Future plans

The headmaster of the most prestigious hero academy, Nezu, sat as usual in his spacious office, located right at the center of the grand building, as if in the heart of his empire. He sipped his favorite tea, which helped calm his mind and bring a sense of peace. 

His office was a bastion of power and tranquility, a place from which Nezu managed the affairs of the academy with unmatched confidence. Like a president in his small, yet incredibly influential state, he felt an absolute sense of security and control over every corner of this place. 

The wide windows of his office offered a view of the entire academy grounds, where he could observe his students — future heroes who would one day protect the peace of the citizens.

Constantly busy with the academy's affairs, he sought to create the perfect place for students to learn and grow, where everyone could unlock their potential and become a true hero. 

However, aside from the academy's business, there was another matter that occupied his thoughts. It was for this reason that he had arranged this incredibly important meeting and was now eagerly awaiting the person with whom he would discuss several delicate issues. 

Seeing on the numerous monitors that this person had already entered the academy and was about to step into his office, Nezu quickly prepared another cup of tea and retrieved all the necessary documents from the drawer. As he spread them out on the desk, he ran his eyes over each sheet, carefully checking that everything was in order.

At that moment, he heard a knock at the door. Without raising his gaze, still carefully reviewing the documents and taking a sip of tea, Nezu calmly said, "Come in." 

The door opened quietly, and detective Tsukauchi entered the office. He silently approached the desk and sat down. Only then did Nezu lift his eyes, meeting his gaze. 

"Well, you already understand why I arranged this meeting," Nezu said, taking another sip of tea with a calm smile on his face. 

"I think I do," Tsukauchi replied, tossing his jacket over the back of the chair and offering a slight smile. "Tsukima and Tokima." 

"I have some unfortunate news for you, take a look at this," Nezu said, handing Tsukauchi a tablet.

Tsukauchi took the device and watched the video that began to play. His face immediately darkened as he saw what was happening on the screen. Tokima, whom he had still considered a newcomer, though rapidly developing, appeared much more experienced than the last time he saw her. 

He watched as she skillfully dodged attacks and counterattacked, delivering precise and graceful strikes. However, it seemed to him that each of her blows was too soft to cause serious harm, as if she stopped her fist just before striking the criminal's body. 

Then, something happened on the video that made the detective's fist clench even tighter. Tokima, smiling as if enjoying the fight — a scenario he feared the most, hoping it wouldn't come to pass for a long time, or ever — snapped her fingers. 

In the next moment, the criminal, who had attacked like a wild beast, his strength as immense and unyielding as a rock, was sent flying backward by an unknown strike.

His armor, made of various materials layered by his quirk, was easily pierced. And though he managed to rise and take a few steps, he suddenly collapsed to the ground, as if all his strength had left his body. 

"This... this..." Tsukauchi couldn't utter more; his heart was racing from the shock. 

Nezu, seemingly expecting such a reaction, added with cold confidence:

"And that's not all," Nezu continued, his expression becoming even more serious. "The criminal she fought was under multiple doses of trigger, pure trigger. And despite all the advantages it gave him, she was able to defeat him, showing a new technique. A technique that can break through any armor. And the worst part is, our hopes that she wouldn't cross the line and begin to enjoy this... have not come true. The influence of Tsukima and the environment on Tokima is growing stronger and stronger."

Tsukauchi clenched his fist even tighter, realizing that this pair was becoming more and more dangerous. And even though they weren't harming civilians, killing anyone, or causing serious injuries due to Tokima's principles, it was only a matter of time. They had thought that this girl would remain a simple newcomer, staying in Tsukima's shadow for a long time, but now she was fighting an opponent on her own, with her partner merely observing, enjoying the battle, leaving the criminal with near-fatal injuries. 

Tsukauchi suddenly turned to Nezu and, tightening his fist, asked, "Who filmed this video? And why didn't this person call in the heroes?"

Nezu took another sip of tea and shook his head slightly before responding: 

"Eraser Head," Nezu began, pausing briefly. "He planned to find a place where at least one of them lived, to capture her while she was alone. Then the other would come to save her. But they likely realized they were being watched and led him exactly where he wanted to be — the apartment where they lived. And after leaving only a mocking note, they quickly escaped." 

Tsukauchi sighed heavily, his mind racing as he tried to assess the situation. He couldn't understand why Eraser Head hadn't called in other heroes, as things could've ended quickly and this pair would already be in Tartarus, but he didn't say anything, knowing that what had happened couldn't be undone. 

"What about your plan with their broker?" Tsukauchi asked, changing the subject.

"Most likely, he figured everything out," Nezu replied, setting aside his empty cup. "Although we threw in assignments as his clients, similar to those Tokima and Tsukima usually took, most of them were claimed by their fanatics. When the heroes caught the fanatics, Giran probably put everything together and started giving them tasks only through trusted individuals. Or they may have been very cautious from the start, only taking assignments from verified sources." 

"It's a shame we can't catch him and interrogate him," Tsukauchi said, once again clenching his fist. "Not just because he's extremely careful, and we don't even know his real name, but because of his reputation. This is a man who won't reveal anything about his clients, even under torture. He knows how to keep his mouth shut, and that makes him even more dangerous."

Nezu, pouring himself another cup of tea and taking a sip, smiled faintly, not lifting his gaze as he spoke: 

"Yes, the situation is indeed complicated, but we are moving in the right direction. And while Tokima is becoming more dangerous, with each passing day they are becoming bolder, which leads to small mistakes." Nezu paused, then grinned slyly before continuing", Giran won't be able to resist what I have prepared for him. It's just a matter of time before he falls for the bait."

Nezu lifted his cup of tea and took another sip, his smile growing even more mischievous as he looked at Tsukauchi, who was listening attentively. 

"So, what about you, Tsukauchi?" Nezu asked, turning his gaze to the documents he was carefully reviewing, analyzing every detail. "What's new with your investigation?" 

Tsukauchi, who had mostly been listening and commenting up until now, began to speak. 

"I've started studying a few individuals who became suspects due to their similarities, both in their quirks and appearance. My people have already started tailing them. In a few days, I think I'll be able to determine if any of these suspects are among the targets we're looking for."

Tsukauchi continued, giving a slight smile, knowing full well that Tokima was on his list, with her unique appearance and quirk. 

"If none of these suspects turn out to be the ones we're looking for, I've got another list of similar individuals. But I've put that aside for now—they have the least matching characteristics and no clear motives. Right now, I'm focusing on those who have more obvious connections or suspicious signs." 

Nezu, finishing the last sip of his tea and watching Tsukauchi closely as he shared such promising news, smiled slightly. 

"Excellent. If you can uncover their identities, they'll be like mice in a trap they can't escape from. Now, it's just a matter of time before we make our final move and catch them."

~~~ Yukiko Tanaki ~~~

Yukiko, returning from yet another exhausting workday, juggling multiple jobs at once, couldn't believe what was happening. 

She collapsed on the couch, feeling utterly helpless, and once again, tears welled up in her eyes—something that had become all too familiar in her life lately. Each day felt harder than the last, and she was running out of strength to fight against the hopelessness she felt. 

Her husband, the father of her daughter, lay in the hospital, and since the day he was admitted, he hadn't regained consciousness. Every day, the doctors repeated that his condition was critical, and he needed expensive surgeries that they simply couldn't afford.

Yukiko was in despair, not knowing where to find the money to save his life. All her efforts to earn for his treatment seemed futile. 

She was willing to do anything to raise the money for her husband's surgery. She even began crowdfunding online, posting appeals for donations, hoping for the support of kind-hearted strangers. 

However, even what once seemed so simple — asking for help — failed to yield the desired result. People who had once admired her husband, a well-known detective and a hero to many, now seemed like strangers.

At first, people had helped, even circulating the appeal on the news, sharing his story, his condition, and the need for funds. In the end, however, all that effort led Yukiko to gather only a quarter of the amount she needed, for which she was incredibly grateful. 

But soon, the people who had once been inspired by his bravery and dedication forgot about him. Yesterday's fans had become distant memories, and those who should have helped disappeared, leaving her to face her problems alone. Her husband, who had once been a role model to so many, now seemed like a void in their eyes. 

The only solution that came to her mind was to turn to her parents, who owned an incredibly influential company with a global reach. They were extraordinarily wealthy, and the amount she needed for the treatment would be nothing to them. If they wanted to, they could easily pay for hundreds of such surgeries without a second thought.

She would have gone to them immediately if she was sure they would help, but the bitter reality made her doubt. She knew it was impossible — her parents hated her. 

Though she was their only child, and once had been the heir to their powerful company, things had changed. Back then, without a doubt, she had tried to live up to their expectations, dreamed of becoming the ideal they wanted her to be. She studied and prepared herself for the immense responsibility she would one day inherit. 

But then she met him… The man who captured her heart, and she fell madly in love. Her parents, however, were against it. They believed her duty was to focus on the family business. They told her that now was not the time for personal matters and that her main goal should be to inherit and expand the company.

They even promised that once she took control of the business and became its leader, she would be free to have everything — personal happiness and a family. But for now, she needed to focus solely on the company. 

However, pregnant with Kimika, she had no choice. She fled from home, leaving everything behind, giving up everything she could have had for the sake of true love. For this, her parents deeply despised her. 

Yet, despite their anger, they still made one last kind gesture, gifting her a house where their granddaughter could grow up. But it was not a house surrounded by the wealth and luxury she could have had if she had stayed with them and continued following their plans.

Still, they were her parents and couldn't leave their daughter and granddaughter with nothing, so they gave her the little house. And despite everything that had happened, they once again, for the last time, offered her to return to them. They even said that Kimika could become the heir to their business, just as she once had been. 

But Yukiko, still hurt by her parents' control and their refusal to support her choice, impulsively turned down the offer, deciding to leave the past behind. 

At that moment, she was convinced that her parents only needed an heir because they were incredibly greedy and unwilling to give up the company to anyone outside of the family. She couldn't come to terms with the idea that her daughter would have to, just like her, study every day without personal happiness and choice, even if surrounded by luxury and wealth.

Entering her daughter's room, Yukiko once again saw that she wasn't there. Knowing that she was probably spending time with Toga, who had become like a sister or best friend to her, Yukiko felt an inexplicable sense of unease. 

And when she took off her rose-colored glasses, she realized that Kimika and Toga's relationship had long ceased to be just a friendship — there was undoubtedly something more between them. Yukiko didn't know how to react to this, and she was completely unsure of what to do in this situation.

She didn't want to act like her own parents, saying that now wasn't the time for relationships, even though she knew this was a completely different situation. Yukiko didn't want to separate her daughter from her happiness, especially when she was still struggling with the state of her father, who might die if she couldn't find the money.

Yukiko understood that Kimika was seeking comfort and solace by spending time with her friend, and that worried her too. It pained her to realize that she should have been the one by her daughter's side, helping her through this difficult time, but she had spent so much time at work and couldn't be the support that Kimika needed.

In an attempt to escape those heavy thoughts, wanting to distract herself for at least a moment from the burden that had fallen on her shoulders, Yukiko grabbed a bottle of wine. Lying on her bed in her room, she held the wine in her hands and looked at the family photo where they were all together, laughing and happy.

Nostalgia washed over her, and with a heavy heart, she began sipping the wine, imagining herself back in that carefree moment. She longed for the time when, after overcoming her fear and resentment towards her parents for the sake of her family, and accepting their terms, she could once again be close to those she loved, in happiness, as they once were.

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Well, we can see that important events are happening behind our heroes as well: 

Nezu and Tsukauchi's investigation and some kind of bait for Giran. Hmm, what could this be?

Her mother, who is searching for money by any means possible… and her memories and parents…

Want to see the continuation even faster than the next day? Or perhaps you want even more chapters? Head over to my Patreon — it's all there! But don't worry, sooner or later, it will be here too! patreon.com/Zoi4erom

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