For the past week, I have been working on two things: the Yakuza case and Shinso. Since the Yakuza case is a whole show, I'm going to give you one of those little movies before the actual movie starts. You know, we need some cutesy shit before we destroy standards.
Take the stage, Shinso!
---
With Shinso's training with Shouta slowing down due to the rise of villains, I took over half the training sessions to teach him tactical shit. Shouta has only been teaching the boy how to fight, train, and sneak around quietly, and while that is great, you need some brains to back that up. That's where I come in!
Did I get permission to make Shinso a student of mine? Fuck no, but I did it anyway! When he joins class 1-A, he is going to dominate them!
Oh yeah, Shinso is coming into the hero course! The reason we didn't let him after the Sports Festival is that we want him to have some training. At the time, physically, he wasn't the strongest, and he only focused on his quirk. Now, he has an array of skills.
Let me give you the low-down on Shinso.
Currently, Shouta has been teaching Shinso on how to use his capture weapon like the dad he is. Despite how much shit I talk about the damn thing, I am not going to downplay the fact that it's a fantastic tool and weapon. I give props to Shouta for being able to develop something like it. However, I am going to say it's probably one of, if not the, hardest tools to control. It takes creativity. I can name so many uses at the top of my head, from mobility to trapping to snapping people's necks! Then, you have gravity being a bitch while you learn how to use it. I have some experience with it as I wanted to experiment with it, but it's nowhere near Shouta's level.
It's ridiculous how many times I got stuck in a tree with that sucker! I feel sorry for Shinso because he has gotten stuck more times than I can remember.
Shinso can use the capture weapon, but it needs some work. His reaction time is too slow for my liking, but it works for now. In addition, his hand-to-hand combat is getting better every day. Shinso can definitely face some of the members of class 1-A.
However, as I stated earlier, I wanted to work on everything but what Shouta has taught Shinso. For example, I taught him to use a knife as the scarf does require a knife sometimes, so you might as well know how to stab a bitch. I also showed him any techniques I know like chi-blocking to Stain's ability to picking a lock. Unfornitually, it seems he is unable to use Stain's talent, but at least he can paralyze!
In addition, Shinso has been working on how to use his artificial vocal cords Mei and I built. It's a mask that goes over his mouth that isn't electronic, but it allows him to disguise his voice. It's a great way of tricking somebody that you are somebody else, and then he can control them! With how he is, there's a lot I can do with Shinso hero-wise.
Today is training with him as I am tired of being cooped up in my apartment over that damn case.
However, it's going to be different.
I walk into the gym to see Shinso waiting like he is supposed to be. As I enter, he looks toward me and pales. That probably has to do with the enormous wooden box I'm carrying in. When I am close enough, I drop it on the ground because DAMN, THIS BITCH IS HEAVY!
"Um, Izuku, what is that?" Shinso asks as he looks at it. I pull out a neatly folded piece of paper from my pocket and hand it over with a grin.
"Alright, so here's the tea, bro: this is a puzzle box. You're going to solve this puzzle box unless you want to never leave again. It sharpens your thinking skills because, as an underground hero, you are kind of a detective as well. Not like me, but you can still be involved and figure shit out. I will get ahold of a puzzle once a week, and you have to solve it. I don't care if the League of Villains is about to take you or if you are getting a girlfriend: you are going to solve this first. Understood?" I explain to him as I start walking to the exit.
"The hell!? Isn't there a way of doing this without locking me up?" Salty purple.
"There probably is, but this is way more fun! Besides, I rarely get the chance to lock somebody up! I won't let you starve or anything like that. You'll be alive unless you grow old in here!" With that, I close the door.
During this time, I put all my effort into that stupid case. I know we are getting close! I already made a command for CAT to drop off a snack and water every hour, so Shinso doesn't starve on me. If he has other business, he can deal with it himself. I have a camera up in case he tries to destroy the sucker.
Not that it will work, but I digress.
---
Time does slip by.
Four hours later, Hizashi comes over to me, "Izuku, have you seen Shinso? His classmates haven't seen him since after school and...what is going on?" Oh yeah, Hizashi is his homeroom teacher!
I withdraw from my paperwork, "I'm making Shinso solve a puzzle box for me! He's doing pretty well all things considering."
"How long has he been working on it?" I check the time.
"Four hours," I see Hizashi's shocked face, "Chill out! I got permission from Nezu to do this." I grab the permission slip and hand it to him.
"Alright then! Why a puzzle box?"
"I wanted to work on his problem-solving skills. If the quirk-personality theory is true, then, based on his quirk, Shinso has higher intelligence than his peers. It could be false, but that's why I am testing it. He definitely has something to make it this far. I don't expect him to complete it, but we shall see."
"Uh-huh, and how long did you plan on keeping him in there?"
"Till he falls asleep. Actually, I told him he could never leave until he solved it, so I lied to him there."
"That sounds like Sho's 'logical ruses.'"
"I may have gotten some inspiration."
"AW, THAT'S SO CUTE! IZUKU IS FOLLOWING AFTER - HEY!" Before Hizashi has the chance to start shit, I jump out of my chair and pounce him to the ground.
"Finish that sentence, and I won't let you see Shouta for an entire week." Fake tears come from the grown man's eyes.
"So rude!"
"I am well aware, thank you very much!" I get off of him, and we resume our regular schedule.
It takes Shinso 6 hours total before he gives up. However, he did make it half-way through, so he did fantastic! However, he is now salty with me because I used a logical ruse. He can suck my dick over it for all I care, but I am his teacher; therefore, he can do shit about it!
We are now going to go back to the drama!
---
As I mentioned earlier, I have been focused on the Yakuza case nonstop. I haven't even done teacher work lately because of it! I am either in my apartment, training place with Shinso, or at Sir Nighteye's agency. I haven't even done a patrol since then, as all my effort is on the case.
Interestingly enough, we have had new evidence pop up over the past few days from the other work-studies as well as from my research.
Ryukyu's agency, consisting of Uraraka, Tsu, and Nejire, had to end a fight between two villains with quirks that make the gigantic. However, they found that one of them had a quirk-powering drug in their system. If you were showing me only this case, I would have written it off as it is a loose string by itself. With my luck, I managed to tie it together.
Fatgum's agency, involving Kirishima and Amajiki, faced off against a villain as well. This isn't a significant detail, but it lines things together. While Kirishima was fighting the ass, the dude injected himself with the same shit as the giganto dude. It increased his power tremendously.
That's only the link. Here is the kicker.
Amajiki was shot with a bullet that erased his quirk for a certain amount of time. The quirk repaired itself, but it didn't damage the body. The action alone lines up with Overhaul's plans about getting rid of quirks. I don't think they have figured out the secret recipe yet because the power did come back. Right now, Sir Nighteye and I believe they are in the testing stage of the bullet. The only idea I had is that they are giving out the rounds for free, having those poor fellows shoot it, and get themselves arrested. But hey, at least they get information on how it's going! It is sacrificial experimentation basically.
With our luck, Kirishima also got shot, but he was in hard mode, so the material was able to be collected. I would tell you what we found, but I will leave that a mystery. It's bad is all I am going to say.
Meanwhile, I have been focusing on the base. I hacked the cameras around the building CAT showed us to track the motions. Eri nor others have not come out, but I only got one side to watch with my luck. I had no idea if there were any other exits. Thankfully, Sir Nighteye got me a map of the place, and it shows two more doors.
UGH!
Then, I sent a Scout back to see if there is anything that wasn't on the map. As I have proven in my apartment, there is a hidden basement. If we wanted to infiltrate it right now, we would be going in blind. We have no idea how to even get in! We just know it exists! It's like the Maze Runner movie if you need it in movie terms.
With all of this, this is when we realized that we need more recruitment. There are only five of us, two of which lack experience, and that is going to do shit with this.
This morning, Sir Nighteye and I set up a meeting with multiple pro-heroes and their agencies of mostly local heroes to a couple of majors like Ryukyu and Fatgum. Right now, I'm helping Bubblegirl and Centipeder (Welcome, nightmares!) get all the information together to make sure this meeting goes as smoothly as possible.
"Midoriya, do you have a minute?" I look up from the paperwork to see Sir Nighteye peering over me. I guess that's yet another advantage to being a damn sunflower.
Before I can ask if they got it, Bubblegirl is quick to inform me, " Don't worry, Midoriya! We are done anyway!"
Did I mention that it is so weird to hear my family name as a damn hero name? I will get used to it, I suppose. After a nod from Centipeder confirming it, I stand up and follow Sir out of the office to the meeting room. As we walk, he strikes the discussion. I take this time to readjust my visor for the meeting.
"As you are my partner, you will be standing beside me for the meeting. I would also like you to know that you can discuss in the meeting like the rest of the heroes because you are considered a detective as well. I suspect that you will be questioned, so introduce yourself. Like we have been doing, I'm not going to limit you. However, do not make a fool of yourself." I can't help myself.
"Does that mean I can argue against them if their ideas are stupid enough?"
"Yes. When they hear all the information, there is bound to be one person at least that will want to barge in. You should be able to rebel against that." I look at Sir in shock.
"Wait, seriously? I'm allowed, Sunflower?" He sighs at the name.
"As long as you aren't trying to do that thing you kids like to do, I don't care."
"Which thing? We do a lot of stupid shit."
"Where you insult each other."
"Oh, a roast battle! Honestly, you would understand if you try one. I can see your roast already!"
"Midoriya-" I put on a blank-face and use a monotone voice similar to his.
" 'All Might doesn't even need his quirk to knock you down. You would be blown away by his breathe before he finishes his catch-phrase.' "
Sir Nighteye shakes his head, but I do see an itty-bitty smile, " If this is what you kids spend your free time, imagine that time on global problems. They would be solved by now."
"They would just be worst with how we are. However, you have to admit that I was pretty accurate."
"The meeting is about to start in five minutes. Get ready." He retreats back to his office for anything else he might need.
I spin around, "You could have given me something, here!" No response. Ass.
I guess you can say he ain't so sunny now!
. . .
Okay, you can end me. That was so far off the board that the stem broke off the sunflower.
I stand beside Sir Nighteye, who is taller than me even while sitting, with clipboard and pen as Bubblegirl lets in everybody. Many different and recognizable heroes enter the room and take their seats. Straight off the bat, I recognize Shouta, Gran Torino, Ryukyu, and Fatgum. The other heroes are local for the mission we are assigning them as they should know their work area.
"Hey, Izuku! What are you doing here?" I look up to see Uraraka in her seat with a look of surprise. A few hero students are here as well, including the big three, Kirishima, and Tsu.
I nod to her as I am aware that I have to be professional, "I'm part of the case. When we are in circumstances such as these, refer to me as Virus."
I can hear everybody already: Hold up, I thought you went by Midoriya as a detective. What the flippity flop is this?
Let me explain. Midoriya is a public name. If I'm interviewing victims at a crime scene, I will go under Midoriya. However, if I am with a group of heroes, or in a professional environment where there are no civilians, I go by Virus. It's complicated, I know, but this is how it is laid out for me.
I see Uraraka look at me with confusion. Still, she nods anyway as she sits down with Ryukyu, Tsuyu, and Nejire. I look around to study the other heroes. With CAT being connected to the visor, anytime I look at a hero, I can have a description pulled up in my right eye to gain more information. While I know the basics of most of these heroes, I don't remember the specific details as there are so many. I know the bigger heroes, such as the heroes on the chart on the back of my hand, but local heroes are more difficult. I am lucky I got some experience with them as I work with mostly local heroes.
And fucking Mount Lady because she is a dumbass, but I digress.
As I am searching, I notice Shouta keeping a close eye on me for some reason. Sure, he is looking at his other students, but it is mostly me. Whether he expects me to fuck up or what, I don't know.
Thinking about it, I haven't really seen him around the past week but maybe once. Shouta's schedule has been getting bombarded with this rise in crime, then add him being a teacher, and he is left with no free time. I am rarely around the school during the day now, and Shouta is out at night. By the time he gets back, he is done. I couldn't blame him if he is sleeping with Hizashi. He needs all of it. I have to hold back a sigh for how tired he looks. I just hope he is damn eating.
Sir Nighteye interrupts my thoughts while making everyone go quiet in the room, "We shall begin."
Bubblegirl starts," The heroes of the Nighteye agency have been investing a Yakuza called the Shie Hassaikai. The reason we have launched this investigation is that their run-in with the Team Reservoir Dogs. The Police Force labeled it as an accident, but the report didn't make sense."
Let me give a quick explanation of who the Team Reservoir Dogs are. They are a group of criminals that wear costumes and are known for their quick getaway. They were attacked by Overhaul and arrested. The only thing that really stands out to me besides that they are known for stealing in broad daylight is that they are named after colors.
Fucking creative, mates! 10/10!
Centipeder continues for her," We did a follow-up investigation and learned that the Shie Hassaikai has been communicating with other villainous groups as well as making interactions on the black market. We believe their motive is to grow their organization and their financials. Soon after the investigation began, the Shie Hassaikai made contact with the League of Villains Twice and learned from the Police Force that a dispute may have broken out between the two groups. However, we lost contact with them soon after."
Gran Torino hums," I assume Detective Tsukauchi and I were called in because we are on the League of Villains case." I confirm him by nodding. Even though I am involved in the case, I haven't had as much focus on it as I would like. That's why I invited them. I am pretty sure that I'm up-to-date on the case at the moment, but I want one of them here just in case.
"Where is Detective Tsukauchi?" The hero beside Gran Torino asks.
"He's out on a case. Virus is also a detective on the case, so he probably knows more than me." I just need someone to defend me, you old man.
"Virus?" Of course. Of course, they don't know who I am. I sigh as I look over at Sir Nighteye.
When I get a nod from him, I speak up," I am Virus, also known as Midoriya Izuku, student and teacher assistant of UA and partner of Sir Nighteye. I asked you to be here as you are more involved in the case, Gran Torino. Sorry that we kind of forced you out of retirement for this, though." Gran Torino huffs.
"I guess it was going to happen anyway." He responds. I notice the heroes looking at me once more with skepticism.
I ignore and nod to Bubblegirl to continue, " With these developments, we have requested for help through the HN-"
"Skip that part," Centipeder politely interrupts her. It's unnecessary, so I understand that. However, that leaves confusion on the first-year students' faces.
"What's the HN?" Uraraka asks.
Neijire is the first to answer, " The HN stands for the Hero Network. The Hero Network is an online service that only heroes with a provisional license can access. It's used to follow activities of certain heroes as well as request assistance if certain quirks are needed!"
"Why are there kids here? They are just going to hold us back when the discussion becomes dark." I search for the hero who said it: Rock Lock. I have two things to say about him. First, his costume looks like something a clown would wear as it is a green and yellow bodysuit with a yellow mask helping him out more there. Second, his personality is similar to Shouta's. He's blunt and has high standards. I won't discuss much else, but that's what you need to know for now.
I can see Fatgum getting ready to defend his students, but I decide to cut him off as he's more emotional than logical in certain circumstances such as these, "They are here because their superiors believed that they can handle this. If they couldn't, I believe the heroes would have made the right decision and removed them. Besides, all are involved in the incidents that lead us to this point." I see Rock Lock watching me with something I can't tell, but I focus on scribbling something down on my board.
Sir Nighteye continues for me," Shie Hassaikai is suspected to be involved in selling illegal drugs, an area Fatgum is familiar with. Can you explain the incident to us, Fatgum?"
Fatgum starts, " The other day, Red Riot (Kirishima), Sun-Eater (Tamaki), and I were involved in a battle against a thug. During the fight, Sun-Eater was shot with a bullet that broke his quirk factor." That catches everybody's attention.
"Are you alright?" Mirio is quick to ask. I mean, he's here now. I believe he is.
"Y-yeah, I recovered, and I can use my quirk," Tamaki says as he uses his quirk to transform his hand into a cow hoof.
Shouta informs everybody, " That type of quirk injury is different from my quirk Erasure. A quirk is born into a body after the structure has been specially altered by plus alphaing it. That is called the Quirk Factor. Erasure allows me to block the activation of the quirk, in turn, canceling the quirk. However, I can't damage a Quirk Factor."
Fatgum continues," Sun-Eater was checked into hospital afterward, and results show that his Quirk Factor was damaged. Thankfully, it repaired itself, but it did not harm his body in any way. Due to Red Riot's brave actions of jumping in front of Sun-Eater, we were able to gain a sample of what is inside the bullet."
"Me?!" Kirishima exclaims. He looks confused about the whole situation in general.
"Wow, good job!" Uraraka compliments him as Neijire and Tsuyu praise him.
"What was inside the bullet?" Sir Nighteye asks. I can tell he doesn't want to waste time.
"What was inside is what makes me sick: the lab found that the bullets had human blood and cells inside." Everyone in the room stiffens, excluding everyone in Nighteye agency because we already knew.
Ryukyu thinks for a moment, " That means the bullet contains the DNA of a quirk that destroys other quirks."
"That makes sense, but what does that have to do with the Shie Hassaikai?" Another hero asks.
"There is evidence that there are exchanges from the Yakuza group, but with so many connections, it's hard to link the bullets to them." Fatgum states.
"Chisaki Kai, leader of the Shie Hassaikai, has a quirk called Overhaul: it allows him to disassemble or restore objects. He can break it down and then reassemble it. That quirk and the quirk-destroying bullets are related." Sir Nighteye states. I see Mirio shaking, probably figuring out the connection. Sir Nighteye continues," Virus and Lemillion discovered that Chisaki has a daughter named Eri. She has no records, but we do have a recording of her and Chisaki."
I mutter under my breath," CAT, video." A soft meow can be heard as the footage pulls up on the screen behind me as well as my right eye. You already know what happens, so I will spare you the details. As the video goes, I start explaining, " The first thing most of you probably notice is the bandages around her arms and legs. She was nervous, clinging to Lemillion, and not willing to let go. That is until Chisaki pulls at his glove, presumably threatening her to use his quirk on him. With my luck, he wants to talk to me. During our chat, he clearly states his goal of wanting to eradicate quirks as they are 'diseases' and tries to recruit me as a double agent. I decline, and he just leaves. I have one of my scouts follow him to a warehouse that we don't have much information on. Even after watching it since then, there hasn't been any significant movement. It doesn't help that there is a basement with no records in the system. However, I would like to take note of Eri as she is our primary goal. I am sure most of you have figured out what we are signaling by now."
"Would he really do that to his own daughter?" Ryukyu asks. Everyone looks depressed at this point.
Gran Torino sighs, " In a superhero society, anything is possible at this point."
"Wait, what does that mean?" Kirishima asks with worry.
Rock Lock scoffs," Again, why do we have kids in here? I am only going to say this once. We are wondering if this Chisaki bastard is using his daughter to create these bullets."
Silence fills the room until Fatgum explodes.
"It makes me so sick! We need to go after him now!"
"We wouldn't have to if these two would have taken her from his custody right then." Rock Lock states. It takes everything not to yell. I look him straight in the eye.
"If we were to take Eri right then and there, we would have been risking the lives of the civilians around us. Chisaki is not someone to fool around with. He ain't stupid if he is the one developing these bullets. Besides, who's the one to say that taking her away would have resolved the problem? For all we know, he could already have a large amount of blood from her. Maybe her family is on the line as well. If we take her, what if another girl takes her place? Once we take her, the Shie Hassaikai will just go hiding again. They will continue to go after Eri, leaving her mindset unstable. I want to get rid of them all at once. I am not risking anything. Sometimes, sacrifices are needed." I grit out by the skin of my teeth.
Sir Nighteye sighs, " Virus has a reputation for making the right decisions, even if it means sacrificing something. If this is what he believes in, I will follow him as his plans have never gone wrong. However, I do take responsibility if he made the wrong decision."
Ryukyu takes over the conversation, " If you saw where she went, why aren't you going after her now?"
"We don't know if she is still there are not. We don't have a video at every angle. There are multiple bases that she could have been transferred to," The map appears behind us," I wish for you all to help me by checking it out one of the bases."
One of the heroes point out, "So that's why you called minor heroes. The heroes here are local to the areas on the map." Give this hero a metal!
Fatgum isn't having it, " For being All Might's sidekick, you are certainly acting carefully. This is too roundabout! While we are here, that girl is out there crying for help!"
"We don't have All Might here. I am doing this so we can maximize our chances of getting her back. That's why I need everyone's help." Sir Nighteye says in a calm tone.
"Come on!"
I snap, "If we screw this up, we lose Eri for however long it takes to find her again, whether it be a day or years. We can't afford a fuck up, Fatgum."
Well, that quiets everyone until Shouta speaks up," I have a question," Sir Nighteye nods, allowing him to continue, "I don't know how your quirk exactly works, but if you can see the future, you can see the outcome of the mission." I considered that, but Sir's quirk is so complicated because it involves time. It is ridiculous! I assumed that since he didn't do anything, we couldn't use his quirk for the mission.
Sir Nighteye sighs once more," My quirk doesn't work like that. Foresight only activates once every 24 hours for one hour. Imagine watching a movie from the individual's point of view. I can only see the person's point of view, action, and immediate surroundings. "
"Why can't you? Wouldn't that give us enough information?"
"Let me give you an example: If someone dies, there is nothing I can do about it." Straight for the bullet, eh, Sir? " I only use my quirk if the chances of success are the highest; it is used just be just to be sure."
Another hero points out, "But if we know who dies, we could prevent it."
"I have no evidence that it can be prevented. Everything I see always happens."
Rock Lock, obviously frustrated, growls, "Use it on me! I will show you that I can change that!"
"No! I won't." Oh, snappy! The drama I have come to order! Of course, since I invested myself into learning the ins and outs of Sir Nighteye's quirk, I have a theory of how to change it. Will I tell them? Fuck no! The material needed to do it is extremely rare to the point that it isn't worth it.
The room is quiet for a moment.
Ryukyu sighs, "We should get to work. We have a girl waiting out there."
Sir Nighteye stands up," Our goal is to locate Eri and save her in addition to taking down the Shie Hassaikai. Thank you, everyone, for coming to this meeting." With that, he is the first person to leave. It only takes a moment for everybody else to go. I start clearing everything when I hear a voice clear behind me. I spin around to see Shouta.
"I need to talk to you, Virus," He states in his usual blunt voice.
Fuck, what have I done now?!