Nezu:

I sigh as I look at the 21st floor. I smell all the cleaning products and feel the new carpet touch my feet. We had started dusting, sweeping, and replacing the furnishings. I walk down the hall, looking through the windows of each potential classroom. Will I have to let go of this part of my dream again? Is that going to be the price of thoughtlessness?

To allow a child, even one like Henry, into a deal where I can force him into a combat role, what was I thinking?

Still, it would be unfortunate if these classrooms remained closed. I walk into one of the rooms and see chairs and desks all sitting around the hole in the floor where we would put... it. A projection device was going to be the envy of the medical community. It was going to project the parts of the human body with interactive holograms. It would show students everything we know about the body in a revolutionary fashion barely dreamed possible before the advent of quirks.

I look at the hole in the floor—it may never be filled. I stoop down, press my paw into the dust, and sigh. Such a promise—to be able to give students the training to get into and out of emergencies with the medicines and treatments people will need in their darkest hours... why don't our stupid investors see the value in that?

I punch the dust in frustration. We need a medical quirk, my eye! That's ridiculous. Needle, thread, and bandages work, always have, and always will; the point of this class would have been to give someone the education they needed to get those life-saving tools to people in dangerous situations. Tori's brother would likely have been just as effective as her- just as effective as anyone else with the courage, determination, and excellence to take on the challenge.

I slowly get up and turn around, feeling his eyes on my back.

"You know, if you're going to try so hard to impersonate their character, you should try to make a deal with DC Comics to officially connect yourself with Batman," I say, turning around to talk with Aizawa.

I smirked as he put his hands in his pockets and bowed to me, me bowing back. He then looks around the room. "I suppose all this will get packed up again then?" he asks.

"Well, we should wait," I say, looking at the hole in the floor again. "There's a chance Tori will say "yes" to being groomed for all of this, and if she does, that's all we need. Our reputation will attract enough students with normal quirks to easily get a class off the ground; I just hate the uncertainty... and our inane investors. The young Ms. Yamada is only needed for the investors, and Henry, well, I have to admit, I only gave him a chance because he caught my interest."

"He offered to be an informant, sir,"

"Oh yes, I remember that offer," I nod as I walk over to a projection board in the front of the room. "Tell me, what do you think of it? Weekly briefings from a twelve-year-old on the essentials of how a syndicate like Miles works- could be extremely valuable. That could give our teachers and students an incredible edge."

"I thought I was cruel to those two," Aizawa says. "If you're not careful, I'll fight you."

I look back at him with an almost tired expression on my face. "You realize your quirk doesn't even work on me, right? I'm not even human- I'm not even sure if my intelligence is a quirk or just a result of all the experiments done on me in the hybridization process. I have human DNA in me- but also fox, rat, bear, dog... I'm not sure what else, really." 

I turn around and start looking over the desks and pull a large anatomy book out of one about 1/4th the size of the one I gave to Tori. I opened it and looked at the information. "If you're wondering why your threat fell on deaf ears, remember it might have been more effective if your Batman act wasn't such a poor imitation. I heard your steps when you entered the hall and smelled your terrible aftershave the second you entered the building this morning. And yes, my body has few advantages over yours, but I'm a student of the same school of thought as young Henry- work with what you've got." I look up at him, my eyes still sleepy. "You wouldn't last more than a few seconds against me- trust me."

Aizawa sighs and takes a small step back.

"That's what I thought," I say as I close the book. "I know you would fight me if you really had to, but it's not something you would be wise to prefer. Besides, I'm not trying to hurt young Henry if you're accusing me of that."

Aizawa bites his lip. "Charles is a crime lord. If Henry gives us information like he's proposing, he'll make himself an even bigger target to nefarious agents," he says.

"And I considered that, but I also considered why Henry made the offer."

"Really? And why do you think he made it?"

I jump down from the chair meant for someone less than half my age- I'm the only person in the school who has to look UP to young Tori. But I might be the most dangerous in the entire building. "He sort of mentioned it in passing in our meeting, but someone as smart as that boy had to realize the implications. I know normal twelve-year-olds who could have figured out the inherent danger. He's moving to destroy the legacy of Miles- scorched earth. Yes, that's what he wants, to completely destroy his abuser and his legacy."

"You're encouraging a young boy to pursue revenge?" Aizawa asks, sounding uneasy.

"Hm... I see you're well-versed in platitudes. Some forms of revenge can actually be healthy." I blink, again showing disinterest, "Why did you come here, professor?"

"Frankly, I recently thought through your actions so far and- accepting Henry and Tori into the school, accepting the offer to get briefings targeted at undermining Miles specifically, and televising Henry's entrance exam- you're poking Miles in the eye. You're practically begging for a fight." He looks at me with concern. "Sir, parents trust us with their children. If we bait someone like Charles, even when he's in jail..."

I chuckle and walk away from him, back towards the front of the classroom. "Of course they trust us, and they should." I pause. "And I'm working on showing everyone why." I look off to the side and growl. "That boy was brutalized, neglected, manipulated, and thrown to the wolves- but he still fought for every inch to protect himself and someone he loves. If I can't work with someone like that, what kind of a teacher am I? I look into his eyes and see a boy whose dreams are dying, and even if he won't say it out loud, he's desperate to save them. He'll think our structured classes are a vacation, and I imagine he'll take the pressure like a fish to water." I let my fur back down and turn back to my professor with determination in my eyes this time. "But I can only help him and his sister if I'm willing to help fight their demons. My actions are mostly for the benefit of those two; the televised test was to give Henry a head start at improving his image."

"But sir, Charles had to see that."

"I'm aware. There are inherent dangers in working with those kids." I hop over to the teacher's desk and jump on it, taking a seat. "Listen and learn, young professor. My plans are built to work on multiple levels. I helped Bakugo and Henry with their reputations... well I gave Bakugo a chance anyway. But I'm also provoking Charles so he'll hurry and make a mistake. If we take in Henry and Tori in secret, we cannot know when or how he'll catch on and thus when he'll attack." I smirk. "I televised that UA, and thus I, am claiming those children and molding them into MY image. I poked Mr. Miles in the eye, slapped him in the face, and spat on his family name. When he finds out what I'm letting Henry do with the briefings, he'll have no choice but to act, and soon, or else his reputation will be obliterated along with his ability to even operate in this country."

I continue after a beat, "With Henry, we've assessed his combat abilities through the practical and overall. I'm opening the family room to consider Henry's feelings and as a measure against Charles attacking Yuka and Yukari and using them against us. I'm going to have Henry and Tori monitored and trained in combat BEFORE their true classes begin in two years, making them the hardest to attack children in the country if possible. I'm going to force their father to attack now when he's still adjusting to his empire falling around him due to his recent arrest and Henry informing the authorities. When Charles comes, he'll find his children trained, he'll find nothing but hardened targets, and he'll find us waiting for him. Parents should trust us. I will show them that if I have to address the problems their children face myself, then I'll do it. Charles is going to try to threaten two of my students? Let him try." I walk out of the room.

Aizawa drops his Batman act and starts following me like a nervous student. "Nezu, there are serious legal considerations here." Correction, nevous lawyer. "Do the authorities know of your plan?"

"You're an authority, I'm telling you, I'm an authority, and Hawks and several police officers are in on my planning, so that's not an issue," I say as I keep walking, keeping my eyes straight ahead. I suppose Aizawa feels the need to question me for student welfare, so I'll allow it.

"Is Hizashi in on this? Yuka and Yukari?"

"I beg your pardon, but Yukari is eight; she's still fantasizing about unicorns in her off time, so she'll know nothing. However, Yuka and Hizashi will be brought up to speed quickly. Henry and Tori passed the test, so things are moving fast now. I doubt Mr. Yamada won't appreciate a move to secure his family."

"Suppose I'm on board. Does this mean Herny and Tori are immune to expulsion?"

"Baring them presenting a direct threat to the staff or students, I would appreciate trying not to expel them. At least for the first two years. After all, how high of standards can we hold them to right away, considering the circumstances?"

"Good point- alright. You know I don't like Henry, right? I'm fine with Tori, but our conversations tend to revolve around the little troublemaker, not her."

"I'll note he has yet to cause trouble, here anyway, so you have no justification in calling him that. We still need to see what he does when Charles isn't pulling his strings."

Eventually, we arrive outside the old radio and broadcasting classroom—the associated skills have depreciated over time, making it a perfect room for my purposes. I see Yuka, Henry, and Tori on a bench outside the room, just as I asked of them.

As I approach, Herny and Tori jump up when they see me and nervously look at each other. They both give hesitant quasi-bows, but Yuka stops them gently, holding their chests up as I shake my head to reinforce her to them. Eventually I reach five feet from them both and stop. They both do a full European bow, making me chuckle as I return a proper 5-degree bow.

Aizawa rolls his eyes in exasperation and simply walks away after bowing to Yuka.

I shrug, watching as he goes saying, "That one requires students to earn him bowing to them. Don't read into it, Ms. Yamada; he does it with every student," I say, noticing as all three newcomers seem startled by the professor's lack of tact, watching him as he goes.

I clear my throat to get their attention back. "In any case, I have good news, Herny and Tori: You have been formally admitted into UA Academy."

"Whoo!" Tori yells.

"Yeah!" Henry says with a kind of growl yell that is a signature of excited young men

Both children's eyes light up, hugging each other and giving small cheers. I smile, watching them in their jubilation and relief. They even try bowing to me again, though Yuka stops them. "I see lessons in etiquette will not be remiss," I say, then look down. "And now it's time for me to eat crow, as the English say."

"What do you mean?" Henry asks as the two hug each other tightly with huge smiles. I looked at them and realized it would be easy to withhold the new plan from them. Wouldn't humanity benefit from my plan? Ultimately, wouldn't the children?

I continue. "I want you both to consider going with our original plan. The EMT program needs Tori's gift to get off the ground." And here we go... "However, it would be unethical to require that under the circumstances." The children stop celebrating, still hugging each other, but both look at me in confusion. "You are free to accept preliminary education in any UA course. You passed my test and met your legal end of the deal. What's illegal is me forcing you into an armed service, with the only alternative being jail."

I put my paws together and bow 45 degrees, looking at the floor. "Please forgive my thoughtlessness. I almost took serious advantage of you both for my own gain. That is something an adult like me should never do with vulnerable children like yourselves."

"I... look, maybe I should apologize for even making the offer-" Henry says as the two release each other from their embrace, but I rise and put up a paw, even putting it on his head to stop him from trying to return my gesture.

"I forbid it," I say. "I am the adult. I have the power here. You simply did what you felt you had to to secure your future." I take his hands into my paws and look into his eyes. "Henry, I really do want to help you. Your story speaks to me. But I must treat you with the respect you deserve as a fellow person." I push up his chin. "So take my apology, and try to remember this moment. This school and my professors really are trying to do right by you and all our students."

Henry backs up, then just stands there, not moving for almost a minute. "Apologizing to me? I don't... how... apologies are supposed to be pleas for, like, mercy..."

I sigh. "No, they're not. I trust your family will correct that notion in time."

I decide to move on. "Follow me." I walk into the old classroom.

Yuka and her new children follow, but I sense their footsteps slow as the room behind me. Around them, they see a nice soft green carpet. The sliding door has been replaced with a wood version, and the desks have been replaced with couches and a small color television. The room has two privacy partitions and a series of four beds, one extra large.

"What... what is all this?" Yuka asks, looking around at the cozy environment.

"It's a family room—for your family, naturally. Seeing as Henry and Tori will not be allowed to go to you, we have facilitated you coming to them as often as you like." I watch the startled children walk further into the room, looking at the beds meant for them and their youngest sibling, who I have no doubt is currently at her own school.

"This... sir, this is so... I don't know what to say..." Yuka says, looking around.

"It's a necessity, not just a gesture." I insist though I must chuckle again as Herny and Tori lay on their beds and bounce on them a little, acting to all the world like the normal children they are at heart. "Henry and Tori will effectively be prisoners in this school, but I refuse to have my school turned into a literal jail... aside from that, they have a troubled past, so I want you to know you have a refuge here if that past ever tries to come for you or your youngest."

Yuka swallows at the bitter possibility that I just evoked. "How likely do you think that is?"

I don't want to tell her, but I have to. "Very. So be prepared."

"Will Yukari be a refugee student?" she asks, holding her hands together tightly as she looks around again.

"She's your daughter, so that's up to you and your husband. But if you wish, we can arrange it."

She sighs in what I think is relief. "Not for now," she says, "I want to try keeping my home and her life intact- but we will come here- daily when possible."

"I'm glad to hear it. Henry and Tori will be allowed one week to tour our school to find a subject they're more interested in. If they don't, we will revert to the original plan."

I tap my foot on the ground to get attention, "Now, for the rest of the bad news," I turn and call the children to me, "Herny, Tori, come here, now," I let some authority into my voice, as now is not the time for childish exploration and play, unfortunately. They quickly come over and bow again, which I decide is best not to correct them on for now.

I begin. "Both of you, I hate doing this, but... welcome to your new prison." I wave around to evoke the entire school, not merely the room. "You need to know how your lives here will go. You are restricted to UA school grounds for the remainder of your sentences." I give them both three-page pamphlets full of restrictions and clarifications. "Considering your ages, you will have a grace period for unintentional mistakes this week. You will find that having these pamphlets on your persons at all times and taking care of them is one of your restrictions, so figure out how to make that happen." I give a third copy of the restrictions to Yuka and all three of them start reading.

"That's um... a lot. If... if we disobey these restrictions?" Henry asks with a stutter.

"Don't. I'm on thin ice with the government having you here as it is. If you push me, I can't help you. Minor infractions will be met harshly, and severe ones may end up with your removal. You'll have enough problems keeping up with normal class and student rules."

Herny, in particular, seems nervous, which isn't a surprise. He's the one who has adjusted to freedom of movement. Tori was a prisoner in her former life as well.

Yuka speaks up behind me. "Nezu, don't you think these kinds of restrictions are bit much for two preteen children?"

"Try going to jail Ms. Yamada," I say with a raised eyebrow. "I think you'll find this is just a much more comfortable version of that- where they're at least able to interact with their loved ones and move about a large campus at will for much of the day."

"Sir, our previous... associates could come for us at any time," Henry says.

"The teachers will monitor you, many of whom are professional heroes. Tori's quirk could be used for defense in a pinch..." I reach into a shirt pocket, "Do not spread the word of being allowed this. However, I feel it is unavoidable that I give you this." I give him a small utility knife and watch him finger it cautiously, knowing I'm taking a serious chance. "This is not a society that cares about weapons as much as we once did- even so, I'm not interested in you running around absconding with random objects for the purposes of self-defense." I instantly grab his hand as he's about to put the knife in his pocket. "Do not test me. I know how deadly you could be with that. It's a last resort for criminal attackers only. Are. We. Clear?"

I stare the boy down, my grip strong and unyielding. Herny eventually nervously licks his lips, breaking eye contact, and nods with a swallow. I let his hand go, and he pockets the weapon.

Yuka speaks up behind me, and there is a stutter in her voice. "Henry... Henry has a pretty good quirk of his own; it just doesn't have its own means of attack." She swallows. "Dop... dop- doppelganger is a better quirk than mine or Yukari's by a good margin. Are you saying he's in so much danger he HAS to have that?"

I look at her with concern in my heart but conviction in my eyes. The look she gives back tells me she is starting to understand the danger her family could be in.

(***)

Mr. Bar:

I'm surrounded by the wonderful aroma of booze... and those stupid Japanese snacks. I finish off my tequila and slam the bottle down, the sound echoing through the small Bā.

I'm a large man of an intimidating build, especially in this land of... tiny people. My blonde hair and large square features stand out, and many other customers at the bar are eyeing me. Screw 'em'. They can look at me as an outsider, but they better remember the name I serve under.

I look around and see several occupied bar stools with those stupid serving plates under people's drinks. Behind me, I can feel the eyes of the customers in small booths. These stupid bās are always so tiny compared to the proper sports bars like at home. And it's hard to find the kinds of drink a real man likes—this is one of the only places so far that even sells Taquilla. Barbarians.

"Mister," a man says when he finally has the gumption to speak. "Um, Mister,"

"I speak Nihongo, spit it out, old man," I say in perfect Japanese, as a man in decent shape but with graying hair stands up.

The man smirks. "You seem to not be able to read it. The sign out front says, "No foreigners."

I guzzle again from my bottle, sigh in a relaxed manner, and look at the alcohol, swirling it as I speak: "Your people should learn to think ahead more. If you want foreigners to understand you, maybe you should write your signs in English, not your native chicken scratch." Several more men stand on that note. "I'm just making an observation; there's no need for a scene," I say.

"That's the last drink you'll be allowed here, Mr. Bar," a man behind the counter says, his face like that of an overgrown frilled lizard- literally.

"Ah, don't be like that. Should I put you down for a small discount on protection for your continued loyalty to Miles, Mr. Sazshi?"

Mr. Sazshi chuckles as he cleans a glass behind the bar. "Considering your constant patronage of my establishment, I'm being nice, Mr. Bar. But the name of Miles is worthless. Charles is rotting in jail, your networks are crumbling, and even little Henry has been claimed by the Voice Hero: Present Mic." He laughs louder, "UA televised an event where they accepted both of your employer's children- and what is Miles doing- nothing." The man puts up his hands with a shrug. "What is Miles? Now? Now it's nothing." He turns his back on me. "Finish your drink, I'm not letting you flout my rules anymore."

I smirk at his back saying, "You know I'm getting those kids back myself, right?"

Several chuckles and full laughs can be heard around me. "You're going to steal two students from one of the most well-guarded schools in Japan?" the old man from earlier asks, starting to buckle over.

"Are you forgetting my reputation?" I ask.

"I wonder if that were real, considering your pathetic employer."

"Is that how you all feel? Miles is a joke?" No one denies it. No one else even speaks. I shake my bottle at the gray-haired man and use my left hand to scratch a small circle in the wood of the bar where I sit. "I respect the courage to say it yourself so-" I slam my left hand on the circle, and thin cylinders suddenly fire up from the ground and seats all around the Bā, punching through the patrons.

The smell of booze is slowly replaced with the smell of iron as I rise from my stool, swishing my Taquilla at the fallen Mr. Sazshi, his bloodied corpse on the floor. "Sorry I can't return after today; I'll miss your Tequilaa." I then walk to the door, stopping at the entrance and looking back at the gray-haired man who had spoken up to me, himself the only one left uninjured among the mass of human carnage. "I respect courage- you can live. Let people know- Miles is down, but not out. Got me?"

The man nods as his body trembles, and I proceed outside into the night.