1,865Delrosario: I haven't actually watched Dexter, so it took me a while to get that reference.
BurgerTriesToRead: Glad to hear it! Hope I don't disappoint!
Guest: Santana is reaching worldwide popularity, particularly after his actions during Kars' massacre. Many are starting to view him as a hero.
As for Mirio...I'm not sure, probably during the first war like in canon.
BreadConnoisseur: I considered that, but I figured the Greek versions were more recognizable.
Kasumi Kenshiro: Damashi has a good reason, even if it is misplaced.
Bearticguy07: Looks great! Can't wait to use it!
Izuku's Journal:
In retrospect...the Everest Incident was the beginning of the end. Kickstarted by DIO's Calamity, the winds of Fate were changing, and a brutal war was looming on the horizon...but this journey to the Himalayas was really the first sign of things to come.
All Might's actions were taking a heavy toll on everyone back home, particularly Kacchan and I. Mr. Joestar's existential crisis was being brought to the forefront despite his attempts to push it down for our sake, and the battle for the meteorite was about to take a drastic turn, brought on by "Damashi."
Had I known back then, what was going to happen over there...maybe I could've been more prepared? Maybe we could have braced ourselves for the storm...
...because it was just as Shizuka said, the winds were changing. The storm was just on the horizon…because things were heating up at home too.
"One large coffee, please."
The barista lazily turned her head around, looking Kaina Tsutsumi up and down. "How would you like it?"
"Black."
"You good? You look like you have seen Hell." The barista tilted her head, her boredom turning into concern.
"You don't know the half of it." Kaina replied, knowing full well she wasn't exactly in perfect health. Being outside of Tartarus' walls after so long...it left her with a rude awakening. Things had changed...but only slightly, not nearly enough for her to be able to sleep at night. The HPSC wasn't as crooked as it was when she was a part of it, but it was still a collection of insufferable bureaucrats that prioritized keeping "order" over doing the right thing.
Seeing that things weren't nearly different enough...it reminded her that SHE was not different enough. She had foolishly jumped at the chance to escape Tartarus, despite knowing she deserved to be there. What would she do now? Bring society to its knees by revealing the truth? Prove the HPSC right?
She had been so desperate to be free...she almost forgot about the blood on her hands. Yet now that the dust had settled, it was all she could think about. It was shameful that she even considered attempting to live her life after ending so many others.
That was mostly why she hadn't talked to Jotaro as of late. She was far from ungrateful, but frankly...he had stuck his neck out just by talking to her. If the HPSC found out about their friendship, it would spell disaster for the Joestar Family...and she wasn't worth the risk.
'Sorry JoJo...I'm sure you're worried...but your family has suffered enough.' Kaina thought as she sat down, coffee in hand. 'I refuse to add onto that. I'd be nothing more than a burden, all the blood on my hands...all of my sins, are mine alone.'
Speaking of that...she couldn't help but wonder what her bounty had risen to. She knew she definitely had one, someone with her skills and knowledge was far too dangerous to roam free for long. When she was a pro hero, there was a rumor that the former chairman (the one she killed), made use of bounty hunters and assassins outside of the HPSC's payroll. The current president banned them after Kaina was shoved into prison, but with the right connections...she was sure that there were a few HPSC agents making use of them.
Lucky for her, she had access to these. The HPSC had her browse them in case there were any hit jobs on high-profile heroes, and they hadn't changed the website at all since she was locked up.
Kaina scanned them for a while, eventually coming to the all too familiar image of her mugshot. 'I really didn't pull off the shaved head look. Well...¥142,130,000 is about right...although it looks like they're banking on the heroes catching me, otherwise the bounty would probably be higher. Considering my reputation, they-'
Her breath caught in her throat as she caught a glimpse of another bounty...and she blinked a few times, hoping that the name she just saw was just her tired eyes playing tricks on her...
It wasn't.
Johnny Kujo was listed along with several other UA students, some of the names she recognized from Jotaro's description of them. Gyro Zeppeli, Kyoka Jiro, even Izuku Midoriya...the boy she had talked to the other night. Some sick bastard wanted these kids dead, KIDS.
'There's no way this came from the HPSC, right? Last time I checked, the new president didn't seem like the type to do this...a villain or a loose end like me, yes...but JoJo's kid?'
Maybe she should call? Even though she had decided to stay out of Jotaro's life, his son was in danger, again, and she was sure that there would be some high class assassins who were itching to cut the Joestars down to size.
...but Jotaro wouldn't know how to find these people fast enough. She did.
Kaina got up from her seat, and stared at the bounties. She had a sneaking suspicion when it came to who had placed it, and if she was right...this was her fault. They already knew that Jotaro had helped her, and his kid...and all of his friends were going to pay for it. If he was still a part of the HPSC, it was inevitable that he would do this. That man was a fanatic...
'No. I can't just sit by and let this happen. I know Johnny's apparently stronger than his father...but if this is my fault, I refuse to have his blood on my conscience.'
Kaina grabbed her coffee and stormed out the door, leaving a tip on the way. As much as she hated having to kill again...her only friend's child was in the line of fire, and that was something she wouldn't stand for.
As long as that maniac at the HPSC was targeting innocent kids...there would be hell to pay.
"Are you sure this is going to work?"
A father and his two sons sat in a dingy old apartment, the sound of rainwater dripping from the dilapidated ceiling constantly assaulting their ears. It was a temporary base of operations, so it wasn't that big of a deal...besides, they had stayed in grimier places.
"If we play our cards right...that bounty will be ours." The older man assured his sons. "We've got to be smart about this though, so keep an eye on your brother."
"Hey! I can be smart!" One of the sons protested, but the father grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him in to look him in the eyes.
"Listen boy, I don't think you get it. You've blundered before, but you can't fuck things up this time! We can't afford any mistakes, because the moment we make one small error...we could face down the number one hero himself. Once he gets involved...WE. ARE. SCREWED!"
"B-but..."
"We have an opportunity of a LIFETIME here!" The father ranted, tossing his son back into the chair. "We failed to collect this bounty during the Steel Ball Run because you slept in! Well...Lady Luck has given us a second chance, and even better, the target's friends have bounties too! We could bag them all, and live easy for the rest of our lives! So no matter what you do, don't screw up!"
"Y-yes Pa..."
The older man rubbed his jaw, making a strange creaking sound, and stared out of the dirty window.
"Good...now for step one...getting in your target's head. If you were him, what would you be doing right now?"
It was no surprise that the Endeavor Agency was large. Sidekicks flocked from all over just to work with the man, mostly in an attempt to secure success in the business side of hero work, but also to try and learn from him.
Which went about as well as you'd think.
Endeavor was too fast, too efficient to keep up with for most people. Trainees were usually left in the dust before they could even assist, and those that could simply served as backup. Endeavor fought like you'd expect...like a man who was desperately trying to catch All Might. It made him a good hero in terms of technique and skill...
...but in Johnny's book, that was it.
Susan's smear campaign against the Joestars, and the revelation of her abuse...had an unintentional side effect...and that was finding a friend in Shoto Todoroki. They were actually similar in a lot of ways, both being somewhat awkward and reserved. Of course, Shoto was quiet and soft spoken as a result of his trauma, while Johnny leaned heavily into dry sarcasm...but they had recognized each other as kindred spirits regardless.
Johnny knew Shoto hadn't told him everything, he didn't expect him to. It was a sensitive subject, and Johnny had enough experience to know that prying only made it worse. Nonetheless, what he did know was enough to make him despise Endeavor...because it was all too reminiscent of his mother.
As the students made their way inside the agency, a young woman with bright flaming green hair greeted them with a smile. "Well! The Morioh kids are here!"
Before Johnny could even say anything, she already took him by the hand and began aggressively shaking it.
"Johnny Kujo! Watched the Steel Ball Run! Gotta say, I like your guts!"
"Er...hi."
"The name's Burnin', pleased to meet ya!" Endeavor's sidekick said, and Gyro could only stare at her once she completely ignored him, and gestured for the students to follow her. "Come on, Endeavor's waiting."
"So she mentions the Steel Ball Run, and doesn't even acknowledge the guy that won it?" The Italian muttered, and Johnny snorted. "What? I get that your underdog story was inspiring and all, but like...the whole 'we'll hold them back Gyro, go win this thing' was awesome too, right? Like...that should go in a documentary or something."
"I thought you weren't looking for fame." Kyoka said with a smirk.
"I'm just a little jealous, that's all." Gyro scratched his beard.
Johnny scoffed. "I fail to see why it matters, most of the stuff people know about us from the Steel Ball Run is sensationalized garbage anyway. People really seem to think of you as one of those European dreamboats from rom coms."
"Am I not?"
"You're European." Kyoka said, and Gyro shot her a look.
"I happen to be very dreamy, thank you very much!"
"Says the man who wiped his ass with poison ivy when we were on the trail." Johnny said, and Gyro flushed with angry embarrassment.
"THAT WAS ONE TIME!"
"Aaaaand that is going in my list of things to tease you about!" Kyoka said with a less than wholesome grin.
"Stop giving your girlfriend ammo!"
"We both know she'd find something else." Johnny said.
"True..." Kyoka glanced at Gyro as they were about to enter the meeting room. "It's like an itch I need to scratch."
"Questo è tutto! Lo stai chiede-"
The Italian wisely shut his mouth as the door opened, silently cursing out Kyoka for timing her barb so he wouldn't have time to respond. Endeavor looked down at the trio, and made eye contact with Johnny...before quickly breaking it with a cough.
"Welcome...you three can come in."
"Thank you, sir." Kyoka and Gyro both said, but Johnny just remained silent. He simply walked into the room, and set his bags down.
"As this is a collaboration between two agencies, it is only fair for you to learn from both." Endeavor brushed off Johnny's cold entrance, and explained what they were doing there. "I have been filled in on each of your capabilities...at least the ones Higashikata was willing to admit...so I am aware of the strides the three of you have made. That being said, you will be working closely with Shoto and his friends, so that all six of you can grow together."
'I find it pretty suspicious he wants to work with Uncle Josuke all of a sudden. I get that he's helping us ease the Public Safety Commission's fears...but this man's history indicates he'd only be interested in Todoroki.' Johnny thought as he listened to the number one hero's instructions. 'Suddenly he takes Izuku and Katsuki in? I know I told them to accept the invitation...but this partnership smells like something deeper is going on.'
Not only was he using Endeavor's status to scare the Traitor...part of the plan also involved learning exactly what the Todoroki patriarch was up to.
Which considering the man's history...it was nothing good.
"Just to be clear...Higashikata and I will be the ones catching the escapees. Your job will be to watch and learn-"
"Don't want us doing your job for you again?" Johnny muttered under his breath.
"-and use the time to perfect your techniques. I am aware you are miles ahead of normal first years...I'd even say you are on par with Shoto."
He then turned his attention towards Kyoka. "You especially. Normally, I would have pegged you as a background support hero...but Higashikata has molded you into an effective jack of all trades."
"Jack of all trades?" Gyro muttered with a grin, and Kyoka elbowed him in the gut in response.
"He's a good teacher, sir."
"As for you two, your 'Spin' abilities, combined with your Stands...make your futures very promising. With...recent events...in mind, it's more important now than ever to empower the next generation of heroes to be able to handle a crisis such as the one we faced. That is why you three are here...we are going to maximize your potential."
Part of Johnny wanted to point out that they were the ones that actually stopped the Calamity, but deep down he knew that the adults had enabled them to do so. His talk with Tusk was a wakeup call...he had much to learn, and as much as he despised the man...Endeavor could provide that. Johnny was just going to have to bite his tongue and bear it.
That also meant taking full advantage of Endeavor's resources.
"If I may, sir...the Spin's max potential can only be utilized on horseback." Gyro had the same idea, as there was a mischievous glint in his eye. "Unfortunately, our horses are being cared for by our friend in Italy, and UA doesn't really have the time to construct stables for just two students..."
"I can arrange something."
That proved it, there was more to this team-up that met the eye. Endeavor going out of his way to grab two horses from Italy, just so Johnny and Gyro could be at their best...it meant that he truly needed them at their best. Still...they finally had an excuse to bring Slow Dancer and Valkyrie to Japan...which also meant unfettered access to the Infinite Rotation.
Kyoka rolled her eyes, knowing full well what they were doing. Unlike them, she had nothing to squeeze out of Endeavor, she had all the gear she needed. Of course...there was still plenty she needed to figure out...
Like what the hell Second Symphony actually was, for instance.
*After Izuku's experience with Nana:
"So wait...he was becoming visible because he was dying?" Kyoka asked, her eyes wide.
"Yeah...I have no idea what's even going on anymore." Izuku replied, blinking through his exhaustion. He had been trying to piece together what has been going on with One For All ever since he had gotten that vision...but it defied every known explanation he could think of. "They aren't souls, but they act like them? All Might is still somehow connected to One For All? Quirks are supposed to be biological, yet everything I've just experienced seems supernatural...and the previous users can't give me answers yet."
"Why not?"
"One For All isn't fully adjusted to my body yet. They can only appear in short bursts...when something important happens with the Quirk."
"That sounds like a plot device or something." Kyoka tapped her jacks together in thought. "What did you say All Might looked like again?"
"A cloud...but...kind of like flames too."
"...I've seen something like that."
Izuku's head shot up. "WHAT?! SERIOUSLY?!"
The musician nodded, having just come to the realization herself. "It was the precise moment I decided to stand up to DIO, when he had me cornered. After I heard Josuke...when I decided that I was going to fight...my body suddenly erupted into flames. Weird wispy flames, like All Might."
"What happened next?!" Izuku demanded, grabbing his friend by the shoulders.
"I awakened Second Symphony." Kyoka replied, popping her new jacks out. "My power doubled."
The One For All user was dumbstruck, and he quickly pulled out his journal.
"Kyoka...I don't think your Quirk Awakening was normal. Whatever happened to Earphone Jack is the same thing that's happening with One For All...I'm sure of it!"
That just left them with more questions than answers though.
For instance...why did her Earphone Jacks now have a strange glow that resembled Hermit Purple? It was still a Quirk, still a natural part of her body...but now it was taking on aspects of a Stand?
What did the flaming mist mean? She now had something in common with One For All?
Suddenly, something that was only an "Izuku Problem" has become a Kyoka Problem as well. Of course, she was significantly less torn up about it than Izuku was, Second Symphony had only come with benefits...but unraveling the mystery behind her Quirk Awakening would undoubtedly help him figure out what was going on with One For All, and could hopefully put his mind at ease, at least when it came to his Quirk. All Might was a whole different level of stress on the poor guy.
"-and lots and lots of herbs so Johnny can regrow his nails faster. Maybe some herbal tea? That's what my girlfriend usually has and it's done wonders for her. A metalworking station might be nice so I don't have to carve steel balls by hand, and-"
"WHAT DO I LOOK LIKE, AMAZON?!" Endeavor barked, shutting Gyro up. "I will provide you with the things you absolutely need at this moment!"
"I need someone I can actually learn something from." Gyro said with a knowing grin, looking Endeavor straight in the eye. "You're taking in two Spin Users, a power that you know next to nothing about. How am I supposed to know this is going to be beneficial for me?"
"...you don't mince your words, do you Zeppeli?"
"Nope, sorry. That's something all three of us have in common."
Endeavor leaned over to look Gyro in the eyes.
"You want to be stronger?"
"I think that's a given."
"Then keep your eyes on me."
With that...they were officially members of the number one hero's agency.
It was incredibly boring.
All they did was follow the man around on his patrol, sitting in the backseat of an escort vehicle. Josuke, at least, made patrols fun through conversation...Endeavor was all business, no pleasure.
"...do you guys want to play a game or something?" Gyro finally said, looking like he was about to fall asleep.
"If you start playing Eye Spy, I swear to God..." Kyoka muttered.
"I spy with my little eye...a fucking killjoy."
"I'm just saying, we could something far less annoying to pass the time."
Gyro pouted, and Johnny was struck with a thought.
"I wonder how Uncle Josuke is treating the other three...he isn't as used to training them as he is with us."
"Probably having them tending to that new garden he and Giorno were working on." Kyoka responded, tapping her jacks together. "Didn't really expect him to get into the fruit business, if I'm being honest...but it turns out gardening might actually be his calling. Well...second calling."
"He's probably using it as a patience exercise or something." Johnny agreed. "Cause heaven knows Katsuki needs it."
Kyoka, picturing the explosive blond as a farmhand, snorted in amusement...and then her expression shifted to one of concern. "Anybody else hear a whistling noise?"
"Whistli-"
Next thing Johnny and Gyro knew, Kyoka was yanking them downwards with her jacks, and something smashed through the window of their car, barely missing their heads. The driver shrieked, and sped up, passing Endeavor's car in it's flight. The Number One Hero immediately leapt out of his car, and rocketed towards the threat...leaving the frazzled trio to sit there in silence.
"...thank fucking God for those ears of yours." Johnny said, taking his girlfriend by the hand and squeezing it. "What was that?"
"A fork."
"Wha-" Sure enough, a fork was embedded in the door...and it was smoking from how fast it was hurled at them. Tusk wrenched the fork free, and held it in front of Gyro. "What do you make of this?"
"...the fork is twisted." The Italian observed, and he took the malformed silverware to examine it more closely. "Twisted into a bullet...cone shaped. We've got a sniper on our hands."
"Great...love snipers." Johnny said, wrinkling his nose. "I have such a great history with them."
The car gave a jolt, and stopped in place...despite the wheels moving as fast as they could. Gyro's eyes widened as they felt the car begin to rise from the ground. "That wasn't the last of it! We need to get out of this thing!"
"The door is jammed!" The driver yelled, panic-stricken. "It won't budge!"
"Here, I'll give it a try!" Johnny responded, summoning Tusk.
"Hurry JoJo!" Kyoka grabbed onto her boyfriend's shoulder. The sound of metal grinding on metal was unmistakable, someone was trying to crush the car while they were inside.
"ORA!"
Tusk punched straight through the side of the car, allowing the trio and the driver to leap out...just as the escort car was crumpled up into a giant metal ball, with a sickening CRUNCH! Johnny rolled out of the wall as the ball of jagged metal fell perilously close to where he once was.
"Fucking hell!" Gyro sputtered out, struggling to his feet. "Not how I wanted to start my morning…"
"My life just flashed before my eyes!" The driver had wet his pants, much to Kyoka's disgust. "Oh God...I'm gonna be sick."
"Everyone on guard." Johnny put a hand up, gritting his teeth. "Our attacker can't be far."
"Who did we manage to piss off now?" Kyoka asked as she plugged her jacks into the ground.
"I'm fairly certain that The Stranger is behind this...he's the only threat we haven't taken care of, and we're in an unofficial ceasefire with Santana." Gyro responded, unclipping a steel ball from his belt, ready to throw it. "Think about it, by going with Johnny's Endeavor plan...we probably clued him in that we know about the traitor. A mole in Class 1A must be a pretty valuable source of information...he can't risk them getting caught."
"Attacking us while Endeavor is here though? Seems as though someone's trying to fuck with him too." Kyoka narrowed her eyes as she listened for movement. "Considering he recently failed to stop Kars, and two UA students got hurt…three more being killed under his watch would be catastrophic for his career."
That's when her jacks pulsed with light, and her head snapped up.
"There's something or someone being dragged…sounds like they're hurt."
From the crowd of panicked onlookers, a boy around their age crawled out, dragging himself towards them. His pant leg was torn, revealing a nasty-looking shard of metal sticking out of his leg.
He had a cap on that resembled something out of Newsies, covering a head of curly black hair. Freckles lined his face in a weirdly linear pattern, and he wore a polkadotted shirt which had a target on the front of it. A leather jacket adorned his shoulders, and the trio took note of the spurs on his boots.
A jockey, by the looks of things.
"Help…somebody…" The boy whined out. "They got me, they got me…"
"That poor kid…looks like a tourist." A civilian said, putting a hand to her mouth. "I hope those hero students know first aid…"
"Aren't you a nurse?" Someone asked.
"Well…yes, but it really isn't my place to interfere…"
Johnny swore under his breath. If this guy was truly a victim…then getting him to safety was top priority…but there was something about the guy.
He was fairly certain he had seen him before.
Gyro held his hands out to address the crowd. "Clear out everybody! Villain attack in progress!" The boy attempted to crawl closer to them, and Gyro turned to point at him. "You, stay right where you are."
"Huh?" The wounded boy looked up in confusion, and then his expression soured. "Hey now, you don't think I did this to myself do you? You think I'm behind this or something?"
"Of course not." Gyro said, sharing a glance with Johnny. "…it's just that you're probably bait."
"Isn't it your job to take risks?!" The boy protested, and he took a deep breath. "Sorry…I get it, it's a trap. Unnecessary risks are a different story after all…look, I can treat it myself, all I need is a little fire to cauterize the wound."
Kyoka cautiously took a step forward. "There's no need for that…we are able to patch you up, we just need to kn-"
The boy proceeded to take off his belt.
"…huh?"
"For anesthetic." He replied, ignoring the confused looks the trio was giving him. "It's a method I came up with myself, you see. The metal in my leg is really deep, so I may have to fish it out with my knife."
"WOAH WOAH WOAH! TIME OUT!" Gyro put his hands up. "This is escalating far too fast!"
The boy was now choking himself out with the belt.
"HOLY-!"
"It's...fine...I...do this all the time!" The boy choked out with a big stupid grin. "Hey Mutie...would you...like a turn? You said...you'd help patch me up...how about coming over here and giving me my medicine?"
Kyoka turned around and barely managed to catch her boyfriend by the hood, stopping him from turning the guy into a puddle. This, however, bought time for him to poke his knife into the wound...and with a cry, he managed to get the chunk of metal out. The boy then began frothing at the mouth...and he slumped over, having passed out.
"...did he die?" Gyro asked.
"Nope...still breathing..." Kyoka said, retracting her jacks back into her ears. "That was...definitely part of the attack, right?"
"Yeah...would expect as much." Johnny replied as he kneeled down to get a closer look. "I knew I recognized this guy from somewhere, he was in the Steel Ball Run. Didn't last too long...he got kicked out."
"For assaulting other racers with the intent to seriously harm them." Gyro confirmed, shaking his head. "Of course, that was common, particularly around the two of us...but the others either died or didn't get caught. Plus...reportedly...this guy went out of his way to target a certain demographic."
"His name was...BoomBoom, right? He was..." Johnny went pale. "He was part of a trio."
"Alright, so the other two shot the fork and crushed the car...so what did this guy do?" Gyro said, kicking away the bloody scrap of metal.
"...that."
"What?"
"Gyro...don't panic...but look at your foot."
The Italian tilted his head down, and the first thing he saw were metal spikes shooting out from his foot.
"Well shit."
"WE GOT HIM!" Someone shouted in the distance.
From the alleyways some ways off, two motorcycles came hurtling towards them. Whooping and hollering, the other two BoomBooms began circling them. "I was scared that it wouldn't work, but they actually touched Andre's knife! Now all we need to do is finish them off!"
"Don't get ahead of yourself boy! Zeppeli is the only one under our ability, watch out for the other two!" The oldest, Benjamin BoomBoom said, his iron jaw creaking in anticipation for the slaughter. He then pulled his motorcycle over, and casually tilted his head to dodge a nail bullet Johnny had sent his way. "Woah...forgot he could do that. That could be trouble..."
"What the hell is your deal?!" Johnny demanded, aiming another bullet at the BoomBoom patriarch. "And the answer better come quick, cause in the next three seconds you and your spawn are going to be full of holes."
"Well, we're trying to kill you of course!" Benjamin scoffed. "Now, forgive me if I skip the chit chat."
*BANGBANGBANGBANGBANG!*
Several handguns emerged from Benjamin's chest, and fired upon the trio. Johnny and Kyoka both dived out of the way, but much to their horror...all of the bullets veered towards Gyro. Gyro yelped in surprise, and barrel rolled out of the way...only for the bullets to keep following him.
"HEARTBEAT WALL!"
Kyoka fired off the defensive maneuver she learned when fighting Johnny, and the bullets were barely knocked off course, slamming into the ground perilously close to Gyro's feet. However...the speaker bullets hidden in her sleeves were violently yanked out, and found their way into Gyro's arm.
"SHIT! SORRY!"
"Not your fault!" Gyro grunted out, watching as the speaker bullets sank deeper into his skin. "I'm a magnet! They did something to magnetize me, be careful!"
Johnny angrily returned fire, but Benjamin ducked behind the motorcycle...and grinned when a nail bullet hit the gas tank. He then casually flicked a lit match inside, and kicked it towards the heroes...and it was pulled straight towards Gyro.
"GIVE ME A BREAK!"
*BOOM!*
Endeavor didn't even give the sniper time to react.
*CRACK!*
The villain slammed into the concrete roof, slid across, and toppled over the fire escape, hitting bars on the way down. He fell face-first into a dumpster, and groaned in pain...but before he could even attempt to regain his bearings, the Number One Hero grabbed him by the back of his collar and heaved him out of the trash.
"You know, I have half a mind to leave you in there where you belong."
The assassin picked up a used tin can, and fashioned it into a bullet. Before he could even shoot, Endeavor hurled him into a wall.
"Enough. Start talking."
The tin can bullet fell to the ground. "I WILL! I WILL! PLEASE STOP!"
Endeavor scoffed once he got a good look at the assailant. He was decked out in airsoft gear in an attempt to make himself seem more intimidating. Clearly not an experienced assassin, and a few blows had already shattered the man's will to fight.
"Young and foolish...did you think you would get lucky?" The number one hero asked. "What made you decide this was a good idea?"
"Look, I needed the money, okay?!" The young assassin took off his mask, and got down on his knees. "I'll never do it again, just please-"
"You knew the consequences when you took the shot. You almost hit hero students…" Endeavor pulled out a pair of cuffs.
"I know. That's who I was aiming for."
"…what?" Endeavor asked, the color draining from his face.
"Yeah…wait…did you think I was crazy enough to take on you?" The assassin asked, concern on his bloodied features. "I'd fail for sure! I was going after the bounty on those UA students."
A hit job…on students? That didn't happen often, only if the student had a Quirk or Stand that someone wanted out of the way. Or, it was a third-year who was making a name for themselves, and they pissed off someone of influence. Even then, those were extremely rare occasions…a bounty on three first years? It was ludicrous…yet…
Endeavor put the man in cuffs, and flew back over to where he had left them…and sure enough, the three were in the middle of what was clearly a Stand Battle. The number one hero swore, and dove to them like a meteorite…but something intercepted him mid-flight.
*SKISSH!*
"DAMN IT!" Endeavor cried out as blood gushed from his shoulder. As he readjusted himself in the air…he focused his attention on his assailant.
Or…assailants, now that he got a clear view of things.
"Shit…I was hoping we could finish them off before he got here. Seems as though those Americans beat us to the punch." A man with a fish Quirk said, grimacing. "…I really, really didn't want to fight a pro hero today…"
"Then you shouldn't be trying to kill children." Endeavor coldly replied, testing his shoulder. A scratch, nothing more. "Because you've just earned one."
"He's only one man." A woman with buzzsaws for hands said, spinning the lethal blades in anticipation. "It's not like we're dealing with All Might. I say we put aside our differences for now. We can squabble over blood money later."
Endeavor looked down at the battle below, watching as Gyro narrowly avoided an explosion, and sighed.
'I was told you three have potential. I was hoping to see it in a controlled environment…it appears as though it has to be a trial by fire instead. You're going to have to handle that trio yourselves…'
Endeavor burst into flames…as he redirected his gaze back to the twenty-five assassins all gunning for his student's heads.
'I will handle the rest.'
Johnny decided that enough was enough.
Tusk put itself in between Gyro and another volley of bullets, and raised it's hands.
"ORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORA!"
His Stand effortlessly batted the bullets aside, and shot towards Benjamin. That's when Andre, who they thought was unconscious, threw himself in front of his father, taking the blow.
A few of Andre's teeth came flying out of his mouth, flecks of his blood peppering Tusk's face.
"Andre!" Benjamin called after his son.
"Don't…worry…Pa." Andre sat up, half of his face was swollen by the blow…but he was still conscious. "I was never gonna get out of this unscathed…considering how Tomb of the Boom works!"
Johnny deadpanned as he felt the dirt shift beneath his feet, and he turned around just in time to see Gyro hurtling towards him.
*WHAM!*
Kyoka yelped as the two boys slammed into each other…hard enough to draw blood, and turned back towards the BoomBooms with a glare. 'That prick revealed his Stand Ability. I just have to avoid getting his blood on me…but the geezer will start shooting again…'
She had to get a full measure of the ability so that she could free the other two before things got sticky.
'I have to take out the son first.'
As Johnny and Gyro got to their feet, all three of the BoomBooms laughed in their faces.
"This was too easy! We really were worried for nothing Pa!" L.A exclaimed with delight.
"When your opponent says that they've won before the battle is done…they've already lost." Johnny said with a smile. "A little piece of advice my gramps gave me…and it's been true so far. You declared victory before the fight has actually begun...I wonder what that says about you."
Right on cue, Johnny heaved Gyro to face the BoomBooms, and the Italian hurled a steel ball directly at Benjamin's face. The duo then whirled around, and Johnny fired a nail bullet at L.A.
Benjamin simply held up a hand, and the steel ball stopped in midair…and Gyro's signature weapon was ground to particles right on the spot. "Idiot! Did you really think my Stand would-"
*CRACK!*
Benjamin's mouth fell open as Kyoka drove her glowing fist directly into Andre's solar plexus…the steel ball was a distraction, allowing the girl to land a blow on his son.
Andre spewed out blood…but none of it touched Kyoka, because she was covered in a layer of Hamon. His son cried out in pain as he slid across the pavement, his ribs undoubtedly shattered by the force of the blow.
"You-"
*SKISSH!*
Now it was Benjamin's turn to scream…Johnny had fired an Act 2 bullet, and the wormhole had punched through his shoulder. With his arm barely still connected to his body, the BoomBoom patriarch fell over and clutched at the wound.
L.A, realizing his father was targeted instead of himself…was now facing down three angry hero students by himself.
"Wait…WHAT THE HELL?! NONONONO, I TAKE IT BACK! I TAKE IT BACK!"
That's when the sky lit up above them, and everyone that was still conscious looked up to see Endeavor was locked in battle with multiple villains, possessing a variety of Quirks and Stands. While they were busy with the BoomBooms, the number one hero was keeping everyone else off of their backs.
"Shit…I was hoping we'd have more time before the competition showed up." Benjamin wheezed out, and he got to his feet. "Shame on you boy…I didn't raise a fucking coward."
"But Pa-"
"SHUT UP!" His father barked, wincing in pain. "Your brother and I got hurt cause you didn't do shit! Get your damn head in the game…and watch out for Kujo and the mutie, they can attack us."
"Hold up…competition?!" Kyoka asked, going pale. "That means-"
"We've got a price on our heads." Gyro finished. "Nothing new…unfortunately."
"Except this time…you're worth more." Benjamin grinned through the pain. "Each. We were already planning on killing you during the Steel Ball Run, Zeppeli…but now we have the chance to get three-in-one. Ain't no way we're passing this up!"
The iron-jawed assassin forced his son to his feet, and Andre staggered a bit...and then regained his cool.
"Heheheheh...that really hurt...you bitch." The freckled assassin said with a bloody grin. "What gives you the right to lay your hands on me, huh?"
"Uhhh...you are trying to kill us? Seems like I have the right to punch you for that."
"Yeah...see, the thing is...you really shouldn't have done that."
Kyoka blinked a few times, and then she was violently yanked towards the other two, crashing into them with astounding force. All three of them were now stuck together...and the pressure was increasing. Just like the car, each of their magnetic forces were going to crush them like a grape.
"AGH!" Gyro had taken the worst hit, as Kyoka had landed on his wrist. "That's...a fracture for sure..."
"Sorry guys..." Kyoka groaned out, blood running down her face. "Damn it...it isn't just the blood, we...can't touch them at all!"
"What about the speakers in your boots?" Johnny asked. "Would those work?"
"They would...if I wanted to shatter every window in the vicinity. I can't unleash a big attack with civilians nearby."
"...then there's only one way...cause these guys don't look like they'll quit."
Gyro huffed, and pulled out his remaining steel ball. "First day with Endeavor...and we're already getting our hands dirty...we're gonna get so much flack for this, aren't we?"
"Hey hey hey! I see you over there!" Andre interrupted them, picking up his knife and waving it around. "You think that's gonna work? You already saw how my Pa shredded one of those damn things, you think this is gonna be any different?"
"Yeah, hate to break it to you...but Andre is the most talented member of the family." Benjamin added.
"Thank you Pa. Now...I'm sure you've got the basics of Tomb of the Boom by now." A figure manifested on Andre's shoulder, sporting crab-like legs, a large bulbous head, and protruding lips...complete with a slobbering tongue. "All three of us have the same Stand, so touch any one of us...and you're a magnet. Not only that..."
Andre took a step forward, and at that moment...the pressure on the trio increased.
"The closer we are, the stronger it gets. All I have to do is take a few steps forward, and you'll be flatter than a pancake!"
"Gyro...do...it!" Johnny grunted out.
"Just a…little…closer!" Came Gyro's response.
Andre held the knife between his thumb and pointer finger, taking delight as the point moved towards the trio on it's own. "Eenie…meenie…eh screw it, the mutant first."
He let go of the knife, and it sailed directly towards Kyoka's throat. Her jacks shot out to intercept it, but they were pulled backwards by the magnetism, and they wrapped around the trio...also restraining Gyro's arm, preventing the throw.
"SHIT!" Johnny came through for his girlfriend in the nick of time, using Tusk to grab hold of the flying blade. However...Andre took another step forward...and now even his Stand was struggling. The BoomBooms were about to genuinely overpower his Stand's grip. "This...isn't good..."
"Sorry...I screwed up!" Kyoka grunted out. With immense effort, she began retracting her jacks back into her ears, desperately trying to free Gyro's arm.
"Actually Kyoka...you just helped me out...so don't move another muscle!" Gyro said, grinning. "I've had just about...enough...of this...magnet bullshit!"
Then he revealed his empty hand...he had already thrown the steel ball. More accurately, he had sent the steel ball spinning down one of Kyoka's jacks like a train on a railway. As soon as it reached her earlobe, it shot off of her ear and directly towards Andre, having used the jack like a springboard.
"Come on, don't be a dumbass! I'll just crush it!" Tomb of the Boom extended it's hands, a gleeful expression on it's face. "Then I'll crush the whole lot of you! This reward is as good as ours-"
*CRACK!*
The steel ball slammed into the concrete at Andre's feet, sending a giant chunk of shrapnel straight through the young assassin's stomach. Andre spewed out blood, and looked down at the hole in his torso...and began screaming.
"PA! PA, HELP! I'M BLEEDING PAAA!"
"SON OF A BITCH!" Benjamin exclaimed as his son collapsed to the ground. He looked up to find that the magnetic hold on the heroes was gone, and they were already fleeing in the opposite direction. "GET BACK HERE, COWARDS!"
Kaina slowly took her eye away from the scope on her rifle...disheartened.
She had arrived just in time to see the assault the BoomBooms launched on the kids, and she was prepared to take the shot if the situation became too much for them. However, it seemed as though they had deemed it necessary to use lethal force, because there was no way Andre BoomBoom was going to recover from that.
It was always a rule of thumb when it came to facing Stand Users. Stands are naturally more deadly than Quirks, thus the chances for a fight to turn deadly are significantly increased. That being said...considering how they were able to make that kind of decision while maintaining their cool told her that they had to resort to this multiple times.
Kaina huffed, leaning back against the rooftop. 'I hate it. I don't blame them...they probably made the right call...but they shouldn't have to do that in the first place. The last thing I want is for them to end up like me...'
Even if they had to take a few lives, these kids should get the chance to be heroes, not killers. The more situations like this they are put in…the blurrier that line becomes. With every kill she made for "the greater good", the easier it was to do...and that only led to a path steeped in blood. While what they had done was justified and necessary for survival…without proper guidance, they could easily end up with regrets like hers.
…and that didn't sit right with her.
Kaina took a deep breath, lining up her shot. At this range, the BoomBooms would be a cake walk for her…they were wounded and confused, and that was always the perfect time to strike.
*BANG*
Her focus was interrupted when a bullet went straight through her leg.
Kaina grunted in surprise and whirled around…to find that the pro hero Snipe was standing on a rooftop about 20 meters away.
'Shit.'
"I didn't think it was possible…but there's no mistaking it. You're Lady Nagant." The pro hero said, reloading his gun. "…you know…I kinda looked up to you. You could pull off stuff that I'd need my Quirk for…with nothing but skill. Then…you murdered your fellow heroes…and if I'm not mistaken, you were about to do it again."
Should she talk? No, she didn't know Snipe all that well, she only knew that the media often compared her with him. He could be HPSC for all she knew, and the last thing she wanted was for the Joestars to be connected to her. However...if she was fighting anyone, it was the assassins, and it looked as though Snipe was here to help Endeavor protect the kids.
Either way, she had been spotted. There could be no more uncertainty that she was out of prison.
"I heard a rumor that you were out...the fact that it was a rumor and not a report is what scares me, cause clearly it's true." Snipe lowered his gun. "I knew you had fallen...but...I thought you were at least better than this. They're kids, Nagant."
He thought she was here to hurt them. Made sense, the HPSC had covered up the reason for her imprisonment...to any onlookers ignorant to their flaws...she had committed a violent and senseless murder. The HPSC couldn't afford to incriminate themselves, after all...they had to keep up the rosey, hero-worshipping charade going for the "good of the people."
Snipe's ignorance really pissed her off.
"Get out of my way." Lady Nagant said, a cold glare on her features. "I don't have time for meaningless distractions."
"Not a chance. You're under arrest." The pro hero twirled his revolver, which seemed to be a nervous tick. Nagant's eyes narrowed upon this realization, he wasn't confident he could beat her, and that was fair. She was always considered the better marksman by the media, she was the most skilled and powerful ranged hero back in the day, and he was considered to be second fiddle. "Come quietly, Nagant...this doesn't have to be messy."
"Your Quirk is Homing, right?" She asked, slightly angling her rifle towards him. "It seems that you're better suited for close range...at the distance you are at now, you're sure to hit me."
"Like I said, I'd rather not. I meant it, when I said I once looked up to you." Snipe was definitely nervous...but he also seemed genuine. "If you were a hero at one point...if you genuinely cared about saving people and doing good...please...don't do this."
Nagant huffed, and angled her rifle towards her feet. It was already loaded, something Snipe had surely picked up on. Nagant looked at the revolver, and then at the surrounding area. More pro heroes were quickly f
"I still do, and someday...you'll see that. Now, if you'll excuse me-"
*BANG!*
An indigo and pink bullet ripped straight through the concrete at her feet, shattering the corner of the building she was standing on. Snipe cried out in surprise as the assassin fell over the side of the building, and gracefully landed directly onto the Jetpack Hero: Airjet's back.
"-I have a flight to catch!"
Airjet wasn't thrilled, of course, and he was thrown wildly off of his flight path. Nagant effortlessly steered him towards the direction the kids had fled to, knowing that the BoomBooms weren't far behind. Airjet grunted and regained control, aiming his arm cannons at his back. Unleashing a gust of violent air, he threw the fugitive off of himself, and whirled around to confront her.
"Who-"
*BANG!*
He was cut off as a bullet hit him square in the forehead...Nagant had reloaded her gun and fired in the short duration she was falling, and not only that, it was an Impact Shot. Impact Shot was her version of rubber bullets, non-lethal squishier clumps of her hair that walloped villians before they could even hope to spot her. With a groan, the severely concussed pro hero went down.
*CRASH!*
The assassin roughly landed right in a dumpster, and Airjet hit the ground next to it. Nagant, bloody and bruised from the high fall, pried herself out of the dumpster and fell next to the pro hero, coughing.
'Snipe is bound to snitch...more heroes, maybe even Endeavor are bound to find me soon.' Kaina thought as she sat up, and then she looked down at Airjet with a curious expression. '...that jetpack only works with his Quirk, but the boots are flight stablizers...'
Wincing from what was undoubtedly a broken rib, Kaina took off her boots and traded them for Airjet's. While they couldn't grant her flight, they were supposed to be used in tandem with a jetpack after all, they could at least help her hover for short periods...like walking on air. Hopefully, she could use these to get to the BoomBooms before things got nasty.
If those kids ended up killing their opponents...there could be no other culprit, they were bound to take the fall. That's why if anyone's reputation was getting tarnished, it was going to be one that was already too deep in the mud to be unearthed.
Would it make life ten times harder? Of course…but since Jotaro was the only true friend she had left…she'd take on that burden.
It was the least she could do.
"Man…they really did not like you, did they?" Gyro asked Kyoka, who gave him a shrug in response.
"Eh, that's their problem. I was more concerned with not getting crushed."
"How are you not pissed off about it?" Johnny asked, glaring in the direction they had just fled from. "The comments he was making about you-"
"-are nothing compared to what some other mutants get." Kyoka interrupted her boyfriend. "Besides, why would I take a bunch of hillbilly bumfucks like them seriously?"
Johnny couldn't help but smirk. "…alright…but next time they pop up, I'm sending them to the trailer park in the sky."
"Get in line." Gyro stated, grinning as Ball Breaker materialized at his side. "So…who do you think wants us dead? Wanna place bets?"
"I'm thinking it's that masked weirdo. We're in an unofficial ceasefire with Santana, so it can't be him…and all the other big bads are dead…hopefully." The musician plugged her jacks into the ground and closed her eyes. "Plus…these guys kinda go against Santana's beliefs."
The sounds of Endeavor's raging battle with the other assassins was all she could hear at first. Then…something made her recoil.
It was a loud gunshot, followed by an earsplitting whistle, then a crash. Whatever was just fired was so powerful, that even at Kyoka's distance…the sound was unbearably loud.
"Are you alright?" Johnny asked, concerned. "What did you hear?"
"…JoJo…we might be in more danger than we thought…a really, really powerful gun just went off."
"That ain't what you should be worryin' about." Benjamin BoomBoom's voice suddenly cut through the air, and much to their horror, he began climbing out of a closed sewer grate, wading through the metal as if it were butter. "We aren't done here!"
"Back off Grandpa!" Johnny snarled as he pointed a nail bullet at the BoomBoom patriarch's head. "We're free now…it'll only take me a second to pulverize you!"
"Heheheheh! Go ahead and try Kujo! You think I'm gonna hold back now that you've hurt my pride and joy?!"
Benjamin angrily got to his feet, and a multitude of metal objects began emerging from his chest, Tomb of the Boom looming above his head.
"…and what's more…the way you got offended for her. You've got a thing for mutants, don't ya?! You degenerate!"
"I fail to see what the problem is."
"Of course you don't, she ain't one of the ugly ones. But just think about that bloodline of yours…her blood will infect future Joestars, and Quirks change! You really want future generations lookin' like Siren Head or something?!"
"Wow…" Kyoka said, her eyes wide. "You're the real deal, huh?"
"Yep, I'm a member of the American branch of the Creature Rejection Clan." Benjamin proudly proclaimed. "…it ain't your fault you were born cursed of course, but we've got to preserve humanity no matter-"
"I mean, I've encountered a few guys like you…but you're like…a real genuine loser. I legitimately haven't met someone so fucking backwards in my entire life, you're practically non-Euclidian."
There was a moment of silence as Benjamin BoomBoom processed the insult that was thrown his way, and then his face twisted with fury. "You bitch!"
Tomb of the Boom raised it's hand in the air, and proceeded to chop it's user's busted arm clean off.
The three hero students could only stare in disbelief as Benjamin's blood painted the street, and the metal that was emerging from his chest began assembling into a giant conglomerate of metallic chaos where the arm once was. With a roar, BoomBoom brought down the giant metal arm/club, nearly flattening them right then and there. Luckily…there wasn't any civilians around…so Tusk intercepted it with a punch of it's own.
The Spin traveled down the "arm" and scattered the metal in several directions, blowing Benjamin back.
That's when L.A made his move, his version of Tomb of the Boom bursting from the ground…only to be met with a speaker.
*SCREEEEE!*
Kyoka unleashed a high-pitched blast directly into L.A's face just before her boot touched him, clubbing the young assassin into the ground hard enough to crack the pavement.
Benjamin cried out as he got to his feet, only to be met with both Johnny and Gyro bearing down on him.
"Wait, NO-"
*CRACK!*
Benjamin joined his son on the ground, spitting up blood and teeth. His iron jaw looked like something you would see on a car crash. His last ditch attempt had failed.
"It was a good attempt. Maybe if you had fought us during the Steel Ball Run…you would've done better." Gyro said, sneering at the assassins on the ground.
Benjamin rolled over and gave them a bloody grin. "Yer…probably right, probably…wouldn't have had to lop off my arm…good thing YOU FELL FOR IT!"
The three slammed back together, much to their shock.
"What?! But we…" Kyoka spat out a glob of blood. "We got the other…one! Why is…"
"As if!"
Andre BoomBoom crawled up from the sewers, still sporting a hole in his gut. He was struggling to move, and he was extremely pale…but he was not dead yet.
"Pa…was right! Sure…I may feel…a little cold…but all I had to do is tough it out…" Andre coughed up more blood onto the street, his eyes in a haze. "We've…got you…now…"
"What…the…fu-"
Johnny was cut off as the magnetism increased, even further than it was before.
'What's with this resolve?! This guy is using his dying breaths for this, are we really worth THAT much?! They aren't leaving us with much of a choice here!'
The young Joestar angled his finger towards Andre, steeling himself for the inevitable. The Dark Determination began to burn in his eyes as he took aim.
"Now…Endeavor should be finished with the extras by now." Benjamin said, looking up towards a fireball that was approaching them at an alarming speed. "He's heading towards us boys…remember the plan."
"I…can't bleed on him, Pa." Andre choked out. "I…can't…really move…that much anymore…Pa…am I dying?"
"Don't be ridiculous, I had it worse when I got my jaw torn off…walk it off!" Benjamin picked his son up by the shoulders and heaved him towards the approaching Endeavor. He then pulled put a gun. "Now…this may sting a bit."
"What? Pa…what are-"
*BANG!*
The one-armed assassin fired a shot at Endeavor…right through the his son's open wound.
Endeavor was now visible, and he effortlessly dodged the bullet...but the bullet was never the problem.
'The blood on the bullet definitely splashed him…he's magnetized!' Johnny realized, his flaming eyes narrowing with dread. 'At the speed he's going, he's-'
"DEATH BY TEACHER!" Benjamin roared as his son fell to the ground coughing. "He's going so fast that once he gets here, all FOUR of you will be paste! Not only are we killing you three, we're bagging the number one hero too! All of this suffering was worth it boys! BoomBooms for the win!"
Johnny met Gyro's eyes, and a silent understanding passed between the two. The Dark Determination faded as Johnny redirected his shot….
…towards the number one hero.
*FZZZZT!*
Endeavor's eyes widened in surprise as one of Johnny's nail bullets clipped his ear.
'He…shot at me?! What does he think he's doing?!'
That's when he noticed that he was still moving. He had slowed down…or at least tried to…once Johnny fired his shot, yet he was still accelerating towards the trio…
Who were stuck together.
'He was warning me! I'm caught in the same pull!'
Endeavor put all of his flames into his feet, and tried to slow his descent as much as he could, but he could already feel the pull getting stronger the closer he got. At this rate, he was a speeding bullet, he and the kids were doomed if he didn't think of something fast.
Which luckily, he did.
"IGNITED ARROWS!"
Concentrating his fire into his fingertips, he unleashed three focused bolts of flame, slamming the ground near the captives and knocking the three hero students away from the assassins. By blowing the students back, the magnetic pull loosened enough for him to alter his direction slightly.
Instead of crashing into the victims...he crashed into Benjamin instead.
There was a sickening crack as Endeavor drove his elbow into the elder BoomBoom's back, and he used the one-armed man as a cushion as they slid across the pavement, until they came to a stop.
"No...Pa..." Andre wheezed from the ground, taking a discarded piece of metal from the ground. Tomb of the Boom, fading in and out, manifested over his shoulder and began levitating the shard. "We were...gonna win...you bastard...we...were gonna..."
*BAM!*
An indigo-colored streak of light slammed into his back before he could even attempt to attack, and Andre spewed out blood...then went slack.
L.A screamed at the sight of his brother's death, and his own version of Tomb of the Boom began frantically gathering the metal around his body. "NO! PLEEEASE! I'M SORRY! I'M-"
*BAM!*
Another bolt tore straight through the metal...and L.A.
Endeavor could only stare in shock, and the severely burnt and broken Benjamin started to crawl away, wheezing in terror...and leaving his sons behind. "This was our chance! Damn you stupid brats! You ruined everything!"
Benjamin sent metal into his legs, forcing himself to stand...and then he launched himself at the trio in a last ditch attempt, Tomb of the Boom extending it's claw-like hands. "I'LL TAKE YOU LITTLE FUCKS WITH ME-"
*BAM!*
A hole was blown straight through Benjamin's chest, and Tomb of the Boom shattered to pieces. An indigo/pink bullet buried itself at Johnny's feet...and the Joestar plucked it from the ground using Tusk, narrowing his eyes.
There wasn't another shot. The BoomBooms, not the three of them...were the target.
Eyeing Endeavor and making sure the number one hero wasn't watching, he stuffed the bullet into his pocket. It matched the description of the mysterious sniper that aided Okuyasu during the Barge Incident...and considering she wasn't hostile when Izuku had apparently met her...
This might be a step closer to deducing the intentions of Lady Nagant.
"You three..."
Endeavor loomed over them, a stern glare on his face.
"...have some explaining to do."
"In a stunning display of power, Endeavor fought off an entire army of villains today, all without a single scratch. After the recent incident involving the shape-shifting villain that took the lives of dozens of innocent bystanders, many felt as though Endeavor was unable to measure up to All Might as our protector...but it seems as though the number one hero is working hard to put our fears to rest.
In other news, Santana's faction of villains, New Dawn, has released a statement today, claiming that their leader has devised a plan for 'rapid reform.' Many are concerned that an attempted coup may be on the way, and with the growing support for their cause-'
The TV turned off, and the figure at the desk sighed and hung his head. "What the hell is this world coming to? People are really supporting villains now...huh?"
"They have been for quite some time."
The HPSC official snorted, and turned towards his window to find Lady Nagant pointing her rifle at him. "Miss Tsutsumi...welcome home, it's been a while."
"Can it. You placed the hit on those kids, didn't you?"
"Would it make you feel better if I told you that I knew it would fail?"
"They're kids, you sick fuck. They shouldn't be in that kind of situation to begin with!" Kaina snarled, all while the man offered her a gentle smile. "Things haven't changed a bit since I got locked away, have they?"
"Oh no, they have. What I did was off the grid, the chairwoman has no idea it even occurred." The man sat down and pulled out a bottle of whiskey. "Care for a sip?"
"You said you knew it would fail...how?"
"Cause Endeavor was with them, of course. That...and I just had this gut feeling you would step in. You wouldn't be able to help yourself...considering Johnny Kujo is the son of an old school chum of yours."
"...so you DO know."
"Jotaro Kujo should have never set foot in Tartarus prison...but Santana was in the process of taking over, so security unfortunately slipped up and called him there. He was never supposed to learn about the skeletons in our closet...but you told him, didn't you? Couldn't help yourself, you were locked up so long, it's no wonder a friendly face caused you to crack." The HPSC official sighed, pouring the whiskey for himself. "...it's such a shame, really...the Joestars have done so much good for the world...and now you've likely turned them against us."
Kaina pressed the barrel of her rifle under the man's chin. "I told him the truth...if he turns against you, it's because you deserve it."
"Ha!" The man wasn't fazed in the slightest. "You told him your truth, but there's always two sides to the story. You see...I don't want to kill the Joestars, hell, that would be the single worst case scenario...I want them to get their shit together."
"What?"
"The Barge. Aiding and abetting a traitor like yourself. All around a blatant disregard for authority...and I get it. They're 'doing the right thing', at least in their eyes. However...rules exist for a reason, order must be maintained...otherwise all we'll get in chaos, like the time when All For One ruled Japan." He pushed her rifle away from his chin, looking her in the eye. "That's what you don't understand...you're in love with the idealistic crusade of heroism...but that's not how the world works."
"I see you're still as much of a zealot as ever." Nagant coldly replied.
"Justice is a messy business, Tsutsumi. Let the public dream...we act so they can afford to. You can fantasize about capes all you want, but the cruel reality is even if the Joestars are morally correct, they're breaking the damn law. If they continue to value the so-called 'right thing' over preserving order, then they'll only encourage others to do so. That needs to END...which is why I'm giving them a wake-up call."
"No, you aren't."
*click!*
Kaina froze once her rifle jammed...no...her whole body did.
"Shooting another government official? You really didn't learn your lesson, did you?"
She couldn't even talk, all she could do is watch as the man calmly walked over to his desk and pulled out a small gun. Kaina struggled against the paralysis that she was currently under, but it was no use.
"You remember how my Stand works, right? You were finished the moment you decided to enter my office uninvited."
He slowly pulled out a canister, which contained something that made her blood run cold. It was a small, writhing mass of organic matter, sporting hideous looking tentacles...and she knew damn well what it was.
"Anyone who breaks the rules I set...is subject to a penalty of my choosing." The man then pulled out a helmet shaped like a padlock, and put it on his head, the keyhole-shaped visor masking his features. "That's how Golden Rules works."
'No...DON'T!' Kaina tried to scream as he loaded the disgusting canister into the gun. 'Please...I'm begging you...anything but that! ANYTHING!'
"The Joestars need to see the other side of the story. They need to see why you NEEDED to be locked up, just how dangerous you truly are. In order to get the Joestars back in line, Jotaro Kujo needs to see that Kaina Tsutsumi is gone...and the monster that is Lady Nagant is what remains."
Then he fired it straight into her forehead.
She could finally talk...but the only she could muster was an agonizing scream as the fleshbud dug it's way into her brain. The room began to fill with blood...and creatures with bullet holes in their bodies began crawling up from the congealed brew, her victims.
They grabbed onto her, and began dragging her into the blood, and she tried to claw her way out. She screamed, pleaded...but all that she could see was the unforgiving stare of the murdered...and the cold and merciless gaze of that keyhole visor as she was dragged to the bloody depths.
"I never expected those assassins to succeed, Tsutsumi." Pro Hero: Lockdown said as she was pulled under.
"You will."
So...I'm back.
I hope everyone had a good summer, and I'm sorry I haven't uploaded in a while. Between being busy/sick...it's been rough finding time for me to write, not to mention planning out future chapters.
Nonetheless, I think I'm back on track, so hopefully I won't take another whole season to get the next chapter out.