Clown Days
I. Opening Act
The shoppers of the Sakura Supermarket in downtown Kyoto were forced to sit in a circle around the villainous inventor. Police cars surrounded the supermart. Recyclon, wearing his signature green cape, hard helmet, and garbage bin armor, stood amidst piles of discarded plastic bottles, bags, and other packaging. His hands are outstretched as if in communion with the trash.
Villain Name:「Recyclon」
Quirk:「Convert」
Type: Emitter
Description: Substitute organic materials for any inorganic materials he can visualize. The rarer the material, the harder the upkeep! Ever want to make a supercomputer using only banana peels?
"Citizens of Kyoto! I am Recyclon, your harbinger of ecological retribution! For too long, you have been complicit in the destruction of our planet with your relentless consumption and mindless waste!" Recyclon's voice boomed the superstore's PA system. "You drown the earth in plastic, suffocate it with your convenience! Does a single orange really need three plastic coverings?" He punctuated his words by blasting a parking meter through the supermarket's windows. "Eight million tons of plastic poison our oceans each year!"
Popsy and her team of young heroes burst through the entrance. "Is that so grumpy?" Popsy taunted, twirling a rubber chicken. "Well, your hot air is polluting the place if you ask me!".
The inventor swung towards her, organic raygun leveled.
"Silence, you biological pollutant! My demands will be met! The Sakura Mart chain shall pay for their hubris! Try as you might, my energy barriers were made to withstand Endeavor himself! You cannot stop me!"
He turned back to lecturing the hostages. "But what we can stop is the disastrous tipping point of our planet! Every minute, one million plastic bottles are bought worldwide, And less than 10% of that plastic is recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, in our oceans, in the very air we breathe. We must rid the world of plastic forever. It is a world-class disaster!"
Popsy opened her mouth to respond, but the words caught in her throat as the supermarket's PA crackled with another voice. "Maybe you should do some research before making such ludicrous claims," Hoge's monotone voice filled the air. "Plastics require a fraction of the energy to produce compared to alternatives like glass or metal.
"What?" Recyclor spun wildly, struggling to regain control of the PA system. "Who dares-"
"We'd need over thirty times more land if we used recycled packages instead of using lightweight plastic containers," Hoge continued. "Not to mention the reduced carbon emissions from transportation. Plastic packaging reduces food waste, which accounts for 6% of global greenhouse emissions each year."
"No! She lies!" Recyclor's energy field flickered and pulsed as he grew more incensed.
"Now's our chance!" Popsy yelled! "While he's distracted!"
<"You got it!"> < "Gigan! CRUSH!"> Sally and Inigo concentrated their firepower, blasting a hole in Recyclor's defenses.
< "Here we go!"> < "Our turn.."> Yui and Chihiro rushed through to free the hostages.
Popsy charged the eco-villain, silly string billowing behind her. Recyclon snarled. "Hold it, Popsy! I'll blast you into-!"
"SILLY STRING DROPKICK!"
Popsy's boot connected solidly with Recyclor's chest sending him crashing into the baby aisle in an explosion of jarred foods and diaper boxes. He landed in an undignified heap, dazed and groaning. As the police swarmed in to slap on the quirk-suppression collars, Popsy brushed a few crumbs from her lapel with a self-satisfied grin. "That's a wrap, folks!"
The Next Morning
"You see this? Outrageous!" Akagi sputtered. "I protect children, not endanger them!" Before any of the interns in her living room could speak, Akagi cut them off. "Now don't y'all feel sorry for me! Go break mailboxes, rollerskate, play tamagochi or whatever it is kids do to recharge these days. The last thing I need is someone calling me out for keeping ya here all week. Child labor laws still exist. Just get back here on Monday. Remember we got Osaka on Wednesday," She waved a dismissive hand.
"Huh? You got it!," Inigo responded with a cheer. "Any plans, Popsy-domo?"
Akagi paused. A sly grin crept across her face. "Well, with the media circus out there, I'm gonna stay here and win us some souvenir money."
"Senpatchi-sensei..." Hoge began.
"It's my own money!" Akagi said defensively, as she plopped herself in front of the television and turned it on.
"Shall we go together?" Inigo asked gently as Gigan brought them their bags.
"Hai," Hoge replied, taking his arm. Her fingers laced with his.
"Oooh. See you two on Monday," Popsy said with a knowing smirk. She had given up on separating the two. A knock at the balcony door made them all turn. Sally looked up brightly from her phone as the door swung open. "Noah's here! I gotta go!"
"Hello, thank you for taking care of Sally. It's good to meet you, Popsy-san," Noah said formally.
"Hey bro! Is your arm good?" Inigo asked with a hint of his usual energy.
"Yes, we are blessed to have received so much aid. Sally and Noah are going for another check-up with The Doctor today."
"I'm ready, but you shouldn't have flown all the way here!" Sally said. Noah scooped her up, cradling her. "Noah's wings have fully recovered." She nestled her head into the crook of his shoulder with a contented sigh.
"So it's you two, huh?" Popsy frowned. "Something funny's going on here."
Before she could continue her teasing, the doorbell rang. Yui practically leaped to her feet to answer it, eager for any distraction. She swung the door open to reveal Suzuki Nene, who immediately pulled the surprised girl into an enthusiastic hug.
"Nene! I haven't seen you in forever. You know, you could have warned me sooner," Yui mumbled, even as she clung a bit tighter.
"What's the fun in that?" Nene grinned, her hand lingering to take Yui's hand. "Oh, and you've met my little cousin, right?"
Fuhaya Koukoka from Class 1-E popped up from behind Nene with a cheerful wave. "Hiya, I heard Kaga-kun was interning here. So I wanted to tag along. Hello, Nyoro-chan! Mitsurugi-san!"
"Ohayo!"
"Ohayo , Kou-chan."
Kaga rose stiffly and made his way over to Koukoka. "I- uh...I accept the invitation, Fuhaya-san! Please take care of me today!" He bowed.
"A picnic for four then...or six?" Nene declared, raising a picnic blanket and winking. "Myoga, you coming?" The blonde boy shook his head. "Nah, I got plans, senpai!"
Popsy’s suspicious eyes swept over the room again, landing on the various pairs.
"You kids sure move fast," she said with a hint of a smirk. “I remember when I was your age, relationships didn’t form so easily. It was more like pulling teeth. Hey, don't look at me like that! I don't much care. Just feels a little lonely is all."
"I'm still here, sensei."
"Oh! Mitsurugi!" Popsy sat up straighter. "Alright, Chihiro-chan and I will be right here watching wrestling all night! No couples allowed."
The room began to buzz with activity as the couples said farewell and started for the door. Inigo took a moment to stretch. Sally and Noah were already off, Noah carrying Sally like she weighed nothing as he lifted off into the sky. Kaga and Koukoka followed, the poor boy getting dragged forward by the catgirl. Nene and Yui trailed behind, Nene still holding Yui’s hand and chatting animatedly. Popsy watched them leave, her eyes narrowing. “You kids have fun! And remember, no funny business!” She wagged a finger at them, then turned back to Chihiro with a grin. “Just you and me, kiddo. Let’s see if these wrestlers can give us a good show. You wanna help me make some bets?”
Inigo and Hoge stepped out of the apartment, the door closing behind them with a soft click. The rain had stopped, leaving the air cool. She leaned into him as they walked, fingers intertwined. They made their way to the train station with Gigan hopping happily into puddles just ahead of them.
"What's up, Coru-chan?" Inigo asked. A gentle touch on her arm snapped Hoge from her reverie. His eyes met hers and the corners crinkled in a smile. Hoge felt her chest tighten and quickly averted her gaze.
"You’ve been quiet today. More than usual, I mean."
Her quirk buzzed with building unease, blurring her edges. She knew he could read her too well. "I received this last night. It's...highly unusual for them to contact me like this." Pulling out her phone, she reluctantly showed him an email from her parents.
He scanned the screen. It was a fancy invitation to a company ball, which doubled as a father-daughter dance. The email had a note attached with details. It was in Osaka.
"Huh? Hey, I didn't know your pops worked at Agency 360."
"The company was acquired two years back." She clearly remembered how her father had bragged about it at dinner. She took a deep breath in, her voice coming out in rapid fire and sharp changing tones like a deflating balloon. "Ini...I shouldn't reply, right? There is a high chance this was sent by mistake. A software error. A clumsy secretary. A terrible prank. What does father-daughter dance entail? And in the middle of our internship too. After ignoring me for so long... It's all too soon, too fast, too strange, and-"
"Hey! hey!" Strong arms enveloped her as a dripping Gigan swirled protectively around them both. "Shh, it's okay, Breathe," he murmured soothingly. "You can just ignore it, right? It should be fine. I ignore my family all the time."
"It's not okay! After years of prolonged negligence, not responding holds its implicit meanings and consequences--" She cut herself off, realizing her spiraling speech pattern was intensifying again. Frustration and embarrassment colored her cheeks. With a muffled breath, she turned her face into Inigo's jacket. He blinked in surprise and heard a faint buzzing. He somehow knew she was screaming into his chest, her quirk muffling her more than the Italian-made micro-fabric. He patted her back gently, feeling a wetness through his shirt.
"Remember what I said," he murmured. "I'll always take care of you. Whatever you decide to do." Somehow, he knew she would obsess over this. Hoge was a relatively objective thinker at such a young age, but she had a few qualities that continually dogged her. For one, curiosity; and for another, a hunger for knowledge. And then there was her budding sense of justice.
After several deep breaths, Hoge pulled back enough to meet his gaze. Her eyes were red but cleared of the wild emotion from moments before. "You're correct. And I'm...being irrational." She managed a small smile. "Thank you, Ini."
Returning her smile, he reached out to gently brush away the dampness on her cheeks. "No sweat, babe. We'll figure this out together. Now, c'mon, let's get you something sugary. My treat. We survived another week of Popsy!"
A brief release of tension is shown in the slight sagging of Hoge's shoulders. "Yes, I'd like that."
II. Thanks A Latte
Inigo and Hoge strolled through the park, each holding an ice cream cone as the warm afternoon sun filtered through the buildings. They spotted the Thanks A Latte up ahead. "You sure you don't want to come in and see Chris? You can brag about your three interviews," He gave her a sly grin. "He's only managed one so far, bet that'll make you feel better." Hoge considered the idea briefly. "I should get home. I have things to do." Her excuse felt flimsy, but Inigo didn't push it. As they reached the cafe entrance, he stopped and turned to face her. Looking around surreptitiously, he pulled her into a tight embrace.
"If you need me, I'm only a call away," he murmured against her hair.
"You do not have to worry. I will see you on Monday."
"...So anyway, the giant moths were rampaging, and it was chaos," Inigo said, gesturing animatedly with his milk tea boba in hand. The chimes of the Thanks A Latte rang softly around Inigo and Christopher as a pack of customers came in.
Across the table, Chris leaned forward. "How did you get them to turn back?"
"We washed off the gas quirk controlling them," Inigo smirked. "But seriously, I couldn't have done it without Hoge's genius."
Chris shook his head as Inigo paused to drink. "You drinking that liquid nightmare again?"
"Hey! This is just tea. But I did order "Yui's drink" twice," Inigo admitted, grinning as he noticed Helene Lysingen, the café's proprietor, glaring at him from behind the counter. "Yeah, she wasn't happy," he noted.
"So, where's the drink?" Chris looked around like it might ambush them.
"Dunno. Got the wrong drinks," Inigo shrugged just as the chimes behind them rang. An Oyster-headed man hurriedly picked up his pack of drinks. His mistake was missing Inigo entirely.
"Why do you always—never mind. Take a look at this." Chris held out a video from his phone.
"Dude, is that the koreans in a soda commercial? Seems fitting."
"Faith said one of the executives saw them hanging out- and it just clicked."
"They're gonna be famous! How come there's only four of them?"
"Edith got a fracture."
"Ouch. Did you hear Ashleigh caught some bad guys with Slipstream? She's getting popular. The fans are calling their duo "Sweepstream!". So Imai got jealous and now he's pushing Seiryu for a cross-agency mission."
"Where do you hear this stuff?"
"Bro, good tea just come to me. So, what happened with you?" Inigo's tone turned concerned. "Bobby said you were on a classified mission with Impakt and you did a sentai pose without me! You're lucky I'm not the jealous type."
"Well..." Chris hesitated, unsure how much Inigo knew. Had Hifumi and Bobby told him anything? Due to the private nature of the mission, they were told not to say anything. Ryusei and Impakt had been very clear. "Yeah, it was-"
"You don't have to tell me. It's private, right?"
"Yeah."
They paused to stare out the window.
"Whatever it was. I'm just glad you didn't end up in the hospital again," Inigo interrupted, feigning ignorance.
"Yeah, thanks," Chris said conceding.
For some reason, sitting there, Inigo felt a gap between himself and his best friend expanding. Chris was still hiding his quirk. He was still hiding himself and his involvement with the Five. And neither one of them wanted to stray near the topic. Trying to steer back into safer waters, Chris asked, "So Kaylee and Shinkan are in a dinosaur park with Saurus?"
"Yup," Inigo replied, glad for the subject change. "We have to go too. We can take the girls!"
Inigo stepped out of Thanks A Latte and into the cool evening air. His weekly cafe meet-up with Christopher is over. He absently stroked Gigan on his shoulder and leaned against a wall. A familiar black car pulled up beside him. He looked around as the tinted window rolled down.
"Hello young master," the driver said with a respectful nod. "It's good to see you well."
Inigo managed a tight smile, his earlier fire dimming. "Good to see you too, Shoji-san." He stared at the idling car for a long moment before sliding into the leather interior. He'll have to deal with Chris, and the Five later. His brother Sato was waiting for him.
III. Popsy's Apartment
Sunday Evening
Inigo dragged his feet as he climbed up to Popsy's apartment building. He had just come from his training sessions with his eldest brother Sato, which left him low-spirited and exhausted. For some reason, Sato was pleased that Gigan's power was wildly fluctuating. Gigan mewed an apology from his shoulder. The dragon nearly killed one of the men training him. "It's alright, buddy. I know you're trying." Inigo's hand shook. His quirk was at the point where flying was risky.
He sighed and eyed his unread text messages to Hoge. She wasn't home when he checked, just a sticky note with overly curved kanji saying she's out and not to look for her.
As he entered the apartment, he noticed how quiet it was. Chihiro and Kaga was already asleep on their futons. Huh? For some reason the television was missing. He heard the clinking of a beer bottle from the balcony. He peeked outside to see Akagi in her usual disheveled state.
"Hey kiddo," she turned, greeting him with a lopsided grin as she leaned against the railing.
"Hey, sensei. What happened to the TV."
Akagi shrugged. "Turns out it couldn't handle my stand-up routine. It died from second-hand embarrassment."
Inigo forced a smile. "Lost a bet?"
"Hey now. The unpredictable matches are the most fun! We were due for a new set anyway."
She turned around to stare at the river that flowed passed the house. The moon was half-hidden behind frowning clouds that threatened to cry. Inigo moved to join Akagi on the balcony. Out of all the things he expected to do this year. He never suspected he'd be here with his childhood idol. Certainly not when she's in comically large boxer shorts and a pizza-sauce-stained sweater.
"Thought you'd be with miss grumpypants tonight."
"She wasn't around." He leaned against the railing too."Can't sleep, Popsy-dono?"
"Yep. One of those nights. Dang it, we're out of beer."
Akagi rummaged inside a haphazardly thrown plastic bag next to her, eventually producing a purple pack of cigarettes. Inigo took one last look at his phone before putting it away. "Hey. Can I have one?"
"How old are you again?"
"Uh.. twenty?"
"Uhuh and I'm a monkey's uncle."
"C'mon, I smoke all the time!" Inigo said, slightly annoyed. "I'm old enough to fight super-powered criminals, but too young to smoke?"
"It's not my fault the rules are all loopy. Sides' you don't want this brand. It's designed it to be awful." She took a drag and coughed weakly. With her other hand, she turned the pack over. "I can't believe they put my face on this."
"Wait - is THAT 'Popsy Menthol Stix'?! They stopped producing those years ago! I was five!" Inigo stared hungrily. "I've always wanted to try it."
"Hmm.. You really want this, huh?" she asked, offering the one she was smoking.
Inigo nodded, and she fixed him with a stern gaze. "I mean, do you? You can have it. If you quit smoking. It's bad for you. When you're an adult, you can change your mind, but until then, you stop."
Inigo's shoulders slumped. "Really?," he grumbled. "You know, it's not fair for you to abuse your power like this, Popsy-dono."
Akagi raised an eyebrow. "If I'm gonna be your weird idol kid, I might as well get something out of the deal."
Inigo couldn't help but laugh. "Fine." He reached over, and took a drag. "Yeah, well...Ack! Damn. This cigarette is pretty terrible. What the heck..."
Popsy chuckled. "Yeah, it didn't sell very well." She took another stick for herself.
Inigo snickered. "I still remember the jingle. 'When you're up the creeks. Pick up - some - Popsy Menthol stix! YUM!' "
"A flippin' children's commercial?"
"Yup. Came right after Super Sentai Boy."
They both laughed, half-coughing as they took pulls from the awful cigarette.
"Damn. I was messed up but I had fun back then," Popsy reminisced, leaning back against the apartment wall. "My manager wanted to put my name on everything."
Inigo nodded. "Like Popsy-O's? You get paid for those, right?"
"I get a small check every month," Popsy replied. "I mean very small."
Inigo's expression softened as a memory resurfaced. "Hey, when I was little, my mom took me to an amusement park. There was an accident on one of the roller coasters, and you saved us. Do you remember that?"
Popsy scratched her head. "To be honest, I saved a lot of people back then. I didn't bother to count"
"Um..." Inigo hesitated. "You signed my Popsy jacket afterward. I was soaking wet."
Popsy's eyes lit up with recognition. "Ah, you were the snot-covered kid who couldn't stop crying!"
Inigo nodded, grinning. "Remember what you said?" he asked, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "Cheer up. Popsy's here to paint a smile in this situation."
"Ugh..." Popsy grimaced. "That was from my second-anniversary jamboree. They made me say it."
"But I could tell you meant it, though," he added. "The moment you appeared, everyone in the carts felt better. They even cheered! I rarely got to spend time alone with my mom. I was scared it was ruined. But after you showed up you made the day awesome!"
Akagi's expression hardened and she turned away. "Yeah, well - I'm far from that Popsy back then. Face it, I'm washed up. There's no comeback here. After this internship, I'm staying in bed for a month."
"But you got your quirk back. What about all the good we're doing?"
Akagi shrugged. "It's nice and all, but I'm doing this for you kids and cause' I promised Rosethorn. No amount of group hugs will have me start believing in fairy tales again."
Inigo's expression shifted. "Can I ask one more thing? Why aren't you angry?" he asked, his voice low and contemplative.
Popsy blinked. "What're you on about?"
'Why aren't you angry?"
"You're drunk, kid," she managed weakly, but Inigo was having none of it.
"I'm not drunk!" he shouted, fists clenched at his sides. "I'm calling you out on your bullshit! All this 'meh, whatever' crap - we both know that's a lie!"
Inigo took a step closer, hands clenched into white-knuckled fists at his sides.
"You're Popsy, one of the greatest heroes of our time," he pressed growing intensity. "The people adored you - they cheered your name from the rooftops whenever you appeared to save the day. You were their champion. A symbol of hope."
Popsy shifted uncomfortably, but Inigo's stare was utterly unwavering.
"And then, just like that..." He snapped his fingers for emphasis. "They turned on you. All those fans, all those people you fought tooth and nail to protect - they hung you out to dry over the first whisper of a scandal. They mocked you, and slandered you. So I'll ask again - why? Aren't. You. ANGRY? Because I was. I was angry all through middle school. I was angry for you."
For a long, breathless moment, Popsy could only gape at her intern. Then, recovering somewhat, she let out a strained chuckle. "Jeez, tell me how you really feel, why don'tcha?"
Inigo didn't so much as blink, his burning gaze demanding an answer.
"Why aren't you angry?"
"Look, it's not like I'm made of stone or anything," she said through a tight smile. "Sure, it stung for a while when the tides turned against me. Can't be on top forever though, you know? It happens to every hero sooner or-"
"Bullshit."
The single word lanced through Popsy's meager defenses like a lance through silk. She closed her mouth abruptly, suddenly at a loss under the scorching weight of Inigo's scrutiny.
"That's a crock and you know it," he growled, leaning impossibly closer. "I can see it in your eyes - the anger, the resentment, the bitterness over how it all fell apart. It's the same as mine..."His piercing stare bored into her. Dragging a hand down her face, Popsy seemed to age before Inigo's eyes as the weight of past traumas resurfaced.
"Fine.. You wanna know the bitter truth so bad," she said, a weary sigh escaping her lips. "I was angry. Furious. I remember nights, just sitting alone watching as my name slowly slid down the ranking charts. Hero after hero passing me by as the world turned its back." Her chuckle was bitter. "Hell, by the end I could barely show my face without getting pelted by trash and insults from the same people who once cheered me."
Inigo remained silent, his anger from moments before already dissipating into a well of empathy. Popsy's next words were so faint he had to strain to hear them.
"I was hopeless. Instead of raging back, instead of fighting and clawing my way out of that pit, I chose to fade away into obscurity where they couldn't mock me anymore. I thought I'd wait until they forgot about me. Just a couple of days.. then days turned into weeks.. weeks turned into years."
Her eyes finally lifted to meet his, shimmering. "But you...you kids refusing to give up on this washed-up has-been..." She shook her head slowly. "You don't have to get your panties in a twist. I'm not hopeless anymore. And you've shown me that I can't afford to be - not with bozos like you still looking at me." Her eyes blazed with a rekindled fire. "So maybe I made up my mind too fast. I'm done running, done hiding from the haters and the naysayers. If you brats are gonna keep carrying this burnt-out torch, then I'll be damned if I don't carry it right alongside you."
Inigo felt his throat tighten with a whirlwind of emotion - pride, inspiration, affection for the very real, very broken woman behind the hero figure he worshipped. Inigo shook his head. "I spoke out of line, sensei...I'm sorry. " He trailed off, and Gigan fluttered from the apartment to land on his shoulder. "I've been out of control lately" Inigo shook his head.
"Look, you've seen ol' Popsy run up the waterworks already," Popsy said. "I'm the poster child for what happens when you hold things in. You bottle it up hard enough, and it finds a way to make it up to the surface somehow. You got your creature there going out of control still?" Popsy asked, nodding towards Gigan.
Inigo sighed. "Yeah, he was fine before the exams, but now it's like... Normally when I overdo it, I get this exhaustion that's not quite tiredness. It's like it drains all my creativity, nulls my mind."
"That there's rot," Popsy said.
"Yeah! That's it," Inigo exclaimed. "When I overuse Gigan, I start rotting. But now, there's this other pool of energy just beyond what I can reach. It's not just a pool; it's a vast ocean. And when I over it, it pours out, it's hard to control Gigan. He goes beyond what I'm trained."
Popsy nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm, follow me." She bounced down the apartment's fire escape.
Inigo looked at her quizzically. "Huh? Where are we going?"
"Beer run! But first, we're stopping to fix your quirk!"
IV. Endor Municipal Park
The sun had long since set over Kyoto, the vibrant hues of dusk giving way to the inky darkness of night. On the east side of Kyoto, nestled beyond the traditional buildings and bustling stores, lay an unassuming children's park. The tourists in the past few months had not been kind to the place and it was covered in litter. It was here that Popsy had chosen to conduct her training session with Inigo.
"Welcome to my secret training ground slash drinking spot. Used to come here with Rika, Ami, and Ryusei all the time," Popsy exclaimed.
Inigo arched an eyebrow. "Wait Rosethorn-sensei was here?"
"Yup! See that tag over that. That's all her!"
Inigo spotted a row of rose petal graffiti marking one of the walls. Gigan fluttered over to stare. "Whoa. She was a delinquent? Wait till Yui sees this."
Popsy grinned as she hopped close "Before we get to the nitty-gritty, I want to share a little story with you," she began, her voice taking on a wistful tone.
"When I first manifested my quirk, 'Funny Business,' it was like a wild beast that I couldn't tame," Popsy explained, her eyes glazing over with memories. "One moment, I'd be a regular kid, and the next, I'd be surrounded by a flurry of rubber chickens and whoopee cushions. Imagine the potty humor of a circus brat." She chuckled at the recollection. "It wasn't until my pops started training me that I learned to channel that energy into something more controlled," she continued. "He taught me that my quirk wasn't a curse, but a gift – one that could bring joy and laughter to the world if I learned to wield it properly."
Inigo nodded, hanging on to every word.
"And that's what I want to help you with," Popsy said, her gaze locking with his. She snapped her fingers and a tiny burst of confetti exploded from her palm. "Wasn't always so lightweight and festive. I nearly took out my whole school with falling anvils and dynamite sticks!" She shook her head ruefully. "Took years of focus to learn how to create silly string instead of demolition balls."
Inigo considered this as Gigan swirled apprehensively around him. "So how did you finally get a handle on it?"
"There are two key things ya need to understand." Popsy began. "First. Your quirk's not an ocean - it's fire! Dangerous and all-consuming if you can't maintain discipline." Popsy explained. "You're not releasing it. You're feeding it. You don't dump fuel straight into the flame. It's a controlled burst over a wide area. Sort of like a controlled burn rather than an out-of-control blaze, y'know?"
Inigo's eyes widened in realization and he looked around at the spacious playground. "Yeah.. I think so. I can get Gigan to spread his mass over a bigger space rather than condensing in one form... "
Popsy grinned and slapped him encouragingly on the back. "Now you're cooking with gas, kiddo! Now let's get that wild inferno of yours turned into a nice campfire and see if we can't roast a few s'mores by morning!"
"What's the second thing?"
"Oh yeah! The second thing is you gotta have an 'anchor'. Quirks like ours, the uncontrollable ones, you need a way to sort all that angst and thoughts in your head. Now mine was the clown hero: Patchy. Pick something that sticks in your head."
Inigo instantly knew his anchor. The one thing that's kept him steady this whole time.
"I got it."
He planted his feet firmly and took a deep centering breath. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on the thrumming power of his quirk circulating through his body like fire. He slowly raised his palms forward, feeling the searing energy collect there.
"Good! Don't try forcing it all out at once like you're feeding your creature," Popsy advised from behind him. "Imagine you're calming those raging flames, guiding them outward in a gentle tide rather than an explosion."
Nodding tensely, Inigo focused on that image. He pictured Gigan as a bonfire, himself stoking and coaxing the flames into wide, flat burn rather than leaping inferno. He imagined an expanding wildfire in a circle. Sweat beaded on his brow from the mental strain. The quirk pulsed and trembled in his hands, desperate to burst free.
"Easy does it," Popsy encouraged. "Nice and steady wins the race."
Inigo let out a slow exhale, fighting to stay centered. Suddenly, smooth emerald tendrils snaked from his palms, unfurling onto the grass in front of him. Inigo's eyes snapped open in surprise, but he refused to lose focus. Gigan's energy spread in a perfect circle, slithering further outward.
"Stay with it! You're doing great!" Popsy cheered. "Don't let that fire go out!"
Gritting his teeth, Inigo struggled to control. The glowing green circle continued rippling further across the park until it spanned nearly fifteen feet in diameter. Suddenly, the peaceful aura shattered as angry spines burst chaotically from the surface.
"Crap!" Inigo hissed in dismay. The flailing emerald limbs flung wildly in every direction as his concentration slipped. Gigan morphed back into his full dragon form with a distressed squawk.
"Don't get discouraged!" Popsy shouted over the commotion, easily dodging whipping tendrils. "I could practically smell the marshmallows!"
Inigo drooped, panting heavily. "I don't know if I can..."
"Sure you can!" Popsy winked and pulled out a 6-pack of beer from her pack. She sat back on a park bench. "The night's young! And I'll be here to watch ya since our TV's gone and all."
He heard the fizz of a beer can opening.
The blonde boy smirked. All his life, he's been watching Popsy. Now she was watching him. He placed both palms on the ground and began channeling again, eyes blazing. "I'm gonna need one of those when I'm done, Popsy-dono!"
"Better hurry then!"
V. Sugiyama Dojo
"I did it..." Inigo said as he slumped to the ground. He stared at the glowing emerald disk that expanded from his palm to engulf the entire playground. But this time, instead of erupting into chaos, it became an unbroken, seamless field.
Akagi clapped. "I was startin' to doubt myself there. Looks like Popsy bet on the right horse."
Smiling weakly, Inigo's chest tightened. Gigan had continued radiating outward, reshaping the entire park into a surreal, neon landscape. Emerald statues and stylized structures dotted the dreamlike environment. It was like they'd stepped into another dimension. The centerpiece was a towering, almost reverent bust of Nyoro Hoge, smiling down from twenty feet up.
"Holy mitosis, would you look at that," Popsy whistled. "Guess we know what your anchor is. You got a name for the move yet?"
"Not yet I'll think of something cool.." Inigo closed his eyes, utterly drained. "Can I have that drink now?" he asked weakly.
"Nope, all out," Popsy replied casually. Inigo felt the last remnants of his energy fading as unconsciousness beckoned. His eyes slid shut and he began tilting sideways until a pair of strong arms caught him. "Whoa there, party animal! You did good but that's enough fireworks for one night."
When Inigo's eyes fluttered open again, he found himself being carried piggyback by Popsy as they exited the park.
"We're gonna have to stop by the store," she told him matter-of-factly. "You got any money? I'm all out."
"Ye-yeah, I think so..." Inigo managed to mumble, patting his pocket weakly.
"Nice, you got a lot here. I ain't carrying you all the way home, but lucky for us, I know a friend close by."
No sooner were the words out of her mouth than a shrill voice cut through the night.
"HEY EVERYONE! IS THAT THE CLOWN HERO POPSY MUGGING A DRUNK KID'S WALLET?!"
"Oh hamburgers! We better hurry out of here!" Popsy took off at a brisk jog, Inigo bouncing on her back.
VI. Sugiyama Dojo (Evening)
The neighborhood's lights flickered ominously, casting eerie shadows that seemed to reach out toward them. He squinted into the darkness,.
"Hey... Teach. I think we're being followed," he murmured, his voice barely more than a whisper. Akagi's eyes narrowed, her grip tightening on his arm.
"Yeah, no kidding. They've been on us for five minutes."
"What do you wanna do?" Inigo asked, struggling to keep his eyes open. Gigan's egg cracked and a draconic eye peered out.
"Well, you're not exactly in any condition to fight. Good thing we're almost there."
They quickened their pace, turning into a narrow alley that led to a dojo. Akagi knocked on the old, weather-beaten door. It creaked open, revealing a man dressed in a traditional yukata, a dark blue robe cinched with a simple obi.
"Ryusei! There ya are, buuuuud."
"Sanpatchi-dono. Drunk already?" Ryusei's eyes blinked in recognition.
"Who isn't? I brought ya food and drink but I dragged in something else. Ya don't mind, right? I'm in a bit of a pickle," Akagi said, her voice urgent.
Ryusei's eyes flicked to Inigo, who leaned heavily against the doorframe, then back to Akagi, who carried a half-filled conbini bag. Without a word, he whistled, and a dog trotted over, carrying a sword in its mouth. Inigo’s head spun, and he felt himself swaying. He shook his head, trying to stay focused. Just as Ryusei took the sword, Inigo's attention was drawn to the windows. Shadows flitted outside, growing larger and more menacing.
All of a sudden the glass shattered. Inigo's eyes widened as three figures in a black gi, half-man, half-raven, burst through the broken panes. Their feathered arms gleamed with sharp, deadly blades. He tried to shout a warning, but his voice caught in his throat. But the pros had already noticed, Akagi moved in a blur, shoving him aside. The room erupted into chaos.
Ryusei moved quickly, his sword slicing through the air. Smoke billowed around him, obscuring his movements. One of the bird-men lunged, but Ryusei sidestepped, his blade ripped into feathers and flesh. Popsy stood in front of him. She was laughing brazenly in the way only a drunk could. "HA-HA-HAhaha! Bird assassins!? BIRD ASSASSINS!" Her body turned rubbery to deflect a stab. "Does your master pay you in bird seeds? Keep ya in a cage until it's time to 'take care of business'? Is there a ninja bird bath?"
SQUAACK!
To Inigo, the room became a blur of feathers, smoke, and vivid colors. Despite his exhaustion, he managed to transform Gigan into a spear. He stood, legs wobbly, and blocked an incoming attack with a desperate lunge. The impact jarred him. The raven leaped to strike, both blades held high. It was too fast to dodge.
But then Popsy was there. "Ayy! You were fighting me! It's rude to switch comedians mid-set. You miss out on the punchline!" Popsy reared back a rubbery fist. It expanded and connected hard with the airborne raven's chin.
Clown Cannon Haymaker!
"Assassins are after you now?" Ryusei called out, dodging a feathered blade aimed at his head.
Akagi ducked under a swipe and countered with a pie to the face. The blinded assassin stumbled only to step on a rake, causing the hilt to smack it in the face. "Hahaha! Don't ya know, I'm getting popular again! But guess who sent the party poopers!?"
Ryusei frowned, slashing at a mutant's wing. "Tatarimoke is back?"
"Ding ding! This has his manicured talons all over it," Akagi confirmed, delivering a rubber clothesline strike to a mutant.
The bird mutants regrouped, their beady eyes gleaming with malicious intent. One screeched, launching a flurry of feather daggers. Ryusei spun his sword, deflecting the projectiles in a whirlwind of steel and smoke.
"Just like old times, huh?" Ryusei said, sidestepping another attack.
"Yeah, except now we have kids to worry about!" Akagi retorted, her voice breathless but steady.
Two of the mutants lunged at Inigo again. He raised his spear, and with a burst of effort, a construct slammed into the first. But the second mutant's talons raked his arm, drawing blood. He cried out, staggering back. Akagi's eyes flashed with anger. She grabbed the mutant by its wing and slammed it into the wall. "Hands off the intern!" she growled. Inigo, leaning heavily on his spear, looked at Akagi and smiled. "Thanks, Pop-sy... " he closed his eyes and gave in to the exhaustion. Akagi smiled, a rare softness in her eyes. "Leave the rest to ole' Popsy, kid."
With a final, coordinated effort, Popsy and Ryusei pushed back the mutants. The last remaining enemies screeched in anger and fear. They grabbed their fallen comrades, and flew out of the shattered windows, disappearing into the night. The room fell silent, except for the heavy breathing of the two defenders. Feather daggers and broken furniture littered the floor. Ryusei sheathed his sword and made his way to Christopher's room. "Christopher! You okay?" Inigo and Akagi followed him to see a young man sprawled on a futon, snoring softly. Flowing around Chris was the swirling draconic form of his construct. Hitomi had guarded him during the attack.
"Do we go after them?" Ryusei asked.
"No, this was a warning," Akagi said, holding out a scroll the assassins left behind.
"What now?"
"Now we report this in and drink in peace." The clown hero grinned and picked up the conbini bags. "I'll leave the paperwork to ya!"
VII. Sugiyama Dojo (Morning)
Morning sunlight streamed into the west-most room of the Sugiyama Dojo. And the pitter-patter of two sets of dragon feet made noise on the rooftop.
"G'morning dude. You were out cold," Inigo said with a wink as Christopher's eyes fluttered open. "Good morn- What the--?" Chris jolted upright, taking in the blonde-haired boy's form in his dojo room. "Why are you here, dude? You here to steal breakfast ingredients?"
Inigo chuckled, running a hand through his messy blond hair. "Relax, bro. Popsy must've brought me here to crash after our training last night. Looks like they stuffed me in here with you." Christopher visibly relaxed, though a crease remained in his brow. "Oh, right. It's just you?" He sat up and checked his phone. 6:50 am.
"Yeah, just me - the others are back at the apartment."
An uneasy silence settled between them as they started to fix their bedding. Inigo rolled away from the futon and met Christopher's eyes with an uncharacteristically serious expression.
"Hey bro... I uh-"
"I need to tell you something-" They paused, having spoken at the same time.
"Is it about your quirk? I mean- I know you have my quirk, bro"
Christopher tensed. "Did Gigan tell you about Hitomi?"
"Dude, dragon-sis has a name? And no. I knew from the way you were acting," Inigo admitted with a grin. "Sucks to suck. I know you too well, man."
"I wasn't planning on hiding it forever," Christopher's shoulders slumped as he let out a heavy sigh. He dropped his gaze to his lap, fiddling idly with a loose thread on the futon's cover.
"Bro, I get why it's a secret, but you don't have to hide it from me, man. I'm your friend, remember?"
"I know, I just...I didn't want to forget," he murmured, finally meeting Inigo's eyes again. "But I promise, I have it under control."
Inigo reached out to place a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder. "I trust you, bro. We're in this together. And if Dragon-sis helps you discover a new part of yourself, that's good too. I just don't want you questioning yourself like I did."
A grateful smile tugged at the corners of Christopher's lips. "Okay. And you know, your quirk urges you to do good. It's not the reason you're a good guy."
"Yeah, Hijack sensei kinda helped me understand that. Also, I'm a great guy!" He grinned. "Besides' you lucked out too. Chicks love emotional guys. Just wait til the effect sticks and you start writing poetry."
"Too late for that one. Don't check my notes app."
"It's that bad, huh?"
"Yup."
"Glad to have you back, bro." He offered his fist, and the younger boy bumped it.
He was about to explain that The Boys had an entire secret poetry book but the moment was abruptly shattered by a thunderous snoring sound drifting in from the next room. Exchanging curious glances, the two boys rose and peeked inside, only to be greeted by a mess that only two long-time drinking buddies could create in one night. Akagi and Ryusei were passed out in opposite corners, leaning heavily against the walls with their heads lolled back at unflattering angles. Scattered around them were empty beer cans, along with several take-out containers. Nestled comfortably amid the squalor lay Anko, the dog splayed out across both Popsy and Ryusei's laps as if they were his recliners. His tail thumped contentedly against the floor with each window-rattling snore.
"They grow up so fast..." Inigo mused, shaking his head.
"Should we wake them?" Christopher asked.
Inigo waved a dismissive hand. "Nah, let them sleep it off. Do you think they...you know..." He bobbed his eyebrows meaningfully.
Christopher snorted, quickly stifling a laugh. "With us here? No way."
"You're right, good point," Inigo conceded, though his expression turned pensive a moment later as he met Christopher's gaze once more. "Hey, listen... about Desolator. I'm glad a part of me was with you when you took him on again..."
"Did Bobby and Hifumi tell you?"
"No. I have other ways of getting info.. You know I do. It's just-"
"You don't have to explain yourself to me, man. I get it, we all have our secrets."
Inigo shook his head adamantly, his jaw set in a firm line. "No, I want to tell you the truth." He paused, steeling himself with a deep breath. "The junkyard that Desolator attacked...it belonged to my family. I'm not Inigo Myoga. I'm Inigo Daiichi...my brothers are villains because my family's yakuza. "
Christopher took a step back, the weight of Inigo's words washed over him. "Daiichi? As in...the crime family?" The younger boy had researched reasons why the Horrific Five could be in Japan. The Five had been involved with Daiichi Ikka in the past, though there was little information on the subject.
"My brothers aren't just villains, it's my whole family," Inigo confirmed with a grim nod, unable to meet Christopher's stunned gaze. "I'm probably one too, I don't know anymore." The words hung heavy in the air as Christopher struggled to process the information about his closest friend. After a tense moment that stretched on, he spoke up again, his voice low.
"All this time...and you've been hiding this?"
Inigo finally looked up. "Yeah, but I want things to clear between us. I need you to trust me, Chris. I'll never let anything bad happen to you or the others. The school, everyone, you're my real family."
Christopher held his stare for a long, searching moment before slowly cracking a smile and jabbing Inigo's shoulder. "I know that, idiot."
Inigo straightened up but still looked low.
Christopher turned his head to spot two dragons floating towards them from the hallway. Hitomi and Gigan stared at the two boys with concern.
"Hey, you wanna see something cool?"
"Huh?" Inigo blinked. Without waiting for a response, Chris turned and took Inigo's hand. He led the way out to the dojo's spacious backyard, which was surrounded by bamboo walls on three sides except for a path that led to an open rice patty field. Chris paused and tilted his head back, calling out in an echoing voice.
"Hitomi, Commander mode!"
In a swirl of dark energy, Chris' borrowed construct materialized in front of him and split into countless pieces. Before them, the once-empty area slowly transformed into a tiny futuristic battlefield, replete with armies of robotic drones hovering in formation.
Inigo's face flashed with a delighted grin. "Bro, is that -- Supreme Commander? The old game you've been bugging me to play?"
Christopher matched his smile, eyes shining. "You know it! Check it out." With a sweep of his arm, ranks of sleek, deadly-looking mechs materialized across the field, splitting into ranks. Their weapons bristled as laser targeting systems locked on. Accompanying them were heavy tanks, mobile artillery platforms, and a fleet of planes that immediately took to the air. Bringing up the rear were lumbering megabots.
"Okay okay. Pretty sweet, but I'm jumping in! Mecha Core Z, baby!" Inigo crowed, he splayed his hand on the other side of the mini-battle field and a single green mech unit appeared. A towering mechanical form, bristling with armor plating, razor-sharp claws, and glowing optics. A pair of rocket boosters unfurled from its back as it rose to its full, imposing height "Come at me with your army!"
And just like that, the weight of their secrets fell away as the two friends engaged in an epic clash of imaginary forces, cheering and shouting commands as their creations traded pulse cannon blasts, railgun slugs, and missile salvos. For that brief, shining moment, they were simply two boys at play, reveling in the magic of their shared quirk and the bond between them.
An hour passed, spent from their grand battle, Inigo and Christopher settled on the dojo's porch. They sipped coffee from the block's vending machine, as they watched flakes of snow fall on the field. Both Gigan and Hitomi were curled up on their laps. The silence was shattered by the shrill ringing of the doorbell. Exchanging glances, they rose to answer the door, only to be greeted by the familiar faces of Hoge, Yui, Sally, and Chihiro waiting on the front step.
"Hey, what's up guys? G'morning Coru-chan!" Inigo cheered.
"Konichiwa," Chihiro added with a small, shy nod.
Hoge simply arched one slim eyebrow, looking entirely unsurprised to find them there as she commented dryly, "Told you they'd be here."
"Nice place!" Yui chirped, a bright grin splitting her face.
"There better be breakfast!" Sally demanded, planting her hands firmly on her hips.
Inigo chuckled. "Nope, haven't started cooking yet. We have food, right?"
Chris shook his head. "Not unless you're okay with ramen noodles. And what's with all the bags?"
"Nyoro found a bug, and she's having the apartment fumigated," Sally explained with a dramatic roll of her eyes.
Hoge grimaced. "It was awful. It had to be taken care of."
"It was just a spider!" Yui protested.
"Did anyone remember to tell Kaga?" Sally asked.
Chihiro stepped forward, eyeing the unfamiliar dojo and sign by the door skeptically. "We'll be staying here until the place is clean. If that's alright with the dojo's master?"
Before Christopher could respond, Ryusei appeared behind them with a jaw-cracking yawn, running a hand through his unruly hair. "That's fine, the more the merrier, right Akagi-san?"
From deeper inside, Popsy's groggy voice drifted out. "Five more minutes...why is everyone so loud...gah..."
Ryusei chuckled, shaking his head in amusement before turning back to the group. "We'll have to clean out some of the spare rooms. You got this, Cain?"
Christopher groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Great, more cleaning..." Inigo just grinned, grabbing his friend by the shoulders with sudden energy. "No worries! There's nothing two dragons can't accomplish! C'mon, right in!"
As the girls filtered inside. Inigo and Christopher shared one final look - a look that spoke volumes without words. "Alright, before we clean - let's get to cooking, breakfast!" Inigo declared, slinging an arm around Christopher's shoulders. "I'm thinking a breakfast fit for heroes. What do you say, bro?"
Christopher rolled his eyes good-naturedly, but couldn't hide his smile. "I say you're buying the ingredients."
"Buying? Nah!" Inigo flew up with the morning breeze, taking Chris with him. Hitomi doing her best to push the boy into the sky. "We're stealing eggs from Impakt! Let's go!"
ED / Credits:
Shiketsu ED 0.6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OINkMCPcOMM
Bonus Art
