TW: suicide attempt, mentions of abuse of mental, physical, emotional, and sexual sorts, a lot of angst, and some neglect (though whether it is intentional or not is up to you)

3rd POV

The air coming from their mouths came out in small yet hurried puffs as the children stood on the edge of the building.

Eight school-aged children were perched at the top of the school building they attended, holding their hands as they looked down at the faraway ground trying to muster the courage to do what they were about to do. Behind them sat a bunch of shoes lined up against the ledge, an abandoned motorized wheelchair, a pair of metal bolt cutters, a bunch of backpacks in a haphazard pile, a patchwork mask, a torn checkered bandana, a discarded bag of gummy bears, a pink hairband with devil horns on top, a pair of red oversized headphones, a deep yellow plaid scarf, and, most importantly, a guitar case that held the kids' signatures on the case and on the acoustic guitar that laid inside it. Beyond that pile is a hole inside the fence on top of the roof, courtesy of the aforementioned bolt cutters.

Mekuru, who stood in the center, gulped nervously as she peered downwards with the ones she can call her friends, maybe even family.

"No more... huh?" She tried to speak with her normal apathy but it was slightly breathless with a tinge of hesitance.

Kokichi, who stood next to her tightened his hold on her hand as he spoke responded as, despite feeling cold from both the lack of his favorite bandana and the chills he was getting from looking down, sweat dripped off his face and down to the seemingly faraway ground below. "Y-yeah... no... no more liars..."

Hiyoko, who held Kokichi's hand nodded, though fear was clearly written in her eyes. "And no more stupid expectations..." she added, trying to sound confident but failing miserably.

Jataro, who had to abandon his oversized shirt to actually hold the dancer's hand, also added in his usual small voice, "And no more eating bird skin." Normally to another person, that would have been a weird thing to say, but since his friends knew the real meaning behind his words, they didn't say anything.

Masaru (not to be confused with Bakugo's father), who held Mekuru's other hand, gulped in anticipation and fear. "No more being beaten and being scared!" He said raising his voice, hoping that it will dispel any hesitation he was feeling to his core, only for naught as he was still shaking even in Mekuru's grip.

Kotoko, who held Masaru's hand, also added her input. "No more people being 'gentle' with me!" Mekuru and the others, even Kotoko, pushed down the bile that rose in their throats, though it was undetermined if it was from her declaration and it's true meaning behind it, or what they were about to do.

Nagisa, who held Kotoko's hand, added in a strained voice, "No more being a guinea pig for the adults!"

Monaca, who held Nagisa's hand, chipped in in a less than chipper voice, "No more being an alien..."

Finally, Mekuru made her final declaration, a few tears appearing in her eyes. "No more being left out..." "I'll be seeing you soon.... Papa-san..." she thought to herself, remembering last month when her boss/co-worker/grandfather figure, Kazuo Tengan, had passed away, leaving that stupid Kyosuke Munakata (aka Munabaka)  in charge of the entire Future Foundation company. The following funeral left Mekuru an emotional and mental mess, as Kazuo was always there for her when she really needed advice, and he was the only adult that wasn't classified as a "demon" by her or her friends, as they too grew fond of the kind elderly man.

And now he's gone.

The wind blew around them, whipping their hair behind them as they prepared to step over the edge.

"On t-three, okay?" Kokichi tried to speak confidently but failed, not that the others could blame him as they were in the same boat as the pathological liar.

"No bitching out, understand." Hiyoko snarked back even though it was half-hearted at best.

"Like I would do that." he retorted shakily.

"Ha!" Kotoko's laugh was hollow as she couldn't resist retorting to him. "You're sweating like a pig, you big liar liar pants on fire!"

"Look who's talking!" He shot back at the pink-haired girl. Mekuru barely kept a small smile off her face as she and others watched them bicker. Even if it is for the last time...

"So this is really it, huh?" Jataro said, effectively breaking up what they thought would be their last banter.

"Yeah... it really is." Monaca replied a few tears of her own falling, Nagisa tightened his hand around hers to comfort her, she gripped his hand back, silently telling him she appreciated it.

Nodding with resolution, Mekuru held on to the hands that held her own tightly, the others reciprocating the action with her. 

"One....." As Mekuru spoke, Masaru gulped but he showed no signs of backing out. 

"Two..." A stray tear trailed down everyone's cheeks as Mekuru's voice cracked audibly.

"....Three!" As soon as that single word left Mekuru's mouth, all eight children's feet have left the edge, their eyes shutting tightly as they unanimously didn't want to see the end of their short yet miserable lives. 

And yet, they never felt the ground.

Rather, not only did the fall end way too fast, but they were all unharmed.

"Nani?" 

At the sound of Kokichi's voice, Mekuru reluctantly opened her eyes.

She gaped in awe and confusion as she realized that they were back on the roof. 

"How?!" Kotoko spoke as everyone else looked around in confusion.

"Greetings, children." All eight whirled around to see.... a man made of dark purple mist and yellow eyes without any pupils. Mekuru locked her green eyes onto the misty creature's, taking a defensive stance in front of her dearest friends. 

"Who are you?" All that time spent behind the one way glass interrogation rooms of the Future Foundation and at some local police stations honed her skills as a pretty good interrogator. "What are you doing here?"

"I am Kurogiri." He spoke in a calm tone, not fazed by the young girl's tone. "I was sent by your father to look after you." 

Mekuru quirked an eyebrow at the misty man while the others glared at the figure with guarded caution. "My father?" she repeated in an emotionless tone, trying not to hope needlessly. Could her father really be...?

Masaru scoffed. "Yeah right. Her old man has been gone for years. The dude is dead for all we know."

"Besides that," Hiyoko spoke scathingly. "Nice job protecting her." The others agreed, glaring at Kurogiri.

The one known as Kurogiri sighed, looking apologetic. "I deeply apologize. I couldn't intervene when you were being bullied. I was ordered to stick to the shadows by my master. Though I have kept you safe from physically being harmed from things beyond your control..." He turned his yellow eyes back to Mekuru, who winced as he added, "And now, from yourself."

Mekuru looked down at the ground as she clenched her fists in anger and shame. Death is starting to become a privilege that not even her friends can obtain in their harsh and unfair lives. 

"Would you like to see your father?" Kurogiri's question snapped her out of her thoughts filled with depression and anger. 

Before she could answer, Nagisa interrupted, his icy blue eyes narrowed at the misty man. "How do we know it is not some elaborate ruse to kidnap her? Or the rest of us for that matter?"

"He's telling the truth." Everyone turned to Kokichi, the gang's lie detector, as he spoke for the first time since their attempt to end their own lives was foiled. 

"Kokichi-kun?" Kotoko said tentatively.

"Despite how sus he is for showing up outta nowhere, he isn't lying."

"Monaca-chan?" Mekuru turned to her second-in-command for verification. 

"He's right. While I can't get a good read on him, he has no ill intentions..."

While it is worrying that Monaca can't get a solid read on this guy (as her Quirk allows her to analyze someone down to the last detail), since both Kokichi and Monaca didn't detect any lies in Kurogiri's testimony, surely he can be trusted right?

"He did save us...." Mekuru thought as she pondered to herself. She looked up at him; she could at least give the guy the benefit of the doubt as he did go out of his way to save them. There's just one more thing to cover...

"May I bring my friends?" Mekuru inquired, making the others look at her, though not in surprise. "If they can't come with me, then I won't go, curiosity be damned." 

"Meku-chan...." Jataro muttered in awe, his friend's selflessness always flooring him and the others. It warmed his heart every time their leader does this, especially for the team...

"Of course." Kurogiri agreed to her terms pleasantly. 

Mekuru turned to her friends. "Well, guys? You in?"

Masaru stood up with a determined expression. "Like hell I let you go by yourself! Hell yeah I'm in!"

Nagisa frowned at the redhead's coarse language but put it aside for now as he looked at Mekuru seriously. "Count me in."

Kotoko grabbed Mekuru's hand in to hers tightly. "If it means avoiding those men being... gentle with me, then I'll gladly follow you to the depths of hell..." Mekuru hugged her in response, internally swearing to deal with Kotoko's..."clients" and her monstrous parents personally if they walk away from this alive. With her connections at the Future Foundation, hopefully she will have those bastards tagged and bagged at light speed. 

Mekuru was pulled out of her thoughts as she felt her other hand being taken. Looking over she saw that it was Hiyoko, the traditional dancer's lower lip was quivering. "If you leave me behind with these idiots-" She was interrupted by an indignant "Hey!" from both Masaru and Kokichi before continuing, "I'll never forgive you!" Mekuru used her other arm to wrap around the lithe dancer, letting the blonde hug her back as she let a few tears out.

Jataro shuffled over, his head lowered and eyes trained to the ground. Mekuru sighed. "Lift your head, Jataro-kun." He did as he was told. "You are more than welcome to join me, but if you don't want to, I totally understand."

"N-no!" Jataro stuttered. "I- I don't want to be alone anymore!" He blushed quite a bit as he was saying this; it was a known fact (except for Mekuru) that he actually has a crush on the leader of the Warriors of Hope. "The Priest will always be by the Wizard's side!"

"You know my answer." Monaca said, strolling up to the group, without the aid of her motorized wheelchair. The reason why she had it to begin with was so she wouldn't get hurt by her own family, even if it meant pretending to be a paraplegic, as shameful as it may sound to anyone else who didn't know of her situation at home. "I'm in."

Kokichi stood alongside Monaca as he added his input. "This is very sus, but what kind of supreme leader would I be if I chickened out?" He asked rhetorically. 

Of course, Hiyoko couldn't resist making a jab at him. "A cowardly one."

"Oi! That did not require an actual answer!!" He bit back as a tick mark appeared on his head while Hiyoko laughed at his expense.

"That's enough," Mekuru said, effectively shutting them both up, while Kurogiri's eyes narrowed with interest at this. 'It seems that she comes by the leadership role like a natural... just like her father... he would be happy to know this....' 

The dark misty man snapped out of his thoughts when Mekuru turned to him, her green eyes bright with authority and determination. "Alright, Kurogiri-san, take us all to my father."

The unspoken threat of what will happen if this was an elaborate trick was written in her face as she gave him a warning glare, her verdant eyes flashing menacingly. Despite her blatant dislike for a few certain coworkers in the Future Foundation, such as the bossy Kyosuke Munakata and his brutish second in command of a dog Juzo Sakakura, she picked up a few intimidation tricks from them. Small and frail she may be, but she can make a grown man piss themselves with all the dirt she can find on them. A skill well observed by the vigilant Kurogiri.

'Think she and the Master will get along well....' he thought as he summoned a dark portal not unlike his appearance. "After you, young Mistress," he said bowing to her as he stepped aside to let the children through as they put their shoes back on and grabbed their previously abandoned items.

Mekuru felt a rise inside her at the title Kurogiri bestowed upon her as she grabbed her guitar case, glaring at the impish smirks from some of her more mischievous friends. "Stop it!" she hissed, making them snicker as they all vanished into the black and foggy portal as a group. 

'No.' Mekuru corrected herself internally as the misty portal closed up behind them. 'As a family....'

Timeskip....

It didn't take long for the children to arrive at their destination. Stepping out of the dark mist, Mekuru and the others took in their surroundings.

The place was dimly lit, if it weren't for the prior experience of sneaking out of their houses at night, the kids would have had trouble seeing what laid before their eyes. The main sources of light came from the vast quantity of monitors on one of the walls, all of them displaying a different channel on each screen, from current events in famous public newsrooms to random channels advertising different things, like beauty pageants to cooking tournaments.

"Well," Mekuru thought as she eyed a TV screen showcasing one of her favorite programs NCIS, "It would seem that whoever owns this place has taste... despite the mess..." She added the last part as an afterthought as her eyes adjusted further seeing that the place was in disarray. Tubes and some equipment layed here and there, making for several tripping hazards if they were to wonder around the place like blind bats.

Tearing her gaze away from all of it, her eyes zeroed in on a dark figure sitting near the monitors. Her eyes squinted, trying to decipher the silhouette's form.

"Mekuru..." the figure's male voice startled her slightly, and the others standing behind her. Mekuru felt the figure's eyes on her, even though she couldn't see them for the odd black contraption covering the figure's head. "It has been so long..." Despite the intimidating presence, his voice sounded.... wistful. Like the figure could break down crying at any given moment. Unconciously, she felt her heart ping in sympathy. Apathetic she may seem to others who don't know her, but Mekuru is a genuine soft heart, a trait no doubt received from her mother.

"It's been so long..." He repeated, rising from his seat near the screens, Mekuru and the other kids gaping a bit at how tall he was. The air was thick and... almost sickly, if Mekuru had to guess. But why is that? Is this guy sick or something?

He strolled forward with slow ease until he was near a recliner, in which he took a seat. He gestured to the side, where Mekuru and the others noticed some worn yet comfy looking couches as their eyes adjusted. "Please. Make yourselves comfortable."

The other kids looked to Mekuru to see what she thought. They didn't have to wait long before she turned to her friends. "Go ahead and sit down, guys." While hesitant, they all eased onto the leather sofas, placing their bags down at their feet. They kept their eyes on both Mekuru and their... host.

"Oh, Mekuru," the dark masked figure spoke, his soft voice not matching his appearance. "It has been a long time.... you have grown so much... How is your mother?"

Mekuru's eyes flashed in realization. "You're... You're my father?" she asked, feeling herself sink into denial as she tried to fit the pieces together. So many things were not making sense....

Something inside her leaped as he answered. "Yes. I am your father. I am also what every hero and villain fears. All For One."

Mekuru's verdant eyes widened in shock as felt her jaw go slack. 'The one who is titled as the Number One Villain in many countries.... the one many have thought to be dead despite not finding his body... the legendary bogeyman... the Quirk Thief... All For One... is here, sitting in front of me. Not only that.... he's my father?!'

Masaru was the first to snap out of the shock that had blanketed everyone in the room. "No way! They said you were dead! No way you are THE All For One!"

"It is I," AFO said, not the slightest bit offended by the redhead's shock and response. "And I am so her father. And I got this photo to prove it." Reaching into the front pocket of his suit, he pulled out a photograph. Handing it to Mekuru, she took it and examined it. It was a picture when she turned two years old. Right before she got her Quirks. In this photograph, it was her birthday. Izuku was there, it was about a month or so before he turned four, when he was supposed to get his Quirk, but instead got nothing. It was before her and Izuku's relationship went down the drain. Inko was there too, holding little Mekuru up as she attempted to blow out the candle on her cake. Standing between Izuku and Inko was a man with eyes similar to Mekuru's and pale hair to match her own. Looking away from the photograph, she looked at the man claiming to be her father, who had removed his mask only for a moment to let her look at him. Amid the scars and wrinkles, she can herself in him. He placed his mask back on, the contraption enclosing his face with a hiss. "I do apologize for this. I'm not the man I used to be. I'm not exactly pleasant to look at, I know."

Mekuru only stared at him, her entire being a crazy mix of emotions, ranging from sadness to anger to shock to guilt to relief, going in circles like a hyperactive dog chasing its tail.

"How do we know," Kotoko's voice cut in scathingly, "that you didn't steal that photograph?"

"He's.. he's not lying, guys..." Kokichi's voice came out shaky as he confirmed the man's claim making almost everyone turn to him in shock.

Monaca nodded, her usually smiling expression replaced with fear, fear not for herself but the others, Mekuru especially, since he seems especially interested with her. While he wasn't lying, she can't get a solid read on him, like Kurogiri. Was he going to kill them? Will he steal their Quirks too like his past victims?

"Please do not fear." He spoke as if reading Monaca's thoughts. "I didn't have you all brought here to be harmed. I wanted to see my darling daughter and the ones she confides in so much."

"But why now?" Surprsingly it was Hiyoko who spoke, her eyes full of anger on Mekuru's behalf. "Why show up now? Where were you when Big Sis was being bullied? Where were you when she cried in her sleep because of her brother and mother?"

That made Mekuru look at the pigtailed blonde with shock. "I cried in sleep?"

Jataro looked a bit sheepish as he was usually the one to wake up first to her crying during their sleepovers and alert the others. "Y-yeah..." he said making Mekuru look at him her eyes wide with shock as he confirmed it. "Sorry we didn't tell you..."

Nagisa looked sheepish as he admitted, "We thought you knew, so we didn't bring it up..."

AFO sighed, giving off an air that the others sensed as guilt. "I cannot apologize enough. After your mother kicked me out, she refused any sort of contact with you, my dear child..."

"No lies." Kokichi verified, not sensing anything false in his testimony.

Mekuru nodded. In all honesty she can see her mother doing that. Heck, at one point, a few years ago, her mother caught Izuku's father, Hisashi, cheating on her, sometime after Izuku's diagnosis. Very convenient, right? The end result? A divorce, plus a restraining order when the bastard tried to beg Inko to take him back.  That was the starting point for Mekuru to chase off any guy that Inko brings over and introduces as her new boyfriend.

She swallowed thickly before she spoke. "I'm very sorry... Dad."

His face, despite it being covered, seemed to brighten when she said this. "Oh.. how long have I wanted to hear you call me that..." Mekuru was surprised when she saw a tear leak out through his mask, her own heart hurting in sympathy for the man before her.

Kurogiri then appeared, only now he was in a suit and with a silver tray with tall old-fashioned glasses. And they were filled with..

"Ice-cream?!" Kotoko nearly shouted in surprise and glee as her pink eyes sparkled at the sight. Each one was topped with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry, and they were each a different color.

"Their made with real milk and ingredients," Kurogiri spoke with a touch of pride in his voice as he set the tray down on the coffee table that was set in front of both sofas.

Mekuru picked up one that had cookie dough bits in it and took a sip. Her eyes widened as moe flowers flew around her as she enjoyed the taste of the vanilla ice cream mixed with the cookie dough hit her taste buds.

'So good!!!' she almost moaned aloud.

Monaca, seeing her leader's thoughts, picked up her glass, a mint chocolate shake, her favorite. "It's safe guys." She informed them
He stuck metal straws inside the glasses, before setting them down for the kids to take.

"For freezing away the pain," Kurogiri spoke. "And you kids are too young for alcohol, so ice cream is the way to go."

"Mmm~" Hiyoko sighed in bliss at her banana pudding flavored shake. "Can we take you home as our butler?" She asked him making everyone else sweatdrop at the dancer.

"Sorry, I only serve the Master and his daughter... and I can't be out in public for... personal reasons." Kurogiri politely told the blonde, making her pout.

"Well, poo..." She thankfully didn't argue it further. Probably doesn't have the energy for it...

"So," everyone's attention went back to AFO. "I assume you have questions, yes?" This was mostly directed at Mekuru, though he made it open for her friends to ask him anything.

"Maybe a million or two," Mekuru said, making the masked man chuckle.

"I was afraid of that." He laughed good-naturedly. "Ah, that felt good to laugh like this.." He then cleared his throat, folding his scarred hands into his lap as Mekuru sat in front of him, sipping her milkshake.

'I'll start with the obivous." He spoke, capturing the attention of his audience, like a renowned storyteller. "One, yes, I am a villain. Not just any villain, but THE villain. The supposed bogeyman urban myth that mothers tell their children when they go to bed. My appearance is like this because of a fight with All Might." He clenched his fists, a bit of anger being released into the air. "I lost to that smiling buffoon..." he growled, almost to himself, before he composed himself before his anger could frighten the children. "Not only that, I let my empire crumble..." he sighed. "After your mother kicked me out, I wasn't the same... it was like the light was snuffed out in me. Then, she went and married that idiot who only broke her heart because of that son of hers..."

Having a sudden thought hit her, she glared up at him. "Did you steal my half-brother's quirk?"

Everyone held their breath for his answer. Even Kurogiri, who was polishing a shot glass behind a counter on the other side of the spacious room, seemed to freeze at the moment, watching everyone's movements in case he has to jump in.

"No." AFO answered honestly. "You can't steal something that wasn't there to begin with. And I loved, and still do, Inko. I couldn't bear hurting her, even through that... son of hers. As tempting as it was, I couldn't touch him, even if it is for your sake. You did nothing to deserve that kind of treatment from him."

For some reason, relief washed over Mekuru. This whole time, Izuku blamed her, his half-sister, for his lack of a Quirk. Even though the doctor and Mekuru herself had explained (repeatedly on Mekuru's end) that was not how her Quirk worked. But he never listened. The sweet older brother she knew was long gone the day he was declared Quirkless. Anything she tried to do to get his attention or approval, it was as if she never existed to him. And every time he does look at her, it was not without anger and hatred. The memories of him brushing her off to the side and never sparing her a second glance as she took some of his beatings from that rabid mutt known as Katsuki Bakugo made her tear up.

AFO, seeing her tears, grabbed a box of Kleenex off to the side and offered her a tissue. She took it gratefully, as she dried her eyes. "I'm so sorry..." she spoke with a raw voice, her friends looking sadly at her as they knew the reason behind her tears. As much as she tries to keep a brave front with others like her peers and coworkers, behind closed doors, she's as fragile as a porcelain doll. Very few know her outside of her up-and-coming status as a private investigator in the famous agency Future Foundation. Many people, grownups especially, see her as a tool, not as a human, much less a child. Munabaka and his second-in-command Juzo Sakakura (aka Bakakura) were especially the worst on her, especially after Kazuo Tengan's death, and Munabaka has become the equivalent of a tyrant when he took over. Making Mekuru overworked and stressed more than usual as she wasn't able to get so much as an adequate good night's sleep nor any food as she was forced to skip meals to meet the idiot's demands. She couldn't turn to her mother, even though she is a nurse, because she felt as if she would only be asking for trouble from Izuku, as he always glares at her whenever she is around her mother, as if Mekuru were to steal her away from him. So after a half a month of trying to survive the new workload, she finally met her rope's end when she fainted in her Gifted and Talented class (a class meant for "gifted children" like and entirely composed of her, Jataro, Monaca, Nagisa, Kotoko, Masaru, Kokichi, and Hiyoko). And since the teacher wasn't there (as per usual, Mekuru and the others are pretty much left to fend for themselves while the teacher just camps out in the teacher's lounge) it was up to her classmates (led by Nagisa as he had some knowledge on what do with a person who fainted) to get her help, preferably without getting the adults' attention given their mistrust in them, deeming most of them as "demons".

"Don't be sorry, dear daughter." he spoke gently, like a father should. Masaru and the others, such as Monaca and Kotoko, were beginning to envy their leader for having at least one good parent (despite him being a villain). "You didn't ask for this cruelty. Many was the time I wanted to step in. But doing that would put you in danger.. with both those fake heroes and some villains..."

Mekuru looked up at him. "What do you mean?"

"As much as I am powerful and influential, I do have a great many enemies, both hero and villain alike." AFO explained solemnly. "All Might being a primary one, among others. You understand, don't you?"

She nodded, understanding. Even as a junior private investigator, she too has accumulated her share of enemies, both on the wrong side of the law and within her workplace (hello, Bakakura and Munabaka). Hell, she even pissed off the Number Two Hero, Endeavor on so many accounts. From his missing son Touya and the allegations on him abusing his family, she is walking a fine line with the Hellfire hero. Not to mention that she is often making smart aleck remarks to some of the Pro-heroes, especially the ones who seem to be, in her own words, "not doing their jobs."

"So... what happens now?" she asked.

"Well, I want to make you an offer." Everyone seated perked up at this, interested.

"Which would be?" Mekuru pressed.

"I've been thinking... since I'm getting old and whatnot, I think it is time for some young blood to take over the empire. So what do you say?" He leaned forward in his seat. "Wanna take up the family business?"

"What comes with it?" Mekuru asked, her interest piqued.

"My Quirk for starters." He stated, making her jump to her feet, almost dropping her now empty milkshake glass, Kurogiri quickly appearing before it hit the ground.

"What?!" her voice went up a few octaves. "But isn't my Quirk-?! Isn't my Quirk the same as yours?!"

"Not entirely." He said, "Your quirk, while it copies and you can mold it to your liking, it doesn't actually steal theirs, right?"

That is true. She actually has Bakugo's Quirk (total accident, don't ask) and from what she has seen, especially when Izuku gets home, he still can use it. "That is true..." She said, nodding.

He nodded. "With this, you can give or take away a Quirk."

With the gears turning in her head, her eyes brightened at a sudden idea. Maybe she could...

"Though, I'm afraid that you can't give your brother a Quirk." That made her hopeful expression fall, depression coming over her like a dark cloud. Seeing this he hastened to explain. "Hear me out on this. If all these years ever since you received your Quirk that it doesn't steal another's Quirk entirely then suddenly you have the ability to give Quirks out of the blue, it would look very suspicious and it may result in some... unsavory attention for both you and me..."

It did make sense, she supposed. She just got her dad back, she doesn't want to chance losing him so soon after seeing him since she could barely walk.

"And besides," he added sagely. "Love, even from family, is supposed to given unconditionally. No strings attached." Now that, is a very good point. If Izuku is to love her like she is actually part of the family, it shouldn't be because of her "bribing" him. And besides, now that she thought of it, even if she does give him a Quirk, he would be suspicious, especially of how she came by such an ability. And chances are, if it came from her, he won't have anything to do with it.

Deciding to push that feeling aside, she looked at AFO. "Do I have to be a villain to receive this?"

He shook his head. "No. You choose whatever you want to be. I'll support you, no matter what."

That made her heart soar. She has a choice!

Just another thing...

"What about my friends?" she asked, making the others look at her in surprise. Though it isn't that shocking; whatever she does she always tries to include them, as she holds them dearly as her next family. "What do they get? I won't leave them out."

While he was surprised, AFO was proud of his daughter. She is putting others first, unlike those fake heroes that infect this world today. "Well, since this gift is shareable, why not share it with them?" he suggested, a smile in his voice as the other kids looked up at him in shock.

"Really?" Mekuru asked, her mind reeling with excitement. She may not be able to give her half-brother a Quirk, but she can give her family, her real family, a Quirk and be the team they dreamed to be since they became friends.

He nodded. "Of course. It is possible so why not."

Mekuru then started crying, this time with relief and happiness. AFO opened his arms to her, to which she wordlessly threw herself into, with Kurogiri and the others watching on with a bit of happiness. After a moment of father and daughter embracing each other, Mekuru pulled back, as AFO wiped away a stray tear from her face. He chuckled slightly. "Inko always cried a lot too. Both at the good and the bad, especially when she found out she was pregnant with you. That was one of the happiest moments I have seen her." That made Mekuru smile through her tears; she always knew her mother loved her, even though she had her doubts as Izuku tended to run her off whenever he was in the same vicinity as her.

"Now to receive your gift.." AFO had her stand up straight as he too rose to his feet.

"Will this hurt?" Mekuru asked, her voice tinged with nervousness.

"No." He spoke truthfully, Kokichi nodding to her as he verified this. AFO then placed his hand on her head, his hand glowing a deep orange as he transferred his power to his daughter.

A rush filled Mekuru's senses, her eyes glowing as she received his power, as her Quirk activated as she absorbed Her entire being felt warm, but not feverishly warm, rather a pleasant warmth, like sitting by a campfire on a cold night while drinking hot chocolate with her friends whenever they went camping together.

When AFO removed his hand from her head, Mekuru staggered, Jataro and Masaru jumping up to catch her before she fell over completely.

"Mekuru-chan!" The other kids shouted rising to their feet as Masaru and Jataro caught her.

"My daughter," AFO spoke, his voice filled with concern. This was his first inheritor unlike his arch nemesis. "Are you okay?" Kurogiri began to approach them in case he was needed.

"I'm fine," Mekuru spoke breathlessly, as she tried to right herself, only to awkwardly fall further into Jataro's arms, making the masked boy not only lose his mask but also to expose his flustered face to the other occupants in the room. This didn't go unnoticed by AFO, who then decided to push the matter aside until later. If anyone is going to date his daughter they have to have a talk with him. "I'm okay." He broke away from his "protective father" thoughts as Mekuru repeated herself. She found her footing before she picked up Jataro's mask and handed it back to the cherubic faced boy. "Here you go, Jataro-kun. Sorry about that." Mekuru apologized sheepishly, as Jataro took his mask back with a blush on his face.

"I-It's okay..." He stuttered cutely, making the other kids either smirk or elbow each other muttering, "I ship it like Fedex."

Mekuru looked at her friends in confusion, before shrugging it off.

"Are you all right, young mistress?" Kurogiri, mother hen he is, asked.

Mekuru nodded. "I'm fine. Just taken off guard, I suppose." She took a seat into one of the sofas closest to her, taking a moment to let the new power settle itself into her DNA. Kurogiri passed her a glass of water, which she took gratefully. Taking a swig, the cool liquid filled her throat before entering the digestive tract. Putting the glass down, she looked up at the others. "So. Who wants to get a new superpower first?"

"Me!" Kokichi and Masaru spoke at the same time before they glared at each other competitively.

While they played rock-paper-scissors for it, AFO spoke to Mekuru. "You sure you want to do this right away? Are you feeling well enough for that?"

She nodded, her eyes and face determined. "Yes. I'm sure. The sooner we all get this the sooner we can all explore this new power and adapt to it."

He accepted this, even though he kept an eye on her; she truly is like her mother...

"Dang it!" Their attention was brought back to Masaru and Kokichi, as the purple-haired boy was smirking in victory as Masaru held his head in defeat.

"I win~" Kokichi stuck his tongue out at the redhead making the hyperactive boy growl at his gloating. Ignoring him, Kokichi jumped up and down in front of Mekuru. "Me first~"

Mekuru rolled her eyes but still smiled as he finally stopped his "victory jumping" so she can distribute her power.

This was her team, her family, and she wouldn't them any other way.

Timeskip brought to you by Mamagiri......

By the time Mekuru finished "sharing" her new ability with her friends it was well past dark. She had to take a couple of breaks as she got a bit dizzy along the way. Despite AFO's protests on pushing on, Mekuru insisted that she won't go home until all seven of her friends get this power. While AFO loves her selflessness, he wished he took her own health into account (he had heard about what her boss from the Future Foundation did to make her faint in school and it took everyting not to hunt that man and his "dog" down and turn him into his next Nomu candidates). Thankfully it was over as the stars began to appear in the sky. Though that brought another problem for Mekuru, especially when she checked her phone, which the volume was turned off so she never heard the notifications as her mother was texting her frantically. Inko was in hysterics, no doubt.

As Kurogiri prepped a portal for them, Mekuru and AFO exchanged goodbyes. AFO gave her not only their family picture (which she safely tucked away into her pocket) but also a burner phone to contact him or Kurogiri if she needs anything from either of them. She took it gratefully and then hugged him, him returning the gesture happily.

"Give the offer of taking over the business some thought huh?" He said, as Mekuru waved at him happily, the first genuine smile in a long while, since Papa-san's funeral.

"Okay!" she chirped as she and the others walked through the misty portal.

As they exited the other side, they saw that they were dropped off near Mekuru's place. Mekuru proposed that they all crashed at her place for now so they can discuss what happened privately and brainstorm ideas for the future. Kurogiri was nice enough to teleport himself to Mekuru's friends' houses to get them some overnight bags to prepare for the impromptu sleepover.

"So you will think on your father's offer?" Kurogiri said.

Mekuru nodded. "I might have an idea for the family business.. How about I ping one of you when we make a decision?"

Kurogiri nodded to her before bowing to her. "Very well, young mistress. Until next time. Stay safe, milady."

That made Mekuru blush. "You can call me Mekuru. I don't mind, really."

"Very well, milady." She sweatdropped, but decided to drop it. He and Monaca's personal maid, Kirumi, would get along well, she'd wager.

With that, Kurogiri vanished. Mekuru turned to her friends. "Well... let's get this over with..."

They nodded, not looking forward to the scolding Inko would no doubt bring upon their leader the second she sets foot through the threshold.

Timeskip brought to you by Monaca's motorized wheelchair....

"Ugh!" Mekuru dropped into her bed, her face buried into her pillow. That was probably the longest lecture she had ever received in the history of lectures. Thankfully, Inko accepted the lie that they were at the local library and they passed out while studying. And given that the library has a rule about silencing patrons' phones they had to keep them quiet. And she was more than understanding when she brought up her friends for the night as it was quite late for them to head to their home. And Inko quite likes Mekuru's friends so she lets them know that they were always welcome to their home whenever they needed.

On the bright side, Izuku was already in bed so Mekuru didn't have to worry about seeing his constant frown directed at her, like she was the mere trash of this world (Nagito much?).

The others rolled out their sleeping bags as Monaca lit one of Mekuru's lavendar scented candles to provide some light in the room as Kotoko turned off the lights.

As soon as they were situated, the whole group was drowsy. Even the hyperactive Masaru had trouble keeping his eyes open.

"Okay, new idea," Nagisa spoke whilst fighting a yawn. "We hold the *yawn*  meeting tomorrow..."

"I *yawn* second that," Monaca chimed in sleepily.

"All in favor..." Mekuru released a big yawn before finishing her sentence. "Say aye."

"Aye..."

"Ayyyeee...."

"Aye!"

"Aye-aye..."

"The ayes have it... meeting... *yawn* adjourned...."

With that said, everyone wasted no time to go to sleep, for as soon as their heads hit their pillows they were asleep. If one were to look closely, you could see Mekuru clutching the picture AFO gave her to her chest, like a teddy bear.

AAANNNNNDDD CUT!

That's a wrap!

New story inspired by "Queen of Villains" from Fanfiction.net and, big surprise, it's a crossover with BNHA and Danganronpa! Hope you guys enjoyed and please stay safe out there!

This is the ArtVampire signing off!

Ja ne!