Location: Naruhata – Apartment
Date: Three Days Later | 09:00 AM
ZIP.
Kaito pulled the zipper on his small suitcase closed.
He stood up and looked around his apartment. His wooden desk in the corner was completely clean.
He didn't have a single folder or document lying around. His work with Edgeshot and the Edo-Lines agency was totally finished.
He grabbed his phone from the kitchen counter and dialed a number.
RING.
RING.
CLICK.
"Hello?" Grandma Saki answered.
"Hey, Grandma. It's Kaito," he said, holding the phone to his ear. "I'm just calling to say goodbye. I'm heading to the airport right now."
"The airport?" Saki asked. She sounded confused. "Are you taking a vacation again? Or did you forgot something in some places?"
Kaito laughed a little, shaking his head. "I have a new contract overseas, Grandma."
"Aah, Is that so? Which country is it this time?"
"Singapore," Kaito explained simply.
"Oh," Saki muttered. "Well, take care of yourself there Kaito."
"Yeah, you too Grandma," Kaito smiled. "It's a really big contract. I'm going to be gone for a few months."
Saki warned him gently. "Eat real meals over there. Don't just drink black coffee all day and forget to sleep."
"I promise. I'll call you when I land. See you later, Grandma."
"Bye, dear."
BEEP.
Kaito didn't put the phone down. He tapped his screen and dialed another number.
RING.
RING.
CLICK.
"Hello," a bright voice answered.
"It's me," Kaito said.
"Hey Kaito!" Makoto said. "What's going on? Are you already bored sitting around your apartment?"
"I actually just picked up a job," Kaito replied, grabbing his jacket. "I'm heading to Singapore. I'll be out of the country for a few months."
"Wow. Singapore? That's huge," Makoto said. "Are you packing right now?"
"Already done," Kaito said. "Listen, Makoto. Can I ask you a favor?"
"Sure, name it."
"Since you and Grandma got along so well, do you mind checking in on her sometimes?" Kaito asked.
Makoto laughed softly. "I was already planning to go over there for dinner on Sunday anyway. You don't even have to ask. I've got her covered. Just focus on your new job."
Kaito felt the tension in his shoulders completely drop. "Thanks. I really appreciate it."
"You can show your appreciation by bringing me back a really good souvenir," Makoto teased. "And I mean a real one. If you bring me a cheap plastic keychain from the airport gift shop, I'm throwing it at your head."
Kaito chuckled. "Deal. I'll find something good. Tell the old man and the others I said bye."
"Will do. Have a safe flight, Kaito."
BEEP.
Kaito slipped the phone into his pocket. He grabbed the handle of his suitcase, walked out the door, and locked it behind him.
*-*-*
Location: Over the Pacific Ocean (First-Class Cabin)
Time: 01:30 PM
HUMMMM.
The low, steady vibration of the jet engines filled the spacious first-class cabin.
Kaito sat in a wide, reclining leather seat near the window. He took a slow sip from a glass of cold water resting on his tray table.
He opened his briefcase and pulled out the thick folder Big Red Dot had sent him on Wednesday.
He flipped open the first page. He needed to figure out exactly how he was going to build this 'Pacific Shield' he promised.
Connecting Singapore's radar to Captain Selkie's Oki Mariner in Japan was the easy part.
The technology wasn't the problem.
The problem was the people.
Kaito looked at the digital map of Singapore's ocean borders. It was a complete mess of red and blue lines overlapping each other.
Singapore was a tiny, incredibly wealthy island nation. They had a strict "zero-tolerance" policy for street vigilantes. You either had a hero license, or you went straight to jail.
But they still used independent hero agencies, just like Japan.
And because the country was so small, there was no physical space for those agencies to spread out.
You had dozens of independent hero groups all crammed together on the same docks, trying to do the exact same job on the water.
If a cargo ship sent out a distress call, three
different hero agencies would show up at the same time.
Instead of working together to save the ship, they would sit on their boats and argue over whose legal jurisdiction it was.
They fought over borders and bounties while the smugglers got away.
Big Red Dot was the Number One Hero. He couldn't just boss the private agencies around.
Tap.
Tap.
Kaito tapped his pen against the folder.
To link Singapore to Japan, Singapore needed to act as a single, unified unit. Captain Selkie couldn't share data with thirty different squabbling agencies.
'I have to break their stubborn independence,' Kaito thought, his eyes narrowing at the map.
He needed to step in, cut through their legal red tape, and force the independent agencies to stop fighting each other.
He had to drag all of them under Big Red Dot's national command.
Only then could he build the international shield.
Kaito closed the folder and put it back in his briefcase.
He looked out the airplane window at the white clouds below. It was going to be a massive headache, but he was ready to get to work.
*-*-*
Location: Musutafu – Aldera Junior High
Time: 03:00 PM
CHATTER.
CHATTER.
The second-year classroom was loud. Kids were laughing, throwing crumpled pieces of paper across the room, and completely ignoring the chalkboard.
"Alright, quiet down!" Makibao-sensei yelled, clapping his hands loudly.
The noise finally died down. The teacher grabbed a thick stack of papers from his desk.
"I'm handing out your career aspiration forms today," Makibao-sensei said, walking down the aisle and passing them out to the desks. "Your third year is right around the corner. You need to start thinking about what high school you want to attend."
A kid in the middle row pumped his fist in the air. "I'm going to U.A.! I'm gonna be a top hero!"
"Yeah right, with your weak quirk?" a girl teased him. "I'm applying to Shiketsu!"
Makibao-sensei walked back to the front of the room. He crossed his arms and let out a long sigh.
"Listen up," he warned them. "Getting into U.A. or Shiketsu isn't going to be a walk in the park anymore. You can't just rely on flashy quirks to get you through the doors."
The room went completely quiet.
"What do you mean, Sensei?" the first kid asked, lowering his hand.
"The hero industry is changing right now," Makibao-sensei explained. "Did you guys watch the Provisional License Exams on the news last time?"
Makibao-sensei tapped the chalkboard.
"Rumor is, the top high schools are tweaking their entrance exams. They are looking for people who can think under pressure, rescue hostages safely, and stay quiet. If you just run in blindly and break stuff, they will fail you."
"...."
Izuku Midoriya sat in the back row. He was writing quickly in his notebook.
He didn't look nervous at all. He actually had a small, quiet smile on his face.
He didn't have a flashy quirk. He didn't have any quirk.
But he and Kuro had been fighting actual villains and thugs in dark alleyways for over a year now.
He knew exactly how to stay quiet. He knew how to secure an area and read an opponent.
'Rescue and tactics,' Izuku thought, tapping his pencil. 'We can do that.'
Across the room, Katsuki Bakugo sat with his feet resting on his desk.
He wasn't yelling. He wasn't bragging about U.A. like he used to.
He was completely silent, staring right at the back of Izuku's head.
Bakugo's red eyes were sharp. He noticed everything.
He noticed how Izuku's shoulders were wider under his school uniform.
And Bakugo watched the news on TV and on internet.
He saw the grainy footage of a certain vigilante in Musutafu.
A small figure in a dark hoodie, alongside a massive beast resembling a cat that could transform and change clothes in an instant.
Bakugo wasn't an idiot.
He remembered getting thrown into the dirt at the abandoned lot a year ago. He remembered the completely spotless Takoba Beach.
Now, looking at Midoriya's height and posture, and thinking of the black cat that was always by his side, the famous Musutafu vigilante duo perfectly fit them.
'You really think you're hiding it, you damn nerd?' Bakugo thought, grinding his teeth together.
BRRRIIING.
The final school bell rang.
"Alright, class dismissed," Makibao-sensei said. "Take those forms home and talk to your parents."
The classroom erupted into noise again. Kids grabbed their bags and rushed out the door.
Izuku packed his notebooks away. He slung his yellow backpack over his shoulder and walked out into the hallway.
He walked down the stairs and headed straight for the front gate. He was eager to get home and start his evening training with Kuro.
"Hey."
Izuku stopped walking.
He turned around.
Bakugo was leaning against the brick wall near the school gate. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets.
He didn't look angry. He didn't have tiny explosions popping in his hands to scare people. He just looked completely serious.
"Kacchan," Izuku said politely.
Bakugo pushed himself off the wall. He walked forward and stopped just a few feet away from Izuku.
"You look tired, Deku," Bakugo said. His voice was low and calm. "You staying up late?"
Izuku kept his face completely blank. He didn't flinch. He didn't stutter.
"I just study a lot," Izuku answered evenly.
"Right," Bakugo scoffed. "Just studying. Must be hard reading books out in the rain at two in the morning."
Izuku's eyes widened just a fraction of an inch.
Bakugo noticed it.
A small, fierce smirk appeared on his face.
"I watch the local news and net, Deku," Bakugo said quietly, stepping a little closer. "Dark hoodies. And another big creature that resembles a cat person beating up street thugs and villains. You think people don't notice?"
Izuku didn't try to lie. He just gripped the straps of his backpack.
"What do you want, Kacchan?" Izuku asked.
Bakugo's smirk faded. He looked Izuku dead in the eyes.
"Tomorrow," Bakugo said. "Nine-thirty AM. Takoba Municipal Beach."
Izuku listened.
"I've been training every single day for a year," Bakugo told him. "I'm not the same sloppy fighter from that dirt lot. I want a rematch."
Bakugo turned around and started walking away down the sidewalk. He looked over his shoulder one last time.
"Don't run away," Bakugo called out. "Bring the cat. Bring whatever toys or gears you hide under your sleeves. Don't hold back."
Bakugo kept walking, leaving Izuku standing alone by the school gate.
Izuku took a deep breath. He let go of his backpack straps.
He felt the old, familiar nervous feeling in his stomach, but he pushed it down easily. He wasn't a scared kid anymore. If he can defeat him last time, then he can do it again. But he still needed to fully prepare.
"Okay," Izuku whispered to himself. "I'll be there."
*-*-*
Location: Singapore – Changi Airport VIP Terminal
Time: 07:30 PM
FWOOSH.
The automatic glass doors slid open.
Kaito stepped out of the air-conditioned terminal, and the heat hit him right in the chest.
A couple of black SUVs sat idling by the curb.
Standing next to the lead car was Big Red Dot.
He gave a massive wave and walked over. Two other heroes followed right behind him.
"Kaito," Big Red Dot said, grabbing Kaito's hand for a firm shake. "You made it. Good flight?"
"Long," Kaito said, pulling at the collar of his shirt. "But quiet. It's a lot hotter here than I expected."
"You get used to it," Big Red Dot laughed. He pointed to the two heroes with him. "This is my crew. Siti handles tactics, and Raju is my heavy-lifting guy on the water."
Siti gave a quick wave. She wore a dark red vest and had tactical goggles hanging around her neck.
Raju rubbed the back of his neck and smiled. "Hey, Mr. Arisaka. I just wanted to say, I read up on what you did with Edgeshot back in Japan. The way you fixed his folding technique so he wouldn't pass out... that was really smart."
Kaito gave him a small smile. "It was just physics, Raju. But I appreciate it."
A man in a plain grey suit walked up quietly.
"This is Mr. Tan from the government," Big Red Dot explained. "He's just here to grab your bags and get them to your hotel."
"Thank you," Kaito said, handing the handle of his suitcase to the man.
"Alright, let's get out of this heat," Big Red Dot said, opening the back door of the SUV.
THUD.
The heavy car door slammed shut.
HUMMMM.
The air conditioning blasted from the vents as the SUV pulled away from the airport.
Big Red Dot shifted in his seat and looked at Kaito. "So, I know you saw the files I sent. The independent agencies out here are a massive headache. They act like unruly neighbors fighting over a fence. Tomorrow—"
"Stop," Kaito said, holding up a hand.
Big Red Dot blinked, looking a little confused.
"What?"
"I just spent seven hours on a plane looking at your maps," Kaito said, leaning back against the headrest. "I'm officially off the clock. I don't want to hear about maritime borders, agency disputes, or patrol routes until working hours."
"..."
"...."
Siti let out a sudden laugh from the front seat. "I like him."
Big Red Dot stared at Kaito for a second, then let out a booming laugh. "Hahaha... Alright, fair enough. No business talk tonight. We're just getting dinner."
_-_-_-_-_
Location: Red Dot Taskforce HQ – Private Dining Room
CLINK.
CLATTER.
They sat around a large table overlooking the harbor. The room smelled like spices and roasted garlic.
Plates of chili crab, grilled fish, and chicken satay covered the table.
Nobody was talking about work. They were just eating.
"I'm telling you, the street food near the old docks is way better than this fancy stuff," Raju said, pointing his fork at Big Red Dot. "The boss just brought you here to show off."
"I brought him here because it has air conditioning," Big Red Dot shot back before taking a bite of crab. "If I took him to the docks, he would melt in his nice clothes."
Kaito grabbed a skewer of chicken. "He's right. I'll take the AC."
SIP.
Siti took a sip of her water and looked at Kaito. "So what is it actually like working with the top guys in Japan? Are they as crazy as the news makes them look?"
"Manageable," Kaito answered. "Endeavor is so serious about everything. Best Jeanist never stops making fashion references. And Captain Celebrity... well, you already know about him."
Big Red Dot groaned. "Don't even mention his name, my phone might start ringing."
The table laughed. It was easy. It felt like a normal dinner with normal people.
_-_-_-_-_
Location: U.A. High School – Classroom 1-A
Date: Saturday | 9:00 AM
THUD.
Mirio Togata dropped his forehead right onto his wooden desk. He let out a long, heavy groan.
"I can't feel my legs," Mirio mumbled against the wood. "Aizawa-sensei is a demon. Why do we have to do endurance running on a Saturday?"
Sitting next to him, Tamaki Amajiki was curled up into a tight ball. He had his hood pulled up over his head.
"I want to go home," Tamaki whispered to his desk. "My stomach hurts. There are too many people in this room."
POKE.
POKE.
Nejire Hado floated a few inches out of her chair. She reached over and poked Mirio's shoulder, then poked Tamaki's hood.
"Hey, hey! Don't fall asleep!" Nejire chirped, her big blue eyes wide with energy. "What do you think our next class is? Is it math? I really hope it's not math. Do you guys like math?"
"Nejire, please," Tamaki whimpered. "Too loud."
CLACK.
The classroom door slid open.
CRACK.
A leather whip slammed against the chalkboard. The sharp noise echoed through the room.
Every single student jumped in their seats. Mirio sat up perfectly straight.
Tamaki practically tried to hide under his desk.
Nemuri Kayama stood at the front of the class. She wore her full Midnight hero costume, giving them a wicked, playful smile.
"Wake up, first-years!" Midnight called out, resting her hands on her hips. "Nap time is over. Welcome to Hero Psychology and Physiology."
The tired students suddenly looked a lot more awake.
Midnight walked over to the teacher's podium. The playful smirk left her face. She hit a button on the desk.
BEEP.
The lights in the classroom dimmed. A projector turned on, flashing a video onto the whiteboard.
It was body-camera footage from a police officer. It showed a bank robber backed into an alleyway.
The robber had one arm wrapped tightly around a crying hostage, and his other hand was glowing with a dangerous, unstable heat quirk.
Midnight crossed her arms.
"Look at the screen," Midnight instructed. Her voice was totally serious now. "You are the first hero on the scene. You do not have an invulnerability quirk. You do not have super speed. If you charge him, the hostage gets burned. How do you stop him?"
Mirio shot his hand up into the air immediately.
"Togata," Midnight pointed at him.
"You throw a piece of rubble at the wall behind him!" Mirio answered confidently. "When he turns his head to look at the noise, you close the distance and hit him with a knockout punch!"
Midnight shook her head.
"Wrong," Midnight said flatly. "If you startle him, his hand might jerk. The heat quirk burns the hostage's face before your punch even lands. You just got a civilian permanently scarred."
Mirio winced and slowly lowered his hand. "Oh. Right."
Nejire floated up higher, raising her hand next.
"Yes, Hado?"
"What kind of heat quirk is it?" Nejire asked rapidly. "Does it shoot fire? Does it just make his skin hot? Why is he sweating so much? Is the quirk making him sweat or is it the weather?"
"Forget the quirk..." Midnight said.
She grabbed a remote and paused the video. She zoomed the image in, focusing entirely on the villain's face and upper body.
"Look closely," Midnight told the class. "Look at his chest. He is hyperventilating. Look at his eyes. His pupils are completely dilated. His grip on the hostage is shaking. Why?"
The classroom went quiet. The students stared at the frozen image, trying to figure out the trick.
In the back row, Tamaki slowly raised his hand. It was barely visible.
"Amajiki," Midnight called his name gently. "What do you see?"
Gulp.
Tamaki swallowed hard. He kept his eyes locked on the villain's shaking hands.
"He... he's not angry," Tamaki said quietly. "He's terrified."
Midnight smiled. "Keep going."
"His breathing is too shallow," Tamaki stuttered, rubbing his own arm. "He's completely trapped in an alleyway with police pointing guns at him. His body is dumping too much adrenaline. He... he's having a panic attack. If you yell at him, he's going to snap."
"Exactly," Midnight said, pointing her red pen right at Tamaki. "Ten points to Amajiki."
Tamaki blushed and immediately hid his face behind his textbook, but a small, proud smile tugged at his mouth.
Midnight turned back to the class.
"This is psychological profiling," Midnight explained, pacing in front of the board. "Heroes focus too much on physical quirks. But underneath those quirks, villains are just humans. They have nervous systems. They have cortisol spikes. They feel fear."
She tapped the board right next to the villain's terrified eyes.
"If you know how to read human biology," Midnight said, "you can figure out what they are going to do before they even move. You can talk this guy down, lower his heart rate, and get the hostage out without throwing a single punch."
The students were completely hooked. Even Mirio was furiously scribbling notes in his notebook.
Midnight watched them write. She let out a quiet, slow breath.
She looked at the lesson plan on her desk. She remembered sitting in the agency lounge months ago, drinking espresso while Kaito told her exactly how to change her career path.
He was right. The students didn't care about her R-Rated gimmick right now. They respected her expertise. They were listening to every single word.
Midnight smiled warmly to herself. She picked up a piece of chalk and turned to the board.
"Alright, grab your textbooks," Midnight said. "Let's talk about the biological signs of an adrenaline crash."
_-_-_-_-_
Location: Takoba Municipal Beach (Secluded Sector)
Date: Saturday | 09:30 AM
The morning sun beat down on the clean, white sand.
Katsuki Bakugo stood near the water. He wore black sweatpants and a tight black tank top. He had his hands shoved in his pockets, staring out at the ocean. He was completely focused.
CRUNCH.
CRUNCH.
Heavy footsteps hit the sand behind him.
Bakugo turned around. He didn't say anything at first. He just looked.
Izuku Midoriya stopped walking. He wasn't wearing civilian clothes. He was fully suited up.
He wore dark tactical cargo pants, a reinforced green jacket, and a thick utility belt covered in pouches.
Heavy steel kinetic bracers were locked onto both of his forearms. He wore dark combat gloves with metal nodes resting on the knuckles.
But the most jarring part was his face.
It was completely covered. Izuku wore a smooth mask that hid every single feature.
MEOW.
Right next to his heavy boots, Kuro trotted forward. The black cat didn't transform. He just walked over to a rusted iron pipe sticking out of the sand, jumped up, and wrapped his tail around his paws to watch.
"You look ridiculous," Bakugo said flatly.
Izuku didn't move. He just stood there, completely balanced.
"I watch the local news, Deku," Bakugo continued, taking a step forward. "A guy in a dark green hoodie and a giant creature like cat taking down Trigger thugs in the alleyways and helping people at night. You think the rumors don't reach my house?"
"....."
Izuku reached up.
CLICK.
He unlatched the back of the smooth mask and pulled it off, letting his hood drop.
He looked Bakugo right in the eyes. He didn't stutter, and he didn't try to play dumb.
"I didn't think you cared about the local news, Kacchan," Izuku said calmly.
"I care when you're out there acting like a suicidal idiot," Bakugo shot back.
"I have to do it," Izuku answered, his voice steady. "I don't have a quirk. If I'm going to be a real pro hero one day, I need actual experience, I need to be the best quirkless man there is. I can't just read books anymore. But I also know you aren't going to tell the cops."
Bakugo scoffed, crossing his arms. "Like I'd snitch to the police. I don't give a damn what you do at night. But you've been busy."
"So have you," Izuku pointed out. "You stopped yelling in homeroom. You stopped hanging around those other guys from our class. You've just been training by yourself for a whole year. Am I right?"
"...."
Bakugo clenched his jaw. He looked at the perfectly clean beach around them.
"And you spent months dragging literal mountains of garbage just to build a fighter's body," Bakugo muttered, his red eyes locking back onto Izuku. "Don't think I didn't see you out here breaking your back in the past. Where did you learn your fighting styles? And did you build that gear yourself?"
"I had a good teacher," Izuku said, glancing briefly at Kuro.
"Good," Bakugo said. He dropped his arms. "Then don't hold back. Show me exactly how you survive on the streets, as a vigilante."
Izuku lifted the mask. He pulled it back over his face.
CLICK.
"I won't," Izuku's voice came out slightly muffled and altered through the mask.
The talking was over.
Bakugo dropped into a low, tight stance. He kept his elbows tucked close to his ribs.
There were no wild, angry swings. He was totally disciplined.
Izuku shifted his feet, sliding into a flawless, grounded martial arts stance.
POP.
POP.
Sparks ignited in Bakugo's palms.
BOOM!
SWOOOSH.
Bakugo launched himself forward. The sand kicked up behind him. He closed the distance in a split second, but he didn't throw a right hook.
STEP.
He planted his hands on the sand and spun his entire body. He used an explosion from his palm to fuel a massive, high-speed kick aimed right at Izuku's head.
SWISH.
Izuku didn't flinch. He ducked under the kick with insane, fluid agility.
He rolled across the sand, popping right back up onto his feet, and threw a low leg sweep.
Bakugo caught his balance instantly. He aimed his palm down.
CRAACK. BLAST.
CLANG!
Izuku crossed his arms. The explosion hit the steel kinetic bracers dead on.
The heavy metal absorbed the blunt force and the heat, sliding the blast away harmlessly.
Izuku didn't even take a step back.
"Tsk." Bakugo gritted his teeth. He realized it immediately.
Deku was reading his shoulders. Deku was tracking his center of gravity. He was getting outplayed in close quarters.
Bakugo jumped back, putting ten feet of distance between them.
He pulled both of his hands back, cupping them together. He needed to break Deku's rhythm right now.
"STUN GRENADE!" Bakugo roared.
KABOOM!
A massive, deafening bang shook the beach. A blinding flash of pure white light erupted from Bakugo's hands.
The light was completely blinding. Thick white smoke filled the air.
But Izuku didn't panic. He closed his eyes under the massk. He listened to the shifting sand.
BZZZZT.
CRACKLE.
The metal nodes on Izuku's gloves sparked to life, glowing with bright blue electricity.
THUMP.
Instead of backing away from the blind spot, Izuku dug his boots into the sand and charged straight into the blinding white smoke, aiming his glowing fists right at the sound of Bakugo's breathing. He intends to completely knock him out safely.
SWOOOSH.
CRACKLE-BOOM.
.....
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(9 Advanced Chapters)