A groggy groan escaped from Shigaraki's throat as consciousness slowly returned. His crimson eyes fluttered open as his bleary vision steadily refocused to a metal, fluorescent-lit ceiling. He felt so numb and weak; especially his face, which was wrapped entirely with gauze–minus his eyes and mouth.
With the sounds of sirens and paramedics talking in the background, it took him a moment to recognize that he was in an ambulance.
Wait… if that was the case, then that meant… no.
He weakly lifted his head and, much to his shocked dismay, discovered thick metal restraints covering his hands. Quirk-suppressors!
He had been caught.
"No…no…no!" He uttered in disbelief. "Wait!" He perked up when he realized that something was missing. The hands! The ones his Master had given to him. His eyes darted around the ambulance, frantically searching for the embalmed hands but did not find them. "Where are they!? WHERE!?" He shouted.
"He's awake!" He heard someone exclaim.
"Quickly, sedate him!" Someone ordered.
"NO! This can't be happening!" Several hands forced him back down on the stretcher. He tried to resist, but his body was too weak to cooperate.
This feeling of weakness…helplessness…it reminded him of the old days.
"NO! NO! NO!" Shigaraki exclaimed in despair. "This wasn't supposed to happen! I was supposed to win!" A mask was swiftly placed around his mouth and gas was expelled. "This can't be game over!" He muffled out.
"Calm down, sir! Hey! We need extra help over here!"
"All Might! This is your fault! Everything I have suffered…is because of you…and Heroes like you!" He felt himself becoming drowsy. "I will kill you! SYMBOL OF PEACE! Wherever you…just watch…as I turn everything you love…to dust!"
"He's not out yet!"
"Don't worry, the gas will put him out shortly."
Shigaraki's eyes were half-lidded as his strength faded away. His dazed mind suddenly shifted to the one who had foiled his plans today. The freckled bastard wielding a mere shield. The shield that withstood his Decay. That damn cheater! If it weren't for him, he would've at least killed several students and escaped with Kurogiri, and Nomu would still be alive.
"YOU! GREEN!" He snarled, gritting his teeth, not realizing that some were missing. "I'll make…you…pay…"
His consciousness was fading.
"Master…" He whimpered a bit, water leaking from his eyes. "Master… please…forgive… me… H-Hai–"
The sedative gas did its job as Shigaraki went limp on the stretcher, unconscious.
"He's out." A paramedic sighed in relief.
"Good. The sooner we get this lunatic patched up, the sooner he gets to Tartarus."
As the ambulance doors closed, a certain Symbol of Peace had been standing close by. He had overheard all of Shigaraki's rant and, needless to say, he was quite troubled. The Number One Hero had garnered his fair share of spiteful foes in his tenure, but this seemed different. It was like the Villain's hatred toward him had been stewed and cultivated for years. He did mention something about a 'Master'. But what was that last thing he was trying to say before passing out?
Well, All Might would leave it to the police for now. He could get answers later. He grimaced painfully as steam began to waft off his body. 'Time's up. Better get a move on!'
With the situation under control, All Might rushed off in an incredible burst of speed back to UA University's main campus.
Midoriya's verdant eyes fluttered open as he stirred from unconsciousness, his vision focusing on a plain white ceiling with fluorescent lighting. He turned right to see an IV machine and several other empty beds.
It took him a brief moment to realize that he was lying on a bed in UA's medical ward.
He blinked twice before the sudden ache and numbness he felt reminded him why he was here. 'Oh, right… My injuries were extensive. Nomu really did a number on me…but I got lucky.' He recalled Yaoyorozu and Uraraka helping him onto a stretcher before Recovery Girl placed one of her healing kisses on his forehead.
Sitting up from bed, he looked over himself. He was wearing a blue hospital gown that revealed the gauze wrapped around various spots on his arms and legs, and he could feel it wrapped on his chest. It looked like someone had cleaned him up a bit too as he no longer had blood splattered on him.
Midoriya gingerly moved his arms and left leg around a bit and smiled in satisfaction. "Wow… Recovery Girl's Quirk really is amazing. Don't hardly feel any pain."
"I appreciate that, young man…but I can't take all of the credit." Midoriya turned to see Recovery Girl walking to his bed. "My Quirk, Heal, allows me to amplify a person's natural healing process, but it needs stamina to use for fuel. If a patient doesn't have much stamina, then there's not much I can do without running the risk of killing them."
"Makes sense." Midoriya made mental notes so he could jot down this information in Recovery Girl's journal entry later. "You really are the backbone of this school." He sincerely commented. "There's no way UA could do all the crazy stuff it's done without you."
Recovery Girl smiled as she stepped up to his bed. "You certainly have a good head on your shoulders. How're you feeling, son?"
"A little tired, but otherwise I feel fine." Midoriya responded truthfully. "It doesn't hurt to move around anymore. How long was I out?"
"Roughly two hours. Thankfully, your body still had enough stamina left for my Quirk to heal most of your injuries. Although, most of your superficial ones were already healing when I saw you at the USJ."
Midoriya nodded. "My Quirk enhances every aspect of my body, including my healing factor and stamina."
"It's a good thing; otherwise, you would've had to stay here overnight until you recovered enough energy. I must say, you've certainly recovered much faster than most students would have with your injuries. A Grade 2 sprained left ankle, several broken ribs, several Grade 1 muscle strains in your upper back, and a plethora of open wounds and bruises. Honestly, I'm surprised you were able to continue fighting with all of those injuries."
'It wasn't pleasant, but I've felt worse.' He inwardly mused. 'Enhanced pain endurance goes a long way...'
Recovery Girl pulled out a Pez dispenser from her jacket and offered a piece to Midoriya. "Take this. I have these made to give my patients a little boost after I heal them."
"Huh, looks like Pez." Midoriya said absentmindedly.
"Pez?" Recovery Girl cocked a brow. "Never heard of it."
"Oh…uh, just some candy from America." Midoriya took the candy and ate it. 'Not bad. Definitely doesn't taste like Pez. Wonder if those are even still around anymore…' He made a note to check out a convenience store later; although, he doubted it would be there as Recovery Girl was unaware of it.
"Thank you, Ms. Recovery Girl." Midoriya said appreciatively.
"It's my pleasure, son, and please just call me Doctor Chiyo."
Midoriya nodded before glancing around the ward to see no other patients present. "How're my classmates?" His emerald eyes widened when he recalled how bad Aizawa's condition was. "What about Aizawa-sensei? Is he alright? And what about the League of Villains? Were all of them apprehended?" He asked hurriedly.
"Relax! Everything is fine. Your classmates are safe, and all of the Villains were arrested." The elderly woman assured him. "Aside from Thirteen, Aizawa, young Tsunotori, and yourself there weren't any major injuries. Though Aizawa and Thirteen will require more treatments, young Tsunotori recovered just fine. I dismissed her only an hour ago, actually."
Midoriya exhaled loudly. "That's a relief…"
"Oh!" Her eyes shot open as if she recalled something important. "You have a couple visitors waiting for you outside. Let me call them in." The old doctor proceeded back to the doorway.
'A couple of visitors? Oh, maybe it's Ochako and Momo…' Sitting up from his bed, Midoriya noticed he was in the bed closest to the window. He saw a mire of vans, buses, and other vehicles parked outside the campus grounds. 'Looks like the word got out about the USJ attack.' He frowned. 'I can already imagine all the scrutiny UA will face…even though this was an unprecedented attack.'
"Ah, good to see you awake, Ca–uh, young Midoriya!" Snapping out of his musings, Midoriya turned back to his right to see Yagi (in his skinny form) alongside another man walking through the doorway. He was a black-haired man standing at 180 cm (5'11") wearing a beige trenchcoat and a matching fedora, with dark pants and boots.
Recovery Girl, meanwhile, took a seat at her desk nearby–which had various documents scattered on it.
"Toshinori? And… I'm sorry, I don't recognize you." Midoriya was curious. 'Although, if his attire is anything to go off, he's probably a police detective.'
The man smiled, tipping his hat. "I'm Detective Tsukauchi Naomasa of the Musutafu Police Department."
'Nailed it.' He internally grinned.
"I'm heading the investigation into the USJ attack. If it isn't too much trouble, I'd like you to give a statement." Detective Tsukauchi requested. "From what I can gather, you were in the thick of the action today, Mr. Midoriya."
"Midoriya is fine, detective, and it would be my pleasure." He politely replied.
"Thank you." Detective Tsukauchi stepped up to his bed, taking a seat on a chair. "I promise I'll try not to hold you up too long, Midoriya." Tsukauchi glanced back over his shoulders to the other two occupants in the room. "If you both could keep your voices down as well…"
"Yeah, sure thing." Yagi took a seat close to Recovery Girl's desk. "I'll be quiet."
Midoriya pulled his legs off the bed's ledge, sitting straight up. He felt a slight breeze on his legs; thankfully, his hospital gown covered enough that he didn't feel embarrassed.
Reaching into his jacket, Tsukauchi pulled out a voice recorder to set on the bedside table. "Do you mind?"
"No, I don't." He shook his head. "Just standard procedure, right?"
"Correct. I just wanted to make sure since most people who are questioned see the recorder and get nervous."
"It's alright. I'm fine." Midoriya assured him.
True.
The detective nodded in satisfaction. "Okay," he hit the button and stated the date out loud. "Now, if you could just state your name, age, occupation. Be sure to speak up a bit."
"My name is Izuku…uh, Midoriya Izuku. I'm 22 years old. I'm a first-year student at UA University; specifically, the Hero Course."
True… Wait! He felt a hint of falsehood in the middle of his statement. It wasn't a flat out lie, but it wasn't the complete truth either. 'A half-truth, huh? Odd.' The detective made a mental note of that.
"So then, Midoriya, can you give me your perspective on the Villain attack that happened this evening?"
Midoriya nodded. "Right…" His eyes dropped to the floor, recalling everything that had transpired at the USJ. "It all happened after Thirteen's speech."
The super-soldier provided a detailed depiction of everything that he had seen and done during the chaos. He had the most contact with the leader of the so-called 'League of Villains', Shigaraki Tomura, and its bio-engineered monstrosity Nomu. He described Shigaraki's Quirk, attitude, goal, and anything else he could think of. He also gave a thorough description of Nomu and what he had learned about it from Shigaraki's monologue, and during his own fight against it.
Throughout it all, Midoriya never looked nervous. The air felt rather casual, yet there was still some form of intensity, mostly from the detective as he took notes while Midoriya talked. Tsukauchi was piecing a story together, making sure nothing was left out before the student was released and sent home. Such efficiency was indicative of his rank as a detective and proving his swift, proper and–most importantly–cautious nature.
"Professional" was the word that best fit him, his manners, his technique, and his approach. The war veteran could certainly appreciate it.
On the flip side, Detective Tsukauchi was equally impressed by Midoriya's detailed and precise account; additionally, everything he was saying was registering as True as well. Such testimony certainly made his job much simpler. Tsukauchi also didn't miss how stoic and unaffected Midoriya was as he spoke. Most of the students he had interviewed previously were understandably still shaken up from the attack, but that wasn't the case with this hero in training.
"Okay, Midoriya," Tsukauchi flipped to another page, "is there anything else you could tell us about this Nomu? Aside from what you've already said?"
"Well, let's see…" Midoriya cocked his head thoughtfully. He had already described Nomu's appearance, its purpose according to Shigaraki, and the multiple abilities it had showcased. His mind then flashed back to Nomu's blank and seemingly dead gaze.
"Yeah…Nomu just seemed so…dead."
"Dead?" the detective cocked an eyebrow. "Could you elaborate?"
"Well… Physically, it was alive… yet the look in its eyes was so empty. I never got the sense it was ever thinking on its own; it acted like a mindless puppet rather than a person. To put it simply… Nomu was like a walking, living corpse." He explained, sounding dour.
"A living corpse, huh?" Tsukauchi furrowed his brows, making note of that.
"The police force did procure Nomu's corpse from the USJ, right?" Midoriya questioned.
The detective nodded. "Yes. We're having a team of qualified specialists study Nomu's remains. Between them and any information we can acquire from the two leaders, we should be able to gain a firm understanding of how Nomu was made."
'That's right… Shigaraki and Kurogiri were arrested too.' Midoriya reminded himself. 'Had the Pros arrived moments later, we may not have been able to prevent their escape with Kurogiri's ability.'
"Yeah...I'm Shigaraki Tomura, the leader of this party. What of it?" The super-soldier's gaze dropped to the tiled floor as he briefly mulled on his first interaction with the League leader and came to a quick conclusion.
"Shigaraki Tomura…" Tsukauchi glanced up from his notes at Midoriya, who looked up at him straight-faced. "...he may have been calling the shots amongst the criminals at the USJ, but I don't believe for a second that he's the true mastermind behind this attack."
"Oh?" The statement perked the detective's interest, along with Yagi in the back. "And what makes you say that?"
"Shigaraki is hardly the leader type. From his mannerisms to his overall demeanor and attitude… he's more of a man-child than anything, especially when things weren't going his way." Midoriya carefully explained. "For example, after Nomu was taken out, instead of escaping, he just charged at me like an angry child. Because of that, I was able to knock him out and Bakugo pinned Kurogiri down long enough for the Pros to capture him."
"Ah…I understand what you're saying." Tsukauchi commented.
"Regardless, with his Quirk, Shigaraki is very dangerous. The way he moved indicates that he's also received training from someone, enough to where he could defeat most low to middle-tier Pros. He could've easily killed some of us if things had played out differently." The image of the Villain's hand nearly touching Uraraka's face made Midoriya shudder. "Honestly, it's a miracle he didn't kill anyone today."
Tsukauchi considered Midoriya's words and noted the validity in them.
Yagi was in agreement as well, recalling the Villain Leader's rapid rage towards him in the ambulance hours ago.
"Another reason is Nomu." Midoriya further elaborated. "To create something like Nomu requires a means and skillset that Shigaraki most certainly doesn't have. Someone, or maybe even a group, created Nomu…and found a way to implant multiple Quirks in it."
The super-soldier knitted his brows together. 'There's only one person I know that could create something like Nomu. But…could it really be him? Or maybe someone who inherited his Quirk? A completely new group? Either way, this doesn't look good.'
Midoriya was so focused on his musings that didn't catch the subtle flinches in Yagi, Tsukauchi, and even Chiyo's facial expressions when he mentioned 'multiple Quirks'.
'No…don't tell me… Is he really back?' Yagi internally fretted, clenching his pants tightly.
Midoriya sighed deeply. "I dunno…I'm not saying that I wouldn't have wanted All Might there today. But, given Nomu's abilities, maybe it was for the best that he wasn't there. Had he died fighting Nomu…" He trailed off at that morbid thought.
Tsukauchi nodded grimly. "Losing the Symbol of Peace would've certainly sent Japan into a downward spiral." The detective noted. "And had even one student been killed, not only would it have been a travesty, but it would've also left a permanent stain on UA's reputation. A blow to Hero society either way. Fortunately, thanks to you and the rest of your classmates, that outcome was avoided today."
'Yeah, that may be…but the League still infiltrated a renowned, highly secure place like UA not once, but twice.' Midoriya internally noted. 'And they seriously injured two Pro Heroes. UA will still face criticism and scrutiny from the public and media regardless.'
Looking over his notes again, the detective was satisfied with everything he had. "Well, I believe that was everything. Thank you for your contribution, Midoriya."
"No problem. I'm happy I could be of assistance, Detective Tsukauchi." He amicably responded.
Tsukauchi hit the recorder's button to stop the recording. "That was very detailed. I've met Pro Heroes who don't give reports that precise. You've certainly cut down on my workload. I'm sure we'll have all of the League's supporters and members detained and snuffed out soon."
The police detective was very impressed with the student's deduction and analytical skills. He spoke like an experienced Pro Hero, or a veteran police officer. Seriously, where did Yagi find this guy? It was then that Tsukauchi had an inkling as to why his old friend was interested in him.
'I think I understand why you're interested in this student, Toshi.' Tsukauchi mused. 'When were you going to tell me you found someone?' His mouth slightly curled upward.
"Thank you, sir." Midoriya frowned when a thought occurred to him. "Um, Detective?"
"Yes, Midoriya? What is it?"
"Are…we in trouble? My class, I mean. None of us have our licenses, but we used our Quirks to fight Villains. If so, I'm to blame as I said we needed to hold our ground until–"
Tsukauchi held up his hand to stop him, smiling. "Don't worry about it. From every report I've received, you only fought because your lives, and the lives of your classmates, were in danger. As long as it's proven to be self-defense, Quirk usage is allowed."
Midoriya sighed in relief, lowering his head. "That's good. Thank you."
"Just try not to get into situations that require self-defense," the detective warned, though he kept up his smile. "At least until you get your license."
"...Of course, sir." Midoriya's tone was subdued.
"Good. Now," Tsukauchi placed his recorder and notepad in his jacket, standing up, "with that, I'll take my leave and let you get on home." He then turned to Yagi. "Of course, he may want to talk to you first."
"Have a good night, detective." Midoriya said respectfully.
Tipping his hat, Detective Tsukauchi proceeded back to the doorway where Yagi stood patiently.
"Think he gave you enough?" Yagi half-joked.
"Plenty," Tsukauchi replied truthfully. "I meant it when I said he was making my job easier." He leaned closer to whisper, "Hey, is he the one?"
"Huh? Oh well…" Yagi rubbed his neck awkwardly, "I haven't said anything…yet."
Tsukauchi nodded in understanding before adopting a serious look, "Well, there's something I should mention in regard to him. I'll tell you about it later."
"Uh, alright?" Yagi was perplexed, wondering what Tsukauchi wanted to discuss about Midoriya. Did his Lie Detector trigger at some point during Midoriya's explanation? 'That…might be a problem…'
His job complete, the Musutafu police detective known as True Man walked out of the medical ward. As he proceeded down the dark and empty halls, his tactful mind wandered to the half-truth Midoriya had said at the beginning of his statement.
Yagi turned back to Doctor Chiyo. "Say, how long will young Midoriya have to stay here?"
"I'm letting him stay until I know for sure he can walk home safely." Doctor Chiyo answered before turning to Midoriya. "I know you said you felt fine, but are you sure you're able to walk home?"
Midoriya nodded confidently. "Yes, doctor. I can get back to my apartment just fine."
Doctor Chiyo nodded. "Very well. I'll write up your release form then." She opened a drawer to pull out a paper and pen.
"Thank you. Well, I should head to the locker room and change."
"Uh, actually…before you get up, young Midoriya," Yagi walked over to Midoriya's bed, "I…wanted to talk to you about something first."
"Hmm?" Midoriya was curious. "Oh, sure. What's up?"
Yagi sat on the same chair that Tsukauchi did, exhaling deeply before he bowed forward. "Young Midoriya…I'm sorry."
"Huh?" The super-soldier was perplexed. "Sorry?"
"I wasn't there to save you and the other students." He elaborated, frowning. "I…did something very idiotic, and I was delayed because of it."
The haggard blonde couldn't keep his head up as the shame forced his gaze down. "I used up all of my time in my Hero form doing heroic deeds on my commute."
'So those were the 'incidents' that Thirteen was referring to.' Midoriya thought, recalling Thirteen and Aizawa's quiet conversation before the Villains attacked.
Midoriya sighed. "I see. Well…" He tried to crack a smile. "It's kind of hard to be mad about you saving people. I know you meant no harm by it. It's hard to turn away when you see people in trouble…even if there are other Heroes in the area." He clenched the end of his gown, sourly recalling the Sludge Villain incident.
"Regardless," Yagi agreed, his voice low, "what happened today is on me. I didn't realize my own limits and didn't put my faith in my contemporaries, and because of that all of you suffered." He closed his eyes. "This is all my fault."
The ward was momentarily silent as both Midoriya and Doctor Chiyo stared at the Number One Pro.
Doctor Chiyo broke the silence, narrowing her beady eyes at him. "I know the Dean gave you a good talk earlier today, but I personally felt it wasn't enough to get the point across." Yagi sweated, gripping his fists from the verbal lashing that was to come. "However," she sighed, "I can see that you truly regret your actions. Piling more guilt on you won't help your confidence and self-esteem now." She turned to her desk, resuming to fill out Midoriya's release form. "Be better All Might. There may not be a next time."
"Y-Yes ma'am," Yagi stuttered nervously. She really hadn't changed much from the old days.
He looked back up to see Midoriya's sharp gaze on him, making him flinch slightly. What was going through his idol's mind? Was the First Hero musing on how much of a failure that All Might was? Well, Yagi couldn't blame the Captain for thinking that. He did drop the ball big time today.
His pessimistic thoughts were blown away when a smile formed on the super-soldier's defined, freckled face. "Honestly, I was prepared to give you a lecture on proper scheduling and punctuality when I saw you again. But I can see in your eyes and body language that you're really sorry. So, I won't pile on either.
"Besides, you were helping people this morning. I can't exactly call you out for that without being a hypocrite myself. No one died today, thankfully. So, stop blaming yourself, and build yourself up starting now." He declared.
Yagi blinked before adopting a smile. "Thank you for understanding, young Midoriya." He slumped his shoulders in relief. "Rest assured, I won't let something like this happen again. I've already talked to Dean Nezu about moving onto campus effective immediately. From now on, I'll let the Musutafu Hero Firms handle Villain activity unless I'm specifically called in."
Midoriya nodded in understanding. "That's a good start." He frowned a little. "But I meant what I said to the detective earlier. For your sake, it was probably best you weren't there. Not saying you couldn't have defeated Nomu, but–given your condition–it would have been very difficult."
"Maybe, but…," Yagi gave a toothy grin, "I'm sure I could've taken it! I may not be as strong as I used to be, but I'd have overwhelmed its Shock Absorption power somehow."
"How? By punching it?" Midoriya grinned wryly. "Did you forget it could regenerate?"
"Well," Yagi expanded into his Hero form. "I would've just punched it harder and faster! Go Beyond! Plus Ultra! Ha-ha-ha!" He boisterously laughed before reverting back to his skinny mode.
Doctor Chiyo rolled her eyes. 'That old fool…' Though a small smile did appear on her face. She wasn't even surprised that Yagi had revealed his All Might form to Midoriya—already suspecting why he was interested in the young student.
Midoriya chuckled a bit. "Yeah, you probably would've." He meant that, already having a good understanding of All Might's incredible strength firsthand.
"Well, anyways," Yagi rubbed his neck sheepishly, "I promise I'll do better moving forward, young Midoriya, so that this doesn't happen again."
Midoriya nodded, keeping up his smile. "I know you will, Toshinori. You didn't get to become the Symbol of Peace by just settling for good enough, after all."
Yagi straightened up, feeling a surge of pride from his idol's genuine compliment. He then recalled the end of his talk with Nezu a few hours ago.
"...You have a lot of faith in this young man."
"I do."
"Then I believe it's time for you to put that faith into practice. Isn't it?"
Yagi adopted a serious visage. Maybe now was the time. "Um…young Midoriya, there's another matter I wanted to discuss with you. It's about–"
"Greenie! You're awake!" Yagi jolted out of the chair onto his feet. Both turned to see a certain greenette body-splitter standing at the doorway, grinning roguishly. "Perfect timing too. We were just coming by to check on yah." Looking down the hallway, she shouted, "Hey guys! Greenie's awake!"
Footsteps echoed down the empty hall and–seconds later–Uraraka, Yaoyorozu, Iida, and Tsunotori stepped into the medical ward. They were cleaned up and wearing their Hero Course uniforms. Aside from the gauze wrappings on Tsunotori's head, her horns not having grown back yet, everyone appeared unharmed.
"Oh, thank goodness you're awake, Midori-kun." Yaoyorozu was relieved as she placed a hand over her chest.
"I'm glad you're alright, Izuku!" Tsunotori said happily.
"I am as well." Iida added. "You had us worried there for a while."
"Yeah," Uraraka sighed in relief, "I was worrying I may have to head back to the apartment without you."
"Huh?" Tsunotori titled her head, befuddled. "Why? Do you two live together?"
"Eep!" Uraraka squeaked, blushing profusely at that suggestion…as did Midoriya and Yaoyorozu too. "W-w-what?! No! I meant our apartment complex! We live in the same one!" She waved her hands frantically.
"Oh… That makes sense." Tsunotori nodded.
Tokage snickered to herself, amused by the exchange.
Iida was the first to notice Yagi standing awkwardly off to the side by Midoriya's bed. "Oh, forgive us for interrupting you two." He bowed apologetically.
"It's alright, young Iida." Yagi waved off.
"Oh? You already know my name?" Iida straightened up. "Have we met before, sir?"
'Ah sh*t!' Yagi's blood froze, realizing his slipup.
Midoriya resisted the urge to slap his forehead. Well, he supposed he couldn't be too harsh on Yagi as he'd had his own close calls over the past few months with Uraraka and Yaoyorozu.
"Hmm," Tokage looked at Yagi curiously. "You do seem familiar. Have we seen you around here?"
"Really? You think so, Tokage?" Uraraka cutely tilted her head.
"Actually…" Yaoyorozu held her chin thoughtfully, "now that you mention it, I do see a resemblance from somewhere…"
Tsunotori took a quick whiff. "He smells familiar too."
"Uh…well, yah see…" Yagi began to sweat nervously.
"He's All Might's secretary." Doctor Chiyo cut in, standing up from her desk. "He helps the big oaf with paperwork, and that includes his class itinerary. Hence why he's already familiar with your names."
"Uh, right! Name's Yagi Toshinori. Pleasure to meet you students." Calming down, Yagi fell into his alter ego. "You may have seen me in the halls at some point last week." He insisted, hoping they'd buy it.
"Hmm…yes, that does sound plausible. Well," Iida extended his hand, "a pleasure to meet you, Yagi-san."
"Pleasure's all mine, young Iida." Yagi smiled, shaking his hand.
Doctor Chiyo coughed, garnering the group's attention. "Don't you have somewhere to be, Toshinori?" She cocked an eyebrow.
Yagi got the subtle message to leave before he messed up again. "Right. Thank you, Recovery Girl." He turned back to the patient. "Well, I'll talk to you again soon, young Midoriya. Until then, please rest and heal up!"
Midoriya nodded and bowed. "Of course. Goodnight, Yagi-san."
The other students gave their respective farewells to him as Yagi Toshinori exited the medical ward. As the Number One Pro walked down the empty hallway, he sighed deeply. "Well…guess tonight wasn't meant to be. I'll try again later after this whole League of Villains mess simmers down."
Back in the medical ward, Midoriya's friends gathered by his bed as he continued to sit down.
"Hey, Midori-kun!" Uraraka bounced over to him as he quickly averted his eyes from her chest, his face flushing slightly. "Do you feel okay?"
Midoriya quickly nodded. "Oh, y-yeah. Recovery Girl was able to fix me up. I should be able to head home tonight, actually."
"That's certainly good news indeed!" Iida exclaimed. "We're thankful that your injuries weren't too severe!"
Tokage snickered. "You're supposed to keep your voice down in the medical ward, Iida."
Iida looked aghast, realizing that he had indeed broken the university guidelines. "Oh, my apologies!"
"You're still loud…" Tsunotori deadpanned sheepishly.
"How about you, Iida?" Midoriya inquired, concerned. "Your leg-engines were smoking when I saw you at the USJ."
Iida adjusted his glasses, smiling. "I'm doing much better now. I certainly strained myself, but Recovery Girl healed me up in no time. As expected of UA's fine medical staff!" He chopped his arm.
Midoriya smiled appreciatively. "Thank you, Iida. You really came through for us. Had the Pros not showed up when they did, the two Villain leaders may have escaped…"
Iida smiled modestly. "Then, it was well worth the pain. I'm satisfied knowing that justice will be served against those reprobates today. But I'm even more thankful that none of our classmates were seriously hurt…or worse."
"You and me both…" Midoriya grimly said. 'The best possible outcome we could have hoped for happened. No one was killed and all of the Villains were apprehended, including the two bosses.'
He knew that things could've been much worse today if only one or two things had played out differently. His experience over how things could easily spiral out of control told him otherwise. They were very fortunate today indeed.
"Well, thanks to Mister Man With A Plan here," Tokage patted the verdette on his back, "we were able to get out alive and capture the baddies today! I call that a win-win!"
No one noticed how Midoriya tensed up as certain memories flashed through his mind. "Uh… Man With A Plan?" He timidly repeated.
"Uh, yeah?" Tokage cocked a brow, confused by Midoriya's reaction. "Yah know…'cause of how you took charge of everything? Lead the troops and all? I thought it sounded cool." She shrugged.
"Oh! Okay, that makes sense…I guess." Midoriya internally sighed in relief. 'Good, that's what she meant. That song is still burned into my memory…'
"Indeed!" Iida nodded. "From what I've heard, you swiftly determined a plan of action that pulled Aizawa-sensei out of harm's way and neutralized all of the Villains in the main plaza! Very commendable indeed, Midoriya."
"I didn't get to see it for myself, but I'm sure you were super-cool, Izuku!" Tsunotori exclaimed cheerily.
Uraraka and Yaoyorozu both nodded in agreement, smiling proudly.
He shrugged modestly. "I just did what I had to do to make sure we all got out of there alive. I'm just thankful you're all okay." His gaze shifted to Tsunotori's bandaged head. "Oh…I'm sorry I didn't ask sooner, but how's your head doing, Pony?"
Uraraka's right eyebrow involuntarily twitched again. She knew Midoriya didn't mean anything by it, but she still didn't like him using Tsunotori's first name or vice versa. Seriously, what was up with her?
Pony's cute smile remained. "Don't worry, I'm alright now! Recovery Girl says I just need more rest and a few calcium-rich meals." She rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. "This is actually the second time I overused my Quirk like this. I did it the first time back home when I was training."
"I see." Midoriya nodded in understanding. "Well, I'm relieved to see you're okay."
"Yes, although that doesn't mean any of you should rush back into action immediately. The university has given you the next few days off. Use that time to rest and heal your bodies." Doctor Chiyo walked to the bed, carefully disconnecting the IV machine from Midoriya's right arm. "I have you signed out. You can leave with your friends now, Midoriya. However, if you feel any pain or ill-effects, please don't hesitate to come see me or visit your regular doctor."
"Yes, ma'am. I won't." Midoriya stood up, bowing in gratitude. "Thank you for your help."
The elderly woman smiled. "It's no trouble. Now why don't you head to the locker room and get cleaned up and changed."
"R-right…" Midoriya glanced down at his blue hospital gown, which extended to his knees and showed off a fair amount of his toned legs.
"Why don't I accompany you, Midoriya?" Iida kindly offered. "I can be there just in case you experience a lapse of strength…"
"I'd appreciate that, Iida. Thanks." Midoriya smiled.
The group walked out of the medical ward and down the hallway. They didn't walk far before reaching an intersection where Midoriya and Iida would have to branch off to the Hero Course's male locker room.
"Do you mind waiting a few moments?" Midoriya asked the girls. "Or do you need to head out now?"
"O-of course not." Yaoyorozu quickly nodded. "W-we're in no rush."
"Yep!" Uraraka nodded eagerly. "Take all the time you need!"
"Hmm?" Tsunotori looked at the pair in mild bemusement. 'Why do those two seem so flustered?'
"Alright." Midoriya nodded. "Thanks guys."
"We promise not to keep you waiting long." Iida assured.
As the young men sauntered down the corridor, Uraraka and Yaoyorozu's gazes drifted to Midoriya's backside. The hospital gown did little to hide his legs and his rippling upper body.
Yaoyorozu recalled a scene she had written in her fanfiction involving her MC stumbling upon Captain America half-dressed, while Uraraka was reminded of drawing that particular scene. Healthy blushes erupted on the young women's faces as a result.
A certain reptilian predator noticed where the gravity girl and creation heiress's attention was focused and was keen to take full advantage of it.
"Yah know," Tokage inserted herself between the pair, wrapping her arms around their shoulders, "I believe it's fair to say those two guys have got the best pair of legs in class. What do you two think? I mean," she gestured to Iida on the left, "Iida's definitely got the stronger, faster pair. BUT…" she pointed to Midoriya on the right, "Midoriya's ain't nothing to scoff at either. Lots of juicy muscles." She said huskily. "Wouldn't you agree?"
Yaoyorozu and Uraraka blushed heavily and immediately averted their gazes.
"T-Tokage!" Yaoyorozu spluttered. "That's not appropriate at all!"
"I…I wasn't staring…" Uraraka denied, albeit poorly.
"Yes, you were." Tsunotori giggled. "You both were actually."
"Eep!" Uraraka hid her reddening face behind her hands.
"Pony is my witness." Tokage asserted. "You're both busted. So, what do you vixens have to say for yourselves?"
"I…plead the fifth?" Uraraka hesitantly offered.
"Nope." Tsunotori shook her head. "That only works in America."
"Shoot!" Uraraka pouted. 'It was said in a movie, so I thought I could use it… I mean, it sounded cool.'
"Well, I can't give you both too much grief for admiring a pair of studs. Unless," Tokage grinned coyly, "there was one specific stud that caught your eyes?"
"I…" Yaoyorozu turned away, her face as red as her Hero costume. "...I shall remain silent."
"Y-yeah…what she said." Uraraka nodded, fidgeting with the hem of her skirt.
"I bet it was Izuku since his gown showed a fair bit of skin." Tsunotori pointed out, grinning.
Uraraka and Yaoyorozu's faces somehow turned redder, confirming Tsunotori's observation.
Tokage and Tsunotori looked at each other with knowing smirks.
'Sweet! Looks like we got another sister-in-arms, Mina!' Tokage internally cheered. The body-splitter was already contemplating forming a group chat between the three on how they could tease the Oblivious Trio (Midoriya, Yaoyorozu, and Uraraka) going forward.
Later, Iida and Midoriya returned with the latter cleaned up and wearing his Hero Course uniform with his yellow satchel hanging off his left shoulder. As the group walked, something occurred to the blonde pony-girl.
"Hey Izuku," Pony began, causing Uraraka's right eye to twitch again, "why was All Might's secretary talking to you earlier?"
Her question perked the attention of the others as well.
"Oh, yes. I was curious about that as well." Yaoyorozu admitted.
"Was everything alright, Iz–uh, Midori-kun?" Uraraka asked, correcting herself. Midoriya didn't miss her attempt at using his first name but figured he'd bring it up another time.
"Yeah," he smiled reassuringly, "everything's okay. Yagi-san was just passing on a message from All Might to me."
"Oh? What did he have to say, if you don't mind me asking?" Iida curiously inquired.
"It was probably to thank him." Tokage suggested. "I mean, Greenie was a big reason why no one got killed and the baddies were captured today."
Midoriya shook his head. "Well, I'll keep the details between us…but yeah, I guess he essentially was thanking me for what I did today. Although," his gaze dropped a bit, "I feel like the rest of you accomplished much more than me, so you guys deserve most of the credit."
The group looked at him curiously.
"Huh? What do you mean, Izuku?" Tsunotori questioned.
"For starters, Iida pushed himself to his limit to get back to campus for everyone. Pony, you went beyond your limit too to help take down a bunch of Villains. Yaomomo and Uraraka-chan provided excellent support and saved me on a couple of occasions. Tokage helped Iida escape, saved Uraraka-chan and Yaomomo's lives, and directed the others our way to help us take down the remaining Villains. I could say more about our other classmates too. Everyone went Plus Ultra today." He shrugged humbly. "I was just a guy with a shield directing traffic, I guess."
They stared at him incredulously.
"Midoriya, modesty is a great heroic trait to have…but please give yourself some credit." Iida lightly chided. "You performed admirably today."
"Yeah!" Tsunotori bounced excitedly. "I heard how you held your own against that Nomu thing! It was so cool!"
"And you knocked the Villain boss's teeth in like a BAMF." Tokage grinned sharply. "That was pretty sick, dude!"
"You were awesome, Midori-kun!" Uraraka excitedly pumped her fists. "You really held us together. Heck, you even got Bakugo to follow an order. If that's not an accomplishment, I don't know what is."
Midoriya couldn't help but chuckle at that statement, realizing that his brunette best friend raised a good point. It was surprising to think that Bakugo had actually listened to him. The verdette supposed the situation had been so dire that even Class 101-A's explosive ash-blonde was willing to listen.
Yaoyorozu nodded. "When we were caught between the three main Villains and their cohorts, you devised a plan that effectively utilized everyone's skills to neutralize the threat." She smiled softly. "So please, don't discredit yourself by saying you were 'just a guy with a shield'. You were a true leader today."
"Besides," Uraraka added, "we know what a guy with just a shield can do as long as he's determined and motivated, right?" She nudged him and winked.
Midoriya lightly blushed and bashfully rubbed his shoulder. He still couldn't help but feel flustered whenever he received praise of any sort. Perhaps it was a result of not getting much of it growing up aside from those very close to him.
"T-thanks guys… but…a commander is nothing without his tr–"
"Eh, eh!" Tokage cut him off, shaking her head in disapproval. "Nope! Now, repeat after me, 'You're right guys! I did great today!'"
Midoriya blinked twice. "O-oh…"
"From the top, Izuku!" Tsunotori joined in.
Midoriya sighed and slumped his shoulders in resignation. "Alright…" He cleared his throat. "You're right guys. I performed exceptionally today. How's that?"
"I said 'great' not exceptional." Tokage pouted.
"I'm afraid that may be all you'll get out of him." Iida shook his head, smiling wryly. "Actually, Midoriya, you remind me a lot of my brother, Tensei. He's always quick to give credit to his Sidekicks and those who work with him rather than himself. You both are wonderful examples of selfless heroism that I strive to exemplify."
"You're giving me way too much credit." Midoriya said bashfully.
Yaoyorozu and Uraraka smiled warmly at their friend. It was amazing how he could go from a tough and confident leader to a bashful, humble guy.
'I swear he's way too cute for this world.' Uraraka shyly mused.
'He doesn't give himself enough credit… Although, from what I've read, the Captain was the same way.' Yaoyorozu smiled fondly. 'You really are something else, Izuku.'
The group proceeded to leave the main building. As they walked through the front gate, many of the reporters and media members turned their way but kept their respective distance. It seemed the press had learned their lesson from last week's fiasco. They continued to converse and walk together until they reached an intersection.
"Well, I'm afraid this is where Tsunotori and I must part ways with you." Iida announced.
"That's right. You both use the same station. Would you mind walking Tsunotori home then, Iida?" Midoriya requested.
"Of course. I was going to do that anyway." The bespeckled man replied. "After what happened today, it's better to be safe rather than sorry."
"Ah… My knight in shining futuristic armor." Tsunotori sighed contentedly.
Iida sputtered and turned red while the rest of them laughed in response. Midoriya wiped away a small tear; he really loved being around his friends.
After calming down, Iida and Tsunotori waved goodbye and headed towards their station.
"I guess I should start heading out too. I have to call my folks tonight anyway to let 'em know I'm okay." Tokage waved her hand. "I'll catch you guys later."
"Goodnight, Tokage." The trio said.
"Please, take care of yourself." Midoriya added.
"I always do!" Tokage gave a thumbs-up, smirking.
"Hey! Tokage!" Uraraka called out. "Thanks again for saving me back at the USJ. I'm truly grateful!"
Tokage blinked before waving off with a wide grin. "Eh, don't mention it! Besides, you'd do the same for me. Well, you wouldn't split your arm off to use as a shield…but you get what I mean."
After that, Tokage walked away while Uraraka, Yaoyorozu, and Midoriya remained by the corner. Seconds later, Yaoyorozu's black limousine pulled up and parked by the curb.
"Looks like your ride's here. Take care Yao–"
"Actually," Yaoyorozu interrupted the verdette, "I was wondering…would you both mind if I dropped you off at your apartment complex?" Her visage became slightly crestfallen. "After what happened today…I…want to make sure you get home safely."
Uraraka and Midoriya looked at each other before turning back to their ravenette friend, smiling.
"I wouldn't mind. I know I'd appreciate a ride. As long as it's okay with your driver…" Midoriya said gingerly.
"I assure you it won't be an issue at all." Yaoyorozu assured him.
"Well, if you're offering, it'd be rude to decline." Midoriya replied. "How about you Uraraka-chan?"
"Well, I…uh…" Uraraka fidgeted, cutely poking her index fingers together. "...I've never been in a limousine before…"
"Well, there's a first for everything. Come on in!" Yaoyorozu beamed before taking Uraraka's right wrist. She opened the door and led her inside. "You'll both enjoy it. I promise."
"Oh wow!" Uraraka exclaimed, looking around the limo's interior in wide-eyed amazement. "So opulent!"
Midoriya chuckled. "Well, it is a Yaoyorozu limo. What'd you expect?" He bent down and slid into the car, closing the door behind them. He was grateful that he could still enjoy his time with people he cared about like this. After everything he had lived through (today, especially), he knew better than to take moments like this for granted.
Meanwhile, in a random building near UA's campus, a casually dressed Caucasian man was watching the trio through a small pair of binoculars from a window. As the black limousine pulled away, the man touched a communication device in his ear.
"Agent Williams, reporting. Captain Midoriya and his companion Ochako Uraraka have just stepped inside the Yaoyorozu limousine; the time is 20:15 (8:15 PM)." He reported. "The vehicle is now driving eastbound down Lars Street. Looks like Ms. Yaoyorozu is giving them a ride back to the Endor Apartments."
"Copy that. We'll keep an eye on him from here. You're dismissed for the night, Agent Williams."
"Roger that, Agent Coulson. Agent Williams out." Agent Willaims cut off his communicator and sighed deeply. "Man…all those years of hardcore SHIELD training, and look where I am now."
The Quirkless agent pondered that statement for a moment.
He was one of the agents credited for Captain America's discovery and recovery from the frozen wasteland of Greenland. And now he was living abroad in Japan while tasked with keeping watch over the First Hero when he's out in public, ensuring that no harm comes to him. So…he was moving up the SHIELD ladder, right?
Well, at least he wouldn't have to worry about being reprimanded for what happened at the USJ. That was entirely the university's fault. He and the other agents tasked with watching Captain America were only responsible when he was out in public or at Endor Apartments. The lone exception was when the Captain was cleaning up that trash heap, Takoba Beach, last year for some reason. He never understood why Agent Coulson ordered them not to follow him to the beach, but that was above his pay grade.
Anyways, while the Captain was within the secure confines of UA University, it was naturally their responsibility to ensure his and the other students' safety. It shouldn't have been difficult given their advanced security systems, the multiple Hero firms in Musutafu, and that it was one of the top 3 Hero Training Academies in the world. That last one alone would've deterred even the boldest of Villains…until today that is.
Regardless, it was the university that had dropped the ball today–not him or any of his contemporaries. Bullet dodged, he surmised.
Still, Agent Williams was relieved that no one had died at the USJ (especially Captain Midoriya), and that he wasn't liable either. He had already messed up once when he lost track of the Captain last year on the day that the Sludge Villain had caused havoc. After being harshly reprimanded, Agent Coulson had decided to show him mercy and give him a second chance. Needless to say, Agent Willaims tightened up and kept a vigilant eye on the Captain from that day onward. Which was easier said than done as the 21st Century man was constantly on the move, hardly ever staying in one place for long.
The jade-haired man really kept the agents on their toes. It was tiring, honestly. That being said, it was very cool to watch the Symbol of Courage step in to help random strangers off the streets every now and then—Quirk Laws be damned—and never ask for anything in return. Not to mention he cleaned up the entirety of Takoba Beach all on his own without ever telling anyone either.
It was inspiring to see, honestly.
As Agent Williams thought about it more, he realized that this assignment wasn't so bad. Japan was a beautiful country that he loved seeing despite the occasional Quirk discrimination. No country was perfect, after all; to be fair, Quirkless people like him were discriminated against everywhere. At least SHIELD wasn't Quirkist enough to deny him and others like him an opportunity.
All in all, not only did Agent Williams help find and rescue Captain America, but he was also one of the few people on Planet Earth who got to watch him live his daily life in a new era, which wasn't as creepy as it sounded.
'I got a pretty cool gig here all things considered.' Agent Williams smiled slightly. 'Sure, it can be tedious…but how many people can say they get to watch Captain America attend college and fumble around girls? Not many, I bet! It's like I'm watching an Isekai anime come to life.' Too bad he couldn't tell anyone outside of work but that came with the territory.
'Though I wonder which of those two girls he'll wind up choosing. Coulson secretly reserved that room for the Uraraka girl–still don't know why. They've been pretty close too so far. Maybe her? Then again, the Yaoyorozu heiress is rich and freaking stunning. They seem to get along quite well too.' It was then he humored another possibility. 'Heck, maybe he'll choose both?'
He quickly shook his head. 'Nah. That stuff only happens in anime, not real-life. Anyways, guess I should head back myself.' Agent Willaims inconspicuously put his things away and exited the building, all without drawing any unsuspecting attention.
Down a lone road through an open field, a caravan of police vehicles was escorting an armored prisoner transport van en route to the super-prison, Tartarus, a heavily fortified facility located on an island five kilometers (~3.5 miles) off of the Japanese mainland. It was nearly a three-hour drive to the prison from Musutafu, so the police needed as much security as possible on the trip.
Inside the dimly lit, fortified van was a half-dozen armed squad member guarding two prisoners. They were none other than the leaders of the League of Villains, Shigaraki Tomura and Kurogiri.
The drive so far had been tensely silent; no one so much as coughed.
With his face still heavily bandaged, Shigaraki sat on a bench with his arms restrained within an advanced metal brace that extended to his forearms. It felt so wrong to have his Quirk suppressed. So weak. So defenseless. Shame and guilt swelled up inside of him–still in disbelief that he had failed.
Kurogiri, meanwhile, was strapped to a vertical platform on the adjacent wall with a Quirk-suppressing collar attached to him. Similar pessimistic thoughts swirled around in his head. He couldn't believe that he had allowed Shigaraki and himself to be arrested by the Heroes at the USJ. What good was there in having a Warpgate ability if he couldn't even prevent himself or his ward from being captured by the authorities?
He knew the Master would be displeased with him the next time he saw him…or rather if they would see him again. 'Perhaps the Master is so disgusted that he's allowing us to be imprisoned? I suppose I can't blame him. Still… he should at least give Tomura another chance.' He thought. 'He still has so much untapped potential within him.'
As the two Villains lamented, one of the officers sitting closest to Shigaraki glanced at the Decay Villain, his expression unreadable through his mask.
"So…" he broke the silence, "how does it feel to be a complete failure?"
Shigaraki glanced up.
"All that work… All that planning… Just to be undone by a bunch of freshmen Hero students. It's pretty pathetic, if you ask me."
Shigaraki narrowed his eyes, scowling behind his face bandages. He could practically feel the policeman's sneer behind his mask. Oh, if only he were free of these restraints.
"Hey, enough." Another squad member, sitting adjacent, chastised. "We're here to guard the prisoners, not antagonize them."
"Relax. I'm not hurting anything. Besides, Villains are human too. I figure it wouldn't hurt to give him some friendly advice." The officer turned back to Shigaraki. "You committed some pretty grievous crimes today, son… but on the bright side, you didn't permanently injure or kill anyone. So, your stay in Tartarus may just be a few years. Who knows," he shrugged, "maybe with good behavior you can be released early and rejoin society one day."
Shigaraki clicked his tongue. "Don't pity me…" His shoulders trembled. "Don't you dare pity me! This broken society…and all the mindless fools who worship their Heroes like gods…it can all turn to dust! So, take your f**king advice and shove it, you worthless NPC!"
"Alright, that's enough!" The squad captain demanded. "Prisoner, settle down or we'll sedate you. And Officer Kotsu, stop antagonizing the prisoner!"
"Alright, alright… I hear yah loud and clear, captain." He held up a hand placatingly. "But please… let me just say one thing to our esteemed prisoner." Officer Kotsu stood up and approached Shigaraki. "It's something nice, I promise."
"Kotsu!"
"Relax, captain." Another officer placed a hand on the captain's shoulder, sounding unfazed. "The prisoner's restrained and his Quirk is disabled. He can't do anything; neither of them can."
The squad captain sighed in exasperation, making a mental note to write up Officer Kotsu for antagonizing prisoners after the mission. A shame since the young lad had just transferred to their department.
"F**k off!" Shigaraki growled. "I don't want any of your sympathies, you fu–" He was cut off as the squad officer leaned closer to his left ear, whispering something.
"Hail Hydra."
Shigaraki's breath was hitched in his throat as his eyes shot open. He was momentarily frozen until a bone-chilling smile curled upward behind his bandages.
"I see…" He lowered his gaze. "Yeah, you're right, Officer Kotsu. Maybe this is a chance for me to turn over a new leaf in life. Thank you." Shigaraki politely stated.
Needless to say, the other squad members were dumbfounded.
"My pleasure, son." Officer Kotsu straightened up, giving a thumbs-up, grinning behind his mask. "Always happy to help those in need."
Kurogiri was as flabbergasted by the exchange as the guards were. What in the world did that random police officer say to calm down Shigaraki like this? Though the gauze hid his expression, Kurogiri could practically see his ward's blood-red eyes shining with twisted glee. Interesting.
The black miasma then noticed that the guard, Officer Kotsu, took one quick glance at him before looking away.
Kurogiri's yellow eyes extended slightly. If he had a face, he'd be smirking right now. 'I see…'
As Officer Kotsu sat back down, the squad officer sitting by him looked at him mildly suspicious. "What did you say to him?" He asked, incredulous to what he witnessed.
"Oh…nothing much." Officer Kotsu sneered menacingly behind his mask. He pulled his right glove off as bone plating suddenly sprouted above his skin. "Just some words of encouragement."
Moments later, the prison transport van ignited into a fiery explosion. The vehicle swerved off the road while taking a few nearby police vehicles with it. The van flipped over several times before coming to a stop in the empty grassfield. A plume of smoke reached into the air.
The caravan stopped and officers–who weren't killed or injured by the explosion and crashes–immediately surrounded the flaming wreckage. Emergency responders and any Pro Heroes nearby were radioed in, but it'd be a while due to them being far outside the city.
When firetrucks and ambulances finally arrived, they quickly doused the flames. Later, Police carefully inspected the remains to find the burnt cadavers of five of the six guards.
Additionally, the bodies of the two League of Villains bosses were not present in the smoldering wreckage either.