CLINK.
Sir Nighteye set his small teacup down on the porcelain saucer. He gave Inko Midoriya a polite, warm smile.
"Mrs. Midoriya, the tea is wonderful," Nighteye said smoothly.
"Oh, thank you!" Inko beamed, wiping her hands on her apron.
"Just to verify for the preliminary paperwork," Nighteye continued casually. "Izuku is registered as quirkless from birth, correct?"
Inko's smile faltered for just a second, but she nodded supportively. "Yes. He is."
"Perfect. That matches our files," Nighteye stood up and buttoned his grey suit jacket. "If you don't mind, could I speak with Izuku privately in his room? The hero-track scholarship program has a few confidential questions we need to go over."
"Of course! Go right ahead," Inko gestured toward the hallway. "Izuku, go show him your room."
"...."
Izuku felt completely numb.
His legs moved on autopilot. He walked down the short hallway and opened his bedroom door.
He stepped inside, his stomach twisting into tight knots.
Nighteye followed him in.
CLICK.
Nighteye closed the door and locked it.
The polite, friendly smile instantly vanished from the Pro Hero's face.
His eyes went incredibly cold and sharp. He looked around the small bedroom, taking in the massive collection of All Might posters, action figures, and hero merchandise covering the walls.
Izuku stood frozen near his bed. Kuro the black cat was lounging on the mattress. Kuro looked up at Nighteye, flicked his tail once, and just kept laying there.
"Meow."
Step. Step. Step.
Nighteye started pacing around the room. He stopped at Izuku's messy desk.
He reached out and picked up a scrambled radio frequency scanner and a burnt-out circuit board.
Izuku panicked.
His brain went into overdrive.
"Ah! That's just for school!" Izuku blurted out, waving his hands frantically. "It's a science fair project! My teacher wants us to build radios! I'm just terrible at soldering wires!"
Nighteye ignored the rambling.
"Hmm?" He set the circuit board down and walked straight toward the large wooden wardrobe in the corner of the room.
Click. Clack. Clack.
Izuku realized exactly where the hero was looking. He practically scrambled across the room and jumped right in front of the wardrobe doors.
"Wait, don't open that!" Izuku stuttered loudly, his face turning completely red. "The hinges are super broken! The whole door might fall on you, so it's really dangerous!"
Nighteye didn't even blink.
He smoothly sidestepped the teenager, reached out, and tapped a very specific panel on the side of the wood.
CLACK.
The false back of the wardrobe slid open.
Hanging inside the dark space was the dark green tactical suit, the metal-plated combat boots, the voice-changer mask, and a heavy tactical belt loaded with electric bolas and shock batons.
"Cosplay!" Izuku yelled out desperately. "It's just cosplay! For a hero convention in Tokyo next month! I made it myself!"
"Yeah?" Nighteye didn't argue.
He just reached into his suit pocket, pulled out a small, flat metal disc, and tossed it onto the bedroom floor.
BEEP.
A blue light shot up from the disc. It projected a high-definition, three-dimensional hologram right in the middle of the room.
The first video clip started playing. It showed Greenhood fighting two muggers in a dark alley.
Greenhood knocked them out with flawless footwork, then turned to a terrified civilian. The vigilante pressed a finger to his mask, asking the civilian to keep it a secret.
Click.
Nighteye tapped a button on his wrist watch.
The hologram switched.
The second clip showed a massive, mutated stray dog barking wildly on a street corner. The animal was clearly under the effects of a Trigger drug.
The footage showed Greenhood and the Phantom Cat who transformed into a ninja figure working perfectly together. They distracted the dog, calmed it down, and safely tied it up without leaving a single scratch on the animal.
Click.
Nighteye tapped the button again.
The final clip showed the chaotic fight with the Sludge Villain from months ago.
The hologram showed the massive sludge tentacle swinging down.
CLANG.
Greenhood blocked the heavy blow directly with his thick metal bracers. He didn't even flinch. The kinetic dispersion system ate the shock entirely.
Then, Greenhood fired a custom-built electric bola.
BZZZT.
The cables wrapped around the sludge and discharged a high-voltage shock. The villain seized up.
Greenhood leaped into the air, spun his body, and brought his heavy combat boot down.
WHAM.
He kicked the villain right in the floating eyes. Greenhood landed hard, pulled out a heavy-duty thermos, and scooped the villain inside.
SNAP.
He sealed the lid tight.
"...."
Izuku finally shut up.
His excuses died in his throat. He stared at the hologram, realizing the gig was completely up.
Nighteye reached down and picked up the metal projector disc. He put it back in his pocket.
Nighteye turned to look at the teenager.
"You have three years of veteran combat experience on the streets," Nighteye said calmly. "You turned your entire body into a weapon. You have flawless techniques. And you built your own support and capture gear out of old microwaves and scrap metal inside this tiny bedroom."
Izuku looked down at his own shoes. His hands started shaking.
"Am I going to jail?" Izuku asked, his voice cracking. Tears welled up in his eyes. "Is my U.A. application ruined?"
He knew the laws. Being an unregistered vigilante was a massive crime.
Nighteye stared at him.
"Why do you do it?" Nighteye asked bluntly. "You do not have a Quirk. You are risking your life every single night against armed criminals and mutant villains. Why?"
Izuku wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.
"Because I want to save people," Izuku said softly. "I always wanted to be a hero. But everyone told me it was impossible without a quirk. I believed them for a really long time."
Izuku looked up, meeting Nighteye's sharp gaze.
"When I was little, I saw him," Izuku said. "The Soot Hero."
Nighteye raised an eyebrow and felt this name was very familiar. "Who?"
"It happened when I was younger," Izuku explained, his voice getting steadier. "The Musutafu fire disaster caught countless buildings and houses on fire. The flames were too hot. Then this regular guy just ran straight in. He didn't wear a costume. He didn't use a flashy Quirk. His face was completely covered in black soot, smoke, and grime."
Izuku clenched his fists.
"He just used his bare hands and his brain to pull dozens of people out of the fire alive," Izuku continued. "Seeing that proved to me that you don't need a superpower to save lives. You just need to act. Then everything changed when Kuro came to my life."
"....."
Nighteye stared at the boy in silence.
He saw it. It was completely undeniable. The kid standing in front of him possessed the exact same reckless, raw, terrifying heroism that All Might had.
MEOW.
"The real world is very strict, Midoriya," Nighteye said, looking at the polymorphing cat on the side while his tone turning dead serious. "The Hero Public Security Commission does not treat vigiliantes better. If they catch you, you get a permanent criminal record. Your U.A. dream dies instantly."
"...."
"...."
Izuku's face dropped. He knew Sir Nighteye was right.
"I am going to offer you a deal," Nighteye said. "You will stop your illegal night patrols. Tonight. If you agree to that, I will act as your cleaner."
Izuku blinked, totally confused. "Cleaner?"
"I will use my agency's intelligence network," Nighteye explained. "I will completely scrub the Greenhood identity from the police servers, the satellite feeds, and the dark web. I will wipe your slate completely clean so your U.A. application remains spotless."
"...."
Izuku's jaw dropped. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"And starting this weekend," Nighteye added, pointing a finger at him. "You will report to my agency. You have a massive drive to help people. If you want to do it right, you need to see how legal Pro Heroes operate in the actual field."
"...."
"...."
"Meow."
Izuku just stood there for two seconds. Then, Kuro on the side interrupted his state.
He bowed his head so fast he almost hit the desk. The tears spilled over his cheeks, hitting the floor.
"Thank you!" Izuku sobbed loudly. "Thank you so much!"
Sigh.
Nighteye sighed and adjusted his glasses.
"Quiet down," Nighteye warned softly. "Your mother still thinks we are doing a scholarship interview."
*-*-*
Location: Tokyo – Shibuya Commercial District
Time: Four Days Later | 02:00 PM
The massive commercial lot sat empty right in the middle of a high-traffic intersection.
Kaito stood on the concrete, holding a sleek black folder.
Mr. Teshigawara, the older man who owned the property, stood next to him.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief. He looked incredibly stressed.
The lot had been empty for months, and the city property taxes were bleeding his bank account dry.
"The original Golden Bites location in Naruhata is doing very well," Kaito explained calmly. "But it sits right next to the train station. The word got out. The food is fast, and the reviews are high. Right now, my staff is dealing with massive foot-traffic jams down the entire block. I need a flagship location here in Tokyo to split the customer base."
"I see," Teshigawara nodded slowly, looking around the empty lot. "This is prime real estate, Arisaka-san. You have the space for a huge dining room and an automated drive-through. But the price..."
Kaito opened the black folder and handed Teshigawara the paperwork.
"I know the taxes are piling up on you," Kaito said. "I am offering double the current market value. Pure liquid cash. It will be transferred to your account today. I am also throwing in a lifetime VIP black card for the fast-food chain for you and your family."
Teshigawara stared at the numbers on the paper. His eyes went wide. His jaw dropped.
The offer completely wiped out his debts and secured his retirement in one single stroke.
"Double?" Teshigawara asked, his hands shaking slightly. "Are you entirely sure?"
"The funds are already sitting in escrow," Kaito smiled, handing him a pen. "Sign the transfer, and my crew can start construction tomorrow morning."
"Yes. Yes of course..." Teshigawara eagerly took the pen. He leaned the clipboard against his briefcase to sign.
THUD.
CRACK.
Someone dropped straight down from the fire escape of the adjacent building and landed heavily on the concrete. The impact literally cracked the pavement.
"Aagh?!" Teshigawara screamed and jumped back, nearly dropping the clipboard.
He clutched his chest, breathing hard. Then, he looked past the dust. He saw the white hair, the muscular build, and the rabbit ears.
"A pro hero?" Teshigawara instantly relaxed. He let out a long sigh of relief. He wasn't terrified at all.
Having a top-ranking Pro Hero drop in front of you meant the street was perfectly safe.
Rumi stood up from her crouch. She wore a tight white tank top, ripped denim shorts, and her usual fierce grin.
She walked straight over to Kaito. She threw her heavy, muscular arm right around the back of Kaito's neck and leaned her body weight against him.
"Caught you, Kaito!" Rumi laughed loudly.
"...."
Teshigawara blinked, looking back and forth between the businessman and the Rabbit Hero.
Sigh.
"Rumi, you almost gave the man a heart attack," Kaito sighed. He didn't push her off. He just stabilized his footing and pointed at the clipboard. "Please finish the signature, Teshigawara-san."
Teshigawara smiled warmly, quickly scribbled his name on the dotted line, and handed the papers back. He gave a deep, respectful bow to both of them.
"Thank you, Arisaka-san! Good luck with your patrol, Mirko!" Teshigawara smiled knowingly to Kaito and gave a nod that only men can understand before walking away happily down the street.
"....." Kaito.
Kaito closed the folder. He looked at the rabbit hero still hanging onto his neck.
"I was trying to buy land here," Kaito said.
"Key word is 'was'," Rumi grinned, pulling him toward the busy sidewalk. "I know your schedule. The big orca is completely done. You are officially on vacation, which means you are off the clock. You owe me a day out."
Kaito laughed, letting her drag him along. "Haha. Fine. Where are we going?"
"Food first. I am starving," Rumi declared.
They walked down the crowded street of Shibuya and stopped at a small, steaming food cart. Kaito ordered two large, spicy beef skewers. The vendor handed them over on wooden sticks.
Kaito brought one to his mouth. Before he could even take a bite, Rumi leaned over and bit a huge chunk of meat right off the end of his stick.
"Hey," Kaito said, looking at the half-empty skewer.
"Mmm. Spicy. Good choice," Rumi chewed happily.
"I bought that for me. You have your own right there in your hand," Kaito pointed out.
"And I am eating yours too. I need the protein," Rumi laughed, bumping her shoulder against his. "Besides, I have a lot to celebrate today. You are paying for the celebration."
"Yeah?" Kaito asked, walking beside her. "What's the news?"
"I checked the preliminary hero billboard numbers this morning," Rumi said, her red eyes shining with excitement. "I am climbing fast. I am getting incredibly close to breaking into the Top 10. The public loves the me. The Commission is actually backing off on giving me warnings about property damage."
"They back off when you get results," Kaito agreed. "You put in the work. You deserve the spot."
"And that's not all," Rumi pointed her wooden skewer at him. "That brand you helped me set up? M-Usagi? It is completely selling out nationwide. I literally can't keep the gym gear in stock. People are wearing my logo in every gym in Tokyo."
"I told you the athletic market was a goldmine," Kaito smiled. "You just needed the right manufacturer."
"You were right," Rumi swallowed the last piece of beef and tossed the stick into a nearby trash can. "Now come on. We need to buy clothes. You can't wear a casual jacket to dinner with a future Top 10 Hero."
Rumi pulled him right through the glass doors of a massive, high-end designer boutique.
The store clerks standing near the registers completely froze.
They immediately recognized the famous Rabbit Hero and the globally known Golden Manager.
A few customers outside stopped on the sidewalk.
CLICK. CLICK.
People pulled out their phones, snapping photos through the glass. Whispers spread immediately.
Rumi heard the whispers perfectly with her enhanced hearing. She glanced at the cameras, flashed a fierce grin, and completely ignored them.
"Alright, Kaito," Rumi said.
She walked over to a rack of expensive suits, pulled out a sharp, dark charcoal suit, and shoved it directly into his chest. "Put this on. I want to see you look sharp outside the work."
Kaito caught the suit hangers. "You want to play dress up? Fine."
He walked over to the women's section. He scanned the racks.
He knew Rumi's style, but he also knew her build. He pulled out a deep crimson evening dress.
It had a high slit and a completely open back, specifically cut for an athletic frame.
He walked back and handed it to her.
"Try this," Kaito challenged.
"..."
Rumi raised an eyebrow at the dress. She almost never wore formal wear, but she grabbed it with a smirk and headed into the fitting room.
A few minutes later, Kaito stepped out. He adjusted the cuffs of the charcoal suit. The tailoring was perfect, giving him a sharp, commanding look.
He looked up as Rumi walked out of her fitting room.
The crimson dress wrapped around her athletic figure flawlessly.
The open back showed off her powerful, scarred shoulders, and the color contrasted heavily with her white hair.
Rumi put her hands on her hips and looked Kaito up and down.
"Damn," Rumi smirked, walking up to him. "You clean up really well, Kaito. I might have to keep you around just for the aesthetic."
"You look amazing, Rumi," Kaito said honestly. "The red suits you."
She grinned, loving the compliment. "We are buying both. Take out your wallet. You buy mine and I buy yours."
By evening, they walked into a highly exclusive, bustling BBQ restaurant.
The hostess immediately led them to a private corner booth. The loud chatter of the restaurant drowned out their conversation from the other tables.
SIZZLE.
Thick, marbled cuts of beef cooked on the metal grill built right into their table.
Rumi didn't sit across from him. She slid into the booth right next to him.
Her bare thigh pressed warmly against his leg. She picked up a pair of metal tongs and started flipping the meat.
She held up a tall, frosty glass of cold beer.
Clink.
Kaito picked up his glass and clinked it against hers.
"Cheers," Rumi said, taking a huge drink.
She set the glass down and picked up a piece of grilled beef with her chopsticks, dropping it onto Kaito's plate.
"So," Rumi started, turning her body slightly to face him. "I saw the clips of Gang Orca on the mainland. You actually got that big orca to move his feet. He used to just stand there and blast sonic waves. Now he's doing close-quarters combat."
"He always had the physical strength for it," Kaito ate the piece of beef. "He just got stuck in his own routine. I just gave him a new perspective."
"Don't act humble," Rumi laughed, bumping her shoulder against his. "You fix everything you touch. So, who gets the Golden Manager next? Because I know my agency has the funds ready to go. I could use another three months of your time."
"I'm taking a break from the three-month contracts right now," Kaito smiled, grabbing the tongs to flip the rest of the meat. "I have the fast-food chain to build. I need to focus on my own company for a bit."
"No contracts?" Rumi leaned in a little closer. Her red eyes locked onto his. "That means you have a lot of free time. I'm going to monopolize that."
"Haha. You're going to try," Kaito laughed.
"I don't try. I do," Rumi smirked, grabbing another piece of meat from the grill. "By the way, what did you think of the movie that was recently released? I thought the explosion in the second act was incredible."
"Oh that? The plot made absolutely zero sense, Rumi," Kaito pointed out. "The main character fought a helicopter with a motorcycle."
"Who cares about the plot?" Rumi argued loudly, waving her chopsticks. "The guy threw a motorcycle into the air! It was awesome! You analyze things way too much. You need to just turn your brain off and enjoy the explosions."
"I enjoy a story that actually connects," Kaito teased her.
"You are so boring sometimes," Rumi laughed, pressing her leg a little firmer against his.
She reached over and stole a piece of garlic directly from his plate. "But I guess I can tolerate it."
*-*-*
Location: Shishido Agency – Tokyo
ROAR.
Lion Hero Shishido slammed his massive, furry fists onto his office desk. The wood splintered under his weight.
"Keep refreshing the page!" Shishido yelled at his sidekicks. "Check the website right now!"
Three sidekicks sat at a row of computers, typing frantically.
"We are refreshing it, Boss!" a sidekick yelled back. "The Arisaka Consulting website still says his schedule is currently closed!"
Shishido paced around the office, his tail flicking angrily. He watched the news clips of Gang Orca's massive success.
He saw the Okuto Island aquarium pulling in millions of dollars in tourist revenue. He wanted that exact same treatment for his own agency.
"He finished the marine contract weeks ago!" Shishido grumbled loudly. "He has to open a physical contract slot soon. I want us to be the first ones on it."
A sidekick near the window checked his phone. He swallowed hard and looked up at the massive lion hero.
"Boss," the sidekick said nervously. "People are posting pictures of him on social media right now."
"Where is he?" Shishido demanded.
"He's eating barbecue in Shibuya," the sidekick replied. "He's together with Mirko."
"Date?"
Shishido groaned and rubbed his face.
*-*-*
Location: Beijing, China – Top Hero Agency
Time: Next Day | 09:00 AM
KABOOM.
The massive flat-screen TV on the wall shook slightly from the volume.
Crimson Peak, the Top 8 Pro Hero in China, stood in the center of his luxury office. He wore a dark red martial arts uniform, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. He stared silently at the television screen.
His head of operations, Lin, stood next to him holding a digital tablet.
They were watching a live news feed from the streets of Shanghai.
The camera helicopter zoomed in on a tight, narrow alleyway. Three villains were sprinting away from a bank robbery.
"Look at his sidekicks," Crimson Peak pointed at the screen.
Two heroes with speed Quirks flanked the villains from the main street. They didn't engage in combat.
They just darted back and forth, forcing the villains to turn away from the open plaza and run directly into the narrow alleyway.
"They are acting as herders," Lin noted, adjusting his glasses. "They are funneling the targets into a choke-point."
The villains ran deep into the alley.
Waiting for them at the very end was Bao. The Rank 19 Pro Hero known as Great Wall.
CLUNK.
Bao activated his Quirk. His entire skin turned into solid, unbreakable green jade. His body weight instantly tripled.
He was incredibly heavy. For years, the public treated him like a slow, heavy joke because villains just ran in circles around him.
Not anymore.
"Watch his feet," Crimson Peak leaned closer to the screen.
Bao took three massive, heavy stomps forward. The custom-built kinetic-burst boots on his feet glowed bright blue, storing the kinetic energy from his heavy weight.
Then, the boots fired off like a cannon blast.
FWOOSH.
Bao launched forward with terrifying speed. He dropped into a tight tuck-and-roll. He used his massive forward momentum and tripled body weight to slam directly into the first two villains like a bowling ball.
CRASH.
The villains hit the brick wall and instantly passed out.
The third villain panicked and threw a wild fire blast.
Bao didn't even flinch. He planted his boots, drove the power up from his thick legs, transferred the weight through his back, and delivered a massive open-palm strike to the villain's chest using pure gravity and mass.
WHAM.
The villain dropped to the concrete, completely knocked out. The entire fight lasted five seconds.
"Unbelievable," Lin whispered, staring at the screen. "Bao used to be a walking brick. He couldn't catch a purse snatcher in an open plaza. Now he moves like a cannonball."
Crimson Peak turned around and walked over to his heavy wooden desk.
"The Arisaka Consulting file did this," Crimson Peak said, tapping his fingers on the wood. "They sent out a hundred-page plan. A simple online PDF turned a third-rate tank into an unstoppable juggernaut overnight. He overhauled his gear, his fighting style, and his patrol routes."
"It is incredible," Lin agreed, looking at his tablet. "But sir, the Golden Manager currently closed his online consultation slots. The website says he is taking a break."
"I don't want an online slot, Lin," Crimson Peak said firmly. He looked directly at his head of operations. "I want him here in Beijing. I want a physical, face-to-face three-month contract. I want my entire agency overhauled exactly like Gang Orca's."
"Sir, the international bidding war for a physical contract is going to be massive," Lin warned him. "We are talking millions of dollars."
"I do not care how many millions it takes," Crimson Peak ordered. "Empty the discretionary funds. Sell our secondary patrol zones if you have to. Gather the money and secure him."
*-*-*-*
Location: Tokyo – Upscale Private Restaurant
Time: 09:00 PM
CLINK.
Kaito tapped his wine glass against Chitose Kizuki's glass.
They sat in a quiet, warmly lit private room at the back of the restaurant.
The table was covered in expensive plates of sushi and grilled fish. Because they had known each other for over two years, the conversation flowed perfectly.
"I am telling you, Kaito," Chitose laughed, setting her glass down. "The ratings are absolutely insane. We broke every single broadcast record in the country during the Quarter-Finals."
"The production value helped," Kaito smiled, eating a piece of tuna. "You made civilian Quirks look like stadium rock concerts."
"That was your idea," Chitose pointed out, leaning back in her chair. She wore a sleek dark blue dress. "You told me to celebrate the normal people. It worked perfectly. The public morale is the highest it has been in years. People are throwing block parties just to watch the episodes."
Chitose pulled her phone out and tapped the screen.
"And the international market is going crazy," Chitose continued, her eyes shining with excitement. "Foreign media networks in Europe and America are already begging me to sell them the trademark rights. They want to make their own versions of the show. We are practically printing money right now."
"Take the international deals," Kaito advised smoothly. "Let them build the infrastructure, take a heavy royalty percentage off the top, and maintain creative control."
"Exactly what my lawyers said," Chitose smiled.
She reached into her purse. She pulled out a sleek, heavy black envelope with gold lettering on the front. She slid it across the wooden table toward Kaito.
"This is a thank you," Chitose said genuinely. "
Kaito picked up the envelope and opened it.
Inside was a solid metal VIP pass.
"The Live Finals are happening at the Saitama Super Arena next few months," Chitose told him. "I want you there. Front row, private VIP box. You will be my personal guest of honor."
Kaito looked at the heavy metal pass. He smiled and slipped it into his jacket pocket.
"I wouldn't miss it," Kaito said.
...
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(9 Advanced Chapters)