[4] Grounded for Heroics

I slouched deeper into the office chair, watching Death Arms pace back and forth. The lotus pattern in my eyes had settled into a bored spin, matching my mood. The hero agency's fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, making everything look cheap and washed-out. Kind of like the heroes lecturing me.

"Do you understand how serious this is?" Death Arms stopped pacing to loom over me. "Quirk use without a license-"

"Is illegal, yeah." I checked my phone again on the charger. Still dead. "You mentioned that. Three times now."

Mt. Lady leaned against the wall, examining her nails. "The kid's got a point. We're just repeating ourselves."

"Because he's not taking this seriously!" Death Arms slammed his hands on the desk. The lotus pattern spun a bit faster, but I kept my expression bored.

"Sorry, having trouble taking lectures from heroes who couldn't handle one slime villain." I met his glare. "How long did you stand there while that girl - Bakami? Whatever her name is - how long did you watch her suffocate?"

Kamui Woods stepped forward. "That's not-"

"Three minutes?" I continued. "Four? I counted at least six explosions before I got there. Real hero work, standing around while a teenager fights for her life."

"The situation required careful consideration," Kamui Woods said stiffly. "We couldn't risk-"

"Careful consideration." I laughed. "Is that what we're calling it now?"

"Listen here, you little-" Death Arms started.

"No, you listen." I sat up straight. "You want to lecture me about illegal quirk use? Fine. Write me up. But don't pretend you were doing your jobs. That girl almost died while you 'carefully considered' the situation."

Mt. Lady pushed off the wall. "He's got you there."

"Yu!" Kamui Woods hissed.

"What? He's right." She dropped into the chair next to me. "We screwed up. The kid stepped up. Maybe we should spend less time lecturing him and more time figuring out why three pros couldn't handle one villain."

Death Arms' face turned an interesting shade of red. The lotus pattern spun faster, like it was enjoying the show.

"The proper protocols-" he began.

"Got a girl nearly killed," I cut in. "But hey, at least you followed procedure, right?"

"You arrogant little-"

A knock interrupted whatever creative insult Death Arms had planned. A sidekick stuck his head in.

"Sorry to interrupt, but the girl's mother is here. She's... uh... rather insistent about speaking to everyone involved."

Right on cue, an explosion rattled the windows.

"WHERE IS HE? I'LL KILL THAT SILVER-EYED BASTARD!"

"Guess she's feeling better."

Mt. Lady snorted. "This should be fun."

The door slammed open hard enough to crack the wall. The explosive girl stood there looking ready for murder. A woman who had to be her mother stood behind her, radiating the same murderous energy.

"You!" She jabbed a finger at me. "What's this shit about you saving me?"

"Would you prefer I left you to suffocate in slime?" I asked. "Because that seemed to be everyone else's plan."

"I had it under control!"

"Right. That's why you were passing out."

Her palms crackled. "Listen here, Lotus Boy-"

"Lotus Boy?" I grinned. "That's actually not bad."

"Shut up!" She stepped forward, but her mother grabbed her collar.

"Katsumi!" The older woman's grip looked painfully tight. "What have I told you about threatening people who save your ungrateful ass?"

"I didn't need saving!"

"The cell phone videos suggest otherwise," I said helpfully.

Both women turned to glare at me. The family resemblance was striking, especially in their matching expressions of rage.

"You." Mrs. Explosions's voice could have stripped paint. "The boy with the barrier quirk?"

I nodded.

"Good job not letting my idiot daughter die." She bowed slightly. "Though you could have been faster."

"Mom!"

"What? He could have." Mrs. Explosion turned to the heroes. "And you three."

Death Arms straightened. "Ma'am, we-"

"Save it." She cut him off with a wave. "I saw the videos. All of them. My daughter could have died while you stood around looking important."

"The situation-" Kamui Woods began.

"Required careful consideration?" I suggested.

He shot me a look that promised paperwork. So much paperwork.

"I've called a lawyer," Mrs. Explosion continued. "Any attempt to punish this boy for saving my daughter will result in a very public lawsuit. I'm sure the media would love to hear why three professional heroes needed a teenager to do their jobs."

Mt. Lady whistled low. "She's got you there too."

"Yu!" Kamui Woods snapped. "You're not helping!"

"Not trying to." She winked at me. "Kid's got style. And balls. We could use more of both."

Death Arms looked ready to explode. The lotus pattern spun lazily, almost smugly.

"Fine." He bit out the word like it hurt. "We'll mark this as a justified emergency response. But!" He jabbed a finger at me. "This is your one free pass. Next time-"

"Next time maybe don't wait for teenagers to save each other." I stood up. "Can I go now? My phone's dead and my mom's probably worried."

"I'll drive you," Mt. Lady offered. "Consider it an apology for the lecture."

"You're not helping the situation," Kamui Woods muttered.

"No," she agreed cheerfully. "I'm helping the kid who did our job for us. Coming, Lotus Boy?"

I followed her out, pausing in the doorway. "Hey, Explosion girl."

"What?" She was still trying to shake off her mother's grip.

"Try not to get eaten by any more slime villains. The paperwork's a pain."

I ducked the explosion she sent my way, grinning as her mother's shouts followed us down the hall.

"You're going to be trouble," Mt. Lady said as we walked to her car. It was purple, because of course it was. "I like it."

"That makes one pro hero."

"More than that." She unlocked the doors. "Death Arms and Kamui are just mad because you showed them up. Give it time. They'll come around."

"Don't care if they do." I slid into the passenger seat. "They had their chance to be heroes today. They chose protocols instead."

She started the engine. "Sometimes protocols exist for a reason."

"Sure. And sometimes they're excuses to not take action." I watched the city slide past the windows. "Heroes shouldn't need excuses."

"Hmm." She navigated through traffic with surprising skill. "Planning to go pro yourself?"

I finally charged my phone enough. 27 missed calls from Mom… The lotus pattern pulsed once. "Maybe. If I can figure out how to turn infinite space manipulation into profit."

"Oh?" Her grin turned sharp. "Now that's interesting. Ever consider modeling? Those eyes of yours could-"

"Turn here," I cut her off. "And not yet. I've got other plans."

"Shame. You've got the look for it." She pulled up to my house.

I got out, then paused. "Hey."

"Mm?"

"Thanks. For the ride. And for admitting they screwed up."

She waved lazily. "Don't mention it. Seriously, don't. Kamui will never let me hear the end of it."

I watched her drive off, then turned to face my apartment building. The lights were on. Mom was probably waiting up.

I stood at the door, key hovering near the lock. The lotus pattern spun faster, matching my pulse. Weird how a quirk could act like a mood ring.

"Just open it," I told myself. The key slid in with a click that felt too loud.

I'd barely taken one step inside when she appeared. Just... materialized, like she'd been waiting in some dimensional pocket. One moment empty hallway, next moment mom.

And what a mom. The photos hadn't done her justice. Ethereal beauty, ageless grace, all that fantasy novel stuff - but what hit harder was how present she felt. Like gravity had shifted to orbit around her.

"Yoichi." Her voice was silk over steel. "Your phone?"

I pulled out the dead device. "Battery died."

"I see." She plucked it from my hand, examining it like evidence at a crime scene. "And you couldn't find a charger? Or perhaps borrow someone's phone?"

"I got lost."

"In Hosu." She set the phone down. "Despite having GPS."

"Battery died," I repeated.

"Mm." She gestured to the living room. "Sit."

I sat. The couch felt expensive.

She settled across from me. "I received some interesting calls today."

"About that-"

"The police. Several hero agencies. A very nosy reporter demanding to know if I was raising a vigilante." Her eyes fixed on mine. "And most concerning, no calls from you."

"I can explain?"

"Please do." She folded her hands. "Start with why my son decided to fight a villain instead of calling for help."

"The pros were already there. They weren't doing anything."

"So naturally, you had to step in."

"Someone had to!" The words came out sharper than intended. "That girl was dying while they stood around making plans!"

Mom's expression didn't change, but something shifted in her eyes. "The girl. Bakugo Katsumi?"

"Yeah. Wait, how did you-"

"I have access to certain files." She waved away the question. "What made you choose to help her specifically?"

"Choose? I didn't... she needed help."

"Many people need help. You chose her." Mom leaned forward slightly. "Why?"

I opened my mouth, then closed it. The lotus pattern slowed, considering.

"I don't know," I admitted. "It just... felt right."

"Felt right." She tested the words like unfamiliar food. "You risked your life, broke multiple laws, and potentially exposed yourself to significant danger because it 'felt right'?"

"Yes?"

She sat back. "I see."

Silence stretched between us.

"Are you... mad?"

"Mad?" One perfect eyebrow arched. "Why would I be mad that my only son threw himself into mortal danger without a second thought?"

"When you put it like that..."

"Or perhaps I should be pleased that you've already attracted the attention of multiple hero agencies? Before even applying to UA?"

I perked up. "They called about me?"

"Focus, Yoichi." But I caught the ghost of a smile. "What you did was reckless."

"But necessary."

"Perhaps." She stood. "Tea?"

I blinked at the sudden shift. "Uh, sure?"

She glided to the kitchen. I heard water running, ceramic clinking.

"You know," she called, "I had such plans for introducing you to the hero world. Carefully managed appearances. Strategic networking. Building the right relationships."

"Sorry to mess up your plans?"

"Oh, you didn't." She returned with two elegant cups. "You exceeded them. In the most chaotic way possible, but still."

I accepted the cup, breathing in subtle floral notes. "I don't understand."

"No, you wouldn't." She sipped her tea. "You acted on instinct. Pure heroic impulse. Do you know how rare that is?"

"Isn't that what heroes do?"

She actually laughed. "Oh, my dear boy. No. Most heroes calculate. They weigh options, consider angles, think about ratings and rankings and public opinion."

"That's..." Wrong, I wanted to say. But was it?

"You didn't think at all, did you?" She set her cup down. "You saw someone in danger and moved."

I nodded.

"Just like your father."

The tea caught in my throat. "My... father?"

"Mm." She traced the cup's rim with one finger. "He was the same way. Absolutely infuriating. No sense of self-preservation."

I wanted to ask more, but her tone carried a warning. Not yet. Not ready.

"The house arrest is two weeks," she said instead.

"What? But you just said-"

"That your actions were admirable? Yes. They were also illegal and dangerous." She smiled. "Actions have consequences, dear. Even heroic ones."

I slumped back. "Two weeks?"

"Would you prefer three?"

"Two is fine."

"I thought so." She stood again. "Your phone will remain charged and with you at all times. You will answer my calls immediately. And you will start training properly."

"Training?"

"If you insist on rushing into danger, you should at least be prepared for it." She headed for the hall, then paused. "Oh, and Yoichi?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm proud of you." She didn't turn around. "Don't ever do anything that stupid again."

She vanished down the hall, leaving me with cooling tea and whirling thoughts.

A mother. I had a mother. An absolutely terrifying, impossibly elegant, somehow proud mother.

Two weeks of house arrest. The UA entrance exams in 10 months. And somewhere in between, figuring out how to be someone's son.

==========

[Next time on "My Hero Academia: Limitless"]

"Welcome." My mother's perfect smile filled the screen. "Next chapter, my wayward son begins his training with—"

"Hey!" I rattled the prop jail cell bars behind her. "Why am I actually locked up during this preview?"

She ignored me completely. "—the legendary retired hero, Iron Fist Kuro, known for his unorthodox teaching methods and—"

"This is just house arrest! I shouldn't be in a cell!"

"—particularly strict discipline." Her smile widened. "Perfect for stubborn children who rush into danger without thinking."

"Mom!"

"We'll witness Yoichi's first steps toward becoming a proper hero, assuming he survives Kuro-sensei's unique training regimen."

I slumped against the fake bars. "I saved someone! This is totally unfair!"

"Oh?" She turned, eyes glinting. "Would you prefer real bars, dear?"

"...no."

"Wonderful. Don't miss next time: Uncle Kuro's School of Hard Knocks!"