Location: Arisaka Consulting Office
Time: 09:00 AM
CLACK.
CLACK.
Sip.
Kaito sat at his large desk. He took a slow sip of his black coffee. It was just two days after the camping trip in Oita, and he was back to the daily grind.
[Boss, the server processing is complete,] Eve's voice played clearly from the ceiling speakers. [Out of the fifteen thousand applications from the weekend, I finalized the ten online slots. I strictly followed your encoded requirements.]
Kaito looked at his main monitor. A neat list of ten foreign hero agencies appeared.
He scrolled down.
He saw the hero from Greenland, a struggling agency in Iceland, and a maritime rescue squad in Madagascar.
"Good job, Eve," Kaito said.
Kaito clicked open a new tab on his browser. He pulled up the domestic news.
The Japanese Hero Billboard Chart just updated for the quarter.
Rank 1: All Might.
Rank 2: Endeavor.
Rank 3: Best Jeanist.
Rank 4: O'Clock.
Rank 5: Edgeshot.
Rank 6: Ryukyu.
Rank 7: Yoroi Musha.
Rank 8: Crust.
Rank 9: Selkie.
Rank 10: Gang Orca.
Kaito leaned back in his leather chair. He looked at the list.
Seven out of the top ten heroes were his former clients.
The only ones he hadn't worked with yet were Yoroi Musha, Crust, and Gang Orca.
KNOCK. KNOCK.
[Boss, you have a walk-in,] Eve announced.
The heavy wooden door opened.
Kugo Sakamata walked inside.
He wore a crisp, tailored white suit with a high popped collar.
He had to duck his massive killer whale head just to fit through the door frame. Gang Orca, the Number 10 Hero, stood in the middle of the office.
"Mr. Arisaka," Orca said. His deep voice rumbled across the room.
"Have a seat, Gang Orca," Kaito offered, pointing to the chair across from his desk.
Orca walked over and sat down. He crossed his huge arms.
He didn't look angry and was just deeply serious. He looked at Kaito with complete respect.
"I saw the news from Oita," Orca started. "Dodging a brute like Muscular takes extreme tactical awareness, Arisaka. Not just luck."
"It was a crazy vacation," Kaito smiled casually. "I'm just glad Water Hose was there to handle the dangerous villains."
Orca gave a short, dry chuckle.
"This is the third time we're doing this," Orca pointed out. "I walked in here a long time ago. Then my manager called you when you were sorting offers. You picked Edgeshot over me."
"I did," Kaito nodded. "Are we going to talk about it?"
"No," Orca replied firmly. "Edgeshot was chosen. You made the right call. But I need your help right now."
Orca leaned forward. He rested his elbows on his knees.
"You created a massive problem for me, Manager," Orca explained. "You built up Endeavor, Best Jeanist, and Edgeshot so much that the urban cities are completely locked down. Desperate minor villains and violent vigilantes are fleeing the mainland. They are flooding my coastal wards."
Kaito stayed quiet. He let the hero talk.
"And the Tartarus convoy ambush made everything worse," Orca continued. His voice dropped lower. "Stendhal slaughtered five inmates right under my nose. Because of that, my maritime sidekicks at the Okuto Island Aquarium are rattled. Barnacle, Shira, Iruka... they are all jumpy. They are second-guessing every shadow, and it is leaving massive holes in my patrol grid."
Kaito picked up a pen from his desk. He spun it between his fingers.
"You need order in your agency," Kaito said.
"I need order, and I need personal guidance," Orca said bluntly. "You are famous for making heroes stronger. I hit a dead end with my mutant Quirk. I need to know how to push my quirk and my physical strength further. I can't protect my coast if I don't evolve."
Orca pointed a thick finger at Kaito's computer screen.
"I don't want a four million dollar PDF file," Orca demanded respectfully. "I need you physically present at my aquarium base for a full three-month contract."
Kaito looked at the towering hero.
Orca cared deeply about his men and his city. He was asking for exactly what he needed.
"I have to review my domestic schedule today," Kaito told him. "I will call and give you my final answer sometime."
Orca nodded. He stood up to his full height. He reached across the desk and offered his massive hand.
Kaito grabbed it. They shared a firm, heavy handshake.
"I'll be waiting for the call," Orca said. He turned around and walked out of the office.
CLACK.
The door shut behind him.
PUFF.
Kaito let out a breath and set his pen down.
BEEP.
[Boss, the morning consultation block is starting,] Eve said. [Another client is waiting in the lobby.]
"Send them in," Kaito replied.
Arisaka Consulting wasn't just for the Top 10 elites.
Kaito had a consultation on lower-ranking heroes who couldn't afford a full three-month contract.
They paid a standard fee for a thirty-minute, face-to-face direct consultation.
The door opened. A young hero in a blue spandex suit walked in.
He was Rank 212. He carried a heavy metal capture whip.
"Manager Arisaka! Thank you for seeing me," the hero said nervously.
"Have a seat," Kaito smiled. "Show me the whip."
The hero handed it over. Kaito looked at the heavy metal grip.
"You are tearing your rotator cuff," Kaito said immediately. "The grip is too heavy for the wire's thickness. Take this to a support company and tell them to hollow out the handle. It will double your swing speed."
"Wow. I didn't even think of that," the hero said, quickly writing it down on a notepad.
For the next few hours, the office turned into a revolving door.
A Rank 80 hero walked in with a map.
Kaito took a red marker and crossed out three overlapping patrol routes, saving the guy's agency thousands of dollars in wasted gas.
A Rank 450 hero with a heavy tortoise-shell mutation walked in complaining about back pain.
Kaito spent twenty minutes fixing the guy's combat stance, showing him how to drop his center of gravity so he stopped absorbing punches with his spine.
More heroes came and went. Kaito rapid-fired specific, grounded advice to every single one of them.
He answered questions, tweaked gear plans, and fixed schedules.
"Thank you so much, Manager," the final hero of the morning said. He bowed deeply and walked out the door.
CLACK.
Kaito sat alone in his office. He looked up at the wall clock.
It was exactly 02:00 PM.
Kaito slumped back in his heavy leather chair.
Crack. Crack.
He rolled his head back and cracked his stiff neck. At this time a good fastfood delivery js the best.
"Hmm?"
*-*-*-*
Kaito opened his desk drawer and pulled out a blank yellow notepad.
He grabbed a pencil.
His mind drifted away from hero consulting. He thought about the breakfast back in Shizuoka a few months ago.
Kaito remembered the time he cooked heavy steak, the fluffy omelet, and the rich gravy.
He also remembered Kimiko looking at him with a dead serious face, telling him she would quit her job to open a restaurant franchise so they could become billionaires.
Tap. Tap.
Kaito tapped the pencil against his desk.
The food industry in this world was stuck in the past.
Pro Heroes and normal civilians were always busy, always rushing.
But when they wanted to eat, they had to sit down at a slow family diner or buy a crepe from a street stall.
Even Lunch Rush, the best food hero around, was trapped cooking for teenagers inside U.A. High School.
There were no massive, fast-paced burger chains.
Kaito wanted to build exactly that. A simple menu. Burgers, fries, and cold drinks.
He knew the fast food in his past life tasted good.
But Kaito refused to settle for good. He knew how to cook high-level meals.
He could easily design the perfect seasoning blend for the burger patties with how the public belief he is a good cook.
Kaito could formulate an addictive signature sauce. He knew the exact oil temperature needed to make the fries perfectly crisp.
Kaito picked up his phone and dialed.
RING.
RING.
Kacha.
[Hello?] Kenji answered. His voice was warm and totally relaxed. [Hey, Kaito! How are things with the pros?]
"Things are good, Kenji," Kaito smiled. "Did you just get off your shift?"
[Yeah. I'm just sitting on the couch right now. What's up?]
"Put Kimiko on the line for a second," Kaito said.
[Sure thing. Hold on.]
Kaito heard some shuffling through the speaker. A few seconds later, Kimiko picked up.
[Hey Kaito,] Kimiko said loudly. [Kenji said you wanted to talk.]
Kaito laughed."Do you remember that big breakfast we had in Shizuoka after the global raid? You made a joke about opening a food franchise with me."
[Oh, yeah,] Kimiko chuckled. [I was just dreaming out loud. We obviously don't have the cash for something huge like that.]
"I do," Kaito said.
"...."
The phone went completely quiet.
[Wait. Are you serious?] Kimiko asked. Her voice squeaked.
"I am totally serious," Kaito told her. "I want to fund it. We are going to build a fast-food empire right in Naruhata."
[Kaito, stop!] Kimiko panicked. [I don't know anything about running a massive restaurant!]
"Yes, you do," Kaito reminded her calmly. "You managed Grandma Saki's hardware store since I was five years old. You know how to track inventory. You know how to order from suppliers. You know how to handle annoying customers."
[Well, yeah, but food is different!] Kimiko argued.
"I will handle the food," Kaito said. "I am designing the recipes. I am building the kitchen layout. You just need to run the daily operations."
Kaito looked down at his yellow notepad.
"We are going to keep the menu extremely simple," Kaito explained. "And we are going to combine high-tech kitchen gear with minor Quirks."
[What do you mean?] Kimiko asked. She sounded curious now.
"We buy the best automated flash-grills and conveyor belts," Kaito said. "Then we hire workers with specific Quirks. We get someone with a minor telekinesis Quirk to run four deep-fryers at the exact same time without dropping anything. We hire someone with a minor temperature-sense Quirk to watch the grills so my custom burgers never burn. We put someone with extra arms at the end of the line to bag the food."
Kimiko gasped loudly through the speaker.
[Oh my god,] Kimiko whispered. [That is crazy. We could serve hundreds of people an hour.]
"Easily," Kaito agreed. "High volume, low prices, and the food will actually taste incredible."
[Kenji!] Kimiko suddenly screamed away from the phone. [Kenji, get in here right now! Bring me a pen and some paper!]
Kaito laughed at her sudden energy.
"Are you ready to start?" Kaito asked.
[Tell me exactly what to do,] Kimiko said. She sounded totally pumped up.
"Look through my Naruhata real estate portfolio," Kaito instructed. "Find an empty commercial space on the ground floor. Make sure it has heavy foot traffic, somewhere near the main train station. I will wire the startup funds to your account tonight."
[I am on it. I'll call you tomorrow with a list of locations!]
CLICK.
KACHA.
Kimiko hung up the phone.
Kaito set his phone down on the desk. He grabbed his pencil and immediately started sketching the layout for the new high-tech kitchen.
*-*-*-*
Location: Tokyo – HPSC Headquarters
Time: 04:00 PM
The meeting room was freezing cold.
The walls were made of thick, soundproof glass.
Yokumiru Mera sat at the long conference table. He rubbed his tired eyes and took a slow sip from a can of black coffee.
The Madam President sat at the head of the table. She kept her posture perfectly straight. She wore a sharp, flawless business suit.
Chitose Kizuki sat across from them. She wore a stylish purple coat and a very sharp, confident smile.
"The press conference worked," Mera said casually, setting his coffee down. "The herd mentality finally broke. The public understands that the Tartarus transfer was a necessary state operation. The Stendhal hype is dying down fast."
"The bleeding stopped," Madam President agreed. She crossed her arms. "But the public morale is completely flat. The citizens are tense. They are looking over their shoulders.
"
SLIDE.
Chitose pushed a sleek black presentation folder across the shiny glass table.
"That is exactly where Shoowaysha Publishing comes in," Chitose said smoothly.
Madam President opened the folder. She read the bold letters on the very first page.
Japan's Got Quirk.
"A reality television show," Madam President said. She looked up at Chitose.
"A nationwide civilian talent show," Chitose corrected her. "Normal people with minor, everyday Quirks get to perform on live television for a massive cash prize. We already locked in Present Mic to be the main host. The Pro Hero Uwabami is going to be our lead celebrity judge."
Mera leaned forward and rested his chin on his hands. "A talent show for civilians."
"Present Mic brings the loud energy, and Uwabami brings the glamour," Chitose explained. "It is a guaranteed ratings monster."
Madam President narrowed her eyes. She was a veteran politician. She didn't buy into the flash and glamour right away.
"Using Quirks in public without a license is strictly illegal," Madam President stated coldly. "The Commission does not sponsor lawbreaking, Miss Kizuki."
Chitose didn't flinch. She just kept smiling.
"The public morale is flat right now, President," Chitose pointed out. "The riots stopped, but the people are bored and anxious. They need a massive, feel-good pop culture wave to ride. A flashy talent show completely buries the remaining Stendhal news. It changes the entire national conversation overnight."
Mera looked at the folder. "The law is still the law. We can't just give random civilians a free pass to shoot fire on a stage."
"You don't have to break the law," Chitose answered. "We will legally classify the television stage as a Controlled Quirk Assessment Facility. The law clearly allows Quirks to be used inside assessment zones."
Mera raised an eyebrow. That was a massive loophole.
"And to guarantee public safety," Chitose continued, "Shoowaysha will exclusively hire HPSC-approved Pro Heroes to act as the venue security."
Mera looked over at the President.
That specific detail changed everything. Hiring government heroes for the studio meant the HPSC got to put their own eyes and ears directly inside the production. It also gave their lower-ranking heroes incredibly easy, high-paying security jobs.
Chitose leaned forward. She dropped the final hook.
"Shoowaysha will also give the Commission a five percent cut of the total broadcasting revenue," Chitose offered. "We can legally frame it as a Quirk Safety Education Tax. You guys get a massive pile of money, and you get to look like the generous sponsors of public arts and entertainment. It is a total PR win."
"....."
The room went completely quiet.
Mera and the Madam President exchanged a long look.
They weren't panicking or desperate. They were highly competent leaders. They saw exactly what Chitose was doing.
She was capitalizing on a national mood swing to make a fortune.
They also knew she was handing them a perfect political shield.
A zero-risk, highly profitable public relations campaign that made the government look fantastic.
Madam President reached into her jacket pocket. She pulled out an expensive silver pen.
SCRATCH.
SCRATCH.
She smoothly signed her name at the bottom of the broadcasting agreement.
"You have your permits, Miss Kizuki," Madam President said. She slid the heavy folder back across the glass table. "Keep the production completely spotless. I do not want any accidents on that stage."
Chitose took the folder. Her sharp smile grew wider.
"You won't regret it at all, President," Chitose promised.
She stood up, grabbed her purse, and walked out the heavy glass door.
CREAK.
THUD.
*-*-*-*
Location: Tokyo – Arisaka Consulting Office
Time: Three Days Later | 06:00 PM
THUD.
Kaito dropped a heavy red folder onto his desk.
He leaned back in his leather chair and rubbed the back of his neck.
Three days had passed since Gang Orca walked into his office.
Those three days were completely crazy.
Once the news broke that he was open again in Japan, the top domestic agencies flooded his schedule.
Kaito looked at the three folders sitting in front of him.
The first one belonged to Lion Shishido.
Shishido walked in just yesterday with a grumbled attitude knowing that Gang Orca met Golden Manager first.
Kaito read his numbers. Shishido's agency was doing great. His sidekicks were strong, and his capture rates were incredibly high.
Shishido really just wanted Kaito to push him into the Top 10 to beat Orca.
The second folder was from Yoroi Musha.
His management team sent a literal blank check.
Kaito looked at their stats. Musha was a legend.
His massive agency was totally stable and ran flawlessly on its own.
Both of them were fantastic heroes. Taking their money would be easy.
Kaito moved his hand to the third folder.
Gang Orca.
Orca's agency was different.
The coastal wards were drowning in minor villains running from the city.
Kaito picked up his desk phone. He dialed the direct number for the Okuto Island Aquarium.
RING.
RING.
KACHA.
"Gang Orca," a deep voice answered.
Orca sounded incredibly tired. He was holding his entire coastal territory together almost by himself.
"It's Arisaka," Kaito said. He kept his voice completely casual. "How are the patrols?"
"Rough," Orca admitted honestly over the speaker. "We are pushing double shifts. What is the word, Kaito?"
Kaito spun a pen on his desk.
"I spent the last three days talking to a lot of people," Kaito told him. "Lion Shishido came in yesterday. Yoroi Musha's team sent me a blank check this morning. They both made massive offers."
The phone went totally quiet.
Orca didn't say anything. He was probably waiting for the rejection.
"But I am turning them down," Kaito said.
"What?" Orca asked. His deep voice cracked just a little bit.
"Shishido and Musha are doing fine," Kaito explained plainly. "Their agencies are stable. Your guys are the ones actually in need right now."
"..."
Orca stayed quiet for a long second.
"I'm taking the Okuto Island contract," Kaito smiled.
HUUUFF.
A long, heavy breath came through the phone speaker. It was the sound of pure relief.
"Thank you, Manager," Orca said. He dropped his intimidating boss persona completely. "My men really need this."
"Tell the rest of your sidekicks to get some actual sleep this weekend," Kaito instructed lightly. "The contract officially starts next week on Monday morning. Make sure you clear a big desk for me at the aquarium."
"It will be ready," Orca promised. His energy was already coming back. "We will see you on Monday."
CLICK.
Kaito hung up the phone.
He turned his chair around and looked out the large glass window.
Things were about to get very busy.
*-*-*-*
Location: Musutafu – Secluded Alleyway
Time: 08:30 PM
The alley smelled like rotten garbage and stagnant water.
Noboru slithered across the wet concrete. His entire body was made of dark, toxic sludge.
To the public he was known as D-Rank villain, Sludge.
Two large eyes floated near the top of his muddy form.
He hated this city.
SQUELCH.
SQUELCH.
He dragged himself behind a rusted dumpster to hide from the streetlights.
"Stupid heroes," Noboru muttered to himself. His voice was a wet, gurgling sound.
He was starving.
He hadn't eaten a proper meal in three days.
Every time he tried to creep out into the main streets to steal a wallet or grab some food, a hero was patrolling.
Endeavor's sidekicks were everywhere. Hawks was always flying overhead.
The big agencies were pushing so hard. Minor guys like him couldn't even breathe.
"I just need a meat suit," Noboru complained quietly. "I just need to find some weak civilian walking home alone. I can hijack his body and walk right into a grocery store."
He crept closer to the edge of the alley. He peeked his eyes around the brick wall, looking at the empty sidewalk.
Step. Step. Step.
Noboru froze.
He heard the sound of a heavy boot hitting the gravel directly behind him.
He felt a sudden, heavy chill run down his back. Someone was watching him.
Noboru spun his sludge body around.
A figure stood at the end of the alley. The guy wore a dark green hoodie pulled up over his head.
A heavy grey scarf wrapped around his lower face, covering a smooth black combat mask.
Thick metal bracers covered his forearms. He wore heavy combat boots and a tactical belt.
Sitting perfectly still on his shoulder was a pitch-black cat with glowing purple eyes.
"Meow."
Kuro flicked his tail.
Izuku Midoriya stood completely quiet. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a short, heavy capture weapon made of woven steel wire.
He had been tracking this sludge villain for three days.
Kuro picked up the villain's scent near the sewer grates and followed him all the way here.
Noboru narrowed his floating eyes. He recognized the look. The underground always whispered about this guy in terrified tones.
"Greenhood," Noboru gurgled. He bulked up his sludge body, making himself look taller and wider. "And the Phantom Cat. You think you can play hero with me? You are just a guy in a hoodie with some metal toys! I will suffocate you and take your body!"
Izuku didn't say a word. He just lowered his stance. He gripped the wire tight.
SWOOSH.
Noboru whipped a massive, heavy tentacle of solid sludge straight at Izuku's head.
SWIISH.
Izuku ducked low. The sludge smashed into the brick wall behind him.
BAAAM.
"Stand still!" Noboru roared.
He launched another attack, sweeping a wave of mud across the ground to sweep Izuku's legs.
SWOOSH-SWIISH.
Izuku jumped.
His footwork was flawless.
Over the last two years, he spent hundreds of hours training in his room.
He would imagine Kuro as a strict martial arts masters, and Kuro would take that exact forms to spar with him.
FWOOP.
Izuku landed lightly on his feet. Noboru threw a wild, heavy sludge hook.
Izuku raised his left arm.
CLANG.
The heavy sludge hit the thick metal bracer.
Izuku didn't even flinch.
The kinetic dispersion system inside the metal totally ate the shock.
"Damn! This guy!" Noboru panicked.
His heavy hits were doing absolutely nothing. He looked over at the sewer grate near the dumpster. 'His reputation isn't for nothing. And that cat still didn't help.'
He needed to run.
Izuku saw the villain's eyes shift. He gave a sharp hand signal.
"Kuro."
FWIP.
The black cat jumped off from the roof.
Mid-air, Kuro's shape completely changed. He grew tall and stood up on two legs, transforming into a bipedal, sleek ninja.
Thud.
Kuro landed on the wall.
He kicked off the bricks, backflipping over Noboru's head.
He threw three small, blunt metal projectiles straight at the ground.
CLACK. CLACK. CLACK.
The projectiles jammed directly into the holes of the sewer grate. Noboru's escape route was completely blocked.
"Get out of my way!" Noboru yelled, flailing his muddy arms backward.
Izuku used the opening.
He sprinted forward. He tapped a button on his wrist gear.
FWOOSH.
A custom-built electric bola shot out. The weighted cables plunged deep into Noboru's main sludge pillar and wrapped tight.
BZZZT.
A high-voltage shock discharged from the cables.
"AGHHH!"
The electricity violently disrupted Noboru's liquid body. The sludge bubbled and seized up. Noboru couldn't move his fluid form.
Izuku leaped off the rusted dumpster. He spun his body in the air. He targeted the only solid part of the villain.
BAAAM!
Izuku brought his heavy combat boot down in a spinning heel kick. He kicked Noboru right in the floating eyes.
"GAHHH!" Noboru screamed.
He collapsed into a messy, helpless puddle on the concrete, groaning in pain.
Izuku landed hard on his feet. He pulled a specialized, heavy-duty thermos from his belt.
He kicked the main chunk of sludge holding Noboru's eyes and shoved it into the metal container.
SNAP. TWHIP.
Izuku sealed the lid tight. The villain was completely trapped.
Kuro shrank back down.
The normal, fluffy cat appeared back on Izuku's shoulder. He purred softly and rubbed his head against Izuku's green hood.
"Good job, Kuro," Izuku whispered. He tied the thermos to his belt. "Now we need to alert the authorities."
MEOW.
*-*-*-*
A few minutes before.
High above the alley, the cold wind blew across the rooftops.
THUD.
A massive figure landed silently on the edge of a concrete gargoyle.
All Might stood in the shadows. He was doing his evening patrol, jumping across the city skyline to keep an eye out for trouble.
BAAM. THUD. BOOM. SWIISH. CRASH.
"Hmm?" All Might looked down into the dark alleyway.
His blue eyes went completely wide.
He saw the green hood fighting with a sludge-like villain.
All Might saw the heavy metal bracers. He saw the shapeshifting cat sitting on the vigilante's shoulder.
"GAAAH!"
"Good job, Kuro!" The unidentified vigiliante talked to the cat.
MEOW.
All Might remembered the confidential report Principal Nezu showed him in the U.A. office just a few days ago.
The Quirkless vigilante who took down armed villains and thugs. The Vigilantes who played hide-and-seek with the smartest principal in the world.
All Might crouched silently on the concrete ledge.
He watched the Quirkless fighter finish packing his gear.
He watched the boy move with perfect, disciplined training. And called someone.
All Might didn't jump down to arrest him. He just watched.
...
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(9 Advanced Chapters)