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CHAPTER START---
Sitting opposite Yagi in Nezu's private luxury helicopter, Horizon is idly scrolling through some reports on his phone.
He was wearing his usual Hero Costume with his sword resting beside him, while Yagi wore a simple black suit with the left sleeve tucked away. On account of him still missing that arm.
Horizon glances out the window where he sees Hiroshima in the distance, their destination for the evening.
Then looking across from him he sees Yagi meticulously reading a set of flashcards, mouthing the words as he rehearses his speech one last time.
Yagi sighs in frustration and leans back, "I don't think I can do this, maybe we should turn around."
"We aren't turning around," Horizon says. "I already left Tokyo to go to UA to get you, now I'm here just to bodyguard you for the evening, how much of my time do you plan to waste?"
"Sorry, but I just don't think I can go stand in front of everyone, for them to see me like...well," he gestures to himself. "Like this."
"Those idiots worship the ground if you so much as walk on it, you'll be fine."
"But I'm All Might," Yagi says. "How am I supposed to stand in front of them to accept the awards and honors...when I can't even protect myself anymore, much less anyone else."
"Nobody expects people to be heroes forever, time is undefeated in that way, well not for me, but you get what I mean, right?"
Yagi looks a bit confused at that, "what do you mea---"
"Just focus on being honest with them. Despite all the things online about Nana Shimura and the conspiracy theories."
"Not conspiracy theories," Yagi says. "What All For One said was true, which is why it hurts so much."
Horizon sighs, "you golden-hearted types always try to blame yourselves for things you can't control, it's stupid. You saved a lot of people, don't let anything diminish that, focus on that and you'll be fine."
"Easier said than done," Yagi mutters as he goes back to rehearsing his speech.
As they arrive above the city, the skyline of Hiroshima is dazzling under the night sky, but Horizon is looking out over the ocean, to a barely visible light in the distance.
Even as the helicopter lands on the roof of the most luxurious hotel in the city, he barely acknowledges any of it.
"I suppose it's time to make this official," Yagi grumbles as gets up, stepping out as the pilot opens the door.
Looking back Yagi sees Horizon step out, then he begins walking toward the elevator on the roof. Ignoring the pool and lounging area.
He sees three people standing in front of it to greet him, two plain-looking men in black suits, and the woman in the middle.
Around his age, slicked back blonde hair, pearls around her neck and hanging from her ears, and wearing a loose black gown.
"President Pantu," Yagi greets her with a polite handshake. "Always a pleasure to see you, ma'am."
"You as well All Might," she says with a kind smile. " Before we go inside I'd like to personally and professionally thank you, for all that you've done, for all that you've sacrificed...the world is grateful for you, as a Pro Hero and as a shining example of all we can become."
"Thank you ma'am, I only hoped to do good and help others in my time as a Hero."
"You really are the best of us," Pantu gives him a genuine smile. "My men will escort you inside and out of this cold air, everyone inside is quite excited about the ceremony itself," she steps aside and gestures to the elevator.
"You aren't going down with us?" Yagi asks.
"I'd like to have a word with him," Pantu gestures to the side of the roof where Horizon was gripping the railing, staring out at the lights in the distance.
"Oh, I see, I'll go on ahead then," Yagi's voice hid it well, but her words felt like a punch in the gut.
'One minute you're on top, and the moment you aren't useful anymore they move on immediately...but this is for the best, Horizon can actually protect people, while I need someone to protect me now.'
As the elevator closes Pantu looks at the helicopter to see the pilot waiting inside, ready and on standby for Horizon and All Might to leave.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself she schools her expression into an ice-cold mask, then slowly walks over to stand beside him.
She doesn't say a word, simply looking up at him.
Leaned forward, hands gripping the safety railing hard enough to crush the metal, his visor was unreadable but he seemed, agitated.
'What is that?' Pantu wonders as she sees a strange blue energy vapor rising from his hands before it quickly stops.
Her eyes then move up.
Looking from his visor into the direction he was facing, she saw a barely visible light on the horizon. 10km out into the sea, connected by one massive and heavily secured bridge. Precisely 12km from where they currently stand.
Tartarus. The most secure prison on this side of the world, only comparable the America's New Alcatraz.
She's skeptical at first, 'he can't possibly be sensing within Tartarus, from 12km away...that's impossible, he's powerful but not that powerful, right?'
Her skepticism immediately fades as he speaks in a low growl.
"Where are they?"
"Hmm, what exactly do you mean?" Pantu asks.
Horizon stands up straight and turns to face her, his presence strong and rigid.
Hiding the fact that below his visor, below his mask, he was bleeding from the eyes, nose, and ears. His brain felt like stakes were being hammered into it.
That it took everything in him not to sway in place with the wind.
All because he opened a 24km wide room to Scan inside Tartarus, for barely a few seconds.
He could feel his energy levels remaining fine, but processing it, as always, was another story entirely.
"You know what I mean," Horizon says.
Pantu turns away from him to face Tartarus, "tell me what you see then, and I'll clarify," she seems completely unphased by his attitude.
Horizon just growls and turns to face the prison as well, but doesn't open a new Room, "prisoners, lots of them, a scientist of some kind, short, portly, labcoat, glasses...he's monitoring All Fo---"
"That's enough," Pantu cuts him off, not wanting him to delve deeper into the fact that Dr. Shodai Garaki was hired to build the containment unit to counter All For One's many Quirks.
He was their best choice for a Quirk specialist since the only person considered to be above him, would likely be Horizon himself.
He also came highly recommended by many trusted people -who all shared a certain mutual friend-.
And giving Nezu any access to Tartarus was simply out of the question with how obviously compromised he is when it comes to Horizon.
"You've made your point," Pantu says. "I had them moved after the sports festival."
"Why?" Horizon asks.
"Because before then, I didn't realize exactly how powerful you were, I had to keep them out of your reach...you get them out too early and suddenly we have multiple countries breathing down our necks," Pantu says.
Horizon doesn't speak for a while, then says in a calm voice, "your neck, not mine. And you do know I can detect any lies you speak, right?" he lied, still unable to use Polygraph without physical contact, which he currently doesn't have.
He focuses on her expression, but she gives him nothing, until, she smiles.
Pantu smiles at that, confusing him, "no, you can't...because that's actually my Quirk. You should do some more research on a person before you try to bluff them, not that you'd ever find my Quirk on file...and it will stay that way, understand?"
"Mmm, understood," he grumbles out. "You know, I always wondered what you'd be like, the third signature on my contract...and I was right, you really are one seriously cold bi---"
"It's needed for my job," Pantu says. "How have you been holding up your end of the deal thus far?"
Horizon relaxes and simply shrugs, "playing hero is easy for someone like me, I'm sure you've had a team or two tracking my progress, right?"
"Naturally, you're a massive gamble for us. I signed that contract expecting just a doctor, but instead of some crumbs, I lucked into the whole pie...lucky me."
"Don't get too comfortable," Horizon says. "I'll be your superhero or whatever, but it's just a job, nothing more and nothing less."
Pantu raises a brow at that, "and what would it take to make this a lifetime contract?"
Horizon immediately steps away from the railing and leans in a bit closer to her, "since you've got some lie detection Quirk then you'll know how serious I am. If you try to fuck me over in any way...I'll burn everything to the ground, I'll rip Tokyo out of the ground, raise it into the sky, then drop it on your head. Just. Like. That."
Pantu keeps her stone-cold expression, even as Horizon walks over to the elevator and leaves her on the roof.
Knowing she can't let up her facade for even a moment Pantu remains calm in case Horizon was still 'watching' her.
'I need him to help stabilize Japan at least, but from the way things are moving, he'll be the #1 Hero the same year he graduates. I've got just over 3 years to stabilize Japan and deal with this contract situation.
And if I try to undercut him in any way,' Pantu looks out over the city, all the people living their innocent lives.
Lives that Horizon has said he'd snuff out if necessary, if she pushed him.
'I need to extend the timeline of his contract, the longer he stays working for us the better, because we really can't afford the alternative...'
Taking out her phone Pantu immediately calls the Hero Public Safety Commission HQ and gives orders to the analysis and simulation teams.
"I need a full rundown of Horizon versus any available Pro Hero we have, use all gathered intel, and I need a projection of exactly how long it will take for Japan to be stable, League Of Villains as primary chaos catalyst."
"Yes ma'am," the person at the other end says before Pantu hangs up.
"That should tell me how long I need to extend his contract for at least. Honestly Nezu, you just had to find the kind of monster we can't even use a leash on...because the more we use it, the faster he snaps..."
END CHAPTER---
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pat.reon: Keanu_Eugene (Unlimited chapters ahead)
CHAPTER START---
Finally sneaking out of the main room Yagi manages to escape to the hotel's balcony. A massive garden area that overlooked Hiroshima.
With the moon high in the sky and reflecting off the ocean in the distance, the cool night air nearly made him shiver, no, it felt oddly warm.
He breathes a sigh of relief, feeling the tension in his body relax, then looks down at the medal in his hand.
'For going above and beyond as a citizen and a hero...or something like that,' he thinks. He couldn't really remember what Pantu said when she presented him with it on stage.
Or what the other dozen or so medals and accolades were for.
He mindlessly begins walking to the railing, to get some fresh air, and take a break from people bombarding him with their gratitude for all he's done.
It all felt so hollow, undeserved.
'I'm here, weak and frail, helpless, when I'm supposed to be protecting everyone. But even tonight I need someone to protect me when I leave UA.'
Yagi can't help but look down at the medal in disgust, as if it insulted him. And before he knows it he's leaning against the railing, holding it out above the street below, ready to get rid of it.
As if it could ever help ease his shame, as if dropping it to the street below would fix anything.
As if---
"What are you doing?" A deep voice asks beside him.
"Huh!" Yagi nearly fumbles and drops the medal but barely catches it, breathing a sigh of relief as he looks to his right.
Standing only a meter away was Endeavor, Enji Todoroki in a formal black suit, leaning against the railing with his phone in his hand.
The former #2 Hero, now the temporary #1.
Pantu has already spoken to both these men regarding the rankings, unlike the public, they already knew Endeavor would officially become the #1 Hero during the annual ceremony in November.
Four #1 Heroes in one building, at one event. An astronomically rare occurrence.
Japan's former #1 -All Might.
Japan's current #1- Endeavor.
Thailand's current #1- Buakaw.
Korea's current #1- Hodori.
And if counting who everyone assumes is a future #1 Hero, Horizon, that makes five.
"When did you get here?" Yagi asks Endeavor after recovering from the surprise.
Endeavor glances down at his phone, seeing that Shoto read his messages but hasn't responded...as usual. Then looks to Yagi.
"I was here before you, but you were too in your own head to notice."
'That explains why I'm not freezing in this wind,' Yagi realizes.
"You should go back inside, that's where the cameras are, isn't that what you're all about?" Endeavor asks gruffly.
Yagi just shakes his head and goes back to leaning on the railing. "That's why I'm out here actually, same as you I'd imagine. I didn't see you inside, not even during the presentation, are you avoiding their questions too?"
This gets Endeavor curious, "what do you mean 'too', since when do you avoid people?"
Yagi falls silent for a while, playing with the small medal in his hand, rolling it between his fingers.
"Have you ever felt, like all your life you've only been focused on one thing, and you thought you were succeeding...but after it's all done you realized you failed anyway."
Endeavor glances down at his phone, still seeing dozens of messages over the past two months with not a single reply from Shoto or Natsuo.
"Even you can't fight villains forever," Endeavor says. "Is that what you wanted to do, or would you be happier if you died fighting?"
Yagi doesn't even think about it for a moment, because he's thought about it a lot these past few days, "maybe," he mutters.
"Tch," Endeavor scoffs, "you've done your part, more than your fair share at least. You know better than anyone that even you can't save everyone, just try to enjoy retirement somehow..."
"That's impossible while Shigaraki is out there," Yagi says, and Endeavor immediately realizes what's wrong.
"So that's what this is about, you feel responsible for him."
"My master neglected his dad, to train me. That chain of events led us to where we all are today, how am I supposed to not feel responsible for that, at least partly."
"Hmm, 'Heroes are willing to hurt the only people they're truly required to protect, for the sake of strangers...' at least I think that's what he said," Endeavor says.
"All For One?"
"Horizon, during the sports festival, it feels like every day he's more and more right about that," Endeavor glances down at his phone, still seeing no replies. "It's given me a lot to think about, the things that happened these past few months."
"You and me both," Yagi actually manages to chuckle at that, enjoying how much more friendly Endeavor was being at the moment. "I have to somehow get used to being the one who needs saving...while my master's grandson is out there hurting people, and I can't even stop him.
And you need to focus on being the #1 Hero, being the new symbol for the people of this country."
"Mmm," Endeavor grumbles, "That hasn't been on my mind as much as I would have expected, I've been distracted by some personal issues. How has Shoto been doing at UA?"
"He's the same as always, it's always been a bit difficult to read him, is everything alright?"
"Everything is fine," he lied. "But I suppose now you can finally give your full focus to teaching those students how to be proper Pro Heroes."
Yagi chuckles at that, then gestures at his missing arm, "I suppose this is what it took to get me to stay in one place, but yes that's my plan. You're always welcome to stop in at UA if you want to visit, or maybe even teach a class.
Oh, never mind, you'll be too busy now that you're the #1 Hero, my apologies."
"#1 Hero," Endeavor mutters, taking one last look at his phone before putting it away. "I always thought I'd be happy to hear that...but this just feels rotten."
"Rotten?" Yagi aks.
"Undeserved," Endeavor says. "I never truly surpassed you, I'm only here because of the gap between me and all the others, I was the only real option to fill the space you left, it's a hollow promotion."
"That doesn't change what it means, what it requires of you," Yagi says. "It doesn't matter how you got to this spot, what matters is that you show everyone that you deserve it, that you show yourself you deserve it."
Endeavor falls silent for a while, carefully considering everything he just heard. Realizing it was all true, that he couldn't change the past, he just had to show everyone who doubted him that he is a worthy #1 Hero.
"But what if that isn't my focus anymore?" Endeavor ask.
Yagi is completely blindsided by this, "but being the greatest hero has always been your focus, what are you talking about?"
Endeavor just frowns at that, "hurting the people close to you in order to be a better hero to others, that's not something I want to do anymore. But the only way I can even think of atoning is to prove that this wasn't all for nothing, that the suffering wasn't for nothing. That I am a great hero, someone they can look up to."
Yagi gives him a confused look, "atone? What are you talking about?"
Endeavor's eyes open wide for a moment, realizing he's said too much, "sorry, just ignore that I said anything."
Yagi gives him a strange look but doesn't judge, "it's fine, but what does this mean for your plans as the new top pro?"
"Time beats everyone, it's undefeated," Endeavor says.
"Horizon said that during his interview with Chitose, right?"
"He also said that it won't beat him...whatever that means, but what I mean is. I don't want to be the next you, and I don't even want to be the future me, at least not the me I thought I was going to be.
The #1 Pro Hero Endeavor that I always wanted to be, he's just another monster I want nothing to do with now. Now I just want to fix all the broken things in my life, no more hurting people to save strangers, at least not if I can help it. I'll take the time to mend the things that matter most..."
"I see," Yagi nods a few times. "But that would mean stepping down as the #1 Pro, because from what you're saying this will take all your focus."
"It likely will."
"But, you and I both know, with me gone, the #1 could only be you. The only current pro I'm absolutely certain of leaving this country to, is you," Yagi gestures to the city in front of them and gives a genuine All Might brand smile. "When all the people cry out, gripped by fear, I know for certain they'll be alright, because you are here."
"Tch," Endeavor scoffs, "you're as dramatic and corny as ever, but I'm not stupid enough to step down. I understand the state of Japan as it is, if I refuse this spot then things only get much worse for the country."
"Oh, right," Yagi puts his arm down awkwardly. "So what is your plan then?"
"Three years, in three years he'll graduate and easily overtake me to become the top pro. Then I will have more time to focus on what's important. Until then, I'm stuck as the #1 Hero."
"Hmm, I always expected you to hold onto this spot until the end... I guess these past few months have really caused a lot of unexpected changes."
"I'm not delusional," Endeavor says. "Even if I wanted to do that, the moment he graduates I'm back to Rank #2, competing with you was nearly impossible, but I could at least see a path forward. But there is no competing with that thing Nezu found..."
"You'd be surprised," Yagi says. "There could very well be another young man with incredible potential ready to rival him."
Endeavor just shakes his head at that, looking at Yagi as if he was an absolute moron, "it's Horizon, he has no rivals."
"But he isn't the only Mystery Class," Yagi points out.
"True, but Star is much older and already in her prime, and he's already likely at least somewhat comparable. By the time he graduates, he'll be ahead of her, even tonight, three of the current top 10 most powerful heroes in the world are in this building, and he's still arguably stronger than any of us."
Yagi just forces a smile, wishing Deku all the luck he can give, but he's also glad Endeavor isn't planning to overburden Shoto with the impossible task of surpassing someone like Horizon.
"Speaking of the brat, shouldn't he be glued to you for the night?" Endeavor asks.
"Oh, Horizon said he'll keep track of me with his Quirk, it's still a bit creepy but that way he doesn't have to shadow me all night."
"Hmm, I see."
"When I came out here I saw him take your seat actually, the one you never used."
"Isn't that at the table with---"
"Buakaw and Hodori," Yagi nods. "That's partly why he bothered coming tonight, he wanted to meet the other Rank #1 Pro Heroes."
Endeavor looks genuinely bothered by that idea, "Horizon, speaking to heroes from other countries...that sounds like a fight waiting to happen, maybe we should go check on them befo---"
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Endeavor's phone goes off and he immediately checks it, hoping to see a response from either of his sons.
"What is it?" Yagi asks, seeing his focused expression as he looks at the phone.
"Kurogiri and Twice were spotted on Mt. Fuji, the two most valuable members of the league, and that close to Tokyo, that can't be good, looks like Horizon and I will be leaving early..."
END CHAPTER---
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