Chapter Text
“Keigo Takami. State your case.”
Keigo took a breath and stepped forward. Man, this kind of thing is gonna be hard for him to get used to. He never thought he’d go from being a double agent assassin to the president of Japan’s biggest law enforcement agency. Yet here he is- standing before government officials pleading a case that they definitely will not like to hear.
Breathe, Hawks.
“I’m here to ask permission to call in international support in the ongoing efforts to rebuild Japan. As you all know-“
“I’m going to stop you right there, Takami. We have granted dozens and dozens of fly-ins from the west to help with reconstruction. So if you’ve come to waste our time with another one of those requests, write it in an email instead.”
“…N-no sir, this is not about reconstruction. I assure you that this is worth your time-“
“Then get on with it.”
Jesus. What has he gotten himself into?
He takes another breath before stepping forward again to the small table he’s been given to lay out his evidence. He sets his hologram projector in the center, flicking it on. The dim room is illuminated as charts, maps, and weather radars fill the air before the officials.
“In the midst of the war a few months back, a global weather phenomenon had resurfaced. A phenomenon that hadn’t been observed since Zen Shigaraki or All For One was at full power about 100 years ago. A butterfly effect starting with heat and wind sources from the chaos in Japan caused hurricanes to appear across the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan- those hurricanes making their way to mainland Asia and North America. Quirks alone causing international climate crises.” Hawks switches the projector from the global weather radars dated from the war to Japanese weather radars from yesterday. “But this- this is new. Japan’s been experiencing unearthly storms in the last months- and it’s getting worse in the last weeks. There are only theories on why these storms are sticking around so long after the known sources are gone- but I’m not here to discuss the causes. I’m here to discuss the casualties that are a result of this weather alone.”
He switches to another screen- casualty tolls and charts from natural disasters in the last 3 months.
“I won’t stand here and tell you how alarming this is, as you did tell me to not to waste time. I would like to formally request a fly in of the Hurricane Hero: C5 to be a part of a taskforce dedicated to investigating these weather events and running the rescue teams across Japan.”
The room went silent- and somehow the tension got worse. The officials of which Keigo didn’t bother to learn or remember the names of began mumbling to each other after a few seconds- the foreman of the panel’s expression shifting from intrigued to offended.
“And who are you to suggest we let a suspected spy for a long list of counties we aren’t in good terms with into our country? There is a reason we’ve never-“
“Who I am is the president of the Hero Public Safety Commission. And I have been a top agent at the commission since I turned 16. I’ve witnessed and worked with people that frankly had much shakier evidence against them being spies.” Keigo immediately cuts him off, resting one hand on the table beside him and leaning on it like a challenge. “I have all the evidence against Lulie Mulligan ready to present to you- about 2 and a half hours worth of information. But you said not to waste your time. I am completely willing to take the front of this operation- and any blame that comes with it going wrong. I just need a signature and a budget from you.”
…Holy shit, I just backtalked to a government judge. What is wrong with me?
“…Leave your evidence with us. We will… consider your request.”
Holy fuck it actually worked.
“We will give you a starting budget. Put together the rest of your taskforce until we decide what to do about the Hurricane Hero.”
-
Feeling human was foreign to Lulie. No one saw her as such- not even the air saw her as such. She is the air. She is the wind.
Lulie Mulligan- a woman who’s granted entry and citizenship into most counties because of her hero work. Known as The Hurricane Hero: C5. She has a rescue count in natural disasters alone that’s on its way to surpass silver age All Might at 30 years old. Her quirk is no secret, though the details haven’t been spelled out to the public. The world knows her as a woman with glowing hair that pulsates like a thermal weather map- a woman who gains the power and speed of the wind around her.
Lulie feels nothing but strength when she’s on duty- which is pretty much always. She takes breaks to eat, sleep, and travel from country to country when different hurricane seasons occur. That’s it.
And she likes it that way.
When Lulie was 12, she had a quirk awakening. Originally, her quirk was simple and small. She could float around in the wind if it picked up- and she would feel a little more energized when it did. But she could turn it off- she did so if a storm rolled in.
So, she went to the beach of her home- Dunbar, Scotland during a storm to show her friends her quirk. The wind picked up and she floated into the air above the beach, laughing and calling down to her friends as they ran beneath her. It was like she was being reborn with every stronger gust of wind. Breathing was easy here- moving was easier.
Lulie didn’t notice when she stopped calling down to her friends. When she stopped laughing. She doesn’t have a single recollection of them calling out to her- she was told later that they were screaming as loud as they could when the wind picked up and she kept rising and rising. All she can remember is that feeling like a grounded, living human being stopped eventually- the feeling faded. She was like an onlooker of the storm, no longer a girl trapped inside of it- a weather drone sent out to take readings. Her limbs began to lift and move like they were in strings. She lost sight of the ground, lost sight of the cliffs and lost sight of the light from town. She was higher than she’d ever gone before. There was a moment then where she did the subconscious action of turning her quirk off- a moment of clarity that only lasted a second- clarity that disappeared when nothing happened. When she kept floating up and up.
And before she could stop herself, she looked forward and flew. As fast as she could, as fast as the wind would take her. All her muscles felt like they were being torn and growing back stronger with every second- it was agony and it was freedom. She faintly remembers hearing herself yell and whoop. Not in fear, no- it was the only human expression she could muster in the moment and she just let her voice go.
She doesn’t know how long it was before she closed her eyes and stopped picking a direction to fly. Well, before she was so high on adrenaline and cold, clean air running through her lungs that she just let the storm take her.
Her eyes were closed when the storm hurled her limp body towards a cliff- and she was unconscious when the rescue team found her body drifting around above a rocky cove after the worst of the storm let up. When they found her dripping in rain water and blood like an offering from the north sea.
-
“Listen up!”
Class 2A fell silent- the tone in their sensei’s voice immediately got them to focus. After almost 2 years spent with him now, they all know this means they’ve been assigned to a mission.
“You all have been attached to a new task force put together by Hawks. Project Radar as it’s called. Due to the unnatural weather conditions caused by the overpowering force of the final war and the slowly increasing casualty toll directly connected to these storms and disasters, you 20 along with me and a handful of pros will be focused on this assignment until further notice. The goal is rescue and investigation- as experts have pretty much no clue what’s causing this weather at this point.” He says without a single stutter, hands on either side of his standing desk in the front of the room. “Your internship hours will be cut for this assignment depending on well- the weather. But I guarantee this will give you just as much if not more experience as your internships are providing you with. You have 30 minutes to ask questions- go. Midoriya.”
“What pros are attached to this taskforce? And is this a confidential mission?” Izuku pipes up, his notebook open to a blank page faster than anyone else managed to even pull theirs out.
“It’s not confidential, but don’t go blabbing too much. The last thing we need is civilians running into tornados trying to meet their favorite hero.” Shouta says. “The pros attached are myself, Thirteen, Selkie, Gang Orca, Principal Nezu, Nejire-chan, Suneater, Lemillion and…”
The class watched as their sensei seemingly mentally prepared himself for the next words that would come out of his mouth, running a hand through his hair stressfully.
“…C5.”
And in that moment they all knew that he was in fact mentally preparing himself for their loud response to that.
“Oh my god.” Izuku gasped, clutching his pearls like he was just told he has a terminal illness.
“THE HURRICANE HERO?! AS IN LULIE MULLIGAN THE BEST RESCUE SPECIALIST IN THE WORLD!? AS IN MY FAVORITE HERO EVER?!” Ochako squealed, jumping out over her chair and accidentally floating herself into the air as she clutched her hands together.
The entire class began turning to each other with excitement (besides Tenya, who was trying and failing to get them to quiet down), Katsuki and Izuku locking eyes and muttering to each other like maniacs in excitement. Ochako was vibrating as she tried to calm down, not helped by her surrounding classmates who were not doing much but also started talking about how cool C5 is. Shouta let them for a minute before he shut them up again. And really, he only let them be loud for that long because Ochako had looked the happiest she had in months.
“I know you’re all going insane over this but I need you all focused and normal when you meet her. You’re not children in a meet and greet, you’re fellow heroes working with the woman on a dangerous mission. Understand?”
“Yes sir!”
“Good. You have 28 more minutes of questioning and if any of you ask anything stupid about C5 I’ll make you run 5 extra laps today. Go.”
-
“Sir! I have an idea- for the task force, I mean.” Izuku says, notebook in hand as he walks up to Shouta as class is let out for lunch. “It’s up to you if you pass it onto Hawks but- I-I know a lot about C5’s quirk and I know of someone who could work amazingly with her.”
“…Continue.”
Izuku grins, perking up a bit as he turns to a page in his main notebook from last year and setting it before Shouta. “Inasa Yoarashi, from Shiketsu High. He trained with Shouto and Kacchan when they were getting- re-getting their licenses.”
“I remember- wind quirk?”
“Yes! Whirlwind, a really powerful one- honestly he’ll probably shoot to the top ten once he goes pro, especially if he-!”
“Focus.”
“S-sorry! He has great control over his quirk and from what I remembered joined the battle against All For One and actually made a dent. He can basically create small storms and manipulate the strength and specific current of already blowing winds. And C5’s quirk, Windswept-“
“Gives her the speed and strength of the wind. And makes her immune to wind rash and most temperatures caused by a storm.” Shouta finishes, looking over the detailed description Izuku had made on Inasa’s quirk. “I went to school with her, Midoriya.” He reminds him.
“I-I know. It’s actually how I first heard of you actually. R-researching her classmates…” Izuku says nervously, cringing at himself for admitting that. “But then you know that Yoarashi’s quirk would be crazy good with her quirk! And he has his license so there shouldn’t be any issue with him using this as work study credits!”
“Are you talking about Yoarashi, Izuku?” Shouto suddenly says, having lingered in the room when the bell rang and now standing over Izuku’s shoulder. “I thought of that too, Sensei. Will you bring it up to Hawks?”
“I will. It’s ultimately up to Yoarshi’s teachers, but I think Hawks will hear me out. Can I borrow your notebook to show him Whirlwind’s description, Midoriya?” Shouta nods, flipping the worn notebook shut.
“Of course, Sensei! Thank you for hearing me out!”
“You’re welcome. Now get out so I can nap.”
“Yes Sensei.” The two say in sync, Shouto following after an already ranting Izuku as they make their way to the cafeteria.
“Seriously, Hawks is such a good president already! The last HPSC councilwoman only thought about hostility, infiltration- and Hawks’ first big project is dedicated to rescue work!” Izuku says happily, which in turn, makes Shouto smile.
“There you are. Fuckin’ making me last in line for lunch rush.” Katsuki says as he pushes off the wall when the two enter the cafeteria. Since he’s still working his arm back to full strength, he’s risking twisting it the wrong way by holding his lunch tray. And Izuku is the strongest person in the school without a quirk.
“Sorry, I-I was just bringing up that idea with Aizawa. He’s gonna ask Hawks!” Izuku smiles.
“Lovely. We hafta work with baldy again.” Katsuki grumbles.
“He’s not bald.” Shouto corrects, handing two trays to Izuku and getting one for himself. “And we’re his friends.”
“You’re his friend.” Katsuki snaps back. “He’s fuckin’ weird, Izuku. Being an Endeavor fan really should be known as the biggest red flag there is.”
“Kacchan-!”
“He’s not an Endeavor fan! Not anymore.” Shouto argues, his cheeks puffing up a bit as he attempts to glare at Katsuki- even if there’s pretty much no way Shouto can show anger on his face unless he’s beside himself with rage. “He’s my friend so I told him about everything. And he obviously knows about Touya.”
“So he's a reformed red flag and just a weirdo. Got it.” Katsuki rolls his eyes, earning a sharp elbow in the side from Izuku as they reach the front of the line.
“I’m really hoping he joins the taskforce. I kinda wanna apologize for my last interaction with him being- cursing him out mid license exam.” Izuku sighs as he loads his and Katsuki’s trays. “T-the Katsudon for both, please.” He says quickly over the counter
“Well, he deserved that. We deserved that.” Shouto mutters. “The curry, please- thanks. He’s really kind though. We’ve grown closer, I think. I can’t really tell. I wish we could see each other in person more.”
“Oh, do you text him a lot?” Izuku asks, finally settling down at a table where Ochako, Eijirou and Tsu are already sitting. Before Shouto can answer, Ochako’s ongoing ranting interrupts him.
“Izuku, I can’t believe we’re working with C5!!!” She grins, shaking Izuku by the shoulders as he slides into the seat next to her. “Her and Thirteen are my reasons for li-ving-uh.” She says dramatically.
“In a heroic inspiration way or a gay way?” Tsu teases, which makes Katsuki almost spit out his food.
“Both. For sure both.” Eijirou adds on, laughing as he’s shot pink faced glare from Ochako’s side of the table.
“I still don’t understand how you’re supposed to find someone attractive if you’ve never met them.” Shouto chimes in quietly. “Is it just the physical aspect or more?”
“It’s different for everyone.” Izuku says, which doesn’t seem to satisfy Shouto.
“Have you ever even had a crush before, Shou?” Katsuki asks, raising an eyebrow.
“…I think so? There was a guy in my class in junior high… he’s in general studies class 2B now.” Shouto says shyly.
“Like- general studies here?” Tsu raises her eyebrows, looking around the cafeteria like she can magically spot the guy out of the chaos of lunch rush.
“Yes. I see him around sometimes… I don’t think my attraction has lasted though. Just something I felt in junior high.” He says, poking at his food thoughtfully.
“Don’t overthink having crushes, icyhot. You’ll probably know if you have another. And if you don’t, you don’t have to deal with it.” Katsuki shrugs with a mouth half full of food.
“Yeah Shou, don’t worry about how attraction works for other people! Just worry about you.” Eijirou smiles. “You can talk to us about it though. Don’t be embarrassed, kay?”
“But it’s confusing.” Shouto says. “Ochako, Izuku- how do you know when you have a crush on someone? Celebrity or not?”
Ochako and Izuku are snapped out of their excited ranting as Shouto turns to them.
“Why us?” Izuku says shyly, already turning red at the topic of romance as if his partner isn’t sitting across the table from him. Katsuki almost spits out his food a second time from the look on their faces.
“Because you’re both kinda hopeless romantics.” Tsu answers for Shouto.
“W-well, with celebrity crushes I just think they’re attractive or seem like great people. With heroes, most of them are both.” Ochako tries to answer, also a bit pink on the topic. “With people I know it’s… I guess I have a feeling of wanting to be with them all the time. Like a best friend but I also wanna kiss them and come home to them waiting for me.” She trails off a bit as she starts to think about it more. The other 5 don’t have to be detectives to know who she’s thinking about- so Izuku moves on.
“With Kacchan it was like that for me. I wanted to be his friend, and then we grew closer and… I wanted more.” Izuku says, smiling sweetly at the blind across from him (who rolls his eyes and avoids eye contact with everyone at the table).
“Maybe I was just physically attracted to that guy from my junior high. We were somewhat friends and he was handsome, so I… .” Shouto says thoughtfully, before groaning quietly and slumping back in his seat. “Now I’m even more lost…”
“And dense.”
“Katsuki.” Izuku says through gritted teeth. “It’s fine, Shouto, really. You’ll figure it out.”
“That’s what you said about sarcasm and I still can’t tell when someone is using it.”
-
Shouta walked into the staff offices around 7pm to finally contact Hawks about Izuku’s proposal after training Hitoshi and Fumikage for god knows how long. And despite his killer instincts and heightened sense after years of being an underground hero, he still jumps as he’s met with the sound of keys aggressively cracking and the blinding light of Anan, Thirteen’s computer. The hero is sitting comfortably stiff at their desk, eyes bloodshot and blackened hands moving fast on the keyboard. And for once, they aren’t wearing their hero costume. Just a disheveled button down and a pair of jeans.
“Kurose-kun? What’re you…” Shouta says, already concerned as he gets closer. He doesn’t get an answer- but it only takes him a second to skim over the email Anan is ferociously typing up. And it only takes him a second longer to reach out and pull their hands off the keyboard.
“Aizawa-!”
“Nope. Nope, you aren’t doing that. I’m not letting you do that.” He says firmly. tugging their chair away from their desk as they growl and push him off.
“And why not?! What reason is there for me to face her for weeks on end?!” Anan yells, voice thick with already cried tears. “She- s-she-!”
“I KNOW, KUROSE. I know what she did. I- I know what she’s like.” Aizawa cuts them off, grabbing their wrists yet again as they begin to tug at their hair stressfully. “And you know there are so many reasons for you to not send that email. Starting with you’d be refusing a direct order from the president of the HPSC.”
“But it’s Hawks, Aizawa-“
“And he’s making this taskforce for the good of Japan because he knows as well as you and me that it has to exist. And you know well that Lulie has to be on it.”
Anan sniffles and cries out angrily, even if they finally stop resisting Shouta’s hold on them. Shouta sighs softly, moving his hands from their wrists to their elbows- tugging them closer.
“…I won’t pretend I know exactly what to do here. And I won’t pretend that I am as hurt as you because of what happened. But I do- I do miss her. And it hurts me, and Hizashi, and it hurt Kayama- it’s horrible, Kurose. It really fucking is.” He says as softly yet firmly as he can. “But you know what? She’s amazing. When I told my class today… Ochako’s eyes lit up brighter than they have in months. I heard her and Izuku talking all day about how cool it’ll be to have Thirteen and C5 on a team together- and get to work with them.”
Anan blinks back tears and looks up at him, eyes wider than before.
“I don’t know if we can do anything about Lulie. I couldn’t tell you a single idea I have to save someone as far gone as her. But she’s doing this, despite that all. And you need to do the same for your students- for Japan- for her.”
“…I f-fuckin’ hate how right you are.” Anan stammers after a moment, pulling away and quickly wiping her tears. “Y-you can’t blame me for… this though.” They gesture to the desperate, badly written email on their monitor basically begging to be taken off the Project Radar team.
“I really can’t. Even if it’s the least rational thing I’ve ever seen you do.” Shouta huffs, stepping back and putting his hands back in his pockets.
“…I’ve never been rational about her. Never.”
