Phantom did not waste time on either front. The first of his duplicates joined the heroes in repelling the immediate threat to civilians. In such short time, whatever it was attacking the city in the villains' stead, managed to cause a lot of damage. Already the fires had broken out, trapping many people inside the nearby buildings. Danny was immediately tasked with getting them out. He would have asked to join the fight, but two things stopped him: a just reasoning of Endeavour that he could get in and out of fire with civilians in toe with flight and intangibility. And secondly, Hawks's lesson was already rubbing off on him. Yes, the civilians had to be rescued first, especially since the rest was already being taken care of by someone else.

That was what the halfa was occupied with initially. He could hear the noises outside, and some were not very pleasant, like the sounds of destruction. He was still half-tempted to go back, as the calamity out there did not bode anything good. Before going into another office building, Phantom put out the fires with his ice powers, turning the place into a little glacial cave. The flames still lingered deep within the building, but that's why it was him doing the rescue. The true problems started fourth story and upwards, as the elevators did not work, and the passageway was already consumed by fire, blocking off everyone unfortunate enough to be located higher. Phantom's eyes glowed blue, and the ice consumed the flames once more.

"Jeez, it spreads fast," he mumbled, surprised at the pace everything was engulfed by the flame. "The fire security here is the biggest villain."

As he scoured the floor for anyone stuck, he found the main source of the fires. A car that had been thrown in there and had combusted. This seemed like pointless destruction to the young hero. Its purpose, however, was only vaguely seen. Very soon ice and cold replaced the scorching heat of fires, and Phantom quickly searched every nook and cranny looking for unfortunate workers, directing them to the exits, assuring that the way was now clear.

But as he watched the last person run down the emergency staircase, he heard the windows behind him shatter.

In the next second he was pinned to the nearest ice pillar, his hands grabbed tight. Phantom hissed in pain from hitting the hard wall, but quickly phased out of the grip, freed his hands and used his still solid legs to push himself forward and leap right through the attacker, getting right behind it. Now, he could take a good look at the creature in front of him, and the sight surprised the halfa, because he immediately was reminded of the beast that had attacked the school before. The most striking similarity was the brain on display and the eyes without the tiniest glimmer of sentience. This one had pale-yellow skin, wings and possessed much less impressive musculature.

"I swear, they make you guys uglier and uglier," Phantom muttered and took a battle stance.

This Nomu's ferocity, however, looked to be on par with the last one's, as it immediately went for the opponent. This time, however, Danny had a tried and true method. When Nomu came at him, Phantom ducked under the strike and snatched the beast's wing. With a laugh he swung the beast into the ice wall, before pummelling it even deeper. Now trapped in an icy prison, it was easier to subdue.

"Now, don't move, this shouldn't hurt," he smirked, before digging his intangible hands inside Nomu's head.

The beast screeched, but did not put much of a fight. In a couple of seconds, it stopped twitching and dropped on the ground unconscious. Phantom looked over the result of his small feat and was about to move on, but then Endeavour leaped through the window, quickly assessed what was going on and raised an eyebrow.

"How did you put it down so quickly?"

"I'm like a nasty botulism bacteria. Huh. Biology lessons do pay off when I actually listen," Danny mumbled.

"Focus, Phantom," Endeavour commanded. "This eases the matter. Change of plans: you are coming with me against those creatures. We relieve other heroes so that they do the rescue."

"Sure. It seems they never fixed that weakness. And by 'they' I mean Shigaraki's friends. These are Nomus, sir. The same ones that attacked our school. What should I do with their masters?"

"YOU stay here," Endeavour once again repeated. "Do not question me, Phantom. Especially not now."

Danny sighed. Perhaps he should have asked that beforehand.

For in the meantime, Shigaraki was standing on one of the rooftops and watching everything unfold. Of course, accompanied by the ever-present companion of his in the form of Kurogiri. The former was full of childish glee and pride at the destruction he was causing via the mindless killing machines. He was not joining in, however, whether it was out of fear of confronting a lot of heroes at once, an insecurity of sorts or maybe overconfidence in his master's creations. The one reason he had voiced as his prime, however, was a recent injury.

"Is this Endeavour?" Asked Shigaraki as the hero was flying around at a distance.

"It appears so," responded Kurogiri, his yellow eyes twisting in a thoughtful expression. "But wouldn't this also mean..."

"That I'm nearby?"

In a split second Kurogiri morphed into a figureless energy just to dodge a green blast that came from above. Phantom let out a small laugh as he waved off the excess energy from his fingertips.

"Been waiting till you say something like that," he said as his feet touched the roof.

"You..." Shigaraki hissed at the white-haired hero. "How did you find us?!"

"I'm hardwired to spot guys like your babysitter here," Danny responded and pointed towards Kurogiri. "He can't hide from me," he said and then his look turned serious. "What are you two getting out of this pointless attack?"

"This doesn't concern you," Shigaraki responded hatefully, his fingers twitching. "But if you are to know, this is simply to prove a point."

"A point," Danny repeated incredulously. "What even is that point?"

"That we are strong and they are weak? That Stain is an insipid and inefficient bastard who thinks waaaay too highly of himself? Perhaps both," the villain cackled.

"Well, so far...wait..." Phantom realised something. "What did Stain do to piss off you of all people?"

In his more than invested questioning, he didn't notice Kurogiri looking for an escape rout. His portals were the extension of him, able to be damaged by the hellish energy Phantom produced. It couldn't be in Phantom's field of sight, but making it behind the half ghost was no option either. They had to get to the portal as well. Kurogiri was also feeling that Shigaraki was not planning alongside him, more invested in a monologue before another person he hated with passion.

"You think we are similar, don't you? That's how it is with you heroes. Why care about mobs that you come to take down? But it's far from truth. Stain is too self-righteous for my liking, he thinks there's some higher purpose to killing people."

"Oh, no, you are different," Danny agreed. "After all, every nutcase is insane in their own ways. But it is you who sent out monsters after civilians out of a petty grudge against him."

Shigaraki scratched his neck furiously. "I'm showing that my actions are much more meaningful than whatever it is he is doing."

"To whom?" Asked Phantom. "That master you keep talking about?" He pointed at Kurogiri.

"Master is always aware of what transpires," responded the sentient fog. "This is meant to be a lesson for Shigaraki first and foremost."

"Props to him for not giving up by now," Danny responded dryly.

"He is a man of patience. After all, he is willing to wait until you read the message left behind by him."

"What message?" Hissed Shigaraki, and Danny was more surprised that he of all people was unaware.

"So it IS one man," Danny mumbled, before his expression grew harder. "All the more reason to beat you guys to a pulp."

Without saying anything else, he fired a blast their way, and Kurogiri immediately covered his ward with his body. His yellow eyes twisted from pain, but he still tried to trap the opponent by making portals in his wake. Danny dodged the attacks and closed the distance, before firing a blast that Kurogiri dodged by making a hole in his body. The villain then teleported Shigaraki out of reach and teleported himself to another end of the roof.

"You don't have that stupid gizmo on you now, do you?" Shigaraki mocked Danny's inability to actually contain his enemies.

"Didn't have the chance to finish the repairs," Danny admitted.

"Then dare I make a suggestion?" Kurogiri spoke.

"You want me to let you go?" Danny asked incredulously, having guessed the intent.

"You came to us obviously not at Endeavour's behest. You will get nothing but scorn for your action, even if you somehow capture us. You ought to know this."

"What are you getting at?" Now Shigaraki was just as perplexed.

"Perhaps we can arrive at a deal. If you let us go, we'll help you locate Stain."

"Help him?!" Shigaraki exclaimed. "No! I want him dead!"

"Young master, you want Stain out of the picture as well, don't you?"

"I am not helping that brat!"

"You can just teleport away and I may miss again," Danny said slowly. "Is this why you haven't tried it yet?"

"How observant of you. Weigh your priorities, child. You said you can easily find us, but you can't say the same for Stain. This is your chance at locating him."

A part that may have horrified other classmates of his is that Danny actually considered it. Loathsome as his opinion was of the pair in front of him and the man above them, it was an excellent opportunity to get rid of a maniac on the loose. After certain consideration, he gritted his teeth and sighed.

"Your monster just broke the ribcage of another hero," he told the villains of his duplicate's observations. "You are no better than him, and are just as worthy of punishment. I will find you one day. Fine. You have your deal. Where is he?"

Kurogiri showed an expression most resembling a smile.

-Linebreak-

Stain's crime spree was not going without any attention. , his latest attack, spurred by heroes' mostly pulled away from the area, would have gone unpunished if not for one hero trainee's desire for vengeance. Iida was the first to find him, having scoured the area in search for the man who crippled his brother for life. It...did not end well for the young hero. He knew not of the hero killer's Quirk, and it came to bite him right there. A single lick of Iida's spilled blood was enough to incapacitate him, leaving him unable to move, as not a single muscle budged. Had it not been for two of his classmates, Stain would have put an end to what he believed  to be the life of a mummer hero.

The first to rush to his aid was Midoriya. Having scoured all possible locations, he arrived in the nick of time, managing to buy time. In a showcase of sudden skill and use of his Quirk that stunned both Iida and Stain, Midoriya managed to stand his ground for a good while. However, in the end, the years of slaughter had taught Stain well, and his experience trumped the boy's inventiveness. Still, he managed to impress the criminal, and thus, after making sure Midoriya would not get up to challenge him again, Stain resumed his initial plans — to murder Iida, for one. That was when another classmate rushed in. It was Todoroki, who had tracked them as well, and in a few moments of confusion he utilised his power to get his classmates AND an incapacitated pro hero to relative safety behind his back.

"Todoroki! You can't let him see your blood!" Midoriya shouted a warning. "I think he controls his opponents' actions by ingesting their blood! That's how he got us!"

Todoroki heard him, and planned to keep as far as possible from the criminal's swords. His plan was futile, for Stain cut him with a throwable knife. Stain pushed forward, but his strike hit a wall of ice. Before Todoroki retaliated, he saw that Stain was looking up. There they saw the villain's katana. He had thrown it alongside the knife. But then, the sword remained suspended in the air, much to everyone's surprise.

Wearing his signature smirk, Danny dropped his invisibility, floating in the air and lazily examining the man's sword.

Using the distraction, Stain almost licked the blood off Todoroki's scratched cheek, but then a half of Todoroki's body ignited and forced him away, cauterising the wound in the process. Danny landed on the ground near them and twirled the sword in his gloved hand.

"What an ugly thing," he commented. "For an elusive criminal you are awfully easy to find, Stain," Danny glanced at three of his classmates. And that other guy he had no idea about.

Instead of responding, not wishing to lose momentum, Stain lunged forward again, second sword in hand. Todoroki and the halfa responded in tandem and conjured a wall of ice. With little effort Stain cut through the wall, to be met by Todoroki's infernal blaze, but the criminal managed to push himself off another glacier and jump out of the line of fire. Danny spun the first blade in his arm and lunged forward at speed, slashing it right at the opponent. But of course, Stain managed to block the weapon, his experience with blades trumping all else's.

"I recognise you, boy," Stain spoke. "You think that winning some foolish tournament is enough to beat me?"

Moving his sword, Stain deflected and reached for a dagger with freed hand. In a split second he threw it forward, but Danny managed to turn intangible at the last moment. He would have gone at it again, but then he heard a yelp of pain behind. Glancing back, to his shock, the half noticed that the blade cut Todoroki's side.

"I'm sorry!" Danny shouted with a hint of panic, before Stain decided to use the delay and make another slash. Phantom blocked it once more, but Stain kicked him in the gut, making Danny drop the weapon into Stain's hand. He would have continued, but Todoroki's torrent of fire intercepted him, cutting the criminal off from the halfa.

"Focus, Phantom!" The boy exclaimed and clutched his side. "I'm fine!"

"Two on one. That's not very honourable of you, heroes," Stain mocked.

"Is it honourable to crawl in shadows and stab people in the back, Chizome?" Danny spat.

It may have been his usual strategy to banter, but this was more spurred by anger of his own, Midoriya realised. Also, an obvious question popped in everyone's mind.

"Where did you learn the name?!" Stain narrowed his eyes and inadvertently voiced the people's thoughts.

Danny smirked. "I know some people who will sell their own mother, what's there to say about your bio," Danny gave a vague answer as his fists ignited in ectoplasmic blaze. "I also know how your Quirk works. For each type of blood the effect of your paralysis differs, which means one of our friends will get up soon. But it is enough time to kill, always. So I ask you again, is there much honour in murdering defenceless enemies?"

"I never claimed that there was honour in my actions. My aim is to cleanse this world by any necessary means! You don't seem to hesitate to use dishonest allies and dirty tools, Phantom. You are a mummer hero, just like the rest."

Danny narrowed his eyes. "Oh, I assure you, you will be beaten and spat on with honesty."

Stain threw even more daggers, expecting the halfa to choose differently this time. And he did, summoning a new shield that blocked the blades. Stain jumped over the barrier and came from above, but Todoroki once again called upon the fire and launched a torrent upwards. The hero killer dodged again, jumped across the walls and would have landed behind their backs near the immobilised heroes, but failed, for Danny flew close and blasted him nearly point blank. But Stain jumped on the nearest balcony and its floor protected him from the blast below. Phantom touched the wall and the intangibility spread, ripping the ground from below the villain. A well-timed blast managed to hit, despite being partially numbed by the blade. The force of the blast was enough to reset his advance.

"Why...why you..." Iida tried to utter. "Stop this...this guy is mine! I've inherited my brother's name!"

"You also inherited his defeat," Phantom responded with annoyance and pushed the villain back once more. Alongside Todoroki they made an even bigger wall in the villain's wake. "Is this why you are here? To settle the score?" He let out a sorry laugh. "Some class president I am not to notice this."

Todoroki looked back at Iida. "The Ingenium I know didn't have that look on his face, however," he commented, blunt and curt as ever.

At this moment Stain broke through the shattered ice. Todoroki hastily prepared to launch fire, but Stain threw more knives before he had a chance to. This time, Phantom pushed his classmate off course, before a gasp of pain escaped his lips. His hand was stabbed multiple times, and green and thick glowing liquid oozed out. Before Stain could deal another hit, all of a sudden, Midoriya jumped at him and landed a strong punch. Powered by his Quirk no less. Danny smiled. Practice did the guy some good.

"I can move normally for some reason now!" Midoriya exclaimed.

"A time limit?" Asked Todoroki.

"No," responded Danny firmly, turning his hand intangible and letting the knives fall off. "It's the blood type. Depending on it, the time of paralysis will be different. I don't know which is which, however."

He focused some of his energy on healing up the injury. His green eyes in the meantime landed on Iida.

"There is a reason I named you my deputy, Iida," Danny spoke. "I chose you, because unlike me you are supposed to be rational and responsible! I don't know a thing about your brother, but I know you! You want to carry your brother's name, so be the man he passed it on to!"

Upon exclaiming this, Phantom tossed another blast at the enemy, buying Midoriya time to dodge Stain's attacks. The villain once again changed his tactics, his entire moveset, remaining untouchable. And then he once more went for the ranged attackers. Last time it was Midoriya who jumped in, now the boy was lured away and couldn't catch up in time. Assaulted by barrage of scorching light and shards of ice, he relentlessly ran forward and came dangerously close. He was a force of nature, one that wielded a sword, battered, but sharp as a razor. Danny prepared to meet him, but at the last second he went for the more vulnerable one, when someone stood in his way again, with a powerful strike of his own.

"Iida!" Totodoroki breathed in surprise.

Danny smirked, but wasted no time, continuing the attack started by the fellow hero trainee.

Finally, he landed a punch.

Its force was enough to send Stain flying away, into the wall, effectively breaking it. Consumed by his ghostly adrenaline surrogate, he ran after him.

"We aren't done yet!" Danny exclaimed.

"Wait! Phantom! Don't run off!" Midoriya cried. "He IS lacking in rationality," he moaned.

"Come on, we have to go!" Iida said confidently, yet his laboured breath and bloodstains on his armour were betraying him. "I won't have you people bleed for me," his fist balled, "I will not. Give in! If I do, Ingenium will die with me!"

Whilst on the inside of the building, some disused former cookery, Phantom had to run around and search for the enemy among the halls and corridors. When, while in the dining area, he was attacked by the killer that lurked in the shadows. He dodged the first strike, but one of the endless knives scratched his leg, as the villain jumped aside, away from the ice that could consume him.

"Yours is the most filthy kind," spoke Stain. "Under the pure colours and smiles hides a man who breaks the law. Who fights for dirty money to the entertainment of scum. You must die."

"Sorry for not making it into your nice list," Danny responded. "Think what you like, Chizome. But you will not change the world for the better. Not like this. You will only fill it with scum like yourself."

"Maybe like begets like," Stain unexpectedly agreed. "Corruption of mummer heroes spreads everywhere."

"And they are dealt with. Without your assistance," Danny responded firmly. "But with mine."

"And what did you do? Why did THEY do what they did? You know the answer, boy, because you are similar beneath it all. No better than them. Ponder on it, as I make your guts spill out."

With a wicked grin, the man lifted the dagger, glistening with green liquid on it. Just as the rest of the heroes got inside, Stain took a lick.

"Poor decision," Danny spat.

Immediately Stain felt how the liquid burnt his tongue like boiling water. The burning feeling then spread across his mouth, as many cuts on his tongue were too poor of an obstacle for ectoplasm that reached the bloodstream. And then, Stain let out a howl of pain, and in the brief moment of sudden agony, he didn't notice Phantom by his side, who leaped out of unforeseen invisibility and punched him with a burning fist. This time, not launching him anywhere, but snapping his arm in half. Quickly composing himself, Stain then avoided another attack, picking up a dagger with a healthy hand and making a stab. Jumping away, he let everyone see the damage — a knife to the most vulnerable part of human body, right above the heart.

"Phantom!" Midoriya exclaimed with terror, to be met with a laughter on Danny's part.

"Poisonous blood, unfathomable anatomy," he spoke, with a pained grunt pulling out the knife. "That's quite a list."

"You are..." Iida started.

"A mistake of nature, yes," Danny responded, not looking away from Stain. "What's dead may never die. Stab me all you like, this hero you cannot kill. In fact," his eyes glowed brighter. "you will not kill anybody again!"

A powerful blast was fired. Stain may have been unable to move his bleeding, snapped arm, but with even one he was a menace. He dodged and ran forward to prove Danny wrong. The rest of the heroes were prevented from coming near by a green glowing shield, but were also shielded from a another possible distraction. Stain slashed his sword, and seemingly cut off the whole head, but then felt how he couldn't move, telekinesis held him, before another blast hit him in the face point blank, burning his eyes and blasting him towards the heroes, as the shield vanished. Seizing the opportunity, Iida charged his calves and kicked Stain into the air. Todoroki also acted quickly and launched fire, obscuring Stain's view and cutting off any escape. But Stain had the ceiling to latch on to and jump down from. But on the other end of the flames Midoriya was waiting for him, and another hit made Stain fly out of the window and onto the road.

"Great work, everyone!"

"Argh!"

The classmates looked Danny's way and Midoriya yelped and jumped from the sight of Danny holding his grinning head.

"Come on, before we lose him!" He said, cartoonishly putting his head back on, as it immediately connected to his body.

Midoriya stared at the class rep wide-eyed. He was really glad that Danny was a hero.

Everyone piled out from the window, watching the downed hero killer, expecting him to make a move, but the villain did not budge. Danny leaned over him and poked him.

"Out cold. Midoriya must have hit him on the head too hard," Danny commented, looking at the man's burnt face. The blast must have blinded him. Phantom wasn't sure if it was temporary. Yet...he didn't feel anything. Stain deserved what came to him.

"We need to tie him up," Todoroki said.

"On it," Danny responded, using telekinesis to put Stain's hands behind his back. Then Phantom his palms together, as gooey green slime appeared, and used it to bind Stain's arms. "Help me take his weapons, somebody."

Midoriya approached Stain as well, and together they started taking out knives, small blades, hooks other sorts of metal weapons they didn't know the name of. How was he so agile when carrying an arsenal of no less than 20 kilos? Nonetheless, with Stain disarmed, Danny put the man on his shoulder and together they went towards the back alley, they still had to check on the pro-hero, Native was his nickname.

"That guy was strong," Midoriya sighed, looking at Stain. Even when unconscious, he was still uncomfortable to stay around.

"We outnumbered him four to one, and we were still scraping by," Todoroki added. "He didn't expect Phantom to be so durable, so we managed to catch him off guard and act."

"Maybe sensory overload, too," Danny added, suddenly tensing.

"What is it?" Asked Iida.

"Nothing," Danny responded. "My duplicate was out there fighting Nomus. I just absorbed him...I counted them, and one seems to have gotten away. No clue where it might be..."

"You were fighting two battles at the same time?" Midoriya sounded very impressed.

"Well, Nomus aren't hard when you have the tools," Danny shrugged. "And if you can find them."

Todoroki, in the meantime, looked at him not without wonder.

"Danny...how did you find us?"

Danny froze. If everyone around was being honest, they wanted to know it as well.

"I know the people," he responded.

"Not everyone knows how Stain's Quirk works. Not everyone would know where he was."

Danny turned around. "What are you getting at, Todoroki? Can't this wait?"

"Fenton-san..." Midoriya spoke. "It's important. You are clearly hiding something from us."

Danny sighed. "I made a deal. With Kurogiri."

Now it was everyone else's turn to freeze with a mixture of terror and shock.

"You..."

"How could you do this?" Midoriya raised his voice. "What did he even want?"

"That I don't beat THEM up. That I don't try to bring them from the roofs to the nearest PD. In exchange they tell me where Stain is, as apparently Kurogiri was keeping watch at his master's orders. They hate him, too," Danny shifted Stain on his shoulders.

"They could arrest you for this..." Iida whispered.

"There are a lot of things they can arrest me for," mumbled Danny. "Yet knowing it all they chose not to. What was I supposed to do? Arrest them?" He huffed. "I pointed Endeavour to their exact location and he chose to do nothing. He also refused to sent me, I sneaked out! You guys are suggesting another crime — a citizen's arrest. Please, understand that I did it for all of us. We will fight them another day."

The three classmates looked at each other. Danny felt a pang of guilt twisting the truth like this. He had had no idea that his classmates had been there. He did it to stop Stain no matter what others thought. But that excuse would simply not fly.

"I understand, Fenton-san," Midoriya said. "But why would they make a deal at all?"

"Shigaraki hates Stain with passion. Something about different ideals and wants and needs. They used me, us, to pluck this problem. I hate to say it, but the deal WAS beneficial to everyone."

"What about your other friends?" Asked Todoroki.

"I paid the dude for the info. He spilled the beans about the man's past. Adding this to what Kurogiri said, and I had plenty of puzzle pieces. I met Giran when I was out on the streets. I wouldn't trust him with my cut off fingernail, but he has what I want. Look..."

He turned around near the entrance to the alleyway. "This is not a thing you tell everyone around. Please, keep it a secret. I am already on HPSC probation, don't make it worse by letting everyone else know about my escapades in your country. I really had to make a living."

"Your secret is safe with us," Midoriya confidently spoke for everyone. Not that the rest were of a different mindset.

He was still their class president, after all. One who served his role with absolute diligence in crisis situations. And shady past perfectly explained all the gaps and untold parts of his strange stories, why he also seemed to possess the experience, why he also interned with HPSC. There was still a lot that could be asked about, but Danny seemed to have shut himself from more questions. Entering the alley, they saw Native, who had finally broken free from Stain's paralysis. He watched with surprise how the four trainees returned triumphantly.

"You actually did it..." the young pro mumbled. "I'm sorry I wasn't of any help to you. I'm supposed to be the pro here," he said with shame.

"Don't sweat it, pal," Danny beamed. "There are things worse than wounded pride. Ask this guy," he shook Stain lightly.

He sure bounced back quickly, Todoroki and Iida thought.

"I'd rather not," Native chuckled. "I think we should go. Isn't there an attack on the city?"

"Dealt with by now," Danny responded just as cheerfully.

The group eventually made it out of the alley. As Danny was wondering where the nearest police station was, everyone heard a loud and angry elderly voice.

"Why are you here?!"

The heroes turned to see the source of the voice. It was a very small, old man with short grey hair and beard. On his face he wore a mask, his yellow and white hero outfit hardly indicating at the Quirk at first glance.

"Gran Torino!" Midoriya exclaimed with a mixture of surprise and fear.

With shocking speed the old man approached them and kicked Midoriya in the face, jumping high.

"I told you to wait in the bullet train!"

"I'm sorry!" Midoriya begged.

"Midoriya, mind introducing us?" Asked Danny.

"It's Gran Torino, the hero I'm interning with."

Danny gave a toothy grin. "Pleasure to meet you," he said, only later noticing how the man was frozen solid. Metaphorically. "Sir?"

For a moment, Gran Torino was struck by the impression that it was someone else standing nearby. The resemblance was too great.

"Why did you come HERE?" Asked Midoriya, oblivious to the cause of Gran Torino's reaction.

"I was told to come for some reason. I don't really know what is going on, but I'm glad you are okay."

"It's around here!"

Another bunch of heroes came around the corner and quickly surrounded them.

"We were told by Endeavour to come..."

"Are those children?"

"Those injuries look serious..."

"Is that..."

Everyone finally noticed a man hanging on Danny's shoulder.

Then came the moment when everyone would take a breath and recollect on what transpired. The heroes called an ambulance, someone called the police. The classmates simply rested after a tense fight. Danny would occasionally catch Gran Torino's glances, but wouldn't pay much mind to it. He was more preoccupied with the heroes insisting to check his stab wound. Danny kept insisting that the wound was already healing. At some point, he, alongside Midoriya and Todoroki, was approached by Iida, who bowed his head lowly despite the injuries of his own.

"You were injured because of me. I am sorry. I put all of you at risk."

"I'm sorry, too," said Midoriya, "Even though you were in so much pain, I didn't notice at all. Even though we are friends."

"Yeah," Danny rubbed the back of his neck. "I already said that I too should have noticed. Sorry, pal."

Without raising his head, Iida began to shake, as his tears rained on the ground, until Todoroki spoke.

"Pull yourself together. You are a deputy class rep."

Iida nodded firmly and wiped his face. It was a moment of respite. Everything seemed to be in order...

Another surprise, out of many that day, flew down at the gathered heroes.

"There it is!" Danny exclaimed, having finally found the missing Nomu.

Or, rather, it found them. The wounded beast flew down, dodging the attacks coming its way and out of all people it grabbed Midoriya, splattering its blood all around. The heroes rushed to save the teen, but one person beat them to it. One heroine felt someone licking the blood off her cheek, and not a moment too soon, the beast froze and plummeted to the ground. At a moment's notice Stain rushed forward, snatching one of the blades on his way. And as he came upon the wounded Nomu, he stabbed it in its exposed brain. But one should not have been deceived. Stain still held Midoriya at the end of his blade, ready to land a blow any second. But before anyone could make a move, Endeavour emerged, having chased Nomu to here. After a brief exchange, the flaming hero saw the villain.

"Don't tell me it's...the hero killer!" He prepared to launch a torrent of fire, but Gran Torino rushed to stop him.

"Wait, Todoroki!" He addressed the hero by his last name.

Stain evidently noticed Endeavour's presence. Slowly, the man turned around, the piece of cloth around his face slipping down. And when it did, the absence of his cut-off nose was seen by all.

"You fake..." he growled inhumanly. "I will make things right..."

His sheer presence was enough to force many of the heroes to freeze in terror. Danny, however, stood forward and prepared to fire a blast.

"Someone must be dyed in blood..." Stain kept saying, coming closer and closer. "I must take back what it means to be a hero!" He yelled. "Come! Try and take me, fakes! The only one I'll let kill me is the true hero! All Might!"

His scream reached deep into the heroes' souls, gripped them for a while, until the stupor was broken. As a green blast hit him in the chest and made the villain fall. Everyone's eyes turned to see Phantom, with his smoking palm outstretched forward.

"I promised you an honest defeat. At least take it with dignity," he commented, before seeing everyone's looks. "What? I didn't see you taking him up on the offer."

"It was dignified," one of the heroes spoke.

The half ghost turned to him. "It was the desperation of a self-righteous psychopath. Dignity is not about loud bloodthirsty ravings of a madman."

Was the villain conceited? Stain did see his faults, after all. He knew what a bloodthirsty maniac he was. But conceit was not about seeing faults. It was about acting upon them. Stain made a cult out of them, knowing how wrong his actions were. So yes, self-righteousness was just the word that Stain deserved to be remembered by in Danny's eyes.

In the meantime, out on the rooftops, as Shigaraki gleefully watched Stain's downfall, Kurogiri felt content. His Master already knew the boy so well. And he knew exactly what feelings to feed him. Slowly, but surely.

-Linebreak-

The four hero trainees met the next morning in hospital. As usual, Danny wanted to just get to his work, but the hospital and Endeavour told him to stay. That's what brought an odd picture to life. Iida had his arms heavily wrapped in bandages, Midoriya and Todoroki, too, were not spared the treatment. Danny, in the meantime, hanged around completely intact, in hospital robes. When asked to show the wound, he would lift his robe and show undamaged chest, safe for the ever-present electricity scar. Regeneration was largely why nobody found out his secret — Danny Fenton would come completely healthy next day even if Phantom sustained heaviest of damages.

So, they simply remained in their hospital room, quite bored, actually. Danny made a ball of ectoplasm and was at that point just tossing it at the nearest wall.

"Were you able to sleep, Midoriya?" Asked Todoroki.

"No, not really," the boy responded.

"Me neither."

"Thinking about this, we really did something amazing. Seeing an ending like this makes you feel like it was a miracle that we came out alive. With my leg like this, he probably could have killed us if he'd wanted to."

"He probably left us alive on purpose."

"Lucky you," Danny dropped on his back, on the bed, looking at Todoroki upside down.

"Maybe it is not an issue to someone who can have his head cut off, but he is not a joke."

"Remember, Todoroki. National emergency," Danny reminded of their past discussion. "But I am sorry that it's my carelessness that got you one of the wounds."

Todoroki's look softened. "Think nothing of it."

"I am also impressed by Iida," Danny tilted his head to face the bespectacled teen, "Stain wanted to kill you, and you didn't have my resilience. Yet you lived and faced him," he smiled. "That's surely something."

"No, it's...I..."

He didn't have the time to finish, as the door soon opened. There stood Gran Torino and another hero, in blue biker-esque clothes.

"Oh, are ya wounded kids awake?" He asked, before approaching his student. "I've got a lot of complaints for you."

"I-I am sor..."

"But first. There are people who want to see you."

Into the room entered a very tall man with the head of a beagle. One that Danny knew all too well, and the man did throw him a glance. The chief of police, Kenji Tsuragamae. He was followed by a man Danny knew even better. It was Tsukauchi. And Danny's guardian gave him nearly all of his attention, but did not speak yet. Tsukauchi gave him a subtle sign to get up to show respect to Tsuragamae, just as Todoroki and Iida did. Deciding not to argue just yet, Danny did just that.

"You can stay seated," Kenji said to Midoriya. "Woof."

Danny held back a laugh.

"You must be the young heroes from U.A. Academy that brought down the hero killer. In regards to him, you did a number on the criminal. He had several serious injuries, broken bones and burns. He is receiving treatment under strict watch as we speak. As U.A. students you surely know..."

"That we did a big no-no," Danny interrupted, ignoring his guardian's sign.

The chief of police gave him a pointed look. "Your tongue moves just as inappropriately, it seems, Fenton, woof."

The unaware were surprised at the strange familiarity. Kenji still continued.

"For individuals to possess such powers is a great danger to everyone. There were many reasons that led to the emergence of the profession of heroes. Even fighting the hero killer, for uncertified Quirk users to cause injuries of such gravity, without instructions from their guardians or supervisors is a clear violation of law. All of those present in this room, safe for me, must receive strict punishment."

Danny's eyes narrowed. How dared he bring Tsukauchi into this, he wasn't to blame at all! And it seemed that it wasn't only him who held the strong opinion on what was happening. However, Todoroki spoke first.

"Wait...if Iida did nothing, Native would have been killed! If Midoriya did nothing, two of them would have died. Nobody realised that the hero killer was there. Are you saying that we should let people get killed?" He asked furiously and would have come closer if Midoriya didn't stop him.

"Are you saying that as long as it turns out alright, it's okay to bend the rules?"

"Well, if these rules are just plain stupid..." Danny argued casually.

"Danny," Tsukauchi warned.

"Isn't it the heroes' job to help people?"

"This is why you are not full-fledged heroes yet. Goodness. What are you taught at U.A. and by your mentors?"

"Why you dog..." Todoroki growled and came even closer.

"Wait!" Gran Torino said. "Let him finish. Hear him out."

"That is the official opinion of the police. Of course, we will be forced to act upon it if the information is to be made public, woof. The public would probably cheer for you, but this would not absolve you of punishment. This may be underhanded, but the burns on Stain's body may be explained as Endeavour's victory over the villain. Endeavour would be the one to save the day, and you will not be punished, woof."

"What's that?" Danny turned his ear. "Are we bending the rules?"

"We may just mention your achievements if you so desire," Kenji left a subtle threat. "But think of everyone that this may also concern."

Danny's expression did not become any less angry, but he understood everything. Tsukauchi felt the need to speak up, but he knew he would be acting out of place.

"The problem can end here. It would mean that nobody would know of your heroic deed. So which is it? Personally, I would hate to wound the next generation of promising heroes because of one mistake, woof," the chief gave a thumbs up.

"We will still be reprimanded for being negligent, though," the biker guys said through sad smile.

"Tsukauchi-san..." Danny started, grasping a moment to talk to his guardian.

"Don't worry, kid," Tsukauchi said. "In this regard you are under Endeavour's supervision."

"I understand your feelings," Keni continued. "Because of the unfairness of adults you will not receive the praise you rightfully deserve. But at least, as someone who also keeps peace," he bowed his head. "I can say thank you."

"Should have started with that," Todoroki mumbled.

Smiling Danny felt a tap on his shoulder.

"Danny, a word, please," Tsukauchi said.

Curious, Danny followed his guardian outside, somewhere where it was more private. Surprisingly, that wing of the hospital was quite empty, and the two of them seated on two chairs.

"Look, Tsukauchi, I know how..."

"Danny," Tsukauchi raised his palm. "I know what you think of it, more than you give me credit for."

"Well, we took down one of the worst villains out there, and all we get is a tiny gratitude done in hospital ward."

"You knew that this is how it would go, though. After all, that's what I am saying to you every day," the man chuckled.

"At least I've gotten some rest from your buzzing," Danny joked lightly. "I'm sorry, Tsukauchi-san. I know I blamed you for everything..."

"That was stupid of you."

"I'm trying to be sincere here," Danny responded dryly.

Tsukauchi chuckled. "I know what you like and dislike. You like freedom, you don't like raisins. And you don't like being lectured because of your rich experience. But everything I say is not because I am a stickler."

"You kinda are."

"I am not," Tsukauchi whispered, "I say this because...that's kind of embarrassing...I want you to live your best life, Danny, like any parent would," Danny stared at him, "Simply breaking all the rules you don't like will only get you in pointless troubles. I always believed that you are a good kid. A hero. Yesterday you only confirmed it. There never was any doubt in your good intentions. But I always ask you to consider the consequences. You badmouth important people into their faces, you break the rules as you please...but now you saw how your actions can get other people in trouble."

"Because of this world's stupid rules."

"Wonder if Stain thought so, too," Tsukauchi watched Danny's displeased reaction. "He was the man who also did what he thought was right, not caring about the pain he could cause, what laws he may break. You are not him, however. You are better than him."

"He called me a mummer hero, you know?" Danny chuckled.

"I wouldn't take his judgment over anyone else's. You just heard mine, Danny," Tsukauchi wrapped one hand around the smaller boy. "You are destined to be the greatest hero. But just as Tsuragamae said, it would be a shame to lose such a promising kid over such easily avoidable mistake."

Danny looked at the smiling detective, then out of the window. "It's just...so unfair. I can follow the rules, Tsukauchi. I cross the street on green, I do my homework and don't run in the halls...but how many people died because nobody can interfere?" He asked bitterly. "I did a lot of things. I saved so many, never receiving any thanks. I thought it would be different now, but all I got was a stern talk from a dog."

"Just a bit of patience, kiddo," Tsukauchi lightly nudged him. "Just a couple of more years, and you will be free to save as many as you wish. Until then..."

"Yes, I know. You are buzzing again," Danny smiled.

"Just...know that I am always here, Danny. If you feel down or confused or worried, ask me. You don't have to hide everything from the entire world."

"I...thank you," Danny said through the lump in his throat. It had been...such a while since anyone talked to him this way. "I will think about it."

"From now on, I'll buzz only when you really need a reminder. But only because I believe that you can learn your lessons."

Danny numbly nodded.

Tsukauchi smiled and patted his shoulder. "Well, off you go. Join your friends."

Beaming, Danny jumped from his chair and returned to his room. As Tsukauchi watched the boy leave, he could feel the chief's presence by his side.

"Why didn't you talk about it?" He asked, lighting a cigarette.

Tsukauchi reached into his coat, digging out a yellow file. File containing Danny's life on the wrong side of Japanese law. One graciously provided by the chief, who by then had gotten it from HPSC.

"I know the boy too well," Tsukauchi smiled. "And I will let him tell me this himself."