Chapter Text
Notes: I’m sorry that this side-story fell off the map. It is mostly because of who I am as a person and I will likely not learn anything from it.
Enjoy the chapter!
***
Anyone who ever watched a cartoon had seen someone get caught in a net, and maybe even dragged off as well. What all the cartoons Kana Tetsutetsu had seen failed to capture was how vulnerable the experience made you feel. Slamming to the ground when she got pulled off balance hardly registered, and even getting dragged across some rubble was going to be a mild soreness at best, but it was the sensation of being moved against her own will. On top of that, the more she fought against the weave of the net, the more tangled she seemed to become. The steel arms her Quirk gave her were superhumanly strong, and she trained herself on top of it, but she wasn’t in a position where she could tear the net apart. Her ears rang as Silver Stalker fired more rounds to cover her own withdrawal. The proximity monitor started beeping, indicating she was approaching the limit of how far she could get from her classmates before she was– before they would all fail the assignment. Her pulse and breath quickened. She couldn’t be the reason they failed. She was the class representative. They were her responsibility!
Her struggling against the net momentarily paid off, as she got one steel arm outside, slamming a hand into the floor and digging her fingers into the concrete. There was a metallic twang as the tow line of the net vibrated, Stalker being brought to an abrupt halt. Kana’s mind raced as she could barely make out the Hero’s attention turning to her again. She had gone from cargo to target again.
~~~
“And that concludes the presentation for now. Thank you all for your attention. I hope the strategies I went over can encourage you to collaborate amongst yourselves and come up with similarly beneficial options in combat.” Shiro Monoma compressed the pointer he’d been using and began packing up the whiteboard he’d rolled out to illustrate some points on. His classmates murmured an assortment of comments, some appreciative some not, as they conferred with each other, continuing to flip through the folders Monoma had passed out.
“So now for what you were avoiding.” Shiro felt a tug on his sleeve, as Kana Tetsutetsu pulled him aside, finding them a pair of seats away from the rest of the class. “Alright Shiro, let’s have it. What’s my area for improvement?”
“Ah. Well, you have an excellent grasp of the indirect ways to use your Quirk that we already discussed, and your reaction time in combat has been steadily improving–”
Kana reached out and gave him a sisterly head-pat. “You don’t need to sugarcoat it. I can already tell there’s a ‘but’ on the way. I won’t get mad.”
Shiro abruptly looked as though he’d drawn the winning ticket in a raffle, and he raised a hand to gently move hers aside. “And there it is. Stop trying to be your mother.”
Kana’s eyes widened and her back stiffened. “ExcUSE me?” Her voice jumped, before she caught herself and composed herself. “I mean, would you please explain?”
Shiro extended an arm and pointed at her. “And you're continuing to make my case for me. Putting aside any personal bias from years of you appointing yourself my minder in response to my more histrionic moments, you don't have your mother's same natural ease at handling others. I have no complaints about your service as Class Representative, but that doesn't directly equate to field work.”
Kana fidgeted as her childhood friend and classmate was telling her things that were obnoxiously true.
“I know Aunty Itsuka has a natural ability to be upbeat and lift everyone around her; you need to find your own style of leadership. I know that we have no shortage of dual legacies around here, and I can understand and even admire wanting to pay homage to one’s parents, but you are more than a generational copy of either or both of yours. Anyone who would see you as nothing more than that is a short-sighted fool.”
“Shiro, that’s… Fukidashi, did you need something?” Kana was distracted by their classmate, who had turned up and was staring hard at an unused side of the room.
“Don’t mind me, Class Rep. Just looking at the fourth wall to make sure that last bit sinks in for SOME people.” She huffed, two small clouds exiting her nostrils for emphasis, as Shiro and Kana exchanged a look of mutual resignation. They’d long since learned not to question Fukidashi’s particular outlook on reality too closely.
“The point is,” Shiro resumed, “you don't need to handle everyone and everything so gracefully; go ahead and get savage every now and then.”
~~~
Kana had to let go of the floor to bring her arm up and shield herself from more gunfire, that same red glint coming from Silver Stalker’s eyes as each shot was fired. What was her Quirk again? Shinso or Toshi would probably already have yelled it in excitement by now. She heard the telltale sign of a clip being released. She had no time to spare, as she reached into a pocket and then brought her hand up to her mouth.
~~~
click SNAP click SNAP click SNAP. There were three sounds of metal on metal, followed by ropes of the net coming apart. As the student managed to tear herself free through the now tattered net, she managed to catch Silver Stalker mid-reload. She raised a foot to the younger woman’s face as she tried to get to her feet, only to suddenly find herself off balance as her foot was caught. She was forced to switch on the headlamp of her goggles to see what was going on.
The girl was grappling her by the boot with her teeth as she was pushing the remnants of the net aside and clearly getting ready to lunge forward. The dossiers Super Ball had given them never mentioned this! Only her arms should be able to material-shift, and yet somehow this girl had a mouthful of steel latched onto her like a bear trap!
~~~
Lab coat flapping around her as her rolling desk chair careened across the workshop floor, Yumeko Mirai, a first-year student in the Support Course, giggled with delight as she clutched a small box to her chest. “I’m glad you came right away, I couldn’t wait to get this to you as soon as it was done. Super lightweight alloy with antimicrobial surfacing, laser sharpened edges, micro-tension coils to make movement easier, lengual guard to avoid accidental self-injury, special three layer cushioned fitment for security and protection, OH, and there’s a little divot here where you can put in these drops to make it mint-flavored. That’s a new feature, I came up with that just this morning and added it to the design.”
With all the excitement of someone presenting an engagement gift, Mirai opened the box, her gray-skinned hands twitching in anticipation. “Would you like to try them on, Iron Fist?”
“Yeah.” Kana reached into the box, took out the support item, and fitted it into her mouth. She moved her jaw a bit, before smiling broadly. “They fit perfectly.” The bright lighting of the workshop glinted off the metal now covering her teeth.
~~~
Kana pressed the advantage, tightening her jaw as she pulled at the gaps she'd created in the net, even as she squinted from the light shining in her eyes. With her footing restored, she finally had the leverage to start pulling the net apart. The butt of a firearm came down on her head and she yelped, but managed to keep her jaw in place. The beeping of the proximity monitor was slowing. She just needed to hold out a few more moments. Her class would be there soon!
A flash of metal came straight at her face and she reflexively shut her eyes. There was a tearing sound, a sting as she felt something lacerate her cheek, and then her hold on her opponent went slack. She opened her eyes to see Silver Stalker, minus one boot (the cut on her cheek was apparently collateral from the Pro Hero cutting her boot laces) tumbling away. The last thing she could see was the Pro Hero turning her headlamp off, as she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Class Rep, are you okay? Shit! Blood! Medic!" Koichiro called back to the rest of the group.
"I'm fine! Just a flesh wound. Facial wounds bleed a lot. Don't lose sight of her!"
There was a high pitched wail, followed by an excited voice. "She's already taking off! Kana-chan, are you okay?!" Koumori had caught up as well, albeit stumbling around the others as he tried to rein in his wingspan.
“I already said I’m fine.” She repeated, a bit more sternly. Kaniyashiki had joined them, and Kana accepted the bandages their class’ medic was offering. Using her newly-augmented teeth for help, she tore off part of a sleeve and used it to clean her face before adhering a bandage over the wound. “Any other injuries?”
“Just Dashi from the first volley, I’m sore but fine as long as you don’t need me to run. Scrapes and bruises for others but that’s it.” Awase reported to her, as placid as usual. “We still looking to move topside again?”
“Yes, this was a bad call and that’s on me. Fukui, lift up Yamaguchi and get her to work on the ceiling. Defensive formation around them for everyone else. Leave room for any rubble that comes down and try to clear it away as best you can. We’re not looking for an exit, we’re making one.”
~~~
It was messy and noisy, but it was clear at this point the ‘Villains’ had some method of monitoring them anyway, so stealth was a moot point. Once Bondo, taking point again, had given them the all clear, the rest of Class B emerged cautiously.
“Well that all went over about as well as hot-pot on a rollercoaster.” Joichiro Koichiro snorted. Skulking around in the dark hadn’t been to his liking to begin with, so he was as happy to be back on the surface as anyone. He helped others climb out while the class reps kept watch. “Hey fluffy, how much progress have we made?”
Koumori’s head popped up as he took Koichiro’s hand. He was finally beginning to mellow a bit. “Don’t harsh me bro.” Koichiro rolled his eyes, all four of them in two sockets. Oh great, the ‘most excellent’ demeanor had replaced the sugar rush, finally. “From the scan I did when we cleared the entrance, I’d say we’re about… a kilo and a half in? Maybe closer to two but not more than that. I find us looking very uncool so far today.”
Bondo slithered past them, only in her humanoid shape from the waist up as she emerged from the hole. “ Winning is cool. Let’s worry about passing this exam instead of how we look along the way.” She came back up to her full height and form. “Is there a plan?”
Tetsutetsu looked towards, ugh, Monoma, who seemed to avoid her gaze. Interesting. “No,” she answered finally. “We’ve already trained and prepared for direct engagement. We don’t have any specialization for urban exploration that will work in a group this large. We watch each other’s backs and we press on. We’ll take whatever path we can find that leaves us the least open. Two groups, one length apart, so we’re not all clustered together. Same side of the street this time.”
Nobody seemed to have any argument, same for a whimper from the injured Dashi as she was hauled out of the hole with assistance. Kuroiro had whipped up a crutch for her, but between her and the beating one of Awase’s legs had also taken, they weren’t going to be setting any land speed records. Gomusuke let her lean on him as Kido was the penultimate classmate to clear the hole, before Fukui’s looming form clambered out as well. Having a giant around certainly provided some utility, even if he was also a massive lumbering target. “Well I suppose we should get to it then.”
~~~
“So who was it, anyway?” Kimiko Dashi, still nursing the wound to her leg as she moved along with assistance. “Who’s ass needs to get kicked up to their ears?” She gritted her teeth.
“Silver Stalker. I don’t know her full profile, but she’s a Pro Hero specializing in firearms and guerilla tactics. All of us underground was probably the best setting she could have asked for. She has a… complicated reputation.” Tetsutetsu replied.
“That’s a generous way of putting it,” Koichiro scoffed, actually turning his nose up. Seriously, who the heck does that these days?
“What are you on about?” Dashi cocked an eyebrow at him.
“She’s registered as a ‘Contracted Hero’,” Monoma had apparently found his voice again. “She doesn’t go on patrol or generally engage in civic matters like most Heroes. She gets job offers that have to meet approval from the Public Safety Commission, and then she’s free to take them on as an independent agent, instead of receiving public funds like most Heroes. Private security, surveillance, etcetera...”
Dashi made a face of disgust. “So you’re saying I– we got attacked by a gun for hire?”
“I believe they prefer the term ‘mercenary’, or ‘soldier of fortune’, although I personally think that one’s fallen out of fashion.” Koichiro apparently felt the need to keep in the conversation.
“Just like ‘ Office Lady Murder Specialist Haruko ’! Just, you know, less murder-y.” Anime Fukidashi, who was suddenly wearing glasses, pushed them up her face. They glinted in that way that you couldn’t see her eyes.
“Kaniyashiki, do you have any drugs in that med kit? Like, enough to put someone unconscious?” Dashi locked her jaw.
Tetsutetsu turned around, looking concerned. “What? Has it gotten that bad?”
Dashi snorted, finally cracking a grim smile, at which Gomusuke, who had been helping her, pushed her hair out of her face. “I wasn’t asking for me.” Grim it may have been, but that actually seemed to get a light chuckle out of a portion of the class. Nobody really could ever hate Fukidashi, but like one or two other members of the class, she was simply… a lot.
“Hey boss-lady, uhm… I think something uncool is going down.” Koumori was looking around nervously, his large ears twitching at the tips as he was trying to get a bead on something. The class didn’t wait for Tetsutetsu’s response and immediately grouped up, a ring of students around the injured and less combat oriented ones, spaced out just enough to avoid being a unified target. Dashi could swear she saw Monoma smirk, just for a moment. Fine, so they’d all retained his presentation, which apparently hadn’t been complete bullshit. “There’s this gnarly buzzing and scratching that keeps popping on and off, but from more than one direction. It just cut out again”
Awase scanned their surroundings. “Not Human Rocket or Silver Stalker again… doesn’t match up with the earlier fights. Can you hear anything else?”
Koumori shut his eyes tightly, trying to focus. “A scratch and then the buzzing again… that way!” He pointed up about five stories, a few buildings down the street they were on. “I think it’s right behi– no wait, over there!” He shifted where he was pointing to a different building across the street. “One stopped and then the other one started. It’s gotta be more than one thing, right?”
Before anyone could answer, something small flew out from around the corner of the first building Koumori had pointed to. Details weren’t easy to make out at a distance, but it was some kind of multi-rotored drone, carrying some kind of flat metal plate underneath it.
~~~
“Tama’s in position, Silver. Show off that bankshot you’re so proud of. Tora’s ready next.” A voice came through Silver Stalker’s headset.
“I’ve told you how much I hate you nicknaming your drones. It’s childish.” Stalker released the safety on her rifle and fired. A split-second later, her eyes flickered red and there was a ringing of something heavy on metal.
~~~
There was the sound of a gunshot from somewhere above, and then the machine seemed to wobble in midair. Within the same space of a breath, there was a mighty bellow from the giant Kentaro Fukui, and he hobbled forward. A ceramic ball fell to the ground, having struck him in the knee. A second bang followed by a ringing, and Bondo’s head splattered in the same moment that Kodai fell over clutching her shoulder, the shot having gone straight through the slime girl..
“Take cover!” Kido shouted, raising a shield from the direction the shots had come.
“There’s another buzzing!” Koumori shouted, turning to face behind them. The formation was struggling to reform behind the shield Kido, and now Awase were attempting to provide, even as Fukui was unsteadily trying to get back to his feet.
~~~
“Jiji is in play, and their flank’s wide open. I say get the pretty-boy.”
“I know how to do my job, Kui.”
~~~
The sound of the gunshot came from the same place, but this time the ringing came from behind them. Acting on instinct, Shiro Monoma threw himself to the ground and felt something just graze his back. He scampered for cover behind Kido, taking the other boy by one wrist and turning his body. “Shields up in both directions! She’s got… dammit… what the hell was her Quirk again… she’s got some way of redirecting her shots!”
Kido allowed his classmate to move his arm into position. “Fancy bullets?” His shield, now split in two, flickered on and off erratically, trying to conserve his energy while not giving the opponent any obvious pattern to get a shot past.
“No, they’re just normal non-lethal rounds.” Kitiara Kaniyashiki had gotten a look at the one that had struck Fukui. “How’s she doing it?”
“Truly insidious, but also too subtle to discern just yet.” Kuroiro had made herself a spyglass and was getting a better look at the first machine that had come into view. It was some kind of surveillance drone, and the plate it was carrying didn’t look like anything special. “How is it that these aren’t battered from the sky as they serve their purpose?” Behind her, Chiasa Kamakiri collapsed into the multitude of smaller versions of herself, trying to provide as much visual cover as she could as they fluttered around her classmates.
“There’s something we’re not seeing.” Tetsutetsu growled, steel arms raised in front of her as she managed to intercept a shot. Seconds later, however, Goro Gomusuke took one center mass.
“Owowowowowow, shit that’s hot!” Gomusuke exclaimed as his balloon-shaped body stretched and stretched under the impact, before snapping back flinging the projectile away. His uniform had a hole neatly burned through it, and a minor heat burn was visible on his skin beneath it. “Huh… that’s different.”
“Hot?” Fukui rumbled, something like comprehension flashing across his face. “I think I know what it is.” He shook his head as he sensed the question coming. “We can’t counter it, so we need to just take out the source. I have an idea.”
***
Apologies again for the EXCESSIVE delay in this chapter. The project simply fell out of my head, but as I’ve been taking a more active role in helping with the main story, the ideas I had seem to be coming back. Hope you all still enjoy!