BNHA: Undying

(Meeting)

"I'm telling you, trying to falsify test results is a terrible idea!"

"What if they come back positive!? Think of the backlash!"

"We're already dealing with backlash! Making sure we're honest here will make sure the public regains the trust they've lost in us and the hero system!"

"All they have are the ravings of a madman! A positive DNA match would just cement the thought that heroes can't be trusted in their minds!"

"That's the kind of thinking that put us in this situation in the first place!"

"Oh please! If you're referring to the quirkless-"

"Enough."

The firm female voice is not raised. It is not nearly as loud as some of the people in the room shouting their arguments with red faces, as if that would make them seem more convincing. No, the voice of the president of the HPSC is spoken with the same calm cadence that she always speaks with. Even so, it manages to cut through the repetitive and circular words. Really, for all the shouting, all the meetings they've held, all the long hours spent throwing out ideas, everything really boils down to one simple question.

Would attempting to disprove Midosagi's claim about being the son of All Might result in stability for Japan, or anarchy?

At the moment, there are doubts. People aren't sure what to think. Even with the video where he pointed out his scars, the public's previously unflappable faith in All Might prevents them from believing that the man they've looked up to for decades… is just as human as they are.

But the longer his claim goes unanswered, unchallenged, the more the country doubts. They start to wonder if the Symbol of Peace is really who he says he is. They wonder; if even All Might can be a bad parent, a bad person, how many of the other heroes are no better? How many of them are worse?

How many of the heroes society venerates, are actually no better than villains?

The HPSC knows that Midosagi's claim needs to be addressed, but they can't decide on how. Yes, falsifying a test to 'prove' the lie is certainly an option, but if it were to ever get out the blowback from the attempt would cripple faith in the hero system and the government. Especially if Midosagi proves it to be true afterwards.

Simply doing the test themselves and then deciding what to reveal to the public is another option, but the problem is that they would need to get Midosagi to conduct it. Or at least obtain an uncorrupted sample of his DNA. But over the course of his villainous career he's proven surprisingly adept at ensuring no one can get a hold of it. The glitter bomb used against Hawks is simply one tool in his arsenal that he's used to contaminate what they could retrieve.

Even if they did somehow manage to get him to run the test though, they wouldn't be able to keep it from the public for long. Not with how high profile he is at the moment. Especially while he's under the watchful eye of Nezu in UA.

Not even All Might knows what to do about the situation. When they asked the man about whether or not Midosagi is his son, and what he thinks should be done, he was uncertain about both. He admits to there being a possibility of Midosagi being his son -though his face looked pained when he said it- but that all previous evidence points to his son being dead. The fact that a body was never found muddles the waters though.

The number one hero is as unsettled by the whole thing as everyone else is, throwing himself into hero work and dodging the press to the best of his ability. Which is surprisingly good. Especially when considering that knowledge of his 'second form' has begun to spread thanks to some especially bloodthirsty journalists.

Regardless of anything else though, the fact of the matter is that no matter what they decide to do, Japan will feel its effects. They can only hope to minimize the damage.

The president sighs. "How long do we have before people start making noticeable waves?" She holds up a hand to stop the immediate reply from one of the men promoting faking a negative. "Not the uncertainty that's plaguing the public right now. How long before someone acts on it?"

There's a frown from the man as he sits down, a man on the opposite side standing instead and clearing his throat. "Our analysts are giving us a month before the first protest. That doesn't account for an unstable or overly disgruntled individual making things even more of a mess."

The president hums in thought. "So… we have at least until after UA's internship week?"

There are a few confused glances while others perk up. "That's correct, but why that time frame, exactly?" One of the confused people voices the question.

"Because Mirko has managed to secure Midosagi as an intern for the first two days. If we're going to be getting a sample of his blood to test, it's going to be then."

There's silence at her proclamation for a few minutes, each of her council thinking over the fact that a villain will be apprenticing under one of the top ten heroes. It's a laughably ironic thing to be thankful for.

"And… what if she fails? Or it tests as positive?"

The president sighs. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. But… we might just have to face the music and do a public, publicized test."

She holds up a hand to quiet the sudden outraged shouting. "I don't like it any more than all of you. But regardless of the result, we're going to have people on both sides of the argument crying out that anything else is a ploy we're trying to pull. Unless we make it public and ensure there's no doubt about the results, someone is going to be causing problems. Hell, even if we do everything we can, there's still going to be problems. That's just how people are."

"Then… why even bother with trying to find out the truth beforehand?"

The entire room looks at the speaker like he's an idiot, causing him to hunch low in his seat. After a few moments of judgemental staring, the president explains slowly, as if to a child.

"Knowing the truth in advance will allow us to prepare statements and anticipate the public's reaction."

Leaning against the wall in a shadowed corner of the room, the number three hero, Hawks, watches everything with a thoughtful look on his face. He recalls his own encounter with Midosagi, when the boy made his debut as a villain. No matter how much the Commission prepares he doubts that anyone will be able to anticipate what Midosagi will do. But Hawks is sure of one thing.

Midosagi knows how to adapt, and that's one of his most dangerous qualities.

`~`

I sneeze and rub at my mouth with the back of my hand. "I guess someone is talking about me." I tap my chin and look up. "But is it a woman praising my amazing skills in bed or a man cursing me for spending a night with his wife?"

"Where the hell did that come from?"

I shrug my shoulders at the baffled look Neito Monoma gives me. "It wouldn't be the first time and it wouldn't be the last. Though they might be mistaking me for Himiko again." I wave it off. "But that's a problem for future me, probably. Where were we?"

The blonde continues to stare at me for a moment before sighing. "We were talking about the hero students underutilizing their quirks."

I snap my fingers. "Oh yeah!" I shake my head sadly. "It's such a shame that Yaoyorozu is so set on being a hero. She could be such an amazing villain! Send her to an all you can eat buffet and boom! Instant armory!"

"You are aware that I'm sitting right next to you, correct?"

I give the ponytailed rich girl a nod. "Yep! So?"

She sighs. "Once again, I am not joining the League of Villains."

I pout at her and open my mouth, only to close it as she answers before I can even say anything. "Nor will I be making you anything that doesn't currently exist."

"But you can make lightsabers!"

"No," she refuses firmly once again.

I give Monoma a pleading look only for him to raise his hands up in a 'don't look at me' gesture. "I am fully aware of my limits, and her quirk falls rather far outside of them."

My pout deepens, but I can understand what he means. He already does a ton of quirk research so that he can fully utilize any quirks he copies, he doesn't have the time to learn the molecular composition of things on the off chance he'll have access to Yaoyorozu's quirk. Well, if he implements the change to his hero costume that I suggested then that might change. But it would still mean he'd have to devote too much time to it. Much better to deepen his understanding of other quirks.

I have to say though, it's so much fun doing quirk analysis with people who can understand it! Sure, I have to make sure not to get stuck in one of my mutter storms since they can't follow along with how fast I end up talking, but just having the chance to analyze and theorize about quirks with other people is such a rarity!

Well, I've had a few discussions with All For One, but he doesn't really know all the capabilities of the quirks he possesses due to having so many. Ironic considering he has a longevity quirk and can devote more time to studying them. But he's more of a collector than a scientist or analyst. So long as he can use any interesting quirks he finds himself he's happy.

Sure, I'm helping my future enemies become stronger, but what does that matter in the face of quirk study! Nothing can ruin this-

"Usagi… can I talk to you? Alone?"

Spoke too soon, because Izumi is standing in front of me now, staring at the ground and shuffling her feet.