Yamazaki Manor.
5 Months Later.
Seiki.
Slouched over at his desk, Seiki stared at the computer screen in front of him, covered in files that literally anyone else would drool over. Theories and discoveries so groundbreaking that posting even one of them online would flip the world on it's head... and Seiki Yamazaki couldn't be more bored out of his goddamn mind.
"Ughhhh..." he groans, pushing himself away from the blur of words on his desktop. Toppling backwards out of his chair, only for a dozen slips of paper to catch him.
"What's wrong, Seiki-dono?" Konan asks, concerned on his behalf.
So Seiki tells her.
"Science. And math. So much fucking math..."
Because while it's been five months for everyone else, it has been... an incredibly long time for him in particular. Putting his nose to the grindstone in an effort to understand just what makes a Quirk, well, a Quirk.
All it took was a few slips of paper sending a few data-rippers here and there, copying everything that has a USB port in it, and fleeing the scene soundlessly. He hadn't even needed to use his Quirk— his little paperweight was just that good.
And while he might be the leading expert on Quirk spirituality, he's nowhere near as close as Kyudai Garaki is to grasping the scientific side of Quirks.
Or at least, that used to be the case.
'Nezu's Quirk is such a cheat,' he smiled fondly.
High Specs.
It... doesn't actually make him smarter. Or at least, that is not the primary effect. All it really does is make him think faster, and more "accurately." Basically, if he reads something in the handful of seconds that his beeQuirk of Nezu's is active, no matter how abstract it is, he will have a much better understanding of it in general.
Letting him quite literally torture himself for information (stinging himself with bees) over and over as he reads through the absolute slog that is Kyudai's notes.
Notes that weren't taken to be read or understood by others, but for him to leave references for himself. Because of course.
But to his dismay, this can only be done in false time.
Because now that he knows more about Queen Bee, and about Quirks in general...
He can't rely on Queen Bee. Not in real time.
And even then, he rarely uses Nezu's Quirk anymore, because the more Seiki understands, the less substantial all of those insights and nuggets of knowledge become— it's actually gotten to the point that, if he was in real time (without Nezu's blood), then he was better off actually reading through Kyudai's slogfest on his own.
So, despite all of his efforts to avoid any sort of schooling...
Seiki has inadvertently become one of the greatest minds in regards to Quirk Theory, Science, and Biology.
Yay.
But even if he couldn't rely on any of his new toys in real time, it does make keeping tabs on all of his enemies much, much easier.
"Alright, it's been three weeks. Might as well get it out of the way," Seiki mutters. And before Konan can ask— LOAD4.
He's sitting in his living room 14 hours earlier.
Rinka on his left, snuggled up against him— or rather, practically on top of him, pressing her tits and thighs against his left side as she smothers him. His mother doing pretty much the same thing on his right. Konan quietly sitting in his lap, her pert little ass pushing down on his crotch. Azula sitting on the floor, leaning against his legs... and D'Vorah sitting next to her, laying her head on his right thigh. Seiki can't help but smile a little when loading saves like these.
"Locust, Razor. Mission."
Everyone tenses.
"Relax. We're just doing a quick tabs check."
"Just D'Vorah and Konan?" Rinka asks, because of course she wants to go.
"Yeah... don't really need anyone else for this, not anymore," Seiki admits. And while he does have some fond memories of raiding HPSC headquarters with Rinka as his vanguard, watching her blitz Hawks on a particularly bad day— only to swat him into a fine red mist— all while he "gently persuades" key individuals to reveal anything new that they may or may not have on him and his mother, all while scouring their computers for any files pertinent to them...
Only to do the same to All For One and associates...
And then to the relevant branches of the Japanese Government...
And then to the World Hero Association...
Honestly, it was a huge fucking pain having to do all of that, especially when he knew he'd have to do it all again a few months after that.
Or at least that's how it was before Queen Bee.
SAVE4.
Rinka and his mom lean away from him as he sits up and gets off the couch, Konan leaving his lap and splitting into the air as he stretches his arms and legs.
Then he simply says, "Locust, Warp."
At his command, D'Vorah releases a single bee from her pores, stinging Seiki's outstretched arm.
Injecting him with just a few drops of the only blood that she's acquired in real time.
Purple mist explodes out of Atlas.
And the hunt for information begins anew.
*
2 Seconds.
The Knockout Hero.
Laying in his bed facedown after a long day and night of non-stop heroing, the Knockout hero snaps awake as he's enveloped in a purple fog... only to fall right through his bed. Or rather, fall into a new room. 'Teleportation,' he instantly thinks. A type of Quirk that he never thought he'd actually encounter, especially when he was technically off the clock... but the only people that would go after him of all people were Villains.
Which meant that, sleep deprived or not, it was hero time.
Still wearing his pajamas, Kaito brings both his arms and legs in front of him into a makeshift combat stance—
But before he even hits the ground, something snaps around both of his wrists, holding them out as he's forced to dangle in the air. Kaito immediately raises his feet, trying to flip over what's restraining his hands— only to feel a slight stinging sensation on the back of his neck.
And while he's trying to memorize the faces of those around him, a boy— one red eye, and one blue— reaches out, and gently places his hand on Kaito's face.
And then he's knocked out.
*
16 Seconds.
Kurogiri.
Absentmindedly polishing a glass, Kurogiri doesn't notice the small burst of purple mist that opens behind him, neither does he notice the hand touching his shoulder—
*
28 Seconds.
Nemoto.
Walking down the halls of Overhaul's base, Nemoto doesn't notice the burst of purple mist—
*
36 Seconds.
Giran.
SAVE3.
Looking over one of his latest shipments, Giran startles backwards as purple mist explodes into existence a few feet in front of him. His heart leaping up into his throat at the idea of meeting face to face with All For One. Sure, he's met the man before, but never without at least a few moments to prepare himself before hand... only for that train of thought to end as Atlas— no mask, no gloves, no suit— steps out of the mist instead.
The little upstart hitting up the Underground Masquerade having ties that Giran most certainly did not know about just a few seconds ago.
'Now this is interesting.'
"Have you learned anything new about me in the last three weeks?"
"Besides your ties to All For One, no," Giran admits. Blinking as he realizes that, not only did he tell the truth, but his mouth had answered without his permission—
LOAD3.
*
38 Seconds.
Overhaul.
Kai Chisaki tenses as a cloud of purple mist explodes into existence just a few meters in front of him, only for his eyes to widen as he recognizes the boy now standing in his hideout. Not wearing a mask or gloves— only wearing casual clothes, actually— Kai can't help but blank at the odd turn of events.
And before he can even open his mouth—
"Have you learned anything new about me in the last three weeks?" Atlas asks.
"No," Kai answers... without even meaning to.
Nemoto's Quirk.
Kai grits his teeth, taking a small step back and to the side. Just a bit closer to the left wall, ready to vaporize his left glove at a moment's notice, and then reconfigure the hallway in front of him. Not wanting to get close to what's most likely a power copier. "Would you kindly explain—"
"What's my Quirk?"
"Some type of copy Quirk," he answers again, honestly. Completely against his will. Such an annoying fucking Quirk to be on the other side of.
Kai vaporizes his gloves, reaching out towards the wall—
"Did you know that I'm a time-traveler?"
"I didn't," he answers again, and before he can even process that bombshell—
LOAD3.
Kai doesn't notice the small burst of purple mist behind him, nor does he notice the hand—
*
*
*
1 Minute, 2 Seconds.
All For One.
SAVE3.
All For One hums as a cloud of purple mist explodes in front of him, expecting some sort of message from Kurogiri... only to blank at the unfamiliar outline that steps into his lair.
Someone that he's never met, wearing socks, a T-shirt, and sweatpants.
Standing at the other end of the room, both of his arms lazily crossed in front of him.
"Ah. Right. Your sight hasn't catalogued me yet," the young man mutters, an insinuation that sets All For One on edge. Anger brewing at the idea of this brat knowing something that he didn't, that anger simmering further as All For One realizes that, yes, said brat was dangling said information in front of him on purpose.
"I'm Atlas by the way."
"Atlas..." All For One says, tasting the name on his tongue. Then it clicks.
"Oh. Rinka and Azula's dear backer," he says smoothly, using their first names in an attempt to elicit a response... only to subtly grind his teeth together as Atlas continues to stare at him unbothered.
And then a bee that had followed Atlas through Kurogiri's mist pricks his neck—
"Have you even bothered looking into me yet?"
"Not in the slightest," All For One answers honestly... and it takes him a moment to realize that, no, he hadn't been purposefully dismissing Atlas by saying the truth.
He had said the truth without meaning to—!
LOAD3.
Sitting alone in his lair, All For One doesn't react... as nothing happens. Unable to do a single thing as his fellow Titan spreads his claws throughout all of Japan. An invisible, undetectable information network scouring the entire country in an instant.
Unable to do anything as the Titan that's already killed him a dozen times over continues to grow, as the noose continues to tighten around his neck...
*
*
*
2 Minutes, 40 Seconds.
HPSC Mook #14.
Hunched over at his desk, Tanaka doesn't even notice the burst of purple mist behind him. Nor does he notice the boy that silently walks out of it. Not until a strand of hair, shaped like an arrow, leaves the smallest of cuts on the back of his neck.
And now he can no longer move.
Or rather, Tanaka can now only move very, very slowly.
"Have you made any new discoveries regarding the Yamazaki's in the last three weeks?" A voice— that of a young man— asks from directly behind him.
"NNnnnoooooooo," he slurs, his eyes widening as he's forced to tell the truth.
And before he can even call out for help, a hand touches his shoulder—
*
*
*
LOAD4.
"...Aaaaaand we're done. Good work, guys." Seiki says, letting out a yawn as he pulls Rinka and Narumi closer to him. Not even leaving his spot on the couch, his lovers and confidants all piled against him.
"Wait, you—" Rinka stopped herself, leaning back into Seiki with an annoyed huff.
"That will never not be weird."
Seiki just chuckled.
"Relax. We can spar later, if you want." Something that makes his wolf bristle in excitement. "Actually... lets do all four of you versus me, going for the kill. Still gotta polish my response to group attacks, as well as AOEs," Seiki mutters, a few wisps of black energy wafting off his hand.
Because without Queen Bee...
He had quite a ways to go if he wanted to kill All For One.
"Dude, fuck the movie, let's go spar!" Azula shouted, staring up at him with manic eyes. The "to the death" part doing wonders for her bloodlust.
To which Seiki just sighed.
"Of course..."
*
*
*