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CHAPTER START---
SHAMBLES!
Horizon appears, wearing his full Hero Costume in the 2A dorm kitchen.
To his confusion he sees Asui, Mina, and Deku already cooking, even now at 5 AM his classmates are busying themselves.
"Why are all of you up so early?" Horizon asks as he walks over to the fridge and begins rummaging through it.
"Good morning to you too," Asui says as she continues cracking eggs into a large bowl. "We're making breakfast for everyone, hopefully, it helps everyone relax."
"I think you'll need more eggs," Horizon says. "Don't you have like ten siblings in your room or something?"
"Two," Asui says. "My parents are actually over in Korea and can't get back until this is over, so I just brought my brother and sister over here.""And they're super cute," Mina says. "Hey Horizon, did you know Asui used to have a little tadpole tail like her sister has right now?"
Horizon grabs a drink from the fridge then walks over to an open counter space and leans against it, watching his classmates cook.
Behind his visor he eyes Asui carefully, focusing on her lower back for a while, curious about how her body absorbed her tail as she grew older.
As if sensing this Asui blushes, then fires her tongue to gently smack the side of his head.
"Don't look at me like that, pervert."
Horizon doesn't respond to the hit, just shakes his head before and continues to simply sip his drink, "I was studying you, professionally."
"Mhm," She continues cracking the eggs.
"But now that you mention it," Horizon says. "You do have a nice ass."
Asui stops for a moment, then continues cracking the dozens of eggs. "It'll be a few minutes before we start making the sandwiches, go wait in the common room if you want."
"No thanks, I prefer this view," Horizon says. "Besides, I need to talk to Mina."
Mina looks up from where she's slicing the sausages for a moment, "Me?"
"Yeah, but you can keep doing what you're doing, I just need to know if you're willing to help me with something in a few weeks."
"Few weeks?" Mina asks as she continues her work. "Shouldn't we be focusing on the current situation, you know, the nukes above our heads?"
"You, don't need to worry about any of that," Horizon says. "A team has been put together, and we'll take care of it. Right now Japan is surprisingly stable compared to the rest of the world, mostly because everyone knows I'll handle things and kick in their teeth if they use this chance to make a mess. You just focus on keeping things calm here."
"Right, Principal Nezu said today would be busy," Midoriya says. "Musutafu and Minato Tokyo will be flooded with scared people since everyone wants to get closer to UA or Horizon Tower."
"As if that'll do anything," Horizon scoffs. "The smart people are deeper into the rural areas where the nukes would be wasted, they're less likely to be main targets that way."
"They're just scared, and UA and Horizon Tower are symbols of safety," Midoriya says. "We're all scared."
"That's only natural," Horizon says. "Even All Might never had to deal with something like this, he was lucky enough that his biggest problems could be dealt with in one big punch, but the world has adapted, villains know better than to challenge us with only strength."
"Yeah, I suppose you're right," Midoirya says as he continues preparing the vegetables. "And it feels really bad, not being able to help."
"Yeah well, which would you prefer, to be here unable to help?" Horizon asks as he walks closer to Mina. "Or to have ten billion people expecting you to solve this problem, with all their lives in your hands?"
Midoriya is silent for a moment before he answers, "Yeah, I guess I can't imagine the pressure you're under right now."
Horizon chuckles, "Yeah, if I were anyone else I'd be worried, but luckily, I'm me."
This actually makes Midoriya laugh, bitterly, almost at himself. "Yeah, I guess being yourself is always enough for you."
Horizon shrugs, "you should take this time to get to know Uraraka's parents, since you are sleeping with their daughter."
"Uh, we actually haven't…um."
"Seriously?" Horizon asks. "Sheesh, you're really just like Yagi, doing everything but having a life."
"I guess life is shorter than I realized," Midoriya says, thinking about how everything could end tomorrow.
"It always is," Horizon says before he leans toward Mina. "Meet me on the couch when you're done here."
"Alright, Uraraka, Shoji, and Bakugo should be here in a minute to help out too, so I'll come chat when they get here."
—Minutes Later…
After more of his classmates enter the kitchen, Mina walks into the common area, still wearing her pajamas and carrying a plate with two sandwiches on it.
"Thanks," Horizon says as she hands him the plate, but instead he makes it hover in front of him. "So, this may sound weird but…"
—10 Minutes Later
Sitting across Horizon's lap Mina is staring at the black card hovering just above her palm, temptation in her eyes.
She could have everything she'd ever wanted, and all she'd have to do was say yes.
And while she makes this life-changing choice, Horizon has one hand on the small of her back as he scrolls through data on his phone, seeing entire nations collapse as their panic reaches new heights.
'Three days is optimal to push people to their most hysterical state, Tech gave us one day before initial demands are made, so he likely plans to go easy on us at first,' Horizon thinks. 'On principle a lot of countries will try to refuse, calling his bluff, but he'll only need to drop a few warheads to show them he's serious…he wants us to give justification to him flexing his muscles.'
"Your hair looks nice by the way, you've been growing it out?" Horizon asks, snapping Mina out of her daze.
"Oh, uh, I've just been too busy to go get it cut," Mina says.
"You should just let it grow out, it makes you look a bit more…intense," Horizon says as he gently strokes her hair.
Mina enjoys the sensation, but focuses on the card in front of her, then reaches out and holds it.
"You're sure this won't bite me in the butt, right?"
"I'm sure, and I know you've been having, concerns, about this whole Pro Hero thing…having a backup plan is always nice."
"This isn't a backup plan, it's a golden ticket," Mina says. "Do you even realize what you're handing me? I mean, I could never repay this."
"You're already playing the part pretty well, I just need you to do it one more time," Horizon moves his leg slightly to remind her where she's sitting. "You'll be in danger for a bit, but I'll handle all of them before they can lay a finger on you or anyone you care about, and when it's over, you can use that and never have to work another day in your life."
Mina frowns and looks at him, into his visor, "Do you really think I'd quit now, after seeing how dangerous the world is becoming, how many people need us?"
"I think there are billions of people who would kill for this opportunity."
"I'm a Hero, we don't kill."
"Speak for yourself," Horizon says. "What do you think I'm going to do to them when this works."
Mina narrows her eyes at him, and presses the card against his chest, "then you can keep this, I'm not helping you murder anyone."
"It's more like self-defense."
"You're Horizon, what could they possibly do to threaten you?"
Horizon sighs and uses Takt to push the card away, keeping it hovering between them. "Mina, the sooner I get this done, the closer I am to my goals, so, if this works, if you help me, then fine, I'll try to actually arrest them."
Mina's shoulders slump as she thinks about her options.
"You know, I hate them," Mina says, quietly. "I really do, especially for what they did to our— To my friends. But, the villains are getting worse every day, if we allow ourselves to become as bad, then what happens to the world? How will the kids be able to tell us apart?"
"We'll be alive and they won't be," Horizon says.
"Is that really the kind of world you'd want our kids to grow up in?"
"I'd like to think my kids will be strong enough to survive whatever this world becomes."
"Yeah well, I'm not a living miracle, so I don't have that luxury," Mina says. "So if I'm going to do this, you have to promise that anyone I help you catch, gets arrested, not executed, atleast not unless they get the death sentence in prison."
"Ugh, you heroes are so soft, it's annoying."
"Well, this can't work without me, so?"
"I could always get Jiro to do this," Horizon says. "Or Momo."
"We both know you can't," Mina says, slightly annoyed that he'd say that while she's sitting on his lap.
"Mmm, fine, but not Twice," Horizon says. "He's too dangerous, I'm putting him down."
Mina becomes hesitant yet again, and feeling his patience run thin Horizon simply pulls her into his chest, holding her close.
"Every day they're out in the world people are getting hurt," he says, so gently she was almost fooled into thinking he had a heart. "With your help, we'd easily put them away, but not Twice…"
Mina closes her eyes and leans into him, "Alright, I'll help. But you'd better keep your promises, all of them."
"I never break a contract, that, you can always bet on."
"Yeah, but first, go save the world, please."
Horizon chuckles as she lays against his chest, "You're pretty good at acting, maybe you should do this instead."
"Are you saying I'm a good liar?"
"Maybe, but also, thanks for actually asking me to save the world. Everyone else just expects me to wave my hands and make it happen."
"Isn't that your Quirk?"
"Yeah, but it's nice for people to ask instead of just expecting me to help."
"You do remember you're a Hero, right?"
"Ugh, don't remind me."
After a few more minutes, Uraraka walks into the common area with Toru at her side, carrying a large tray of sandwiches to the table across the room.
"Uh, are you guys…busy?" Uraraka asks, seeing Mina still sitting on Horizon's lap, looking at the black card with stars in her eyes.
"Just have a little chat," Horizon says as Mina quickly hops out of his lap.
"Do you girls need any more help?" she asks, but before they can answer she's already walking toward the kitchen. "I'll go see if the boys need anything."
"I thought you two couldn't stand each other?" Toru asks, looking at Horizon.
"She warmed up to me," Horizon says. "Besides, it's not what you think, this is just Hero work."
"Sure it is," Toru narrows her eyes at him, then gives him a knowing look, preparing to tease them about this.
"Times like these I regret helping you fix that damn Quirk," Horizon says before he warps away, heading off to see Nezu before going to meet his guest at Horizon Tower…
END CHAPTER---