MHA : Evolving : Chapter 33

[ Kurogiri ]

"Pathetic." Stain's raspy voice scoffed; Kurogiri unable to not listen intently even as his body ached from the stab wound the serial killer had used to paralyze him.

"You lack conviction." Stain twisted the knife in Tomura's shoulder.

"You lack desire. You lack purpose. You seek me to join your crumbling little league, this monument to your own petty dream. Your childish tantrum. It is why you shall fail. It is why you must be purged."

Stain worked to cut into Tomura's neck, only for the master's pale hand to lash out, grasping the blade even as fresh blood poured down the rapidly rusting steel.

"Conviction?" Tomura grit his teeth, working to force his body up even with the blade pinning him to the floor.

"I might not have anything as 'lofty' as that. But I do have a desire." Tomura's eyes were wide, manic with bloodlust.

"To kill All Might! If the world wants to worship trash like him then this isn't a world that deserves to exist. I'll tear it down, brick by brick if I have to!" Tomura swung at Stain who easily dodged the strike.

As he watched, Kurogiri grit his teeth, trying to force his body to move "Young Master! Your arm!"

"Yeah, yeah." Tomura waved him off uncaring "I'd just gotten back to full after those damned Heroes shot me and now this? You should be more careful with knives Stain, we don't exactly have a dedicated healer in our party yet."

"Hmph, so you do have that seed of desire." Stain, for whatever reason, relaxed. The man put his remaining blade away "It's warped, it's abnormal, but it is there. How will it bloom I wonder?"

"First you try to kill me, now you spout philosophy?" Tomura sneered in disgust.

"I was testing you." Stain's calmness unnerved Kurogiri, the man had no fear of death or injury. It was…unnatural. "People always show their true selves when closest to death. But now we are at an impasse.

While our goals fundamentally oppose one another, we do both agree that society, hero society, needs to be changed. Through bloody force if necessary."

"Oh, shut up already." Tomura was clutching his bleeding shoulder and scratching his neck, the rough grating sound filling the bar.

"You already made it clear you wanted me 'purged' didn't you? I can't stand people like you who talk and talk when nobody cares, just wanting to hear the sound of your own damn voice."

"Young Master, please reconsider." Kurogiri begged, "This man is powerful, he would be a tremendous asset to the league if you-"

"No." that one word from Stain was enough to make Kurogiri snap his mouth shut, even if it was spoken calmly, voice unraised "My business here is done. I shall let you live for now.

I'm curious to see how your seed of conviction will bloom. If need be, I shall return but now I am still needed in Hosu. There are more false heroes that must be purged."

Kurogiri shuddered even as he felt control of his body return, the man's insane eyes and the unnaturally long and thick tongue made his stomach turn just to witness.

...

[ Izuku ]

"Hey Shoto." Izuku nodded to his roommate as he returned from yet another day of patrols, his notebook heavy with observations and lessons from his new mentor.

"Hello Midoriya." Todoroki nodded, putting away his own journal, "I mentioned your suggestion to my…father." Izuku noted that his classmate was still uncertain about how best to handle things with the man.

"And he approved of the idea." As he spoke, the elementalist tossed over a journal over, this one filled with notes about how to use a flame quirk, but also about Hero work in general. Endeavor's personal habits, philosophies, and training methods.

"Thanks Todoroki." Izuku grinned as he pulled up his phone to check the group chat.

...

Izuku: Hey guys, just got done with patrols for the day.

___

Todoroki: Indeed. We are currently comparing notes from what our mentors have imparted to us.

___

Hagakure: Ugh, you're so stiff Todoroki! You need to lighten up.

By the way Midoriya, thanks for recommending Uwabami! She's been great in helping me figure out how I'm going to market myself as a pro despite being, well, unseen! And she's even helping me figure out my light flash thingy I did at the sports festival!

Apparently it's light refraction and given how often she helps with the lighting of her own commercials she's been a big help!

She thinks I might be able to turn it into a signal beam or maybe even a laser attack if I train it enough!

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Ashido: Gack! TLDR Hagakure!

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Hagakure: Midoriya is king of mentor suggestions. And I might get laser beams.

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Ashido: Sweeeeeeeeeeet! Also, why aren't we using nicknames on this chat? I demand a swanky title!

'Ashido' HAS CHANGED THEIR NAME TO 'Acid Queen'

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Acid Queen: There, Hero names are much better!

'Hagakure' HAS CHANGED THEIR NAME TO 'Prisma'

'Kirishima' HAS CHANGED THEIR NAME TO 'Red Riot'

'Tetsutetsu' HAS CHANGED THEIR NAME TO 'Real Steel'

'Tokage' HAS CHANGED THEIR NAME TO 'Lizardy'

'Ururaka' HAS CHANGED THEIR NAME TO 'Uravity'

'Yaoyorozu' HAS CHANGED THEIR NAME TO 'Creati'

'Kendo' HAS CHANGED THEIR NAME TO 'Battle Fist'

'Yanagi' HAS CHANGED THEIR NAME TO 'Emily'

Midoriya: Wow, you guys are really eager for nicknames on this, aren't you?

'Shinso' HAS CHANGED THEIR NAME TO 'Mockingjay'

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Midoriya: Even you Shinso?

'Todoroki' HAS CHANGED THEIR NAME TO 'Freezerburn'

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Midoriya: …

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Freezerburn: …I felt left out.

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Midoriya: *Sigh* If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

'Midoriya' HAS CHANGED THEIR NAME TO 'Dauntless'

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Prisma: Yaaaaay!

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Acid Queen: Yaaaaay!

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Lizardy: Yaaaaaay!

Uravity: And don't deny it Midoriya, you know you want to show off your Hero name!

Dauntless: …I admit nothing!

Freezerburn: By drawing attention to you not wanting to answer, does that not just admit everything?

Lizardy: Oh you sweet innocent Summer child.

Freezerburn: I am confused.

Real Steel: Yeah, she tends to do that.

Lizardy: ..l..

Lizardy: \_/

Freezerburn: I am still confused.

Real Steel: She made an emoji of you being flipped off.

Freezerburn: Fascinating. I believe my brother Natsuo would like this.

Real Steel: AAAAAAAAAH! IT'S SPREADING! TOKAGE NO!

Lizardy: TOKAGE YES!

Emily: :( Kakuna and Metapod aren't using those nicknames though.

Red Riot: Let those meme's die!

Real Steel: Seconded!

Battle Fist: Yanagi, it wouldn't make sense for only two of them to have nicknames on here that aren't hero names. What would you call Todoroki for example?

Dauntless: Baked Alaska

Mockingjay: …

Red Riot: …

Real Steel: …

Battle Fist: …

Creati: …

Prisma: …

Acid Queen: …

Lizardy: …

Uravity: …

Emily: …That actually makes sense.

Freezerburn: Ah, yes. Because I have ice and fire while Baked Alaska is ice cream that gets fried. I see where such a nickname would come from.

Lizardy: Uuuuuuugh, you're killing me here Todoroki.

"Midoriya, we need to get medical help to our friend!" Todoroki's head snapped up at that text.

"It was a joke!" Izuku rushed over, managed to lower Todoroki's phone, "Just a figure of speech. She's messing with you, not being literal!" he assured.

Lizardy: Uuuuuuugh, you guys there?

Dauntless: I had to convince Todoroki that you weren't in need of medical assistance.

Lizardy: You know, I'm starting to think you should have done your internship with Miss Joke. You can still train with your dad on your off time, but she can help you figure out what a sense of humor is.

Dauntless: Well, he only recently started using his fire again so that's more urgent to get a lock on now. But she might be good for a future internship? She's also good with stealth if she works underground heroic work like takedowns while being dressed as brightly as she is.

Freezerburn: I apologize but I just realized I'm not sure who the rest of you are currently interning with.

Lizardy: You're all good my dude! And I'm with the Dragon Heroine Ryukyu! She and Nejire from the big Three are helping me with my flight. Plus, she might not be a dinosaur, but a dragon is the next best thing!

Real Steel: Still miffed Godzillo didn't sent you a request huh?

Lizardy: YOU CAN PROVE NOTHING!

Red Riot: Well, my man Tetsutetsu and I are both interning with Fourth Kind! He's all kinds of MANLY!

Real Steel: YEAAAAAAAAAAH!

Acid Queen: I went with Backdraft. He's been really helpful helping me figure out how to use my acid in a better stream. He's even been helping me design some support gear.

Mockingjay: Well, you know I'm working with Aizawa to catch up to you. But I did find out that apparently Odd-Eye was interested in having me intern and might send a work study request once we get to that point.

Uravity: I'm studying with Gunhead! His Dojo is amazing and he's so much fun to talk to!

Emily: Captain Celebrity. He's…surprisingly dorky. Apparently, the attitude he shows in public is him trying to make people smile and relax, much like how All Might does.

Dauntless: Yeah, he has a history of misreading people…and being a playboy. Something he thankfully stopped after his kid was born a few years ago. But he's also one of the most powerful telekenetics on the planet given his gives him flight, super strength, and near invulnerability.

Creati: I went with Fat Gum. He's been a wonderful host and taught me a lot about handling replenishing my body's lipids quickly on the job given both our quirks use them.

Battle Fist: Yoroi Musha is all kinds of intense but has really helped me improve my form and combat style.

Emily: But what are you learning Izuku? Todoroki?

Izuku felt himself blush as he read that she'd put his first name, brain shooting off a mile a minute as he wondered if it was intentional, if it was a typo. What the others would think. If he should start using her first name in the chat. It was only after his phone buzzed several times did he think to check back in to see what he missed.

Acid Queen: Ooooooooh? 'Izuku'? You holding out on us girl?

Lizardy: Deets! I needs em!

Real Steel: Oh, here we go.

Freezerburn: Midoriya called her 'Reiko' last night. Is this not normal?

Uravity: I'm pretty sure I can hear Mina squeeing from here.

Mockingjay: I'm pretty sure all of Japan heard that.

Acid Queen: You guys are mean.

Freezerburn: I am confused again.

Lizardy: Alright love birds, speak up!

Dauntless HAS LEFT THE GROUP CHAT

Emily HAS LEFT THE GROUP CHAT

...

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