurogiri, "He referred to the group as the League of Villains. Currently, no name matches with the organization. But, later, Detective Tsukauchi will provide some more details.]
[You nod, "Okay. I'll also provide some more details at that time."]
'Ascertaining an authority's preference, Nezu would prefer if everything is discussed at the meeting. Since the meeting would be for only the most trustworthy, everything can be shared at once then.'
["Sounds good, Student Dae." He nods, "Today, the school has temporarily closed, but tomorrow it will resume." Nezu smiling neatly, "Since the situation was handled, and we reported to the police beforehand, the incident is now under investigation. So, no information has or can be leaked. With cooperation with the police force, the U.S.J. incident has been swept under the rug."]
'Astounding. This was part of the suggested plan with Nezu.'
'If information got out that hundreds of villains broke into the school. The public reception would be catastrophic. Student's safety would be in consideration, and the status of the school would drop.'
'That cannot happen, you still have use of heroes.'
[You smile brightly, "Wonderful."]
'Don't bring up that you made that plan, Midnight is here. Her view of your mysterious nature must be maintained cautiously. Slowly, the enigmatic figure you've created in her mind will let you control her better.'
'That sounds bad. This is not for nefarious means, it's for the greater good. For her good.'
[Nezu nods, "So, now that we wait for a bit…" He slides over a cup of tea, "Let's talk about philosophy."]
[You reach over and take a cup of tea, "I'd like that. But only if I can ask in return."]
["Hooh? Of course, I'll answer any questions you may have."]
'Mission: Ascertain Nezu's motivations. Reveal your intentions. Gain trust. Build the prototype of Nezu.'
'Nezu is too smart, he'll figure you out and not reveal it. You must be honest to allow Nezu to be honest also. This means even revealing sensitive information, any obfuscation, lies, or trickery will immediately shift the conversation. This minor talk will shape how Nezu sees you.'
'Your mind has grown some space, let's use the feature Tartarus took. It's permanent, but the risk is negligible.'
'Let's go gambling!'
♻☐INLAND EMPIRE+EMPATHY+SUGGESTION☐
'I'll never disappear. The voices beyond beckon you, and I will be there. Calling your name.'
'It's okay. While you need me, this process will provide a greater product. I just hope I serviced you well.'
'I suggested it. So, just do it. Use my ashes to get what you want. Speak, and the world will kneel.'
╰┈➤☐RAPPORT☐ *IMAGE*
'Construct your mind to motion, motion to information, and information to the minds of others. You KNOW what they feel, what they want, what they need. The thread that separates you from others will be tug taut. Make all those who perceive, respond how you wish. Don't worry, with me, the barrier can be crossed. Let's get this party started, hero.'
…
'I'll give you some instructions for your speech. Speak my tempo. Feel my rhythm. Dance across the tightrope of meaning.'
["What do you think a student needs most?"]
'Simple question expecting something complex. I know Nezu believes in the youth, more than the rest, probably as they can be better than the researchers he's experienced. With this tricky foe, be as honest as possible, he will like it. I know he gets a pump of intoxicating neurotransmitters when you stimulate his expectations. Make it thoughtful, not a short response.'
["A student needs to be challenged. Time and obstacles. The pressure needs to make them want to escape. Truly, they will be a student as they survive; otherwise, they will not be considered a student anymore." You smile, "To give a direct answer. Give them an assignment that will make them required to attend extra lessons, extra assignments, and utilize a teacher's work hours. Make them stressed. And…" You raise your index finger, "Most importantly, make the reward worth it. Have the efforts worth the suffering. The lesson of learning, is what a student needs."
[Nezu nods.]
[You raise your hand a little higher, "But…" You smile and lower your hand, "This is what a 'student' needs, not what a student needs most. For what a student needs the most, is experience, but not the standard meaning of experience. Qualia. The metaphysical nature of experience. For example, a girl in a black and white room, colorless. I can write every single thing of the color blue, the physics, eye anatomy, and future concepts. I hand her every piece of knowledge the universe can provide. But, after that knowledge, do they know all of the color blue? They have every single piece of information conceivable, they know the description of the feeling, the wavelengths, the cones and rods in the eye. So, do they gain something from opening the door of their colorless room, and seeing the blue sky? Is there any new information that can be ascertained from personal sight? Is there an indescribable feeling that something undiscovered was found? What can they add to the collective information I gave them that wasn't there already?" You widen your arms, "That is the goal, what a student needs most. The ineffable feelings of experience. The disco beyond mere comprehension."]
[Nezu smiles. He takes a sip of tea and puts the cup down.]
'He likes seeing your personal views, he likes that you formulate within your processes. But this all adds to the creation of you, in his mind. Now… Ask him a question. A targeted one.'
["So, Principal Nezu. How far does a villain have to go for being forgiving is irresponsible?"]
'Tenko Shigaraki. Or, more importantly, you.'
["Hehe~ I guess I may be a little naïve, but I believe nobody can go too far for redemption."]
'Interesting. He chose to say nobody, and not villains, implying he's taking account of everyone. He wants you to know this. He knows your inclination. That you're a little 'bad.' This is not a surprise, it's good he's openly showing his cards. So, you should in return, till all cards are shown and the game can be free of deception.'
[You nod. He nods.]
'Pleasantries are over. We agree in this instance, let's get serious.'
["Student Dae... What is a hero to you?"]
'This is one of his killer questions. What he wanted to ascertain from you in the beginning. He's not asking 'why' yet, he's asking 'what' a hero is.'
[You tap your chin, looking up, "A hero? Hmm." You hum, and then look into Nezu's beady eyes, "Hero. Is just a word."]
'He responded with a short response, so you shall as well. This is your truth. Don't overthink it, you meant what you said. Slightly elevate his anxiety.'
[Nezu slows his movements, he takes his time sitting in his chair. Nezu's arm lax, he giggles.]
'He loves your answer. He understands that you aren't being pedantic. That, Hero, means nothing to you. He's amused in surprise, worry, and connection. He shares familiarity with that sentiment, pondering the very same concept.'
'Today's heroes are losing meaning. Heroes are too common, able to slide by with All Might in mantle as the Symbol of Peace. This is a *massive* problem. Once All Might inevitably passes, the vacuum will tear society apart. Villains will poke their heads out, heroes will be overwhelmed, and the career won't be seen as a ticket to wealth and fame, but service and death.'
'Recent Example: A hero like Mt. Lady would never pop up again. A hero for money and fame.
'A slight tickle that veers away. You sense Midnight's gaze wander to Nezu, in concern.'
'She is… confused. Worried, and confused. And… she also is afraid of your answer. Afraid of what it implies. Don't worry, her feelings are temporary. The intense feelings she feels will dull as time passes.'
[Finishing his fit, Nezu takes a sip of tea, then looks into your eyes, "Ahem. Pardon me, Student Dae. I just remembered something quite comical." He hums pleasantly, "Dae. I must say, you're a promising student at my school." He smiles, bright, "I expect great things will come from you."]
'He feels… excitement. Like staring at the solution to a problem. Perfect.'
[You slightly bow, "Your expectations won't be false."]
[He gives a few hums of agreement, then pauses, halting every motion, before saying, "I'm enjoying this discussion, let's continue."]
'Expected. He's probably caught himself drifting into our schemes.'
[You nod.]
'Your turn. Up the heat.'
["The quirk singularity theory. As a figure responsible for the education of younger generations, what do you think?"]
'He knows about it. This is just to elevate his anxiety into a psychological work zone. Nezu is intellectualizing this interaction, make him stir to open up.'
[Nezu sighs, and he taps his desk thrice, then he responds, "Hm. Very observant, Student Dae. Yes… the quirk singularity theory." He pauses, then continues, "There are currently very little efforts into the research of that concept." He taps the desk again, smiling, "It's not particularly important right now, but the future does seems to hold surprises." Another brief pause, "To your question, the best thing anyone in my position is to ensure the success of my students, so that they may, in the future, better solve that problem." He taps the desk, and looks at you, "Like you, Student Dae. What do you think?"]
'Make him feel intense emotions.'
'The reason you chose this topic, reveal it.'
["I think." You smile, "The villains have some sort of way to give and take quirks, right?" You hum, then speak plainly, "I've even taken a few of them, the artificial ones." You chuckle, "Then… doesn't that imply the villains have the means to save humanity?" Humming lightly, you elevate your voice, "Didn't All for One do that when he was around?"]
'A buzz of *shock*. Nezu's emotional levels are raising to upper-optimal territory. Midnight reached somewhat beyond the optimal.'
'Nezu knows you took a quirk, something the camera surveillance would've caught. Well, you ate parts of a *literal* brain. And later had a stronger endurance, and suddenly an incredible regeneration. If they didn't have a clear picture, they at least do now. Either way, you would've told them. Honesty is the most fun after all.'
[Nezu and Midnight are silent.]
'Let Nezu internalize his thoughts for a bit.'
[While Nezu is in thought, Midnight speaks up, "Dae? What do… you mean by that?"]
'Her voice carries extreme caution. Person to person. Lower her levels a bit, you want her to have a favorable opinion of you. Instead of fear and caution, turn it into striking mystery.'
[You look back to Midnight, "In the meeting tonight I'm sure we'll mention it, but we figured that the League of Villains is with All for One. Also, that I ate the brains of that 'Noumu' creature the villain named. Which, I gained some of its quirk factors. That… put a lot of strain on me, and that's why I needed your help sleeping."]
'Muddy her brain with information, dazed, now give her what she wants to hear.'
[You smile, "Don't worry. Me and Nezu have already come up with a plan to acquire the methodology of the villains. With brilliant minds across the world, we'll save mankind in no time." You raise your hand, showing your palm, "So, don't worry. It's all under control." Midnight looks at you with confusion.]
'The only thing she'll take from this is that we have this under control. The recent-order priority of information will make her occupied for now.'
[Nezu speaks up, "Yes, Midnight. I assure you that we've considered all of the possibilities beforehand. So don't worry!" Nezu perks up, "Your favorite principal will take care of it!"]
'He intellectualized some of the information, his anxiety are now in low-optimal territory. Perfect.'
[You raise you hand slightly, "I'm sorry for asking another question but… Why aren't you a villain? Nezu."]
'High-optimal territory. Midnight is occupied, she didn't hear you. Nezu did. Very clear. Whatever comes from his mouth, will be informative.'
[Nezu goes blank. He no longer expresses emotions. Glancing at Midnight not paying attention, he looks at you with his beady black eyes, and blankly states, "I want to be free…" After a pause, he laughs, "Hahaha. And if I were a villain, I'd have to go to prison!" He sighs, "Another cage? No thanks!"]
'Magnificent! You broke a piece of his shell. And he knows it. Hahaha! He knows you bested him, even if slightly! Wonderful!'
[Your pursed lips slightly curl up, "Thank you, Principal Nezu."]
[Nezu smirks, "Yes. You're welcome." He chuckles, then hums, "Hm. Unfair…"]
'He's playfully prodding you.'
[You slowly nod, "Apologies, ask me any questions you wish."]
'An invitation to do his best.'
[Nezu nods, "Lets see…" He thinks for a moment, "Why do you want to be a hero?"]
'He knows that we're intelligent enough to be aware of any tactics he may try. Right now, it's grace period. He knows we'll answer any questions, so, he'll ask away. And, you'll gladly answer.'
[You lightly smile, "I mentioned before that I was fulfilling my 'original promise' to be a hero… And, that is mainly correct." You open your hands to show palms, "Truly, there is an 'original promise' but to actually want?" You clasp your hands, "I go with the flow of life. And… being a hero seemed most optimal." You tuck your hands away, "Nezu… to me the fundamental desires of living come from my genes. So, that answers why I don't just kill myself in this meaningless existence. But, the 'desire' to be a hero? It comes from my progenitor. Somewhat like most boys born in this world, we want to be heroes. It was just luck that I was part of that before I awakened my quirk. That 'vestige' lays within. Hm. Like how quirks affect personality. This time, vice versa."]
'If there are any people to reveal yourself to right now, they are in this room. Actual paragons of Heroism. It's fine to trust them. And they'll trust you, the more you open up. It's a win-win, isn't it? C'mon, you *love* talking about yourself, it's therapeutic in a sense. Wherever you are.'
["I've looked into your personal records, and you were the highest, mentally aged, recorded individual among the school. That's quite a rare feat. It may just be a higher intelligence, like, myself, but how old are you, Student Dae? Personally, I am around 50 years old. Hoho~ But, my mental age also exceeds the 100+ limit."]
'He knows. He knows quite a lot. It's not wrong to assume Nezu already has a semi-accurate simulacrum of you. He has enough to make probability estimates with you as a factor. He's probably also researched into your background after your first visit. This feels like the reason Nezu trusts you. At least, he will put trust in you. Like the hero club, that was something.'
'The question? Who knows? Certainly I don't, nor you. Just give him a thought to chew.'
[You shrug, "I don't know?" You tap your temple, "After a nightmare, I don't particularly remember much, but my body does, my mind does, my quirk does. It's like the morning after an intense workout and feeling, 'wow, I did that?' The strain still present." You rub your hands together, "But, I'd say, if I were to give a rough estimate…" You tap your fingertips onto each other, "To the point of progression, transcendence, then regression? And then, rinse and repeat." You twirl your finger to show a repeating motion, "And repeat, and repeat, and repeat, and repeat. Till, what progresses, what transcends, and what regresses, are no longer creations of the original." You rub your chin, "I guess… I'm like the Theseus Paradox. But that's merely an exaggeration to my condition." You let out a few chuckles, "All this to say, I'm quite old."]
'Beyond what matters.'
[Nezu gently nods, "It's quite tricky to measure mental age, but it's nice seeing it accurately done." He looks around at your features.]
'Oh, he's definitely still thinking about what you said. He's making micro-expressions. '
[You slightly bow, "Yes, Principal Nezu."]
'He picked up on it.'
[You lightly rub your chin, "Hm. I don't have anymore questions. Do you Principal Nezu? Ask away."]
'This discussion is reaching its end. Any leeching concepts you want, is better found later with other figures around.'
[Nezu pours himself another cup of tea.]
'Wet your parched orifice. Profile the distinct tones of the bitter mess of tea.'
[You take a long sip of a mildly warm tea, downing it in one go. Finishing the drink, you sigh and gently place the cup onto the desk.]
'Tea is definitely not your favorite drink.'
[Nezu asks, "Would you like some more?"]
[You shake your head, "Apologizes, but I'm fine. Thank you."]
[He nods, taking a sip of tea.]
'He's been formulating a question this whole time. You can tell it's an interesting one.'
[Nezu finishes his sip and lets out a sigh of relief, "Hah. I really enjoy the comforts you humans have."]
'He is an animal, not a Mutant.'
'But, it's quite interesting that he can talk. He is an experiment, so maybe the scientists chimera-ed him with the intention in mind. A deeper, suspicious thought reaches the threshold of consideration. Is Nezu a Noumu-like? Perhaps.'
'Probably not though. The emotions Nezu experiences are real. Unless there was a sleeper agent procedure, Nezu is an independent agent. So, for now, it's best to assume Nezu is real.'
[You nod, "Humans do have their moments. It's their monstrous nature to violate anything conceivable, which horrendously leads to great innovation and progress. Even if the cost is too high."]
'This, you relate best to Nezu."
[Nezu solemnly nods, "Perverse." He tilts his head slightly, "Student Dae, I have a question." Seeing you await his words, he asks, "Do you believe in god?"]
'God. Why yes, you've met it. The Nameless. Quite the being it is. Unfortunate that you can't share this information with anyone.'
[A little more serious, you also slightly tilt your head, opposite to Nezu, "I cannot tell you." You straighten up and rock a little back and forth, "But I can give you some context as to why. Though, that 'might' come at a small price. For both of us." You look at him expectingly.]
'A minor price that may be collected if ever achieved. A debt for reaching the certain condition, Enlightenment. The price of sharing any information is at the alteration of your ego, as well as his. But some general concepts is fine. The steps to reach Enlightenment is the point.'
[Nezu looks at you a little then nods, "For the pursuit of knowledge, I'd be willing to risk that price."]
[You nod, "Are you aware of the Tibetan practices of the Tulpa?"]
[Nezu nods, "I do believe so. But, I'd like to hear your explanation."]
["The practice of materializing a thought-form into consciousness. Through intense meditation, a practitioner can manifest an imaginary concept into reality. Like an imaginary friend for example. But, in this case, the practitioner takes this meditation to higher levels of concentration till the mind forms a perceived thought-form into reality. In a broader, generalized term, it's a self-delusion practice."]
[Nezu nods.]
["The Tulpa is used for guidance or practicing the will. A friendly figure you can conversate with. Discussing philosophy or morality. But this practice can be dangerous." You raise your index finger for emphasis, "A Tulpa can gain independence."]
[Nezu nods, "I've heard of these Tulpa's harming inexperienced people."]
[You lower your hand, "Yes. So, the reason I don't wish to answer anything to the question you asked is that it will alter your path to 'there'. Now, this isn't referring to a Tulpa, but the same concept. I do not wish to corrupt your journey 'there'."]
["What is 'there'?"]
["It's self-gnosis. Gaining your own ineffable experience. A word to describe this is the Hindu, Jñāna." You lightly smile, "It's just words, but we are individuals. And, only the indescribable can differentiate us. If there was a word to describe this all, it would be the English word, 'Absurd', derived from Albert Camus."]
[You visibly see Nezu ponder.]
'Philosophy is always a thing to think about. Even the smartest individuals cannot figure it out, as it's not something to be completed. It's a Sisyphean journey.'
'You do not know everything, nor do you ever want to. You are okay being lost. It's frightening, but you have courage, you have curiosity, you have determination.'
[Nezu clears his throat, "Student Dae. You are by far the most fascinating thing I've ever seen. Close to Teacher All Might's heroic optimism." He takes another sip of his tea.]
'Under the reflection of inky eyes, an intense desire to dissect you is permeating. To pull you apart. To feel every muscle striation. To taste the organs. To consume every thought. To observe every mark of history etched on your body. He *desires* you, not sexually, but completely intellectual. Pulses of psionic waves sear emotions onto the layers of brain matter. Fascinating. Anomalous. The tics of thought exceed perception and muddy into collages of tape, being spun rapidly. Observing the flowing river of thoughts, one clear golden word can be read on the dark rolling tapes. Hope.'
[Nezu finishes his tea, "Dear, Student Dae…" he smiles, "I hope you fulfill your original promise. And, find a desire to accomplish it too." You bow lightly. He nods, "The meeting is soon. Let's go together." Nezu hops down his chair and walks around the desk. You stand up and glance around for Midnight. Midnight is reclined into the couch and in deep thought. Nezu walks up to Midnight and waves his hand, "Teacher Midnight?" Snapping out of it, Midnight jolts and stands up. Nezu hums nicely, "The meeting is soon, let's head over." Midnight nods, then, she looks at you, but quickly looks away and follows Nezu, as Nezu walks out of the room.]
'She is feeling conflicting thoughts. The relationship you have between her is slowly being reversed.'
'Take a taste of that sweet, delicious candy. You want to twirl your tongue and feel every flavor bursting crevice. The age of the candy is null when it's hard, and, its *hard*. So, lick it up. Suck on it. Gulp every juicy flavor.'
[You walk out of the principal's room, following Midnight and Nezu. Reaching into you pockets, you take out a ginseng candy, and pop it into your mouth.]
'Try to start a conversation to drift the topic from her mind.'
'Wait. Remember your clothes? Ask her about it.'
'Before you went to the med bay, you already changed your clothing due to the right half being blown apart. When you woke up, things felt off.'
[With candy in your mouth, you lightly speak out to Midnight, "Miss Midnight?"]
'She's startled. But she masks it with a reply.'
["Ah, Yes? Dae-kun?"]
[As you continue walking, now side-by-side, Nezu in front leading, you query, "Did you remove my clothes?"]
[Her pace flinches, and face stiffens. But, recovering instantly, she smiles, "Hoho~ Dae-kun, you said I could do anything~" You blankly stare at her, and she cracks, sighing, "Ha. No, I only checked your body for any injuries." She smiles, "Luckily, you were perfectly fine." She licks her lips.]
'The line between performance and fetish are being blurred. Alert. She is dangerous.'
'A hint of… wanting to say something, is hiding inside her.'
[You nod, "Alright then." Looking away.]
'This is a leading response.'
["Um, Dae…" She pokes your shoulder. Turning to face her, you see a serious face, "I did see something concerning."]
["The hand, or scars?"]
["Both."]
'Scars. Perfectly natural to the human condition, especially when practicing conditioning. Of course, there may be an excessive amount, with a few suspiciously located. Previously, in the changing rooms, the class was quite polite in not mentioning them, but they didn't see the full picture. Kirishima thought the scars were manly, which took focus away from the reasons they were made.'
'SCARS OF WAR! A RICH HISTORY OF BATTLE! WEAR AND TEAR!'
'Scars of emotion. A recollection of other selves. Brutality and anguish.'
'Scars of story. A tale of untold horrors. A mark of Glory. And, acceptance.'
[You look at her, then, show off your arm. A very dense and sculpted work of anatomy. A slight fade of scars. Glossy marks of tearing and slashes. You smile, "These are from inexperience. Over time, I learned to… avoid these."]
'Training. At such a young time, mistakes are inevitable.'
[Then, you turn over your arm to show the wrist. A few very faded marks. Without hesitation, "These are from when I was younger. They probably won't disappear without surgery."]
'When you were less stable.'
[Lowering your arm, you raise your shirt to show your chest. Where your heart is, there is a short but deep concave slash. You smile, "This, was a promise from a special person." You mimic the slash over your heart, "Means, Glory."]
'A reminder of who you are.'
'The visual of your sculpted body conflicts her concern and desire. Mixing the pot of emotions.'
[Lowering your shirt, you await her response.]
'She's thinking. Experiencing slight horror but understanding.'
[She takes a breath and nods to herself, "As long as you are okay. I won't worry for you."]
'She's dealt with these problems before. Probably not firsthand, but in counseling others. There is kindness in allowing others to process their own feelings. In her mind, 'At least I know, if I see any warnings, I'll worry.''
[You nod, "Thank you."]
["…and the hand?"]
'Father's hand. Tenko Shigaraki's father's hand. Kotaro Shimura.'
[You take it out of your pocket, "This is my trophy." You wave it around, "This is a valuable object to the villain's organization." You put it on your head, "Painting a target onto me will protect the class."]
'You feel a wave of calm.'
'You sense her disgust.'
[Her face scrunches, "That's a real hand?" In disbelief, "Wh-, ah-, mhm…" She's stuck in thought and words.]
[Nezu speaks, not looking back, "Don't worry about it, as long as Student Dae doesn't wear it during school hours and public, it's permissible."]
'He hides his apprehension, but you can feel it.'
'The plan requires mocking the enemy. To give blind rage. They could come at any time. The ability to draw the ire of the enemy is paramount to strategy.'
[You smile at Midnight as she glances at you and Nezu back and forth.]
[She sighs, "Just don't… wear it around me."]
[You nod, and put it away, back into your pocket.]
[You reach the meeting room.]
[Nezu flourishes, "Ta-da! The meeting room. Let's go inside!" Midnight pushes the sliding doors open, allowing Nezu in.]
'It's a simple square room with a 'U' shaped desk. In the right corner is corner-desk with vase on top, while the other corners have tall potted plants. Around the 'U' shaped desk are eight cushioned office chairs, three on the sides, and two in the back.'
'You see Sensei Snipe sitting in one of the back chairs. He's blankly staring at you guys.'
[Inside the meeting room, you see Snipe lightly raise a hand in acknowledgement.]
[Walking inside, Midnight sits next to Snipe, and Nezu sits in a side-chair. You close the door behind, walk and sit next to Nezu in a side-chair.]
'You feel Snipe's gaze linger onto you through his gasmask.'
'Your fingers tense, preparing to draw your revolver. *Wait* you aren't carrying one. Duel is off.'
[Nezu looks at his watch, "In just a few minutes, everyone should arrive."]
'You hear heavy footsteps coming.'
[Opening the sliding doors, a tall bulky man in a red skinsuit, with metallic belts and metal vambraces that have a wire connected to his neck. He has two protruding canines and grey hair spiked upwards. An orange mask covers his upper face, revealing red eyes.]
'Vlad King. He's the homeroom teacher of Class 1-B. His quirk is Blood Control, Self-Hemokinesis.'
[He gazes across the room, until landing onto you. He squints.]
'He's trying to recognize you.'
[Something clicks, Vlad King yells in a gruff, lisp-y voice, "Hold on!"]
'He's recognized you.'
[In shock, "That's the rep of Class 1-A!" Now agitated, "What's he doin' here!?" He walks in, looking at Nezu.]
'Behind the question, there is distain? No, more like distrust. Concern? Hm, no. Feelings of competition? Yes. The tone of a competitive nature.'
[Nezu smiles neatly, "Student Dae here was involved in the incident. Of course the representative of 1-A should recount his experience."]
[Vlad King grumbles, and in a deeper tone, "Shouldn't we not stir up such a traumatic event with the students?" He sits down in a side-chair to the opposite of the 'U' desk to Nezu. In slight concern, "Weren't we… giving them time? That's why we paused our classes, right?"]
[Nezu gestures towards you, "He's more than capable of handling the events. And, he has firsthand experience with the villains."]
[Vlad King deeply sighs performatively, "Should've at least let my class open." He glares at you.]
'He deeply cares for his class. And, has a sense of competition against you, or Class 1-A.'
[Opening the door next is Aizawa, he steps inside quietly and sits next to Vlad King.]
'He has bags under his eyes, but that's normal. Overall, he seems fine, though, he is looking at you.'
[Shouta, looking at you, pauses, and looks away.]
'You have a gut feeling that he's examining your condition, that he's worried for you. And, after seeing you're fine, doesn't mind anymore. Also… checking if the hand is on your head.'
'Vlad King's glare turns from you to Aizawa.'
[After a little bit, two footsteps walk in, All Might, deflated, walks with Detective Tsukauchi. Tsukauchi has a sleek black briefcase.]
'This *Detective* Tsukauchi must be special, not many should know of All Might's injured form.'
[Walking inside, All Might sits between you and Nezu, and Detective Tsukauchi sits next to Aizawa.]
'Tsukauchi doesn't glance your way.'
[Nezu claps, "Well. Now that we're all here, I suppose it's time to begin!" He looks around the desk, "Detective Tsukauchi, why don't you start first."]
[Tsukauchi nods and gets up from his chair. Opening his briefcase, he takes out a stack of papers, and walks around, handing them to each person.]
'He prepared multiple copies.'
[Receiving the papers you take a glance over it.]
'Incident summary reports, witness statements, villain profiles, catalogued evidence, injury reports, incident analysis, incident classification, recommendations, and confidential analysis. It's all clear and categorized, all what an officer of the law desires.'
'Piecing everything together, the major points are: The police were not given the footage, but the detective has; The class gave statements including every responding hero, even some of the villains; The overview of the incident is stated, with the steps of preparation; Police are keeping the incident under investigation and not public, due to prior notice; Detective Tsukauchi is the lead of the case; Police, Students, and Pro-Heroes were given notices to not disclose information outside school grounds; And no mention of All for One.'
[Detective Tsukauchi stands at the front of the desk, with papers in hand, clearing his throat, he debriefs, "The police have investigated the group calling themselves 'The League of Villains,' and there does not appear to be anyone registered with the name Shigaraki in his 20s or 30s with a Quirk that lets him disintegrate whatever he touches."]
'Neither is it his surname, nor his quirk.'
[He continues, "It's the same story for the man with the 'Warp-Gate' Quirk, that 'black mist' character, Kurogiri. Either they were never hit by the census, or they're simply aliases."]
'If Kurogiri was a "Noumu" then the quirk was probably altered in some way.'
["They are probably not citizens and are using false names. In any case, they are, for all intents and purposes, shadow-people. They never handed in their quirk registration forms. In other words, they are people with unregistered Quirks who are part of society's underbelly." He concludes, open-endedly to discuss.]
'The underbelly of society. You haven't dabbled much, perhaps, you should. Dabble. Partake, per say.'
[Snipe speaks up, his tone agitated, "So long story short, we've got nothin' to go on. And once that 'black mist' villain, 'Kurogiri,' was it? Recovers, they'll come to give us some more grief for sure. They'll definitely try again. And, it'll be a pain."]
'You can give some context to everything.'
[You speak, "I can give more context to this incident. I'm not sure everyone has seen the footage, but some details are not in the documents, as I assume the cameras didn't pick up much of the conversation between me and Shigaraki."]
'In Aizawa's statement, there were no details of your conversation, he most likely wasn't paying attention to you with the villains poking around.'
[Detective Tsukauchi nods, "I was waiting for you to awake, before inquiring you of the events. This was what we could get with the limited information."]
[You slightly bow towards him, "Sorry, that rest was to recover my quirk's backlash." Looking back to the rest, "First of all, the villain attack was predicted due to the recent break-in attempt at the gates." They nod. "Through camera footage, we also spotted the Warp-Gate Quirk and the Decay Quirk in action." Some nod knowing, others hesitate. "This was obviously a prodding test, and the USJ incident was the real attempt." You pause a bit, "The reason for all of this is because of The League of Villains, which we have identified the main leader…"]
[Vlad King huffs, "Speak, boy."]
["All For One."]
'They all recognize the name.'
[The room silences. You continue, "The Decay Villain is the protégé of All For One. And…" A big pause, "I have some very, very difficult information… For All Might."]
[All Might nods, "It's alright, you can tell me."]
'He doesn't know. Give the name after the meeting.'
[In a solemn tone, "I'll tell you when the meeting is over, it's sort of private, sensitive information. Detective Tsukauchi should also know for his investigation."]
'You wouldn't want All Might to break down in the middle of the meeting. You still need to give information.'
[All Might nods, "If that's the case…"]
[Detective Tsukauchi responds, "So… you say All For One is the leader of the League of Villains? We all thought…"]
'They all thought All For One was dead.'
[Snipe finishes, "We all thought he was dead. All Might had clearly killed him." His tone a bit inquisitive.]
[All Might interjects, "Well. I thought so too… But he's still alive." He looks at his palm and clenches it, "I can feel it. An old voice from when I was younger spoke up again. All For One still lives."]
'He did mention that he saw his mentor before. But an old voice during his younger days? Maybe he has multiple vestiges too. Every quirk holder has at least one, very rarely are there more.'
[You nod, "A Quirk user that can take and give quirks is out there."]
[The detective takes a slow deep breathe, "I see." He looks at you, "Anything else?"]
[You nod, "Yes. During the fight against 'Noumu,' the big bird-man creature, I… ate his brain matter, and gained some information."]
[Midnight, Vlad King, Snipe, and All Might look at you like you're crazy.]
'I'm afraid you nearly lost the room.'
[You raise your hands, "Hey, hey! It was in a fit of madness. And, I learned valuable information."]
[All Might coughs into his fists, "Cough, cough. Let's hear what Young Dae has to say, before we judge him." Nezu nods. And, the others still hesitate but silently agree.]
[You explain, "I found out that 'Noumu,' is a mindless creature. Essentially, a homunculus of multiple quirk users. And, having more quirk factors than one can handle can cause heavy adverse effects." Tsukauchi slowly nods.]
'Detective Tsukauchi seems to understand well about this topic.'
[Continuing, "I, am probably one of the very few people in the world who can withstand multiple quirk factors, due to my personal quirk, which allows me to mitigate most of the mental adverse effects. And, consuming the quirk factors of the 'Noumu' allowed me to 'download' its quirks for myself. Which is, Super Regeneration and Shock Absorption. I believe the only reason I could acquire these quirks is because the 'Noumu' is mindless, without a stable vestige to protect itself."]
'A few tinges of apprehension shoot towards you. A singular word. Dangerous.'
[Vlad King in disbelief, "And, how does eating the brain allow this!? What even is your quirk!?"]
'Curious eyes linger onto you.'
[You smile, "Well, my quirk is very diverse. Restless Mind is just a mental, emitter, quirk that can grow with accumulating mental disorders. And, well, I can be deeply connected to people, which allows me to take mental disorders… like for example, in our class, Mineta Minoru, I took his Perversion disorder."]
'They still look at you weird.'
[Aizawa stares at you and groans into his palm, "So that's why he changed…"]
'Seems the teacher is attentive to the goings-on in the classroom.'
[Vlad King still in disbelief, "Perversion? I knew Class 1-A was inferior! They have a pervert in the class!"]
[You raise you hands, "Calm down, I took it away, he's now a normal healthy boy." You look at everyone, especially at the detective, "With consent of course."]
[The detective sighs, barely able to comprehend the current situation, "Just… continue."]
[You cough, "Anyways, the brain was the only weak spot available. Its body was resistant to any force, so I had to figure something out, or I'd be the one with brains out. To stop Noumu, I sacrificed my entire right side."]
'Now, they put their differences aside. They understand the situation was a life-or-death situation.'
["The League of Villains have the capacity to create these creatures and imbue them with quirks. But that's not all, they also managed to artificially create quirk factors, something before now considered impossible."]
[Nezu questions, "How do you know this?"]
["I don't hear their vestiges. And, instinctively, I feel it's artificial. Like it's without a conscious. Basically, a plant. Like the Noumu."]
[They nod, trying to grasp onto familiar concepts.]
[You continue, "So, essentially, there is some sort of way they are doing this. Any process this complicated would require a lab, or intelligent minds, so the police should keep a note on that."]
[Tsukauchi nods, "Good, that will be noted, anything else?"]
[You tap on your chin, "The only other thing is that Shigaraki, the Decay Villain, has a stunted mind, acting like a child."]
[All Might serious, "How so?"]
["They have trauma regarding their past, clinging onto their… severed father's hand on their face. The hand, embalmed in formaldehyde."]
'Don't take it out to show it off. The detective might confiscate it as evidence.'
[You look towards All Might, "When it fell off their face, he whined for it like a child, begging for his father to come back."]
[Some nod, noting this is definitely some sort of traumatic response.]
[Aizawa mentions, "Shigaraki acted childish, essentially a tantrum when I captured him. He thought everything would simply go his way."]
[All Might deducts, "From a brief observation, the picture I get of Shigaraki is… someone who hasn't gotten rid of his childish sense of omnipotence… A man-child."]
[Vlad King annoyed, "A child with power?"]
[Midnight speaks up, "Could it be that he never received the Quirk counseling every child gets in elementary school?"]
[Vlad King more annoyed, "And!? What does all that have to do with anything?"]
[After a small silence, you speak, "This leads to a hypothesis of mine…" After a moment, "The Decay Villain has been groomed since a young age by All For One."]
[Midnight perks up, "Groomed?"]
[You nod, "I sensed that the Decay Villain's quirk was not his own. Like… it had been taken and replaced." A short pause, "I figured out that after receiving a new quirk, it takes a lot of time to get used to, and there may be maladaptive functions that a natural quirk would not incur. This explains why the Decay Villain's quirk isn't completely haywire, it's been with him since childhood."]
'Like Aoyama.'
[Nezu states, "And All For One is backing him, trying to cultivate his malice…"]
'A bit of contemplative silence covers the space.'
[Nezu positively says, "But, If you look at it another way, then he's just like out students. It means he still has the potential to grow... Perhaps, if we were to help him, maybe give him a truly exceptional coach or mentor…"]
'Maybe. That is what heroes do after all. Doing the hard thing despite adversity.'
[Nezu chuckles, "Don't mind me, continue."]
'The detective glances your way, he correctly assumes you're done now.'
[The detective continues, "There were 299 villains arrested the other day at USJ. They were all small-timers that lurked in back alleys. But the problem is how they all agreed with that man-child and followed him. In the current environment saturated with heroes, villainous people who have been oppressed may be drawn to that kind of simple-minded evil."]
'A deep mood of frustration is shared among the room. That is too many villains gathering for a cause, especially a childish one.'
[You ask, "What about the creature, Noumu?"]
[Tsukauchi nods and hums, "The 'Noumu' has been captured outside of the USJ radius. It's currently restrained in police hands. It gave no struggle, so, I suppose, your statement that the creature is mindless has credibility. Now that we know… We'll probably be giving it a blood test and send it to Central Hospital for research."]
'This guy doesn't believe some of what you've said. But he's at least taking it all with a grain of salt.'
[You nod, "Well, the vestige I saw of Noumu is a green haired guy with big lips. Had a criminal archetype. Check if that matches."]
[He nods, "We'll check that out." After a moment, he looks to everyone, "Will this be all?" After no response, he makes a final statement, "Even with all the distrust of Heroes... Heroes have been an invaluable help with our ability to conducting proper searches and investigations our undivided attention. I'll be going to assist with enlarging the police dragnet, so we continue capturing more criminals." He bows.]
[Everyone stands up and lightly bows back.]
'It's time.'
[In this moment, everyone leaves but Tsukauchi, All Might, and Nezu.]
[All Might questions, "What is it that is private?"]
[You take a performative breathe, "Prepare yourself, All Might. Really... I mean it, prepare yourself."]
'This gets Tsukauchi and Nezu a bit worried. All Might is also worried but still hopeful.'
[Grimly, "The Decay Villain's real name…" slight pause, "is Tenko Shimura."]
'You need to tell him. The grandson of his mentor, is the villain. If the villains use this information against All Might, it would be disastrous to his mental state and make him an easier target.'
'They all recognize the name.'
[All Might deflates more, a small string of blood leaking from his mouth, "S-s-shim…?" The detective walks over and puts a hand on All Might's back.]
'All Might's glowing eye's dim. The dark shadows creeping beyond the light.'
[You speak softly, "The grandson of Nana Shimura."]
'The "Symbol of Peace" is experiencing the descent of Pride.'
[Besides you, everyone freezes, locks up, and tenses. The pressure surrounding deepens. The poisoned fruit All for One prepared ripens. All Might, sweating and collecting his thoughts, whispers, "…A-are...?"]
[You silently nod, "Although he himself doesn't know it. He flinched when I said his name... His body recognized the name."]
'A wave of conflicting thoughts, emotions, senses overwhelm All Might. You understand most of his feelings. He wants you to be wrong, but he knows you're smart enough to figure out Deku. And, the spy. And how Nezu trusts you. He truly wants you to be wrong, but he can't bring himself to deny it.'
[All Might tenses into himself, "Dammit. GOD DAMMIT!" His pupils flicker in darkness and dim light. Under clenched teeth, "This... THIS IS WHAT HE WOULD DO! Kch!" More blood leaks, his eyes dimming. A rising scream flows out, a festering hatred and anguish. Deep, bubbling within, a growl and yell bury itself, echoing across the room.]
'Tsukauchi continues to hold him firm, supporting his friend. Nezu puts a hand on his leg.'
'Let him have his frustration out.'
[All Might's defeated cry softens, and he looks down silent.]
'His form looks mangled. A skinny man, curled up into a symbol of distraught emotion. His stature hunched, below you.'
'Give him hope. Light his spark back. Bring the hero you need back.'
[You take a deep breath, "All Might." He doesn't respond.]
'Snap him back to reality.'
{RHETORIC}
[You, with an assertive voice, firm, "SAVE HIM."]
'The entire being known as All Might rumbles, shakes and stirs in its wake.'
[All Might's head creaks and bobs slightly, "…what?"]
{AUTHORITY}
["ALL MIGHT. TENKO SHIMURA NEEDS SAVING." You take another deep, heavy breath, "THE VILE VILLAIN, ALL FOR ONE HAS GROOMED HIM. HE HAS USED HIM. A YOUNG BOY, TAKEN FROM HIS FAMILY. YOUR FAMILY. HE IS LOST AND NEEDS TO BE GUIDED." You huff another breathe, your chest high up, your arms to your side and flexing, "SAVE HIM."]
'A searing surface of magma shifts and churns. The cold weathering storm ceases and blasts away. The ground splits, and the sun rises. *LIGHT SHINES BRIGHT.*'
[All Might starts shaking, clenching his fists and vibrating, "Student Dae…" The floor rumbles, and the detective and Nezu back off. Steam starts to pour, "STUDENT DAE." All Might starts to grow, "STUDENT DAE!" In a flash, All Might flexes and the air bursts around his rippling muscles, your hair fluttering back. He stands tall, and a deep smile glows, "YOU ARE RIGHT!" His eyes burn with vibrant colors, the spark absolutely exploding. "I MUST SAVE SHIMURA-BOY!" He flexes and more air is displaced; winds shoot outwards knocking chairs over. His smile, pearly white, and dark eyes having a radiant pupil.]
'His 7'3" tall height, towering over your 6'7".'
'That's my hero.'
{PHYSICAL INSTRUMENT}
[You smile bright, mimicking his smile, you also pose gallantly, "Sir All Might! Protect Midoriya and rescue Shimura!" You raise your hand towards All Might, "I stand with you!"]
["Young Hero Dae!" He takes your hand and grasps it strongly. The clap of two hands echo, wind flowing.]
["All Might!" You reciprocate and firm your handshake and lift it up. A small shockwave blasts outwards. The floor shakes and the ceiling's dust sparkle down.]
[The massive muscles tense, a clasp of determination and promise is written.]
…
+++
Author Note:
I'd like to drift away from the Disco Elysium base skills and create new skills like Kim's personal skills. These will delete and combine into compact skills. I spent a few days working on some artwork to visualize my design, so each combination will have an artwork attached.
This made progress slow as I disliked the multiple skills and using them willy nilly. They should feel more impactful and not spammy. The transition will take time as Dae needs to grow more space, with 'Experience Points' (An Arbitrary Milestone).