I understood why they were chosen. Their Quirks were formidable, their leadership potential obvious, and each exuded a quiet confidence, the kind that came from surviving things most teenagers shouldn't see. It explained why Shira had hounded me to join her vigilante program since freshman year.
(Flashback)
The U.A. training grounds were brutal, even for first-years. I, Anos Midoriya, with my All Might-level strength and enhanced speed, was holding my own. Shira Aizawa, she was visiting her brother at the time, watched me from the sidelines, her red eyes narrowed in assessment.
"Midoriya," she called out after the exercise ended, "you've got potential. Raw power isn't everything, but you've got a good base. You should consider joining the vigilante program."
I wiped the sweat from my brow. "Vigilante? I want to be a hero. Like All Might."
She scoffed. "Heroes are constrained by rules, by bureaucracy. Sometimes, the real help comes from those willing to bend the rules. Think about it."
She handed me a card with a number on it. "The offer stands."
I never called.
(End Flashback)
I was pulled from my memories by movement beside me. Simon, tall and blue-haired, approached, a small, almost hesitant smile on his face.
"Anos, right? Shira filled us in a bit. Welcome to the… family, I guess."
"Thanks," I replied, trying to match his easygoing demeanor. "It's… intense."
"It is," he admitted, leaning against a dusty shelving unit. "But necessary. Look, I've been doing this for five years, since I was twelve. Shira took me in when nobody else would. She gives us the freedom to use our gifts without being restrained by the Hero system."
My eyebrows shot up. "Twelve? You've been doing this since you were twelve?"
"Yep," he said with a shrug as if it were totally normal. "I'm grateful for the opportunity she gave me, you know? I wouldn't be alive. I also know it is hard to follow and all, but if it helps I can help you."
"Thanks," I said, feeling some of the tension in my shoulders ease. This guy wasn't just powerful; he understood the weight of responsibility, the need for a guiding hand. "I appreciate that."
"No problem at all," he smiled, a genuine smile that reached his white eyes. "We're all in this together."
We chatted for a while longer, mostly about the logistics of running a team, the challenges of balancing a normal life with clandestine operations and some advice that he wish he got when he started. Simon took his work seriously, he was a great leader, the way he spoke was enough to tell me that.
The conversation felt… normal. Almost enough to forget about my trauma, or my anxiety. Then Shira clapped her hands together, the sound sharp and decisive.
"Alright, that's enough socializing. Curfew's in an hour. Get home, get some rest. We move out tomorrow night."
Numbers were exchanged, genuine promises to stay in touch made. There was a strange sense of camaraderie in the air, a feeling that despite our different backgrounds and Quirks, we were united by a common purpose.
I arrived back at my penthouse, the height of luxury thanks to my work at Dark Red. I ordered a pizza for myself and Akira. We spent the evening watching movies, a welcome dose of normalcy in my chaotic life.
The doorbell rang late. It was Katsume and Diamond. They carried bags of snacks, declaring a game night. We played Twister, Monopoly (which ended in a near-brawl between Katsume and Diamond), and Uno, the laughter echoing through the apartment. Akira, surprisingly, had a killer singing voice, and we ended our evening with karaoke.
After Akira went to bed, it was just us three. I couldn't tell them about my night job. The contract I signed with Dark Red was ironclad. So I just kept it casual, we talked until we fell asleep on the couch.