Difficulty

Walking directly through the front entrance basically guaranteed that no one would question me, and I was right, even walking past the front gate with nothing more than a relaxed passing conversation.

She told me that the students were here and moving as individuals rather than a group, but that they wouldn't have any access to the Ultraphone despite that. I made a small joke about having to constantly deal with students and she laughed before I moved along my way.

She didn't ask me where I was going or for any sort of authentication, which made things ten times more convenient.

I made a mental count for the students as I walked through the first floor without a lick of a problem. While the varying lefts and rights may have been difficult to find my way through at one point, it wasn't much of a problem with the building's layout firmly printed within my mind.

There were three students in the lounge area, right after I walked in, talking about how boring the trip was. They called the Ultraphone "stupid" and "irrelevant," wishing that something exciting would happen.

I had to force myself to not smile at that.

I was on the exact other side of the spectrum, wishing that nothing exciting would happen. If nothing exciting happened that would mean our plan would be working perfectly.

Another four, and the teacher, were in the small food court. Another six were just walking around and talking.

With 13 accounted for, I expanded my Electromagnetic senses beyond my body and could feel five more kids and three other adults on the first floor. More accurately, I could feel the electromagnetic fields of everything that was alive.

I didn't actually know if the bodies I felt were confirmed to be adults or not, so I just had to take several assumptions. How tall were they, how large were they, where were they located, what did it seem like they were doing, etc.

Five of the smaller bodies―with one that was far lankier than the rest―were just sitting in the girls' bathroom, seemingly checking their phones―based on the stored electricity that was being used―and talking to one another.

The two larger bodies were in a back room that was labelled for only employees to enter, sitting at opposing desks, and typing something I couldn't quite read into computers. It wasn't a confirmation, but it was enough information that I could build around it.

I accounted for 18, but there were two to be found. With five other floors, I imagine they may be looking around more, but I don't think there'd be more to look for. The tower wasn't a museum, it was just another workplace.

Yes, the one and only Ultraphone was there, but that was really it in the grand scheme of things. If the kids were up there….

Well, I'd just plan around that when I'd get there. For now, I can't plan around a situation I know too little about.

Honestly everything was going shockingly well. I walked towards the elevators but halted upon realizing there was a passcode for it.

That… was new.

It was probably another layer of insurance, which in a situation like right now, it wasn't a bad piece of machinery. I could probably use Electricity Manipulation to pierce through it, but I didn't want to risk any overt uses of my abilities just yet.

Okay, the stairs it is.

I turned on my heel, walking past a breakroom that held the final person I sensed on this floor. I walked towards the stairs and extended my senses to see if there was another electric passcode on it.

I had to hold back a scream upon realizing that there was one on the stairs as well.

They must've been fairly worried about hackers finding about it, because there was certainly zero mentions of a passcode in the emails Manami combed through. I looked through them myself before the mission started just in case.

They probably shared the code by word of mouth only, which made this process ten times more grueling. I could just hack the things, but I didn't know if Dabi and Manami were done with their jobs at the control center and doing anything overtly suspicious could have everyone in the building on high alert, which is what I absolutely didn't need.

I'd leave that option for last.

If I just needed the passcode….

I turned on my heel once more, heading towards the breakroom.

I hummed lackadaisically as I slowly opened the door to the room. I peeked my head in, receiving a glancing look from a bored looking older man. He was clearly eating his lunch and scrolling through his phone, trying to entertain himself in the middle of a long day.

I walked in, keeping a jolly smile on my face despite the man's lack of interest in it. I approached his table with a small nod.

"Excuse me, you're… Daisuke, right?" My question was delayed, as if remembering his name. I thrusted a thumb towards the door. "The lady at the front desk told me you'd lead me to the manager's room?"

Daisuke let out a sigh, running the back of his knuckles across his eyes.

"Yeah, that's me. Here, just give me a few minutes and I'll help you out," He told me, sighing once more as he returned to his food.

I took a step forward, shaking my head reassuringly. "Man, it's cool. You're eating, and I know I wouldn't want to be given a new job on my break. Listen, I know how to deal with some basic directions, and if I get lost, I'll ask someone else, cool?"

Daisuke slowly nodded, chewing his food, and taking a napkin to wipe around his mouth.

"Yeah, yeah, alright. Uh, it's down this hall, up the stairs, and the first door to the right. If you run into anyone, just tell them I sent you there, they'll probably let you pass. Oh yeah, the code for the stairs is 6341," Daisuke told me, giving me a small nod.

I smiled and turned on my heel, leaving the room and closing the door behind me.

Nice! Getting the passcode was way easier than I thought it would be!

But well, asking an annoyed coworker for directions kind of guaranteed that they'd tell you it.

People would take the easiest route after all. It wasn't specifically incorrect to assume that a new worker wouldn't know the code, and that people within the building should know the code for their own convenience, so it was really just a combination of varying situations.

I walked to the stairs, punching the code in, and opening the door.

This was far more efficient compared to having to use my Quirk to get into the higher floors. This way, the cameras would see me punch in the code and they―the people at the control station and the people in the Ultraphone tower―wouldn't be shocked by me being on the upper floors.

I walked up the first flight of stairs, then up the second, then third. All the while, my Electromagnetic field was outstretched, patiently looking for the two students I may have missed.

I passed another man on his way down, giving him a small smile and nod. We gave one another the casual greeting that you would give a stranger, and then we moved on our own ways.

As I arrived on the final floor, I found myself clicking my tongue. Through my electric field I could feel two students standing right in front of the Ultraphone.

Perfect.

Simply perfect.

-----

Knowing that something was guaranteed to go wrong didn't mean you could suddenly plan for absolutely everything. Actually, trying to plan for everything could ruin you instead.

I had desperately planned around heroes getting in our way, but I had thrown away the idea of planning around the students because of how pointless the idea felt.

Well, it's times right now when I wished I had some sort of future sight. The ability to see the future right about now would've been an incredible asset to have.

Oh well, no point in stressing about something I couldn't change. I'd just have to adapt.

The most important thing was to stay calm.

Yes, I could freak out and assume I was fighting two super-geniuses who could see the future and personally came here to stop me with ancient magic and God-like abilities, but how slim were the chances of that happening?

Simply put, way too damn slim.

So I simply wouldn't assume that.

I wouldn't assume anything big.

I had my mission and although I had gotten through step one and step two fairly easily, step three suddenly just became "find a way to step four." That didn't mean I was about to give up easily.

I sent Manami a message, asking if she and Dabi had finished their parts. I waited a moment, paying close attention to the unexpected viewers of the Ultraphone.

"Yes, but something came up," The message read.

I couldn't even let out a sigh of relief at that. I asked what happened.

"Some weird mist spread through the area. Right now nothing's happening but Dabi suggested we get out of here," Her message read, with more errors in it. She must've been typing quickly.

I bit my bottom lip before steeling myself.

"Get out of there and I'll meet you guys soon. We've got this," I messaged her back, swiping away the Quirk-formed screen and opening the door to the fifth floor of the tower.

As I slowly entered the room, making sure to stay quiet, a small part of my mind flickered to Ishikori and Vasukak. The boosts they added were certainly lovable things, and I couldn't quite say I'd feel comfortable without them.

If I moved fast enough, I could probably knock both of my problems unconscious, but that was making several assumptions, and most of all, I didn't know anything about them. Just knocking them unconscious could put me in a great position, or a horrible one.

So… no.

I walked into the room, softly closing the door behind myself. I was humming all the while, as if no one was around. I could feel the kids―we're not that different in age, so it's weird to refer to them like that―turn to give me their attention.

I looked up from the floor, jumping lightly at their presences.

One was a teenaged boy with black hair, with a somewhat worried expression. He was probably about my height, if a tad-bit shorter. He wore the uniform of Mustafa Private Middle School with the tie loose and the blazer unbuttoned.

The girl looked more… unique, if normal for Quirk standards. Pink skin, pink hair, two thin yellow horns, black sclera, and yellow irises would certainly make her a more noticeable person. She wore the same uniform, if more professionally.

[What a Coward]

[Lv. 35]

[Eijiro Kirishima]

[What a Joy]

[Lv. 38]

[Mina Ashido]

Ugh, and they were both higher leveled than me.

I had to shift an annoyed sigh into a surprised and awkward laugh as I felt the two's eyes fall on me.

"Ah, did you… hear that?" I chuckled, scratching my head. "I didn't expect any students to be up here. Your teacher said you'd all be downstairs."

"Oooh, sorry about that! Me and my good friend Kirishima here just wanted to get a good look of the Ultraphone before leaving!" Mina laughed happily, wrapping an arm around her taller friend's shoulder, pulling him down.

"Oh, yeah!" Kirishima nodded after a second or two.

"I see. Well, I may have to interrupt such a thing, if that's alright? The Ultraphone needs some maintenance, but you two could stay if you wanted to?" I told them, truly hoping and praying that they'd just say no.

"That would be so cool!" Mina beamed, a bright smile coming to her face.

Kirishima looked down to his phone after it vibrated.

"But Ashido, we have to start leaving. People are asking where we went. We should probably go before…." He looked off, a mix of embarrassment and nervousness settling on his face.

"What, before they start making rumors?! Well, I say let them make rumors! I'll just give them a stern talking to about how that's not okay to do!" Mina laughed, the prospect of the possibly rumors not seeming to bother her in the slightest.

That amount of joy and energy would be incredible literally anywhere else, but right now, it's exactly what I didn't need.

Or maybe….

I dug around in my pockets, as if looking for something. After a moment, I let out a heavy sigh.

"Dang it…." I groaned, receiving a soft look from the duo.

"What is it, Mr…." Mina asked me, her voice trailing off with a small sense of uncertainty.

"Ah, it's Haruto," I lied, taking one of the many generic names out of my mind. "You see, I've misplaced one of my tools and my phone, but I'm on a strict schedule so I can't really go back down to get it. Damn, I'll just have to―"

"Don't worry, Mr. Haruto! We'll look around for it! Do you remember the last place you put it, oh, and what does your phone look like?" Mina asked, bouncing on the balls of her feet with positive energy.

"Ashido… did you forget that we're on a time limit already? We've got to go," Kirishima spoke up, his voice soft.

"Psh, don't worry about it! So, Mr. Haruto, tell us how we can help you!" She smiled, causing her peer to let out a heavy sigh.

I had to hide a devious smile at that.

I had it together, even if Mina basically convinced herself. It did make me feel weird knowing that I was able to construct a plan based around Mina's excitable personality so quickly, but the result of succeeding mattered far more.

Observe basically confirmed that I had everything handled. The two were open to helping me and as soon as I could confirm they were gone, I'd take the Ultraphone, store it in my Inventory, create a new disguise, and walk right back out of the front door before they could get back upstairs.

I had it, I had it.

"Well, first―"

My voice was drowned out by the obnoxious sounds of explosions coming.

-----

The amount of focus and sheer determination I had to embody to not fling myself across the room in sudden rage was 100% the most difficult thing I've had to muster over the course of my entire life.

But somehow, I did it.

Kirishima and Mina reacted quickly, fitting for their above average levels, and ran to the armored window, peaking through it. I followed closely behind them with a small delay, looking through the window at the sight below.

And well… it was a sight indeed.

Smoke pluming up and filling the sky, blue flames rising and fading, even an entire building turning to ash. People ran from the scene, muted scenes adding to the hectic nature of the situation.

I could see two blurs dashing all around, slamming into one another before bouncing away from one another. One was certainly Dabi, with blue flames shooting from his hands, but I couldn't tell who the other one was.

The details were blurry, and I was too far to see any of the information above their head.

I could pick up enough information though. This must've been who Manami was talking about. This was certainly the problem that arose.

To be entirely honest though, I was shocked to see him battling the newcomer with such careful aim and precision. He was being careful, I could tell. His flames were small bursts of power rather than full on blasts. He was probably holding back for the civilians' sakes.

Dabi dashed forward to meet his opponent, with blue flames building up within his hands. Dabi shot out a blast of flames at point-blank range, only for his enemy to dodge it by what looked like an insignificant margin and grab Dabi's wrist.

There was a moment―which could've been filled with anything from talking to special-move calling―before Dabi's remaining palm came towards his enemy, blasting him away with a heavy blow. Dabi leapt backward, grasping his wrist.

I don't understand the exchange between them in the slightest, but I could understand that the situation wasn't favorable at all.

I looked to Kirishima and Mina, who were watching with open mouths and wide eyes. Based on their status screens, they were understandably confused. There was a destroyed building, so much stuff on fire, and from their perspective, a lot of people in danger.

Ah, and Dabi was in the mask he got. It looked super cool, even if that's totally unrelated.

First thing's first, I needed to know Manami's position. I opened up my Map and noted that I could see my own position, Dabi's position, and Manami's position, which was the most interesting. Unlike Dabi's who was firm in his position, hers was… fleeing?

It was moving quickly, far quicker than I would've expected it to be able to.

I sent a quick message asking what went wrong, but like I expected, I didn't receive one. I'd have to wait for the time being.

But with Dabi on the line and Manami mysteriously fleeing, should I push forward or retreat?

This new group wasn't attacking the Ultraphone Tower, but they were attacking the control center. Assuming that they weren't just a stupid group of villains who attacked a random building just for fun, they probably planned as much as we did, if not more. I didn't know if they were trying to steal the Ultraphone, or break it, or do something I couldn't imagine with it, but it didn't matter in the end.

They got in our way, and now we'd need to adapt.

I thought about backing out for a second. While securities would certainly be amped up after this stunt, time was on my side. If I got another month, or even another year, I'd be able to do this far easier. That's not to mention the growth that Dabi and Manami would gain under my ability.

I could wait.

But the kids whose dreams were being crushed under the unrelenting boots of this biased society, could they?

How many of them would give up and turn to a life of villainy in the time I spent waiting? How many of them would lose their lives trying to fight against this system? How many of them would be told to swan-dive off a building in hopes of having a better life next time?

Oddly specific, but still.

I guess I wouldn't be finding the answers to those questions anytime soon.

"We've got to use the Ultraphone to send out a warning!" Mina began dashing towards the Ultraphone without a second wasted, it was really incredible to see.

Too bad I was already set on not letting her get what she wanted.

"Are we even allowed to use it?!" Kirishima asked, lagging a few steps behind Mina. Despite the nervousness in his voice, the determined expression on his face told an entirely different story.

I took a step forward and as soon as my foot came to the ground, invisible to Mina and Kirishima, electricity rushed from my feet to all around the room, flicking off the lights―which shouldn't have made a big difference―but also activating the tower's defenses.

There was a reason why just storming the Ultraphone Tower wasn't ever a big option, and it was because of the built-in defenses the tower had. They covered the windows in a powerful Quirk-formed metal that no one really knew what it was made of.

The metal―which was a pitch-black color, almost like the opposite of Ishikori―was powerful enough to take overwhelming blows from many Pro-Heroes, and it protected everything within the tower from the outside of it, while also doing the opposite and trapping any potential villains inside of the tower.

Well, the protection could be used in a situation like this one too.

While I didn't really know the ins-and-outs of the system, I didn't need to in order to activate it. Sending my electricity through the floor and manually activating the panels was more than efficient enough for me.

The room was cloaked in a sudden darkness, halting both Kirishima and Mina as confusion set within their minds.

"What's going on?!" Mina yelled, halting her approach of the Ultraphone and giving her eyes time to adjust to the darkness.

"Mr. Haruto?! Are you still in here?!" Kirishima yelled, looking around and waiting for some sort of response.

A part of me wondered if I could reason with them, if I was taking a step in the wrong direction with my decisions. Another part of me wondered if my mom would be proud of me right now, but I quickly hushed such thoughts as I reached into my Inventory.

With seven additional eyes, a cloak of pure white, and a small girl of water standing beside me, I attacked.