Midoriya's POV

Major events that happened when we were in school, huh? What major events? Everything major that happened back then dealt with the League of Villains, but they have been taken care of. So what other dramatic thing happened back then? Bank robbers, prison break outs, drug distribution. What else is there? Is there something I am missing or was not made public knowledge?

I kept looking at old articles and newspapers trying to get a hint about what that villain had meant, but all I keep finding are mundane stuff or events that were caused by the League. There is no connection to this strange man leading the Black Lotus. Then again, I don't even know his name or what he looks like. I doubt I'll find anything relevant until I know more details about him.

I suppose I just had false hope. Maybe I would strike lucky and I could figure out who this guy is, but there's so little information and these articles are not helping. 

If only there was someone I could ask about some of the things that happened back then. All Might's gone, I can't go to him. Endeavor is out of the question. 

What about Aizawa? Surely he might know something, even if it's a small lead.

I pulled my phone out and dialed my old teacher's number. He allowed us to keep it in case we ever needed anything.

"What is it, problem child?"

"Aizawa! I had a question, but it's kind of vague."

I could hear Aizawa sigh over the phone. "Ask."

"Do you remember any really big battles with villains that weren't part of the league while we were in school?"

"You're asking something a little too vague."

I knew this, but this is also all I had to go on. "What about something bad that happened and the villain got away and was never caught?"

The phone line went silent.

I waited a few moments, hoping he had realized something.

"There was one, but I only know what happened at the end of it. Nothing else on the case was ever reported, something about needing high level clearance to gain that information. Midoriya, what is this for?" he asked.

I thought for a moment before responding. "I ran into a villain the other day that knows the leader of the Black Lotus, he said something about a big event happening when we were still in school. It got pushed under the rug and no one knows anything about it." I didn't want Aizawa becoming more suspicious. What the man had said to me was incredibly strange and worrisome. Aizawa might try to get further involved or he would report this to other people. I've got too much of a lead to let that happen.

If this villain from the Black Lotus wants to speak to me, then let him. That's the only way I can bring him down.

"Alright. You better not be keeping anything, problem child," he pointed. I fidgeted with my hands, glad he wasn't in the room with me. 

"Here's what I know. During your senior year in the middle of final exams, there was an incident that took place near one of the old abandoned nuclear facilities. There had been reports of people entering and exiting the place even though no one should have access to it. There were only a few heroes that responded to the call and I only got called in towards the tail end of it when the situation turned dire. Several people had lost their lives, though they were all villains and only a couple of civilians. I don't know what they were doing there, that was also kept wrapped up.

When I got there, there were a few heroes that were still rounding up some of the loose villains. I joined and managed to catch a few, but there was one man in a mask that had managed to get passed us. He ended up entering a busy section of town and we lost him. It's possible he had some sort of teleportation quirk, but we are unsure. Worst of all, when I had returned to help hand in the ones we did catch, they all died. They carried a poison with them and when they realized that escaping was inevitable, they all took their own lives."

"What? There were no survivors? Why wasn't this reported?"

"It happened at an isolated place, the media services were never on site. The heroes who were deeply involved were sworn to secrecy and those that came in last like myself were told not to dig into the matter any further."

"That's strange. I thought the hero society wasn't allowed to keep things like that a secret."

"It wasn't a decision made by the hero society. It was someone with more power than that. I tried researching more into the issue, but got stopped before I could go any further."

"Someone higher. This has to be the same guy then!" I exclaimed. "The Black Lotus have only been targeting people who are well known or have a lot of power. They are working up the chain of command of who was involved that day."

"Then why are you involved? You weren't there."

"I'm the number one hero. I might not have been involved, but I am also one of their biggest threats."

"Problem child. Why do I get the sense that's not the full story?"

"Uh, sorry Aizawa! The agency's calling me, I've got to go! Bye!" I hung up the phone. I hit my head on my desk and groaned.

"I'm so busted."

"Busted for what?"

I jumped out of my seat. "Kiri!" I called.

"Sorry I scared you. You left your door open." He came into the room and stood beside me at my desk.

"R-Right. Sorry about that."

"It's no worries. Who were you talking to?" He leaned against the wall casually, but still intrigued by the conversation.

"Aizawa. I was hoping he would have some info on something I'm researching," I kept it vague. I didn't want to get anyone involved. They'd either think it's too risky for me to handle on my own, or they would only end up getting hurt in the end.

"Oh, is there anything I can help with?"

I smiled at him and shook my head. "I don't think so, but I'll let you know if I do."

Kirishima looked hesitant but still smiled. "Alright. Um, anyways, dinner is ready. Kat sent me up here to get you."

"Oh, okay. Yeah, I'm coming." I closed my laptop and stood from my chair. "Let's go."

Dinner was quiet that night. I am a little unsure as to why, but both of them seemed to be lost in their trains of thought and I didn't want to interrupt them. So, I ate my meal in silence and then helped with the dishes before going back to my room for the remainder of the night.

However, the next day, they still seemed lost in their thoughts.

It was just after breakfast on our day off that Kacchan stopped me from leaving the table. "Deku," he called.

"Yes Kacchan? Is everything alright?"

"We need to talk."

His tone concerned me. Kirishima stayed eerily silent as well and a pit began to settle at the bottom of my stomach. "Kacchan?" I called.

"You've been lying to us."

My mind blanked.

I lied? I don't recall lying to them, but they seem quite convinced that I did. "What about?"

"You promised us that you were eating better, especially when we are not around," Kacchan elaborated.

Then I remembered. I usually get so busy at work that I forget to eat the lunch Kacchan usually packs for me. By the time I remember, the food has already gone bad. 

I took a breath. "Is that what this is about?"

"What this is about? Of course it is! How many damn meals have you been skipping?!" Kacchan grew a little angry.

My eyebrows furrowed. "Not many, sometimes I forget to eat at work, but I've always done that."

"Midoriya, it's not healthy to be skipping meals like that. You have to think about your health first."

I only frowned. "I eat plenty during the day. It's not going to harm me if I miss a meal or two. Do we really need to have a discussion about this? Is this why the two of you have been awfully quiet lately?"

"Midoriya, we're just worried. You stretch yourself so thin at work that taking care of yourself gets put on the back-burner."

"I eat breakfast and dinner every day. It's not going to harm me to not eat lunch. Besides, have you ever seen me eat lunch on days we work?"

Kirishima stilled at my words. He bit his lip in contemplation. "No, I suppose I have never seen you eat lunch before."

"That only proves how much you need it now. You can't keep running yourself dry from one meal to the next," Kacchan complained.

I rolled my eyes. "Kacchan, how many meals have you skipped in your life? I distinctly remember you only eating dinner back in Junior High."

"I was thirteen! Of course I didn't eat much! I was pumped full of adrenaline and hormones! That's besides the point! You keep wasting food!"

I sat back in my seat. "Okay, that's fair. Let's not make me anymore lunches then, that way I don't waste it."

"You should be eating it! Not wasting it or skipping it!"

"Okay! I'm sorry! I'll do better! Can we stop the lecture now?"

"Deku! I swear to-"

"Kat, please," Kirishima called.

"This is ridiculous," he muttered.

"Midoriya. I'm sorry. We keep getting involved and I know it's the last thing you want, but we are only trying to work things out with you. How about we come to a compromise? We pack a much smaller lunch, but you have to promise us that you will eat it."

I contemplated what he said. I know because they are so worried about me that they won't just let this go, but I also have a really bad habit of forgetting to eat periodically. "Alright, but you can't get mad at me if I forget every once in awhile."

Kirishima smiled brightly at me. "Deal."

The conversation ended with an agreement and we went back to our normal day. Usually it consisted of Kacchan going grocery shopping, and Kirishima and I cleaning up around the house. When that was done, I left the house saying I needed some fresh air and began walking to Todoroki's. I haven't seen him much in the last couple of weeks and he broke down over the phone with me asking if I'd come over. I had pushed him off long enough and it was only fair that I obliged.

Todoroki let me in the moment I arrived. I saw a small smile reach his lips as we walked to his living room.

"Hey Midoriya!" A voice called.

"Sero! I didn't know you would be here. How have you been? It's been a while," I asked him.

"I've been good and yeah, sorry. I didn't know Todoroki was expecting anyone and I kinda crashed here."

"Sero is staying with me for a little while," Todoroki clarified.

"Oh! I had no idea. Uhm, is everything alright?"

"Yeah, it's fine. I've actually got a couple of life changing things going on, so it's been nice hanging out with a close friend."

It was clear Sero did not want to elaborate and I had no plans on forcing him.

"I hope it's alright that I am here. I can go take a walk or something if you'd like? I don't mind."

"No! No, please stay here. I don't think Todoroki and I had much planned, just hanging, so you can join us."

"Okay! But let me know if you'd like some alone time. Again, I do not mind."

"Alright."

"Mido, want a soda?" Todoroki asked as he got up to walk to the kitchen.

"Uhm, sure. I wouldn't mind one."

The three of us chatted for a while about random things. Most of it was about Sero's recent trip to America or some of the experiences we've had on the job. We even reminisced a little about high school. Altogether, it was a great distraction from thinking about the Black Lotus.

"What are your plans now, Midoriya?" Sero asked.

"My plans?"

"Yeah, I heard you moved in with Bakugou and Kirishima. Are you planning on staying there?"

I shook my head. "N-No. It's just temporary."

"Oh? Why not stay longer?" Todoroki mused.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"They've been quite attached to you. Even the media has been taking notice. Are you not enjoying staying there?" Sero asked.

"It's not that. I just don't want to bother them, and besides, we don't know what's going to happen." I looked down at my hands.

"What do you mean?" Todoroki asked.

"I-I mean with the Black Lotus. I don't want them getting hurt."

"They're strong, capable heroes. Besides, we're all on high alert for them right now. I don't think they can do much without someone noticing," Sero tried to reason, but he only got back to Japan not that long ago and he hasn't personally seen all that they are capable of.

"I suppose."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to drag the conversation down. I was just curious if you wanted to stay with Bakugou and Kirishima? Kinda like how I'm staying with Todoroki."

"Oh, it's fine. Don't worry about it and uhm, I don't know. I haven't thought much about what I want."

"I think you should. You might be surprised by the answer."

"I'll keep that in mind."