I now know why some countries just don't care about other countries: some countries are just terrible.

I know that is cruel to say, but come on! If a country that wanted to have a partnership or something with me and it needed help from a 16 year old boy from another country, I would absolutely decline! If you can't deal with your own shit, I ain't giving you my time or attention! I understand that countries have limited resources, but they could have at least done more before I intervened. They did jack shit. I had to deal with it all! All they did was clean up, and I can get that off the streets any day of the week!

In summary, I never want to travel again, legally or not. I am happy to stay in Japan. I know Japan has its issues too, but I know that I can return home in Japan within a few hours. In another country? Not so much.

After an overnight flight, the squad plus Endeavor's Backstreet Boys return to Japan. When we finally land, Endeavor, Bakugo, and Shoto head back to the agency while the squad and I return to UA because I have no idea what it's like out there. Hell, I have no idea if that asshole even made the apology I requested or not. The entire fly back, I was either having conversation or Shouta was forcing me sleep.

I go to UA because I have no clue if I am legal again or not! How many people can say that's an issue they have? Not many. The reason I went to UA despite that issue is that I am pretty sure Nezu will protect me if they try to arrest me. Honestly, nobody will mess with that rat. If they try, it isn't for long

Thankfully, I don't have to wait long for a call from the HC bitch- I mean president. Though, she technically did try to defend me, so I guess I really can't call her that...for today. I'll continue my hatred tomorrow.

I am eating with all the teachers when I get the call. Logically, I leave the table, go to my dorm, and answer it.

"Hello! Am I legal yet?" I decide to start with.

She loudly sighs, "Yes, Midoriya. You are legal again, and I am sorry for any inconvenience this has caused you."

"Enough to pay me?"

"If I were to pay you, all that money would go for the expenses you caused."

"Hey, it's not like I asked for them!"

"Midoriya, as much as you want to discuss this, we have other things to talk about." Oh boy, that can't be good.

"What's happened?"

"Nothing has happened yet. However, I was wondering if you found anything that connected them to the League while you were there." Oh God. I didn't even think of that! They are everywhere! It takes me a moment to remember everything I know, but I don't think there's anything connecting them. Besides, their goals are contradicting. One group loves quirks while the other group hates them.

"I do not believe so. If they are, we will hear about it soon, but I deny it. Their goals are contradictory."

"I am not overly surprised. I was simply curious as your last trip did show us that they are experimenting with quirks."

"Oh yeah, Nine. Too bad I killed him. Thankfully, I didn't see anything like him on this trip." For reminders, he was the All for One knockoff. Apparently, he got that ability from the League. Not a shocker, I suppose. I just forgot to mention that since he's kind of dead now.

"But they could be working on somebody like him."

"Rephrase, they are. They would be idiots if they didn't. What I will tell you is that they probably have everyone they want already under them or are actively working on it. We'll see them pop up probably. No use looking without any indicators of where."

"That is true. I do have an update on the League's case for you. They are thinking that Kurogiri's DNA results will return within the next couple of days. We are hoping that it might reveal something." Damn, I forgot about that! It's been almost two weeks since we sent in the DNA after we learned he was a Nomu.

I click my tongue and lean against the counter of my kitchen, "Hopefully. I want to know as much as possible before it happens."

"There is something else from Hawks: he hasn't seen anything from Shigaraki. He has heard of him, but he will not be around for a while."

"That's odd. He just obtained an army, and he disappears? I get people are annoying but damn."

"Midoriya," Her stern voice comes through, "be serious."

"Ma'am, I just saved the world. Give me a break. I understand what that means. though. If we can get him before he returns, we have this in the bag. We were given a few months, so it's assumable that's when he comes back."

"Correct. It is also safe to assume he will return stronger. After we receive the results from Kurogiri's test, I will be hosting a meeting to discuss that."

"Understood. Is there anything else I should know?"

"For now, no. I shall leave you be for the evening. Detective Tsukauchi will call you about the results when they get them."

"Got it. Later, lady."

Before she can respond, I hang up on her. I like having my petty little moments.

After I put my phone away, I sigh. Right after I save the world, I am needed for something else! I really can't catch a break, huh? I understand that this is important since Shigaraki casually deleted a city, but would waiting a day really make that much of a difference?

For her, apparently.

Still, that's useful information. I guess I can't complain too much. It's just a lot to happen at once. One moment, I was chilling, minding my business. The next, I am a fugitive trying to figure out another country's issue. Oh, and then here I am being relied on to help with what is currently the most important case in Japan. Apparently, being a teenager is overrated here.

This is why mental issues are a thing!

But on a serious note, I know I asked for this. I got myself in it, and I'm going to be here until this all ends. I'm not the only one in danger, after all.

I have class 1-A to worry about. I know I haven't kept in touch with them as I should, but I do truly care for them. I will keep them out of this as long as possible because they don't deserve to see even a fraction of what I have been through. They deserve to be teenagers.

I have my family, and, while most of them can eat trash, my mom doesn't deserve to go through hell.

I have Eri, who already has been through hell. I can't let anything take that smile.

I have Hizashi and Nemuri.

Shouta...

Practically all of Japan could be in danger with how many people are in that stupid army. I may hate most people, but most people don't deserve to have to go through a war because some people are throwing a temper tantrum.

So yes, I have my reasons for doing this, and they are so much stronger than the reasons I want to withdraw, which are few but I digress.

We are going through with this no matter what.

Even so, that doesn't mean I am going to stop complaining about it because this is bullshit.

Welp, dinner is getting cold. Fuck her for interrupting me at the best time of the day.

As I am about to open the door, I stumble back when the door suddenly opens for me to reveal Shouta behind it. He grabs my wrist and pulls forward slightly to keep me from falling. Once I stabilize, he lets go.

I look up at him, "I rather not die to a door today."

Shouta rolls his eyes, "You weren't going to die."

"I saw my life flash before my eyes." You know, thinking about it, I have never had that experience despite the amount of near death experiences I have. Maybe I wasn't close enough to death? I'll have to experiment with it.

"Dramatic brat," Shouta mumbles, "I assume you are coming back out to eat?"

"Obviously. What about you? What are you doing here?"

"I came to make sure you were okay since you didn't come out for a while."

"Oops."

I start to walk pass when Shouta raises an arm to block the doorway. Since he is tall, I just duck under it only for Shouta to grab the back of my shirt collar and pull me back in for a moment. He quickly inspects me as I look over my shoulder and up at him.

"Is everything okay?" Shouta questions.

I nod with a grin, "Yeah, I'm legal again!"

"Then why do you look stressed?" Jesus fuck, I need to be away from Shouta more often. If he is able to figure that out, then imagine if I plan on causing trouble. He'll be able to know I am up to something just by the looks of it, and we can't have that!

"Just extra information is all."

"Like?" Sho, would you like to shut the fuck up? No? Alright then.

"Just on the League of Villains case." Or whatever they are called now.

Shouta's eyes darken for a moment before he sighs, "Don't worry about it tonight, kid. Give yourself a break."

"I didn't have plans to do anything tonight. Kind of dark outside, you know?"

"When has that ever stopped you?"

"...this time apparently! Now, come on, dinner is getting cold!"

Shouta rolls his eyes, but he lets me through to sit back at the table again.

I plop down in my seat and announce, "Good news, everyone: I'm legal again!"

"So dis the standard we reach for ya, huh?" Snipe inquires.

"Apparently, yes. If I am legal, we are good. If I am illegal, I am staying illegal next time because fuck society I have enough trauma. I don't need more!" Almost everybody nods at the table in agreement except Yagi, but we can forgive him since he's a bit empty up there.

"That makes me slightly concerned about having you in the labs," Maijima points out.

"Come on. You miss me, though."

"From that statement alone, you're not allowed in there tomorrow."

"You dramatic mole."

"That's better."

"That's concerning if me insulting you means I am in good mental standing. I feel like that completely ignores my character progression."

Nemuri intervenes, "If you're okay, you insult everyone. If you're not, you only insult the people that you hate unless someone you like does something you don't like."

"...I don't work like that, do I?"

"Yes, you do."

"Have to agree with her, Tiny Listener," Hizashi adds to the conversation. I look at Shouta for confirmation, and he nods in agreement.

I click my tongue, "Alright then! You learn something new everyday!"

This is not something I wanted to learn at the dinner table, but it happened anyway.

Whatever. Not the first time talking about traumatic pasts at the dinner table. That's why I have shit on some of the teachers. I'm not likely to use it, mind you, because I respect them for sharing it. However, if they fuck up hard, I'll spill.

Anyways, I need to get my costume together since I can go annoy Endeavor again tomorrow.

- - -

Two in the Morning

The costume didn't take long to fix, so I decided to focus on my police force project. I haven't been able to keep up with it since I had to run away for the past couple of days. That's frustrating, but I can start it up again. I decided to message everyone (with an apology at the start for sending it at midnight) telling them we have a virtual meeting tomorrow (technically today) evening. Since then, I have been watching the videos from the last session and taking notes on everybody to see what they are good at and where they can improve. I have a pretty good groove going!

Buzz buzz!

My phone goes off, and I take a break to check on it. Getting early morning texts aren't common, but they aren't rare either. When you have classmates who give a big FU to sleep like me like Kaminari, Ashido, and Shinso, it's expected. Then, sometimes, my phone decides that it needs to give me the weather at random times, so it can go off for that too.

When I turn it on, I am immediately thrown off by the notification I got my from bank.

Deposit of 125,506,000 Yen (1,000,000 American Dollars) from World Heroes Commission.

Hold up, what?

I unlock my phone and go to my banking app to check out the transaction. It gives me details like when it was sent and stuff like that, but it doesn't explain why it was sent. Or how they figured out which bank is mine in the first place, but I'll worry about that one in a moment.

Why was I sent money from them? Money is cool and all, but I don't like it unprompted. I could have been given illegal money for all I know, which sounds dramatic, but considering they made me one of the most wanted people...I think I'm valid.

With that in mind, I decide to try and do some research on the internet to see if there is anything I could find.

As soon as I pull up the internet and go to the news, I see plenty of articles with the World Hero Commission's president face and my face next to it with words relating to an apology video. Most of these are a few hours ago since the president is from the US, which is not surprising, so it won't be until the morning that these officially release in Japan.

However, I am shocked yet concerned. When I made that statement, I thought I was going to be ignored. I didn't expect a response, let alone one so soon, but I also don't know what this actually consists of. I have to actually see what it is before I say this is a legit apology.

I don't even bother reading the articles. Instead, I click on the video and let it start. The president would be in front of multiple microphones with a grim face.

He takes a deep breath before speaking,

"I stand before you today due to Midoriya Izuku's message. I am the person that he addressed during his speech. Due to his position and his unusually outrageous behavior at times, I immediately pinned some of the blame on him, and that was unfair on him. I did not listen to his reasonings, and it left him with no choice but to take care of a problem we could not take care of ourselves while constantly in danger.

For clarification, I want to remind everyone that Midoriya is 16 and is still a student.

I forced a child to do the work that the adults could have done but did not. I can not imagine the amount of stress that kid is under. I know that he is already involved in so much to try and help his country, yet I ignored it due to my tunnel-vision.

And in spite of all that, Midoriya helped us and saved the world. For that, I would like to say thank you to Midoriya Izuku for his services. Despite everything society has thrown at him, he helped us.

Midoriya Izuku, I am sorry for everything that you had to go through. You did not deserve anything that happened to you. You should not have had to prove to us that you are innocent, yet you did.

If I must be honest, I never realized how my biases could affect others in my work until your speech. Most usually can't stand up to me or won't. You had your chance, Midoriya, and you took it. You spoke the truth and enlightened me and probably many others about quirk discrimination. It is worthless and is slowing us down as a society. If we truly want to grow, we need to push our prejudices behind and work with what we do have, not wish for what we don't have.

This is a lesson we all could use.

I honestly hope that your message spreads, Midoriya. It was a brutal wakeup call for me to see the position you were in and your opinions on such, and I believe that it will be for many others as well. I have a child of my own, and I would never want to see them in your position or go through anything that you did. You are strong and brave and I hope the world recognizes what you have done for them.

I know this is nothing compared to what you deserve, but I sent compensation for what a hero would be paid for what you did. If you ever need my help, I will be by your side and offer assistance.

I would also like to offer my apologies to the quirkless affected by this as well. I did not think of the ramifications of my actions, and it lead to your suffering.

I promise I will do my best to reverse my mistakes and learn from this experience. If not, I hope Midoriya or someone else strips my title from me as it would be truly undeserved at that point.

Everyone, Midoriya Izuku, please take care."

.

.

.

I watched it three times. And then I went on other news media websites and watched it there to see if it would change.

It didn't. They were consistent.

Hell, I am still half-tempted to wake Shouta up and have him tell me it's real! The only reason I am not is because he dealt with my shit for the last couple of days, and he deserves sleep and a break from me.

But there's nothing to show this is fake. This video is real.

This happened!

The World Hero Commission President apologized to me! He apologized to a snotty nose brat that wasn't even going to follow through with his promise to sue him! He said he would help me from now on! He even paid me for what I did!

HE ACKNOWLEDGED ME!

HE APOLOGIZED TO THE QUIRKLESS FOR HIS DUMBASS ACTIONS!

HE TOLD PEOPLE THAT THEY SHOULD LISTEN TO ME, IZUKU MIDORIYA! THE SAME KID WHO HAS BEEN IN BAD MEDIA LIGHT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN! HE FUCKING SYMPATHIZED WITH ME!

Sure, that all could have been faked for media purposes, but we're ignoring that because he went way into depth about it for it to be just for media purposes and he seemed genuine!

THAT HAPPENED!

I am so glad that Shouta is in Hizashi's dorm inside of his because he would probably hear me bust out laughing. Loud, genuine laughter. I have a smile so large on my face that my face is starting to hurt.

I am so happy.

Honestly, I don't remember the last time I was this happy.

Over and over again, it felt like I was being beat down by something. Since the beginning of the school year with All Might, it has honestly felt like a spiraling train to hell. When I came in, I thought my biggest problem with be bigoted All Might and the media, though I thought I wouldn't care about that. Now, halfway through the school year, I have been through so many incidents, saved the world multiple times, and am now part of one of the top cases in Japan due to power-hungry villains.

With all that, I honestly felt like I was doing something wrong. Every time I have done something presumably right, I get backlash for it in some way.

I reveal that I am quirkless: I get attacked by the media (I know that is expected, but let me continue).

I take down Stain: I have to prove that I am not his son and that I am not insane.

I get the quirk-erasing bullets back with the sacrifice of my arm: I lose my hero license and have to earn it back.

I go on an undercover mission: I have one of the scariest moments of my life with Shouta.

There's more, but most of them involve me getting lectured by some sort of official or Shouta. You get what I mean? This whole time, it felt like I was getting slapped for something.

This is the first time that I am getting praised for what I have done by someone official who has power! I got rewarded! I got paid for my work for the first time!

It finally feels like that I did something right for society!

Laughter is still bubbling in my chest, but I try to calm down. I'm just so goddamn happy. I really with I could share it, but everybody is sleeping.

I'll reveal it once they get up.

- - -

I am still so happy. Happy enough to make the teachers breakfast! Usually, I would just share it with the squad and leave it there, but I'm feeling generous, so all the teachers are getting to witness the video!

It's five in the morning when I decide to do this, and there are a lot of us, so this is going to take a while. It's going to take even longer with one hand, but it will be worth it. By the time most of them are up, I should be done.

During this process, I almost start singing. Man, I wish I could sing! However, the rooms are not soundproof from the living room and kitchen, so we are working with what we got.

Shouta is the first to come out, and he is tired until he sees my expression. I don't know if I look like a psycho or something, but he seems to wake up a little more just like that.

"Morning, problem child," Shouta mumbles as he sits at the bar, watching me carefully.

"Good morning," I respond, offering him a smile as I continue working.

Shouta raises an eyebrow, "Did something good happen while I was asleep? I haven't seen you this happy in a while."

"Uh-huh!"

"Are you going to tell me?" I'm shocked that he isn't questioning if it is technically good or bad.

"Nope! You have to wait for everyone to get up! Oh, here," I slide him a cup of coffee.

"Thanks kid."

"No problem!"

We sort of fall into silence as I cook. Shouta watches, keeping a close eye to make sure that I don't burn anything in the meantime. I only have one hand, after all.

Overtime, the other teachers come in, and they seem confused as hell when they see how I am acting.

At one point, Vlad King asks, "Aizawa, what is wrong with Izuku?"

I don't even get a chance to say anything since Shouta snaps at him, "Right now, nothing. Leave him alone." DAMN! GO OFF, KING!

"So he isn't on-"

"Finish that and I will ask Snipe to shoot you." Holy shit, Shouta is feral! To be fair, it's Vlad, but still! I have no clue what is going on there, but I am not going to intervene.

By the time Nemuri, the final person, comes out, I have finished and gave everyone their plate. I don't hesitate to drag her ass to her seat and shove her in it.

"Damn, Izu! What's got you all excited?!" Nemuri exclaims, not fighting me the whole time.

I grin, "You'll see in a moment!"

I zoom out of the room to my dorm to grab my laptop. Once I return, I plop down in front of the living room TV and connect to up to display my screen.

I press play, and I don't bother to watch their reactions. I just watch that stupid video instead. I know it's childish, but this is so big! Well, technically speaking, it's small, but compared to everything? IT'S GIGANTIC! Hell, it might push the HC President of Japan to pay me!

Nobody says anything until the video is over. Once it shuts down, we nearly get deafened. Oh, and I nearly snap my back to face the man.

"YEAHHHHHHHHHHH! FINALLY, IZUKU GETS THE APPRECIATE HE DESERVES!" Hizashi yells as he claps.

Nemuri joins as well, "Finally someone who is not a dick!"

The other teachers join for a moment, and I feel like my smile is going to fall off! Everyone at the table is smiling as well! Even Shouta, though his is hidden by his stupid scarf, but I digress!

Eventually, everyone settles down, and I take the chance to join them at the table.

"Now I feel bad for assuming you are high. Sorry, kid," Vlad mumbles, looking away from me.

"As you fucking should, bitch! I will be punching you in the face today from our previous agreement for that, so be prepared for that!" I acknowledge, my grin turning more feral.

"Damn it."

Maijima faces me for a moment from across the table and asks, "Wait, so does that mean the HC here will start paying you?"

I shake my head, "Nope. However, I suspect that this will be good push towards that! Besides, it's my first paycheck! Oh, by the way, before I forget," I pull out my phone and do a little tap tapping before putting it away, "There's the squad's compensation for helping me out."

Three rings go off, and Hizashi, Nemuri, and Shouta pull out their phones to check. Shouta doesn't really react to how much I gave him. Instead, he is tapping away for something. Meanwhile, the other two...

"WHAT THE-?! IZUKU, HOW MUCH DID SHE PAY YOU?!"

"OH MY GOSH, I CAN GET AN ENTIRE WARDROBE WITH THIS AND A CAR!"

Everybody looks at me after their reactions.

"I think the better question is how much did you pay them," Cementoss corrects.

"Oh, I gave them 25 million each! I got paid about 125 million. I gave everyone twenty percent of it."

Snipe responds, "Holy smokes, we should be going with you for the cash!"

"Uh-huh!"

Ectoplasm intervenes, "Wait, that's four people. Who did you give the final portion two?" Look at the math teacher!

"Nezu!"

"...and you honestly thought that was a good idea?"

"He helped us out quite a bit! He deserves the money!"

"He is the principal of UA. He gets paid plenty. We don't need to give him any more power financially."

"Well, at that point, it's a y'all problem."

Ectoplasm faceplams while a couple of the other teachers groan.

All the student, my phone pings. I pull it out to find a new bank transaction: 25 million from Shouta.

I instantly look up at glare at him, "Excuse me, sir. What are you doing? That's yours!"

Shouta raises an eyebrow at me, "And what do you think I am going to do with that 25 million?"

"Save it and get a ring for you-know-who!" Shouta looks away, pinching the bridge of his nose, though I suspect he's red. Score! In the background, I hear Nemuri cackling and some of the teachers retreating from this chaos.

"IZUKU!" Hizashi sputters out with a blush, "IT'S TOO EARLY FOR THAT!"

"Have you watched 90 day fiancé?"

"THERE'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE THERE!"

Shouta decides to put a stop on it, "Enough. Izuku, I don't need it. It's yours. You deserve it, kid. Now eat before your breakfast gets too cold. Besides, you have to head out for Endeavor's agency soon."

I roll my eyes at him. Then, I start to eat my cold breakfast.

I'll get that money in his bank account yet. That is a promise!

Once I finish eating, I get dressed and am about to head out when I'm suddenly snatched into a side hug. It takes me a moment to recover from the sudden contact, but once I do, I realize that it is Shouta hugging me.

"I know I didn't say it at the table, but I'm proud of you, kid. Despite everything, you're still here and fighting. I know it wasn't easy, and I couldn't do it now, let alone at your age. Just remember that, no matter what happens, I'm right here with you," Shouta withdraws from the hug and ruffles my hair quickly before walking off, calling over his shoulder, "Get going, problem child."

It takes my brain a moment to catch up to what just happened, but when it does, I am left with a warm fuzzy feeling in my chest that is so much stronger than what the World HC President gave me.

That old man can say whatever he wants, but one simple sentence from Shouta means so much more than a complicated paragraph from that man.

With a smile, I head out.