(Kenjiro's POV – First Person)
I woke up to the sound of metal boots clanking against the corridor outside.
Ugh. Dawn patrol.
My body still ached from yesterday's spar with Endeavor, but when Burnin' banged on our doors like a battering ram, I dragged myself up with a groan. Across the hall, Todoroki emerged looking like he hadn't slept. Or maybe that was just his permanent face.
"Morning," I muttered, pulling my scarf on.
"Just morning?" he said flatly.
"Too early for witty remarks. Give me five minutes."
We met Endeavor in the lobby—already suited up, already steaming with heat. No words. Just a sharp glare that screamed keep up or go home.
The patrol was uneventful. For the first three hours, we cruised the streets of Musutafu, inspecting rooftops, peering into alleyways, and getting blinded by Endeavor's walking bonfire glow every ten seconds. The only thing remotely interesting was a purse-snatcher who surrendered the second he saw Endeavor round the corner.
Smart guy.
"I'm shocked," I said to Todoroki as we walked side by side. "You think villains would be lining up to fight a walking inferno at six in the morning."
"Don't tempt fate."
Right. That usually worked too well.
By noon, we were back at the agency. Burnin' tossed us both water bottles and I was halfway through mine when Endeavor's voice cut through the air like a buzzsaw.
"Change of plans. We're heading to Hosu. Stain's trail resurfaced there."
My brows lifted. Stain? The infamous Hero Killer?
Now that... was worth waking up early for.
Later – En Route to Hosu
The ride was tight. We were packed in an agency transport van, and the silence inside was broken only by the occasional police radio update. I leaned against the side window, watching the city blur by.
"Why now?" I asked eventually. "Stain's been off the radar for weeks."
"Intel," Endeavor said. "Recent sighting. Multiple witness reports. Too many to ignore."
Todoroki said nothing.
As the skyline changed and Hosu loomed closer, I spotted smoke on the horizon.
"Is that...?"
Endeavor narrowed his eyes. "Trouble."
Elsewhere – Izuku Midoriya's POV
Gran Torino sat across from me, arms crossed and eyes closed like he was just a random old man taking the train.
Which... wasn't totally off.
"We should arrive before nightfall," I said, mostly to fill the silence.
"Night's better," he replied without opening his eyes. "More fights."
I blinked. "Sir?"
"Villains crawl out when the sun goes down. Good time to catch 'em in action." He cracked one eye open and smirked. "Or do you prefer waiting around for danger to find you?"
Before I could answer, I pulled out my phone and texted Iida. Hey. Heading to Hosu with Gran Torino. Everything okay?
No reply.
I frowned. That wasn't like him.
"Hey!" someone shouted from a few seats down. "Did you see that?! That building just exploded!"
The train lurched violently a second later, and the carriage ahead of us exploded inward—glass shattering as something massive smashed through.
A Nomu.
It growled, pushing through smoke and flame, dragging the unconscious body of a pro-hero behind it like a ragdoll.
Gran Torino shot to his feet, cloak billowing.
"Stay back!"
He leapt forward and body-slammed the Nomu clean out of the train, disappearing in a blur of motion and flame.
"GRAN TORINO!" I yelled, running to the edge of the gaping hole. Flames engulfed the city outside. Smoke rose from multiple districts.
Manual and Iida appeared just behind me, shouting orders to evacuate. Iida stopped short.
In the distance, his eyes fixed on a shadow moving through an alley.
Stain.
Back to Kenjiro – First Person
"Endeavor, are you seeing this?" I asked, stepping out of the transport as we arrived in Hosu. Chaos met us head-on. People screamed. Cars burned. And above it all, monstrous shrieks echoed across the night.
A Nomu dropped from a rooftop, chasing civilians.
Flames burst beside me. Endeavor launched into action like a meteor, barreling into the Nomu and incinerating it with a single blast. The creature didn't even get to scream.
He turned, face aglow with heat and purpose.
"I'm here because I'm a hero," he said when someone asked.
Chills—not from the heat, but from the raw authority in his voice.
Todoroki and I flanked him. I spotted Gran Torino battling a second Nomu down the street, flipping through the air, dodging wild swings.
"His movements are off," Gran muttered to himself. "Predictable and sloppy."
The Nomu suddenly lunged for a mother and her child.
I didn't think.
"Burning Mochi!"
My mochi turned molten, lighting up with roaring flames as I vaulted forward. The creature's eyes widened just before I slammed a burning fist into its chest, blasting it across the intersection.
Gran Torino gave me a surprised look, then nodded. "Nice hit, kid."
I turned to Todoroki. "Cover the east. I've got civilians to clear."
He nodded and sprinted off.
Izuku's Perspective
I landed on a rooftop, scanning the chaos below. Nomus rampaged through the streets while pro-heroes did everything they could to contain the damage.
Manual shouted Iida's name.
He wasn't with them.
I gasped. "He went after Stain."
A hero pulled me aside. "Kid, this is no place for you!"
"Sorry," I muttered, stepping past him.
I had to find Iida.
Back to Kenjiro
Every corner of Hosu was on fire. Nomus ran wild. Screams echoed through alleyways. I dispatched two more with precise, flaming mochi strikes. Their regenerative quirks couldn't keep up with constant cauterization.
My strength—enhanced to monstrous levels by my body's mutation—let me toss a Nomu like it weighed nothing. I crushed another's leg with a whip before igniting it.
"They're too organized," I muttered. "Someone's behind this."
High above, on a rooftop, I caught a glimpse of him.
Tomura Shigaraki.
He watched the destruction like it was dinner theater. Kurogiri floated beside him.
"You're not joining them?" Kurogiri asked.
"No point," Tomura hissed, cradling his bandaged left arm—the same one I ripped off back at USJ. "Let the toys play."
I locked eyes with him.
His mouth twisted into a smile.
Coward.
I launched a burning mochi spear—but Kurogiri warped them both away before it landed.
Figures.
By the time we secured the city, half of Hosu was scorched and collapsed. Todoroki regrouped with me near the evacuation zone.
"Any sign of Stain?" I asked, panting.
"No." He shook his head. "But Iida's missing."
I clenched my fists. "Damn it."
Endeavor walked past, dragging the charred body of a final Nomu behind him. "We'll find the Hero Killer and the other Nomu. You two—rest and regroup. Tomorrow, we go hunting."
I stared out over the city.
So many flames.
So much destruction.
But also—wait Deku sent me a location. Me and Todoroki stared at each before nodding.