Shock.
I couldn't be any other way. I was facing one of the most influential women I could ever meet. Perhaps she wasn't powerful, but she was dangerous. Behind her was an entire organization willing to screw up my existence depending on the pending conversation.
I wondered with what kind of words she would express herself. Perhaps trying to buy loyalty to govern what they consider a Future Symbol of Peace, or worse, seeking to restrain me, ensuring that nothing surpasses their limits.
Either way, in theory, I had the necessary meta-knowledge to avoid any kind of manipulation. They were an organization as gray as most in the world, and nothing good would come if I followed their orders.
But all of that was supposed to be classified, so... it has to be kept that way.
"A pleasure to meet you formally, and I apologize for the uncomfortable place where we find ourselves." I bowed my head a little, hiding the frown I was wearing. (Majimena Josei, I won't forget the name.)
"Don't. I'm the cause of the fact in the first place. I hope you see it as a security measure to ensure your health is optimal." She dismissed the words, dragging the only guest chair to take a seat. "You are very important as of today, you know that, right?"
A security measure? "Involuntary retention" applies better. They performed all possible analyses, even trying to obtain blood samples. Too bad Gran Torino was cautious in that aspect.
Without a legal guardian present, no one was allowed to draw the liquid, not even my own consent was enough. And since Inko Midoriya was not part of the "allowed" ones, then such things are off the table.
"I am aware of the fact and I apologize if that causes complications. During the incident, I could only think of the integrity of those affected," I tried to sound condescending. I would gain nothing by being against the woman. "...I suppose the same happens to heroes."
But that didn't stop me from pressing certain points and seeing how much she would tolerate. As the old saying goes, "Know your enemy and you will have half the battle won."
"Correct. A hero always puts danger before his own safety. As a student of U.A., you have learned well." Not a single change. She maintained neutrality and professionalism. "However, you forget a vital detail. You are not a professional."
I raised an eyebrow, clenching both fists under the sheets. Faint sparks flashed in response to what I had heard. She wasn't lying, and that was even worse. A simple certificate shouldn't have value in situations as critical as the Kamino incident.
"Again, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause you any problems," One For All stopped flowing, forced by the mental order. It was uncomfortable how foreign knowledge affects its way of judging others.
The words seemed not to be entirely to her liking, reverberating in the characteristic serenity that Majimena had been wearing.
"Stop apologizing. It's annoying." She crossed both legs, intertwining each hand over them. Her gaze became more fixed, if that was even possible.
So playing the repentant child works? Perfect.
"Tell me, aren't you curious to know the reason for my visit?" She opted for a direct approach. It seems she expected to have a quick and easy conversation to elude.
(She wants to leave soon... smart. She'll avoid giving explanations to third parties.) The less they observe, the more discreet everything will be. Quite logical. "I assumed I would be in trouble with you, and considering that you are the leader of a whole public commission..."
I left the words unfinished. I knew her possible intentions and wanted confirmation for each one, but not from my mouth. She had to do it. That way, I could get out with clean hands, regardless of the result.
"Under other circumstances, you would be right. You have broken so many written and unwritten laws that... you should be permanently retired from the execution of any labor or study related to the heroic field."
In short: "Find a normal profession and live with the shame."
Stupid bureaucrats. Their complex formality is not appreciated.
"But the situation is more than special at the moment. We can't judge as if we were talking about a fleeting incident." From a hidden pocket, she brought out a brown folder, with enough sheets to supplement half a notebook. "This is all the information we have managed to gather on you."
She said it without hesitation, normal at the idea of carrying with her the life of a Japanese civilian, something that shouldn't be so.
I was petrified in complete surprise. If they had so much on a "Quirkless" boy, a nobody according to social dictate, then... what was left for heroes like All Might or Endeavor?
Even worse, do they know about One For All?
"I think you know more about me... than myself... as sarcastic as that sounds," I laughed nervously, uncomfortable at the sweat I felt falling.
"That's not what's important."
Huh? I'm sorry? That's very important!
Hello?! You have a life written in words!
"I am not going to ask the questions I assume you expect me to ask. This is not an interrogation. I desperately need you to understand that." She averted her gaze, flipping through page after page. It seems her object of interest was current.
"If it's not an interrogation... then what is it? Because the term 'social visit' doesn't apply, and I think we can both agree on that," I swallowed, firm despite the inopportune moment.
She wouldn't have it...
"An agreement. That's what we're doing."
...easy...
(...Calm down, Midoriya... Calm down and be cold with your next moves.) I clenched and unclenched my fists, seeking to calm a little that uncomfortable feeling. It was likely that a giant before and after was in front of me.
Only the next words would decide many things, so many that thinking about it was no laughing matter.
I could reject any offer, deny from the beginning, and kindly ask her to leave. Otherwise, be hostile and generate distrust for both parties.
Or... sell any valuable self-protection lesson that Gran Torino had imparted and... be a dog on the government's leash.
And so... I understood that I hated being judged as an adult.
"What kind of agreement are we talking about?" The words tasted like ash on my tongue, a reminder of the nail that now rested in my metaphorical coffin.
I closed my eyes in shame, detesting the person I currently was. I could give myself hundreds of justifications, even blame life and say that it was forcing me to be someone I didn't want to be.
But... all of that would be a sad placebo, making excuses and eluding the problem. How much immaturity could I represent? If I wanted to do things right, I had to treat each one as it should be.
A hint of a smile appeared on her face, imperceptible and quick. However, it was enough to brand what I feared into my mind.
I was playing with the devil.
"Very simple. You will occupy the place that is expected and offer it to society. Let's call that 'Symbol of Peace' or 'Hero No. 1.' You will actively collaborate with our commission and, by extension, with the structured and proud Japanese government," she seemed to be reading clauses, like an expert salesperson in front of an easy-to-convince customer. "You will be a vital part of certain activities related to heroism and, in certain cases, will answer to us and only us."
I applauded the speech in my mind, amazed at the formality used for the simplification of each point. In a quick sentence, she revealed only what was fair and necessary, limiting the information to the level of understanding one could have.
They were conditioning the future I would have, thus making abandoning the race impossible. I had to reach the position of the greatest hero whether I wanted to or not.
If I failed or wanted to give up, I would be (legally) breaking an agreement sponsored by the government, even facing charges of treason. At the same time, joint work became mandatory, reinforcing the alliance that had to be sold to the social sphere.
"For your part, you will enjoy clear benefits, which can only be revoked by the top boss at the time or the delegated commission itself."
As in any agreement, both parties must benefit. Now the privileges offered for choosing to follow their orders would be expressed.
"Access to better learning fields, both physical and theoretical, priority in choosing internships, no matter the nature, and greater decisive importance when required," I tried to process everything, trying to understand each point so as not to receive surprises later. "Clearly, you will receive greater freedom of action, being able to take 'drastic' measures if they can be controlled promptly. In addition to a direct, total, and secure contact with the superior in charge. Let's say in this case... Majimena Josei."
She looked up, having finished relating the stipulated agreement, and it seems she expected to hear me accept.
As a response, I let out the sigh I had been holding in. The distrust I felt had multiplied to giant levels. It was no longer a discussion among ancient deceased heroes to decide what to do. Now it was about something much bigger.
A teenager dealing with the government. Where did that sentence even make a little sense? Any mistake and everything would fall, like a poorly built house of cards.
"Now that you are aware and informed of the agreement itself, I await your response." She extended her hand, seeking to shake it as a symbol of acceptance. It was clear that after that, the legal and definitive signature would follow.
I shouldn't. I was selling my soul to the devil, just like Peter Parker during the events of Civil War. What pushed him to negotiate with Mephisto indirectly? Revealing his identity. And why did he do it? To comply with a government act.
This was the same shit but with different colors. Rejecting would be the most logical, and in fact, I preferred that path a thousand times over any other.
But... gaining distrust or enmity towards them wouldn't work either. It would become another front to watch with caution, as if the League of Villains wasn't enough. I was between a rock and a hard place. Both things were detrimental.
And honestly... I preferred to deal with one problem at a time.
"I... accept." I extended my hand, ending up spitting out the last of the dignity that could remain inside.
I was and felt like a disgrace. Every teaching, every value, every... gram of trust going to waste. I didn't deserve them. I was ruining the meaning they carried, dirtying that with pathetic submission.
Now I could only do one thing, a minimum of utility that would serve to save something of that. I would take advantage of the advantages obtained, exploiting them all to the point of becoming beneficial in the name of the rest.
And so, perhaps... the end wouldn't be so bittersweet.
He sighed, adjusting the now-loose suit whose bright colors had so much value. He remembered how comfortable it was until not long ago, perfect for the bulky muscles he used to carry.
The design was special, leaving aside that iconic and reddish cape, opting to maximize efficiency and avoid accidents. The more he looked at it, the more complicated it became not to think about the whole history that could no longer be repeated.
Those glory days would remain as anecdotes, fun and perhaps with wisdom to impart. Pride gave him the knowledge that he would have those narratives, a luxury that not many important heroes had.
He would have loved to hear such things from his master, her achievements and defeats, what she got from them and how to apply them in the job.
Unfortunately, that would never happen. He could only be content with that great memory of the brave and heroic woman, who guided him to polish an illogical and impossible dream from the perspective of many.
She was and always would be the precursor of the Symbol.
And now... his time had come. Another pillar was making itself known, revealing the capacity and potential he had to offer the world, talents so great that they made him look ridiculous. That old phrase, "Each generation surpasses the previous one," couldn't be more correct.
It seemed almost unreal. When he found the nobility in the successor he currently had, he knew he would go far, very far indeed. However, he saw the short-term consequences, those that could hinder progress and improvement.
The boy was scrawny, with no hint of firmness in his weak body. If they had seen him, if the first image they received of Izuku Midoriya was that, then he would be labeled as a madman.
He was never and will never be the perfect teacher. He is aware of the fact and accepts it without guilt, but no one can ever take away the pride he felt at the change in the young man who fought alongside him with resolution.
In ten months, he built the necessary foundations for the next generation's leader, the one whose strength and values would protect the world. That... is unprecedented for him.
It was with that latent pride that he took one step after another, climbing to the podium where he would again take the spotlight. The applause in the background was already heard, faithful proof of the public that longed to see him among them, assuring with words the prosperous future to come.
He was very aware of the turn his interviewer would seek to achieve, and in fact, he wanted to see the execution of the moment. It wasn't for nothing that he chose the man whose prestige in the show is so high. He found it amusing. He went from being the general interest of everyone to becoming a spokesperson.
It was a strange change, but no less gratifying. He had understood that he was living the last stages of his life. He couldn't ask for more, and he wouldn't be greedy either.
He smiled for it, nothing comparable to the great and magnificent expressions of All Might. In the past, that would have terrified him, having to show himself to the world as Toshinori Yagi, expecting criticism, fear, and uncertainty.
Now, retired as he was, he understood that that, despite being extremist, had justification. He simply forgot a detail of the equation.
He was not the only pillar of the people. During his rise, many others took the path, and so, through significant effort, they obtained a corresponding place in society.
But above all... in the hearts of the people.
Because being a hero was more than facing great villains and transmitting confidence with words and small gestures.
Being a hero was not an obligation either. Feeling forced only destroys the true foundation that separated the term from any other.
He once read that a hero is one who desires transcendence, a lover of death until the end, and who gives himself to it as soon as he sees the opportunity, despising any value related to life to obtain in death his deserved title as an exemplary figure.
That perspective made him love the mythological and folkloric vision, where they reduced the dilemma to words as simple as saying that a hero is the one in charge of carrying the key traits valued in his culture of origin.
However, time, as wise as only it can be, guided his path to find the right answer, and there he understood.
A hero cannot be described, nor formed. The word itself limits the very value that appears with it. Everyone is a hero to a greater or lesser extent, from something as simple as helping one's neighbor to saving a country. Altruism resides in every existing person because of the firm emotions that are linked to it.
Empathy, happiness, sadness. Each and every one can lead to kind acts that reinforce that valuable terminology and, in turn, glorify life, helping it to prosper in harmony.
No one is perfect, and that's where the beauty of heroism is born, because it shows that even imperfections are reason enough to contribute when necessary, to smile when someone is down, or simply... to be oneself and to cheer up those who appreciate us for it.
The curtain was opened, the lights positioned, the figure exalted, and as so many times in the past, All Might, under the true appearance of his legend, was sure of the words that would come.
"Everything is fine... because I am here!"
I removed my hand, cutting off the handshake I had been forced into. I refused any kind of look at the formal woman, wishing not to find that probable victorious smile.
That would cause annoyance and therefore, I would end up acting in ways not very useful in the future, causing inevitable damage for which I had to assume responsibility, and... I didn't want anything similar.
I tried to appease the internal disappointment, wishing to simply sleep and deal with everything later. I wanted to reflect, but if I did it now, I would only get negative and unfavorable results.
So, swallowing the little remaining pride, I smiled.
"It will be a pleasure to work with you." I avoided any sarcasm. Otherwise, it would be like starting off on the wrong foot, and that wasn't the idea.
"I say the same. Great results are expected of you and vice versa." She put her hand in the outer pocket of the expensive and formal suit, pulling out a small but important-looking envelope at first glance.
It had been sealed with care, using reflective paper to avoid curious or improper glances.
It was extended towards me, a strange thing that undoubtedly caused curiosity.
"Excuse me?" I asked, puzzled, without taking my eyes off the object. As far as I knew, anything could be hidden there.
"It's for you. Consider this as... an advance."
Now very curious, I received it, carefully unwrapping it. At no time did I return Majimena's gaze, missing the detail of her victorious smile.
And when the object was revealed, I confirmed that I was entering really dangerous territory, because in front of me was...
A provisional hero license.
"Our next great figure can't be limited by the law, right?"
(...Oh God...)
Author's Note:
Hey.
What did you think of this chapter?
Every time, we're getting closer to the middle of the interlude and therefore moving on to the canonical rewriting.
Yes, now the protagonist is strongly linked to the Commission. From the beginning, I wanted to achieve that. It's such a useful and interesting element that giving them the role of a villain only makes them a waste.
Great things are coming in that aspect.
I don't know what you thought of the formal exchange. It's complicated to know if I expressed her powerful and political position well.
Also, writing that perspective of All Might was the best. Maybe it won't have value in the future, but as a narrative, I think it's a beauty.
No one better than him to portray what I feel, and it's the purest vision of heroism. Really, I put all my effort into making the words reach whoever read them.
That erroneous line between "hero" and "villain" only serves to limit a deep concept that dates back to the most brilliant era of Rome, where they romanticized that with fine and poetic words, a unique and unrepeatable marvel.
I wanted All Might to be the spokesperson for that, simplifying the concept a bit but maintaining what's important about it.
Anyway, take care. See you.