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CHAPTER START---
---December 11th, HPSC Main Building…
"But now everything is so boring," Horizon says while looking down at the ocean of people in the plaza below.
Looking through the glass wall on the upper levels of the building, he could see the flashing of cameras as people rushed about preparing for the presentation.
"Well, you could always start a new project," Ryuko says as he paces back and forth. Her voice reaching him through his visor, more amused than anything else.
"A new project, huh? Well, you were one, so…is Shino single?"
"That's not funny," she all but growls through the phone. "But seriously, you always say you'd solve crime, and now you have. You've been busy these past two weeks cleaning up Shigaraki's crap around the world. Now it's done, so enjoy the boring. Boring means the heroes won, you won.""Yeah, but swimming with no currents sucks."
Ryuko chuckles. "You sound like you're about to switch sides to shake things up."
Horizon leans against the glass, staring at the people below.
"Uh, babe…you're not actually thinking about—"
"No, no."
"Oh, that's a relief."
"But…" Horizon chuckles. "That's what mom would like."
"Should I return to Japan to talk some sense into you?"
"No, I'm just kidding. I've got a few cases ongoing anyway that Juzo's been handling. I'll just join some of those."
"And you have people in the Miracle Ward that need healing, so you'll always be busy."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. I guess this is the downside of having the world in your hand," Horizon says. "I'll call you later. The event is about to start."
"Will you be on stage?"
"They can't afford me." Horizon ends the call and warps away.
Appearing outside, he stands five stories above the crowd.
Many cameras shift from the stage to the sight of Horizons standing in the air, but moments later the music and lights on stage along with the fireworks above pull their attention back to the show.
'This is a bigger crowd than usual,' Horizon thinks as he warps backstage. He appears standing beside Nezu and Aizawa. "What's with the bigger crowd this year?"
Nezu, sitting on Aizawa's shoulder, looks over at Horizon while they walk to get a better view of the stage. "There are rumors you'll be made an official Pro Hero and join the ranking."
"I heard as much. Didn't think people believed it."
"People believe anything the news tells them to," Aizawa says. "Did you have any input on the rankings?"
Horizon chuckles. "If I did, I'd put you in the top ten just to annoy you."
"Don't even joke about that," Aizawa glances at the sea of spectators and cameras. "What a nightmare."
"It's starting," Nezu says as President Pantu walks onto the stage, mic in hand.
"Welcome, everyone, to the Annual Hero Billboard Ranking Ceremony," Pantu says in a monotone voice, but even that doesn't dull the crowd's excitement.
"Should have gotten Mic to present," Horizon mutters.
"Then the crowd wouldn't have eardrums by the end of it," Aizawa says.
After a few minutes of announcement and commendations, mainly focused on some statistics over the last year, the ceremony finally begins.
"Did you get a medal for getting the crime rate so low?" Aizawa asks while Pantu once again explains the importance of heroes.
"Why would I get a special reward for doing my job?"
Nezu shakes his head. "Most people don't have the base requirement of perfection."
"Which is why they aren't me…"
Moments later, President Pantu finally gets to the announcement, and the crowd roars with excitement.
"Starting with our #10 Pro Hero. Breaking multiple records, including the record for being the youngest person to be in the Top 10 Pro Heroes ranking. And the youngest woman to be in the rankings as well. She's also a co-founder of an agency that only formed months ago after graduating from UA."
Fireworks erupt as Pantu prepares to announce the name, only for Nejire-Chan to fly out of the trap door too early, sending the crowd into an uproar.
"Nejire-Chan," Pantu says as the hero flies about waving the crowd.
"Hi everyone!" Nejire-Chan yells. "Let's do our best together!"
Pantu gives the people a moment to calm down before she continues. "Next is a now familiar face for this stage, moving up in the rankings for her hard work over the summer. Your new #9 Pro Hero, Mt. Lady."
Mt. Lady rises from the stage, posing for the cameras and showing off her new Hero Equipments.
Mainly armored gloves, bracers, and boots. Foregoing her more sleek and thin first Hero Costume now that she can afford something better.
After all, Hero Costumes for those who can gigantify are particularly expensive.
"This is just the start!" Mt. Lady says as she flexes for the cameras. "I'll work even harder this coming year!"
"Next up, we have someone who is much more used to standing on this stage. Having moved a few times but always holding onto her position in the top 10, Ryukyu."
While Pantu gives the crowd more details about Ryukyu, then announces Mirko as #7, and Kamui Woods as #6, Aizawa can't help but ask.
"Why did Ryukyu fire Nejire?"
"She fired her?" Horizon asks. "I assumed Nejire quit to form that agency with Mirio and Takami."
"According to what I know," Nezu says. "Ryukyu fired her because of their policies against working too closely with Horizon," Nezu says.
Horizon sighs. "Yeah, that makes sense. Ryukyu can't stand me."
"How did you go from sleeping together to her hating you?" Aizawa asks. "What'd you do?"
"Why do you assume that I'm the one who ruined things?"
"I've met you."
"Tch, it's nothing worth mentioning. Just women being dramatic, you know how they are."
"That's why I stay single."
Fuyumi approaches the trio with a drink in her hand, standing beside them. "If you agree with Horizon's views on women, yes, please, stay single."
"Awe, and here I was hoping you and I would be a thing," Horizon says jokingly. "Think about how annoyed your dad would be."
Fuyumi eyes him up and down, then smiles cutely. "Maybe, if you weren't…" she gestures to all of him.
Aizawa and Nezu laugh as Pantu moves on to the next announcement.
After announcing Ryukyu as #8, Mirko as #7, and Kamui Woods as #6, she gets to the announcement that Aizawa and Nezu are most excited about.
"And now, your new #6 Pro Hero. After a perfect first year after graduating and founding a Hero Agency with his friends," Pantu once again doesn't have time to finish.
Lemillion harmlessly shoots through the floor and lands on the stage.
And the crowd cheers so loudly it shakes the stage.
Even Aizawa smiles as Lemillion waves to the people.
"So when Endeavor is done, this means UA should hold the top spot," Nezu says. "We could hold it forever if—"
"Not gonna happen," Horizon says. "You'll have it for the foreseeable future anyway between Endeavor, Lemillion, and Deku. If Barugo gets his personality to be less…explosive, he could even add some time to that run."
After a few more minutes of announcements, mainly Best against retaining his position at #4, along with Edge shot and Hawks at #3 and #2 respectively, they finally get to the #1 Pro Hero.
"And finally, the man we've all been waiting for. Even after the news of what villains have done to his family, and to his son. He keeps fighting for us, protecting us. Risking his life and future for us. Endeavor…"
The man rises onto the stage to reveal his new Hero Costume, now sporting more heavily armored sections and a utility belt with more compartments.
His flames were also flowing from his shoulder down the side of his arms to the back of his hand as he towered over the other Pro Heroes on stage.
As Endeavor addresses the crowd, Fuyumi walks backstage to join Shoto and Natsuo.
After the news about Dabi, they'd been asked to go along with the story Pantu and Horizon published. But she could only take so much of their games.
After a few more minutes of announcements, Pantu leaves the stage for the Pro Heroes to take questions from the press.
By now Horizon, Natsuo, Shoto, and Fuyumi are standing off to the side of the stage, outside of the press area but visible enough for people to see that they support Endeavor.
President Pantu walks over and joins them, not bothering with the pictures being taken.
"I need to know that you all remember the rules about interacting with the press," she says.
Shoto and Fuyumi nod, but Natsuo looks away. "I'll stay quiet, that's it."
"That won't do," Pantu says. "You need to give positive answers, not non-answers."
"You can't force me to lie."
"I know this isn't fair, or easy. But I'm asking you to put the good of Japan ahead of your feelings."
He looks directly at her, narrowing his eyes at the woman. "That's all dad's ever done, and look where it got us."
"He's right," Horizon says, surprising them. Until he rests a hand on Natsuo's shoulder. "But…"
"Uh, hey what—"
He cuts off Fuyumi's worries. "Relax, I'm not going to do anything. So long as he understands that the story we released has my name attached as a witness, and I don't want any nonsense coming out that can make me look foolish. Because I don't take kindly to people attacking me in that way."
"He won't do anything like that, I promise," Fuyumi says, signaling for her brother to nod along.
But Natsuo was too scared to even move until she grabbed his arm to snap him back to reality.
"Right, yeah, I'll stick with the plan. Promise!"
"Good," Horizon says before turning to President Pantu. "Now, how much longer will this thing last? I need to g—"
Horizon world suddenly goes black, and seconds later Fuyumi's blood-curdling scream draws all attention to them.
All the cameras turn to see Horizon and Pantu crumpled to the floor.
END CHAPTER---