July 10th, 16:30.
Unknown location, Hawaii Islands.

The day had been all kinds of stressful: a Secondary School teen had sneaked into All Might's jet without them even noticing, the mission to deliver Himiko Toga had resulted in discovering that the League of Villains' tentacles already reached the Japanese army, they had almost been killed by corrupted soldiers, miraculously escaped from the military ship, chased by military fighters and crash landed the damaged plane in an unnamed island that, at least according to the AI of the jet's map, geographically belonged to Hawaii.

None would have guessed it, but the Water Hose's son's unexpected presence had been more useful than expected: after they landed, Kota had used his Water Manipulation Quirk to wash away any trace the jet had left on the sand of the beach and extinguish the trees it had set on fire when they penetrated into the jungle. The cloaking mode of the jet, which luckily still worked, had done the rest until the enemy fighters had passed by.

At that moment, All Might was in the cabin trying to use the ultramodern communication system of the plane to report about everything that happened.

As for Mirio Togata, he was without a doubt one of the best heroes of the last decade, but he was never the most brilliant student when it came to technology, so all he could do was to assist his scientist friend as she kept doing what she could to repair the damaged engine of the jet.

"20mm spanner, please" Melissa asked from the inside.

"So... how does it look?" Mirio dared to ask, as he handed it to her.

"I've seen worse" she answered without stopping her work. "But obviously I wasn't in the middle of a deserted island."

"Right now I wish I was better with engines" Mirio was the hero on the top of his career in the group, but he felt weirdly out of place at that moment. "I think a volleyball ball with a face painted on it would be more helpful to you..."

When he finished the sentence he felt stupid. He was a hero known for making great puns at the same time he defeated villains and teaching children how sense of humor was important to contribute to the people's safety. But that was a girl whose father could be in danger or being forced to do something terrible not far from there, not to mention she had been dragged to the middle of nowhere after almost been killed. And it's not like he was forgetting about Eri and the others.

"You better keep your mouth shut, Lemillion" he internally said to himself. "Jokes may be out of place here..."

"Ohh, don't you dare mention that movie" Melissa jumped out of the reactor, with a messy blonde hair and a greasy blackened face. "How can a movie be so merciless to make you cry... over a volleyball ball?"

"Yep, Tom Hanks had a harder time in that movie than us..." Mirio agreed.

Both took notice of the absurdity of the comparison and allowed themselves to share a small laugh.

"Sorry, I was worried I would upset you" Mirio said apologetically. "Sir Nighteye taught me about the importance of humor in difficult situations, but I really should have been more sensitive."

"Don't be. Uncle All Might taught me that too" Melissa smiled and partially cleaned her face with a towel. "I would lie to you if I told you I wasn't worried about my father, but I wouldn't help at all if I were down. And I know you are also worried, specially about Eri."

"Luckily, thanks to you we know where they are."

"Well, if that's the case, it is thanks to you that I was able to find that out" Melissa sweepishly told him. "Now we know that the League of Villains is strong in the States and has eyes in its police too, so if you had actually delivered me that night, maybe by now I would be in their hands too. What happened the last hours wasn't supposed to happen, but I really owe you, Mirio, so please don't think for a second you are not helping here."

Mirio was flattered and happy she was able to smile despite the situation. For a person he knew for so little time, their connection was all the good it could be. He thought he could definitely work in the States more often... if all the legal mess was cleared up first, sure.

"AHEM" they heard a bump and a juvenile trying to sound adult voice coming from the wing of the plane over their heads. "AREN'T YOU FORGETTING ABOUT SOMEONE?"

Mirio and Melissa looked upside, but they weren't prepared to see what Kota had brought inside the bag he had brought with him. The two of them covered their mouths at the same time, because someone would have to be as souless as All For One himself in order not to chuckle or crack a funny smile at Kota's outfit.

"What?" Kota looked confused and rather upset behind his mask after not delivering the impression he had planned. "I have to dress for the occasion if I'm going to hang out with heroes, don't I?"

"Well... you see, Kota... your costume..." Mirio did his best effort not to openly laugh.

"...is too obvious" Melissa found it so adorably funny and over the top she would almost want to buy one herself. She had designed multiple hero costumes, but the one before her eyes was like a masterpiece of fan art.

Kota's "hero costume" consisted basically of a Halloween hero Deku costume that Kota had adapted to his own style: it had the bunny eared hood and the metal piece covering the lower part of the face, the long white gloves, the belt supposedly full of hero work items and the red shoes Kota started to wear years before Deku turned them into tendency, only it was sea blue colored.

"Well! Laugh all you want!" Kota said, with an offended expression as he removed his mask, leaving sight of a hair mistreated after always wearing it under a hat. "But remember it was thanks to me that we made it here! In fact, considering we are in a piece of land, surrounded by water, I think I, among all people, deserve to be taken seriously! You may have forgotten, but we are here to save some people!"

Actually, Mirio thought, they were there because they had had to run for their lives and now they needed to repair the plane and ask for help. But it didn't look like the isle was inhabited. Plus, that was Hawaii, so their friends couldn't be far. Kota totally made a point there.

"Ok, I think that was enough fun for now" Mirio must remember he was working. "Please, Kota, stay here and help Melissa with anything she needs; I'll go see how is All Might going."

"See you later, Lemillion" Melissa smilingly put on her pair of leather gloves and got ready to go back to work. Her appearance in public used to be formal and unpolluted, but much like Hatsume, that dirty and sweaty also look fitted well with such a hard working woman. "I'll call you if I need you."

"Hmpf... he's lucky to be Midoriya's superior in the agency" Kota kept arguing when Mirio left. "And I'll have you know this costume was a present from Eri!"

"Oh, dear, that only adds more cuteness to the mix..." the laughing and echoing voice of Melissa was heard from the inside of the engine.

"W-What's that supposed to mean!?"

Meanwhile, Mirio met All Might inside the plane, where the UA's teacher had managed to contact with Mayor Nezu, Principal Aizawa and Gran Torino. They reported about their situation and the fact that Kota was there with them.

"Thank God" it was rare to see it, but Aizawa was visibly relieved to know the four of them had managed to escape and now were safe, specially the boy. "The Wild Wild Pussycats are worried sick. I'll tell them immediately."

"Now we are stuck here for the moment, but I think the League has lost us" All Might informed. "In these circumstances, our next move should be..."

"... should be make contact with the Hawaiian authorities" Mirio had thought about it and already made his statement. "Everyone, excuse me for interrupting. I know they are looking for me for what happened in NY, but the situation has changed. I am the only active Pro Hero and here there are three civilians I must carry to a safe place, even if that requires that I deliver myself."

"Actually, I just received a message from them and they are already aware of the situation" Mayor Nezu explained. "They know the hero Lemillion is in the US, but they since Professor Shield is among the missing people, they have agreed that every help is welcome until this is over."

"Really?" Mirio joyfully asked. "Then I can operate again here without being arrested?

"That's great!" All Might was glad to hear something good at last.

"What about Hawks and the rest? Did they return?"

"Hawks, Selkie and Gang Orca regained control over the ship, but... I'm afraid the rest of the news here aren't that good" Gran Torino said as he kept his usual frown.

"Eri's grandfather is dead" Aizawa muttered. "He was killed while they were fighting the soldiers."

"What?" Mirio was startled. It's not like that Yakuza Boss was friends with the heroes, but he was the last remaining relative Eri had.

"That can't be" All Might was equally surprised. It made no sense to him. "Why would the League want that old man dead?"

"The media is already covering the information and stalking the heroes for further details" Gran Torino looked less amused than ever. "The thing is... that it has been spread the rumor that this crime wasn't perpetrated by the League, but by a hero."

"And not any hero..."

The Mayor told them how Hawks had found the corpse of the old man at the command booth, full of red feathers going through its torso, limbs and neck. He immediately had a conclusion on who had a Quirk that would allow her to do such a thing and why she would do that, and the other two heroes that went with him could corroborate that he hadn't been there when the Boss died, but Shigaraki had definitely waited for the best moment and played his cards so the heroes' credibility was fragile.

In just a few weeks, League had proven itself to have become more powerful than the heroes were aware of, not only in matter of Quirks, equipment and biological weapons, but also in their social and international influence. As effective as Nezu's administration had been for the last years, heroes who moved in the field of politics had a more accurate perception of the level of corruption and black economy where not even Deku and the previous One For All users could leave a scratch with their Quirks, and a Mayor's power was far from enough to control an underworld that was born over a hundred years ago and waited, like a monster from the deep, to come to the surface and unleash all its destructive potential. Their alliances with American mobs and the fact that a military ship had been entirely under their control without them noticing had been just a warning they should have seen coming sooner.

Just one week ago the fans and the media were still so excited about the Dekuravity wedding that villain activity seemed to have gone to the background. After that incident, which at that moment heroes wouldn't have predicted in a million years, it looked way more sensical that Shigaraki had seen there the perfect moment and place to strike: for the first time in years, the UA had failed to deliver security to the people inside it, which had resulted in Endeavor, the already controversial Hero Number One outmatched and injured, two civilians and two heroes missing, and the population feeling impotent and distrustful towards a society who had apparently given more importance to selling the wedding of two celebrities rather than being prepared to protect them, as they were supposed to be doing. Some politicians, activists and reporters had taken the opportunity to criticize the hero society and bring the pretentious ideals of Re-Destro's book, a villain whose so-called Army of Liberation was absorbed by the League and kept acting under Shigaraki's orders after he revealed himself as the biggest threat to the established order, back to the light. As for the civilians, they were taking the worst part, since criminals and people less fortunate than the average citizen were putting the Stain the Hero Killer's methods into practice, resorting to violence, defiling of heroes images, acts of vandalism and even furious crowds facing their old students. And the final detonator had been the rumor that heroes cooperated in the shadows with less powerful villains and the Hawks, the Number Two, the hero who at a certain moment of his career worked with the League of Villains as a spy, killed one of their members and was in charge of taking Endeavor's place as he recovered, had murdered a old and retired villain in cold blood when the Yakuza wasn't useful to them anymore.

The situation was worse than All Might had imagined. As much as the hope heroes like Deku, Bakugou and Todoroki were able to inspire in the hearts of the people wouldn't go away just like that, those people wouldn't think all this chaos had arrived out of nowhere. Because it hadn't.

"Our refusal to talk with the press about this isn't helping, but our priority now is to bring order back to the streets" Aizawa stood. "I'll keep working in the front line to stop the disturbs."

"I'll go too" Gran Torino growled. "What a nice retirement these youngsters are giving me..."

"Listen, Lemillion, there's more" Nezu addressed to him. "The other reason the police isn't after you is because they have no jurisdiction where you are."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"I mean that the island where you are right now is part of the group of islands that belong in property to the millionaire and retired wrestler we know as..."

"THE MAN?" Mirio and All Might asked at the same time out of pure startlement. They hadn't yet assimilated the previous bad news and now came a new surprise. "You mean, we are right where Deku and the rest were supposed to arrive today?"

"Not really" Nezu answered, showing them in the map the coordinates Melissa tracked. "Shigaraki's message came from some miles towards the North from where you are, and that's the place where the Boss promised to..."

They all realized at the same time: the Boss was rumored to have been killed by a hero... and the last time they knew from the team of heroes they were aboard a ship from his company. What if the Yakuza henchmen in charge of the ship somehow already knew...?

"All Might, Lemillion" Nezu decided. "If you can repair the plane, take Melissa and Kota, get out of The Man's property, and contact me from wherever you can. We have your location, so we'll send help to make sure nothing happens to you.

"I must contact with Deku and his friends before we move" All Might said.

"They'll be fine, Toshinori" Gran Torino objected. "The Boss wanted to bring them to the most dangerous place possible to rescue Eri from the League. It would be pointless if his men tried to kill them right now. As for you, Lemillion, make sure to keep the three people with you safe until you are all back."

"I should stay" Mirio decided. "I lost some valuable time after we were forced to land in Hawaii and I would lose even more time if I made all the way back. Since I am here I should find Deku and the others so I can help them rescue the hostages and stop Shigaraki."

"He might have a point, Mr Mayor" Aizawa spoke. "Things are pretty ugly here, but all the active heroes are cooperating. On the other hand, the team we sent there was quite reduced so we didn't raise suspicions, and one more hero, specially one of Lemillionn's potential should be..." the image on the screen began to fail.

"Mr Mayor? Aizawa? Gran Torino? Can you hear me?"

"All... million... we are losing you... thing wrong...?" the voices started to sound distorted and the image blinked irregularly to the point it turned black.

"Oh no, not now" Mirio complained, as he jumped towards the screen. "We must fix this!"

"I don't think this is due to the plane's damages..." All Might muttered. And it wasn't because of the location either; interferences wouldn't come out of nowhere. This must be the use of a Quirk, which could only mean...

"Melissa, Kota, do you copy?" All Might pressed the button and called them. "Leave the engine however it is, we'll try to take off."

"Mirio... Uncle All Might... I think you should come out..." a tense voice that belonged to Melissa responded.

When the two men got out they found both Melissa and Kota face to face with a bunch of black suited and sunglassed guys who looked like the same bodyguard cloned multiple times, at the head of which there was a a middle aged man in a gray suite. He was perfectly shaved, combed and had the trained smile of a one of those businessmen a girl like Melissa would meet almost daily. Only a businessman of those may look misplaced in a villain's secret lair.

"Ah, Mr All Might and Lemillion" he gently greeted. "Please, come forward. Like I was saying to Miss Shield, my boss is aware of the disaster that took place in the sea not far from here."

"Who are you?" All Might asked with all the caution of his being. Those men there couldn't mean nothing good.

"My name is Ramirez, and I speak in the name of Mr Glen Jacobs, the businessman who owns this island where you have unfortunately been forced to land. Like me, he'll be glad to know none of you are injured."

Kota didn't know what they were talking about, but his three partners had heard that name before thanks to the information the Yakuza had shared with them. Their fear had come true: The Man's minions had found them, but they would try to remain calmed. After all they had no way of knowing Melissa had tracked the location of The Man's lair and therefore Shigaraki and his prisoners' whereabouts. By the moment, maybe they should just play along... at least until they tried to kill them.

"'Cause I'm sure they'll eventually try" All Might thought.

"This is true" Melissa had had more time to think and made her move. "We are really sorry for the intrusion. It's a long story..."

"Oh, there's nothing to worry about. Every businessman in America knows you, Miss Shield, as well as the retired Symbol of Peace, All Might" Ramirez's manners and confidence while talking would leave no client indiferent, that was for sure. The black suited guys around him weren't that comforting. "I already told you, my boss has seen the news and is aware that you may need help to reach your actual destiny. These men here will take care of your jet and do the necessary reparations. In the meantim... my boss would be delighted if you come with us so you could be properly attended and assisted."

"It is not a big deal, actually" Melissa was as charming and well mannered as a young woman of business could be, but the nervousness in her less natural expression left clear she wasn't in her own field. "I already did most of the job. And we wouldn't like to disturb you more than we may already have..."

"My friends, I can guarantee there is no harm done and you won't bother us at all" Ramirez didn't leave his character for a second, but they started to understand a polite refusal wouldn't be an option. "I'm telling you: from this moment on, you are Mr Jacobs's guests. And as the generous host he is... he won't accept a negative."

Despite the warm attitude of the man who welcomed them, there was some spine chilling tension in the ambient. Well, that settled it, Mirio thought, as he gave Melissa a look of concern. If that was an horror/suspense movie he was watching, that would be the moment one would scream to the protagonist "Run! Run for your life while you still can!". But things weren't that simple, so by the moment they wouldn't have a choice...

Meanwhile, in a different but
very close island...

Mashirao was exposing himself to receive a new beat down by the men who watched the area out of the cell, but he took air and delivered his personal martial art combo that would finish with a demolishing hit of his powerful tail. Unfortunately, the result was the same as the previous attempts: not even a scratch on the metal surface.

It was pointless anyway, he thought in defeat. Even if he could get out it would be impossible to find Eri and Shinsho, pass through all the villains and escape from an island where its owner had control on every corner and could act with absolute impunity. Plus, it had happened some time since they had taken his cell partner for only Shigaraki knew what and he was starting to get worried. It was hard enough not to know how his old classmates would be after the wedding.

When the door was opened and a Nomu harshly pushed Shinsho over the floor of the cell, he was relieved for a brief moment before getting a closer look and noticing the cardinals and wounds he had over the face and would for sure have over his body. The Nomu removed the metalic muzzle-like mask he was wearing just in case he tried to use his Quirk.

"Shinsho!" Mashirao exclaimed as he helped him reincorporate. "What happened?"

"Oh...I was... cough... you know... bonding with villains, like a good hero..." Shinsho was usually a guy of few words, but the development of his Brainwashing Quirk had required him to acquire skills with words over the years. "They... wanted me to try my Quirk on one of their Nomus. You know, most of those beasts' brain is so primitive they may have a hard time following more complex orders... and they wanted to test what a Quirk like mine could do on them... but they told me that if I tried to play around with it, they would beat me or you, so I decided to so as they told... but... obviously I was also looking for an opportunity to reverse the table...."

"Which you did, but it didn't work, right?" asked Mashirao in resignation.

"Not really..." Shinsho ached as he struggled against his pain. He didn't look sad or angry, though. "You see, at the end of the process, that doctor Robotnik rip off said I had a Quirk really interesting and worth of studying Quirk. One of which the League of Villains could make a good use of..."

Mashirao understood. Shinsho had always hated it when someone said his Quirk would be more suitable for a villain.

"The thing is... that when they were about to take me back... he said that he bet my Quirk had given me a very hard childhood... and that pissed me a little bit... to the point I replied:

"I wouldn't complain. I bet your boss's Quirk gave him a far more horrible puberty..."

Mashirao wide opened his eyes and mouth and immediately covered the second. An adult hero wasn't supposed to laugh at such a childish comeback, but Shinsho had to be one of the craziest or bravest heroes to date to joke in the face of a villain in that situation.

"That wasn't wise" he stated. "Look at what they did to you."

"Maybe. But it was funny" Shinsho gave a partially red smile that meant no regrets. "You should have seen his face, before he ordered his Nomus to give a beatdown. I swear... he almost answered to me! Later the old bastard said from upside that if I dared to disrespect All For One's successor again he would make me torn into pieces, turn me into a Nomu and make Eri watch. That... wasn't so funny..."

"Yeah. Nobody will hurt Eri on a UA hero's watch" Mashirao agreed. "We need a plan to escape. I have tried to bring the door down, but it is impossible."

"I've been thinking of a couple of things" Shinsho told him.

"Great! But first you better rest a little... Preacher" Mashirao brought him to his bed.

"Yep, we're gonna need it" Shinsho nodded as he lied there for a while. "Hey, did I tell you it was actually Shiozaki who came up with that hero name?"

"I didn't know it! But it looks like a name she would totally find cool."

"Now I think of it... she was your date at the wedding, wasn't she?" Mashirao preferred not to bring that up at that moment.

End of chapter 32.

Sorry, sorry, sorry! I know that last joke was cringe and a bit rude, but sometimes I can't help it. I'm a terrible example for you kids who read me, waaaaaaaa!!!!😭😭😭

This chapter was more about character and relationship development than anything (you see, the Mirio x Melissa chemistry, the definition of the hard situation the hero society is going through, and the emerging friendship between Mashirao and Shinsho...) but I didn't want to spend that much time without updating.

Seriously, I miss you a lot, Watties. Not being able to do too many things outside sucks, so what you guys give in stories and comments helps me a lot. Thank you!!😁😁

And for the next chapter, YES, we'll return to Deku and the rest. Thanks for your patience everyone!

And trust me: I want to see the end of this story as much as you!

See you soon! Don't stop feedbacking of you feel like it, please!

Bye-bye!👋👋👋