Chapter 31

Izuku was not expecting Togata to bring him to a familiar cafe he frequented with Toru to talk. He also didn't expect him to be so friendly with the owner, who seemed just as confused to see a promising hero hopeful and the second in command of the League of Villains walk in the door together. " Good Afternoon, Tsubaki." Mirio said, cheerfully.

" Mirio. It's been a while. Is Sir Nighteye recovering well?"

" Yup. The doctors say he just needs to wake up and he'll be golden."

" That's nice to hear." The old lady laughed. " So, the usual?"

" Of course."

" Can we have the back room, Tsubaki?" Izuku asked. The old woman nodded.

" I understand the situation is dire. I'll not let anyone but myself intrude."

" Thanks." Izuku and Togata were led to the furthest back room in the cafe, Mirio collapsed onto the leather seat with a sigh.

" I wasn't aware you knew Tsubaki."

" This place isn't exactly the most legal place. It's good for something to eat. I can't exactly just drop buy a normal restaurant anymore after all."

" Ha. I suppose. Sir brought me here on our first mission together. Taught me that sometimes these back alley places are the best place to get information." Togata leaned forwards. " But that's not why we're here."

" You have 45 minutes left." Izuku said. Togata nodded.

" I'll start then." Togata placed a hand on his chest. " First of all, it's nice to formally meet you. I am Mirio Togata, the Pro Hero in Training Lemillion, an intern of Sir Nighteye." His face became serious. " I can't forgive what the league did to him. Know that before we begin."

" All Might is a hypocrite and a liar. Know that it wasn't the League's plan to destroy everything about him in this city. It was mine." Izuku narrowed his eyes. " I didn't expect Sir Nighteye to get caught in the explosion but I'm not going to apologize."

" One day, I will capture you. But it won't be today." He placed his hands together and leant forwards. " Tell me. What are your plans with the Shie Hassaikai?"

" You first. I've got more to lose."

" Ha. Fair I suppose." Togata smirked. " Alright. I guess I'll start. Over the last few months, the Shie Hassaikai as been slowly expanding its operations, buying out or cutting down hostile operations and taking them over. They've been up to something and Sir has been very interested in learning what that is. After he got hospitalised, Bubble Girl and I kept going with the investigation under Rock Lock and his agency. We've marked over a hundred Shie Hassaikai work spaces nation wide."

" Over ninety nine." Izuku mumbled.

" So that was you that destroyed the base off of Musutafu. We wondered who destroyed that."

" He wronged us. We wronged him back."

" That's strange. Because the last thing we found out about Shie Hassaikai is that they met with you."

" That he did. I was there."

" So now it's your turn."

" I suppose." Izuku sat back. " First, let me make something clear. The League and Hassaikai are not friends. That meeting you mentioned ended with that bird beaked bastard murdering Spinner, a close friend of ours, as well as injuring two others in our group. After that, we started planning on getting back at them. We have a few in place. Right now, we're biding our time by playing nice with a personnel trade. That's how I already knew about Eri."

" Chisaki's cousin?"

" Yeah." Izuku dug his nails into his palm. " They keep her in Overhaul's underground lab, experimenting on her. Her quirk allows her to rewind things. They're making quirk erasing bullets out of it."

" What?!"

" My spy found it out. That's just another reason why we're going to bury the Shie Hassaikai. Call it Revenge with a side of a Rescue Mission."

" You mentioned you know suffering." Izuku looked away.

" And so does she. I won't let a girl like that suffer like we did." He looked back, hatred in his eyes. " Unlike you heroes, we look out for our own."

" What happened to you to make you so bitter?" Togata asked. Izuku grit his teeth.

" Bullying." He answered simply. " And being rejected by a certain Hero."

" A certain Hero?"

" You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

" Try me." Izuku sighed.

" All Might." He admitted. " I met All Might when I was a lowly, Quirkless kid. He saved me from a Villain. You might recall the Sludge Villain Incident."

" That wasn't you. That was Bakugo from 1-A."

" Before that, it tried to attack me in a secluded area. All Might leapt across the city, dragging me along with him, and he dropped the Villain after trapping it in several jars. He landed on a rooftop and I asked him if I could be a Hero without a Quirk. And he laughed at me and told me to be more reasonable."

" He has his reasons to believe such a thing."

" Like his injury?" Izuku asked mockingly. Togata narrowed his gaze. " Yes, I know about that little tidbit of information. Then again, so does all of the world now so maybe I shouldn't be surprised. But do you know how he got it?.

" A battle with All For One Six years ago. Sir told me all about it."

" Yeah. Suppose I shouldn't be surprised you know that either. After all, you do have his quirk now, don't you?" Mirio froze.

" How do you…"

" Know? It wasn't why we raided Nighteye's agency but it was a very interesting find." Izuku's face grew angry. " Though to think he had the means to give me a chance to be a hero…" Izuku grit his teeth in annoyance. " Oh, how different things could have been. Maybe I'd be the favourite of the heroes like you are right now. World at my fingertips. Then again, I'd also still be naively believing that whole lie about Heroes and Justice." Izuku pouted slightly. He leant back in his chair, simply watching Mirio with an analytical stare. " Maybe I should be grateful. But in the end, I never can be. Not to him. You know something though, Togata? He actually told me about that little secret of his that day."

" He told you?"

" Yep. But I don't think he even knows we ever met before I actually became a threat, you know? He only remembers big things. Never that he ruined the dreams of a child that had already been stomped into the dirt by the society he tries so hard to protect as the Symbol of Peace." Izuku made a mocking pose, raising his left fist like All Might was known for. He scoffed as he lowered it. " After that, I met Kurogiri and he brought me to Sensei, that is All For One. He gave my life meaning."

" He tricked you. Used your hatred to turn you into a Villain. You proved already you have such potential. Your skills could have saved so many as a hero."

" See? Now people like you respect me? Because I'm a threat. Without a quirk, no-one took me seriously. I was easy pickings for bullies and teachers didn't bother stopping them. I don't care if it was a trick. Sensei gave me power, purpose and a place to belong. I'm happier now than I ever was before. You don't deserve to question that."

" You're happy now?"

" Yes."

" Then why have I never seen you smile." Izuku stopped.

" Excuse me?"

" I watched the entire Sports Festival, you know. I know what you can do. And you smirk. You smirk a lot. But it's always with those dull, hollow eyes that makes it look so forced and fake. I saw you on campus a few times and you never looked happy. Same today." Togata looked at him with concerned eyes. " Those aren't the eyes of someone who's happy, Izuku."

" Stop that. I know what you're doing."

" You know what kind of eyes they are?"

" Stop. It."

" Those are they eyes of someone who wants to be saved." Izuku twitched.

" Saved?" Izuku asked quietly. He glared at Togata "Of course. I wanted to be saved. For years, I wanted to be saved. I wanted a hero to step in and tell me everything would be OK." He snarled. " But no-one did. Not a hero. Not a teacher. Certainly not All Might. They all left me to suffer because I wasn't worth it. I've suffered SO much. I wanted saving. So I saved myself. I saved myself then I saved others and next, I'm going to save her."

" With that mind set, I think you could have been an amazing hero. Quirkless or not"

" Tell that to All Might."

" Maybe I will." Togata folded his arms and grinned brightly. " In the mean time, I'll save her too."

" What?"

" I am going to save Eri too." He repeated. " You're right. She's suffering. Lemillion stands for the Million lives I'm going to save. She'll be one of them." Togata stared Izuku down. " And so will you." Izuku raised an eyebrow. " Deep down, that boy who wants to be saved is still waiting. So I'll save him too. I promise you, Izuku. I will definitely save you."

" You'll save me?" Izuku asked.

" Yes." Togata looked so serious. Izuku burst out laughing, cold and bitterly.

" You'll save me." He repeated. He laughed. " Why do you people keep insisting I need saving?" He shook his head. "Alright then, Hero. Try and save me. It won't work but it'll be god damn hilarious to see you try. Save someone even All Might refused to save. Save all of us while you're at it. Shoto, who Endeavour abused on a daily basis. Mina, who the world treated as walking biohazard. Hitoshi, whose father was killed by heroes. Momo, who was lied to all these years by people protecting the vile acts you people do daily. Save us, Hero." Izuku glared at him. " I'll watch you die trying." The two went silent. Then Togata's phone started buzzing. Izuku sighed. " You left your phone on?"

" Ah ha ha. S-Sorry." Togata took the phone from his pocket. " Hey. It's Mirio. Oh, All Might, sir. Yeah, sorry about missing… what? WHAT? O-Ok. I'll be right there." Mirio quickly got up.

" Problem with you idol, hero?"

" No. Ha. I suppose it's only fair for you to hear this, being that you put him there in the first place." Mirio grinned. " Sir Nighteye woke up."

When she found her, Eri was balled up in her room, crying. Toru uncloaked herself and gently touched her shoulder. " Eri?" The girl screamed, violently shrugging Toru's shoulder off. " Easy. It's just me again."

" H-Huh." Eri glanced over to her. " Y-You're alive?"

" Obviously."

" I… I thought he got you. He gets everyone who get close to me." Eri whimpered.

" Don't worry, Eri. He'll never get me. I promise." Tears formed in Eri's eyes. She suddenly lurched forwards, grabbing tight hold of her suit. Toru looked surprised then smiled slightly, bring the girl into a small hug. " You're alright."

" I'm sorry." She sniffed. " I'm sorry."

" It's fine. Don't worry." Toru smiled.

" I-It's not. I… I did a bad thing t-today." Eri said sadly. " I escaped. I ran and ran b-but he still found me. T-There was a guy there. A big g-guy in a weird outfit. I-I wanted to a-ask for his help b-but I couldn't… couldn't speak. S-So he didn't." Toru's face fell. A guy in a weird outfit. A Hero. She ran into a hero and the hero did nothing. The idea made her sick and angry. " W-Why? I… I thought p-people like him were s-supposed to help. I-Is it.. Is it cause I'm a b-bad girl."

" You're not a bad girl, Eri. Chisaki's just a bad man. You don't deserve this."

" I do. I'm… I'm a-"

" Don't talk like that." Toru said sharply. " You're not evil, Eri. That hero who refused to save you is." Toru didn't want to let the young girl go. She wanted to save her. Save this young girl like Izuku had saved her. One day, Toru thought. One day, she would do what the heroes refused to do. One day, she would rescue this girl.

Mirio crashed in through the door of Sir Nighteye's room. " Sir!" He shouted.

" Mirio." Sir Nighteye said. " Loud as ever I see."

" Of course. I learned from the best." Beside Sir Nigheye's bed, All Might smiled.

" Young Togata. I'm sorry for calling you in on such short notice. Were you busy?"

" I was just finishing up anyway. No worries." He looked down slightly. " I was following up on a lead for the Shie Hassaikai investigation."

" You shouldn't be worrying yourself about that, Mirio." Nighteye sighed.

" I want to help. Especially after what I found out today. But that's not why I'm here. Are you alright, Sir?"

" I'm fine, Mirio. Thanks for asking."

" The doctors say he can go home tomorrow if he can walk." All Might told him. " I don't think he should though."

" I'm fine, Toshinori. I have work to do."

" Wasn't it you who tried to stop me working when I was in this condition, Mirai?"

" It's nowhere near the same and you know it. You had just lost a lung and half your stomach. I was just out cold for a month and a half, in which time all my injuries have healed." Nighteye sighed.

" That's not true, Mirai, and you know it. The bones in your left leg are still frail. They'll take time to-" Nighteye raised his hand.

" It's fine Toshinori. If you can live without a lung for six years, I can live a few months with a few brittle bones." He sat back in his hospital bed " Still, I was surprised. I never expected the League to attack us in the way they did. I will have to start dealing with the League more seriously after we've dealt with the Shie Hassaikai. For the anti gravity girl to get the jump on me so easily and to destroy my agency alongside my one of a kind anniversary tapestry, it would be disgraceful if I did not. Admittedly, I didn't see a future I survived that fall."

" Singularity was the one who attacked you. Hmm." All Might frowned.

" Enough about me. Mirio. Report. What have we learned about the Yakuza since I was away."

" Ha. You say away like it was a holiday." Mirio smiled and nodded before relaying what he had learned from Izuku. He wasn't dumb enough to give the name of his contact to him either. Sir never asked. It was a lesson Mirio learned well from Nighteye. If your source shouldn't be stated, for legal reasons or for the witnesses own protection, leave their name out of your report. Both heroes however seemed alarmed by the news.

" A young girl used in such a heinous way?" All Might gasped. " I can't believe it."

" So that's what Chisaki has been up to. That's disturbing." Nighteye hummed. " Mirio. You and Bubble Girl are with Rock Lock now, yes?"

" Until your agency can be recompleted, yes."

" Tell him that I'll be needing his place for a meeting. We can't let this go on much longer."

" You're not seriously going to get involved so quickly, are you Mirai?"

" I'm not like you, Toshinori. I won't get that much involved. Don't worry. But I still want to oversee the mission itself.." Nighteye looked serious. " I didn't plan this for months just for something like this to stop me."

" I'll get on it, Sir. Leave it to me."

" Good." Nighteye groaned. " Right now though, I need to rest. I'm sorry."

" No. Don't worry. Rest up, old friend." All Might smiled. " Come on, Young Togata. Let's leave him to it."

" Of course. Get well soon, Sir." Mirio waved before stepping outside with All Might. The forer number one let out a sigh.

" I'm happy he's safe." He admitted. " I'm sure you know this, but Mirai and I. Our friendship was going through a rough patch. I was a stubborn fool. It wasn't til he almost died that I realised I may not get a chance to make amends if I didn't apologize. Funny thing was, he said sorry first. Ha ha."

" I'm glad you and Sir are speaking again. You've both looked after me well these last few years." Mirio said. Even so, his smile wavered. Now they were alone, his mind returned to something he'd been told. " Hmm? Are you alright, my boy? You seem troubled."

" It's… well." he looked up. " All Might. Did you meet Izuku Midoriya before?"

" The League's strategist? I met him in UA when he was pretending to be a hero applicant."

" And before then?"

" Before. Hmm. All For One asked something similar. But why bring this up all of a sudden?"

" Promise not to be angry." All Might nodded. " I met Midoriya today. I caught him while I was scoping out the Shie Hassaikai's main base today. We were about to fight but that's when that girl, Eri, appeared. After that, we traded notes on the Shie Hassaikai."

" Young Togata…"

" I know. He's a major enemy. I should have brought him in. But… it's his eyes. He wants to be saved. I know it. He and Eri. They were the same." Mirio looked up at his mentor.

" When you gave me One For All, you said it was because of my drive to save everyone. I want to save everyone who needs saving. Even if they don't think they need it, I want to do it. I think he deserves a chance to be saved. But, when I asked why he became a Villain, he said you put him on that path."

" Me?"

" He said he met you once. You saved him from that Sludge Villain."

" That was-"

" Bakugo. I know. I said as much. But he said you saved him from the Sludge Villain before hand. And that you told him he couldn't be a hero because he didn't have a quirk. That and you showed him your injury."

" What? I would… never… do…" All Might trailed off. His expression slowly became horrified. " No…"

" All Might?"

" Oh my god. I remember now. There was a Quirkless boy who asked if he could become a Hero without a quirk. He grabbed onto me when I tried to make a quick get away and I transformed in front of him. So I let him in on my secret to try and prove that it was too dangerous. I did it with the best of intentions. I… remember what it's like to be treated as powerless. I wanted to spare him that. But it seems he took it the wrong way." All Might held his face in his hands. " All For One. He was able to corrupt that boy because of my mistake Curse him."

" Sir…" Mirio frowned. Then he grinned widely. " There's still time. I know there is. I believe Izuku isn't beyond saving. We can make this right."

" Ha. Your belief in people will make you a great hero, Young Togata." All Might laughed. " If you can fix this old man's mistake, then I wish you all the best. I can't do that anymore. I don't have enough strength. So go, young Togata. Take One For All and save him. Save him and as many other people that you can. I'm rooting for you, my boy." Mirio grinned.

" Thanks All Might. I've gotta go and talk to Rock Lock about that meeting. Still up for training tomorrow."

" Of course. I'll see you then, my boy." Mirio nodded before heading out of the hospital. When he stepped into the night air, he looked up.

" He remembers you."

" He didn't before." Izuku said, standing against the hospital wall, the hood of his jacket raised. " What did you say?"

" Just what you told me." Mirio admitted. " He mentioned All For One said something similar and remembered. He regrets it. Letting All for One turn you into what you've become."

" Ha. So he's blaming Sensei so he doesn't have to blame himself?" Izuku looked slightly disappointed. Like he was expecting something more. " Well whatever. Too late for regrets."

" Are you talking about his actions or yours?" Izuku went quiet. " I know you're not going to give yourself up that easily, Izuku. I don't expect you too."

" Good."

" In a few days, Sir is gonna plan something with a group of heroes. We'll begin the raid of Shie Hassaikai's main branch after that I imagine." Mirio looked over at him. " Will you help us?" Izuku remained quiet. He walked away from the wall.

" I'll save Eri and crush Overhaul. If the actions of you heroes helps me achieve that goal, you can work alongside us. Just stay out of our way." Izuku walked off. " Call this a treaty between you and I. Until we save Eri."

" Until we save Eri." Mirio repeated. Internally, he added something else. And until, one day, I can save you.

Tomura looked up as Izuku arrived. He sat down at the bar and ordered his usual from Kurogiri. As Kurogiri served it, he glanced over at the sound of a glass hitting the bar counter heavily to see Rappa and Kenji drinking. " Who's winning?"

" Oh. Hey, Izuku." Kenji waved. " Sorry. Didn't see you come back."

" And she is." Rappa admitted. " Ugh. How can you have such an iron liver?"

" It's a talent." Kenji admitted.

" Where have you been?" Tomura interrupted. He hummed thoughtfully before taking a sip of his drink.

" I'll tell you later." Izuku said vaguely. " How'd everything else go?"

" All the information we need has been obtained." Izuku smiled.

" Good. That I suppose it's about time we start getting serious with this."

" Oh. Right. Sorry."

" We got a message from Overhaul. He wants to meet you. Know why?"

" You know the thing we found out about earlier?" Tomura nodded. " I found it. He probably wants to know how." From off to the side, Tengai looked up. Izuku knew he was paying attention to what he was saying. Probably reporting back to Overhaul too somehow. That's why he was keeping things vague. " I'll call him in the morning and get it settled. Don't worry."

" What's our next plan?" Izuku hummed.

" I found some things out. I'll tell you later." Izuku said again. " Just know. Soon, we'll be able to pull it off. Until then, we've just gotta be patient." Izuku leant back in his seat. The scared face of Eri surfaced in his memories. He narrowed his eyebrows. He'd save her. He just needed time. And for the heroes to finally do their damn jobs and give them the opening he needed. Til then, he'd force himself to be patient. He couldn't beat Overhaul with out it.