Third Person POV
HERO KILLER STAIN CAPTURED IN HOSU
NUMBER TWO HERO ENDEAVOR APPREHENDS SERIAL KILLER
STAIN IN CRITICAL CONDITION –TO BE TRANSFERRED TO TARTARUS UPON RECOVERY
The official statement came fast. Quick to explain questions that were yet to be asked. Endeavor had engaged the Hero Killer during the Nomu attack on Hosu City. Brief confrontation which resulted in the injury of certain heroes and heroes in training resulting in Stain being subdued albeit severely injured . Currently in critical condition at Hosu General Hospital under maximum security. Transfer to Tartarus pending stabilization.
The Commission had moved quickly to control the narrative, both the official and under Shin careful guidance the unofficial one as well.
Within minutes, grainy photographs started circulating. Blurry images taken from rooftop security cameras, shaky phone videos pointed at the night sky. They showed a massive silhouette carrying what looked like a body, flying through the air above Hosu.
The figure wasn't Endeavor.
@HeroWatchJPN:okay wait who the hell is that??? that's NOT Endeavor
@NightEyeFanClub:zoom in on those shoulders. that's like 1.5x Endeavor's build. who else is even that BIG? who can also fly!
@MightMakesRight:calling it now! that's Invincible. the UA kid. sports festival winner. LOOK at that frame
Someone pulled footage from the Sports Festival and overlaid the silhouette. The proportions matched. Then someone else pointed out the obvious that Endeavor could not fly without lighting up the sky like a bon fire.
@AllMightLegacy:Invincible was interning with Endeavor this week. he was literally IN Hosu. this isn't even speculation anymore
@SymbolOfTomorrow:so you're telling me a FIRST YEAR stopped the Hero Killer? the guy who killed DOZENS of pros???
@FuturePlusUltra: Lol ! Stopped ! more like that nutcase got a permanent attitude adjustment. I don't think that psycho is walking this off. Look at him getting CARRIED like a bag of trash. Hope you die ! HERO KILLER #INVINCIBLE.
@ProHeroDaily:Endeavor's agency statement: "All interns performed admirably during the crisis." that's not a denial btw!
The photos spread faster than any official news report could control. News outlets picked them up within an hour, running them alongside Endeavor's official coverage with careful disclaimers about "unconfirmed secondary responders."
Nobody cared about the disclaimers.
@SymbolWatcher:this is the same kid who beat All Might's entrance exam record. All might jr ofc !
@PeaceAndJustice:All Might's "secret son" just saved Hosu and nobody can convince me otherwise
@HeroSocietyNews:BREAKING: Invincible (Takeru Kurogane) trends #4 worldwide
@NextGenHeroes:okay but why was a first year even in a position to fight the HERO KILLER
@MomForOne: did you watch the sports festival? that boy is BUILT DIFFERENT! He didnt even dodge just tanks everything !
@WingHeroFan:everyone's going crazy over Stain. Did you guys see the video of those Monster things getting ripped in half by Invincible ! Way cooler if you ask me ! Stain looks weak as fuck ! What is his quirk anyway ? I bet it is lame !
@FlameGuardian:sure credit to Endeavor but if those photos are real Invincible literally flew Stain out of the sky unconscious. then Number 2 is gonna become Number 3 very soon !
By morning, the public had made up its mind regardless of what the official narrative was.
While Endeavor got the official credit Takeru got all the notoriety.
Takeru scrolled through his social media watching his followers skyrocket by the million every hour and smirked.
Takeru POV – Hosu General Hospital
Chapter 42: Aftermath (Corrected)
Takeru shoved the hospital room door open harder than necessary, boots heavy against the tile. The smell hit him first—antiseptic mixed with dried blood and stress sweat.
Midoriya, Iida, and Todoroki sat on their respective beds, tired but relatively unscathed.
They all looked up when he walked in. Iida almost flinched, his guilt evident in his eyes. Todoroki was impassive as ever. "Takeru-kun, did you apprehend Stain? Or was it Father?"
"Officially, it will be your father. That's what the papers will report, and that's the story you guys will stick to as well. Has anyone talked to the police yet?"
Three heads shook.
"Good." His voice came out clipped. "Keep it that way. Don't say a goddamn word to anyone until I tell you otherwise."
Iida flinched like he'd been slapped. Midoriya opened his mouth then closed it. Todoroki just watched him with those mismatched eyes, calculating. Takeru sighed. These guys were hopeless. Todoroki was a blunt instrument on the best of days, Midoriya mumbled like an idiot and made it look like he was lying even when he told the truth, and Iida was about as flexible as a brick. We're doomed, Takeru thought.
The door opened before anyone could respond.
Manual came in first, looking worried and uncomfortable. Gran Torino shuffled in behind him, moving like a man half his age despite appearances. Then Chief Kenji Tsuragamae of the Hosu Police Department entered, his dog-like features set in bureaucratic sternness.
"Woof," Tsuragamae started, his tone carrying the weight of authority that came with years of police work. "We need statements from all of you regarding tonight's incident. The unauthorized use of quirks by unlicensed minors is a serious criminal offense, woof. You could be facing charges that would end your hero careers before they even begin."
Midoriya went pale. Iida looked like he might throw up.
Tsuragamae pulled out a tablet, clearly prepared for this. "The Hero Killer was apprehended, yes, but multiple eyewitness accounts place four U.A. students at the scene. Quirk usage in public without a provisional license carries a penalty of up to three years probation and permanent revocation of hero course enrollment, woof. The Hero Public Safety Commission takes these violations very seriously."
"Chief," Manual interjected weakly, "they were trying to help—"
"Trying to help doesn't excuse breaking the law, woof," Tsuragamae cut him off. "Intent is irrelevant. The law is clear." He looked directly at Iida. "Especially when one of them appears to have sought out the Hero Killer deliberately."
Iida's face went white.
"So," the Chief continued, tapping his tablet, "I'll need full statements from each of you. What you were doing in that alley, why you engaged Stain, who struck first, who used what quirks and when. Everything, woof. And I should warn you—lying to a police officer is an additional offense that carries its own penalties."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
"With all due respect, Chief," Takeru said, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife, "I don't think any of us are required to answer questions without legal representation present."
Tsuragamae's eyes snapped to him. "Woof? And who are you?"
"Takeru Kurogane. Class President of U.A. High School, Class 1-A." Takeru stepped forward, placing himself directly between the police chief and the hospital beds. "And I'm telling you right now—none of my classmates will be answering questions without a lawyer."
The Chief's expression hardened. "This isn't a negotiation, young man. This is a police investigation into criminal quirk usage, woof. You don't get to decide—"
"Article 47, Section 3 of the Hero Public Safety Act," Takeru interrupted, his voice level and precise. "Minors under the age of eighteen who are involved in quirk-related incidents are entitled to the presence of a parent, legal guardian, or attorney before being questioned by law enforcement. None of us have been provided that opportunity."
Tsuragamae's jaw tightened. "That provision applies to formal interrogations, not preliminary—"
"The law doesn't distinguish between 'preliminary' and 'formal,'" Takeru cut in again. "It says 'questioned by law enforcement.' You're law enforcement, and you're asking questions. Therefore, the statute applies."
Manual's eyes widened with surprise. Gran Torino's lips twitched into something that might have been a smile.
"Furthermore," Takeru continued, pulling out his phone, "I have Principal Nezu on speed dial. He's been alerted to this situation and has already contacted U.A.'s legal department. They're prepared to represent all four of us if this proceeds."
Tsuragamae's face flushed slightly. "You're obstructing a police investigation, woof—"
"I'm protecting my classmates' legal rights," Takeru corrected. "There's a difference."
The Chief stepped closer, clearly trying to use his position to intimidate. "Listen here, boy. You might have won some school sports festival, but that doesn't make you above the law, woof. Your friends broke serious regulations tonight. If you think you can lawyer your way out of this—"
"We didn't break anything," Takeru said flatly. "Hero Law Section 12, Subsection 4-C. The Good Samaritan Clause. Unlicensed individuals are permitted to use their quirks in immediate life-threatening situations for the purpose of self-defense or the defense of others."
"That clause has very specific requirements, woof—"
"Native was incapacitated," Takeru steamrolled over him. "Iida was paralyzed by Stain's quirk. Todoroki and Midoriya arrived to find an active threat attempting to murder both of them. That meets the legal definition of 'immediate life-threatening situation' under any interpretation."
"The law also requires that force be proportional, woof, and that the individuals involved retreat if possible—"
"Retreat?" Takeru's voice went cold. "Midoriya was paralyzed. How exactly was he supposed to retreat? Should Todoroki have left two people to die so he could run away and maintain legal compliance?"
Gran Torino let out a quiet snort. Manual was staring at Takeru like he'd grown a second head.
Tsuragamae's face was turning red now. "You're twisting the law to suit your narrative, woof. These students actively sought out a dangerous criminal—"
"That's an assumption without evidence," Takeru shot back. "You're claiming Iida sought out Stain. Prove it. Show me security footage, phone records, anything that demonstrates premeditation. Otherwise, it's just as plausible that Iida was patrolling with Manual, got separated, and stumbled onto the scene."
"The probability of that is—"
"Irrelevant without proof," Takeru said. "You can't charge someone based on probability."
The Chief's hands clenched around his tablet. His eyes narrowed, and when he spoke again, his voice had taken on a sharper edge.
"You know what's interesting, Kurogane?" Tsuragamae said slowly. "We've been examining the scene. The forensics. And there are some... inconsistencies, woof."
Takeru's expression didn't change. "Inconsistencies."
"Yes, woof. Endeavor's official report states he subdued Stain after a brief engagement. But the damage to the surrounding area doesn't match that description." The Chief pulled up something on his tablet. "Shattered pavement consistent with high-velocity impact. Structural damage to a building wall suggesting significant force trauma. And most curiously—Stain's injuries."
He looked up, meeting Takeru's eyes directly.
"Multiple fractured ribs. Severe cervical trauma leading to paralysis. Internal bleeding consistent with being struck by someone with a strength-enhancement quirk, woof. But Endeavor's quirk is fire-based. This is not consistent with Endeavor's hero record."
The room had gone very quiet.
Midoriya looked like he'd stopped breathing. Iida's face was ashen, at the verge of confessing everything to save Takeru. Even Todoroki had tensed, anger flickering at Takeru being accused despite saving lives.
Takeru just smiled. Shun and the HPSC would cover up everything, and this stupid dog would go back to pissing on trees.
It wasn't a friendly smile.
"Are you suggesting something, Chief?" His tone was light, almost amused. "Because if you have concerns about the official report, maybe you should file a formal complaint with the Hero Public Safety Commission. I'm sure they'd be happy to investigate."
The HPSC will bury this so deep even archaeologists won't find it, Takeru thought with cold satisfaction. Shun's probably already scrubbing the evidence and preparing counter-narratives. By tomorrow morning, any forensic inconsistencies will be explained away as collateral damage from the Nomu attacks or some nonsensical tale.
Tsuragamae's jaw worked. "The forensic evidence suggests that someone other than Endeavor may have been involved in Stain's actual subdual, woof. Someone with considerable physical strength. Someone who was present at the scene."
He let that hang in the air.
"The photos circulating online show a figure carrying what appears to be Stain's body. A figure that matches your build, Kurogane. So I'll ask you directly, woof—what was your involvement in tonight's events?"
Takeru's smile widened slightly. "I was with Endeavor during the Nomu attacks, as per my internship assignment. After that, I assisted in securing the area and ensuring civilian safety. That's all."
"That's all," Tsuragamae repeated flatly.
"That's all," Takeru confirmed.
"So you're saying you had no direct contact with the Hero Killer, woof?"
"I'm saying," Takeru replied carefully, "that Endeavor's report is accurate and complete. If you have concerns about forensic evidence, I'd recommend consulting with the Commission's own investigators. They're far more qualified than either of us to interpret combat scene analysis."
Tsuragamae's eyes flashed. "You're hiding something, boy. Woof. I can smell it."
"What I think," Takeru said, his voice dropping into something colder, "is that you're embarrassed."
The Chief's head snapped back slightly. "Excuse me, woof?"
"Stain operated in Hosu for weeks. Crippled Ingenium right under your nose. Killed and maimed dozens of heroes across multiple prefectures while your department sat on its hands." Takeru's tone was conversational, but there was an edge to it that could cut glass. "And then last night, during one of the worst villain attacks this city has ever seen, a sixteen-year-old kid and the Number Two Hero cleaned up your mess in a matter of hours."
Tsuragamae's face went from red to purple.
"So yeah," Takeru continued, "I can see why you'd want to find 'inconsistencies' in the official report. Easier to question the people who actually stopped Stain than to admit your department failed at every level. But here's the thing, Chief—the media's not going to care about forensic technicalities."
He pulled out his phone, casually scrolling through social media feeds. "They're already running stories about how a U.A. student succeeded where professional heroes and police couldn't. How Endeavor and his intern saved Hosu while the local authorities were nowhere to be found. How the Hosu PD's incompetence nearly cost dozens of lives."
Takeru looked up, meeting Tsuragamae's furious gaze with cold amusement.
"So by all means, Chief—file that complaint with the Commission. Hold a press conference about your forensic concerns. I'm sure the public would love to hear the Hosu Police Department's explanation for why they let a serial killer operate freely in their city for weeks. I'm sure they'd be fascinated by your department's failure to protect known targets like Iida's family. I'm sure the media would cover it very, very thoroughly."
The silence that followed was deafening.
Manual looked like he wanted to sink through the floor. Gran Torino was watching Takeru with an expression somewhere between resignation and reluctant admiration.
Tsuragamae's hands were shaking slightly where they gripped his tablet.
"You arrogant grrr..." he started.
"Careful, Chief," Takeru interrupted softly. "Threatening a minor is also against regulations. And we have witnesses."
The police chief's mouth snapped shut. His jaw worked furiously, eyes burning with barely contained rage.
Then he seemed to physically rein himself in, taking a deep breath through his nose.
"This isn't over, woof," he said, his voice low and tight. "I know you're hiding something, Kurogane. And when I prove it—"
"If," Takeru corrected. "If you prove it. Which you won't. Because there's nothing to prove."
Tsuragamae stared at him for another few seconds, then turned sharply to Manual. "Get your intern under control. Make sure all of them understand the seriousness of tonight's events, woof." He glanced at the students. "You boys got lucky. Very lucky. But luck runs out."
"I'll keep it in mind, Commissioner," Takeru said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Tsuragamae turned on his heel and stalked out, the door slamming behind him hard enough to rattle the frame.
Manual looked between Takeru and the closed door, opened his mouth, closed it, then hurried after the Chief. "I should—I need to—excuse me—"
He fled.
Gran Torino stayed behind, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. For a long moment, he just studied Takeru with those sharp, knowing eyes.
"That," the old hero said finally, "was either the smartest or the stupidest thing I've ever seen a first-year do."
"Did I lie about anything?" Takeru asked.
"No," Gran Torino admitted. "And that's what worries me. You boxed him into a corner using nothing but facts, legal precedent, and psychological warfare." He shook his head slowly. "Kid, you've got a dangerous mind. Sharp as a knife and twice as cold when you need it to be."
"Is that a compliment or a warning?"
"Both. There is a thin line between justice and vengeance..." Gran Torino said.
He pushed off the doorframe, moving toward the exit.
Nobody moved for several seconds.
Midoriya was the first to find his voice. "Takeru-kun... what just happened?"
"I handled it," Takeru said simply.
"You lied to a police chief," Todoroki observed, his tone neutral but his eyes sharp. "That was..."
"He was using the law to absolve his department's failings by blaming us," Takeru replied. "I'm not going to let my classmates get caught in the crossfire."
"But—" Iida started, his voice hoarse.
"Iida." Takeru's voice cut through whatever he'd been about to say.
Iida shot to his feet immediately and bowed so low his spine had to hurt. "I—I'm sorry. I was selfish, I was reckless, I put everyone in danger because I couldn't control my—"
"You were stupid," Takeru said flatly. "Worse than stupid. Selfish."
Iida jerked like he'd been struck.
"You didn't think about your classmates. Didn't think about Manual, who trusted you. Didn't think about all the people who could've died while you played vigilante." Takeru stepped closer, his voice dropping. "And you sure as hell didn't think about your mother."
"How do you think she'd feel if both her sons ended up crippled?" Each word was a hammer blow. "Or dead? You think she'd forgive you for throwing your life away because you were too proud to ask for help?"
Tears started streaming down Iida's face, but he didn't move, didn't straighten. Just stayed bent double, shaking.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm so sorry."
Takeru exhaled hard through his nose. Deep down he knew Iida was a good person—honorable, well-meaning, the kind of guy who'd give you the shirt off his back. But good intentions didn't mean shit when people died because of your choices.
"Don't apologize to me," Takeru said finally. "Apologize to your mother. To Manual. To Midoriya and Todoroki, who almost died saving your ass."
Iida nodded frantically, still bent in half.
"And when we get back to U.A.," Takeru added, his voice going hard again, "you're stepping down as Vice President and giving your position to Momo. You will take responsibility for your actions."
Iida's head snapped up. "Takeru-kun. I understand."
Takeru's eyes were cold. "You failed tonight. Acted on impulse, endangered classmates, violated trust. You don't deserve to hold it right now." Takeru was punishing Iida so he wouldn't punish himself. He didn't want Iida to be devoured by his own guilt.
More tears, but Iida nodded slowly. "I... I understand. I am sorry."
Then he walked out, the door closing with a soft click behind him.
Midoriya reached out and squeezed Iida's shoulder.
"Iida-kun..."
"He's right." Iida's voice cracked. "Takeru's right about everything. I was selfish. I could've gotten you all killed. I—"
"You're still our friend," Midoriya said firmly. "You'll make this right. I know you will."
Todoroki didn't say anything for a moment. Then, quietly: "Kurogane-kun protected us. All of us. Even from ourselves."
Outside in the hallway, Takeru leaned against the wall, checking the social media feed. Their plan was working perfectly.
His phone buzzed.
Shun Sakamoto:Forensic evidence will reflect your report. Endeavor's testimony locked in. HPSC appreciates your initiative. You will be sent instructions on how to best handle the media firestorm that is coming. Keep on guard—there will be more eyes on you now than ever before. You are a pro now in all but name in the eyes of the public.
Takeru sighed with exasperation. Although things were going to plan, there was a growing part of him that simply wanted to punch people for daring to question him. This pretense was getting tedious.