Chapter 56: The RebelsAuthor: Geraint
(3rd Person POV)
Waking up in the morning, Toru stretched her arms and yawned. She sat up and rubbed her right eye, suddenly realizing she was still lying in bed. Next to her, Ichika was sleeping soundly.
"Huh?"
Her eyes widened in shock as the realization hit her.
"Gyaah?!! How—?"
She scrambled away and screamed, jolting Ichika awake.
He instantly jumped up, looking around alertly.
"Where? Tell me!"
Seeing no one else around, Ichika blinked.
"What's wrong, Toru? Why did you scream all of a sudden?"
"Why are you in my bed?" Toru blushed, pointing at him.
"Well, last night when I woke up, I found you asleep in my workshop, so I had no choice but to carry you. When I laid you down on your bed, you suddenly hugged me and locked your arms around my neck until I passed out. I don't know what happened after that."
"Eh?"
Toru's face turned bright red. She couldn't believe she'd done that, and embarrassment nearly overwhelmed her.
"Anyway, Toru. Good morning!" Ichika smiled casually, as if this were the most normal thing in the world.
Toru just blinked in confusion. Was that really his reaction to sleeping in the same bed?
"Y-Yeah… good morning…"
"I'll go make breakfast. Come to the kitchen after you're ready."
Ichika opened the door to leave, and there stood Roboco, holding a fresh set of clothes for Toru.
"Oh, good morning, Roboco."
"Good morning, Father. How was last night? Did you finish?"
"Well... not yet. Maybe later—I just need to check a few more parts."
"I see… Where's Hecker?"
"Still sleeping."
"Tell her she can rest today. I'll fix the remaining bugs on the program."
"Okay."
Ichika yawned and left the room.
Roboco approached Toru, handing over the clothes.
"Thank you."
"Last night was pretty intense."
"What?!"
Toru was startled.
"Especially you, Toru-sama. You really didn't want to let go of my father."
"Gyaah!"
She panicked and covered her face.
"You even hit me several times."
"Huh?"
"See, I always stay with Father when we go to bed. I was between you two last night, but I woke up early, so you didn't know."
Toru's cheeks fell a bit.
Roboco glanced away.
"I guess you'll have to work harder if you want Father to notice you."
"Eh!?"
Toru was shocked.
In the workshop, Ichika noticed Roboco carrying a pile of papers while he soldered some device parts.
"Roboco, what are those?"
"These papers just arrived today. Old man Sebastian sent them—they're a list of suspected rebels who supported the last administration. We've received info they're gathering to take down the new government."
Ichika's expression darkened.
"Those scums… never learn."
"Seems they have heavy financial backing from shady corporations. They're well connected with businessmen."
"Tell my subordinates to arrest those rebels ASAP. No failures—I have enough on my plate with my inventions."
"Yes, Lord Vader. Don't worry, the old man and the new Hero Public Safety Commission have already taken care of some."
"Good."
Roboco set the papers down. Ichika stood to get a glass of water, but stepped on something.
"Huh?"
A single paper lay beneath his foot.
"Roboco, you dropped something!"
"Please pick it up, Father."
Ichika lifted his foot and saw dirt marks on the paper.
"Oh, since it's separate from the folder, that means they already dealt with that person."
"I see."
Curious, Ichika read the paper aloud.
"Eh? Seriously?"
He saw the name: Yaoyorozu.
Sweat broke out on his forehead.
"Mr. Yaoyorozu? Was he part of the rebels?"
"Yeah, arrested yesterday at a rebel hideout. There's evidence tying him to the group."
"And his family?"
"His wife and relatives were arrested too. He claims innocence, but the commission is holding them for investigation."
Ichika felt something was off and decided to look into it himself.
"Sorry, Roboco. I have to go. I'm leaving the workshop to you."
"Just don't make us worry again."
"Yeah."
Ichika grabbed the Infinity Stones from his room and teleported to the Hero Public Safety Commission.
Arriving on the rooftop, he shifted to his adult form, wearing a formal suit. Waiting there was the old man who had known him since childhood.
"Master! It's been a while!" Ichika greeted.
"Falcon, your AI daughter told us you'd come today."
"Yeah, it's about Mr. Yaoyorozu. I want to talk to him."
"He's in custody. I'll take you to him."
"Okay."
They entered the building.
In the interrogation room, Ichika approached the prisoner immediately.
"Who are you?"
The man looked surprised.
Ichika smiled, noting his anxiety.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Yaoyorozu. I'm Fujiwara Ichika, current owner and CEO of Yamagi Industries."
"Yamagi Industries? You mean the company controlling the Commission!?" Yaoyorozu frowned.
"I didn't really do that…"
"But you do control it from the shadows!"
"I like how that sounds, but no. I'm just rooting out corruption. The commission runs itself normally."
"Because of you, business is in chaos."
Ichika just smiled.
"Don't worry, we're handling it. In a few years, we might take over. Anyway, I heard you were caught supplying weapons to rebels using your creation Quirk."
Bam!
Yaoyorozu slammed the table, furious. Guards moved to draw their guns.
"HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU—Ugh!"
Ichika raised his hand and used a force choke to silence him.
"Chill!"
"Ugh... Ah..."
Yaoyorozu gasped for air.
Ichika released him.
"Relax. That's why I came myself. I know you're not that kind of person. Now, explain how you and your family got involved with the rebels."
Yaoyorozu sighed and began to explain.
(To be continued.)
A/N: I'll fix my mistakes later.