Chapter 48 – Towards the Internship
The train was travelling to their destination: Yamanashi Prefecture. Izuku wasn't exactly comfortable, as the train was too low for him; getting the self-propelled safe containing "Aegis of Fortitude," "Mercy," and Misericordia into it had also been no small feat, and it had caused unpleasant inconveniences even for the train crew. Izuku even felt like running, literally, all the way to the prefecture.
However, since there were not enough seats for him and he could not remain standing, Izuku knelt and clung to the seats to steady himself against the train's motion. Despite his discomfort, he kept studying and absorbing the opinions he had exchanged a few days earlier with Principal Nezu and Toshinori Yagi. The mere fact that someone in his home-universe is already discovering and applying Genetic Alchemy is not good news at all if that someone is a member, willingly or unwillingly, of a Villain group.
If I ever encounter any more Nomu, it's best to make sure I eliminate them on sight. He made his decision without hesitation.
But beyond that, there's another detail that keeps his head busy: a "dream." Izuku put his hand around his neck and touched the vial given to him by the Emperor before returning home, feeling both reassured and disturbed by its warmth.
He felt reassured that his Lord's presence had always been a constant in his life, not only because His presence stood by him as he fulfilled his duties as Custodian, but also when he participated in the Talon Sorties. He always perceived His presence, unchanged, as if he could feel the Emperor’s gaze, and in all likelihood it always was, given that during the last hearing the Emperor expressed His judgment on his actions.
The upsetting part, however, comes from the vial filled with a golden liquid that He gave him. Even sitting on the Golden Throne, tears occasionally fell from the Emperor's empty sockets. Collected, crystallised, and preserved, those tears are incredibly powerful weapons against the Neverborn, used primarily by the 666th Space Marine Chapter known as the Grey Knights, the Demon Hunters. But this golden liquid… Izuku doesn't know what it is, and every time he looks at it and holds it in his hand, his instincts scream at him not to lose it and to keep it safe even after his death.
I've already interpreted that dream. He thought as he looked at the vial. But there's only one detail I'm missing, and the answer is definitely in my world… but where?
«Is something wrong, Midoriya-san?» asked Melissa with troubled eyes
«No. It's nothing. Just absorbed in my thoughts.» he said, hinting at a smile.
Melissa had looked troubled when they boarded the train, and she still did now, worried, though this time the concern was more directed at her mentor. After all, it was the first time she had "seen" him with such a troubled expression. His response, however essential and unexplained, sounded strangely sincere. Looking for another topic, Melissa's eyes fell on the vial that Izuku was meticulously arranging.
«Forgive my curiosity, but what is it?» Melissa asked, looking at the vial.
«A vial given to me by my Lord, the Emperor of Mankind, to allow me to return home.»
«I-I understand.»
«You don't have to try so hard to understand.» he said, laughing, amused. «After all, my answer allowed you to understand what it is and what it was used for. But what it really is is still unknown to you, right?»
When asked, Melissa looked away, blushing and giggling.
«Anyway, you've been engrossed in your thoughts since before we boarded the train.» Izuku said.
«Did you notice, huh?» she asked with a complicated expression
«Yes. Do you want to talk about it?»
Melissa looked down; her expression was complicated, and she nervously played with her fingers. Izuku realised that her thoughts were difficult to express clearly, since they might be private or otherwise delicate.
But even so, Melissa finally decided to express her concerns.
«It's about Ida-san.» Melissa began, keeping her gaze down «Like me, you know where he went to do his internship, don't you?»
Ah, is that about him, huh? he thought.
Ida's brother, the hero Ingenium, had been attacked and defeated by a criminal named Stain, nicknamed the Hero Killer. According to the news and newspapers, Stain killed 17 Professional Heroes, while another 23 were disabled and injured to the point of ending their Professional Hero careers. Fortunately, Ida's brother belongs to the latter group.
Apparently, Stain is primarily active in Hosu, and, coincidentally, Ida asked to do his internship in the very city where the Hero Killer is most active. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what's going on in that little boy's head…
«As things stand, I think Ida-san is all about getting revenge for his brother.» Izuku said.
Melissa shivered at her mentor's statement, especially since Izuku had presented it as an essential, immutable fact.
«Revenge… d-don't you think that's too strong a term for an aspiring hero?»
«Before being an aspirant, Ida-san is a human being.» Izuku stated dryly «I doubt a human being can't feel strong resentment toward the person who has practically paralysed a loved one. Like it or not, Shield-san, revenge and justice are separated by a very thin line, easy to cross, especially when you are more inclined to revenge.»
«You think Ida-san wants...»
«I'm not so presumptuous as to predict what Ida-san will do. But he certainly wants to hunt down Stain.» he said after taking a heavy sigh «But whether his heart or his head will decide what to do as soon as he finds him is not something I can anticipate.»
«Maybe I should have talked to him, tried to console him…»
«You could have, but I don't know how useful that would have been.» Izuku stated with a distant look «Even the most perfect rhetoric is fragile in the face of the deepest desires of a human being who has nothing to lose. Not that Ida-san has nothing to lose, but his judgment is currently clouded by anger at the Hero Killer. Besides, there's not exactly such a deep friendship between you and him. The same goes for me: we're not exactly friends, but just classmates.»
«But even so, what do you think I should do?»
«For now, focus on your internship and trust your classmate. Don't force things: it might just make them worse.»
Melissa didn't answer; she nodded, but her expression remained doubtful. Deep down, she believed she could do more. Izuku sighed again.
There are no kind ways. The facts should simply be exposed, even if they are painful. After all…
"…hope is the first step to the road of disappointment." he stated in a sigh, in a heavy tone, fully aware of the truth of that statement.
*****
Arriving at the address of Gran Torino’s agency, Melissa was surprised by how… dilapidated the building was, to use a kind term: it was old, gave the impression of being abandoned and unsafe, with obvious signs of structural failure, including broken windows. A sign above the front door says "Welcome," even though it's about to give in. The building is also surrounded by a high fence, giving the impression of a working construction site. Not exactly a place you'd expect to find the agency of a hero who personally trained All Might for a whole year.
Thinking about it, I found practically nothing about Gran Torino.
«Is it the right address?» asked Melissa while watching Izuku doubtful.
«It is.» Izuku stated, shaking his head.
Without waiting any longer, Izuku approached the front door, opened it, and was followed by Melissa. He immediately cursed, as he would have to bend over again just to get through. Upon entering, he noticed the interior was dimly lit and the air stagnant, with traces of mould and an intense, spicy, slightly bittersweet aroma.
Hm, this smell…
«A-A CORPSE?!» asked Melissa in terror, pointing in front of her.
Lying on the ground, face down, in a puddle that looked like blood, there was an elderly man, very small, with grey, pointed, short hair. From the stomach area, something that looked like an intestine emerged. Or at least, so it might have appeared to a normal human being.
«I'M STILL ALIVE!!!» the old man exclaimed, raising his head in a snap.
«HE IS STILL ALIVE?!» Melissa exclaimed again in surprise
Why that note of doubt, Shield-san? Izuku thought amusedly, chuckling.