Chapter 13: The First Audit
The weekend at U.A. was meant for recuperation, but for the fledgling founders of the Higuruma & Yaoyorozu Judicial Agency, it was the opening of the discovery phase. While the rest of Class 1-A was likely sleeping off the exhaustion of the Battle Trial or visiting the cafes in Kiyashi Ward, Hiromi and Momo were standing in the shadows of an industrial district in Shizuoka.
The target was "The Gilded Guard," a mid-tier Hero Agency led by a Pro-Hero named Aegis-X. On the surface, Aegis-X was a silver-ranked hero known for his high success rate in stopping robberies. However, Momo's family data-networks had flagged a statistical anomaly: in every one of his interventions, civilian property damage exceeded the value of the stolen goods by 400%, and the construction firms rebuilding the district were all subsidiaries of a shell company owned by Aegis-X's brother.
"He's not stopping crimes, Hiromi," Momo whispered, peering through a pair of high-tech thermal goggles she had manifested earlier. "He's creating urban renewal projects through destruction. He's a vulture in a cape."
Hiromi stood perfectly still, his charcoal suit blending into the darkness of the alley. He wasn't looking at the building; he was looking at the "Record." In his hand, he held a file folder—not a physical one, but a manifestation of Judgeman's knowledge.
"The Law defines a Hero's duty as the preservation of life and property," Hiromi said, his voice a low, cold hum. "By intentionally maximizing damage for financial gain, he has vacated his heroic immunity. He is no longer a Pro-Hero; he is a racketeer."
The Infiltration: Precision vs. Power
They didn't break down the front door. Momo manifested a set of molecular-vibration cutters, silently carving a hole through the reinforced glass of the second-story window. They moved through the office like ghosts.
"Security cameras on a closed loop," Momo reported, tapping her earpiece. "I've injected a localized virus into their server. We have seven minutes before the manual override kicks in."
"That is more than enough time for a deposition," Hiromi replied.
They reached the main office. Aegis-X was there, stripped of his armor, counting stacks of yen alongside a man in a sharp corporate suit. The air in the room was thick with the smell of expensive cigars and cheap ethics.
"Who the hell are you kids?" Aegis-X roared, reaching for his shield—a Quirk-enhanced tool that could generate kinetic shockwaves.
Hiromi didn't reach for a weapon. He didn't even raise his fists. He simply stepped into the light of the desk lamp, his eyes reflecting a weary, ancient justice.
"Domain Expansion: Deadly Sentencing."
The lavish office was swallowed by the mahogany walls of the Courtroom. Aegis-X and his associate found themselves standing in the defendant's box. The cigars in their hands vanished. The stacks of money on the desk were replaced by stacks of legal briefs.
"Aegis-X," Hiromi's voice boomed, amplified by the silent judgment of the void. "You are charged with Insurance Fraud, Systemic Negligence, and Professional Malpractice. Judgeman has seen the ledgers. Judgeman has seen the 'accidental' collateral damage. How do you plead?"
"This is a prank! You're just a brat from U.A.!" Aegis-X lunged forward, but as he tried to activate his kinetic shield, nothing happened. He fell flat on his face, the weight of the Domain pressing down on his soul. "My Quirk... I can't feel it!"
"Violence is prohibited in this court," Hiromi said, walking toward the bench. "This isn't a fight. This is a discovery hearing. And the evidence is irrefutable."
The Evidence and the Verdict
Momo stood by the witness stand, her role as the "Clerk of the Court" manifesting as she presented the digital records she had pulled from the agency's servers. "Case Exhibit A: Communication logs between Aegis-X and 'Construct-All Corp' detailing the specific buildings to be 'accidentally' destroyed during the next villain pursuit."
Aegis-X turned pale. "You... you can't use that! That's private property!"
"In the eyes of Justice, there is no privacy for a crime," Hiromi declared.
Judgeman let out a low, vibrating toll of a bell. The scales in its hand tipped violently to the left.
[GUILTY]
"The sentence is Confiscation," Hiromi said. "But since this is an audit of your entire career, the sentence is extended. Your Quirk will remain sealed until you are handed over to the authorities and a formal trial is conducted in the waking world."
The Domain dissolved. They were back in the dark office. Aegis-X lay on the floor, sobbing, his hands clawing at the air for a power that was no longer there. His associate was hyperventilating, staring at Hiromi as if he were a demon.
The Aftermath: The Partnership Deepens
Ten minutes later, the Shizuoka Police—the ones not on Aegis-X's payroll, contacted by Momo—arrived to find the two men tied up with high-tensile capture tape, alongside a flash drive containing every bit of evidence needed for a life sentence.
Hiromi and Momo stood on the rooftop of a neighboring building, watching the flashing red and blue lights below.
"The first stone has been cast," Momo said, her breath hitching slightly from the adrenaline. She looked at Hiromi, her admiration now bordering on something much more intense. "You really did it. You took down a Pro-Hero without throwing a single punch."
"I took down a criminal, Momo," Hiromi corrected, turning to face her. "The cape was just a disguise."
He reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You performed perfectly. Without your technical expertise, the evidence would have remained hidden. You aren't just my partner; you are the infrastructure of this justice."
Momo leaned into his touch, her eyes sparkling in the moonlight. "I'll build whatever you need, Hiromi. I'll make sure no one can ever hide from your Gavel."
As they made their way back to U.A. under the cover of night, Hiromi felt the weight of the future. He had proven his system worked. But he also knew that by taking down Aegis-X, he had just sent a loud, unmistakable signal to the HPSC.
The audit wasn't just a mission anymore. It was a declaration of war.
Author's Note:
This chapter shows the "Agency" in action for the first time! I wanted to demonstrate that Hiromi's greatest strength isn't combat—it's Investigation and Evidence. By pairing him with Momo's creation and intelligence, they become the ultimate anti-corruption team. This also seeds the idea that Momo is becoming "addicted" to the feeling of absolute justice that Hiromi provides, setting the stage for her deep devotion in the volumes to come.
We're moving toward the USJ Incident soon, where the League of Villains will realize that U.A. has a student who doesn't play by the rules of the game!