My Hero Academia: Aura Farming

[The Synonym]

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[I AM—]
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All Might, now in his muscular form, walked through the school hallway with Recovery Girl alongside him, expression deep in thought as the two advanced in silence.

After dragging him out of the teachers' lounge, Recovery Girl had offered nothing further in the way of an explanation—saying it was better for him to see it himself rather than hear it hurriedly from her.

And so All Might had been forced to leave his rest and follow, knowing only that something had come up, but having no idea what.

Her tone, when she'd said as much, hadn't been one of worry but of sheer bafflement—which at least let him rule out the possibility that something had happened to one of his students.

And from the way she'd worded it, it seemed Taka actually had something in store for him. Something significant.

But what?

All Might had to sit with that question through the two minutes it took them to reach the infirmary.

Once they stepped inside, he was surprised to find it wasn't only Taka waiting there—sitting on a bed with a bored expression.

Nezu was there too, standing calmly beside him, watching both of them approach with a quiet, knowing smile.

Instantly, the weight of the situation scaled several levels. The principal's presence here wasn't something that happened over small matters.

After all, Nezu wasn't merely his current boss. He was one of the few people aware of what had transpired during his fight with that man, and everything that had followed. He was the one who had volunteered to help find a successor, and who was practically aware of all the behind-the-scenes details.

For him to be here, alongside Recovery Girl…

"…"

All Might looked at Taka with a puzzled face.

'Just what is going on with young Takahashi?'

"Sorry to interrupt your break, All Might." Nezu's voice pulled him out of his daze, nudging him to finally step inside rather than linger at the entrance.

Recovery Girl made her way to the chair beside her desk. All Might took a seat on the bed across from the principal and the student, looking between them with quiet seriousness.

"Recovery Girl said something important came up—something involving young Takahashi?"

"Precisely. To be honest, I'm quite surprised myself. The news came so suddenly we barely had time to process it."

"News?"

"Young Takahashi has awakened a new ability." Nezu said.

"Awakened?"

A deep frown settled across All Might's hollowed face for a moment.

He understood what awakening meant. It was the point at which a Quirk underwent a kind of evolution—gaining power or capabilities previously thought impossible given the Quirk's known nature. But for something like that to occur, it was said the person had to experience tremendous stress—the kind only reached when staring death in the face, and even then, it was just a slim possibility.

If young Takahashi had truly awakened—what could have possibly happe—?

"It seems I may have prompted unnecessary concern." Nezu interrupted his train of thought, gesturing calmly for him to settle down, then turning to Taka. "Let me first give you the context around Takahashi's Quirk, and how the two of us came to have an agreement… if he's alright with that, of course."

The teenager gave him a look, followed by a small huff and a silent nod.

Nezu turned back to All Might. "Splendid. Tell me—do you recall the incident involving that giant heteromorph near the lake, toward the end of last year?"

All Might cast his mind back, looking pensive.

After a moment, he nodded. "I remember it. The incident drew a lot of attention because of the villain's sheer power—it was talked about for weeks afterward, given how much destructive capability he demonstrated, and how he'd apparently been moving through the city completely undetected up until that point. If that man, Rockinesis, hadn't intervened when he did and kept him airborne long enough to reach the lake, it could have ended in a disaster."

"Precisely. That's also the day Takahashi and I first met. He came home beaten up from the fight, and I almost burst out laughing when his face contorted for a split second upon finding me sitting in his living room."

"My face did what?" Taka muttered, looking at him with a baffled expression.

"Hold on, principal." All Might raised a palm, looking confused. "What do you mean he came home beaten up from the fight?"

"Well, he tried to hide it—but by paying surgical attention to his behavior and body language, I noticed he'd come back with a broken arm. I didn't say anything at the time, but I did let out a small snicker once I finally left."

"You did…?" Taka muttered again, the flat look deepening.

All Might waved his hands in opposite directions. "No, no—I mean, what fight are you referring to?"

"With the villain, of course."

"The villain?" All Might struggled to reconcile what was being implied with what he couldn't quite believe. "Which villain?"

Nezu smiled innocently.

"The giant heteromorph."

"…" All Might went quiet, blinking, his mouth opening and closing as he tried to process whether he was understanding correctly before committing to a response.

Ultimately he found no other way to read the rat's words.

"Y-you're saying young Takahashi is…?"

Nezu's smile stretched with quiet satisfaction.

"The vigilante, Rockinesis. Yes."

"…!"

All Might's mouth fell open, and his head turned slowly—like a rusted hinge—toward Taka, who offered a faint smile as the attention landed on him.

"Don't arrest me, please."

"…!"

Everything resurfaced at once. No longer the actions of some distant, mysterious vigilante—but of a student of his. A teenager.

A kid the same age as his successor.

The dozens, if not hundreds of villains apprehended. The concert crashed and turned into one of the vigilante's song debuts. The heteromorph incident they'd just been discussing. The Yakuza raid. And most recently, the capture of the Hero Killer and the saving of Ingenium.

It all landed on him now as the acts of a student under his care. A mere teenager going to U.A.

The most wanted vigilante of recent years was one of his students?!

And it was Takahashi?!

A chain of detonations went off inside All Might's head.

His eyes darted between Nezu and Taka. "B-but—if that were true, his Quirk wouldn't be Telekinesis anymore!"

The original concept of Muscle to Mind—which supposedly granted Taka greater telekinetic output proportional to his physical strength—fell apart quickly once you stacked everything else on top. Abilities with no apparent connection to telekinesis whatsoever.

Clones, energy rays, flames, electricity, cutting force.

What Takahashi had shown until now was already strange enough—but now?

Now there was no way this was just Telekinesis!

And if the premise of strength feeding the telekinesis was a cover story, then Taka's superhuman physical abilities counted as yet another power with an unexplained origin.

Just what kind of Quirk could hold so many abilities? He had never heard of such a thing!

"That's precisely why I reached out to Takahashi months before the school year began." Nezu replied. "Through his actions as Rockinesis, he had demonstrated multiple abilities with no obvious connection to one another—all from a single Quirk that didn't quite match the description in the official documents. When I discovered it, I couldn't help but want to see that talent properly channeled. So I eventually roped him into our dear school."

All Might nodded. It made sense, and it was the right call—especially since he had seen the gap between Takahashi and every other student in his year.

Every student, actually.

That said, it didn't make the shock any easier to absorb.

Nezu walked up and patted him on the thigh, then drifted toward the window, watching the sun begin its descent, quietly marking the end of the school day.

"The truth is—according to Takahashi's own account, and my analysis—it appears his Quirk continues to evolve even now. Whether in raw output or entirely new capabilities." He said, still facing the glass.

All Might swallowed, taking in that information with difficulty.

A Quirk in constant growth. Unbelievable.

"And that brings us to the reason we called you here." Nezu's words drew him back. "… One of those new capabilities—one Takahashi reported today—is healing."

Taka extended a hand, green aura flames seeping from the palm as if in demonstration.

Seeing that, and piecing together why he'd been summoned, All Might turned to Nezu with a stunned look.

"You mean to say he can…?" He hesitated at the last word, out of habit around the secrecy of his condition.

But Nezu continued regardless.

"We tested the ability as thoroughly as we could. Given the extent of the damage in your case—and the track record of every doctor and hero with healing-adjacent Quirks who's examined you before—we were cautious about drawing conclusions. The results, however, were not what we expected."

Recovery Girl spoke up from her desk, setting a sheet of paper down.

"My Quirk works by accelerating the body's own natural healing, drawing on the patient's energy to fuel it. Which is also why it has limits—the body can only regenerate what it hasn't already given up on. Scar tissue is the body's way of declaring a wound closed. It doesn't reverse that decision on its own."

She folded her hands.

"What the kid's healing energy does is entirely different. Rather than working alongside the body's healing response, it overrides it. The energy appears to instruct cells directly—signaling damaged or scarred tissue to break down, while simultaneously prompting the surrounding healthy cells to multiply and rebuild what was lost. It doesn't accelerate healing so much as it reverses the injury… In a way, it's almost like a sentient healing—one that knows exactly what is damaged and how it should be restored, even when the body itself no longer does."

She handed him the sheet.

"The cost comes entirely from the kid, not the patient. And it scales depending on several factors—the age of the injury, the size of the affected area, and the structural complexity of what needs to rebuild. In your case, the first and last of those are the significant ones."

All Might nodded, frown deepening as he absorbed the data in the paper alongside his limited medical knowledge.

"Does this mean… he knows?" He asked, eyes lifting from the sheet and moving across the three faces in the room—settling on Taka's unsurprised expression in particular.

The two teachers nodded.

Taka didn't look surprised by the question.

"I see…"

At that, All Might let out a long breath—and his body deflated all at once, the steam leaving him in one long release.

When it cleared, he had become his gaunt self. Gone was the towering figure of the greatest hero and the ever-present smile—in their place, a thin man with hollow eyes and a quiet, heavy expression.

Seeing him finally lower his guard, Nezu smiled softly and continued.

"According to what we've understood so far, the way this healing works should be able to address the kind of damage your body sustained—Takahashi's healing energy will act as both a guide and energy source, directing your cells to revert the injury to its previous uninjured state, regardless of whether the body believes it's possible or knows how to do it on its own. The only concern is…"

"Whether I'll have enough energy." Taka finished. "Like Recovery Girl explained, the cost scales with several factors. For all I know, I might not be able to heal it fully—or I might not even break a sweat."

All Might nodded in silence, his expression not changing much despite the apparent good news.

That was because he hadn't let himself expect much the moment his injury came up.

Despite the hope the two teachers clearly carried, too many treatments had failed before—regardless of the expertise, the Quirk, or the approach. The best anyone had ever managed was preventing him from dying of it.

And however exceptional young Takahashi was—however far beyond any expectation he'd already proven himself—he couldn't quite bring himself to believe the kid would also be able to pull off a miracle like this.

Even as the two teachers walked him through the logic of why it should work, he had quietly resigned himself to the idea that it probably wouldn't.

But who was he to deny them the try?

Before that, though…

"You mentioned the energy comes directly from you, young Takahashi?"

Taka nodded.

All Might looked at him directly, serious. "What happens if you run out of energy and it isn't enough? No matter how much I'd like to be healed—I won't risk a student for it."

There was a brief pause before Taka let out a soft snort, mildly amused.

"It's not my direct life force or anything like that. Think of it more as a secondary energy that fuels all my other abilities. If I exhaust it, I go back to normal human capabilities until it recharges on its own."

All Might blinked in surprise, nodding slowly.

He hadn't expected to come away from this conversation with new details about the boy's actual Quirk.

But regardless—if healing him truly carried no grave risk to Takahashi… then perhaps it was worth a try after all.

His fist tightened.

"Then, young Takahashi—I'll be in your care." He said, his tone somewhere between resignation and faint hope.

Taka smiled—freely, confidently, in a way All Might wasn't used to seeing from the usually composed student.

"Don't worry. This will be easy peasy."

All Might noted that he even spoke differently in this moment. Less… dramatically, if he had to put it into words.

He really did seem like a normal teenager right now.

...

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| Minutes later… |

...

Soon after, the room was prepared as thoroughly as the circumstances allowed.

Which mostly meant giving All Might's bed more space, and connecting a few monitoring devices to track his condition once the healing started, so nothing would go unnoticed.

Once everything was in place and All Might's vitals along with many other details were under watch, Taka approached the bed.

"Uhm, young Takahashi—does this hurt?" All Might asked, glancing nervously at the approaching Taka, whose face was faintly illuminated by the green flames in his hand.

"For minor things like cuts or muscle pain, not really. But I honestly don't know about rebuilding a stomach and fixing a respiratory system from scratch."

"I see…"

"You can bite down on this leather belt, though."

"Why do you have that?!"

"I borrowed it from Recovery Girl's supply cabinet."

All Might gave Taka a baffled look.

Then, without a word, he put it between his teeth and bit down.

"Very well—let's begin, Takahashi." Nezu said, seeing that everything was ready.

Taka nodded silently, and the flames in his hand intensified in the same motion.

Then he placed his engulfed hand over All Might's scar.

From it, the flames spread and washed over All Might entirely.

"It doesn't burn?" The hero murmured through the belt, staring at the green fire now covering him.

Taka smiled wryly. "The energy itself is actually invisible. I'm only giving it a color for dramatic effect."

As he said that, the flames shifted to an orange-red—looking for all the world like actual fire.

Yet All Might felt not the slightest heat.

He gave Taka a baffled look.

'Dramatic effect, seriously?'

Taka shrugged.

Since he was already outed, he might as well be a little honest.

"Well—enough about me. Bite down hard."

"Ye—"

His agreement was cut off as a sudden rush of warmth flooded through him.

Like a heatstroke arriving all at once—instantly hot, then cold, leaving him drenched in sweat before he could process it.

It didn't hurt, but it was deeply uncomfortable.

And uncomfortable would have been perfectly fine, because what came next was far worse.

"Hngh!" A groan tore from him as heat began building in his innards. His lungs, his ribs, his muscles—all of it burning.

It was as if an inferno had ignited directly inside his chest.

Taka's brow furrowed at the sight of All Might's face contorting in pain.

But before he could even consider whether the healing was having adverse effects, Nezu's voice cut through.

"All Might's cells have gone into overdrive—thousands of new cells per second across the tissue"

"Don't worry kid. The pain he is feeling is all the heat of his own body repairing." Recovery Girl added, her eyes moving rapidly between All Might and the monitor, where cell division was happening at blinding speed. "Mitosis at that volume and speed releases an enormous amount of thermal energy. Your energy itself may be heatless—but the conversion into cellular activity is generating the heat from within. All Might's body can't thermoregulate fast enough to compensate. However, conversely, even though it's burning him, it's also healing him even faster."

They didn't even need the screen to verify it. The jagged purple scar stretching from All Might's left ribcage across his chest was visibly fading—and in its place, steam was rising from his skin in steady waves.

"You alright, All Might?" Nezu asked.

All Might gave a rapid nod.

He had endured considerably worse. This hurt, but it was bearable.

So instead of focusing on himself, his eyes drifted to Takahashi—standing beside him with eyes closed and hand still pressed over him, channeling the energy.

There was a frown on the kid's face.

And no wonder.

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[STATUS PAGE]

▸ Strength: 183

▸ Defense: 366

▸ Aura Projection: 124,343 → 112,223

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Total Aura: 124,526 → 112,223 (90%)

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Just a few seconds in, and he'd already burned through nearly 10% of his total aura.

He checked the monitor. Aside from some superficial damage having cleared up, the deeper injuries—the respiratory system, the missing stomach—remained untouched.

'H-how is it costing this much already?!' He questioned, outraged.

Fortunately, Recovery Girl's voice cut in before his panic could go anywhere, apparently having taken note of Taka's less than ideal expression.

"Is the energy flow too high, kid?" She said, watching the monitor closely. "Well, I suppose it's to be expected somewhat. All Might's body spent years compensating for the missing tissue—surrounding organs shifted, the musculature restructured, everything rearranged to accommodate the absence. Before it can accept a new stomach, the body first has to undo all of that—reverting itself to its original pre-injury configuration. That's essentially two healing processes for the price of one. So it ought to be pretty taxing."

'Of course.' Taka groaned internally, but held the output steady.

Before hosting a proper respiratory system and a stomach again, the body had to roll back everything it had quietly changed over the years to cope without them.

Muscles, tendons, bones, arteries—the whole internal architecture was being remodeled back to what it once was.

And with it, the aura kept draining.

By the one-minute mark, 70% remained.

"The body has finished reverting." Recovery Girl announced the moment it reached that number.

However, following that, the rate of drain suddenly accelerated enormously, making the two spectators, Nezu and Recovery Girl, stare harder at the screen.

60%

But in turn to the preoccupying boost in energy being spent, the tears and damage along the lungs and diaphragm began closing, rebuilding into perfectly functioning tissue.

50%

The cracks and missing sections of the ribcage grew back, filling in solid.

40%

The scar on the left side of his chest faded entirely.

30%

And then came the last part.

The void in his body—the space that had formed as everything rearranged itself around the absence—suddenly stopped being empty.

A small mass of living muscle appeared where there had been nothing.

It grew. It sent tendrils out into the surrounding tissue, finding its connections.

20%

Soon it had integrated. Then the overall shape continued expanding, growing into its proper size.

Until—

10%

At last—

5%

It was done.

A new stomach was born. One that was connected to All Might so seamlessly, it appeared to have always been there.

And with it—the healing process was over.

—Tsssssss…!—

The moment the treatment ended, All Might's body expelled vapor as if he were a machine venting steam—the heat radiating off him palpable from several steps away. The room had become a sauna.

Taka stepped back, pulling in a deep breath.

His eyes moved to his status screen, wincing at the sight.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

[STATUS PAGE]

▸ Strength: 183

▸ Defense: 366

▸ Aura Projection: 124,343 → 5,380

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Total Aura: 124,526 → 5,380 (4%)

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

96% aura, used in just a matter of minutes.

He'd never burned through that much in such a short window. It left him dizzy.

Slowly, he pulled his gaze from the screen and looked at the room around him—thick with vapor, the far wall barely visible through it.

'Did it work?'

With what aura he had left, he opened the curtains, then the window, and siphoned the vapor outward in a steady stream.

Until, at last, the room cleared—now lit softly by the last of the setting sun.

-Screech-

As soon as sight was returned to everyone, the bed of the patient groaned as the figure lying in it began to move—slowly at first, then with increasing certainty.

-Tap-

The figure sat up. Then stood, his wet feet echoing in the silent room as the figure rose tall, letting the light fall over it.

There stood All Might.

Not in his muscular form. No.

But he wasn't a skeleton anymore.

It was a healthy-looking All Might, staring at his own open hands and stomach with wide, stunned eyes.

Then he looked up.

And the smile of the symbol of hope returned.

"I AM—Cured."

...

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-To Be Continued...-

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(A/N: Pretty epic, if I say so myself.)

 

[The Synonym]

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…

As All Might stood there, admiring his new state with a dazed look, Taka heaved a sigh of relief.

'So it worked,' He thought as he gazed at the newly healed hero, before shaking his head and rolling his eyes. 'Of course it did—it drained me completely. It had to work.'

He had expected it to cost a lot—just not this much.

Truth be told, the energy conversion for healing compared to destructive output was horrendous. A hundred thousand aura had barely been enough to rebuild a stomach and repair a respiratory system—whereas shooting a laser that, per his calculations, could level several buildings in a row would cost the same amount. The disparity was crazy.

It also scaled wildly depending on factors like size, complexity, and age of the injury. Midoriya's broken finger on the day of the Quirk assessment test had cost him only a few hundred aura at most.

Yet All Might's injuries had gone through the roof.

But hey, at least it had worked.

'Also, good thing I only tried this after the festival, otherwise I'd have run out of energy midway,' He thought, snorting.

The 50k he had before all of it began? It would have been gone before he could have even begun the actual healing process.

And what would happen if he left a treatment like that half-finished?

He preferred not to find out any time soon.

But what's done is done.

'It's time to focus on what lays ahead.' Taka thought, focusing on All Might's figure, and then, on what it meant for the future.

He'd done this somewhat on a whim, so he hadn't thought through the consequences. Even if it was a pretty significant move—for canon, and for his carefully maintained secrets.

Though, on the other hand, One For All was already passed to Midoriya. Even with All Might healed, the Quirk would run its course sooner or later.

He doubted his healing had done anything to reverse that.

But at least the hero would be retiring more dignifiedly, now that he looked like an actual human being. And maybe he'd be better equipped to deal with All For One in their eventual fight after the summer camp.

—If canon continued as it should.

Who knew? Maybe his interference had already pushed things too far off course for that fight to play out the same way, or at all.

'What am I saying? Of course the canon is already derailed like crazy—Stain is behind bars without the chance to rally villains with his speech, Chisaki is without a Quirk and probably losing his mind over it, not to mention what beating the Nomu instead of All Might doing it might have changed.' Taka thought, mentally slapping his forehead. 'The path of the canon is in shambles. It's only going to go haywire from here.'

If the future bore any resemblance at all to canon from this point forward, he'd be shocked.

Except for school matters—those would probably stay roughly the same for a while. Final exams. The summer camp.

Sighing, his eyes fell back on All Might, who was now testing his movements, as if hunting for even the faintest trace of the pain he'd lived with every single day.

The excitement was hard to hide from his face.

Seeing him like that, Taka smiled too.

'Well, at least there's a new fallback if something goes wrong. Even if One For All will fade eventually, the limits his injuries imposed on how much he could use it should be gone now.'

His gaze shifted to Nezu, who had been patiently watching All Might examine himself in silence.

Picking up on the look, the rat seemed to understand what it meant, and turned back to All Might with his usual smile.

"How do you feel, All Might?"

The hero finally snapped out of his daze, looking between Nezu and Taka with a wide smile.

"I feel amazing, Principal. No discomfort of any sort… it's truly as if my body has been rebuilt to perfection!"

Then he focused on Taka specifically.

"Thank you, young man. Truly. I had already lost hope—but to think a day like this would come… I can only express my deepest gratitudes."

Taka gave a nod, though his actual question still hadn't been answered.

So he was straightforward about it this time, without using Nezu as a middleman.

"Your full power—can you use it?"

"…" All Might's eyes widened for an instant. Then he glanced at Nezu, who gave him a small nod of approval.

Sighing, he fell quiet, eyes dropping from Nezu to his own body, hands opening and closing as if gauging what was actually there.

"No." He answered plainly.

Taka's brow furrowed. Had the Quirk depleted too far, even with peak condition restored?

All Might's next words settled it.

"You've brought me back to a healthy state, but the power I used to access required my body to be in absolutely peak condition."

He flexed an arm. It was solid now that he was no longer a skeleton of a man, but Taka understood what he meant—the frame in front of him was nowhere near the mountain of muscle from All Might's golden age.

Right now, he looked like a teenager who'd maintained decent physical condition over the years and aged naturally—not the All Might who had trained to the absolute bone for decades and built himself into the superhuman he had been.

In other words: injured All Might had become healthy All Might, not peak All Might. Whatever that meant for the semantics of his Quirk.

"However, I can feel that the strength I'm able to tap into has grown tremendously, even if not what it once was at its peak." All Might smiled. "And now I feel as though I can hold the muscular form for several hours without issue."

Taka tilted his head. "Wait—I thought you couldn't hold that form because of your injuries. How is time still a factor even now that you're healed?"

All Might looked briefly caught off guard by how knowledgeable he looked about the problem.

He had expected the kid to be a bit more lost.

…Just how much had Nezu told him? Hopefully not too much about One For All.

Although—even if he had, at this point, Taka had become someone he owed a great deal to.

Maybe it'd be fine to do so personally one day.

When? He didn't know.

Regardless of his uncertainty, he answered. "Before, using the form worsened my condition directly. Now it's simply exhaustion—that muscular form is me flexing, after all. Imagine holding a full-body flex for hours, it's very tiring. Although, from now on I'll just need a brief rest to go back into it, unlike before, when my limited hours cost me the rest of the day."

Taka nodded, expression neutral.

"Basically—All Might will need to rebuild his musculature before that form stops being time-limited." Nezu stepped in, filling the gap. "The muscular form reflects what he looked like before the injuries gradually stripped away most of his muscle mass. For now, flexing makes him appear the same, but there's considerably less behind it than there used to be."

Taka nodded again.

'So in the end, even 100k aura was able to bring back peak All Might.' He sighed inwardly, disappointed that despite the expenditure in aura he still had failed to bring back the full Symbol of Peace .

Still, it was a stronger All Might than before. And that was all that mattered at this point.

'At least now I know a few more things about how my healing works.' Taka thought, letting out a satisfied huff, before slowly getting to his feet.

Once standing, he went to the nearby desk and picked up his things, before giving Nezu, Recovery Girl, and All Might a curt nod.

"Then, if everything's good here—I'm heading out. I have an appointment with my little sister to teach her guitar that's coming up soon, and if I don't move now I'll be late." He declared, already making his way to the door. "And I'm not an unpunctual guy."

With that, he gave the teachers one more nod of farewell, before closing the door behind him and leaving the room for good, his steps across the hallway echoing through the door.

The three teachers stared in silence as the furthering steps slowly became lower and lower, until they eventually ceased all together. Their faces utterly baffled, yet amused.

Leaving that quickly, that unbothered, and with such a priority in mind—as if he hadn't just healed the number one hero in Japan and effectively pulled him back from what had seemed like an irreversible decline.

All Might ended up letting out a short huff of laughter at the teenager's attitude.

"He's a peculiar boy."

"That he is," Nezu agreed. "And he grows more peculiar with each passing day. I'm excited to see what else he'll show us."

All Might nodded—before turning at Nezu with a wry look. "By the way, Principal…"

"Hmm?"

"The concert at the festival—you knew about it beforehand, didn't you? That's why you told me not to interfere."

"Me? What a crazy thing to suggest."

Nezu laughed, patting the man's back with an amused look.

"Now, nevermind the small details—let's have a proper talk. I'm sure you have plenty of questions."

"Can't say I don't."

All Might smiled slightly, casting one last glance back at the closed door, recalling Taka's figure leaving like nothing, even though he had been revealed as the most wanted vigilante in recent days.

Yet—

'I suppose that's fine.'

Criminal or not, he couldn't bring himself to hold anything against the teenager. The good he'd done so far was real, and even if the means had been illegal, Nezu was quietly steering him toward the right path.

There wasn't anything he could add to that.

Having settled whatever misgivings he might have had, he looked back at himself—his now-healed body, a stark contrast to the half-dead figure he'd grown used to seeing in the mirror.

'I wonder how young Midoriya will react.'

...

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| Several days later, at the subway station… |

...

"Alright, does everyone have their luggage and costumes?" Aizawa asked, scanning the crowd of students assembled in front of him.

""Yessir!""

Some responded properly, others simply held up their bags to make the point. Some with considerably more enthusiasm than others.

Aizawa ignored the inconsistency and gave a nod once he'd confirmed everyone had what they needed.

"Good. Remember—no wearing them in public. And mind your conduct at your internships. It won't be school. It'll be a professional environment, and you'll need to behave accordingly."

After that, he checked his phone, glanced at the time, and nodded.

"It's time. If that's understood—off you go. Good luck."

""Yessir!""

And with that, he left them to it.

From there, each student headed for their own train, since everyone had chosen different agencies. Some departed right away. Others had to wait, and filled the time with idle chatter.

Taka had settled into one of the empty seats nearby, his group drifting in around him.

"So—remind me again, which agency did everyone go with?" Sero asked, bag resting on his knees, grinning.

"Didn't we go over this on Friday?" Kirishima gave him a confused look.

"Yeah, but people change their minds. Who knows?"

"Well, I'm still going with Fourth Kind. He was the manliest choice on my list—pretty much a no brainer." Kirishima said, pumping a fist.

"Just because of that?" Sero stared at him.

"Leave him alone—that's his thing, so it makes sense for him." Kaminari laughed.

"What about you, Kaminari? You were still going back and forth by Friday."

The blonde froze for a split second, then a sly smile appeared.

"As a matter of fact—it turns out there's this heroine who uses electricity as well, a total babe. Hero AA is her name. She actually sent me an offer. Can you believe it?"

He pulled out his phone and showed everyone the hero's official page.

But the reaction he got was not the one he'd been hoping for.

"Dude. She looks like she could be your mom."

"Yeah—she's even blonde with a lightning bolt in her hair. You sure you didn't just get scouted by a distant relative?"

Kaminari's expression dropped.

"Huh?" He looked at the phone again. "Wait—for real?"

"If I were you, I'd check if there's any family resemblance."

Kaminari nodded slowly, staring at the screen like having a quiet existential crisis.

While that unfolded, the rest moved on.

"How about you, Jiro?" Sero turned to her.

She couldn't quite hide her smile, scratching her cheek. "Cangunnon from the Buster Union actually sent me an offer. When I asked the teachers about it, turns out Present Mic-sensei interned under them too—makes sense, since both our Quirks are sound-based."

"For real?! That's one of the hardest-hitting hero teams out there!" Kaminari leaned in, eyes wide.

"That's just what ranking high at the festival gets you, I guess." Sero sighed in a mildly tragic way. "My offers were nothing that wild by comparison. I ended up going with Arthropodman—his fighting style is a bit similar to mine, so hopefully that was the right call."

"Who's that?" Kirishima tilted his head.

"… You don't even know him." Sero muttered, deflating.

Ignoring his sulking, everyone turned to the last person in the group.

"And you, Takahashi? That many offers didn't paralyze you or anything?" Kaminari asked, with just a hint of bitterness.

Taka lifted his head from where he'd been dozing with his chin lowered. "Nighteye." He said, not sounding particularly sold on his own choice. "Seemed the most interesting, I guess."

That was the entirety of his reasoning.

The four could only stare at him.

Not that they could blame him—with that many offers, having deep reasons for any one pick probably became impossible after a while. Still, they couldn't help feeling a little jealous of just how freely he'd been able to choose on a whim.

"Nighteye, huh? That blonde third-year interned under him, didn't he?" Jiro commented, the meeting from the cafeteria surfacing in her memory.

"Yeah." Taka answered, sighing faintly at the mental image of spending a week around Togata's relentless good cheer.

He was not looking forward to it. The guy didn't look like the quiet type, which is what he'd prefer.

Contrastingly, Nighteye's stern look seemed much more pleasing.

"By the way—where is that third-year girl interning? Not under Nighteye as well, is she?" Jiro asked, frowning slightly.

"I think she's going to Ryukyu." Taka answered.

"Hm, is that so?" Jiro hummed, sounding satisfied with that answer for reasons Taka didn't particularly want to examine, so he let it go and went back to resting.

"Talking about Ryukyu—" Kaminari leaned in, lowering his voice slightly. "Has anyone noticed Midoriya keeps looking this way?"

"What does that have to do with Ryukyu?" Sero looked at him strangely.

"No idea. I just couldn't think of how to bring it up naturally. But it's starting to bother me."

The four of them glanced over.

Midoriya was looking in their direction.

—Or rather, since he didn't seem to notice all four of them looking back—

"He's looking at Takahashi." Jiro noted.

Taka opened his eyes and glanced lazily toward the greenhead.

Only then did Midoriya look away in a hurry.

"Look—he even tried not to get caught."

"What did you do to him, Takahashi?" Sero asked, laughing wryly, clearly picturing Taka having bullied the already nervous Midoriya into a paranoid state.

Taka shrugged.

"No idea. But he's usually like that around everyone, isn't he?"

"True, true." Kaminari nodded with deep agreement.

"Maybe he's just jealous of Taka's offers?" Kirishima offered, though he didn't look very sure about it.

"Like all of us."

Everyone scoffed—then immediately glanced at Taka with a pettiness they didn't bother hiding.

While they sulked over their own comment, Taka's gaze remained on the now-nervous Midoriya, who could clearly feel the attention.

'I'm guessing All Might, much like his pupil, is terrible at keeping secrets—not that I asked him to, but I thought he'd be sensible enough not to bring it up unprompted... Apparently, I was wrong.' He sighed inwardly.

Well. As long as Midoriya didn't start sharing things he shouldn't with the rest of the class, he didn't mind too much.

If Midoriya said too much—then he could just send the greenhead flying from a school window all the way to the USJ with one well-aimed punt.

"...!"

At that moment, Midoriya felt a chill crawl down his spine.

While Taka had such thoughts, barely keeping up with whatever chatter the group made in the background as the minutes passed, slowly more and more trains passed by.

More minutes later, most students gradually began boarding their trains, the group present at the station slowly thinning.

At some point, only a few remained, one of them Takahashi, who was still in his chair, calmly resting from a night of very responsible activities.

Since he had solved most of his issues, he had let himself indulge a bit in his old hobbies, like playing.

Turns out, he might have went at it a bit too hard, and ended up still awake by 3 AM.

Thus, he now was paying the price, feeling a bit under the weather.

Luckily, True Breathing was helping him feel a bit better. Though he wouldn't mind sleeping for a few hours right here and now.

"Your train still hasn't come, Takahashi?"

Just then, Jiro—who'd just returned from buying juice at a nearby machine—blinked to find him still sitting there, completely unbothered.

"Nope." He said, the p popping.

She scratched the side of her head. "That's strange—I'm pretty sure the train to the city Nighteye's agency is at should have come and gone by now."

"Must be your imagination."

"Hmm." She hummed, unconvinced, then sat back down and let it go.

A brief silence settled between them. Not awkward—the topics had simply run out after the long wait, and both were more or less in quiet mode until they could leave.

Until Jiro suddenly perked up, glancing at Taka from the corner of her eye with a small smile starting on her face.

"… So, Takahashi—you play music?"

Taka's head came up, looking at her with a baffled expression. "Where did that come from?"

"Nothing, nothing… you just seem like the type."

"…" Taka's mouth twitched.

She was making her suspicions pretty clear.

He turned it over for a few seconds.

But to his own mild surprise, he found he wasn't quite as determined to deflect as he usually was.

Maybe having All Might find out had made him slightly less guarded about it.

That, or the lack of sleep was making him more susceptible to her puppy eyes.

Taka shook his head. He'd have to play the long game a little while longer still, so no revelations to her for the time being.

Still…

He glanced at Jiro, who flinched faintly under the direct attention.

Then he opened his mouth.

"I guess… you could say I know a little."

Her eyebrows shot up and a proper smile appeared. "Oh, is that so? A little, huh? What do you usually play?"

Taka winced.

Give someone a hand and they'll take an arm.

He turned his face away, not bothering with more than he'd already given.

"Whatever sounds good."

"What does that even mean?" Jiro asked, her expression going flat all of a sudden.

Right on cue, a train began pulling in, and Jiro checked her phone.

"Well, that's mine. Lucky you—you're getting off scot-free this time."

"From what?" Taka asked, face calm but eyes clearly baiting her.

Her smile went tight, annoyance creeping in at the edges.

The train doors opened and Jiro got to her feet, picking up her things.

As she stepped toward the platform, she threw one last look back at him.

"See you in a week, Takahashi. Try not to cause too much trouble."

Taka let out a short laugh, smiled faintly, and waved her off without a word.

Jiro boarded, and the train pulled away. Taka looked it go, heaving a soft sigh.

Minutes later, it wasn't only Jiro who left. Whoever else had been waiting filed out too.

Leaving only one behind at the station.

"Took them a while." Taka muttered, standing up and brushing off his pants.

And instead of heading for a platform, he walked out of the station. Eventually reaching the street, and then an alleyway.

Standing in the quiet and the shadow of it, he pulled out his phone.

"They're not expecting me for another forty minutes." He muttered, shouldering his bag as he began to float.

He pocketed the phone. His figure blurred—then vanished, reappearing high in the sky a moment later, barely visible from below.

At that height, he raised a hand to shade his eyes from the sun, and fixed on the general direction of his new destination.

Done, he smiled, aura flaring around him.

"No reason to waste all that time sitting around. They're getting an early visitor."

And without further delay—

—BOOOM!—

He shot forward.

New destination: Nighteye's agency.

...

────────────────────────

-To Be Continued...-

────────────────────────

 

[The Synonym]

────────────────────────

[Nighteye]

────────────────────────

...

Inside the Nighteye agency, the hero in question sat at his desk, clicking rapidly through his keyboard while staring at his screen with focused intensity.

"It's quite breezy in here, isn't it, sir? Should I close the window?"

Beside him, Mirio Togata stood with his arms behind his back, swaying slightly left and right—most likely waiting for Nighteye to finish whatever he was working on and explain why he'd been called in.

"No need. The breeze is pleasant while I work." Nighteye clarified.

Mirio nodded, and after a few more seconds of silence, glanced at Nighteye's screen—more specifically, at its contents.

On it sat a picture of Taka, alongside a brief profile covering his Quirk and personal history. At the bottom, it noted his application to the agency, and his scheduled arrival as being… today.

Seeing that, Mirio's brows rose, a smile appearing on his face.

"That freshman actually applied here? I'm surprised. When I handed him your card, he didn't look entirely convinced... and with all the offers he must have gotten after the festival, I genuinely thought he'd go somewhere else."

Nighteye didn't bat an eye, simply adjusting his glasses as he continued typing.

"Nezu was the one who recommended him, so I assume he also nudged the boy our way. Otherwise, I agree with you. For a young man this promising, I doubt my agency would have stood out among his options."

"Come on, don't say that, sir."

"It's only logical, Mirio. With his performance in front of the whole country, the top heroes must have sent offers in numbers. Ours isn't likely to stand out among them."

Mirio could only laugh wryly at the cold facts delivered in Nighteye's usual matter-of-fact tone.

But then something in Nighteye's words made him blink.

"You said the principal recommended him, sir?"

"Yes. He was cryptic and difficult to read as ever. However, he said it was in my best interest to extend an offer to the boy—though I'm not entirely sure what he meant by that."

"As eccentric as ever, huh?" Mirio smiled wryly.

A brief pause settled, filled only with the sound of keys clicking. Then Nighteye spoke again.

"Since you've met him, what's your read on him, Mirio? From what I saw, he appears rather arrogant—daring to declare he'd surpass All Might's mark at the festival, how ridiculous. He may have followed through, yes, but that doesn't excuse the obvious overconfidence."

Mirio smiled wryly, eyes drifting across the All Might merchandise covering every available surface in the room.

It seemed sir hadn't taken kindly to Takahashi's history-making declaration.

He put a hand to his chin, thinking back on his own meeting with the freshman.

"I wouldn't call him arrogant, personally. When we met, he was mostly quiet and reserved, if anything. He even seemed uncomfortable when Nejire bombarded him with questions—but he didn't turn her away until she'd gotten through all of them. If anything, he just didn't strike me as someone who enjoys social situations."

Nighteye didn't respond, simply continuing to type as he listened.

Mirio thought on it a bit longer, this time recalling the festival recordings and the string of edits that had spread across his feed afterward.

Setting aside Nighteye's obvious bias from his All Might fanaticism, Taka's personality still read as a little flamboyant—erratic behavior and strange choices that somehow only made him more popular with the crowd.

But if there was one thing that stood out to him…

"I think he might be a good classmate. Given the kind of power he had on display, there were plenty of moments where he could have ended his opponents in one move—but didn't. He let them show what they had first, then defeated them. And when he did knock someone out, he usually just tossed them off the platform rather than doing anything worse."

Nighteye gave a faint nod, as if already aware of as much.

"I suppose we will see soon." He said, finally turning to Mirio. "The school has just notified me that Takahashi should be arriving in roughly thirty minutes. As his senior, it will be your responsibility to meet him at the station. I'll be here when you both return, finishing the weekly report."

"Thirty minutes?" Mirio repeated, gauging the time window, then gave a nod. "Got it, sir."

"When you're back, and after I've briefed him on his responsibilities for the week, I'll have you show him around and to his room."

"Room two, right? That one's been empty for a while now."

"Correct. Now start making your way—since he'll be more or less a guest here, it would be inappropriate to leave him waiting at the station."

"Yes, sir!"

"No need."

Both heroes' pupils shrank as an unfamiliar voice suddenly came from somewhere in the room.

Their heads snapped toward it—and the owner made himself apparent quickly, clearly not intending to hide.

"..."

"..."

Taka was there, sitting at the window with his back against the frame, the curtains swaying in a wind with no clear origin, his hair catching it mystically.

"Sorry for the interruption. The window was open, so I let myself in."

The alert dropped out of both of them at once—and was replaced immediately by pure bafflement, cautious expressions flattening into deadpans.

The new intern was here. But… why like that?

"I've changed my mind, Mirio—go ahead and show him around first, then come find me. I'll brief him on his duties after." Nighteye said.

"… Yes, sir."

...

°

°

°

| Minutes later… |

...

Taka and Mirio now walked the corridors of the agency together, door by door, Mirio narrating as they went.

"This is the meeting room. We use it at the end of each day for anything important—case progress, notable incidents, that sort of thing. Also for meetings with other heroes from outside, though that doesn't happen often."

"…"

"This here is the cafeteria. It may be small, but with how few of us there are, everyone fits. You can eat the food you bring here, but we also have a small stock of simple meals just in case."

"…"

"Down there are the bathrooms. There's also one in your dormitory room, so you won't need to use those much."

"…"

"We also have a small office for any online work or research you might need. Though, as an intern, you'll mostly be observing and learning—so you probably won't be spending much time in there."

"…"

"Oh, and how could we forget the indispensable janitor's closet! Though he usually comes by well after we're all asleep, so we rarely see him—except for sir, who stays late to greet him."

"…"

Mirio didn't seem deterred by the wall of silence. Since Taka was looking around and giving small nods, he appeared to actually be paying attention, even if he had nothing to add.

Soon they reached the dormitory area—small, with at most three rooms spread along a short corridor.

Mirio led him to the door marked with a two, opened it, and showed him a compact but comfortable room with everything he'd need.

"This is yours for the week. We're up and ready by six in the morning, so try not to stay up too late."

Taka nodded—though this one nod was faintly less convincing.

"That's the last stop. We should head back so sir can walk you through what you'll be doing the rest of the week. Leave your things here for now."

With another faint nod, the bag on Taka's shoulder and the briefcase he'd brought flew across the room and settled on the bed on their own.

Mirio watched with an impressed look.

"What a convenient Quirk… can you just grab things from across the room whenever you feel like it?"

"Yeah."

"Oh!" Stars appeared in Mirio's eyes.

After that, both left the dormitories.

Minutes later, they were back at Nighteye's office. Stepping inside, both noticed the window was now shut, before their eyes found Nighteye already waiting at his desk.

"Everything went smoothly, Mirio?"

"Yes, sir. Full tour!" He did a salute.

"Good."

Nighteye turned to Takahashi, his serious, almost stern gaze settling on him with full weight.

"You can leave us now."

"Oof—you're not putting him through that test, are you, sir?"

"I am. Even with Nezu's recommendation, I need to see for myself his qualifications."

Mirio gave Taka a pitying look and stepped out—leaving the two most cheerful people in the world alone together.

"…"

"…"

Awkward silence filled the room.

A full thirty seconds passed before Nighteye spoke.

"I saw your performance at the festival. I'll admit—you're a promising future hero." He adjusted his glasses and fixed Taka with a sharp look. "However, do not let arrogance overtake you. It's been the downfall of many who showed the same early potential. You're still far from any comparison to All Might, and I hope you're aware of that."

"For now." Taka answered plainly.

Nighteye's frown deepened visibly.

"Confidence is a necessary quality for greatness, I suppose… Then I hope you won't mind a test of mine. It's designed to tell me how much potential you truly carry to become the hero you claim you will."

Taka slid his hands into his pockets, unhurried.

"Sure, fire away."

A small smile crossed Nighteye's face, barely noticeable.

"Then, the test for you is… to make me laugh."

The very next second, he expected confusion, or at least a visible hesitation to appear on the youth's face. That was what usually happened with every intern or sidekick who came through his door.

But Taka didn't hesitate. Instead he pointed a finger at him, completely confident.

"Sure."

And of course he was like that. He'd known what Nighteye was going to ask from even before this day, so he'd come prepared.

With the best joke he knew.

"Tell me—what is the fish that makes a 'tssss' sound?"

"I don't know. What fish is it?"

"The fried fish."

"…"

Not a single muscle on Nighteye's face moved.

'That didn't work?!' Taka's expression froze.

That was the joke Seiji used to tell him whenever he tried to act like the annoying man wasn't there, and it never failed to crack him despite his best efforts. How did it have no effect here?!

'This guy is something else… no wonder he's a pro hero.' Taka thought, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple as he found himself with his best option already used up.

—Or not.

His mouth curled slightly.

As a thorough aura farmer, of course he'd prepared a contingency for exactly this.

If his own humor couldn't crack this man, then maybe someone else's would.

'I didn't want to do this, but you've left me no choice.'

He pulled out his phone and turned the screen toward Nighteye, who raised an eyebrow.

Then, a video began playing.

There, All Might landed on an open field in front of the school, the dust rising and swallowing his figure whole.

{"I AM—"}

Then it cleared, revealing, for Nighteye's widening eyes—

{"—A CLOWN!"}

—All Might, sporting a rainbow wig and a red nose.

Then he reached into his pocket and produced a small rubber horn.

-Honk, honk-

A beat of awkward silence passed.

{"Is that enough, young Takahashi? Who are you even planning to show thi—"}

The video cut off.

Nighteye's face contorted. He brought a hand quickly to his mouth and held it there, not making a sound.

Despite it, Taka wore a smug look.

'Good thing I called in that favor the day after I healed him.'

When he decided to come here, he recalled the grateful look in All Might's face when he got healed and thus decided to ask for this favor just in case Nighteye might be feeling testy.

The hero had seemed a bit weirded out, but agreed in the end.

'And it worked perfectly.' Taka thought, snorting at Nighteye's tightly closed eyes and struggling look.

It took a full minute before the hero had his composure fully back, his face returning to its usual impenetrable stillness—as if he hadn't been a breath away from laughing moments before.

"Unfortunately, that doesn't count. It wasn't you who made me laugh." Nighteye said, adjusting his glasses.

"I planned for it, though—so technically it was."

"You planned for it?" One of Nighteye's brows rose.

"I…"

Taka paused, realizing he'd said more than he should have.

"Ask Nezu."

And swept it cleanly under the rug.

Nighteye didn't look entirely convinced, but knowing he'd have to consult the principal about several things later anyway, he gave a nod of mild acceptance.

"That still doesn't make you the one who made me laugh, however."

Taka fell quiet, visibly a little annoyed at the man's persistence.

He glanced back at his phone and turned the screen on again.

"I see… then I suppose this video is useless. Might as well delete—"

"Nevermind. On second thought, I'll overlook that small detail. You've passed, Takahashi."

Taka slid the phone back into his pocket, expression unimpressed.

Letting out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief, Nighteye moved straight to business. "Now that that's settled—let's go over what your responsibilities here will be for the week, since you're my intern from now on."

He proceeded to walk Taka through the agency's general schedule and where he'd fit into it.

Three patrols throughout the day—one early in the morning, one around midday, and one in the evening. A break for lunch in the afternoon. Night patrols were handled by a separate squad and wouldn't involve him.

For most of it, he'd be accompanying Mirio—observing how incidents were handled, occasionally helping with physical tasks if needed. Carrying people, moving medical supplies, that sort of thing.

Overall, a fairly quiet schedule given what he was capable of. But he didn't have much of a choice until he had his provisional license.

Besides, if it got genuinely unbearable, he could always dip out and leave a clone to deal with all this.

For now though, he'd try to stick to Nezu's plan. He was curious about Nighteye's Quirk as well—specifically how it would interact with him, the very person responsible for derailing canon in the first place.

Though he'd leave the explaining to Nezu. He was the one who'd sent him here, so he could handle telling Nighteye whatever needed to be said and dealing with whatever came after.

As for himself—he'd make the best of this internship. Powerful as he was, this was genuinely his first time working alongside heroes. Or close to it.

That was worth something.

Suddenly, Nighteye checked the watch on his wrist, squinting faintly. "... And since you're already here, there's no reason to delay it. You'll go out with Mirio for the second patrol. Twenty minutes, get your costume."

'Right away, huh?'

Taka nodded and left without complaint. His pace slightly hurried.

Walking back through the hallway toward his room, the calm of his expression shifted, just a little.

A small smile surfaced.

If he was being honest—he was a bit excited.

He'd seen hero work up close growing up alongside Seiji, sometimes following him to the job. Never too close—but closer than most people ever got.

The years he'd spent with a Quirk he thought was mediocre had only deepened his sense of wonder at this world.

So, with this being his first real step into the thing itself—setting aside his vigilantism, which was its own kind of pseudo-heroism—he couldn't quite stop himself from wondering what was waiting out there.

'Besides—it's finally time I showed off the new look.' Taka's smirk settled more firmly as he thought of the briefcase sitting on his bed.

His new hero suit was ready.

And it was time to let the villains out there get a good look at it.

...

────────────────────────

-To Be Continued...-

────────────────────────

 

[The Synonym]

────────────────────────
[Debut]
────────────────────────

…

Across the city, people went on with their daily activities like any other day. Taking the bus, calling a cab, going in and out of all sorts of buildings, or just walking by alone or with friends.

In a less central part of the city, life wasn't so different. Purposes just varied a little.

Some people were heading out to restock food, others were waiting at bus stops to go elsewhere, and some were sitting calmly on benches, relaxing.

Yet none of them were able to remain indifferent when, all of a sudden, two figures appeared around the corner and made their way down the street unhurried, but carrying themselves with a quiet confidence that drew the eye.

One of them was a broad-shouldered blonde in a white, gold, and red hero suit with the number 1,000,000 on his chest. His steps were confident but light—almost bouncy—like he was radiating some inexhaustible good cheer.

This was Mirio Togata. A hero in the making already in his third year, also once a primary candidate to become All Might's successor, and the future number one ranked hero… in another timeline at least.

As he walked, he turned toward his patrolling partner.

Takahashi.

He studied the way the kid carried himself on what could reasonably be considered his first real patrol.

Absolute confidence.

He really couldn't describe it any other way.

His way of walking didn't look extraordinary at first glance—but there was something in the way he carried himself that gave off the feeling of a seasoned hero whose mere presence was enough to make anyone nearby feel safer.

Strange, given that Mirio was supposed to be the one showing him the ropes.

Still, regardless of whatever he was feeling, he had a job to do.

"I bet you're nervous. I was incredibly nervous during my first internship. I wanted to absorb every bit of wisdom I could from my senior heroes, even from the most ordinary moments. But don't worry, being a hero is hardly sixth dimensional science. Just do your best, and people will start looking up to you right away!"

"But you're not a full hero yourself yet either, are you?" Taka gave him a look.

"Well, I'm sure I'm not wrong regardless!"

Taka nodded, not exactly agreeing with the optimistic outlook, but not arguing it either.

"By the way—we've put our costumes on and stepped out into the streets, which makes us heroes right now. But we haven't told each other our hero names, have we?" Mirio pointed out, gesturing between them.

"I believe we haven't."

"I'll go first then. I'm Lemillion. I know I can't save everyone, but I want to save at least a million, that's the goal. Hence the name. What about you, Takahashi?"

"My hero name is Auros—"

Taka paused, weighing whether to go into the explanation about gold and the old terminology for mountain.

However, after a beat, he just gave a thumbs up.

"... I chose it because it sounded neat."

Mirio nearly tripped, sweatdropping.

"Because of that…?"

"There were other reasons. But if I'm being honest, that's the main one."

'Plus it's kind of my power, so it fits neatly—but no one's going to figure that out, given that no one here actually knows what aura is.' Taka added inwardly.

"Well…"

Mirio seemed to turn the name over a few times, tasting it, before giving a wide smile and a thumbs up back.

"It does sound pretty cool, I'll give you that. Fits the serious vibe! If I were a villain, I'd be scared."

Taka nodded, the corner of his mouth lifting ever so slightly.

'So the vibe is still there. Good.'

He glanced down at his new outfit.

It was similar to the old one—just a bit more personalized and less dark-fantasy.

The hat was gone. As much as he liked the shadow it gave off, it was a nuisance during combat and high-speed movement. He could keep it in place, sure—but it was still an unnecessary thing to focus on.

He'd taken it off during the Nomu fight for exactly that reason. Fighting something like that with his aura reserves at the time, while also keeping a hat pinned would have been pretty auratic, yes, but also pretty idiotic.

So he'd dropped it from the suit. He still had it stashed somewhere for the occasion that called for a dramatic hat-tip. But for now, no hat.

Next, the cloth that had covered his mouth was replaced with a proper mask with an air filter. Easier to breathe in, and it looked more modern.

His long coat was no longer worn—instead it hung over his shoulders, the way a mafia boss might wear one, or a certain Viltrumite with the most iconic drip in the universe.

He was testing a less bulky silhouette without completely removing something for the wind to catch.

The belts were also gone as they had been a tad unnecessary in the context of a hero suit.

Overall the changes weren't dramatic, he was still wearing practically the same clothes, but the effect they gave him now was different.

Equally serious but less villainous.

Something like Gang Orca.

—Although the saw cleaver hanging at his waist did push things back toward villainous a little.

'But I wouldn't give you up for anything.' Taka gave the weapon an affectionate caress.

He'd grown attached to the thing. Though, mostly for the aesthetic and how good it looked. In the practice, even a stick could replicate its function with the aura he now carried, but it certainly wouldn't look half as cool.

—Unless he was cutting a mountain or something. In that case the stick would probably look cooler.

Or maybe his bare hand would be cooler, going for a mere gesture being enough to cause all that devastation.

'Guess the art of farming aura is too versatile to categorize properly.'

While he turned that over idly, both heroes in training continued the patrol with not much happening, following the route Nighteye had given both—which was standard for this early in the shift.

At least, that's how it usually went for Mirio.

But that was about to change.

"Hey, Lemillion." Taka suddenly spoke up.

"What's up?" Mirio turned, tilting his head.

Taka jabbed a thumb toward an alleyway at their side.

"I'm getting the strangest feeling that something might be happening about two streets over in that direction… can we check it out?"

Mirio slowed, then stopped altogether, giving him a perplexed look.

Then a wry smile.

"You're… having a feeling?"

"Yeah."

"…"

Mirio fell quiet, scratching his head with visible internal conflict.

On one hand, this was an official patrol—they couldn't just reroute on a hunch. On the other, this was Taka's first patrol, so turning him down felt a bit wrong.

'Well, patrols are somewhat flexible as long as the whole area we're responsible for stays covered… so I suppose it's not a huge issue.'

Sighing, he gave Taka a nod.

"Alright. But we're making it quick. We don't want to stray too far from the route."

Taka nodded calmly.

Seconds later, the two had crossed two alleyways and one street, stepping back into the light at the road Taka had pointed toward.

Both stood there for a moment, scanning their surroundings.

As the seconds ticked by with nothing happening, Mirio felt a bead of sweat roll down his forehead.

"Well, don't sweat it too much, Auros. I've had feelings like this plenty of times myself. Usually it's just hunger or boredom making me believe they are some sort of sixth or seventh sense. Sir's patrol routes are designed carefully to minimize anything slipping through, so don't worry too mu—"

—VROOOOOOOM!—

—CRASH!—

"Outta the way!"

Without warning, the window of a small store around the corner exploded outward as a motorcycle carrying two figures burst through it, each of them loaded with bags stuffed to the brim with cash and goods.

The people on the street scattered in a hurry as the bike accelerated, weaving through them without the slightest regard.

It sped up and away—clean, fast. The perfect crime, over before anyone had fully processed what had happened.

Or so everyone thought.

-Tap-

Lemillion's eyes widened faintly as he heard Taka's foot touch the ground once.

Then—

—CRASH!—

The motorcycle slammed into something invisible and came to a violent stop, the impact launching both riders into the air.

They hung there for a moment—suspended, motionless.

Then, slowly, they began to descend. After a while, they settled onto the pavement exactly where they'd crashed. The motorcycle followed, lowering beside them without a sound.

Mirio stood watching the whole spectacle with his mouth open.

"Well, what a coincidence. A small pebble just so happened to block and overthrow both of them" Taka said, already walking toward the downed robbers at an unhurried pace. He glanced back at Mirio, who was following beside him, still too shocked to say anything, and gave a thumbs up.

Mirio gave one back, too surprised to do anything else.

"By the way, you're not going to believe me, but that direction is giving me a feeling too…"

...

°

°

°

| Somewhere in the Nagano mountains, underground… |

...

In a dark room, All For One sat calmly in his chair, one finger tapping the armrest as the steady beeping of medical equipment filled the air with a heavy, ominous rhythm.

—Bzzzz!—

A portal opened several meters behind him, and a figure stepped through.

"I'm back, master," Kurogiri announced as the portal closed.

"Welcome back, Kurogiri. How did it go, has Tomura settled into the new base?"

"He has some complaints about the internet connection." Kurogiri said, with a faint helpless note in his voice, before giving a nod. "But nothing beyond that. We've also made contact with several local villain figures and more influential names in the underworld. A number have agreed to join us, or at least to ally. I believe the pressure Takahashi's presence has been applying has done a great deal for Tomura Shigaraki's growth. All Might had been an static target, Takahashi however has proved himself a looming threat, fueling his focus to great lengths."

All For One's smile shifted into a grin. "Good. Very good. Perhaps the safety net we'd been giving Tomura had been stunting him without our realizing it. A real threat may be exactly the pressure he needs to become something greater."

Kurogiri listened in silence.

Then All For One tilted his head slightly, as if regarding Kurogiri from the corner of his perception, even though he couldn't see.

"Besides that—how have our little tests gone?"

Kurogiri gave an affirmative nod. "You were right, master. Our people among the civilian population noted consistent surveillance on the bar over the past week—several individuals of similar appearance, some aerial, others at street level, all of them, however, oddly interested in our previous base, and all of them with their face mostly covered up. I made appearances at regular intervals to make it seem we were still operating from there... And given their lack of reaction or behavioral change, it's unlikely they know we've relocated."

"So I was right." All For One laughed quietly. "Takahashi-kun really did have eyes on our previous location—"

He turned toward one of the nearby monitors. On it, feeds from various cameras showed the surrounding forest and mountain terrain—undisturbed, no movement beyond the occasional bird crossing the frame.

"—And yet, he has yet to appear anywhere near this one. Is he managing to evade our detection somehow… or is this clear evidence of the limits of his unusual knowledge?"

He chuckled to himself, then tapped the monitor and brought up a document on the larger screen showing Taka's registered internship placement under Nighteye, turning it toward Kurogiri.

"According to our informant, Takahashi-kun chose Nighteye's agency for his internship week."

Kurogiri's yellow eyes amidst the mist widened, interest growing in his tone. "An alleged clairvoyant, going to another clairvoyant for training… If our suspicions are wrong, that would be an extraordinary coincidence,"

All For One nodded, his quiet laughter continuing as the evidence piled up.

"Beyond that, it presents us with a perfect opportunity."

"Master?"

"Takahashi-kun is powerful. Based on the doctor's analysis of available footage, even deploying another Nomu at the level of the one used at U.A. would likely accomplish little—he's already grown past that. A conventional villain wouldn't fare much better. If we want to move against him decisively, the options narrow considerably—down to taking action myself."

A brief silence settled, heavy with the weight of that implication. Taking action himself—with his deteriorating condition, it was as significant a risk as it was a threat.

They had remained hidden all these years for a reason.

Even if they took care of Takahashi, what good would it be if his master ended up captured, or worse, killed, once the heroes arrived?

Kurogiri shook his head. It wasn't a wise decision, no matter how much of a threat Takahashi appeared to be.

"But that's only if we face Takahashi at his full strength." All For One suddenly added, and Kurogiri straightened slightly.

"What do you mean, master?"

"His cloning ability has proven extremely versatile. He can be in multiple places at once without needing to be there himself—and each clone carries tremendous power, from what the recordings show. In effect, he is an army unto himself… However, I highly doubt those clones come without cost, or that they're equal to the original. If they were, he would have deployed them against opponents that clearly gave him trouble in the past, rather than facing those situations personally."

Kurogiri nodded, recalling the handful of notable instances—the three A-class villains Taka had dealt with when he first came to attention, and Gigantomachia. Both situations where the clones would have helped considerably if they had been that powerful, and yet he'd largely managed them without them.

It strongly implied a real cost per clone—a portion of his power, perhaps more.

"'Divide et impera'… divide and conquer," All For One said with quiet amusement. "—Only this time, we will be the ones doing exactly that, in the most literal sense."

Suddenly, the entire base began trembling rhythmically, as if something enormous were approaching.

The monitor feeds shook.

"And once we have spread Takahashi-kun thin, we will draw the real one out."

A shape appeared on one of the cameras—enormous, like a shadow moving across the sun itself.

"And when we do, we'll be able to deal with him once and for all."

He leaned forward, pressing a button at the edge of the monitor.

"Isn't that right, Machia?"

"Master..."

...

────────────────────────

-To Be Continued...-

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(A/N: All For One has Taka completely figured out.

Or does he?)

 

[The Synonym]

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[Take The Reins of Fate]

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| A couple of hours later, Nighteye's office… |

...

Nighteye sat at his desk, massaging his temple as both Taka and Mirio stood straight before him, like two soldiers awaiting a verdict.

"… So, what happened out there, Mirio?"

"We, uh… had an eventful patrol, sir. I don't know how else to describe it."

"You call 300% more arrests in a few hours than we manage on average in a full day… eventful?"

Mirio nodded sheepishly.

Nighteye adjusted his glasses, his frown tightening visibly. "… I suppose that's fair."

He let out a sigh and leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers.

"Very well, let's agree that it was eventful—as you say. What exactly are these events that compose it?"

Mirio glanced at Taka with a nervous look.

Taka returned a look that said, clearly: "You're the senior here. You give the report."

Mirio ended up slumping forward in defeat.

"We—we altered our patrol route due to… having reason to suspect certain incidents might be occurring in the vicinity away from our normal route. And we did indeed come across such incidents, sir. Multiple times."

Nighteye massaged the bridge of his nose.

"And where would these suspicions have come from, if I may ask, Mirio?"

"…" Mirio's mouth stayed shut.

"Well?" Nighteye prodded.

"Feelings. We, uh, had a hunch."

"…" Not a single muscle on Nighteye's face moved.

The blonde rubbed the back of his neck, clearly pained by what was coming out of his mouth. "First I decided to make an exception and follow it quickly so we could get back to the route as soon as possible—but then it worked, and I decided to try a second time… and then a third… and then we fully leaned into following them, which is what led to the several other arrests."

"A hunch is what dictated altering the established route. Is that what you're saying, Mirio?"

"… Yes."

"Was it your hunch?"

"…"

Mirio fell silent. He didn't want to admit the hunches had come from their intern, and that he'd gone along with them when it was his responsibility to keep to the planned route.

Regardless of what he answered, however, Nighteye seemed to reach a conclusion on his own, turning to Taka.

"I suppose that answers my question. Takahashi—care to explain how your hunches led to this… rise in our usual level of performance?"

"Ask Nezu." Taka answered plainly.

Nighteye's eyebrow twitched at the unusually direct answer from someone who was supposed to be an intern.

However, he wasn't oblivious.

For them to have stumbled across several crimes after deliberately altering the planned route—the implications, if they were right, could be significant.

And speaking of it so openly, right here…

Nighteye's gaze shifted briefly to Mirio.

He was the boy he had chosen to be All Might's successor, even if that title ultimately ended up elsewhere. The boy he considered the most worthy of bearing the name of number one and symbol of peace.

That's how highly he regarded Mirio.

But without knowing the true weight of whatever Takahashi was hiding, he couldn't be certain whether to include Mirio in this conversation.

So…

'Talking to Nezu about this first might actually be the right call.'

He eyed Taka again, with a guarded look. The kid grated on him a little—between his bold declarations at the festival and the way he was now playing clueless about something as blatant as this. But his role here was as a mentor. He'd get the full picture from Nezu first, then decide what path to take with Takahashi for the rest of the internship.

Having settled on that—

"… Very well." He let out a sigh of reluctant acceptance and gave Taka a nod.

Mirio's jaw dropped at how easily they got off scot-free.

But since he wasn't in any position to object, and didn't think it would help if he did, he quietly let out a breath of relief—then shot Taka a bewildered sideways look.

'This freshman is something else.'

Taka, for his part, chuckled confidently in a low tone.

'I'm quite something.'

After that, the meeting wrapped up and both Mirio and Taka went on break.

Taka retreated to his temporary room right away, unpacking everything he hadn't had time for before being sent straight out on patrol, and taking his time checking in on what his classmates were posting in the group chat.

Most of it was just them sharing early impressions of how their respective internships were going.

—At least the ones who could. The rest were probably still too buried under whatever their supervisors were throwing at them to respond.

'Midoriya is probably getting kicked in the face right now.' Taka thought, amused at finding no message from the freckled broccoli—recalling the kind of training the show's version of him had gone through.

Although, this Midoriya had considerably more control over One For All than his counterpart. Maybe he was the one doing the kicking?

"…"

'Nah.'

Shaking his head at the idea, Taka pulled out some clothes and began folding and storing them in the room's closet.

As his hands went through the motions, his mind drifted back over the patrol, smiling to himself as he recalled Mirio's stunned face each time they stumbled over yet another crime just by following his "hunches."

His Trouble Radar's alerts, more precisely.

Of course, he had never intended to sit in the background like a good intern and take careful notes.

He was going to get hands-on experience, whether Nighteye approved or not.

Besides—going out into the streets and stopping crime, legally this time—wasn't that the ideal setup for aura farming?

It would have been genuinely stupid to waste that just because some rule said he shouldn't.

'Very much so.' Taka answered himself.

And today was only the beginning.

He wasn't sure what Nezu would tell Nighteye once the two spoke, but he hoped it would result in Nighteye giving him a bit more latitude going forward.

If not—he could always intervene in ways subtle enough to leave room for doubt for the authorities, but clear enough that anyone who'd watched the festival would connect the dots on their own.

—Or he could just bulldoze through every villain he came across without any pretense of subtlety. That would work too.

Huffing in quiet amusement, he decided to leave the matter to future Taka. Whatever Nighteye decided would determine which path he took—so there was no point overthinking it now.

He refocused on folding and storing his clothes.

'Hold on—why am I doing this by hand?'

He stared at the shirt in his hands, fully aware he could have the whole thing done in seconds with his aura.

Then he shrugged and went back to it.

'It's quite relaxing, honestly.'

Besides, he hadn't brought many clothes—it was only a week, so he didn't need much.

And if he ran short, he could fly home in under ten minutes and grab what he needed, checking on Eri and Seiji while he was at it.

'On second thought, that's not a bad idea regardless.' He mused, tucking away the last shirt.

Finished, he sat down on the bed and checked his phone.

A few new messages, but nothing substantial. The chat was still mostly quiet.

'Jiro hasn't posted anything either.' He thought, scrolling up and down in search of her name.

After a beat of silence while continuing to stare at the chat, he tossed the phone aside and stretched out on the bed, eyes closing.

'She must be getting worked to the bone,' he mused, the corner of his mouth curling slightly.

But then his eyes opened, staring at the ceiling.

'But I should be too, shouldn't I? Just because I'm already operating at a high level doesn't mean I should be wasting time.'

His gaze drifted to the saw cleaver leaning against the wall, then to the mask sitting on the small desk.

'This week—I'm going to make the most of it.'

...

°

°

°

| Nighteye's office, a few hours later… |

...

The sound of pages turning and a pen moving at high speed filled the room as Nighteye worked through the day's paperwork, his eyes steady and his focus absolute.

A minute or so later, he set the papers aside and leaned back in his chair, massaging his shoulders.

He let his gaze rest on what he'd written for a quiet beat, then opened a drawer and pulled out a small metal disk.

He placed it on the desk, pressed a button, and leaned back in his seat to wait.

A few seconds later it beeped, and a projection shone from the top—revealing a familiar rodent face.

{"Well, if it isn't Nighteye. To what do I owe this call?"}

"Nezu." Nighteye pronounced the name with weight. "I'd appreciate it if we skipped the pleasantries and went straight to why you thought it would be a good idea to send Takahashi here."

{"My, what happened? It's only the first day—I expected this call in a few days at least. Tomorrow at the earliest."}

"He…"

Nighteye walked him through the noon patrol—and then the afternoon one. Neither lacked for "hunches" that led Mirio and Takahashi straight to crime after crime.

Even Nezu sounded genuinely surprised.

{"Takahashi certainly chose the less subtle route. I expected him to at least try to keep a lower profile…"}

"So?"

{"Before I say anything, let me ask you something first."}

Nighteye frowned. Why was he the one being questioned all of a sudden?

Regardless, he assumed there had to be a reason, and gave a reluctant nod.

Nezu smiled.

{"Tell me, Nighteye… when you saw All Might's death at the hands of a villain with your Quirk—what did he look like at that moment?"}

Nighteye's frown deepened, an ugly expression crossing his face.

'Why is he asking me to recall this?'

Nezu bowed slightly before he could voice the dissatisfaction.

{"I know it's a difficult thing to revisit, but it matters. Please answer."}

Nighteye drew a slow breath, adjusting his glasses as if that might help him manage the pain of the memory.

"At that moment… he looked very thin. Almost what you'd expect of someone in the final stages of a terminal illness. Sunken cheeks, heavy eyebags, coughing blood. He… no longer resembled the hero who had once shone so brightly—except for his eyes. They still carried the same conviction as always, even in that state. But even those eyes eventually went dim. Like everything else."

A beat of silence followed as Nezu seemed to take in the words.

Then—

{"I see… that's good."} Nezu smiled, nodding to himself.

Nighteye's expression hardened, his eyes widening.

But before he could say anything, Nezu spoke again.

{"Because that vision of yours no longer exists."}

—Pulling the upset expression off Nighteye's face and replacing it with complete confusion.

"What do you mean?" He asked, voice tight with what that might imply.

{"The other day Takahashi performed a miracle. With his Quirk, he accomplished what every doctor and hero who'd tried before had concluded was impossible… he healed All Might. He isn't back to his peak, but the injuries, the stomach he'd lost—all of it is back to a fully healthy state."}

"…"

Nighteye went still. Eyes widening.

All Might… was healed?

The first thing he felt wasn't doubt or disbelief.

It was relief.

The injury that had reduced the once-greatest hero to a shadow of himself was gone. The man he admired most no longer had to spend his days enduring unimaginable pain while keeping a smile in place so the world wouldn't notice.

And beyond that—if the future had already changed once, then the vision he'd seen could change too. If it hadn't already.

There was a real chance that death he'd watched through his Quirk would never come to pass.

Nighteye leaned back in his chair and let it settle over him.

As the relief gave way to something quieter, a calm he hadn't known in a long time, his thoughts shifted toward the other part of this.

"Takahashi."

That kid was behind it.

Nighteye had already known he was exceptional—from what he'd shown at the festival, he had the qualities of a leader and the power to back them up.

But to cure what had been considered incurable?

That was something else entirely.

How had he even done it? His Quirk didn't seem to—

"…!"

His mind snapped back to the day's events. The hunches, and how he made Mirio alter the patrol route because of them, causing them to come across crime after crime, each located with apparent precision for what was supposed to be just "hunches".

Something clearly didn't add up.

"From the documents you sent me, his Quirk was described as converting physical strength into telekinetic force—but that's not it, is it?" Nighteye said, his finger tapping the desk as the pieces started falling into place.

Nezu smiled.

{"Yes. There's still some ambiguity around the precise mechanics, but the truth is clear enough. Takahashi's real Quirk is something vastly different, and considerably more complex, than strength feeding into telekinesis."}

"Like healing." Nighteye offered.

{"Like healing. And cloning, and conversion into electrical, thermal, or pure destructive energy, and a superhuman level of physical performance… and, of course, what appears to be a precognitive ability."}

"…!"

Nighteye went quiet again as the full picture continued to assemble itself.

He sat there in silence for a few seconds, letting his thoughts run.

It didn't take long for him to reach a realization.

"Rockinesis." He said, half in awe and half in something close to frustration.

{"You connected the dots quickly."}

Nighteye nodded.

Of course he had. Nezu wasn't the only one who'd noticed the pattern in Rockinesis's appearances—arriving at the exact moment a crime was unfolding, sometimes even before it fully began. Some had attributed it to staging, or claimed it was fabricated for attention. Others had settled on a heightened danger sense—picking up on criminal stress signals or environmental cues that hadn't fully registered with anyone else—rather than genuine future sight.

After all, there were arguments against precognition too. His behavior in many of his fights was reactive, not anticipatory—someone who truly knew what was coming in advance wouldn't need to react at all.

But none of that had made Nighteye take him any less seriously. Because ever since he'd seen All Might's death with his own Quirk, he'd been looking—quietly and relentlessly—for any ability that might offer a way to alter what his Quirk had shown him as an inevitable outcome.

Any Quirk even adjacent to that had earned his full attention.

He simply hadn't expected the person behind the one he'd been watching most closely to be a student currently sleeping in one of his visitor rooms.

The most popular vigilante of recent years. The most wanted by the police and the HSPC.

A U.A. first-year.

Nighteye opened his mouth to berate Nezu for it, but he closed it before anything came out.

On the surface, Nezu had taken in a criminal—well-intentioned or not. But on the other—he'd brought a child with unparalleled potential into the hero course and given him a path toward something legitimate.

Nighteye leaned back and gave it a proper thought, trying to hold both things at once without letting either one win prematurely.

In the end, he had to accept that while it wasn't optimal from a legal standpoint—and certainly not something the HSPC liked, given Rockinesis was bringing some bad fame to heroes due to his efficiency—it was likely the best possible outcome for Takahashi, and possibly for society as a whole.

Swallowing the small residue of dissatisfaction, he composed himself and returned to the conversation. Nezu had been waiting patiently.

"So… why did you send him here?"

{"You already know. He may not carry One For All, but his power is sufficient to consider him All Might's successor in terms of what he might represent for society—even with Midoriya-kun in the background as well."}

"…"

{"And with that power, and a precognitive ability in his arsenal… he may be exactly the answer to making sure the future you saw never comes to pass."}

"So what you're saying is that my only hope lies in this kid, and that reporting him would be stupid."

{"You can see it that way—or simply as me placing a rare, unpolished gem in your hands, and trusting you to make the most of it."}

Nighteye let out a long sigh.

Even if he wanted to argue the point, he wasn't going to refuse at this stage. So what was the point of making a scene?

"Very well." He agreed, leaning forward at his desk with a measured look. "What do you propose?"

Nezu smiled, cupping his chin.

{"Perfect. Then we simply need to determine how your abilities interact with each other. From what we see in this week of internship, we'll know whether Takahashi will find himself flowing with the future you saw—"}

A glint of genuine interest passed through his eyes.

{"—or whether he'll take the reins of fate into his own hands."}

…

────────────────────────

-To Be Continued...-

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(A/N: More and more people are coming to know about Taka's secrets. Will this be a good thing, or not?

Maybe both.)

 

[The Synonym]

────────────────────────
[Unlikely Meeting]
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| Three days later… |

...

Inside a store, two men stood at the cash register—one of them hurriedly stuffing money into a bag, while the other kept watch.

However, for some reason, he also stood tensed and paranoid, his fist in the form of a cannon raised toward what appeared to be the clerk of the store they were robbing, who had his back against the wall with both hands up.

The cannon man turned to his partner, kicking the counter.

"Come on, hurry up! Haven't you heard? The past few days, every single crime in this part of the city has been falling apart spectacularly. If we don't get out of here fast, the same is going to happen to us!"

"Huh?! And you didn't think that was worth mentioning before we started this?!"

"I need the money, man. I'm desperate."

"Damn it—and how come? Is All Might patrolling around here or something?"

"No idea. I heard from another crew that lately the heroes in this sector have been foiling everything before anyone even gets a chance. It's like they can see the future or some crap like that!"

"Shit, Shit... alright, just—let me focus."

He picked up his pace, stuffing the bills in faster.

A few seconds more and he zipped up the bag and swung it over his shoulder, giving his partner a nod.

"Alright, let's move."

As soon as he gave the word, the two rushed out of the store.

They had a vehicle waiting right outside, so the moment they stepped out the door they threw themselves in and slammed the car doors—startling the driver.

"Woah, the police get alerted or something? Why so rushed?" The driver asked, adjusting the mirror to look back.

"Just go." The one with the bag said immediately, jabbing a thumb at his partner. "This idiot forgot to mention that the heroes in this sector have been shutting down every other crew who's tried anything the past few days. If we don't move now, we're just going to be another number on their daily reports!"

"For real?! Urgh—alright, fine." The driver clicked his tongue.

-Screeech!-

The next instant the car lurched into motion, tires shrieking as his foot hit the accelerator and the vehicle tore away from the curb.

Before long they were back on the road, weaving recklessly between other cars and missing collisions by inches.

But thanks to that, they were also now well clear of the crime scene.

"Hahaha, must be lunch hour for the heroes!" The one with the bag laughed, glancing through the back window to see nothing but ordinary traffic.

They were completely in the clear.

"We're off, baby!" The driver laughed too.

But just as the mood was lifting—the cannon man went rigid in his seat.

"Hey—watch out!"

Only then did the driver notice the figure standing in the middle of the road.

He didn't even have time to hit the brake. For a moment, he was certain he was about to run them down.

"Shi—!"

—But what followed was the complete opposite.

'Huh?'

By the time he processed what had happened—a millisecond after squeezing his eyes shut—the street and the figure were still there.

Only… upside down.

No—it was the car that was upside down.

That's when it clicked.

The car had crashed, and somehow it was spinning through the air.

How?

He had absolutely no idea.

'Well, damn.'

And so he closed his eyes, resigned to what was either imminent death or immediate incarceration after most likely ending up hospitalized.

Then, the big impact came.

-Thud!-

—Only, not nearly as hard as he'd braced for.

"…?"

He slowly opened one eye, looking around confused, before slowly opening the other.

The car was sitting normally on all four wheels, settled on the street as if nothing had happened.

Somehow… it had landed properly?

'What?'

Looking through the mirror, he saw his partners looked just as stunned, staring around in utter bafflement.

For a second or two, none of them moved—trying to process how what should have been a disaster had left both the car and the street more or less intact.

A second or so after that, however, he stopped trying to understand it and focused on getting out of there.

They were on the run. He could worry about whatever happened just now once they were safe and sound.

So, he slammed his foot on the accelerator.

—But nothing happened.

"The hell?" He frowned.

The engine was dead.

He twisted the key. The machine groaned, but still then refused to start.

"You've got to be kidding me." He threw his head back into the headrest in frustration, then turned to his partners. "The car's dead. We move on foot!"

"What?!—why now?!"

"What the hell even just happened?"

"I don't know, and we can figure it out later. Let's go already!"

And so the three got out.

The moment the car doors were slammed, they scanned their surroundings quickly, looking for the best escape route—one where the police wouldn't be able to trail them…

"Huh? Isn't that—"

"It's that guy!"

—When they noticed the same figure that had been standing in the road when they crashed, still there, facing away from them.

The cannon man squinted, getting a better look—and his eyes went wide as the details of the person's outfit registered.

"It's a hero! It's a goddamn hero! He's the one who crashed us!"

The other two snapped their heads toward him, then back to the figure.

Black hair. A sleek, modern-looking mask. A long black coat hanging from his shoulders that covered most of what was underneath, except for black trousers and plated boots.

The man with the bag gripped it tighter, teeth clenched. "How did they get here?! The police should barely be mobilizing right now. No way the response time is this fast, let alone for a hero to already be on scene!"

The cannon man spat. "Don't know. But forget running—looks like we're going to have to make our own way out!"

The three readied themselves. One drew a long, sharp blade from the horn-like protrusion on his forehead.

The other raised his cannon-fist, steadying it with his free hand.

Lastly, the driver pulled out a regular gun.

And yet—even as all three leveled their weapons, the hero remained with his back to them, much to their annoyance.

"Oi, what are you so relaxed about?! You think you've got us?!"

"You're going to have to try harder than that!"

"You know who we are?! We're the infamous—"

Before any of them could finish, the hero turned his head.

A somewhat quick and smooth turn of the head.

And with just that…

"Ugh—!"

"Ack!"

"Oof!"

—Thud!—

All three dropped unconscious simultaneously, hitting the pavement at the same time.

The hero looked them over for a moment, then swept his hair back as the sun hit his face.

Then a head popped up through the ground, taking in the scene with a speechless look for a moment, before laughing weirdly.

"You were right again… seriously, how do you keep doing that, Auros?"

And with that, he pulled himself the rest of the way out of the pavement, landing smoothly on both feet.

Mirio.

He turned to Taka, who was still holding the pose—letting the sun catch him just right—before finally stepping out of it and walking over to the unconscious pile.

"What is a hero but the antithesis of evil. Given that, isn't it only natural that a hero can perceive such deviousness, even from far away?"

"Uhm… maybe?" Mirio scratched his cheek, not entirely sure that logic held up.

He didn't get much time to question it, though.

—Weee ooo weee ooo!—

Soon enough, police patrols began pulling up, and with that, the official procedure got underway.

Both Mirio and Taka gave their account of what had happened while the three unconscious criminals were carried off to the patrol cars.

Minutes later, Taka was the first to be released from it, since Mirio was technically the senior and the one required to give a full report.

With that freedom, Taka leaned against a lamppost, arms crossed, taking in the results.

The street undamaged, not a single bystander hurt, and an efficient arrest that could barely be traced back to him—even though the three had clearly gone down the moment he looked at them.

But that could easily be attributed to adrenaline crashing in after the car went flying, and that it coincidentally went away when he glanced at them.

Praising himself inside his mind, he huffed in quiet satisfaction, before his gaze drifted to the crowd of bystanders who were recording with their phones.

Sadly, none of them had caught the car crash itself, as it was too sudden, but luckily a few had managed to get the head-turn moment.

'Another good clip for the internet.' Taka thought, letting out a small snort.

As he did, a screen popped up at the edge of his vision.

<[+68 Aura]>

He glanced at the crowd. Most had stopped recording and were cheering at him instead.

Some even looked like they wanted to come over for autographs—but the police perimeter was in the way.

So, of course, he wasn't about to just let that sit.

He reached into his inner chest pocket, took out a pen, and tossed it gently into the air.

It floated upward for a moment, like gravity had lost its control over it—then shot toward the crowd, stopping and hovering right before them.

A beat of stunned silence passed as the crowd stared at it confused, then those who'd wanted autographs realized what it meant and started scrambling for notebooks and anything else that would work.

And so the pen got to work, signing things left and right, while Taka just leaned against the lamppost and watched.

A few people even took a photo with the pen for some reason.

But before long the crowd began dispersing, and the pen drifted back to him.

Taka turned to the status screen now open beside his head.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

[STATUS PAGE]

▸ Strength: 7,500

▸ Defense: 15,000

▸ Aura Projection: 120,000

─────────────

Total Aura: 145,191

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

'Yet another fruitful day.' He thought, smiling faintly behind his mask as he closed the screen.

About ten minutes remained in their shift, so this was almost certainly the last incident of the day.

He was quite satisfied with it. So far, he has been keeping up his promise of making the most of this internship.

Both in aura, and in learning the ways of the heroes.

It had been roughly a week since he'd healed All Might, and a week and a half since the festival ended. His aura had grown by another 20k in that stretch, reaching 145k. Close to 150k, yet still not quite there.

Regardless, it still baffled him how quickly it had grown. It was 50% stronger than the day of the festival, achieved in barely over a week.

That just went to show the scale of people that had been watching his stunts on TV. Even after the festival was over, his passive gains remained enormous.

Of course, as the days passed the passive gains were dwindling, but his reappearance in public through the internship had steadied them again somewhat.

Nowadays it was about a thousand aura per day—sometimes more, sometimes less. The same rate he'd hit the day he crashed that music festival, only now more consistent.

If he had to heal All Might today, he wouldn't end up nearly powerless the way he had a week ago.

'And all of this is thanks to Nighteye letting me participate directly.' Taka thought, his mind going back to the second day of the internship.

He'd woken up ready for another round of concealing his abilities and nudging Mirio toward crimes in a not-very-subtle way, and then Nighteye had informed him that he was permitted to participate in arrests directly—although still with certain restrictions to it given that he was still an intern without a provisional license.

But that latitude, however qualified, was enough. It had let him farm aura far more actively on every incident they crossed.

He also noticed, with time, that Nighteye was looking at him less severely than he had on day one. Maybe he was just imagining it, but he didn't dwell on it.

'Nezu must have told him something.' Was what Taka concluded—though without asking, he couldn't be sure.

Not that he intended to ask. He was here for the internship. Whatever arrangement those two had made between themselves was their business, so long as it didn't bother him.

And so that's how the four days had gone. Three more remained, which meant more chances to farm aura and keep growing—but the rate would almost certainly slow soon.

Relative slow, granted. It would still be enormous compared to his passive earnings from before the festival. Just not what it had been this past week.

"Well, a storm isn't meant to last forever. Calm always follows." He muttered, gazing forward, then sweatdropped slightly. "… Except maybe on Jupiter."

A few more minutes passed before Mirio finally wrapped up his report. Then, the two left. Their shift was over, so it was time to return to their base of operations.

As they made their way back to the agency in silence, calmly waving at civilians who became excited as they saw them, Mirio turned to him with an easy smile.

"Seriously, Auros. Since you joined, our shifts have been getting more and more intense."

"Sorry about that." Taka sent him a wry look.

But Mirio stopped walking and did some kind of loose, flappy arm dance.

"No need to apologize! Thanks to all this, I'm even closer to my million of people saved. If anything, I'm looking forward to the next few days even more!"

Taka could only stare at him.

After a beat, he let out a quiet, relieved huff.

'Good. That's one less thing to worry about.'

He didn't know whether Mirio was genuinely easygoing, had simply decided to take things at face value, or respected his privacy enough not to ask, but the blonde hadn't once pressed him on how they kept stumbling across criminals.

At some point he'd just started to go along with it. The fact that Nighteye had stopped questioning the method and simply told Mirio to use his best judgment probably also helped.

Either way, if tripling his usual workload didn't bother him, who was he to argue?

'That just means I'm the only exhausted one.' Taka thought, rolling his shoulder and holding back a faint groan.

Luckily, the day was done. The rest of it was his.

'Maybe I'll go home for a bit.' He thought, watching the sky shift toward orange.

It wouldn't take more than ten minutes, so it was very doable.

'Although—first I'll grab a souvenir. Eri liked apples, didn't she? Maybe I can find somewhere that sells candy apples so I can bring her some.'

That said, a candy apple was more of a festive thing, and today wasn't exactly a festive day, so there was a high chance he wouldn't find any around.

'I'll just ask Nighteye. He's the hero in charge of this zone—he'll know.'

Worst case, he'd travel the entire country for a candy apple.

He was capable of it.

...

°

°

°

| Half an hour later… |

...

Taka, now in his regular clothes, walked along the street with squinted eyes, scanning everything around him.

"He said there should be a stall around here somewhere that sells all sorts of candy… but all I see are pubs and restaurants."

He pulled out his phone to double-check the address.

He was in the right place.

"Then where the heck is it?" He asked himself, looking around with a deadpan and scratching his head frustrated.

To make it worse, the sun was going down, and all the stores were lighting up their neon signs—turning the whole street into a dazzling mess that made it hard to pick out anything specific.

Taka kept scanning, his expression souring as he went around the zone more than once and still found nothing.

'Should I just clone myself and cover more ground at once?'

Just as desperate options were starting to seem necessary, a voice came from behind him.

"Ah, it's you, you bastard!"

Taka blinked. Then frowned.

Were they talking to him?

Based on the distance and the direction the voice had come from, it appeared so.

He turned around, looking for whoever had said it—and blinked in genuine surprise when he saw who it was.

"You…"

"What are you doing here? Wasn't ruining my life once enough?! Have you come back to finish the job?!"

Purple ball-shaped hair, impressively short, a face with roughly the same punchability as Midoriya's.

Impossible not to recognize.

'Well, I'll be damned.' Taka thought, scratching his chin. 'It's Mineta. What are the odds?—And what's he complaining about?'

"I ruined your life?" He asked, confused.

"Yeah! Don't tell me you forgot!" The purple menace pointed a finger at him accusatorily.

Taka tried to think through what he could have possibly done.

The only time they'd been anywhere near each other was at the entrance exam—

'Oh.' Taka blinked, the answer arriving flatly.

Not only had he taken Mineta's spot in Class 1-A, but he'd also obliterated most of the robots in their shared battle zone in the process—which would have made scoring anything near sufficient considerably harder for the guy.

Mineta probably didn't know about the first part. What was bothering him was almost certainly the second.

"I do remember."

"So you admit it! You bastard—because of you I got stuck at a much worse hero school. Every other school's exam was too hard for my Quirk to deal with. If you hadn't been there that day, dealing with those robots would've been easy peasy!" Mineta dropped to his knees, tears flowing freely.

"…" Taka sweatdropped, feeling a twinge of guilt over how things had played out.

The guy wasn't wrong. Mineta's Quirk was actually well-suited for that particular test, since it was just immobilizing villain-bots and turning them off. With his Quirk, he could do it without much trouble.

However, other schools ran different exams, so his Quirk's effectiveness wasn't guaranteed.

'Maybe I should apologize. I wasn't technically in the wrong since the exam was competitive by design—but I still feel a bit bad.'

He was about to say something, when Mineta kept going.

"… Plus, I heard you U.A. bastards are already using your hero costumes. I can only imagine what a glorious sight that must have been, hehehe…"

"... Alright, bro." Taka sighed, swallowing the apology he'd been preparing.

And thus, he turned and was about to take his first step to going back to his search.

"Oh, you're just going to walk away now?!" Then, Mineta called after him.

Taka shot him an annoyed look, and for a moment actually considered giving him a small aura blast.

But after a second, he let it go with a sigh, calming down.

"Listen—I'm sorry about that day. I could have still passed comfortably and with flying colors even if I'd left some robots for the others. I was too focused on myself at the time to think about that… so yeah. Sorry."

"…"

Mineta went quiet, staring at him with the face of someone who had absolutely not expected an actual apology.

After a moment, he smiled, chest puffing smugly.

"It's fine. As long as you get it I don't mind. But if you're really apologetic, if you gave me the number of any of your girl classmates, I'd consider us fully even—"

"I'm trying to be decent here, man. Don't push it."

Mineta reeled back slightly, smiling wryly.

"Sorry. Got carried away."

Taka gave a nod, and let out a faint huff as the fallout from one of his early aura-farming decisions settled itself just like that.

'I did go a bit overboard that day.' He snorted inwardly, recalling how fixated he'd been on standing out. 'Besides this, who knows what else I set off without realizing?'

Hopefully nothing serious. The other entrants had not passed the exam in the show either, so dominating his own battle zone probably hadn't altered too many futures—other than Mineta's.

Still, although he hadn't been as indiscriminate in his robot monopolization that day as Bakugo would have been, he was still a bit blunt in how he'd bulldozed his way to the top.

Maybe it was worth looking into at some point.

'Worst case, I unknowingly created my future nemesis.' Taka winced at the notion of such a cliché situation.

The day of the U.A entrance exam, a young aspiring hero had his chance taken away by the ultimate talent swallowing everything like a blackhole. Bitter and thirsty for revenge, he turned to a life of crime, swearing revenge against Taka and slowly preparing for the day he'd enact his revenge for once and for all.

'What a dumb plot.'

While Taka had such thoughts, Mineta seemed to have something on his mind as he saw Taka's somewhat sour look.

"Well, don't stress about it." He waved a hand, before shooting Taka a thumbs up. "Honestly? When I watched you and your classmates at the sports festival, I felt a bit relieved I didn't make it in. If I had, I would've been surrounded by complete monsters."

Taka's mouth twitched at his positivism.

Meanwhile, Mineta rubbed his chin, then broke into a grin as his nostrils flared with a distinctly Mineta expression.

"Besides, the school I ended up at isn't all that bad either… the girls in my class are quite the sight."

Taka rolled his eyes—but still ended up letting out a short snort.

'He really does stay true to his character. Even without U.A., he's exactly the same.'

His will was truly unbendable. In the show, no matter what the universe threw at him—Mountain Lady shattering his view of heroines and showing him the full "intern experience", Mina attempting to reform him through brainwashing—he always bounced back unchanged.

He had a depravity of steel.

In a way, it reminded Taka a little of himself from a year ago, when he'd written all sorts of absurd things on his career plan. Like winning the lottery, or making love to thousands of women.

Though in his case it had been less genuine conviction and more a product of not caring what his class thought of him at the time—plus a certain bad influence named Seiji.

'Right, Seiji—I should get back on track.' Taka mentally slapped his forehead.

Snapping out of it, he glanced around, then turned back to Mineta.

"By the way—you don't happen to know where I can find a candy apple around here, do you? I was told there's a stall somewhere that sells such things, but I've been looking for a while."

Mineta looked startled by the topic change, then thought for a second, eyes lighting up.

"Oh, yeah. There's one down an alleyway near here." He gestured for Taka to follow. "Come on, I'll show you."

"You could just point me in the right direction, you know." Taka looked at him confused.

"They also sell my favorite grape soda there, so now I'm tempted. Might as well walk you there while I'm at it, right?"

With nothing to refute that, Taka shrugged and followed.

It seemed his problem had been solved by an unlikely ally.

Life truly could take the strangest turns.

...

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-To Be Continued...-

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(A/N: Well well well, the discarded character makes a comeback, who'd have thought?)

 

[The Synonym]

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[Stay True]
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| Minutes later… |

...

Taka and Mineta stood in a line, waiting for their turn to buy at the stall filled with all sorts of candies and snacks. Mineta was ahead since he had been the one to lead the way and the first to join the line.

'When he said it was in an alleyway, I thought he might try to jump me... but turns out it really was here?'

Taka stared at the stall with a speechless look.

"Why is it even inside an alleyway? It's harder to find for anyone looking for it," Taka grumbled, scanning the somewhat dark and narrow stretch of alleyway. The stall was set into the side of a building that faced directly onto it, which made the line of people waiting feel a little cramped.

This sort of shop wasn't that unusual a sight across Japan. But they tended to be bars or ramen spots that could hold multiple people sitting inside. Not this.

'Though, I'm not an expert, so maybe I'm just talking nonsense,' Taka thought, scratching his side.

"Must be because it's cheap," Mineta offered.

Taka considered the idea, then shrugged.

'Most likely.'

Soon enough, Mineta's turn came. The owner had a bit of trouble noticing him given how short he was, but as soon as he did, Mineta ordered a grape soda—one Taka hadn't seen before.

Once the owner grabbed it, it came time to pay.

Mineta immediately took out his wallet and began digging through it.

Only to slow down as several droplets of sweat rolled down his forehead.

Slowly, he turned to Taka.

"You mind, uh… paying for me? I swear I'll pay you back!"

Desperately, he tugged at the hem of Taka's clothes.

Taka could only stare at the pathetic display with a wry and baffled look.

Pay him back? He highly doubted it, given they weren't going to see each other after today.

Except maybe when both were pro heroes. There was a chance he'd run into him again then.

Although he doubted he'd pay even then.

Still…

-Sigh…-

After letting out a loud, long sigh, he took out some bills and paid for the soda.

'Let this be the compensation for screwing up his entrance exam.'

He had already apologized, but this was at least more tangible.

After this, he wouldn't feel like he owed the shorty anything.

Besides, he wasn't short on money nowadays.

Before long, Mineta was handed his soda, and Taka's turn came. As soon as he caught sight of the candy apples he'd been looking for, he ordered six, then spotted a pack of spicy potato chips and bought those as well.

Everything got handed over in one bag, and with that, he and Mineta stepped out of the alleyway.

As soon as they did, Mineta turned to him, scratching his head with an apologetic look.

"Hey, thanks for paying for it. I swear I'll pay you back!—someday…"

Taka smiled faintly, shaking his head. "Don't mind it. This one's on me."

"For real? Alright! No taking that back, you hear me?"

"Yeah, yeah."

Grinning, Mineta opened the can and began drinking, manners long abandoned.

Watching him drink merrily, Taka snorted faintly, then figured it was probably time to leave. The matter between the two was resolved, and he had a home to visit while he still had time.

But just as he was about to pass, coincidentally, a busty woman walked by the two of them as they stood at the exit of the alleyway, disappearing into the crowd soon after.

Naturally, Mineta's eyes went wide as platters as he followed her figure, his interest in the soda evaporating instantly as he forgot to close his mouth.

But as she disappeared through the crowd, no longer visible, and he hurriedly wiped at his chin, his eyes shifted to Taka.

And caught him stealthily glancing the same way.

Only after a second or so did Taka notice what he was doing, and pulled his gaze back, sweatdropping as he felt the weight of Mineta's stare.

"…"

"… What?"

A fiery look appeared in Mineta's eyes. "I see, so I wasn't wrong. This companionship I felt between us… it wasn't an illusion!"

"What the hell are you talking about, man?" Taka sent him a disbelieving look.

Mineta shook his head with a wide smile, eyes closed. "They say great minds think alike."

Then, he pointed a finger at him, sweeping it back and forth between himself and Taka, sporting a cheeky grin.

"You and I… we are not so different after all."

"Ugh…" Taka's eyebrow twitched at the shorty's words.

Truth be told, he had been swept up by the guy's attitude, and when Mineta glanced the woman's way, he'd ended up following the sight on pure instinct.

Usually he would have been able to act like those proportions didn't exist. But apparently keeping this guy's company was getting the worst out of him.

'If I stay with this guy, I'll start losing aura.' He thought with alarm, before blinking as he noticed something. 'Hold on—why hasn't the system said anything?'

[Do you want me to?]

'There you are—and no.'

[Then I'll be back to watching from the shadows.]

'Funny guy.' Taka snorted.

Although it probably wasn't lying. These past weeks, or months, it had been almost completely silent.

'I wonder why...' Taka mused.

"Then, what do you think about that one?" Mineta suddenly asked, pointing at someone in the crowd.

Taka followed the direction, finding yet another woman of… interesting proportions.

A few seconds of silence passed while the woman continued on and disappeared into the crowd.

Only then did Taka say something.

"She's fine."

"FINE?! Man, you can't tell me you aren't salivating right now—look at those! They are bigger than my head—although I'm not so sure that's hard to accomplish."

Taka's hand covered his eyes and forehead, almost like he was disappointed in whatever was happening here.

In reality—

'Damn it, I made that exact comparison. How did this guy know?!'

Had his interference in canon somehow given Mineta mind-reading?

"I see I hit the target." Mineta smiled slyly, watching Taka's face twitch, before lifting a finger and wagging it left and right in a no-no gesture. "There's no need to be ashamed of it, my friend. We are carnal creatures. Those that act like such feelings don't exist are simply hypocrites, fearful of their own soul and what it has to express!"

"You just want to say whatever comes to mind without getting beaten, don't you?"

"Yes. But beyond that, I also believe what I say, which is why I'm not afraid to admit that my motivation for becoming a hero is to get cool and be incredibly popular with women!"

Taka could only stare at him, baffled by his total lack of shame.

"You probably aren't very popular in your class, are you?"

Mineta froze, as if lightning had struck him.

"T-that's… damn it." Mineta slumped forward, clearly having been hit somewhere tender.

Seeing him like that, Taka felt a bit bad. He'd spoken without thinking since the shorty was getting on his nerves.

His pity lasted very little, however.

"... YEAH. I BARELY HAVE ANY FRIENDS THERE, AND THE GIRLS HATE ME! HAPPY?!… Damn it, a popular guy like you—why did I think you could understand my pain? With how famous you've become, you probably even have a girlfriend and everything, damn bastard!" Mineta's face contorted in pure rage, teeth gnashing as he seemed to imagine Taka happily skipping along hand-in-hand with an imaginary girlfriend.

However, it was actually Taka who froze this time, and Mineta noticed it.

"… Aha. So you're as lonely as me." He muttered with a mocking grin.

"Should I send you flying?"

"… Ahem—I mean, you're probably like that because of your own choices, right? I mean, what girl would even catch the eye of someone as popular as you?"

Taka's hostile gaze withdrew—albeit slowly, really slowly, making Mineta sweat cold.

While the short guy decided it was better to just stay silent, Taka's mind slowly turned the topic over.

'A girl, huh…? Ugh, this is like talking with Seiji.'

Well, he was too busy for relationships. Yes. Aura farming was a very occupying task. He couldn't focus on a girl at the moment.

Yes.

And besides, just like Mineta said, he didn't really fancy anyone in particular at the moment beyond just thinking they were good looking.

No one…

'Although Jiro—'

Taka cut his own thought short on instinct, blinking in surprise.

'Ugh, I can't stay here with this guy anymore. He's making my mind go weird places.'

Totally not embarrassed, Taka turned to Mineta, about to bid him farewell for good.

But upon seeing him still a bit sulky over the earlier comment, Taka heaved a sigh.

'Though, I suppose I can give him some advice before leaving.'

"You said your ultimate goal for becoming a hero was to get cool and be popular with women, right?"

Mineta frowned. "Hmm? Yeah. What, are you going to tell me I shouldn't aim for such banal things?"

Taka let out a short laugh. "I don't really care. I am… I was like that too, a while ago."

"So I was right?!" Mineta asked, grin and eyes wide.

"Let me finish."

"Okay..."

Taka paused for a second, then went back to what he was saying, looking at the bustling street in front of them. "Then you should know that the reason you're probably unpopular is that very pervy way of acting, right?"

"…" Mineta fell silent, looking somewhat annoyed, like a hormonal teenager having to listen to his parent's advices. "Yeah, I guess…"

"Then why don't you stop? If you want to become popular, you don't have to change what you like—but you could try acting less… freakishly?"

Mineta seemed to take in the words with some resistance, but took them in regardless.

"Maybe… but, you know, if I did that, would I still be true to myself? I don't want to pretend to be something I'm not, even if it helps my goal come true," He said with genuine conviction, or stubbornness. "It's why I'm not ashamed of my goal. Isn't that cool enough?! Huh?!"

"…" Taka fell silent this time.

'He sure is rigid about being honest with himself.'

After thinking for a moment, he turned back to Mineta.

"Then don't change. Just take into account how other people might feel about the stuff you say and do, instead of trampling over those feelings just because you want to express something."

Mineta seemed confused by that, scratching his cheek as he took another sip of his soda.

Taka decided to explain better. "Hmm… Imagine a 100-year-old mummy makes constant inappropriate comments about you, disregarding how that might make you feel, just because it wants you bad and wants to express it. That mummy is you. The feelings it has might not be bad in themselves—but it should at least be aware that it's making you uncomfortable, instead of outright ignoring it. Shouldn't it?"

"You saying I'm ugly?!"

"I'm saying that's how you might come across based on your actions and comments. I don't know about your mug," He gave Mineta a look. "You don't need to change how you feel, or what you want to achieve. Just be more considerate. Then maybe your classmates won't mind your, uh... passionate heart as much."

"… I see." Mineta muttered under his breath after a few seconds of silence, seeming to actually give it some thought.

While he went quiet, Taka choked down the cringe he was giving himself, playing the sage.

He'd honestly just said whatever came to mind regarding Mineta's situation.

Although, maybe he'd said a bit too much because he saw something of himself in Mineta.

A less than ideal relationship with his classmates. (In his old school, at least)

Similar… tastes.

Not very heroic motives for taking on this career.

'I guess, just like he said… he and I really aren't so different after all.'

His eyes fell on the concrete floor, deep in thought.

'Stay true to oneself, huh?'

Soon, however, he shook his head, setting that train of thought aside for later.

He had somewhere to be.

"Anyway, give it a thought." He said, turning slightly to signal he was about to leave.

"Hm." Mineta nodded, saying nothing more, as if still turning it over.

Taka watched him for a bit longer, then attempted to fully walk away.

Only for Mineta to stop him one last time.

"Hey, you uh… mind exchanging numbers?"

Taka stared at him with a deadpan.

Those were words he hadn't particularly wanted to hear from a man, let alone from Mineta.

But he supposed it wouldn't hurt. The midget was… fun to be around.

-Sigh-

"Why not?"

...

°

°

°

Minutes later, he was already descending toward Shizuoka, near his house.

Another minute or so after that, he was standing before the door.

-Knock, knock, knock-

He called at the door. It took a moment for anyone inside to answer.

-Click-

Soon, however, the door opened, revealing Seiji staring at him with a condescending look.

"Well well well, look who it is—Mr. I'm-Too-Good-For-Your-Agency in the flesh, gracing us with his presence."

"You're just angry you didn't get to mess with me for an entire week."

Seiji grinned, stroking his chin while nodding. "True, true. But that doesn't make the betrayal hurt less."

"Taka!"

A voice came from behind Seiji.

Taka turned slightly, and saw Eri running toward him.

He received her with a hug—or rather, he was the one received with one.

Smiling, he patted her head. "I escaped for a bit to come see you guys. How's my absence been? Relieved you've got the TV to yourself?"

"I missed you."

Taka's smile softened.

"I brought you something." He showed her the bag of candy apples, smirking.

She took it with curiosity—and clear hunger in her eyes.

Soon, she dashed back inside to put them on a plate, while Taka came in and made himself comfortable on the couch, turning on the TV.

Before long, she came back and handed him one.

He looked at it for a moment, then grinned. "These are for you, you know?"

"I want to share." She said, sitting beside him and watching the screen as well.

Taka snorted with a smile, eyed the candy apple, then shrugged and bit into it.

After that, the two watched a cartoon together, with Seiji leaning on the couch's headrest and watching along, while sometimes snatching the candy apples that Eri gave Taka for himself—earning him a scolding from Eri who gave him a candy apple so he wouldn't steal from Taka.

An hour or two passed like that, and eventually Eri's bedtime arrived. He had gotten here relatively late into the day, so it wasn't much of a surprise.

At least he had gotten to see her for a while.

She was already yawning and rubbing her eyes as Seiji guided her by the hand toward her room.

"…Come back tomorrow as well, Taka…˜"

Taka gave her an amused look, then nodded and waved, much to her happiness.

"Sleep well. I'll come back tomorrow with more stuff."

"You're gonna give her cavities, Taka." Seiji commented.

Taka, however, ignored him.

Then, as she disappeared into her room, followed by Seiji who led her by the hand, they soon left Taka alone in the couch.

As he found himself back into solitude for a moment, he focused back on the TV.

'Home sweet home.' He thought, settling fully into the couch and huffing a big puff of relaxed air through his nose.

In about an hour he'd have to head back to the agency, since to everyone thought he'd just gone on a really long stroll. The curfew was also coming soon and he needed to be back there before then.

So he was going to make the most of this brief moment of full relaxation.

With such thoughts running through his head, his mind subconsciously drifted back to his conversation with Mineta—specifically, to a certain someone he had unintentionally thought of.

And, after a moment or so of staring blankly at whatever the TV was playing, he took out his phone, opening a certain chat.

...

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-To Be Continued...-

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(A/N: How was the meeting with Mineta? Turns out even he has an honorable motivation for his actions—well, not really, but close enough.

This was supposed to happen way before in the story, but I forgot and then I didn't know where to put him. Luckily, he fit nicely here.

Next chapter things are getting spicy... Action-wise.)

 

[The Synonym]

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[Future]

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| An hour later… |

...

The door to the agency opened, and Takahashi stepped inside as he closed it behind him, being greeted by Bubble Girl at the entrance, who waved at him with a smile.

"You stayed up late, didn't you? It's almost closing time."

"Sorry." Taka bowed slightly. He had relaxed a bit too much at home and was a tad later than he'd expected. He'd had to push his flight a bit faster just to make sure he'd get here on time.

Hopefully he hadn't triggered any alarms for the sky police.

She smiled calmly. "Just be more mindful of time. We won't lock you out, but there are specific times for closing."

Taka nodded, his expression a bit wry.

After that small exchange, he made his way inside toward his room, ready to drop on his bed and call it a day.

As he walked through the agency's hallways, he let out a yawn, rolling his shoulder with a groan as his body seemed to start realizing the day was ending.

It had been a good day, that was for sure.

A bit odd, considering his meeting with Mineta, but overall good. He'd aura farmed well, got to chillax at home for a bit, and chatted a lot with…

"Ahem," He cleared his throat, deciding he was wasting time recollecting his day.

So he simply turned off his thoughts and kept walking. There wasn't much left, just around the corner.

But just as he turned that corner—

"Takahashi."

The tall figure of Nighteye appeared blocking his path, looking at him while his glasses gleamed with mystery. Shrouded in the dimly lit corridor, he looked a bit more stern than usual.

"… What?" Taka sweatdropped. He hadn't been found out about his trip between cities, had he?

"There's something I must speak to you about. Follow me to my office."

And so, without further context, he walked off.

Taka hesitated for a second, then heaved a sigh and followed.

He might be about to get reprimanded for his outing.

A minute or so later, they were at Nighteye's office.

Nighteye took his seat in silence, interlocked his fingers, and rested his chin on his hands, hiding his mouth. Taka decided not to let the awkwardness sit for too long.

"So… why did you call me here?"

There was a beat of silence between the two that Taka couldn't account for, given his question was quite simple.

He discovered why pretty soon, however.

"Takahashi… You're Rockinesis." Nighteye said, loud and clear. Not a hint of doubt or hesitation in his voice.

"Wha—?" Taka's face scrunched, a bit startled by the directness.

It hadn't even been a question, but a statement. The guy already knew his identity and wasn't going to beat around the bush.

Yeah, he had expected him to figure it out somewhat after he and Nezu talked… but to be this sure—had Nezu not even attempted to mask his identity a little?

Seeing the stern look on Nighteye, Taka feared the worst.

'I guess this is as far as my hero career goes. It was a good run, but it's time to return to my vigilante roots.'

"Don't worry, I won't report you." Nighteye's assurance arrived midway through his derailing thoughts. "Given how far you're into the path of a hero by now, I'll overlook it."

Hearing that, Taka blinked in surprise before heaving a relieved sigh. "Then…"

"However, let me ask you something, Takahashi… What is your motivation for being a hero?"

Taka froze at the question.

"My what?"

"Your motivation. I want to know what drives you toward this life path. From what Nezu told me, he somewhat coerced you into joining this career after figuring out your identity as the vigilante… However, it is also true that, given your Quirk's power, even if he had revealed everything, you probably wouldn't have been very affected by the consequences. You were already as strong as the top heroes of our country by then. So him forcing you to become a hero is barely a good excuse for why you did it, and aside from it, you had already written down that you planned to join U.A. even before meeting him. So—why?"

"…"

Taka fell silent, eyes slowly drifting away as he thought about it.

The reason was pretty clear at first sight.

Farming Aura.

Ever since gaining his system and the memories of his previous life, he'd gotten control of his own life back.

No longer was he an apparent Quirkless kid with an uncertain future.

He had received the power to change it—and to become stronger.

All he had to do was go to U.A. to foster that power.

And he did, which was why he was here now, at this level at that.

Other than that, he supposed Bakugo's read on him wasn't entirely wrong. He liked attention to a worrying degree, and although he hadn't been totally sure about it at the beginning, the adrenaline and dopamine rush he felt when he performed at the music festival during his first few months with the system had shown him what he truly enjoyed.

In the end, those were the two things that had put him here, and they were still his main drive even now.

After that bit of introspection, Taka smiled dryly, eyes dropping slightly.

"If you're expecting an answer like All Might's, I'm sorry to disappoint. My motivations aren't as selfless as his."

"And they are…?" Nighteye pressed.

Taka hesitated. Revealing his worst aspects was something he didn't do these days, other than with Seiji maybe.

And he was talking with Nighteye here—someone with a moral code that aligned pretty closely with All Might's. Just the thought of revealing the murk behind the shiny and powerful image he'd been building so far gnawed at him.

But, strangely, as he found it harder and harder to speak—a conversation from just today ran through his mind as the words stuck in his throat.

"I don't want to pretend to be something I am not, even if it helps my goal come true."

Taka's eyebrow twitched.

Was Mineta really being his motivation here?

...

Taka stifled a laugh, his mouth curling as he ended up covering part of his face with his palm. Somewhat ashamed, somewhat amused.

'I suppose he is.'

"Is something funny?" Nighteye asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah." Taka answered, calming his expression.

"…"

Then, Taka looked at the wall—or rather, his eyes landed there, while what he was actually looking at lay much further away.

"My motivation… It's fame and power. I find joy in being looked up to and cheered on, and I certainly like the feeling of growing stronger. These two were the core of why I decided to become a hero back then, and even up to this day—since my goal is to one day reach my limits, stand at the top of the world, and laugh loudly as everyone cheers and celebrates from below."

"…"

"How is it? Not as noble as you were expecting, was it?" Taka smirked wryly.

"… Hmm, it appears your attitude shifted somewhat." Nighteye noted, adjusting his glasses again. "But no. I was expecting it to an extent. You're a teenager. Even if I asked your motivations for becoming a hero, it's not something someone your age needs to think that deeply about."

"…"

"Plus, your behavior as both a hero and vigilante until now had already told me as much."

Taka's mouth twitched. 'Right, my motivations aren't all that subtle if you connect both identities.'

Nighteye leaned forward, a really serious look on his already serious face.

"I'll be blunt. With your power, you stand a high chance of eventually becoming a symbol similar to All Might in terms of your importance to society."

Normally, Taka would have taken pride in the comment.

"..."

But something in Nighteye's tone turned what would usually have been cause for smugness into a heavy feeling of responsibility suddenly falling on his shoulders.

"Maybe what you become won't be a symbol of peace like he achieved. However, it's undeniable that it will be grand, and your impact on society will be enormous, whether you like it or not."

Slowly, he stood up, walked to the window of his office, pulled the blinds aside, and looked out at the night city with squinted eyes, giving Taka his back.

"Your motivations are yours alone to decide—that's not for me to impose. However, I wanted to make sure you're aware of what you are, Takahashi."

"What I am?"

"A giant."

"…?"

"A figure whose mere steps send tremors through all of society, and who, if not watching his steps carefully, might cause a disaster. All Might was a giant too. However, he managed to become a pillar of society through his ideals, his selfless nature, and his incorruptible mind. The ripples he could have caused—ones that might have ripped through society in destruction or corruption—instead turned toward its betterment."

Slowly, he turned back to Taka.

"Fame and power are fine. They are basic human desires, and without them one cannot reach the top. Even All Might has such desires, and just as they did for you, they fueled his rise. Ambition, anger, desire for recognition—he experienced these in his own measure. However, at the end of the day, he didn't let them sway his conviction about the ripples he wanted to send through society, ones that brought an era of peace and calm that Japan hadn't seen in many years."

His brows furrowed, eyes set directly on Taka's, unwavering.

"You're still a teenager for now, Takahashi, so like I said, these feelings are fine… But when you stand at the top, when you've become a giant whose mere movements send ripples through society—whether good or bad, because believe me, you will—will you truly hold these feelings as the ones that guide you?"

"… I…"

Taka fell silent, staring back at Nighteye with his mouth open but without words.

Seeing his look, Nighteye sighed, his expression easing.

"Give it a thought. You have many years ahead of you, so it's fine if you don't reach an answer right away."

Taka nodded, looking a bit lost, but otherwise still firm.

After a small pause, Nighteye turned slightly to the side, walking across the room and examining his very precious limited-edition All Might posters.

"Having said all that, there's something I want to ask of you, Takahashi."

Taka glanced up at him, a bit caught off guard that the deep hero lesson had suddenly shifted into the hero asking something of Taka.

However, Nighteye didn't say it outright.

"You must be a bit confused about my sudden interest in guiding you toward a proper path, right?"

Taka raised an eyebrow. "Isn't it because of what you learned from Nezu?"

"Yes. But to go deeper—are you aware of what my Quirk is, Takahashi?"

"It lets you see the future?"

"That's a basic interpretation, but yes, I can see the future. However, for that I must touch the person whose future I plan to see and establish direct eye contact. Once I do, I become able to see clearly one hour into their future from a third-person perspective. Almost like watching a movie."

Taka nodded, somewhat aware of this, but still appreciating the detail since his memories had grown diffuse after so long.

"However, this also comes with some other effects. For one, I can see further into a person's future than that mere hour—much, much further. But the further I go, the more vague and fragmented what I see becomes."

His face scrunched, a pained look appearing.

"And second, the future I see is… unchangeable. No matter what I do, or what I've tried, none of the futures I've seen with my Quirk have changed in the slightest."

He turned to Taka.

"—At least, until I met you."

Taka's face shifted slightly at the mention of changing the future.

"How so?"

Nighteye didn't answer right away. "Nezu told me you can see the future as well. You've had long visions of a future that is no more after your direct interference—the day you rescued that girl, for example, was am action prompted by one such vision—and you also seem to have a faint precognitive sense toward where crimes might emerge, as seen by your activity as Rockinesis. So perhaps you've seen something similar to this."

His eyes drifted away, toward something well beyond the wall.

"Years ago, I saw All Might's future. A disastrous future that ended with his death in a horrible way. The image I saw that day is still imprinted deep in my mind. All Might's hollow, wasted appearance, his dying state, and the heroism that persisted in his eyes until the end slowly fading away."

For once, the sternness lifted faintly, his eyes gleaming as he looked back at Taka.

"And yet… you cured him. The image I saw of All Might in that state is no more. Just like that, without even my interference, the future had changed—thanks to you."

Through all of the explanation, Taka remained silent.

'That's a given. My interference has already vastly derailed fate, it'd be weirder if it hadn't.'

The vision Nighteye had seen was from many years ago—right after All Might's catastrophic fight with All For One—and thus, well before Taka had obtained the system and his otherworldly memories.

Well before he had wrecked the way things were supposed to progress.

"Do you understand what that makes you, Takahashi?"

"… Pretty great?"

"That makes you the only answer to solving the unchangeable future I saw… and always see. The only thing that can bend what had seemed unbendable until now—of course, perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself here. Perhaps your appearance is just the byproduct of something else, invisible, that happened during these past years—"

'He actually got it right.' Taka thought, sensing the presence of his system in the background.

"—However, Takahashi, I'm willing to bet everything on you. Which is why…"

He extended his hand in a handshake—a gesture ordinary enough, but given that it was Nighteye making it, the other meaning was clear.

Though he said it himself the next instant, in case it wasn't.

"Please, let me watch your future."

Taka fell silent at the question, eyes dropping to the offered hand while his body showed no signs of reciprocating it.

'Do I really want to let him see my future?' He asked himself.

It was a genuinely complex question.

On one hand, he trusted Nighteye. The man had a true moral code, and Taka really doubted he had anything bad planned with whatever he saw—that is if he could even see anything, considering his current status as an anomaly actively changing the timeline might make Nighteye's Quirk act weirdly.

On the other hand… he didn't quite trust himself.

Like Nighteye had said, his motivations weren't ones he should let guide him once he stood at the top.

But what if he didn't care about that as time passed? What if he stayed as he was, and one day slipped?

He could tell himself perfectly well that he wouldn't. That despite his more human side, his ethics were stronger.

But such words were meaningless against the weight of time.

He wasn't a perfect hero like All Might, nor selflessly self-sacrificing like Midoriya.

Would his future… really be a bright one, leaving power aside?

What if what Nighteye saw, looking at what awaited him at the top, was something bad.

A careless giant, as Nighteye had put it.

"…"

The silence stretched as Taka didn't answer for several seconds.

But just as Nighteye was about to drop his hand, a wry look crossing his face as he took in the apparent rejection—Taka's hand moved, slowly lifting to meet his.

"...?" Confused by the change, Nighteye gaze lifted to Taka's face—only to see him smiling calmly.

And so, just like that, the handshake that had seemed about to be rejected, was done.

As it held, Taka met Nighteye's gaze without any worry, as if everything from before had been unnecessary, much to the hero's confusion.

And it really was, since…

'Maybe I don't trust myself—but I trust the people around me. Seiji and Eri will give me an earful if I do something bad. My classmates will too.'

Maybe before, when he'd first gained his system, there had been a chance he would have taken a wrong path even as he achieved ultimate strength.

But now, with all these people around him… he could say he trusted them to keep him in check.

So there was nothing to worry about here.

'And besides…'

Nighteye's vision about All Might had been from years ago—well before his path for the future had derailed enormously thanks to the system.

So it was safe to assume that whatever the system was, Nighteye's vision hadn't accounted for it, or at least not for its appearance.

Which made him wonder…

'What will his quirk see now? Will it keep seeing the future that should have been, had I not changed things? Or will it see—me?'

He was genuinely curious about what would result from this.

Thus, with the approval given, Nighteye gave Taka a short nod.

"Then, if you're willing, I won't dilly dally. Here I go, Takahashi."

Taka nodded back.

The next instant, the hero's eyes went dark as his irises turned a mystic purple, taking on an almost mechanical shape—like a highly detailed gear—that soon began spinning clockwise.

Taka could only stand there awkwardly, his hand held in place, watching Nighteye freeze as he seemed to observe whatever his Quirk was showing him, while all Taka could do was stand there, stifling a yawn as bedtime approached.

'Did he mention how long this was supposed to take…?'

On second thought, he hadn't.

'It won't take a whole hour, will it?' Taka wondered, swallowing nervously at the prospect of standing there holding his hand for over an hour.

Luckily, a minute or so later, the effect on Nighteye's eyes disappeared.

Unluckily, Taka saw what he had hoped not to.

A distraught look on Nighteye's face.

His heart skipped a beat—the bad kind.

"What… did you see?"

As he worried over it, Nighteye gently shook Taka's hand off, not appearing angry, but still taking several steps back until he met his desk and sat on the edge of it, dragging a hand over his forehead as he seemed to process what he'd seen.

Taka could only remain silent, feeling like he'd done something wrong, and that anything he said now would only make it worse.

Contrary to what he expected, however…

"I didn't see as far as I expected."

"Huh?" Taka's worried expression shifted into confusion, his frown deepening.

Nighteye took a deep breath, eyes landing directly on Taka's.

"Takahashi, what I saw… was your death."

...

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-To Be Continued...-

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(A/N: Stays silent for dramatic effect*)

 

[The Synonym]

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[Fate Will Be My Bitch]
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…

"My death?"

Taka's question echoed in the cold silence that had settled in the room.

Nighteye's pupils seemed to tremble slightly as he remembered it, his hand gripping his face tighter.

"The future I saw… it was still too detailed to be too far away in time. There's no certain number, but given the level of detail compared to other attempts I've made reaching into much further visions… I wouldn't give it more than a month."

Taka's eyes widened, startled by the proximity.

"…"

Yet, as he gave it more thought, it made a bit more sense.

The further into the future, the stronger he'd become.

If there was any moment he'd be vulnerable and killed, it would be now. When he still hadn't become the true strongest.

Yet, even as he glanced at himself right now, he couldn't see how.

Regardless of whether he still wasn't the strongest, the number of people even remotely capable of fighting him off were in the single digits.

And the only one strong enough who would also have some kind of motivation to kill him was…

"…!" A glint of realization crossed Taka's eyes.

After a brief pause in which his eyes traveled as his thoughts ran, he looked back at Nighteye, who still seemed to be recovering from the shock himself.

"What did you see exactly?"

After processing the question for a moment, Nighteye didn't answer outright. He seemed to revisit the vision first, his face growing grim.

And in a way, it was no wonder.

Taka—the answer to bending fate and changing the unchangeable—had been sentenced to die by the very fate he feared was unchangeable.

He had bet Taka was the key… but what if he wasn't? What if it was something else, something in the background he hadn't yet seen, that had brought the boy to this point? Would that help prevent this as well? Or would Taka too fall prey to fate?

Or even if Taka was the key as he hoped—would he be able to bend fate twice? Even more so when this time it was his own life on the line?

The hope that had begun brewing in his heart started to wilt, his stern and troubled look returning. As it did, he began explaining.

"You appeared to be in a battle, a fierce one judging by the destruction around you… Yet you were smiling, not looking the least worried. So I don't think it was particularly a struggle for you."

"With whom?"

"I didn't get to see. I only saw you standing over a destroyed landscape, glaring at a ruined building with a victorious look."

"… Then how…?"

"Something pierced your heart from behind. It was too sudden—nothing had been there, but suddenly, as the vision shifted like a change of scene, something pierced you completely… what came out of your chest was a grotesque-looking arm filled with sharp, spear-like bones that served as the piercer. Then you fell, blood seeping out of you—until the vision cut off."

"…"

Nighteye massaged his temple, looking like a migraine was coming. "So in the end, I wasn't able to see what was behind you or what killed you."

"Hah."

Taka's sudden laugh startled Nighteye, who focused back on him—only to see Taka smirking, though the smile didn't reach his eyes.

-Snap!-

The sound of the window latch giving way came out of nowhere, and the night breeze rushing in snatched Nighteye's attention, making him turn in disbelief before glaring back at Taka in confusion.

But before he could ask anything, Taka walked past him.

"Sorry, but I've got to go somewhere."

And, without letting him say anything—

—Boom!—

-Flutter-

—He shot out the window, the violence of his ascent making papers scatter off the desk and the entire room shake briefly.

Nighteye could only stare as, in less than a second, Taka's figure disappeared into the night sky, impossibly fast.

...

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°

| Minutes later, Kamino's Bar… |

...

Silence enveloped the bar—until recently a villain gathering place, now filled with nothing but the barely audible hum of machines still running somewhere.

Dust had gathered everywhere, a clear sign of how long it had been abandoned.

Then—

—BANG!—

—CRASH!—

Suddenly, the door to the hideout was sent flying off its hinges, crashing against a wall and shattering into several pieces. Behind it, Taka stood with his foot raised where the door had been, having kicked it clean off.

Then he stepped inside, eyes scanning sharply.

"..."

Yet no matter where he looked, he saw no one and nothing. Only an empty, abandoned place.

Still silent, he made his way through the few other rooms.

However, no matter what door he opened, all he came across was solitude.

And with it, anger began seeping in, his teeth gritting.

—BOOM!—

In an instant, his figure shot forward at blinding speed, still upright as if standing on solid ground, and crashed straight through the far wall, bursting out into the street.

"What?"

"W-what happened? A villain?"

"I think that building just collapsed!"

Several bystanders glanced at the destruction in confusion.

—But before they could catch sight of him, his figure blurred and shot across the air.

The city below stretched as his body moved at impossible speeds, warping the space around him.

He crossed half the city in seconds. And even as he did, he moved silently—as though air resistance and sound simply didn't apply to him.

Before long he stood in the air before another building. An abandoned residential block.

All For One's base from the show. The one where Nomus had been harvested, and from where the villain had emerged to wreak chaos during the arc involving Bakugo.

Just like the villain bar, it had been under his surveillance.

So, just like the bar, would it be…?

"…" His frown deepened at the thought.

Without a care for infrastructure, his figure shot straight through the wall, entering the building unimpeded and unaffected.

Yet, just as the previous one…

"Nothing." He spat.

Only dust and an empty place, not a soul in sight.

Holding onto some kind of hope, he extended his sensory aura through the building, searching for any hidden crevice, a secret entrance, any trace of movement from someone invisible.

There was nothing.

This empty, abandoned, desolate place. This was all there was.

The villains who were supposed to still be here… were no longer so.

And the reason was pretty clear.

"So they figured it out too," Taka said with a scoff, the grin on his face doing nothing to hide the anger bleeding into his voice.

Since when, was the question.

How long had the bastard known?

"My clones saw nothing abnormal in how they were behaving, even until yesterday."

Slowly, he walked over to a stair railing and dragged a finger along the surface.

As expected—it came away with dust.

"Yet they've been gone for far longer than that."

What did that mean?

It meant they had been fooling him. Showing him what he wanted to see, making him think he was in control.

As aura began seeping off him involuntarily like a red mist, his figure suddenly blurred.

—CRASH!—

A second later, the ceiling of the building exploded upward, and a vertiginous shadow shot into the sky, ascending unimpeded at impossible speed until it stopped at cloud level, swallowed by the dark.

Watching the lit city far below, Taka's eyes remained on the building he'd just left, his fist trembling.

After a few more seconds, he drew in a deep breath, the anger subsiding slightly.

As he calmed, his gaze dropped to his chest, picturing the arm of that man piercing through it.

'He will kill me, huh?'

The thought reignited his anger all over again.

Now that the bastard was aware of the threat he posed, he planned to dispose of him, just like that?

Like it was so easy?

"Nah."

He had lost that chance a long while ago.

And now that the bastard wanted to cash that chance, he wouldn't let him.

He hadn't come all this way just for All For One to kill him for flying too high.

Just because Nighteye's vision had predicted his death didn't mean anything.

For all he knew, Nighteye's Quirk couldn't predict the system given that he hadn't seen the future it had brought, so maybe it hadn't accounted for it this time either.

Maybe the Taka he saw was one in an hypothetical case where the system vanished, and he was forced to fend off All For One as he was.

And even if the Quirk could somehow now predict the system, just like everything else, he also knew firsthand that, in the show, Midoriya had shifted the outcome of a future Nighteye saw, through sheer strength of will.

He didn't know whether he was as strong as Midoriya had been at that moment, given that Midoriya at that instant had access to the full power of One For All thanks to Eri.

But he refused to accept that, even knowing his future demise, he couldn't do anything about it—even with all the power he'd amassed.

Just because the man's Quirk had said so.

Despite how strong he had become.

Despite the change in fate he'd brought, no longer just background noise in a story he wasn't even sure he appeared in, even as just a bland figure.

Despite how he had grown.

They were telling him nothing of that would be worth anything because the future had said so, and because All For One had decided he wouldn't put up with him anymore.

Like saying the control of his own life still wasn't in his grasp, being nothing but a disposable piece that any of the two entities could discard at any given moment.

"A fixed future my ass." Taka spat, his eyes gleaming with anger-fueled conviction as a deep aura began emanating from him. "Nighteye wants the key to bend the unbendable? I'll bend the unbendable."

His figure shot ahead from one moment to another, like a shooting star crossing the night sky back in direction to the agency.

"Fate will be my bitch, as will be All For One."

With those words coming out of his mouth with spite, he took out his phone still mid-flight, and pressed a contact.

After a few seconds of ringing, someone answered.

{"Well well well, if it isn't my lifelong rival, Rockinesis. To what do I owe this pleasure?"}

...

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°

°

| The next day, noon… |

...

"Goddamnit, let me go!"

A man in a balaclava floated overhead, kicking and squirming futilely, unable to descend no matter what he did, a faint crimson aura surrounding his body.

"Well, that's one efficient way to apprehend someone." Mirio noted from below, nodding appreciatively as he watched their target rendered completely helpless without even a fight.

He turned toward Taka, who leaned against a wall, looking anything but interested in the man he had suspended mid-air.

"Something the matter, Auros? You don't seem to be in the best mood."

"I'm having some pest control problems."

"Pest control?"

Before he could ask what that meant, a police siren snatched his attention, and patrol cars began pulling up shortly after.

With them here, Mirio got right into his duties and gave his report.

Since the arrest had been smooth and quick, there wasn't much to cover. The officers could only stare between the still-floating suspect and Taka with stunned expressions.

Before long, both were cleared to go, and with little time left in their patrol, they made their way back to the agency.

As they arrived, Bubble Girl was there to greet them.

"Another fruitful patrol, right?"

"Yeah, the police are getting quite the workload lately. I guess that's a good thing though!" Mirio laughed.

She smiled cheerfully. Their agency had been doing remarkably well this past week, and all thanks to their newest intern. They were bound to rise a few rankings after this.

As she thought of Taka, something else came to mind.

"That's right—Sir Nighteye told me to let you know to come by his office once you were done, Takahashi-kun!"

Taka nodded, not looking particularly surprised.

Mirio could only tilt his head at the summons. He didn't remember his own internship being this eventful.

Before long, Taka bid them farewell and made his way directly to Nighteye's office, walking with calm in his step.

As he arrived, Nighteye seemed to have been waiting—he set down the papers in his hand the moment Taka entered.

"Takahashi, you've come. Good."

He stood up and walked over to him.

"I've contacted Nezu. I hope you don't mind, but yesterday was of enough importance to involve him. We've agreed that upon finishing your internship here in two days, you'll return to U.A. immediately and enter directly under the school's protection. It's the least we can do to prevent… what we've foreseen."

Taka didn't seem thrilled by it. But he didn't oppose it. He doubted he had much say in the matter.

Nighteye's description of the vision was almost certainly enough to alert Nezu and the rest about who would truly be behind his death.

He doubted they would just let him handle that on his own.

"However, if you prefer to bring this internship to an end right now, given the circumstances, Nezu clarified that that's fine too. You'll be evaluated with that into consideratio—"

"It's fine." Taka cut him off. "I'll finish the internship. Regardless of what may or not come."

Nighteye seemed surprised for a moment, but after a brief pause, he gave Taka a nod.

"I'll tell Nezu, then."

Taka nodded back.

And with seemingly no more content to the brief meeting, and no more words between the two of them, Taka gave Nighteye a nod and began walking away.

Nighteye could only stare at his departing back in silence, lost in his own thoughts.

Minutes later, Taka arrived back at his room, sat on the bed, took off the most cumbersome parts of his costume, and dropped fully onto it.

As he lay there, he stared at the ceiling.

'The school is gonna try and help me.'

They would probably have All Might watch him around the clock to prevent anything from happening.

He didn't know how effective that would be, though. He doubted whatever had led to his death in that vision hadn't accounted for All Might.

Although, in all his strength, the man might be enough to bend destiny. Especially now that he was healed.

But he wasn't going to gamble on that and leave it all to him. He wasn't just going to sit and wait for whatever was supposed to lead to that outcome.

All For One might have figured out that he knew about their bases—but he didn't know everything.

He was still the one with the advantage in information.

And he'd make sure to put that to use.

"Fate or not on your side, baldy—it won't be enough."

This time he wouldn't make the mistake he made with Shigaraki.

He'd wipe them out for good—their boss included and all.

...

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-To Be Continued...-

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(A/N: I dunno what to put here.)

 

[The Synonym]

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[Last Effort]

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| The next day, sixth day of the internships… |

...

It was now a few hours past noon, around lunch time. Taka could be seen at the Nighteye agency's cafeteria, eating a sandwich while still wearing most of his hero costume, save for the cape which was hanging on the back of his chair.

-Crunch-

As he bit through his lunch without much expression, he took out his phone, browsing through his chats—most specifically, the class's group chat.

During the past few days, it had turned a lot more silent than it had been at the beginning. Of course, it wasn't like everyone stopped talking, but the sharing of experiences had severely diminished.

Though, that was probably because everyone was too busy surviving their internships to constantly share everything that happened.

Still, that didn't mean the chat was completely dead.

{Kirishima: To think there's only one and a half days before we return to school. With everything I've experienced, I feel like an experienced hero already, so going back to school feels a bit odd.}

{Kaminari: Bro, you've only followed the pros around and carried their coffee while watching them work from a distance, what experienced hero?}

{Kirishima: They said everyone was a hero in their own way. Interns were theirs, their "coffee heroes".}

{Kaminari: bro.}

They were still having… interesting conversations from time to time.

{Uraraka: I think this is just standard for first internships. I heard from some of the pros that once you get your provisional hero license, you're supposed to start doing actual hero work.}

{Kaminari: Really?? Our class rep sure seems fine without that license tho.}

{Sero: Yeah, what's up with that Takahashi? I've seen like ten or twelve clips online this past week of you folding thugs or stopping robberies. They're letting you help without a license???}

On paper, no.

And it better stay that way.

Taka tapped the keyboard with a solemn look.

{You: That ain't me.}

{Sero: Look at this guy, lying to our faces.}

Taka closed the chat, escaping the incoming interrogation before it could begin.

They wouldn't get him to admit anything. That much he had made up his mind about… Even if the videos online made it pretty obvious he was behind the several arrests.

He snorted, smiling faintly as he knew they were aware they were being gaslighted.

Yet, just as his smile rose, it soon dropped again, his gaze turning serious and distant.

'How would they react if they knew I'm marked for death?'

Midoriya would most likely go on a kamikaze attempt to save him. The guy had zero self-preservation instincts.

Todoroki would most likely still sport the same stoic face.

Bakugo would probably be overjoyed that his biggest foe would be gone.

Kirishima, he might act somewhat like Midoriya. Kaminari might also try to help, but not be very happy about it.

Jiro…

...

'I wonder how she'd react?'

Taka shook his head.

What was he doing? Asking himself such existential questions like a guy on his deathbed—he was still very much alive, and with an ongoing plan to solve it all. He was just jinxing it by having such thoughts.

But as he reprimanded himself, he glanced at his hand holding his sandwich.

It was steady.

'Do I fear death?' He asked himself.

He had already died once—although, he didn't exactly cross over to an afterlife. He just regained his memories one day while having breakfast.

So he couldn't say he had developed an immunity to the fear of death because of that. Aside from his unremarkable final moments, he hadn't truly experienced real death—only a loss of consciousness, and then the reawakening in a new life that had already been going on for a while.

But watching his path until now, he couldn't say he was particularly worried about it either.

The three villains, Gigantomachia, the Nomu—the number of times he had faced a life-threatening situation weren't few. And besides some agitation and worry, in none of those situations could he say he had truly feared death.

Though, in none of those times had he really come that close to dying, so he couldn't say for certain.

The villains hurt him, but not extremely so. Gigantomachia only broke his arm. And the Nomu he could have dealt with any time he wanted, despite the difference in physical stats.

But this time was different.

This time the near-death event hadn't even happened yet. Instead, his death had simply been announced in advance, by fate of all things. A very… reliable source for such verdicts.

This was, in a way, the closest he had ever been to death in this life.

So, could he say he was scared?

...

He didn't know.

He sure wasn't calm. But neither was he agitated and in anguish. He was frustrated, angry—but those feelings were mostly directed at how the world seemed to be unleashing backlash for the life he had been able to live since gaining the system. How it wanted to take it away, like revoking a premium license or something.

Not because of a fear of death.

Or at least, he didn't think so.

"…"

He shook his head.

'I really gotta stop these thoughts. It's like I'm asking for a tragic death.'

And you know what angered him the most about that?

It was that if he died like that, Midoriya would probably use it for character development, having constant flashbacks of him whenever he faced a challenge, and powering up consequently.

'Hell naw. I'm not becoming a martyr for that guy's development.' Taka thought, his determination not to die multiplying tenfold.

With those thoughts running through his mind, he prepared to close the app and focus on his lunch.

However, just as he was about to, a notification popped up at the top of his screen.

Someone had written him, and it hadn't been the group chat.

"…!"

Upon checking his messages, he saw who it was.

La Brava.

His until-then serious and focused expression turned sharp, brow furrowing.

Without wasting a second, he opened the chat.

{La Brava: Rockinesis, me and Gentle have news about what we talked.}

Taka read the message, took a moment to process it, then shoved what remained of his sandwich into his mouth and slammed both hands on the table as he stood up.

—Flap!—

He grabbed the cape from the chair and swung it over his shoulders in one dramatic motion, then calmly exited the cafeteria.

Before long he arrived at the agency entrance, where Bubble Girl gave him a curious look at his sudden reappearance in full costume, minus the mask.

"You're going out, Takahashi-kun?" She asked, tilting her head.

"Something came up. I'll be back before the afternoon patrol."

Bubble Girl nodded, though showing a hint of concern at how hurried he seemed.

'Hopefully nothing bad happened.'

While she had that thought, Taka walked out of the building, made his way to the nearest alleyway, and—

—SWOOSH!—

—shot away into the sky.

...

°

°

°

| Minutes later… |

...

After a quick trip back to Tokyo, Taka descended onto a tall residential building near the lake, slowly touching down on the rooftop.

And as he did, someone was there to greet him.

Standing at the building's edge, facing the city as the wind howled and snapped his cape, with La Brava in the same pose alongside him—Gentle Criminal was there.

-Tap-

They only turned around as Taka's foot touched the rooftop.

"We meet again, Rockinesis." Gentle said with great theatricality, turning and sweeping his cape across himself as he did, leaving only his eyes visible for a moment, until the cape receded and settled over his back. "Or should I say—Auros?"

Taka could only stare speechlessly at all the theatrics.

It was one thing to hear it over the phone, but it was another thing entirely that it happened every time they met in person.

"We saw your official hero name! La Brava added context. "As expected of our rival, even as a hero your name commands respect!"

Sweatdropping, he shrugged it off. "There's no need to use those names. I don't even have my mask on, so you can just call me Taka or Takahashi. Whatever fits you."

Gentle seemed a bit surprised by the disregard for the pseudonyms they had been using until now, but after a second, he smiled with a nod. "Very well, if that's what you wish, I shall address you as such."

He proceeded to sweep the cape again as he walked down from the ledge and began walking toward the rooftop exit, with La Brava tagging along.

"Now then, judging by your worried tone the other day, I imagine we're on a short schedule, so let's not waste unnecessary time in chatter and get moving toward our base of operations!" Gentle said.

"We discovered quite a few things." La Brava, the one in charge of the research, offered.

Taka nodded, and followed, a bead of sweat rolling down his forehead as he wondered what they would have found.

A minute or so later, they arrived before one of the many apartments in the area.

Upon entering, Taka noted that it looked—very apartment-like, for what Gentle had called their "base of operations."

'Well, not like my base is any better.'

That one was an abandoned school filled with dust and cobwebs. If anything, at least this one was comfy.

Soon they entered one of the rooms—much like the rest of the apartment, a bit plain. However, it had a decent PC in it.

The moment they entered, La Brava hurried toward it and hopped onto the seat.

Gentle, on the other hand, stayed at the door while holding it open saying something along the lines of "I'll go make us some tea," before walking away.

With him gone, La Brava beckoned Taka over and pointed to a folding chair in the corner of the room.

After setting it up, Taka sat down. "So, what did you find?"

She let out a sigh. "Plenty of things, as well as a lot of nothing… these villains you'd been watching, they're not as ordinary as I'd originally thought."

She opened her browser, which was crowded with open tabs.

She began clicking through them in rapid succession. "I managed to dig up some of their financial records and old server metadata—partially wiped, but enough to confirm what you suspected. As you thought, they moved away, and quickly erased all their traces not long ago, all very suddenly. Roughly a day or two after the Sports Festival."

Taka's calm expression twisted into a frown, his eyes dropping into deep thought.

A day or two after the Sports Festival. What had happened around that time that might have made them so cautious of him?

He reached an answer pretty quickly, his eyes widening briefly at the realization.

Stain.

Kurogiri had been right about to recruit him when his clone disguised as Rockinesis appeared and put the Hero Killer down.

That… had told them what they needed to know. Plus whatever other mistake he may have made without realizing it.

'They figured I knew in advance what they were planning—and so, they assumed I probably knew even more,' he concluded, scratching his head in frustration as he realized his mistake.

It turned out that interfering this much with canon had consequences.

Who could have thought?

"Do you know where they went?" Taka prodded.

La Brava shook her head. "That's the bad part. I managed to get evidence that, just as you thought, they moved suddenly, and how they did erased their traces—but whoever these villains are, they were prepared to be searched for, even through this method. So they didn't leave a single clue about where."

Taka's face grew more and more grim the more she revealed.

However, her next words brought back a small hope.

"That's not to say everything is lost. They were very careful, but I'm confident that in just a few days I'll be able to get a track on them. After all, no matter how much they erase their trail, there's always something that ultimately leads back to this kind of organization. I just have to investigate any possible connection that may have been left behind and tada!—So don't worry. Give me a few days, and we will get these guys, Rocki—Takahashi-san!"

Hearing her, Taka let out a sigh, visibly more relieved than before.

"Tea?" Just then, Gentle entered again, holding a tray with two cups in one hand and a kettle in the other.

Seeing no reason to refuse, Taka accepted. La Brava did too, then Gentle poured for both of them.

After that, Gentle poured some for himself as well and dragged a chair over to join them.

Meanwhile, La Brava turned away from the PC and back to Taka.

"Having said that—I don't know how big this organization is, but given their capabilities, I'd say pretty big. That's why there's a chance they still haven't been able to erase every single trace, or move all their assets to wherever they relocated. That's why I needed to ask you, Takahashi-san—do you know of any other place they used?"

"…" Taka fell silent.

There wasn't, was there? The show wasn't very specific about their whereabouts save for a few moments. But given All For One's influence, asking where he might be was the same as asking where he couldn't be.

The guy could be anywhere.

So—

'Hold on, there's that place!' Taka thought, a memory of later seasons coming to mind.

He had completely forgotten it existed since it only appeared briefly, so he had never put surveillance there. However, that may have been for the better. If they had checked for surveillance there and found nothing, they might not have moved everything out yet.

If it was that place…!

-Screech-

The chair let out a small shriek as he stood up, pushing it back.

"There's one place. It's not certain, but there's a good chance they haven't vacated it yet."

The two brightened.

However, seeing him move toward the door as if about to leave, they became confused.

"Takahashi-san?"

"Investigate as much as you can, please."

"Then you…?"

Taka turned, his gaze gleaming with dead-set focus.

"I'll go pay a visit myself."

The two villains blinked in surprise, before nodding.

"Where is this place?" La Brava asked, ready to start right away with getting the most she could from it.

Taka smiled.

The heart of All For One's experiments.

A den of Nomus, and later the birthplace of Shigaraki's transformation into a genuine threat and All For One's ideal vessel.

Garaki's laboratory, right below Jaku General Hospital.

...

°

°

°

| Minutes later… |

...

Jaku General Hospital was as busy as any other day. Doctors and nurses rushed left and right, patients remained at bed, sometimes calling for attention, other times for food.

A very busy day, as was the usual.

So much so, in fact, that no one noticed the moment a shadow blurred through hallways and rooms, moving so swiftly that the only thing anyone caught—hurriedly performing their jobs—was the faint breeze it left in its wake.

Before long, the shadow stopped at a door, opened it, and entered what appeared to be a normal janitor's room.

Revealing Taka, who closed the door behind him and approached a wall, before knocking on it with two knuckles.

-Knock, knock-

It sounded hollow.

The instant he made that assessment, he reeled back a fist and—

—BAM!—

—slammed it into the wall.

The wall crumbled instantly, revealing a thick metal door hidden behind it, which slipped off its hinges and fell catastrophically to the floor.

—CLANG!—

Yet, the sound of both the punch and the falling door never made it outside the room—a bubble of red aura caught and muffled it.

The most that escaped was some vibration through the walls. But without sound, no one was likely to start searching very urgently.

Which gave him enough time to take care of his business here.

Snorting, Taka took a step forward.

The moment he did, his figure blurred. The next instant, he was moving at impossible speeds through the secret passage, advancing toward whatever lay at the end.

However, just as he was catching sight of the far end of the hallway—his speed enough to cross the incredibly long distance that it seemed to extend for in just a few seconds—the walls shifted, revealing several chambers with…

"…!" Taka's eyes widened briefly.

Nomus.

They emerged from their compartments, eyes locking instantly onto his approaching figure with growing fury.

"WRYYYYYYYY—"

Yet, despite their raging cries as they prepared to rush him, the next instant Taka passed through them like a blur...

—SPLAT!—

And in his wake, all of them were destroyed—arms, torsos, legs, and heads sent flying, along with murky blood that painted the walls.

None of it reached him.

—CLANG!—

The next instant, Taka arrived before the doors at the end of the hallway and kicked them open without the slightest subtlety.

As he skid to a stop several meters inside, his eyes widened.

"You've got to be kidding me…"

This place too was abandoned.

Not entirely—there were still a few large machines around, and the earlier Nomus from the hallway, so the transfer must have been mid-process. Or perhaps what remained here had simply been deemed unnecessary.

Regardless of the answer—it wasn't what Taka was looking for.

He had arrived at another dead end.

All For One remained hidden.

His death, its time and circumstances, remained vague.

And there wasn't a single clue to follow.

All this power accumulated, all this year spent focused on growing stronger so he wouldn't be caught like this.

…Yet still unable to do anything as his death approached silently.

'La Brava might be the only way I'll have to find them.' Taka thought, fist tightening and teeth grinding as he felt powerless.

That was, of course, if she could find anything before whatever they were planning got carried out. Nighteye's prediction had been vague at best, specifying that at least within the month his death would occur.

Which meant that whatever those bastards were planning could happen any day now, or in weeks.

He couldn't help but feel in a hurry to discover as much as he could, just so that the possibilities of him defying fate increased… But, as seen just now, his only possibility right now was to wait and hope for the best.

'Can I truly do nothing?' He asked himself.

Silence passed. Maybe some seconds, maybe a whole minute. He didn't know, lost in his own thoughts as he searched for even the smallest possibility.

But then, just as he seemed to be ready to give up—something changed, Taka's eyes widened.

'There is one thing left.'

One they couldn't have moved away or hidden in any way possible.

One that might hold the answers to what awaited him, and how his death would come to be.

And one in plain sight this whole time, and that maybe he had subconsciously ignored.

The mole of U.A.

Aoyama.

...

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-To Be Continued…-

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Join my Pḁtreon to get access to more chapters, and you'll help me make ends meet while doing so.

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(A/N: Binged Edgerunners 2 in one night. Pretty good, although clearly too ambitious for the number of chapters it had. It was a bit harder to connect with them like I did with the ones from the previous season because of that. Still pretty good though.)

 

[The Synonym]

(A/N: Two chapters because I forgot to upload yesterday)
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[Traitor]
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| Tokyo, afternoon… |

…

At the central area of Tokyo, a group of heroes could be seen jogging at a constant rhythm, one after the other.

"Huff… huff…"

All but the last one, that is.

Aoyama could be seen dragging his feet and body into what he could best make look like a jog, his face drenched in sweat and his breathing haggard.

His pace was so slow that he stood at least ten meters behind the rest of the heroes.

From time to time, he tried to increase his pace and catch up, but never lasted very long before falling behind again.

As his very loud gasps and his soaked face made it abundantly clear he wasn't keeping up, one of the heroes at the front gave him a helpless look.

"Come on, I Can't Stop Twinkling, you gotta keep up the pace or we're leaving you behind!"

Through the exhaustion, Aoyama winked with his ever-present smile, striking a pose as he ran.

"Huff… huff… Don't worry, I'm only getting started mon ami∼☆!"

-Thud!-

Following that, he collapsed face-first into the pavement.

The group of heroes stopped, sweatdropping as they stared at his pitiful figure.

"Uh, well, I guess you can rest for a bit. Just catch up when you've caught your breath. We'll be doing our usual route, so you know where we'll be."

Aoyama lifted an arm, showing a thumbs up.

Given his approval, the group resumed their jog with a quick glance to each other, leaving one by one until Aoyama was alone.

As he found himself by his lonesome, he pushed himself up from the ground and sat on the pavement instead, wiping his face with his forearm, his smile as present as ever.

—At least, until he suddenly let out a sigh, his face turning slightly downcast for a brief moment.

Then it returned to how it was.

-Pat, pat, pat-

With that, he stood up, patting down his clothes as he took a deep breath—

—SWOOSH!—

And suddenly, he wasn't there anymore. Something swept down from above and snatched him by the cape, yanking him away in the blink of an eye.

...

The street was left with an eerie silence, filled only by the distant sound of cars and some chatter from passersby who had clearly noticed nothing.

Meanwhile, high in the air—

"AHHH!"

Aoyama screamed without restraint as something carried him by the cape, a heavy contrast to his usual confident air. Yet none of his voice reached the streets below, something cutting it off before it could travel that far.

The violence of the flight didn't let him get a proper look at whatever was carrying him either.

Luckily, it didn't last much longer.

-Thud-

Suddenly he was let go, and he landed hard on the roof of the building below, rolling a few meters before ending up on his back, sprawled across it, staring up at the orange-tinged sky with a pale face.

He pushed himself up, looking around with a terrified expression.

"W-who's there—?!"

Yet, much to his dread, no matter how much he looked around, there was no one in sight. The rest of the rooftop was empty, and there wasn't much to hide behind either.

He was alone.

Seeing his solitude, despite some unknown entity having just plucked him from the street and deposited him here, Aoyama assumed the worst.

No, he had been doing as they told him to. There shouldn't be any reason for them to do anything to him!

But if so, why had this happened?

Was it a random attack, and he just happened to be the victim?

Maybe some villain noticed he was just an intern and saw him as an easy target?

Or… had that man really pulled the strings here?

Aoyama's panicked look worsened by the second.

Luckily, his spiraling doubts were answered rather quickly.

—THUNK!—

Suddenly, the heavy sound of metal bending made his body jump in fear, his head snapping in its direction, cold sweat rolling down his forehead.

But unlike anything he had expected to find there, what he saw was wilder still.

Squatting on top of a now-bent rooftop air conditioning unit and looking down at him with a sharp gaze—was his very own classmate.

"Takahashi?"

The teenager in black smirked. "Yo."

Then he dropped down from the unit and landed right in front of him.

"It's been a while, Aoyama."

"W-what are you doing here, monsieur?" The blonde asked, slowly and hesitatingly coming back to his feet, doing his best to put on his usual hard smile. "Did something happen? Or have you perhaps come in search of some advice?… hahaha…"

He tried to put on his usual overconfident persona.

Yet Taka's eerie, calm smile made it hard to do so.

The situation was too strange to manage it flawlessly, as well.

Why had the class representative suddenly appeared here? Why had he snatched him from his patrol without notice?

Why hadn't he said anything on the chat?

Whatever it was… it couldn't be good.

And as if to confirm Aoyama's suspicions—

"You can stop now. I know about it." Taka suddenly said.

"What?"

He walked closer, his smile disappearing.

"I've always known."

Aoyama took several steps backward, his smile threatening to disappear as he still wasn't sure Taka really knew about that.

Maybe he was referring to something else?

Maybe he had done something wrong at some point? Had he angered the class representative somehow?

"You're the spy, aren't you?"

"...!"

That sole declaration was enough to shatter any attempt at avoiding reality any further.

Aoyama's fragile smile crumbled into horror, his steps backward continuing.

"… No… how…?—ah!"

Suddenly, he missed the edge, eyes widening as he turned back and saw he had backed up too far, teetering at the very lip of the rooftop.

But before he could fall, Taka's aura flared up, catching him.

It moved him away from the border and back right in front of him, dropping him there.

Aoyama fell to his knees, too shocked by Taka's words to bother putting on a show anymore. He simply stared at the floor blankly, slowly coming to the realization that the life he had built was over.

The life he thought he had recovered by gaining a Quirk—even if at a steep price—was now gone, just like that.

"…"

"…"

Silence took over the area, neither of them saying anything.

Until, after a whole minute passed, Aoyama spoke first, a smile appearing again—only this time more genuine.

However, it wasn't one of happiness. It was one of helplessness.

"I see, so I was found out… Are you going to reveal it to everyone?"

"…"

The lack of an answer prompted a faint laugh from him.

"I suppose it's only what I deserve. Playing hero while secretly helping the worst of villains, that makes me a despicable villain too, doesn't it, class representative?"

He lifted his head, looking at Taka.

"Do what you gotta do, Takahashi."

"Stand up."

With a flick of his finger, Aoyama was brought back to his feet.

Aoyama looked ready to be apprehended, maybe even take a beating.

Yet…

"Stop being melodramatic," Was all that left Taka's mouth.

"Eh?"

Taka gave him a deadpan look. "Didn't I say it? I've always known."

Aoyama blinked, registering Taka's words.

He indeed had said that.

He thought he had misheard, or that panic was making his brain malfunction…

… but Takahashi was saying he had actually known all along.

From the very first day?

"But… why—?"

"Why didn't I report you?" Taka finished his question for him.

Aoyama nodded weakly.

Taka shrugged. "I understand your position. Being indebted and held by the neck by the worst villain doesn't leave you with much choice but to comply."

Indebted. Aoyama's eyes widened at that word.

"You… know about that too?"

"That you were Quirkless? Yeah."

Aoyama's pupils trembled.

He even knew about that.

How? It wasn't something anyone but his parents and that man knew.

What about his identity as the spy? Not even the school had figured it out.

He said he knew all along.

But how could he have known before he had even done anything as a spy?

Was he lying? Did he only have a suspicion and was prompting him to confess on his own?

No, knowing his circumstances—both his quirkless status, and his indebtment to All For One—to that extent, wasn't something a mere suspicion could accomplish.

The utter confusion seemed to show over Aoyama's face, as Taka noticed it as well, closing his eyes calmly as he explained.

"As to how I know, it's all thanks to my Quirk," his eyes glowed faintly in a crimson hue, making Aoyama swallow nervously. "For short, it lets me see further into the future. The info I've just revealed now I got it from there."

"The future?" Aoyama asked, a disbelieving look on his face as he did.

"A future, to be more specific. One where you did plenty of more things for All For One, and where you continued being his spy for a long while."

Aoyama's face froze, before he turned away, scrunching in shame as he averted his gaze from Taka.

If that was true… did that mean that in the end, he still wasn't able to escape from that man's grasp?

Did it mean he would continue betraying the trust of his classmates?

His teeth gritted.

He was such a cowa—

"—And also one where you still ended up siding with us in the end."

Aoyama's head went back up at Taka's words, shock written on his face.

He proceeded those words, which contradicted directly what he thought of himself.

He, going against that man?

He couldn't see such a future as possible.

Was Takahashi lying for his sake here?

It was highly likely.

With a wry look, Aoyama gave Taka a faint nod.

"I appreciate it, mon ami… but if you know so much, then you should also be aware that the USJ attack was also due to me. I was the one who leaked them the information they needed to infiltrate." The blonde's gaze fell, his smile turning weak as he confessed. "It's because of me you had to fight with your life on the line against that monster…"

"Well, duh."

Aoyama's gaze lifted back up, startled.

"You're not angry?"

Taka shot him a deadpan look. "Didn't I just say why I'm not?"

"But you were almost killed that day. Plus, I put everyone in danger just because of my cowardice!"

"Killed?"

Taka let out a snort.

Then he gave the blonde a pat on the shoulder.

"Aoyama, didn't I say it already on that very day?"

The blonde's face frowned in confusion.

Taka smiled confidently. "So long as I'm here, no screw-up will be fatal, and no situation truly dangerous. You made a mistake—or not, given your situation is rather complex—but at the end of the day, you don't need to worry."

Aura surrounded Taka's body. Crimson as always—yet not terrifying, but warm, just like the time he had shielded everyone from Kurogiri.

"I've got it covered, because I'm strong."

As he uttered those words, Aoyama's face instantly scrunched up, tears welling in his eyes.

A minute or two passed with him sobbing, wiping his tears away and trying to stop, failing miserably.

But after enough time, he finally recovered, taking a deep breath.

"Merci, Takahashi."

As he seemed to calm down, Taka decided to get to the reason he had come.

"I need your help with something, Aoyama."

"…?"

"That man is planning something big. I need to know what it is. I had him tracked down, but he disappeared before I knew it and left no trail behind. Right now, you're the only lead I have on him."

"…!"

"So, please. Tell me anything you know."

Aoyama's mouth opened for a moment, then trembled hesitatingly.

"I—I can't."

Taka's expression remained the same, even in front of the refusal,

Aoyama's face turned powerless, his eyes staring at his own hands as they trembled. "If I speak, I don't know what he might do to my papa and maman. He might let me walk around freely, but not them… If I did anything against him—"

"It's okay."

Aoyama looked at Taka in confusion.

"He might seem powerful, but at the end of the day, he is still the villain who was left on his deathbed by All Might."

"…!"

"Do you know of their fight, Aoyama?"

"… No. He only gives me commands. He doesn't let me in on anything else."

Taka let out a short laugh. "The two were on pretty equal terms years ago, as expected of the pinnacles of their respective sides, good and evil. So much so that when they finally clashed, they mutually and lethally injured each other, while still surviving in the end—though with lasting effects."

"All Might is injured?" Aoyama's face crumbled—like one of the last pillars of hope he might have been holding onto inside had cracked.

He thought about it—the constant disappearances in the middle of something, arriving late, sometimes having teachers fill in for him.

He had also read somewhere that his rhythm as a hero had declined severely.

It now made more sense.

Yet, just as his face went pale, fearing there might be no one left to help him—

"Not anymore. He has been healed. He might not be as strong as he once was, but his strength is still leagues beyond what his injured state was able to muster."

Aoyama's face lifted, eyes widening.

"All For One, on the other hand, is still gravely injured. A shadow of what he used to be as Japan's strongest villain."

He gave Aoyama a light punch on the chest.

"So yeah, he might be fearsome. But at the end of the day, he's still weaker than All Might. And Nezu won't abandon you just like that either—if you explain the situation to him now, I'm sure he'll help you get your parents to safety and sever your connection to him. With All Might's protection, All For One won't be able to do much, despite how powerful he may seem."

"...!"

Aoyama took a moment to digest the revelations.

He seemed to be in conflict, battling between the sense in Taka's words and his innate fear of the man who had given him power at the expense of his freedom.

His parents were at risk. If he made the wrong choice, the consequences would follow him for the rest of his life.

… But so would the consequences of continuing on this path.

For the sake of his parents he's had to bow down his head to the villain until now, since there hadn't been a solution or a way to escape.

But continuing to do so, now that a chance had presented itself… would that really be for the sake of his parents? Or simply because of fear?

Maybe…

'Maybe it's time to be brave.' He thought, fists clenching, and shaking off any fear that may still have lingered in his heart.

Not only was Taka offering his help, but All Might and the school would probably do so too.

If he refused this, then he'd truly be the coward he thought he was.

No—maybe he still is.

But even cowards must be brave from time to time.

And this time, he had to be so for his parents' sake.

"Alright. What do you want to know?" Aoyama's face lifted, his eyes brimming with determination—and a bit of nervousness.

Taka smiled.

"I know he's planning some sort of attack, but I don't know how or when. Of what he's asked of you, is there anything that stands out?"

Aoyama seemed to search through his memory.

"Beyond leaking information about our schedule at the time of the USJ attack…" He winced a little as he recalled that "... the week right after the Sports Festival, he seemed more interested in you than in any intel regarding the school. He didn't ask for much, just to narrate him what your usual day looked like."

"And?"

"That's all."

Taka frowned.

A report on his daily routine?

Well, it made sense to an extent—it was around the time he assumed All For One had noticed his surveillance, and drawn whatever inferences followed from that, so it was obvious the villain's interest had been piqued at that time.

Then, was that it?

Was he just curious and asked Aoyama some details about his life, and that's it?

Did the attack coming up have nothing to do with that?

"Uhm…" Aoyama's voice interrupted his train of thoughts.

"Yeah?"

"When I gave him the report… I remember noticing he seemed a bit more interested in whom you talked to. I may be overthinking, but I noticed a slight note of satisfaction in his voice at that moment."

"In whom I talk to?"

Taka's brows furrowed further.

So All For One's focus hadn't been on what he knew, or how he did things…

But who he talked to?

Like, figuring out his relatio—

-Bzz-

His phone buzzed, cutting off his train of thought.

"What now?"

He grabbed it with a flash of annoyance, checked who it was, then his eyes widened faintly when he saw La Brava's name.

'Why did she contact me so soon?'

He opened the chat, thinking she might have found something he could use as a further lead.

Yet, as he opened it…

[La Brava: Rockinesis, something is happening!]

Following that message was a link to a live broadcast from an official news channel.

Taka opened it quickly.

And as he did, his face shifted into outrage at what he saw.

Nomus, causing havoc across a city. Flames and smoke filled the surrounding area as the creatures screamed wildly. Heroes intercepted them but were struggling against the multi-Quirk reanimated corpses.

What was worse was the caption running along the bottom.

[BREAKING: Unidentified creatures attacking multiple cities simultaneously - civilian evacuations underway, hero response deployed]

Multiple cities. Taka's eyes ran over that part twice.

And as he did, a new message arrived from La Brava—

—arriving at exactly the same moment everything clicked together in his mind.

"He never planned on targeting me alone… he was…"

[La Brava: The attacks are happening around the sites where your classmates are interning!]

"... Attacking my classmates."

...

────────────────────────

-To Be Continued…-

────────────────────────

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(A/N: No more waiting, time for the action to get going.

Honestly, quite a hard chapter to write due to Aoyama's character. Just like Midoriya said in the show, he's hard to read, and he is still so even when he opens up a bit more when the beans spill out. So it was a bit hard to decide on what he would most likely think or say during a conversation like this.

Also, Drama tends to be hard to write in general.

Luckily, it's done—or postponed for after the storm passes.)

 

[The Synonym]

────────────────────────

[Divide Et Impera 1]

────────────────────────

...

Having come to realize what All For One's plan had been all along, Taka let out a scoff.

"So that's how you're gonna play it, huh?" He muttered as his expression grew serious.

There was no more mystery now. No more need to pursue an answer desperately.

This was it.

The moment of his supposed death.

His head snapped toward Aoyama, who was looking confusedly between him and his phone, and startled at the sudden glare.

"D-did something happen?"

"Seems asking you all this wasn't needed after all. We have to get moving."

"What do you—AAAAAH!"

Before he could finish his question, he was yanked by the cape and swept away as Taka took off.

Before long, the two were high in the air, Aoyama still yelling in a panic.

"Will you stop?" Taka gave him a done look.

"B-but what if you let me go, mon ami?!"

"There."

Taka let go.

Aoyama's face turned pale, and he nearly fainted on the spot.

But as he squeezed his eyes shut and braced for gravity to drag him down—he opened them again when it didn't.

"...?"

Instead, he found himself flying at roughly the same speed as Taka, wrapped in the crimson aura.

"… I forgot you could do that."

"Well, enjoy the ride then. It won't be long—we're going to U.A."

Aoyama blinked and looked down. They were at an enormous height, approaching the bay, flying at incredible speeds toward the other side of Tokyo.

However, they were moving unbelievably fast.

'I knew Monsieur Takahashi was fast… but not like this. Even his speed at the festival somehow feels lacking compared to—'

—BOOOOOOOM!—

His awe was cut short as a sonic boom went off in their wake.

He turned his head, gaping at the air rippling behind them.

'No, this is definitely faster…'

So even at that time during the competition he hadn't gone all out?

At this rate, they'd be at U.A. in under a minute.

Which was baffling, given they had been just 35 kilometers away a moment ago.

What was Taka's real speed?

With such thoughts running through his head, Aoyama stayed silent for a bit, processing everything.

After a second more or so, however, another doubt crept in.

"What about my internship, class rep?" Aoyama turned to Taka, looking a bit worried.

Taka shook his head. "With what's happening, I doubt it will matter much if you take an early leave."

Aoyama swallowed his words, looking down, wondering just what might have happened.

He was still ashamed of what he may have indirectly helped bring about, so he didn't voice the question.

He could only hope it wasn't too bad.

And like that, less than a minute later, they had reached their destination—descending onto the rooftop of the school.

Taka set Aoyama down gently, but didn't land himself.

"Are you not coming, class rep?" Aoyama asked, looking worried.

"No, I've got something to deal with. Sorry, I'm in a hurry. Nezu will come soon, so just wait for him here."

"…" Aoyama looked hesitatingly between Taka and the rooftop door.

Taka had a sense of what he might be thinking, so he kept his voice steady.

"Don't worry about Nezu. I'm sure he'll help you. He isn't the principal of a hero school for nothing… besides, you aren't the first criminal he's extended his hand to—or his paw."

"…?"

Ignoring Aoyama's confused look, and without bothering with a farewell given the urgency of it all, he shot back into the sky like a rocket, before curving off in the opposite direction, following the coastline.

Before long, he arrived at an empty, mid-construction building and descended into it quickly.

A minute or so passed with him there. Then—

-Swoosh!-

A figure shot out, ascending rapidly into the sky.

It wasn't Taka anymore, nor Auros.

It was Rockinesis, once again, his cape fluttering wildly due the air at such heights. His otherwise black eyes gleaming with a crimson glow as he looked forward with an intense gaze.

"Game's on, bitch."

And with those words—

—BOOOM!—

—he shot forward as fast as he could, easily surpassing the sound barrier in an instant.

Several rings of compressed air formed at his unnatural acceleration, the sound of several bombs going off in his path.

Yet, despite it, he didn't spare them even a glance.

He could worry about the sky police later.

Right now, it was time to cave in a bald villain's skull, and there was no time to waste.

As he accelerated to unbelievable speeds, the world around bending to his movement, his hand dived into his pocket, taking out his phone.

Then, after pressing on a few buttons, he put it on his ear.

"La Brava, can you explain me the overall situation?"

The villainess voice came from the phone, sounding enthusiastic as well as a bit worried.

{"Right away! Let's see—for the moment, only four of your classmates have had these villains appear near them. Bakugo Katsuki, Yaoyorozu Momo, Ashido Mina, and Kaminari Denki. Luckily, with all the heroes around, they are being able to somewhat fend off against all those villains."}

Taka's frown deepened. 'Those four? Why—?'

La Brava interrupted his musings. {"Also, the attacks weren't simultaneous. Those villains are appearing progressively on different spots as time goes on, so I highly believe more will pop up at your other classmates' locations who haven't been attacked yet."}

Taka nodded, expression grim.

'So in the end, it'll probably be a full assault against all of them.'

That was also part of why he'd brought Aoyama to U.A.

Technically the blonde was still a spy for all the villains knew, so it was unlikely All For One would move to kill him.

But given that the man somehow knew he'd been watching them, there was a chance he also had deduced Taka's awareness of Aoyama as the traitor.

Thus, there was a small chance he'd use this to get rid of the possible loose end. Hence, it had been safer to leave him at U.A. than at his internship.

Now that he was safe and sound, though, that still left eighteen classmates to cover.

Which meant only one thing.

"Clones." He muttered.

It was the only way in which he would be able to cover all that ground, and keep them sound for sure.

However…

'Shouldn't he already be aware of that as well?'

If All For One knew he was Rockinesis, then it was obvious he'd use that skill.

So what was he trying to accomplish with a situation he clearly knew the solution for? He doubted the man had somehow forgotten such a crucial fact.

Was this a test? Was it merely meant to confirm suspicions?

It seemed like too wasteful a use of Nomus for that, though.

"…"

He thought about it deeply, connecting it with the fact that his death had been announced as imminent.

'How would using my clones ultimately lead to my death?' He asked himself…

—and reached the answer almost immediately, eyebrows furrowing slightly in response.

It hadn't been hard. It was, after all, the main drawback of the clone skill.

Aura drainage.

Each clone would take a portion of his aura and hold it until it was defeated or dismissed. Only then would it return to him—and even then, only half of it, with the rest trickling back gradually over the next few minutes.

If he became depleted enough, he'd be weak enough to be taken down as easily as in Nighteye's vision.

So, he only needed to avoid the clone skill and that was it? His death event would be solved?

"…"

His eyes drifted to the live feed of the other cities on his phone.

There were other heroes there.

His classmates weren't helpless anymore, either. They still had a long way to go compared to where they'd end up in the show, but they wouldn't be so easy to defeat anymore, even by lesser Nomus.

But was he willing to gamble on the power of friendship and sheer idealism?

This was the real world. Accidents happened. One small mistake could be fatal, sometimes even with nothing apparently causing it.

He wasn't in the anime where Midoriya was destined to break through all odds and eventually triumph over All For One, and most of his classmates would be protected by the all-powerful plot armor as well.

And, again, this was All For One he was talking about.

The top villain of Japan, and perhaps the world.

His classmates were strong—but was he going to leave them facing a threat of unknown capabilities just because of the kind of optimism that only existed in anime?

They'd only been at U.A. for less than two months, for god's sake.

'Nah.'

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

[STATUS PAGE]

▸ Strength: (186 Base) 5,000

▸ Defense: (372 Base) 10,000

▸ Aura Projection: 132,970

―――――――――――――

Total Aura: 147,412

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

All For One's plan might be obvious. But he was wrong if he thought that spreading him thin was going to be enough. He was more than just clones.

And now that he knew what was coming, he'd make sure to engrave that lesson into the man's skull personally.

If he died in the process, then that'd be a shame.

With that settled, he didn't waste another second.

In one smooth motion, the figure cutting through the air at supersonic speed slowed sharply, then divided into two.

And then again. And again.

Until the lone figure had become ten.

Like a formation of birds, they arranged into a triangle with him at the head, cutting through the air.

As they flew, Taka checked his status.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

[STATUS PAGE]

▸ Strength: (186 Base) 5,000

▸ Defense: (372 Base) 10,000

▸ Aura Projection: 59,260

―――――――――――――

Total Aura: 147,412 → 73,702 (50%)

1st Clone's aura: 7,371 (5%)

2nd Clone's aura: 7,371 (5%)

3rd Clone's aura: 7,371 (5%)

...

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Ten clones, each carrying 5% of his aura. Incomparable to his full self, but more than capable of holding off whatever had been sent after his classmates.

There were eighteen in vulnerable positions right now. But ten clones was enough—some of his classmates weren't far from each other, so a single clone could handle two sites in sequence rather than needing one dedicated to each.

Plus, as La Brava had said, the attacks were progressive—which gave the clones time to deal with each threat before moving on to the next as it emerged.

Plan set, he got his classmates' locations from La Brava, relayed them to the clones, and assigned each to a sector.

"You all know what to do."

Then, he snapped his fingers.

"Whatever you say, boss."

"Let's smack these fuckers to the ground!"

"Let's fucking GOOO!"

—SWOOOSH!—

And the clones flew off—slower than him, but fast enough to reach their destinations in time.

None of his classmates had gone too far from Tokyo, which helped. Otherwise he would have needed stronger, fewer clones to ensure they arrived before things had already gotten out of hand.

He, meanwhile, remained in the air. Monitoring La Brava's updates and ready to act on anything new.

He held position near Shizuoka, in case All For One decided to be clever and struck there as well.

"..."

But as the minutes passed and, as La Brava had predicted, Nomus kept appearing at classmate after classmate's location, he shelved that option for now.

The attack seemed to be focused only on his classmates.

'What is he actually trying to accomplish?' Taka thought.

By now, most of the clones had reached their destinations and were handling the Nomus with little difficulty despite their reduced aura.

All For One had clearly sent fodder. Not whatever he had up his sleeve.

Was he really just testing whether he'd show up? Burning through Nomus for that?

As his confusion deepened, his mind went back to what Aoyama had said.

'He was interested in my relationships… how does this connect? Is he trying to see how far I'd go for them? Just riling me up on purpose?'

What was the angle here?

Whatever he was doing—it was only making him burn time.

What could he have actually gained from knowing who he was close to?

Yeah, he was friends with plenty of his class. But whatever this attack on them was, it was pathetic, not something he'd expect from that calculative bastard.

So the key of this wasn't his classmates—or his closest friends, from what it seemed.

So, if it wasn't his closest friends… who could it…

"...!" Taka's eyes widened.

Then, without wasting a second, he took out his phone again, opening his contacts.

-Click-

A second later, he called Aoyama.

The phone buzzed for a bit as the call connected, but luckily, it didn't take much longer before the call was answered.

{"Class rep?"}

"Hey, Aoyama."

{"It was just like you said. I'm with Monsieur Nezu right now. He agreed to help me, and help will also be coming soo—"}

"I don't have time to chat, Aoyama, sorry. I need you to answer one question."

{"Y-yes, no problem, ask away!"}

"In your report of my day to day, what did you tell All For One about…" He swallowed, "... Jiro?"

{"Jiro-san? Ah…"}

A pause, slightly awkward and guilty came from Aoyama.

Then—-

{"I tried to keep my personal impressions out of the report, mon ami, as he wasn't the type of person I'd share that with—but judging from his tone once I finished telling him, I believe he may have arrived at the same conclusion as I did. That you and her, well… share a deeper connection than is typical of friends."}

The instant those words came through the phone, Taka's eyes widened and he broke flying in a specific direction.

"Shit!"

He hung up.

That was it. The rest of the attacks had been a distraction, or rather, a way to weaken him for the main course.

… The real attack—was at her.

Realizing such a thing, he dumped all the aura held in his physical stats and redirected it to Aura Projection, pouring it into his speed.

He had to get there before something—

-Bzz-

'Goddamnit.'

That buzz was the last thing he wanted to hear right now.

He checked his phone.

[La Brava: Rockinesis, something different is happening at one of your classmate's locations!]

...

°

°

°

| Chiba, minutes later… |

...

"Just… what the hell is that?" Jiro, standing behind the wreckage of a building, said in disbelief as she stared with wide eyes at what stood in the distance.

-Thunk.-

-Thunk-

-Thunk-

The ground trembled with each step it took, even from this far away.

There was no other word for it. It was a monster. Calling it a villain would have been an insult for something like that.

Even the Buster Union—heroes specialized in firepower and combat and one of the most powerful hero teams in the country, the team she was interning under—had done nothing to it, even with their best combined efforts.

They hadn't left so much as a scratch on its skin.

Nor had they fared much better themselves.

One attack from the creature and they were all blown away—along with a large portion of the surrounding city.

She too had been swept off by the blast, and ended up here, hiding in the rubble, watching as the monster now roamed around as if searching for something.

'Of course this had to happen at my internship,' she groaned internally.

Luckily, she still had her phone on her.

'I need to call for backup—but who is even capable of handling that thing?

Even if she brought in more heroes, wouldn't they just get blown away too?

This wasn't a situation she could handle herself—clearly.

But reinforcements didn't seem like the right answer either.

Maybe Aizawa with his erasure Quirk could help shut off whatever the Quirk the creature was using, giving other heroes an opening. Or All Might, to simply overwhelm it.

Or maybe…

Slowly, she picked up her phone, opening the message and being just about to tap onto Taka's contact.

But she paused as she noticed the group chat lighting up with several messages, and some of her parents' too.

"Goddamnit…!"

A minute or so later, she'd caught up on everything happening all across Japan.

'Just what in the world is happening?' She thought with a grimace.

She could rule out calling Taka now. With everything happening, he probably was busy dealing with something on his front as well, much like all her classmates.

He hadn't said anything on the group chat, so it was safe to assume so.

Calling the school for support also didn't seem ideal, given that all her classmates were being attacked, they were bound to have moved already.

The question remaining was when they'd arrive here.

'Hopefully they move quickly… but until then, I've got to do what I can.'

She couldn't fight that thing, that much was clear.

But she could help evacuate. She was inexperienced, but she'd seen enough hero work from the Buster Union this past week, and attended enough USJ classes to manage something useful.

Taking a steady breath and quieting her heartbeat, Jiro rose from her hiding spot.

She slipped to a better position, then pressed one of her jacks into the rubble and opened her senses, searching for any cry for help.

The rumbling steps of the creature were deafening—but she pushed through it, and then—

"…Help…"

—she caught it, locking onto the sound and calculating roughly where it was coming from.

Swallowing her hesitation, she began making her way through the wreckage.

Eventually, she arrived.

An elderly man, trapped under debris.

Fortunately, not beyond what she could move herself.

She got to work, carefully lifting away pieces of concrete and warped metal, sometimes struggling with a heavier piece but pushing through regardless.

However, just as she was nearing his rescue—she noticed the steps had grown closer.

They were under a collapsed building, so she doubted the creature could spot them from a distance.

But cautious, she decided to risk a glance outside. With its size, it could easily step on them without even noticing—so she had to be ready to move if it turned their way.

However, the moment she looked—

"…!"

She met gazes with it for one brief instant before pulling her head back. Cold sweat ran down her back as panic struck her.

And what was worse…

-Thunk.-

-Thunk-

-Thunk-

The steps quickened, and grew louder.

A clear sign she had been found out.

'Crap.'

—CRCRKCKKKC!—

A horrifying sound of concrete and metal being ripped apart came from overhead.

She shielded herself from the falling debris, then finally got a clear view of what was now there once the destruction ceased.

Only to find herself staring directly into the creature's eye, which was barely visible with the night falling, only visible in the dim moonlight.

"Kyoka Jiro… Kyoka Jiro, you are her, aren't you? I found you!"

Without hesitation, it lunged, its enormous hand diving toward her.

She readied herself to use her jacks, not about to just let it do as it pleased.

But just before the hand could reach her—

—SHRIEEEEEEK—

An unnatural sound split the sky above—like a missile descending, like a nocturnal predator diving for prey. A shriek that heralded something catastrophic.

And then—

—BOOOOOOOOOM!—

An enormous force slammed into the creature, powerful enough to send it at least a mile away, despite its size and weight.

However, as a result, the shockwave devastated what remained of the building in an instant, forming what appeared to be a tornado from just the sheer force alone, shattering windows, ripping metal apart, and reducing chunks of concrete into dust.

Yet through all of it, and to her bafflement, she and the old man remained untouched. Not a single piece of debris reached them, and the wind that obliterated everything around them passed harmlessly by.

The sound, too—loud enough to shatter every window in the vicinity in one go—barely registered as more than a distant pressure despite the immensity of what she had just witnessed.

As she recovered and looked toward where the creature had been sent, she turned toward the source of all that.

A wry but genuinely excited smile formed on her face.

'That kind of entrance…'

Slowly, a figure descended from the point of impact, landing right in front of her.

Long stylish robes. A mask she recognized anywhere.

Sure enough.

It was him.

Rockinesis.

"AAARGH!"

Suddenly, the creature rose from the wreckage, letting out a furious roar.

"Who is it?! Who is interfering with my master's orders?!"

The monster—no, Gigantomachia looked around with fury, veins popping up at his forehead and neck.

"Machia, long time no see."

Then, suddenly, a voice echoed inside its head, like a thought that wasn't really a thought.

And the voice… it was too familiar for him not to recognize—instantly snuffing out all his anger in one instant.

"Master?!" The giant man asked, looking around desperately with a hopeful look.

All For One's voice laughed.

"No, you idiot." Then it shifted to a different voice. "... It's me."

Instantly, the voice registered Gigantomachia's mind as his eyes widened, reminiscing about another time, another mission he had set out to do months ago.

A mission he failed, because a powerful man had appeared, and fooled him into thinking he was his master.

A failure that had brought the disappointment of his master.

And now, he was back.

"YOU!"

That thought filled him with fury.

In response, he began growing—his frame expanding, his skin thickening.

"It's you… the man who made a fool of me!"

His eyes locked onto the distant figure standing in front of Jiro, robes drifting in the wind, facing him without the slightest trace of fear.

"This time, I won't make that same mistake. MASTER TOLD ME TO GRIND YOU TO DUST, SO I WILL!"

"Good." The man's voice echoed in his head.

-Smack-

He cracked his fist into his palm.

"Round two it is."

...

────────────────────────

-To Be Continued…-

────────────────────────

Join my Pḁtreon to get access to more chapters, and you'll help me make ends meet while doing so.

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(A/N: Rematch time has come, four to five months after their last fight.

Before Taka was only able to hold Machia off, and somewhat injured him at the cost of all his aura.

Now he is several times stronger than before, and he most certainly has a lot more in his repertoire to use against the villain. He may be weakened by his clones, but will that be enough, I wonder?)

 

[The Synonym]

────────────────────────

[Divide Et Impera 2]

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| At that same moment, near Best Jeanist's agency… |

...

"DIE ALREADY!"

—BOOOOM!—

Bakugo released a violent explosion at a Nomu, engulfing it entirely in the incandescent blast.

Seeing it consumed like that pulled a wicked grin from him.

"Wryyy!"

Until suddenly a winged Nomu swept down from behind, diving toward him faster than he'd tracked.

"…!" Bakugo was briefly caught off guard—the speed of its dive too fast to avoid cleanly.

-Twip!-

But before it could reach him, several threads glinting with a metallic sheen lashed around the Nomu, screeching like cables under pressure as they constricted.

"Don't let your own excitement or anger distract you. This is a battlefield, not a one-on-one fight. Keep your surroundings in view." Best Jeanist said as he approached, arms crossed, fingers controlling the threads that had caught the Nomu.

"Tch… shut up." Bakugo answered. Less hostile than usual. He knew it was good advice. He just didn't want to admit he had screwed up.

Then Best Jeanist's hand—the one holding the threads—clenched.

-Crack-

Something snapped inside the Nomu.

As it did, he let the threads go. The Nomu dropped to the ground limply, twitching but unable to move.

Bakugo approached it, staring at the display with a squint.

"These don't regenerate, huh?" He muttered, recalling the monster at the USJ.

These were similar in appearance but clearly vastly different in power. So much so that it was like a joke.

"Then these are nothing more than fodder." He scoffed, his tone contemptuous.

Best Jeanist glanced at the downed Nomu, giving the evaluation a faint nod.

When contrasting it to the Nomu that had attacked UA., he wasn't wrong in that.

However…

"They may not be overly strong, but there's quite a few of them." He said, scanning the still-thick Nomu presence currently engaged in fierce fights with heroes all around.

They might not be powerful—which wasn't entirely true, given that many heroes could barely handle one on their own and sometimes needed two or more just to bring one down—but they made up for it with sheer numbers.

And from the brief moments of respite he'd had since this onslaught began, it seemed this wasn't even all of them, given the same appeared to be happening at other cities and agencies.

'An attack targeting U.A. students… Class 1-A specifically.' He noted, having already picked out the pattern.

But what troubled him more was not knowing the purpose behind it.

It was one thing to assume they were simply trying to kill a class of trainee heroes.

But the capabilities of the organization behind this had already been made clear by the sheer volume of engineered creatures they were willing to pour into a single operation.

The attack, while overwhelming, was nothing the hero society couldn't manage.

So he couldn't work out why an organization of this caliber would spend so much on such a flimsily targeted plan.

Maybe this scale was trivial to them. But unless they had an entire country's funds behind them, he doubted that.

So, why?

It couldn't just be to kill students. That was a feeble goal for an operation this large.

"WRYYY!"

The howl of another wave of Nomus entering the battlefield snapped him out of it. Three, walking up toward them.

'It doesn't matter.' He exhaled slowly, eyes settling. 'Others are already working out the purpose of this. My duty here is to protect and fight.'

Threads of his jeans spread all around him, enveloping the surroundings like a steel web.

Bakugo, at his side, smiled with anticipation, small explosions crackling at his palms.

They were ready for the fight—

… Yet, sadly for them, the chance never came.

—BOOOM!—

The three Nomus were dealt with before it could start. Something blurred past at blinding speed, coming in like a missile with a straight flying kick aimed squarely at the center Nomu's head.

The impact was so concentrated that the center Nomu was driven directly into the ones flanking it, transferring the full momentum sideways in an instant, and basically nailing the three like a spear that soon was driven into the rubble.

Dust and rubble were sent up from the crash, hiding the perpetrator for but a brief second.

Best Jeanist's eyes narrowed at the sudden ocurrence.

But as the dust cleared, he exhaled with dry humor.

"Of course you're here too."

Climbing out of the rubble, standing at a height that made it seem like he was surveying the entire battlefield—

Rockinesis stood.

...

°

°

°

| Endeavor's agency… |

...

The tall building of Endeavor's agency was currently swallowed in smoke. The terrain below it had become a full battlefield.

Nomus crawled through it from every direction, with several heroes engaging them across the ruined streets. Cars destroyed. Buildings reduced to rubble.

Minimizing infrastructure damage was normally a priority. But with this many engineered creatures bearing down on them, there was only so much the heroes could afford to worry about.

Which made it all the more jarring, given this was the territory of the number two hero.

His presence here was supposed to command order and control. Right now, it was anything but.

Todoroki—or rather, Shoto—stood at the building's entrance, watching the raging battle with a feeling of helplessness.

Despite his desire to join in, Endeavor had forbidden it. An intern was still just an intern, and a threat of this level wasn't for students to handle, no matter how powerful he was.

And to be honest, despite the devastation, the heroes had managed to contain the Nomus, concentrating the chaos around themselves to keep it from spreading.

So he could only watch.

Of course, part of him was ready to disobey the moment something gave him a reason.

And ,something did.

"Wryyy…"

A squad of flying Nomus descended from above, their blank eyes settling directly on him. No hero was on them—either they'd slipped through or they were a fresh batch.

Either way, it was what he needed.

"Haaah…" Shoto let out a long breath, cold mist rising from it as his ice side began charging.

Just as he was about to wipe them out in one strike—

"What did I say, Shoto?"

-Thud!-

A massive figure landed in front of him, cracking the ground beneath and blocking his line of attack.

"You…"

Endeavor. He turned his head slightly, expression stern as ever. "Right now, you're an intern. Your responsibility isn't to deal with this—it's to observe and learn from what you're about to see."

The flames surrounding him burned brighter, as he turned back to the Nomus.

"Pay attention. I'll show you what the rank of number two hero means."

Then his figure flashed.

One moment he stood right in front of Shoto. The next, he was beside the Nomus—the trail of flames the only indication of how fast he'd moved.

He clenched his fist, flames intensifying to blowtorch violence.

"HELLFIRE STORM!"

He swung upward.

-FWOOOOSH!-

All the fire around him entered a vortex that exploded skyward—a towering tornado of flame that swallowed the group of Nomus whole, sending them spiraling into the air. Shoto had to shield his face from the immense heat.

When the fire and heat died down, Endeavor stood there, imposing, as if what he'd done was nothing.

And it truly was.

He wasn't number two for no reason.

Even that group of Nomus—

-Thud!-

-Squelch!-

-Wack!-

—became charred corpses that hit the ground with disturbing sounds the second after.

"Hmph," Endeavor snorted at the sight, his gaze cold before shifting to the chaos still raging around him.

His teeth grit.

"Whatever bastard is responsible for this—they must be severely underestimating me. Just because that vigilante caught me off guard a few weeks ago, do they think I'm a pushover they can come after whenever they want…?"

Hatred settled into his eyes.

"Whoever it is, I'll make them pay once I'm done here."

"WRYYY!"

His monologue was cut off as even more Nomus emerged from alleyways and the corners around, crawling out like an endless tide.

His flames burned brighter in response.

Shoto tensed up again, believing that even a number this high might cause trouble for Endeavor to handle alone.

However, a held up hand from his father stopped him again.

This fight was his alone.

"Bio-engineered humans…" Endeavor said as he squinted, flames gathering at his arms. "I will put you to re—"

—Swoooosh!—

His epic one liner was interrupted when a figure dashed in at incredible speed and struck the Nomus' exposed heads cleanly, downing them all in a matter of seconds.

For a moment, Endeavor looked confused.

But as he recognized a certain cape drifting in the wind on the corner of his eye, his expression became filled with anger.

"It's you…" He growled.

The figure turned to him, eyes meeting his without fear. Which made him even angrier.

"Rockinesis!"

...

°

°

°

| Near Gran Torino's apartment… |

...

"Huff, huff…"

Midoriya's figure blurred into a flash of light as he ran with Full Cowling active, eyes scanning with intensity and caution.

Suddenly they locked onto something, pupils contracting, making him shift direction.

A mother and child, being surrounded by Nomus.

"Gran Torino!"

"On it already, keep up the pace, brat!"

A figure close to him shot forward, fast and agile.

Gran Torino, ex-hero, ex-teacher of All Might.

In an instant he reached the Nomus before they could lay hands on the family, kicking through all of them in a combination that lasted less than a second.

Then Midoriya arrived.

"Don't worry, I'm here!"

Just a tad slower than Gran Torino, he used his speed to grab both mother and child and blurred out of there, setting them safely aside before the Nomus could recover.

Gran Torino, on the other hand, didn't let them recover so easily.

-Thud!-

-Thud!-

-Thud!-

-Thud!-

Before they could process what was hitting them, he was already ricocheting between them like a bullet, subduing them quickly and efficiently.

Before long, the Nomus went down—unconscious or dead. It was hard to tell.

Regardless, that matter was handled. Or at least part of it.

"Huff… making a man of my age move this much, just what the hell is happening?" He asked no one in particular, glancing around with a grim look.

Minutes ago, the city had fallen into panic at the sudden appearance of whatever these things were.

There had been hero agencies nearby, of course, so they weren't completely defenseless.

But they clearly hadn't been prepared enough. With the sheer number of Nomus that had arrived, they were quickly overwhelmed, and the creatures began running rampant as the heroes did their best to evacuate while fighting them off.

He and Midoriya had been caught up in it.

And now they had a whole city in trouble.

'This doesn't look good.' He mused grimly, eyeing the rising pillars of smoke and fire in the distance.

Despite their efforts, they were only two.

And the heroes around them weren't of the highest level.

At this rate, the casualties would be grave.

'I can only hope U.A. mobilizes fast.' Gran Torino thought, brows furrowing.

But that was enough thinking.

It was time to get back to it.

"Brat!"

"Y-yes!" Midoriya, who had just returned from leaving the mother and child in a safe spot, perked up at the call.

To saving.

And so the two kicked off, dashing across the city in search of those in need.

And in need they indeed found. Countless civilians, too many Nomus, too few heroes.

Even with the two of them and their speed, the situation was overwhelming.

But this wasn't a time to freeze up.

"Let's go, brat!"

"Yes!"

Neither of them hesitated.

They jumped to the rescue, ready for what might be a really intense night.

Yet, just as they were approaching a group of Nomus encircling a crowd of civilians—

"WRYYY?!"

The Nomus were suddenly thrown into the air by an invisible force.

They struggled, they squirmed.

But they were helpless.

A second after—

-Crack!-

Their bodies were forced beyond their limits and rendered useless.

They dropped to the ground limply.

"WRYYYYYY!!!"

But that wasn't the end of it.

From a nearby alleyway, more Nomus poured out, rushing toward the civilians.

But again, before they could do anything—

—BAM!—

Something shot in, crashing into them like a bowling ball into pins, sending them flying in every direction from the impact alone. Buildings shook. Windows shattered. Concrete cracked.

As the dust cleared, Midoriya's eyes widened as he recognized the silhouette immediately.

"Rockinesis?!"

"Who?" Gran Torino asked with a lost look.

...

°

°

°

| Chiba, back to the main battle |

...

'It took a while, huh?'

Taka smiled beneath his mask, knuckles popping as he clenched his fists, readying them for the extra hours of work now approaching.

At last, it was time for the rematch he'd been waiting for.

The only fight he'd technically lost—by his own standards—since he'd gotten the system. The one he'd only gotten out of scot-free by fooling the guy rather than pulling an actual victory.

But at least now he could settle that score.

At last, it was time to see how much he'd truly grown over these past months.

And what better opponent to measure that against than the one he couldn't do anything meaningful to until he'd exhausted all his aura into a single attack—and even then had only managed superficial burns?

The one whose single swing could have killed him, and whose faintest graze had broken his arm.

Sure, he was at half power right now with the clones still out there, so this couldn't really be called a proper test of how much he'd grown.

But he didn't care.

Full power or half power, it didn't change the truest fact of the day.

'Today, I'm beating his ass.'

-Tack-

He snapped his fingers. Instantly, the rubble covering the elderly man behind him lifted away, finally freeing him.

As it did, Taka spoke without looking back at Jiro.

"Get him somewhere safe… As for the big guy, leave him to me."

She looked back between him and the old man, before mustering up a dry laugh.

"You don't need to tell me twice."

After that, she was quick about hauling the old man over her shoulder and scattering as fast as she could.

And good that she did, because soon—

"RAAAAAAH!"

The colossus ahead decided it was time to move.

His voice alone made the few intact windows in the surrounding buildings rattle violently.

-Thunk, thunk, thunk-

And then… He began moving—each step gaining speed, a slow walk converting into a building sprint, each footfall hammering the earth.

Watching the monstrosity approach, Taka exhaled through his nose, giving off his last relaxed smile of the day.

"Okey dokey."

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

[Imaginary Technique: My Theme] (ACTIVATED!)

Song chosen: Show Your Style - Miracle Sound

-On repeat-

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Then he swept his robes back so they wouldn't get in the way, and his relaxed smile became a full wide grin.

"LET'S DANCE, MACHIA!"

The very next instant, his legs buckled, muscles coiling like a piston.

—BOOOOM!—

Then—he shot off.

A pillar of rubble, dirt, and dust was ejected skyward from the speed burst.

His figure blurred, stretching like space itself couldn't contain his speed.

Gigantomachia, however, seemed capable of tracking when the impact would land.

So he drew back a fist.

And so did Taka.

The very next second, both fists met.

—KA-BOOOOOOM!—

The clash produced a shockwave of enormous proportions that echoed like a thunderstrike.

The sheer air pressure it expelled decimated every building and piece of rubble in a circle around them, reducing them to pebbles or dust.

And yet, despite all that force, both entities remained with their fists locked, pushing against each other.

"You're… not a weakling anymore." Gigantomachia growled, struggling to push against Taka's own push.

"Surprise, surprise."

The conversation ended right there. Gigantomachia retrieved his fist and swung with the other hand.

Taka was too fast to let it connect. He dove under the swing in under a second and avoided even the shockwave from just that one attack.

A line of pure destruction carved by wind pressure went through buildings and streets in its wake.

Taka ignored it. He focused on the window of opportunity instead.

Just like their first fight, Gigantomachia was incredibly slow. His Quirks granted him enormous strength, size, and even greater defenses. But nothing boosted his speed beyond raw muscular strength and size.

And that wasn't enough to keep up with Taka.

His body began glowing crimson as he exhaled a deep breath.

Then—

—TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA!—

A rain of punches began falling across all of Gigantomachia's body. Surrounding him were several crimson afterimages that could only trail behind the real Taka as he circled the giant from every angle, delivering an omnidirectional and relentless assault.

The intensity was such that Gigantomachia's skin began turning molten red, the friction and force of the barrage heating his muscles and skin to unthinkable degrees.

However—

"ENOUGH!"

With a swing of both arms—like a child throwing a tantrum—Gigantomachia generated a storm powerful enough that even Taka had to dig in to hold position against it.

Not too bad. With aura projection he absorbed the whole hurricane with just a slight groan. Still, he pulled back briefly, shaking out both fists to let them relax from the storm of punches he had just unleashed as he assessed the result.

Gigantomachia still stood… which was expected.

But bruises had started appearing on his skin.

His attacks were landing. That was all he needed to know.

The smirk beneath his mask widened slightly.

"Look at you now—even the Nomu at the USJ would've tanked that better." He taunted, though he doubted the guy was smart enough to know what he was referencing.

Apparently he didn't need to. He'd understood it was a taunt regardless.

"YOU—YOU DARE STOP ME TWICE FROM FOLLOWING MASTER'S ORDERS… AND NOW YOU EVEN MOCK ME?!"

The raw guttural rage was plain in his voice.

"HRHGH!"

And with it, of course, came size. Gigantomachia began growing further, widening the already enormous gap between them.

Until he hit his limit.

The monster of hardened muscle stood at twenty-five meters. A behemoth in every sense.

—And then, to top it off—

"UAARRRGGH!"

His already rock-like skin shifted. A visor-like protrusion extended from his jaw, covering his eyes. The irregular mass on his back extended and sharpened into spikes. And from his fingers, enormously long claws formed—so long they might have matched the length of his entire arm.

The grin on Taka's face turned slightly crooked.

"Why do I gotta run my mouth so much?"

"YOU WILL DIE TODAY. NO MORE WILL YOU STAND BEFORE ME AND MY PURPOSE!"

His voice was losing coherence—becoming less speech and more pure animal fury.

That wasn't far from the truth.

Without wasting another second, Gigantomachia swung.

A shockwave advanced ahead of the blow—but unlike before, the force this time concentrated along the five tips of his claws. The result cut through everything in at least half a mile, a violent wave of focused air pressure that sheared through whatever stood in its path until it dissipated.

"Damn." Taka muttered.

He'd dodged it, of course.

But seeing that Gigantomachia's attacks were now more focused, he doubted he'd walk away clean if one landed, even if he poured all his aura into defense. Badly injured in the best case, cut apart in chunks in the worst.

It helped remind him that he was facing one of the few who genuinely stood at the top of this verse.

But he wouldn't have it any other way.

What merit would there be in putting the guy down if it was easy?

"Hell yeah!"

His aura flared like a blowtorch, and he shot straight at him again, afterimages trailing behind.

—TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA!—

The barrage resumed, raining down from every angle while Gigantomachia spun and thrashed, unable to keep up with the speed.

That's not to say it was entirely one-sided.

The giant's strength was such that every missed swing generated shockwaves and wind that destroyed whatever buildings remained around, making these already apocalyptic surroundings even worse.

And Taka wasn't completely unaffected. The remnants of those shockwaves still reached him. He had to use Immovable Object just to avoid being thrown off and losing his rhythm.

But even as he kept it going, a problem was making itself clear.

A bigger Gigantomachia meant more muscle hardened by his Quirk—and thus, that he'd become more dense.

What had been enough to damage him before might not be cutting it anymore.

Sure, the speed and friction were heating the skin—but there was a chance that was only surface level.

And the monster didn't show any sign of feeling anything. Taka couldn't be sure if that was a Quirk effect or if he was genuinely receiving zero real damage.

Either way, this war of attrition would end with him losing.

For all the skills the system had given him, infinite stamina wasn't one of them. True Breathing offset exhaustion somewhat, but it wasn't a real stamina booster—just a delay. At this level, it would mostly just keep him oxygenated.

So, it was time for a different approach.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

[STATUS PAGE]

▸ Strength: (186 Base) 34,000 → 10,000

▸ Defense: (372 Base) 20,000 → 10,000

▸ Aura Projection: 20,000 → 54,000

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

'It's been a while since I've needed to do this.'

Using a burst of aura projection, he shot himself a huge distance away from Gigantomachia—who, in his chaotic frenzy, didn't notice him pull back until the fists stopped coming.

Then he looked around, confused.

By then it was too late.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

[STATUS PAGE]

▸ Strength: 10,000 → 186

▸ Defense: 10,000 → 372

▸ Aura Projection: 54,000 → 73,000

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

This time, using everything he had left—

—BOOOOOOM!—

He released it all in an explosive burst, shooting back at Gigantomachia at a speed the giant couldn't track in time.

In that brief instant, time seemed to slow.

He drew his fist back, muscles tightening.

A blink after, he was upon Gigantomachia's face, the giant only just registering his approach.

But by then, he couldn't do a damn thing about it.

In that blink of a second—no, even less than that—

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

[STATUS PAGE]

▸ Strength: 186 → 73,186

▸ Defense: 372

▸ Aura Projection: 73,000 → 0

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

He poured everything into one punch.

And swung.

—CLANGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!—

A sound like a metallic gong burst from the point of contact, shattering whatever remained to shatter, aided by the shockwave the impact produced.

Gigantomachia—the unmovable mountain until that moment—coughed blood, his body launched at least a mile away from the sheer force.

He skidded uncontrollably through the ground, drawing a trail as he went, until—

—BOOM!—

—he hit a building sturdy enough to arrest his weight and momentum.

The windows shattered. Gigantomachia's fallen body was showered in glass and falling rubble.

"Huff…"

And as he lay there unmoving, Taka floated down to the street, massaging his fist, exhaling a long breath.

"Was that enou—why am I even jinxing it by asking?"

Reality seemed to agree with him.

"Master…"

Gigantomachia began rising. The debris of concrete and glass that had covered him, now falling off him as he began to stand.

He wobbled. But that was the least he could do after a punch like that.

Taka watched the whole thing with a deadpan.

"Goddamnit."

Even a 70k punch delivered off a 70k aura launch had only injured him slightly.

He sighed, cracking his neck left and right.

"What to do, what to do… If I hit him with a moderate amount of aura, this guy will never go down. But I can't keep using attacks like that every time either."

He could, technically. But he'd exhaust himself to the bone doing it, and then, with all that aura on strength only and nothing on defense even a glancing hit from Gigantomachia would be catastrophic.

Which wasn't a great position to be in.

"…!"

Just then, his eyes widened.

After a brief pause, glancing at his status screen, he exhaled an amused laugh through his teeth.

Then his aura flared, and he raised his fists, clearly up for round two.

What had changed?

A clone had dismissed itself and returned some of his aura.

And that meant soon, more and more would do the same.

Why?

"Was about damn time."

Because All Might had started moving.

…

────────────────────────

-To Be Continued…-

────────────────────────

Join my Pḁtreon to get access to more chapters, and you'll help me make ends meet while doing so.

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──────────────

(A/N: I swear, I thought I had already uploaded the chapter here.

Also, once again, I'm reminded that even a huge number like 70k isn't all that much when having to be divided into three stats. Which goes the same for the nearly 150k.

The minimum requirement of aura that Taka should have for squaring up to AFO I think will be 200k. More so because of the guy's Quirks than his physical stats.

So yeah, Taka ain't there just yet.

And since I'm power scaling now, might as well give the new All Might a reading too.

Since I used to calculate his physical stats to be in the 40k-80k while injured—which he could push further in a moment of desperation—and his prime to be in the 500k, I give this new cured but not prime All Might around 100-200k in stats (so basically 300k overall). As for the rest, he'll have to re-earn it by hitting the gym.

If he can do so before OFA runs out, that is.)

 

[The Synonym]

────────────────────────

[Divide Et Impera 3]

────────────────────────

|U.A. Nezu's office: |

...

"How is everything going, All Might?" Nezu asked, tapping an earpiece he was wearing.

He was looking at a TV broadcast, where the hero could be seen punching several hordes of Nomus into the ground with ease, his monstrous strength completely pulverizing any kind of numerical advantage.

Through the device, All Might's voice resonated.

{"I'm almost done here, principal. I'll be moving toward the next student soon!"}

Nezu nodded, even though he wasn't visible from All Might's side.

"Just be sure to clear out all the Nomus. We don't want our students coming to harm, do we?"

All Might let out a low hum of agreement.

Before long, his figure finished punching the last Nomu into orbit, then kicked off the ground and vanished from the scene.

And as he did, the distant figure of Rockinesis sat on a piece of rubble before dissipating into particles of crimson light.

'That makes young Uraraka safe.' Nezu thought, nodding to himself. 'And one less burden on Takahashi.'

Today had truly been a hectic day. Not only had Takahashi discovered—although he wasn't sure "discovered" was the right word, given the boy had probably known for a while already—who U.A.'s traitor was, with it turning out to be Aoyama, but soon after that an attack on all their students in their internships had begun.

The timing was almost comically inopportune.

Luckily, things were calming down now. With All Might on the board, it was only a matter of time before all the Nomus were taken care of. And Takahashi…

His eyes settled on another monitor in the room, showing a broadcast from a helicopter at a great distance from the epicenter—one that captured the battle of titans currently unfolding at Chiba.

His paw clenched into a fist as he watched the degree of damage the villain's rampage alone was causing.

'That villain again.' He thought, recalling the first time he and Takahashi had met.

Their fight back then hadn't been nearly as destructive.

Although, back then Takahashi had brought the villain to the bay to ensure his attacks wouldn't reach the city, and had done so via carrying him through the air.

So that had been one factor.

Another was…

'He seems to grow stronger.' He noted, having observed the villain's growth over time.

At that time, Takahashi hadn't pushed him that much.

Now, it was an entirely different story.

Both Takahashi and the villain clashed with a might that he might even say rivaled All Might's.

Shockwaves pulverized the already destroyed city further. Clashes thundered through the sky, sending the distant helicopter rattling from the pressure. Earth cracked and parted in their wake.

His student was, at last, being pushed to his limit.

And… it seemed he wasn't the only one who had noticed.

{"Principal."} All Might's voice came through the earpiece.

"What's wrong, All Might?"

{"Shouldn't I go help young Takahashi? This situation, it might be…"}

"The one Nighteye saw of Takahashi's death?" Nezu finished for him.

A beat of silence in the communication. Then All Might hummed in agreement.

Nezu smiled. "Perhaps it would be the smart thing to send you to help him right now. That way, we would severely reduce the chances of anything actually happening to him."

{"Then…"}

"But you know Nighteye's visions as well as I do. Even if we try to change a variable, it's highly unlikely it will change the final result. It has always been that way—until a certain someone appeared."

"Young Takahashi." All Might guessed.

Nezu smirked.

"Yes, this might just be the dreaded moment where happens… but if there's someone capable of going beyond mere fate, then it's Takahashi."

{"Still—"}

"If you were to go help him right now, there's no way of knowing whether something will happen to the other students. His clones are out there helping—but that still doesn't guarantee something unexpected won't occur. The number of clones he's dispersed is enormous, and I don't doubt it's cost him considerably, so the clones must also have a limited capacity…"

His eyes settled back on the TV, showing Taka and Gigantomachia clashing like beasts, neither willing to give an inch.

"And risking something happening to the other students because we didn't trust our student enough to let him handle the big part while we handled the rest… wouldn't that be insulting him?"

{"Principal…"}

"I trust Takahashi. All Might, you've seen what he can do. Do you trust him?"

A deep silence settled between both.

Then—

{"I do."}

"Then go help the rest of the students."

His eyes focused on Taka's figure on screen, outlined in crimson against the carnage, standing firm even before the walking catastrophe.

Knowing him, he was probably smirking under that mask.

"A vision is just that. A vision—it can't determine our real future… and even if it could, I don't have the slightest doubt that if anyone can go against it, it's Takahashi."

The crimson light from his student reflected in his pupils.

"Because that kid Takahashi, he is…"

All Might decided to finish the sentence for him.

{"The future number one."}

...

°

°

°

| Chiba… |

...

—CRKCKCKCK!—

Gigantomachia's body was launched backward, dragging a trail across several streets.

He ended up overturning from the momentum, whipping his body around and digging his claws into the earth to skid to a stop, rising dust in his wake.

Yet even as he finally came to a stop, the fight hardly did.

-Swoosh!-

Taka appeared before him. Then, without even letting him catch his breath—

—CLANG!—

Punched him straight into orbit.

His figure soared across the sky, ascending like a firework.

And following him, something far more resembling a firework caught up—ascending at his same speed, appearing to stop right before his face.

"This is a familiar situation, isn't it?!" Taka's taunting laugh echoed across the sky.

"Urgh!"

Gigantomachia swung at him mid-air—yet failed, as Taka vanished from there.

… Appearing right behind him instead.

"How about I make you remember?!"

The instant he said that, the aura around him condensed like a laser focusing solely around his body, and then—

—CLANG!—

He punched.

Gigantomachia was launched forward.

—CLANG!—

And then to the side.

—CLANG!—

And then back.

—CLANG!—

And then to the other side.

—CLANG!—

And again, and again.

—CLANG!—

—CLANG!—

—CLANG!—

—CLANG!—

—CLANG!—

—CLANG!—

—CLANG!—

—CLANG!—

—CLANG!—

—CLANG!—

—CLANG!—

—CLANG!—

—CLANG!—

—CLANG!—

—CLANG!—

—CLANG!—

Even as they continued to ascend, Gigantomachia's body was forced into a vacuum as devastating punches slammed into him from all sides, several orbit-like trails of crimson surrounding his frame as he continued to rise and sag like a ragdoll being smacked in every direction.

And soon, as they ascended well above the clouds, something happened.

As the air in his lungs was slammed against him, Gigantomachia found it hard to breathe as the air grew scarce… and Taka noticed it.

Circling around his body one last time, he stopped directly above him, eyeing the approaching titanic figure in condescension.

He could have continued the giant's ascent until he rendered that enormous resistance of his useless against the prospect of no oxygen to breathe.

He could have.

But he hadn't come into this fight looking for that kind of victory.

Back then, during their first fight, he had no option but to trick the giant in order to avoid a direct confrontation once he had spent every single aura point all to merely singe his chest.

Now?

Now he was several times stronger than back then, his finesse in harnessing his aura having improved too.

He didn't need no tricks to win this fight anymore.

Even now, weakened by his clones, running at merely half his total aura—he could say it with certainty.

He was stronger than Gigantomachia.

And, thus, it was his right to decide how this was gonna end.

Not by throwing this guy into space, as would be the easy way.

But by smashing through those absurd defenses of his with nothing but his bare knuckles.

Exactly what he failed to do months ago.

That was his decision.

Takahashi's decision.

And so, as the giant's figure turned imminent, he reeled his fist back, smirking behind his mask.

"Don't bite your tongue, Machia."

—Winding up one last punch.

—CLANG!!!!!!—

One that sent Gigantomachia back down, diving like an uncontrolled comet.

Only, that hadn't been the end.

Taka's figure shot down after him, like a comet of his own.

And then—

—CLANG!!!!!!—

He punched Gigantomachia again, propelling him faster.

—CLANG!!!!!!—

And then again.

—CLANG!!!!!!—

—CLANG!!!!!!—

—CLANG!!!!!!—

—CLANG!!!!!!—

Until at last, he couldn't catch up to the villain again. The giant's body ignited from the friction of air and his own velocity, crashing down so fast that even Taka at maximum speed could no longer keep pace.

And with all that accumulated momentum and speed—

—BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!—

Gigantomachia landed.

A crater the size of at least an entire city block formed upon impact, the earth bending from the force, and a column of dust rising so high it almost touched the sky. Earth split apart, and whatever had been there was simply gone.

-Thud-

As the dust overtook most of the zone, Taka landed on a nearby pile of rubble, breathing slightly hard.

His eyes shifted to check his aura.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Total Aura: 150,914 → 87,348 (57%)

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Seven clones remained.

"RAAAAAAH!"

"…?!"

A figure burst through the smoke, charging straight at him faster than he'd expected.

Caught off guard, he had no choice but to take it.

—CRKCKCKCK!—

Like a rhino, Gigantomachia slammed directly onto him and proceeded to drag him across the ground with violence.

Before the giant could properly grasp him, though, he slipped away with his speed, circling around and stopping at his back.

"You didn't even stay one second on the ground, you psycho!"

"MASTER!"

Gigantomachia spun around to face him.

Taka clicked his tongue.

"Whatever, not like I wanted this over so soon anyway."

And so, with no further talk—

"RAAAAAH!"

"AAAAAH!"

Both shot at each other again.

—CLANG!!!!!!—

Fists met.

—CLANG!!!!!!—

—CLANG!!!!!!—

—CLANG!!!!!!—

—CLANG!!!!!!—

Shockwaves exploded left and right as both unleashed a barrage at each other, each meeting the other and stopping it in its tracks.

Until Gigantomachia drew out his claws again, slashing at Taka.

Yet—

"You wanna play like that?!"

Instead of dodging or blocking, Taka wound both arms back, his fists turning into straight palms, and then—

—SHIIIIIIN!!!—

He slashed too, swinging each palm in an X across his body.

What followed was bizarre, even for Machia.

"…?!"

Before his attack on Taka could land, lines of raw energy formed along the claws—before they split cleanly, as if divided at an atomic level.

-Boom-

They collapsed powerlessly without ever reaching Taka.

Sadly for Gigantomachia, that attack hadn't only been aimed at his claws.

-Splurt!-

The next instant, an X-shaped gash formed on his chest, bursting with blood.

Yet, even as it did…

"RAAAAAH!"

Gigantomachia remained uncaring, going straight back to swinging at Taka, who had no choice but to retreat momentarily to avoid getting caught in the onslaught.

"Tch, even at this level it can only deal superficial damage?" He muttered.

Gigantomachia's Quirk strengthened his muscles, not his nails or hair. Well, technically they still received a boost, but nowhere near as much as his flesh.

Hence why he'd been able to cut down the giant claws, but still only dealt superficial damage to the chest.

"No matter."

His eyes gleamed with a sharp light, his figure flashing and appearing before Gigantomachia.

Making use of the small window of surprise that having his claws cut had created, he slammed a sucker punch into the beast's face.

—CLANG!!!!!!—

The giant's body was sent rolling away, uncontrolled and limp.

And as it did, Taka felt something.

Six clones remained.

"Hngh!"

Mid-roll, Gigantomachia caught himself by digging what remained of his claws into the earth, kicking off the ground and propelling himself back at Taka.

And once again, Taka's figure flashed, fists igniting with aura.

—TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA!—

Another barrage fell upon Gigantomachia, who swung uncaringly for his own body in response.

—CLANG!!!!!!—

—TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA!—

—CLANG!!!!!!—

—TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA!—

—CLANG!!!!!!—

—TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA!—

Some punches landed cleanly on Gigantomachia's body, making the mass of hardened muscle tremble slightly. Some clashed with Machia's own fists, shaking the earth and rupturing even the air in their collision.

Through all of it, Gigantomachia remained just as unaffected, pushing forward no matter how many of his fists were met or how many he received in return.

His raw defenses allowed him to fight that way.

…At least…

Five clones remained.

Until something changed.

The clashes that had been evenly matched until then… started carrying more energy behind them than before.

—TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA!—

—CLANG!!!!!!—

—TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA!—

—CLANG!!!!!!—

—TATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA!—

"Urgh!"

Then, the stalemate broke. Slowly, Gigantomachia's feet—which had been digging into the ground to hold position—began being pushed back.

His nails dragged across the concrete, leaving a trail, and despite that he kept receding.

His arms, which had handled the exertion fine until now, began lagging—slower, less able to resist the recoil of each clash.

—Until, after a full minute of continuous exchanges, his until-then-unbroken posture…

—CLANG!!!!!!—

"ARGH!"

Crumbled at last.

The instant Gigantomachia's fist was overpowered and his stance broke completely, Taka made use of it immediately.

He supercharged, aura swirling around his body like electricity.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

[STATUS PAGE]

▸ Strength: (186 Base) 50,000 → 85,000

▸ Defense: (372 Base) 20,000 → 5000

▸ Aura Projection: 25,000 → 5000

―――――――――――――

Total Aura: 151,914 → 94,945 (63%)

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

And, like a missile, he shot at Gigantomachia's stomach.

—BAM!!!!!!—

His fist dug into him, folding the giant in half.

And, following that, Gigantomachia was sent skidding across the city.

—Boom!—

—Boom!—

—Boom!—

—Boom!—

Three or four buildings paid the price of his uncontrolled body dragging across the ground, crumbling instantly under the impact.

And as he did, Taka felt even more changes.

Four clones remained.

Three clones remained.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Total Aura: 151,914 → 102,541 (68%)

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Smirking despite his hurried breathing, he slammed both fists against each other.

"You aren't looking so good now, are you?"

In the distance, Gigantomachia rose from within the dust and smoke.

Wobbly. Slightly dazed.

As the dust settled, a trail of blood was visible running down his mouth.

Yet Taka knew he was still far from defeated.

He was superior in strength to the guy now. Maybe he had been for a while—but his defenses still proved absurd compared to everything else.

He'd felt it in his last punch. Even though he'd finally been able to move the wall of muscle and cause real damage, it had still felt like punching a mountain.

He gave his total aura a look.

Still at barely 68%. It would reach 75% once the rest of the clones were dismissed.

And then the rest would recover gradually over time.

'Though that will take a while… more than this fight will probably last.'

He let out a laugh. Even though he was still outclassed in durability, that didn't mean he couldn't wear Gigantomachia down. He could hurt him now, and that meant he could win.

He didn't need 100%.

Feeling fired up, Taka took a moment to breathe properly and recover.

Those last barrages had taken a real toll.

Sadly, that rest didn't last long.

"Master…"

"… Don't you get bored of repeating yourself so much?" Taka asked, body coiling, ready for the fight again.

Yet, instead of finding Gigantomachia ready to pounce on him again—the monster did something else.

-Sniff, sniff-

Like a dog, his head lifted as he scented the air.

"My mission, I will fulfill it, master!"

And then, it turned in a certain direction, gaze locking onto something.

Taka followed his gaze, squinting for a moment… until he saw.

Jiro, carrying the old man, alongside what appeared to be a felled hero.

'Crap, when did we get so close?!'

They hadn't. Jiro was still about a mile away.

She had been hiding thoroughly, which must have made her think she was safe.

But Gigantomachia clearly wasn't relying on sight here.

And a mile of distance wasn't going to be enough.

"Found you, my mission!"

Without further thought, Gigantomachia kicked the ground, shifting his objective from Taka to Jiro.

Two clones remained.

"Where—"

Taka shot forward just as fast—no, faster.

Twice, four times, ten times faster.

—BOOM!!!!—

The air condensed around him as he pushed to supersonic degrees.

"—DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?!"

Gigantomachia, who had just begun charging toward Jiro… was forced to take the full brunt of that charge before he could get anywhere near her.

—BAM!!!!!!—

"ARGH!"

Air escaped Gigantomachia regardless of whether he felt the pain or not. Taka's crimson-covered figure slammed directly onto his ribs, folding the skin and muscle beneath—yet even that wasn't enough to stop Taka's momentum.

Like a helpless child, Gigantomachia was carried off as Taka continued charging, slowly forcing the giant off his feet—until both began rising through the air.

Under Jiro's awed gaze, the gigantic villain was carried aloft by what looked like a crimson star, slowly ascending into the sky.

"That crimson aura…" A mutter escaped Jiro's mouth.

Meanwhile, high above, Taka and Gigantomachia continued to ascend, heat rising on Gigantomachia's back as their momentum created friction against the very air.

Soon, they pierced the clouds. Then, once again, the air began growing scarce.

Yet Taka didn't stop.

He continued ascending, unmoved, even as Gigantomachia recovered somewhat from the blow and tried to punch him. None of which mattered, because Taka remained fixed on his ascent.

… Until soon, they reached the limit.

One clone remained.

With it, he finally stopped pushing Gigantomachia upward.

Yet that didn't stop the giant's momentum immediately. He continued ascending for a moment on his own.

Something Taka used to get a word in.

As Gigantomachia ascended uncontrolled and without leverage, Taka floated up beside his face at the giant's same speed, keeping pace with his momentum while seeming to stand on nothing with his arms crossed.

Then he spoke.

"I didn't want to do this since I probably won't come away unscathed either… But I think I'm done playing around."

His eyes, gleaming with a crimson light, settled directly over Gigantomachia's.

"Time to crash this party."

And just as he finished saying those words, Gigantomachia's momentum died.

He slowed on his ascent, until he came to a stop.

Then he began to plummet, his helpless body unable to do anything to his opponent as gravity claimed him.

Taka remained above, watching the falling villain with cold eyes.

Then—

—FWOOOOSH!—

His aura flared up, his arms uncrossing as he turned to face the falling villain, energy gathering around him in tandem.

Veins surfaced on his face, visible even through the torn vigilante costume.

Electricity sparked around him as the enormous torch of aura surrounding him began compressing, turning him into a beacon of pure, condensed, destructive energy.

And then—

No clones remaining.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Total Aura: 151,914 → 113,935 (75%)

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

He shot down.

—BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!—

The sky thundered. Air split, compressed, and ignited at his burst.

Real fire began surrounding him as he fell—coupled with the flames of aura already wreathing him, they made him look like an actual meteor.

It became a matter of mere instants before he caught up to Gigantomachia.

And just like before, he drove into the giant's stomach, applying all his momentum to him as well, effectively propelling both of them into a catastrophic descent.

One of enormous proportions.

...

Far away, the helicopter of reporters recording the incident finally caught sight of him high above the clouds.

"There he is!"

The cameraman aimed skyward, where what seemed to be a falling star was slowly crashing down, illuminating the now-dark sky.

"They are coming down. The villain and Rockinesis, crashing down with full force!" The reporter exclaimed, hanging from the helicopter's edge as he pointed at the descending star. "This looks like the very end of the world, ladies and gentlemen!"

Everywhere across Japan, eyes remained on the last disaster that had struck the country today. The only fight still ongoing—and one that had shaken the entire nation to its core.

Threats on a level no one had expected to still exist—on par with the number one hero—had come to crash before everyone's eyes.

Until now, the true extent of Rockinesis's strength had been speculated about. The strongest—and probably only—vigilante of today remained a dubious subject due to his limited appearances and lack of any real equals.

Some still believed he only amounted to the level of several A-class villains, based on his old fights against such.

Some even speculated he might give All Might a run for his money—though they were quickly drowned out by the general voice of the crowd.

Yet today, that was changing.

As everyone saw the falling star on TV, on livestreams, or heard it through the radio—descending like a meteor about to end it all—the true might of the strongest vigilante of today was finally conveyed.

All Might represented unsurmountable strength. Power and nobility without equal. An unbreakable symbol of peace who would never buckle before any villain.

He was strength without defeat.

But the man they were watching now, falling like a death sentence upon the villain who had wrecked an entire city like it was nothing—it was something entirely different.

As everyone watched the star finally reach the ground, goosebumps crawling across their skin, a single thought echoed in everyone's mind at once.

Rockinesis… was power.

—BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!—

What followed only cemented that notion.

An explosion so bright and enormous rose into the sky.

Earth sank, creating rings of deeper and deeper levels that reached their lowest at the epicenter.

Cracks spread outward like a spiderweb, along with fissures extending further still, all originating from the center.

Then, came the shockwave.

As soon as it emerged, it was clearly visible—advancing from its origin, expanding in every direction like an atomic bomb had gone off.

Soon it reached the helicopter, forcing the reporter and cameraman to grab on as the aircraft experienced severe turbulence.

Just seeing the level of devastation it created, even from that enormous distance, made everyone understand what they were truly witnessing.

The top.

...

°

°

°

| A minute or so later… |

...

From the still-present cloud of dust, a figure walked out, the dust parting before it—revealing…

-Cough, cough-

Taka, now with his face much more exposed.

His Rockinesis costume was a wreck. His hood was greatly charred, his mask torn apart. The rest was singed and greatly torn as well.

-Schk!-

Grumbling, he yanked the broken piece of mask off his face and heaved a long sigh.

Then he floated up to the ruins of a nearby building, landing on top, and turned to stare down at the epicenter of what had been his most destructive attack to date.

"Urgh." He groaned, attempting to lift both arms and barely making them budge.

They were probably broken. Even after redirecting most of his stats into defense, the landing—combined with all the accumulated momentum—had still managed to break his arms, which had taken the full brunt of whatever Gigantomachia's giant body hadn't absorbed during the crash.

Frowning, he turned back toward the remaining dust cloud blanketing the entire zone.

Only—the next second, a single glare was enough to send a sweeping wave of aura that cleared it away.

…Revealing, much to his satisfaction, a defeated and shrunken Gigantomachia—now completely buried under several collapsed buildings, reduced to rubble around him.

He didn't know whether the man was dead or unconscious. But it didn't change the most important fact.

He had won.

Against Gigantomachia.

He had won.

"Hahaha…" He let out a low chuckle.

With this, he finally cemented his standing in the world. With this, he was finally certain of where he currently stood.

At the top.

"Haha…"

His laugh died down, turning into a simple smile.

One filled with satisfaction.

Seeing the giant monster now at the center of a crater, utterly defeated, all at his hands—Taka felt the need to sit down, exhaustion settling into his body.

He had come so far.

He had told himself this many times already—but for the first time, the feeling was as vivid as it had ever been.

This path he had taken, it was amazing.

From standing at the sidelines, watching Seiji be the hero while he could only curse his own genetics.

From being a looked-down-upon kid, amid many special kids with all sorts of powers.

From a kid who had to be raised by a stranger, powerless in a world that seemed to favor everyone else.

From a non-existent character in someone else's story—to this.

For once, he could feel it vividly.

Takahashi Fukumoto existed.

And not even All For One had been able to deny that, even with fate favoring him.

HE EXISTED.

Though, of course…

"I haven't forgotten." He muttered as he turned, scanning the surroundings with a sharp gaze.

This situation—it looked too similar to Nighteye's vision, didn't it?

He was tired. His arms were broken. His aura was still slowly regenerating, not yet back to full.

If there was a moment to strike, wouldn't it be this?

...

He kept scanning.

Yet no matter how long he looked—nothing appeared.

Nothing attacked.

Nothing lunged.

Nothing.

He was alone, accompanied only by the silence of the destroyed city and the whistling wind.

Oh, and Gigantomachia's dubiously alive body.

But nothing else.

Still, he didn't lower his guard. He extended his scanning ability, pushing it thoroughly across the area, searching for any movement, sign of life, or whatever might indicate approaching danger.

Nothing.

Could it be that All For One had a stealth Quirk?

Was he being sneaked up on?

He kept his senses open, ears perked for any sound or disturbance.

Still nothing.

'So I did it.' A scoff left his mouth. 'I beat fate.'

And, as if to confirm it, soon he was able to make out a figure approaching in the distance.

Too far to see clearly—but given the enormous jumps and monstrous physical ability, he could clearly guess it was All Might, closing in.

"Talk about being—"

—SQUELCH!—

"Late?" A voice answered for him.

By the time Taka's gaze dropped, he saw what he had dreaded for the past few days.

A grotesque arm, piercing his chest directly.

…

────────────────────────

-To Be Continued…-

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(A/N: Sorry for the delay, between a heavy amount of assignments, and having to go and come back from college during my usual hours of uploading while also being exhausted for the rest of the day, I lost sense of time.
I have a few extra chapters stocked up though, so I should be able to upload another chapter tomorrow.

If I remember...

Anyway, I felt unusually mentally challenged while writing this chapter. Maybe because Gigantomachia didn't offer much variety in combat, since he's ultimately a very durable punching bag, and so it felt unusually hard to construct different scenes around the fight.

By this point his enormous strength also posed little real threat to Taka, so yeah.)