Chapter 103: Gran Torino and Mirko — Investigating Nomus!
When Luke and Midoriya came to their senses, they found Gran Torino and Mirko looking right at them, black feathers sticking out from their hair.
Luke looked around and found that they had returned to Gran Torino's house.
And, perched on the microwave, pruning her feather, was Nyx.
"I like him!" Mirko suddenly said, grinning.
Gran Torino nodded. "The boy's a natural… Leave the short one to me…"
"Ugh…" Midoriya got up too, holding his head.
Gran Torino took out a bundle of documents and threw them on the table.
Still blinking away the heaviness, Luke and Midoriya looked at each other in shame. They had beaten… badly at that.
Looking away, they eyed the stack of documents, Nyx flying across the room to have a look as well.
The documents contained several images.
"That's…" Midoriya suddenly said, his eyes widening. "That's the image that Detective showed us…"
Yes.
One of the images belonged to Dr. Blessed.
The other images were from Meta Puppets, the mutated Rottweiler and Cat, three Nomus, Kurogiri, and Tomura Shigaraki.
"It's all related," Gran Torino said, putting his finger on the white lab coat-wearing man. "Somehow. To this man."
"Dr. Blessed," Mirko said, a touch of her smile vanishing. "He's dangerous… Not for me… Haha!"
"Dr. Blessed…" Midoriya mumbled, a confused look dancing on both his and Luke's faces. "How's he…"
Then, not waiting anymore, Gran Torino revealed to them the truth behind the Jaku Incident.
Midoriya's eyes popped out like saucers.
Luke mimicked the emotion.
"Police and Detectives are doing a more… orthodox and open investigation on all this," Gran Torino told both boys. "Me and young Mirko here are also following some wild clues that are unknown to many.
"She was there during the Jaku Incident and volunteered to All Might for this. He also dragged me out of retirement, then."
Of course, Gran Torino didn't tell the boys that it was because of All For One that he accepted All Might's request.
"What's the latest clue you have, Sir?" Luke asked.
Gran Torino's eyes narrowed. Toshinori was right… This boy's too serious… and practical. Young Midoriya is still processing the info, but this one is ready to jump into action.
"Hero Killer Stain," Mirko said.
Tenya's face flashed by Luke and Midoriya's minds, their eyes snapping up.
"I read about him," Midoriya said, hesitatingly. "Hero Killer Stain has been active long before the Jaku Incident. There can't be…"
Mirko flicked her wrist and threw another photograph on the table.
This time, Luke's eyes popped out, despite him being a Clown at this moment.
First, the photograph wasn't an ordinary one, but a Polaroid. Second, it showed Hero Killer Stain at the very top of a building, holding his swords and facing… Dr. Blessed.
Luke wouldn't have let his expressions get the better of him, knowing that someone could have faked his persona.
However, nobody knew him using a full mask with only two eyeholes, yet, other than Kazuho and Iwao. And the Polaroid showed his current get-up, not of the past.
It didn't take more than a few seconds for Luke to realize what he was looking at.
It was a scene from the future.
It was — Snapshot Prophecy!
Luke and Nyx glanced at each other, asking themselves the same question.
Was Sir Nighteye involved in this matter as well? Was he using Aina's Quirk to figure out where the next attacks could happen?
Even if Luke felt detached from everyone, he still didn't want Rikuya and Aina to get involved in it.
Tch! Luke tsked within, feeling a bit annoyed.
"Did you recognize something?" Gran Torino asked, sharing a glance with Mirko.
Taking a deep breath, Luke sat down, shaking his head. "Not something within the image, but the image itself. That's my sister's Quirk…"
"Oh…" Gran Torino nodded. Then, he explained it to Midoriya. "This event is from the future. The image is taken from Hosu City… It's hard to say the exact time, but it's a night scene."
"That's where you come in handy," Mirko said. "We will go to Hosu right now and keep an eye on the location using your bird… The old man and this wimp will join us tomorrow. Let's hope this Hero Killer and Dr. Coward show up… Haha… I want to see just how strong they are…"
"…?" Luke.
"…?" Nyx.
Meanwhile, Midoriya felt the sting of being called a wimp.
But he couldn't blame the Pro Hero. During the spar, he had failed to even read their movements and was too scared to use One For All against them.
This was his chance… Midoriya thought, balling his fingers into fists. If he didn't gain control over his Quirk this time, then everyone would leave him behind… by miles in some cases.
Luke turned his Midoriya and found himself looking back at him.
"Wanna exchange positions?" he asked Deku. "I think I like the old man…"
Midoriya, Gran Torino, and Mirko's mouths twitched.
"No…" Gran Torino began saying something, smiling.
"Are you sure?" Luke asked, almost begging. "You can adopt me as a grandson… You need someone to inherit this… grand establishment…"
Mirko grabbed Luke by the back of his neck and dragged him toward the door.
"All that muscles and killer senses…" she said, grinning, "… but when you open your mouth, out comes a freaking clown! Need to straighten you, first, I guess. I just know the… tricks."
"Midoriya!" Luke reached out, an obvious betrayal written on his face. "Come on! Break a finger or two! I will heal you later!!"
When Mirko had dragged Luke out of the building, Nyx following them, laughing, Midoriya and Gran Torino could still hear Luke's shouts.
"… Unique…" Gran Torino commented, laughing.
"Yeah…" Midoriya scratched his cheek, smiling ruefully.
"So, Izuku Midoriya, the ninth user of One For All…" Gran Torino said.
Midoriya's face suddenly gained a grave expression. He knew, being All Might's teacher, that this old man must know about One For All.
Is it happening? Midoriya thought, a graveness settling on his face. Is that why he chose me instead of Luke? Is he going to train me to control One For All with some personalized training?
"… I bought some frozen food," Gran Torino said, laughing like a child, pointing at the oven. "How about you heat some for me, huh?"
"…?" Midoriya regretted not accepting Luke's offer, his jaw hanging low in shock.
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