Party poopers.

After a tiresome day of shopping for formal attire with Himiko and the kids, where she ended up choosing absimple navy blue co srrvative dress, picking out a lily patterned one for Eri and a simple suit for Haruto, we dressed up for the reception, and made our way to the tower.

On the other end of the compound, I could sense Aiba and Gentle, hiding by an office building, waiting for their chance.

In the hall, the others gathered up, dressed for the occasion, sso much so that even Mineta looked halfway decent.

But the highlight of the room was undoubtedly Melissa.

In an elegant dress, looking like a bonafide princess, straight out of a fairytale, she stole the show.

I almost skipped a beat at her beauty.

Damn! Anime girls do be on a whole different level huh?

Or maybe I just have a thing for blondes.

Maybe both!

"You look beautiful!" I said, as Melissa enetered the room, earning a painful pich from Himiko.

"Owch!" I cried as Deku chuckled.

Mineta was almost drooling and I could almost see his pants strain with his two incher.

On the other end of the room, a door opened as Momo enetered followed by Jiro, hiding in her shadow, a slight blush lining her face.

Cute!

"I'm not used to wearing girly clothes." Jiro said, as she walked into view.

"Don't worry, you look very cute in that dress!" I replied, stopping Himiko's pinch this time before she hit the mark.

She gave me a murderous look, before placating somehow as a realization dawned on her.

From her emotions, I could tell her inner yandere was flaring up with murderous rage. I could almost hear her scream "MY HARU!" in her mind. Thus, her vain efforts at jealously guarding me from, in her thoughts, harlots who wouldn't appreciate me.

That so cute! The astounding amount of loyalty she had surprised me.

Damnit, Himiko! How can you be such a perfect wife!?

Like all the good yandere bits but nearly none of the bad ones!

"Yeah, like mega cute!" Kaminari added.

"Really?" Jiro asked.

"See. I told you, you look fine!" Momo assured.

"Yeah. You worry too much!" Uraraka said.

From inside a faint voice could be heard.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to I-expo's preopening reception party.

Let's have the number one hero, All Might, who is visiting us today say a few words in a toast! Everyone, please give him a round of applause."

An applause rang out as Melissa turned in it's direction.

"Shall we go in? The toast is about to begin." Melissa suggested.

"How about we wait and watch the toast from the gallery. We'll have a better view that way. Then we can head down after?" I replied, giving Deku a look.

"Yeah, toasts are hugely boring anyways." Deku supported my argument.

"If you say so?" Momo said.

"Sure." Melissa replied.

"I'm whenever the chicks are!" Moneta said.

Only to be glared down by everyone, as we climbed the stairs to the side, while Deku lagged behind by a step with me.

"What's the problem?" He whispered.

"I saw a light flash red outside just now. Maybe it's just my imagination, but isn't that a sign of an emergency? I figured it's best we wait a bit away until I can be sure it's nothing important." I answered.

Deku nodded in agreement.

"I understand." He said, regaining pace and catching up with the rest.

As we reached the gallery, All Might came up on the stage, and raised a glass to the audience.

"Thank you all for inviting me. I'm All Might.

I don't like formal talk so.." He said, when suddenly, the windows to the reception hall locked up, as alarms started blaring.

The screen behind him projected the word 'Emergency!' on it in big red letters.

"This is an announcement by the I-island security system. We have recorded a report from the system that an explosive device was placed in the I-expo area. I-Island will now be in high alert mode. Residents and tourists should return to their lodgings. Those who have come a long way should head to the nearest evacuation shelter. Anyone outside ten minutes from now may be arrested without warning. Please refrain from going outdoors. In addition, most if the main buildings wull be sealed off by the security system. I repeat-" The broadcast abruptly shut off in the hall, as the doors opened, and armed men in masks walked in, surrounding the attendees.

From the main entrance, a red haired man in a plaid plate mask entered.

"It's just as you heard. We've taken control of the security system.

Don't think you're going to put up a fight. If you do, the security machines will turn their fangs at all the good people on this island." He said.

The screens flipped to show security drones surrounding people in the subway and shopping mall.

"That's right!" He continued, "All the people on this island are hostages. Of course, you all are, as well!"

The security features activated in the hall, restraining bonds made of nanotech and hardlight constructs trapping everyone.

I immediately projected an eye into the hall, lined at the fresco atop the stage and dragged the rest of them back from the gallery, hiding out of sight.

"Shush!" I said, as I crawled closer, while Jiro plugged her earplugs into the floor listening in.

The villain climbed onto the stage, beside a struggling All Might, about to break his bonds and announced.

"Don't move. If you so much as tale one step off of here, I'll kill everyone in the hall!" He said, pointing a gun at the guests.

All Might stopped struggling instantly as the villain kicked him to the floor.

"Good boy!" He said.

"You're all going to learn from All Might and listen to what I say quietly, right?"

The man turned to a guest and looked at him closely.

"You're a researcher here right?" He asked.

"Y-yes." The man answered.

"Take him." The villain ordered, as one of the gunmen, walked over dragging the researcher out.

"Wait! He's my assistant. What do you plan to do with him?" Professor David asked.

"If it isn't David Shield! You come too." He said.

"And what if I refuse?" David asked.

"Then somewhere on this island, someone's scream will ring out!" The villain threatened.

"Fine, I will go." David agreed, as another gunman shoved his rifle into the Professor's back, sending him stumbling, as they dragged them away.

Behind me, Iida whispered.

"My phone has no signal. It looks like all reports are being blocked."

I nodded and crawled back to the group.

"Melissa, do you know a way out of here and to the security system's control room?" I asked.

"Yes." She said, and looked at the door, only to find it locked.

"We can take the emergency stairs." She said.

"Hold on! We are just students. We don't have hero licenses. Shouldn't we leave it to the heroes?" Momo suggested.

"You say that as if we could fight against villains anyway! We are not heroes yet." Kaminari said.

"We should just escape and inform the heroes outside so that they can help." Iida replied.

"I don't think we can escape from here. The securoty in the tower is the same as Tartarus." Melissa explained.

"We should just wait here for help to arrive." Uraraka added finally.

"I don't know about you, but we're the heroes of the future, and I certainly won't stand around and watch innocent people be hurt. I'm going to find a way stop the villains, by hook or by crook. And while I might not be an unstoppable force like All Might, I am an immovable object. So long as I am here, no one can harm you guys!" I said, as Melissa's eyes lit up in that childish admiration of heroism that was all but lost on me.

"Heroes of the future huh?" Shoto said, clutching his hand.

"Haru is right! We have to do something. I can't just sit here and wait for someone else to do something about it. That's what the other heroes do. I ... I want to be better than that." Jiro said, reminding the UA students of my rant about fake heroes.

"Yeah. You're right. We can't just sit about doing nothing."

Slowly and steadily, the rest of them agreed and prepared to join my expedition.

As they concentrated upon the emergency exit, I stopped them.

"Wait. Let me inform All Might about it." I said.

"How will you do that? Won't the gunmen notice?" Melissa asked.

"Not with me, they won't. I projected an eye into the hall as soon as the villain entered. I'll tell him with morse code." I explained, projecting another eye on the stage, right in front of All Might's face.

Blinking in morse code, I informed him of the plan and requested that he wait to act until we have control of the security system.

Once he nodded in agreement, I gave the signal to Melissa and the others as we opened the emergency exit and quietly left the gallery, heading for the control room.

Outside the tower, Gentle was scaling the building with Aiba on his back.

Now it was just a race against time. Who'd get to the lab first, the villains or my crew!