A Flash of Green
(Author's Notes: This story follows Sickly Light of a New Day and Nyoro Leaves)
I. Morning Call
Rain poured and thunder rumbled outside the Daiichi manor. He hated storms. The sound of a crackling sky made him want to run somewhere nice and sunny, somewhere far away where the sky was blue.
Inigo Myoga was curled up on his side in a dark room. He was small again, shaking with the aftershocks of his father's fists. Unable to understand where his mother had gone, why she had left, and why father hated him so much.
He couldn't run nor stand, so he rolled unto his side and crawled. Father had stomped on him twice leaving a heel sized bruise on his cheek and a lance of pain on his ribs. He was dimly aware that his older brother must have stepped in to protect him. Kaz had made the mistake of using Avarice against his father's dragon, and was likely hurt worse than he was. Inigo had failed to control Gigan which meant he was to be punished. If he died from the beatings it was no big loss for the clan. But Kaz was different... He was a dragon.
As Inigo crawled, guilt wound itself in with the confusion and broken blood vessels creating a new worse kind of pain. He somehow knew that if he laid still and listened he would hear Kaz crying, and feel his brother's pain answering his own like an echo. He crawled forward and looked up. Kaz was there on his side, staring back at him, trembling, wheezing from a broken nose. His silver locks stained by the blood pooling under him. Inigo had never seen his ever-confident brother look so broken.
Their eldest and heir, Sato, stood by the doorway, unblinking, making sure none of the softhearted servants helped them.
"Take him to the dragon cave and be done with it," an inhuman voice called, deep and resonating, like the rumbling of a distant volcano.
"Not yet, old one. He can still be of use to us." His father's shadow fell over him.
"Hey. Wake up, kid. We're here."
Inigo opened his eyes. The sun was warm on his face. Ever since he seperated from his construct, bits and pieces of his unfiltered memory had returned. This particular one kept coming back. Blearily he looked around. Outside the RV's window he could see morning light and the familiar streets of inner Kyoto.
He was home again and it was sunny, and the sky was blue.
Omura Tadao aka Conman parked the RV behind a kushiage restaurant, a few blocks short of the school. The Shiketsu supports professor withdrew the illusion of a school bus wrapped around them and he felt the jitters that accompanied his quirk disappear. No villains had followed them on their way back from Chugoku. Good.
Seconds later, he felt a tap on his shoulder and found Karuga Ito handing him a mug of coffee.
"It's a damn shame you can't smell this roast," Ito said with a light smirk. "Some caffeine should still be worthwhile." Omura accepted the brew.
Ito stretched out an arm and sighed. "Yare yare..! Anzu's been angry texting me. I'd prepare for an earful when we get back to the faculty room."
Omura sipped the cup. He couldn't smell the coffee but he could feel its warmth. "That's no surprise. She's been pissed at me ever since half of my support students left for greener pastures. I had to bribe the business students with another chair to stay."
"Lying again are we?," Ito noted worrily. The school counselor wasn't used to Omura's lying compulsion, and Omura wasn't used to talking so openly with anyone at all. Their close proximity, was a consequence of working for the Daiichi and following the dragon boy around in his wild chase. At least, it beats being a Shiketsu spy. Taking a sip of coffee, Omura admired his handsome colleague. If only he wasn't so disheveled all the time he could-
"Compound's agreed to join us to beef up security," Ito interrupted Omura's thoughts.
"Good. Anything else?"
"There's some new pros joining the staff, Ersatz and Broadband. I think they both came from Rosethorn's agency. Impakt promised to call in some international contacts too. You ever hear of Mash?"
He took a long sip. "Nope, but the name sounds familiar.. As long as he has a good record I'll be glad to work with him. We should grab a cup of coffee with him later."
"I'm up for it, we need all the help we can get." Ito browsed the news headlines on his phone. There were several low level villain attacks just in the past eight hours. "Kyoto's in rough shape but the rest of Japan isn't much better. Endeavor and Wash has their hands full. Legion and Glutton God are rolling over Kanto. Almost feels like they were just waiting for that hermit runt to explode."
Guilt washed over Omura, if outside groups had intel on Shiketsu, enough to know about Sandatsu's issues, it was likely from their information brokering. "Yeah.. We really made a mess of things, huh?"
"I never meant for it to go this far. Really, it's Anzu I'm worried about. She's spiraling again. Remember when the UA principal said the school was old-fashioned to a reporter? This is ten times worse than that."
Omura shuddered. "I'm glad she's on our side. Y'know, ever since middle school she's been good in a pinch. We used to call her "Arashi-chan", 'cause her hair was always in a wind-swept tangle. I watched that little wild girl fight off bullies twice her size! Hell, she's the reason I wanted to be a hero," His eyes gleamed. "Once she starts a fight, she never backs down." He laughed. "Don't call her that though, or she'll send you flying through a window."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Ito chuckled and noted his collegues' empty mug. "Refill?"
Behind a gray curtain, within the other half of the RV. Agent Law prepared a syringe full of a blue liquid from a medical pack. Inigo Myoga yawned and sat up on the couch he was just sleeping on.
He hears a toilet flush. "Bad dream?" Law said to the boy, nodding to Agent Waver as he stepped out of the RV's bathroom.
"Yeah, you can say that." Inigo took off his shirt with Gigan's help. He grimaced and looked down on the large purple-tinged scar across his chest. The spot was swollen again. "Tch.. What time is it?"
"0620," Agent Waver said taking the syringe carefully from Law and poking it expertly into the blonde boy.
"Hey did you wash your hands? Ow.. Easy!"
"Any better than before?"
"Nah, hurts worse, but I'll manage."
"You're gonna have to bare it a lil longer, kid. That wound is quirk-resistant. Toxic Chainsaw's no joke, and you should've waited for back-up."
Inigo smirked, and flexed. "Hey, chicks dig scars right?" Turning away, he opened a small mini-fridge and poured himself a bowl of Popsy-O's.
"You guys hunting villains again today?"
"Nope. Just more recon," Waver noted.
"Planting bugs on McCathy right? I read your logs. What's up with that anyway?" He said with his mouthful. The two US agents exchanged glances, and Waver sighed.
"Our orders on Last Rite are 'classified'. But if you tell us about her connections with Desolator. It should buy us some breathing room." The ginger-haired man started typing on his phone. "We might even leave her alone. If I have to listen to another conversation between her and Noah I'm gonna go mad. There's only so much flirting you can do over bible quotes, kid... before it gets sickening."
"Sorry fellas, that's classified on my end," Inigo winked. "Just know she's on our side. Sally's a real one, so are all my classmates!" He adjusted his clothes before hopping to his feet, with a snap of his finger a green glow sent his empty bowl flying to the sink.
"I'll let the Senator know she's a "real one" so we can end the investigation," Waver said sarcastically, {"Hey Law, who's Tame?"} Law shrugged.
Inigo chuckled. "Hey it's worth a shot."
"You're as chipper as ever," Law said, approaching them both with an opened laptop. "Check this out, it happened while we were gone."
A grainy security camera video was playing, in it Feral was fighting two of his classmates, Kaylee and Orochi. But something was happening to the hydra-tailed girl. Yamata was growing. Transforming.
"Jesus..." Agent Waver sputtered, leaning in. "What the hell is that?"
Inigo was quiet, his jaw tensed. It wasn't Orochi's transformation that got to him. It was the emotion on her face. The look in her eyes. The pain there...reminded him of Kaz. His heart clenched.
"Bet's off - we got a Quirk awakening," Law said evidently. "When one appears others follow. Remember what happened with Disaster and Slaughter? This is officially a type 7 situation." He held out a hand to the other agent. Waver grumbled and handed Law a crisp 100$ dollar bill.
"What's quirk awakening?" Inigo asked.
"The right emotional catalyst can cause quirks to evolve. Your classmate hit the jackpot, an awakening has been done less than a hundred times in recorded quirk history." Law lit up a cigarette.
Waver turned towards Inigo. "We do our best to keep quirk awakening out of the public eye. Or you'll get hooligans trying to off themselves to evolve. There's also nutbags pushing how awakenings support the 'quirk singularity theory'. The theory is that quirks will continue to mix together, growing in strength and complexity. Until eventually, quirks will develop to a point where no one will be able to control them. Then all hell would break lose."
Inigo frowned, this was the same babble that he got from Sato every Sunday. He didn't care about End-Of-The-World scenarios. He cared about one thing. "Right, I just want to know if my friend's gonna be okay. Orochi's been through enough already."
Law rubbed his chin. "90% of quirk awakenings are positive, but it places a heavy toll on the mind. You wanna know something? Go talk to Atsushi yourself, and then let us know what you find out."
Inigo shrugged. Waver stretches out his arms. "Still think you don't need resonance training, kid? With the stuff you pulled against Conduit, your dragon could-"
"I'll pass. I get enough weird shit with Gigan already," Inigo glanced out the window. "I better head to class! Thanks for the ride fellas!" With Gigan gathering his things, he made his way out of the RV, making sure to greet Ito and Conman on the way.
Inigo glided on his skateboard through the streets of Kyoto, winding past cars and groups of students. Inigo's mind wandered. The first three months of the year had felt like a blur to him. Things were changin, like they were in a sequel of a popular VN, and now the flag events were way more important and risky.
His phone buzzed. A text from Agent Law?
A. Law: Btw say hello to our new transfer from Interpol.
A. Law: I volunteered you as a guide to help them set up. Thx in advance.
IniGOAT: ??
Inigo frowned, wondering what that meant, when he spotted a figure ahead adjusting a Shiketsu cap. Something about them seemed familiar...
As he drew closer, the person turned, revealing a slight, dark-skinned girl with brown hair. She waved him over.
"Wait - BRIGHTLY?!" Inigo exclaimed. "I didn't recognize you without the maid uniform!"
Brightly frowned, tugging at the school skirt. "It's just "Bri" now. I'll be in Class 2-C. My mission is to protect the support course and assist security. I'd appreciate any assistance you can give me, Myoga." Brightly curtsied as only an experienced maid-agent could.
"Awesome! Is anyone popping into class 1-D?"
"No clue. If there is they're not from Interpol or Maidcorps. Maybe the Hero Commission can pull themselves together long enough to send someone."
Inigo lit up in realization, the comission had sent Rush and possibly Cool Boost to watch 1-D. He wasn't sure about the second one. "Well, welcome aboard Brightly-senpai!" He turned to stare at the corner of the street where he usually met Chris and Sally. Where were they?
"We can walk together and you can show me the facilities," Brightly eyed the unfocused kid with a hint of impatience "Are there any important things I should know?"
"Hmm. Stay out of 1-F. And watch out for Majestic-sensei."
"The number six hero?"
"Yep! He's really into checking credentials."
Broad green wings grew from his back. "Sorry, I gotta go catch some people. Trust me, you don't want to be seen walking with one of the Boys right now. Our rep's kinda down, and the rumor mill's running hard!"
"Wait, Myoga!"
"Smell ya later!" With a flap of dragon wings, Inigo took off to the sky.
II. School POV
Inigo soared through the morning sky, the wind whipping through his hair as he left Brightly behind. A few blocks ahead, Inigo spotted his friends walking in a group on their way to Shiketsu. Hoge, Chihiro, Christopher, Ashleigh, and Sally were all walking together. His eyes scanned his friends' faces, noting the dark circles under their eyes and the tension in their postures. What would Popsy do?
Inigo swooped down, Gigan transforming from wings to a skateboard beneath his feet as he landed. With a few quick tricks - more out of habit than showmanship - he glided to a stop in front of the group.
"Am I late?" he asked, grinning as he stomped on the board, sending it flying up under his arm.
"Dumbass!" Sally growled tsunderely.
"Nah, man," Chris said in his true bro way. Inigo met him with a fist bump, and then glanced at Gigan and Hitomi meeting in the air above them.
He wondered for a second what they talked about up there. The two dragons hovered close to Chihiro and Sally, chittering away quietly. It was just mews and squeaks to him. It's not like he understood 'Dragon'. Did Chris? He threw the other boy a look and was met by a shrug.
"You really shouldn't be moving around alone," Hoge said softly in an impossibly cute manner. Immediately his heart melted. She must've been horribly worried about him. Star-eyed he forgot about everything and focused only on her. "What do you mean, Coru-chan? Gigan was with me," Inigo replied doing his best to reassure her. His chest swelled, it didn't even matter how much his wound was hurting after that epic landing.
Better not embarass her in front of all these people though. Change the topic.
"Whoa, Ashleigh's here!"
Inigo walked with Hoge and the others until they got to the school's getabako. Slipping away, he found Hifumi leaning against the corner. Throwing him a nod, Hifumi silently pointed a thumb towards Bobby a few meters away. Their American friend stood hunched in the shadows, phone pressed tightly to his ear. Even from a distance, the tension in his posture was evident, and they could guess who he was talking to.
"<Ma, I'll handle it,>" Bobby's voice carried with building frustration.
Inigo exchanged a concerned glance with Hifumi. They'd been around Bobby long enough to recognize the strain in his tone. Hifumi took a step forward, but Inigo shook his head to stop him. Inigo glared at a passing cyclops-boy giving them the side-eye. The boy and his two friends scurried away, scared.
As Bobby ended the call, his shoulders slumped. Without noticing them, he turned and marched towards the gym, his stride purposely. The hallway full of students broke in his path.
"Bro, he's taking this hard," Inigo murmured.
Hifumi nodded. "Can you blame him? After what happened to his parents. They were also betrayed. Guess this hits close to home."
"Yeah.. I remember, before Sunman went after the Horsemen. Mrs. Samson must befreaking out." Inigo turned to stare at Bobby's path. "At least I don't have to deal with my parents.."
"Ma's talking about moving the girls back to Düsseldorf until things cool down. We have family friends there so it's not as costly...but..."
"Gotta keep the family together. I get it."
Hifumi looked desperate. "I'm trying to talk them through it. But it's hard... first the shit with Tomi and now this..."
Inigo offered a weak brofist and they both sighed. "Let's go see how Bobby's doing."
They followed Bobby's path to the training facility, pushing open the heavy doors. Inside, they found Kaylee and Orochi already there, sparring. Inigo blinked at Orochi's appearance - her once-white hair now bore a distinct red tint. Orochi lifted a hand, pointing silently to the far corner of the training facility.
There, Bobby was unleashing a barrage of punches on a hapless punching bag. His fists glowed with solar energy, each impact sending shockwaves through the equipment and rattling nearby machines. With a roar of frustration, Bobby turned his attention to a practice dummy. One devastating punch reduced it to splinters. "Whoa," Inigo felt the intensity radiating from his friend. He watched as Bobby, chest heaving, made his way to the locker room. Kaylee stepped forward, concern etched on her face, but Hifumi held up a hand. This wasn't the first time Kaylee had barged into the Boy's locker room.
"We've got this," Inigo said, nodding to Hifumi. "We'll talk to him."
In the locker room, Bobby was slumped on a bench, head in his hands. Inigo approached cautiously. The Boys had talked about Sandatsu's disappearance before, it was a sensitive topic they tended to avoid. Mostly 'cause it was super lame and depressing.
"Hey, man," Inigo said. "Wanna chat?"
Bobby looked up, his eyes red-rimmed. "What's there to talk about? He attacked the school. He killed what's-his-face," His voice broke.
Hifumi sat down next to Bobby. "I keep thinking I should have seen it coming," he admitted.
"It's not your fault," Inigo insisted. "I knew as well. Every morning I'd go out of my way to fly over his tent hopin' he'd still be good."
Bobby clenched his fists. "My mom wants me to come home. She's terrified something's gonna happen to me."
Hifumi added. "Hay and the girls - they're talking about pulling out of the exchange program entirely."
Inigo felt a weight settle in his chest. He wanted to tell them everything; his clan could help Bobby. The Daiichi could protect Hifumi's sisters. Maybe he could push to help the Koreans with immigration. He wanted to share details about his family too. Maybe it was time. His fist balled; he had made up his mind when Hifumi's next words stopped him cold.
"I can't believe he lied to us the whole time," Hifumi said, his voice hollow. "How do you even do that to your friends?"
Inigo swallowed, the confession dying on his lips. Instead, he forced a smile. "Guys, I know things look bad, but we can't give up. We're gonna get through this together, okay? Remember when we were literally up a shitty creak and we lost our paddle, and Bobby had to pull the boat? We'll come up with a plan, like we always do."
Bobby looked up, a spark of hope in his eyes. "Yeah?"
"Yeah," Hifumi said, nodding to both of them. "We stick together. We train harder than ever, and we figure out a way to show everyone that we're not broken by this."
Inigo followed. "Exactly! We'll be pro-heroes, and this is just the first big villain in our arcs. It's just a little more personal. And we know Sandy, how he thinks, how he fights, hell.. how shitty he is at group chats and technology. Remember how long it took him to figure out attachments? How irritated he gets when he has to do something for too long? We know him."
Bobby's energy seemed to return, bit by bit. "You're right. We should be out there helping. In the front lines. I want to do something. I can't just sit around while that bastard's out there."
Inigo understood the feeling all too well. "I know, bro. But we've got to be smart about this. One wrong move and..."
"And the feds'll be all over me," Bobby finished with a grimace. "I know. It's just... my mom..."
Hifumi clapped a hand on Bobby's shoulder. "Hey, we've got your backs. Both of you. If something happens, your mom will be safe."
Inigo felt a surge of affection; he shot his fist forward. "Remember that movie we watched? Alright, let's make a pact right here, right now. No matter what happens, we stick together. We protect each other, and our classmates, our families."
Bobby nodded, his jaw set as he stuck his arm forward. "I'm in."
"Me too," Hifumi added.
The three of them clasped hands in the center, a circle of brotherhood forged in lost. Their eyes met.
"All for One! and One for All!" they all yelled.
They held the pose for a dramatic second, before relaxing back and laughing.
"Sweet! What do you guys think of the Boys' new catchphrase?"
"I dunno how I feel about it," Bobby shrugged.
"Let's look for something else," Hifumi said. "It's pretty derivative, man."
The moment was broken by a commotion from the training center."What the heck?" Hifumi muttered. They rushed out of the locker room to investigate, pushing through the doors to find a crowd gathered around Hiro, who was backed against the wall. Victor loomed over him, sharp shark teeth bared in a snarl.
"If not for you and your fucking class, Genma would still be alive!" Victor roared, pushing Hiro hard, spittle flying from his razor-sharp teeth. "What were you thinking going off alone like that?"
"Go away," Hiro muttered coldly, he stood up weakly using a cane to get up.
"YOU AND THAT ATSUSHI BITCH PUT US ALL IN DANGER AND YOU GOT HIM KILLED! HE WAS MY FRIEND!" His shark-fins rose as he advanced. "You deserve to be in jail! You couldn't just leave it to the pros! Genma is gone.. and now 1-E, my class is broken...I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU FOR THAT!"
Hiro stared blankly ahead, his scarred face twisting. "I don't have time for this..." he muttered, voice devoid of emotion. He tried to walk away but stumbled as water sprayed from a nearby fountain, drenching him. Ian was suddenly there, rushing forward, catching Hiro before he hit the ground. The new kid helped Hiro stand.
Victor's laugh was cruel. "Careful. The pipes here are leaky." He crunched his knuckles and advanced. Snickers rippled through the crowd. Bobby's face twisted and he pushed in, charging forward, Inigo and Hifumi on his heels.
"Hey! Leave him alone, Victor!" Bobby yelled.
"Yeah! We're all on the same side here," Inigo shouted.
Victor's eyes narrowed dangerously. "HA! THAT'S RICH, COMING FROM THE FRIENDS OF THE MURDERER. YOU GOT SOME NERVE EVEN SHOWING UP IN THE SCHOOL!" He sent a spray of water hurtling towards them. "YOU'RE STILL IN CAHOOTS WITH THAT SCHIZO FREAK, AREN'T YOU?"
Bobby dodged the spray, closing the distance between them. "I said shut up!"
His fist flew towards Victor's face but was intercepted by a tall boy in a varsity jacket, he had cat ears and striped black fur. The newcomer caught Bobby's punch with one hand.
"I've heard about you boys," the cat-eared teen growled. "You've ruined the debut for us seniors."
Inigo recognized him - Tiger from Class 3-D. He tensed as more students stepped forward, surrounding them. Another senior with a gas mask was now standing by Victor, followed by a group of boys from 1-E. This is getting out of hand.
This is bad. Inigo watched the crowd building, Victor's raising a mob against 1-D.
Hifumi's fists clenched. "You wanna go? Just give us a reason!" Bobby and Inigo stood behind him.
Victor bared his teeth in a vicious grin, his own gang backing him. "Name a time and place."
"You don't want these hands, Victor," Inigo glared, shifting into a fighting stance. Gigan's sharp warning whistle rang in his head, urging caution.
"Oh, we're just getting started. You think you can walk around like nothing happened??"
The air crackled with tension. Fists clenched. Quirks flared to life.
"ENOUGH!"
A booming shout cut through the hostility like a knife. Ippon-sensei marched towards them, his white gi tight on his muscular frame. He stood tall with authority.
"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded. "Is this how future heroes conduct themselves?!"
Silence fell, heavy and uncomfortable.
Ippon's gaze swept over the gathered students. "I expected better from all of you. Especially you three." He looked at the Boys. "Given the current situation, you should be setting an example! Is this how men act??"
Bobby faltered. "But sensei, they-"
"I don't want to hear it," Ippon cut him off. "Whatever grievances you have, this is not the way to address them. All of you, disperse. Now."
He pointed to different sides of the room. "You boys, left side. Victor, your group to the right. Move!"
The crowd broke apart reluctantly. Inigo, Bobby, and Hifumi walked out followed by an irritated Hiro, and a curious Ian. As they exited the training room, they were met by Kaylee and Orochi in the sparring hall. Orochi's brow furrowed with concern. "What happened in there?"
Hiro's scowl deepened. He brushed past without a word. Hifumi sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "It's getting bad. The other classes... they're not just upset. They're out for blood."
Kaylee's eyes gleamed. "So let's beat them up. Show them we're not pushovers."
"It's not that simple," Inigo interjected. "This is tearing the school apart. We need to be careful."
The hallway fell silent, each student lost in their own thoughts.
Bobby broke the silence. "What are we going to do?"
No one had an answer.
III. Chasing Nyoro
It was a free period and Inigo eyed the doorway out of the 1-D classroom. Hissori Nyoro and his wife had left the room only 20 minutes ago. The classroom buzzed with a soft, relieved energy, but Inigo felt anything but calm. His leg bounced nervously under his desk, eyes darting between the clock and Hoge by the window. She was silhouetted against the afternoon sun, sitting next to Tame and Chihiro, laughing at something the android girl said. At least she's alright. Thank the kami for that.
Hissori's words rang in his mind. Inigo didn't exactly make the best first impression, which sucks cause he practiced in front of a mirror countless times. Those usually ended with him becoming fast friends with Hoge's parents.
Why yes, we would love to come with you to Okinawa for a family beach vacation, son.
You really mean it? I'm part of your family now?
Ho ho ho! Of course, my boy! Now tell us how my daughter met such a fine young man!
Inigo groaned and sunk in his desk. That's never gonna happen now.. I'll be lucky if I could buy their blessing. Gigan mewed and patted his head.
What's even worse is that they're still threatening to pull Hoge out.
He felt a tap on his shoulder, Chris was standing over him. "You okay, man? You look like you're about to jump out of your skin."
Inigo tried for a grin, but it came out more like a grimace. "I, uh... bathroom," he muttered, standing so abruptly his chair scraped loudly against the floor.
Chris's brow furrowed. "I'll come with you."
Once they were in the empty hallway, Inigo sagged against the wall, letting out a shaky breath. "I really messed up, huh?"
"You're going after her parents, aren't you?"
"I gotta do something, bro," Inigo nodded, then asked hesitantly, "Hey, have you met Faith's parents yet?"
Chris shook his head. "No. But her parents aren't happy with the school either.."
"This isn't at all like the simulations, man."
"Ugh, you mean the one you tried to rope me into."
"Bro, it was important in case you accidentally said Faith had a fat ass! But yeah.. The Boys and I practiced meeting Hoge's parents. Bobby played as Hoge, Hifumi was her mom, and Sandy was... her dad... not the best comparison, huh? Considering..."
"....I don't think her dad's a psycho, but he was out of line," Chris clapped a hand on Inigo's shoulder. "You need back-up?"
Inigo took a deep breath, squaring his shoulders. "Thanks, but... I think this is something I gotta do alone."
Hitomi appeared on Chris' shoulder, waving a victory flag. Gigan popped a salute, and with a grateful nod to his friend, Inigo set off down the hall, his mind racing. Her parents would be leaving soon – he had to catch them before they left. He spotted Hoge's parents at the gate, Hissori's expensive suit a stark contrast to the casual attire of passing students. His heart leapt into his throat. Before he could second-guess himself, he was moving, half-running towards them.
Inigo swallowed hard, his palms sweating as he approached. He caught up to them right at the gate, skidding to a stop and bowing so low he nearly lost his balance. "Mr. Nyoro-san! Mrs. Nyoro-san!"
Hissori turned, his eyes narrowing with disdain. He looked at Inigo like he might look at gum stuck to his shoe - an annoyance to be dealt with swiftly. "You again. What do you want, boy?"
Inigo kept his head low in the bow. "I... I wanted to apologize for earlier. And to talk to you about Hoge. About what she means to us – to our class... to me."
He took a deep breath, words tumbling out in a yelled rush. "She's incredible. You should see her in action, the way she analyzes every situation, finds solutions no one else would think of. Your daughter's a genius. In our internships, we couldn't have gone far without her. She's saved many lives, did you know that? "
Inigo's eyes shone as he continued, "And as our class rep? She holds us all together. Plans study sessions, mediates conflicts, she pushes us all to be better. Sometimes she's a stickler for rules, but that's why we love her so much. She's someone who keeps us from falling apart." He smiled. "And to me... she's the most amazing person I've ever met. She makes me want to be better, to work harder. She sees the world in a way no one else does, and being with her... it's like seeing everything new."
As he finished, there was a moment of tense silence. Then Hissori exploded.
Hissori's face had grown increasingly red during Inigo's speech. When he spoke, his voice was cold and targeted. "Saved people? You mean put herself in mortal danger!" he roared, his face contorting. "Do you have any idea what could happen to her? The villains out there wouldn't hesitate to kill a child playing at being a hero."
He jabbed a finger at Inigo's chest, his eyes raking over the boy's appearance with clear disgust. "I've read up on you, boy. A below-average student, a farmer's child from a nothing town in Ishikawa. What kind of future could you possibly offer her? My daughter is smart, she's a hard worker. She could have a productive career, and a life above her station. But instead, she's clinging to this... this delusion!"
"It's not a delusion!" Inigo shot back, his own temper flaring. "It's her dream, and it's what she wants. And she's good at it, better than many of us, even me! If you'd just give her a chance-"
"Enough!" Hissori's shout echoed in the courtyard. "You are children, playing at being adults. You have no idea of the real world! They fill your heads with garbage in this 'school'!" He paced back and forth, his expensive shoes clicking on the pavement. "I've seen what happens to 'heroes' who think they're invincible. Broken bodies, shattered minds. Families left behind to pick up the pieces. Is that what you want for Hoge? To end up as another statistic, another tragedy for the evening news?"
His voice lowered, taking on a coldly practical tone. "Do you have any idea what that would do to my family's reputation? The whispers, the pitying looks? A daughter, dead playing hero? It's unthinkable. If she gets hurt - when she gets hurt - it'll be on your hands"
Inigo stood there, taking the verbal onslaught. Each word felt like a physical blow, but he forced himself to stay upright, to meet Hissori's gaze.
When the man finally paused for breath, Inigo spoke, "I won't let anything happen to her. I'll keep her safe. With my life, if I have to."
Hissori scoffed. "Empty promises from a child."
For the first time, Hoge's mother spoke. "Dear, perhaps we should—"
"Enough!" Hissori snapped, causing her to flinch back. "We're leaving. Now."
As he stormed towards the gate, Karāiro lingered for a moment. She looked like she wanted to say something, her eyes darting nervously between Inigo and her husband's retreating back. She fidgeted, touching the side of her sleeve. The fabric shifted, turning a deep, warm red – the exact shade of Inigo's tie. And for a moment, Inigo saw the faintest smile on her face, so achingly familiar it made his heart clench.
"Karāiro! Come!" Hissori's voice rang out. ith a last, lingering look at the boy, she hurried after her husband. Inigo watched them go, unsure if he had really done anything but make things worse. But that small smile from Hoge's mom had to mean something, right?
He stood there long after they'd disappeared from view, the summer breeze ruffling his hair. Gigan nuzzled his cheek, chirping questioningly.
"Yeah, buddy. That could've gone worse," Inigo said, exhaustedly. "But I had to do something..." As he turned to head back to class, his mind was already racing with plans.
IV. Cloud Nine
Inigo followed Hoge through the winding underground halls of Shiketsu Academy. His mind was on the image of Hissori Nyoro, imperious and unyielding. It stirred something protective in him. Even now, watching her back as she moved along, he wondered how she felt. She did seem better. Hoge's hand gripped his firmly as she led the way. She navigated the dark passages with practiced ease, her steps sure despite the untidy floor. Inigo marveled at her confidence, so different from earlier. If that was his old man, there would've been a fight. He wondered what 1-D could do against King Ghidorah. He imagined they'd win, the same way they would against Sandy, but that was hopeful.
"Hey Coru-chan, where are we going?" Inigo asked, ducking under a low-hanging pipe.
Hoge paused at an intersection, her outline wavering slightly in the dim light. "I'm verifying the security measures I recommended to the faculty." She nodded at a metal frame blocking one tunnel. "Good."
"These are your hiding spots, right? The ones that lets the ghost of Shiketsu run around the campus." He smirked, he had heard of her nickname even before they were on speaking terms. He wanted to know who else was sneaking into the PE locker rooms.
"I didn't know how I felt about these areas before.. They were lonely, but now I'm fond of them. I wanted to show you something."
"...Oooh like a secret makeout spot?"
"Watch your step, Ini."
"Whoa!"
Inigo stumbled, nearly slipping on a random pothole if Gigan hadn't formed a rail to grab.
Hoge's steps faltered for a moment. She adjusted her glasses and crouched down. "The structural integrity of these tunnels is questionable at best," she muttered, more to herself than Inigo.
Picking up a wrapper from beside the pothole, Hoge stated: "The yeti's been here."
"Yeti?"
"Yes. I've been trying to catch it after it ate my chocolate."
"For revenge?" Inigo wondered.
"To talk to them and form a truce," Hoge said, her tone analytical. "It's the easiest solution to prevent future incidents."
"Just how many tunnel dwelling cryptids do Shiketsu have?"
"Five...but I've only met three of them."
Hoge pulled him along. They squeezed through a low tunnel into a wide utility vent that slanted upwards. After a few minutes, Hoge adjusted a panel, sliding it aside. She stepped out onto a ledge, Inigo following close behind. The sight was amazing. They were atop Shiketsu's main hall, the entire school sprawled out below them. From here he could see into the cafeteria and the auditorium. Students milling about in halls, moving through lockers, running to their classes. The chatter carried up acoustically into the vents and pipes, and when he adjusted himself he could hear conversations from across the school like he was standing nearby.
Hoge's eyes shimmered, staring out at the people below them. "This is one of the spots I'm proudest of."
"So this is where you hide when I'm trying to find you."
As she sat, legs dangling over the edge, Hoge's fingers stayed intertwined with his. She leaned into him slightly and pointed up at the large glass windows near the ceiling, her voice taking on a lecturing tone. "I see you fly overhead, often. I know it's not the same as what you see from way up high, but the refracted light through the glass panels create a charming visual effect. The elliptical shape of the school have interesting acoustic properties which centers at this point."
"Hoge," Inigo interrupted gently. "You don't have to sell the spot to me. It's great." He grinned and stared at her.
A faint blush colored Hoge's cheeks. She leaned against him, her form solidifying. They sat there in silence, Inigo was unsure what to say. There was a lot to talk about, sure, but right then and there, he just wanted to sit comfortably with her and forget it all. It was Hoge who broke the silence by standing up. "Ini, could you fly me out of here?"
"Huh?"
She pointed up. "Those open windows are a sufficient exit. To complete my evaluation of Shiketsu's vulnerabilities it's important. Crucial. That I get an aerial view. If I asked, would you do it?"
"In a heartbeat," Inigo nodded. "But aren't you afraid of heights?"
"Yes," Hoge admitted. "But I'm willing to try - and you won't let me fall," She held up a finger and stared with a faint smile. "Afterwards, I would like to go to the park."
Hoge stepped off the ledge. The wind rushed around her. Seconds before reflexive panic could set in, she felt Inigo's arms encircle her securely. Broad dragon wings carried them. Hoge kept her eyes closed and they climbed higher, her form flickering between solid and hazy.
"Woooo-hoooo! There's good updrafts today!"
Hoge wiggled in Inigo's arms, she stammered, her face pale. "I-ini! Are we not going too high?-"
"Trust me," Inigo said softly, his eyes shining with excitement. "I've never taken anyone this high before. Never shared this view!" He soared past the height of the tallest building in Kyoto, enough that Gigan wrapped them in a wispy cloak to shield from the chill. Hoge's form began to blur dramatically. She clung to Inigo, her face buried in his chest.
"Oh god, oh god, oh god," she muttered, her words muffled by Inigo's shirt and her quirk. "This was a mistake. A terrible, mistake. We're too high up! Unthinkably high! Unconscionably high!"
"We're here," Inigo reassured her. "Want to open your eyes? The view's pretty amazing."
"Nope. No thank you. I'm good right here," Hoge replied, her grip tightening.
"Come on, Coru-chan. Just a peek?"
Slowly, hesitantly, Hoge lifted her head and cracked one eye open. Then, almost against her will, both eyes widened as she took in the sight. The world spread out beneath them, a swirling panorama. Shiketsu looked like a miniature model, its grounds neatly laid out. Kyoto sprawled in every direction, a patchwork of modern buildings and traditional architecture. From here, she could see forested mountains where Chihiro lived, and her small apartment where she spent many nights wondering about the outside world.
"This is our city. Our home. Isn't it beautiful?"
"Oh," she breathed, her form solidifying slightly. "That's... wow." Despite her fear, there was a spark of wonder in her gaze.
But as a gust of wind caught them, Hoge squeaked and buried her face in Inigo's chest again. "Okay, that's enough sightseeing. Ground. Now. Please."
"Aren't you looking for defensive weaknesses?"
"I will leave that to Skycarver, sensei."
Inigo chuckled, beginning a slow descent. "Alright," Inigo said after a moment. "But there's something I wanted to say."
Inigo hesitated, then broached the subject they'd both been avoiding.
"About your parents... before in the classroom. They're not gonna give up on pulling you out, are they?"
Hoge stiffened. "Ini... you don't know him like I do. If he causes too much trouble for 1-D, truthfully, I will have to..." She paused, her outline wavering.
"They won't!" Inigo pressed. "Besides' you're not gonna let the whole class down, are ya, Class rep?" He winked. "After everything we did, you have to stay after all that dramaticness!"
"It was...embarrassing wasn't it?"
"Honestly, it's fine. We're all going through the same feelings right now - after that attack, we're all just super bummed. Seeing you talk back to him, was a huge relief. You reminded us of how hard we've all worked to be here. We can't give up." He lifted their joined hands. "And that's why I can't stay in place too. I'm afraid," he whispered, "that if I wait too long I won't have a place in your life anymore."
Hoge shook her head. "That's not true." Her gaze was fixed on his tie, and she began fidgetting with it.
"Seeing your parents today... made me realize I need to fix things with my own family too.. There's so much I can do to help if I wasn't stuck behind the clan's shadow. There's something I want to ask. It's kinda sudden and maybe a little dangerous, but it's important. "
"What is it?" Hoge's tone was cautious.
Inigo took a deep breath.
"Hoge, would you marry me?"
Hoge's eyes went wide and she nearly slipped from his grasp. "E-eh??"
"NO! I didn't mean it like that! FUCK!" Inigo's face flamed red. "I meant- it's a fake marriage. Pretend to be with me! So I can crash this ceremony and meet my old man!"
Hoge's outline flickered in place.
"Sorry, Coru-chan," Inigo winced. "I got caught up in the moment! Listen—it's the only way I can get the clan to back off. By clan rules, they won't be able to touch me if my grandfather agrees to it. Sato would have to back off. Find a different heir since I'm with a non-dragon wielder. So...?" Hoge's form slowly solidified as he explained.
"Ini..." Hoge's voice was uncharacteristically soft. Her eyes narrowed behind her glasses, exasperation in her tone, "This is a hostage situation. You are a criminal. You've taken me hundreds of meters into the air and now you're making outrageous demands!" Hoge continued. "I should report you to the proper authorities, Myoga Inigo!"
"I wasn't- it wa-" Inigo panicked.
"I will leave with my parents and you will never see me again! BAKA!" She fumed.
"Hey wait! Don't say that! - so no?"
"Of course I'll do it," Hoge said, her tone matter-of-fact. "The logical benefits of such an arrangement are unclear. But- BAKA BAKA! You idiot Myoga!"
"Huh? What'd I do?" In his head, Gigan was facepalming multiple times, but he wasn't sure why she was so upset. He already explained everything.
She maintained her stern expression. "I'm going to be mad at you until you buy me food. Consider it reparations for this aerial kidnapping and false proposal."
"Okay!," Inigo grinned weakly. "How about ten strawberry chocolate coronets when we get down?"
"Fifteen," Hoge countered. "I think I've earned it after this...."
"It's not a proposal! And hey, don't tell your parents about this. I talked them by the way. I think your mom likes me!"
As they began their descent, both felt a mix of emotions - excitement, nervousness, and a deepening bond, underscored by the dark clouds over their horizon. The last lap of their freshman year in Shiketsu was undoubtedly dangerous, but they were all still together. And isn't that what counts? As their feet touched the ground, he caught her eyes and smiled. He'll stop at nothing to prove to Hoge's parents that she belonged here. After all, what kind of hero would he be if he lets the best thing in his life slip away without a fight?
ED / Credits:
Shiketsu ED 0.6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OINkMCPcOMM
Bonus Scene:
The entirety of class 1-D stood in a line for their hero training class. They were waiting in Shiketsu's simulation zone, a huge room underneath the school filled to the ceiling with white metallic panels.
Hiro: Why do we have to wear these wristbands?
Inigo: Beats me, man. I already have accessories.
Inigo watched as Rosethorn and Principal Karaburan approached, followed by Ito and Omura sensei.
Rosethorn: Because of the school's circumstances there were some delays getting here, but know that training you to be pro heroes is still a top priority for Shiketsu.
Karaburan: Before any of you can move forward to your 2nd year, you must first pass your final exam. It'll be a difficult uphill climb from here on out. We're forced to take drastic methods to make sure you're all ready. For your finals, you'll need the courage required of a pro hero, you'll be working as part of a team and entering Shiketsu's simulation zone to accomplish one of several tasks.
Karaburan: Together you'll be facing off against your teachers and fellow Shiketsu students.. and working against you will be your greatest opponents.
Inigo watched as a gray humanoid mech appeared in the arena, non-descript like a mannequin. The white metal panels of the simulation zone started to shift and change, altering their senses and perceptions. They were now in a massive empty city. It reminded Inigo of Tokyo. Ito stepped next to the mannequin, along with Omura. Ito's memory quirk flared, followed by Omura's illusion quirk activating.
One by one, Inigo heard gasps from his class. He saw looks of discomfort and fear on all their faces: Bobby's face was white. Hoge was a furious blur. Faith was close to tears, clutching her hand was Chris, who's face was completely blank. Kaylee looked like she was about to charge forward.
Inigo paused and looked at the mannequin again. His blood went cold. Standing there was his old man, King Ghidorah, wrapped around him was the dragon Ouroboros. Storm clouds crackled in the simulation zone.
Karaburan: If you don't have the courage to move on to the next step... there's no shame in stepping down now.
Inigo grinned and stepped forward. He glanced to his sides and saw all his classmates do the same.
Nothing was gonna keep 1-D from moving forward.