Chapter Text
After the Hero's victory in the great war eight years ago, the percentage of villains began to decline significantly. Japan lived peacefully for several years. However, another major incident occurred.
“There was a huge explosion in the old building of the Health Plus Pharmaceutical Company. The building had been abandoned for two years and there were no signs of life there.”
Naomasa's explanation caused the angry voices of the people in the room to erupt. They were currently at the Japanese Police Headquarters, discussing the strange events they had recently become aware of.
Naomasa cleared his throat to regain their attention.
"A similar incident had occurred in a small area on the outskirts of Tokyo, Kunugigaoka. Seven years ago, an explosion burned down an entire town overnight. There was no particular motive in this case. A year passed without any significant progress, and eventually the case was closed.
"One year after the incident in Kunugigaoka, an explosion occurred in a former hospital building in Shinjuku. It then moved to Kamakura, Yokohama, and finally Musutafu. The incidents at these four locations had one thing in common: they all involved buildings with medical facilities. At the crime scenes, there were no signs of life. All that remained were giant, shattered experiment tubes and some images and writings about human and animal anatomy that were half-charred by the explosion.
It is feared that the perpetrator was experimenting with creating mutant creatures like Nomu, which could endanger many lives."
A shocked, disbelieving gasp echoed throughout the room. Nomu? That creature is being produced again? This is worse than they had imagined.
“Enough, Tsukauchi-kun, let me take over from here.”
“Ta—Takanojō-san!”
Whispers grew louder as the former Japanese prime minister entered the room. Migitsuma raised his hand to ask for attention. The whispers subsided.
“I need your attention for a moment. I know you're worried about the current situation, but there's something I need to tell you. It's very important. I ask that you remain calm.”
“Calm? How can we be calm?! That creature could be out there right now, endangering everyone!”
The angry outburst from the man with messy ash-blonde hair was met with agreement from the others. The two people sitting next to him tried to calm him down.
“Bakubro! You can't talk like that! He's a former prime minister, Takanojō Migitsuma-san!”
“I don't care! Whether he's a former prime minister or a former president, I'LL BEAT YOU ALL UP!”
“Kacchan!”
"Calm down, Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight. I guarantee you won't regret hearing it." Migitsuma sighed after saying that. The man's hero name was very long.
A gloomy-looking man with a white scarf wrapped around his neck stood up and glared at Katsuki. “Sit down and listen to what he has to say. Where are your manners?”
The room immediately fell silent.
“Thank you, Eraser Head.”
“No problem. Please continue, Takanojō-san.”
Migitsuma looked at the faces in front of him. They were all alumni of Class 1-A from the new generation of heroes who had contributed greatly to the war eight years ago. Along with their former homeroom teacher, of course. He took a deep breath to calm the anxiety that had been building up in his heart. It was going to be a very long day.
"Since the case—which was predicted to be a series of bombings—occurred in Kunugigaoka, the Japanese government immediately took steps to resolve it. Thus, a special investigation team was formed to work together to solve the case and arrest the perpetrators. Its members are trained in martial arts and other skills. However, the perpetrators seem to be aware of the ins and outs of this new investigation team and have managed to escape every time they have confronted them. Seven years have passed without any significant progress. They finally requested to send their helpers who work in the name of truth. And we think you are the ones who fit their criteria."
Someone raised their hand.
“Um, excuse me, but I haven't understood what you've been saying. Who is this investigation team? And why are they asking for help from ‘those who work in the name of truth’? And why us?”
Migitsuma nodded. "Yes, it seems I need to explain a few things first. Thank you for asking, Ingenium. Before that, you must have heard of the JAA, right?"
Of course. All aspiring heroes must have heard that name at least once. The JAA, or Japanese Association of Assassins (Nihon Koroshiya Renmei, abbreviated as Satsuren), is an official assassin organization based in Japan. This branch is the largest, with 1,000 members, only about 400 of whom are professional assassins. Their existence is known only to the government and the heroes. But why suddenly ask about the JAA?
“This special investigation team is officially registered with the JAA.”
Everyone was stunned to hear this.
It was no longer a rumor that the relationship between heroes and assassins was very poor. They were on different paths. Even their perspectives were very different. So how could they possibly work together?
“I know many of you dislike the other side. But just this once, I beg you. Not for their sake, but for the sake of the people out there who are unaware of the danger that is coming. Please, accept this request.”
Silence fell. The Pro Heroes didn't know what to say. Finally, Aizawa Shōta stood up from his seat and said, "At the very least, we should hear them out first. Assassins have different personalities. And you say they're a group?"
Migitsuma nodded. “Yes. There are 28 members in total.”
“...28, that's a lot. Is there a leader? Or a supervisor?”
“Of course there is.”
“Then let me meet him.”
“Luckily, their supervisor is in Shizuoka right now. So there's no need to bother following him to Tokyo.”
Shōta followed Migitsuma down the extremely crowded hallway of the Shizuoka Prefectural Government Office building. They had been walking without any intention of stopping. After passing through a long corridor and several rooms, they finally stopped at a door. Shōta was sure they were at the very back of the office right now.
“Here we are.” Migitsuma knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
Migitsuma opened the door without hesitation, revealing a man in a black suit with a stern expression. He didn't even glance at the door, busy staring at the documents in front of him. Shōta stood silently in his place.
“Karasuma?”
The man froze and finally raised his head. “Aizawa.”
Migitsuma was surprised. “Oh? You two know each other?”
“...Yes, we were in the same class in high school,” Shota replied.
“Oh, really—WHAT?! Karasuma, you're a Yuuei alumnus?!”
“Yes? Haven't you read my profile?”
"Why would I? I'm not interested. Anyway, it's good that you two know each other. Eraser Head, please close the door.“ Shōta obeyed. ”Good. Let's get down to business. Karasuma, I've found people who fit their requests."
“And they are...?”
“My former students.” Shōta replied.
Tadaomi suddenly felt a headache coming on. He could already imagine the commotion that would ensue when the two groups met. He was sure it would start with chaos.
“You'd better talk to them about this, Karasuma. But don't tell them it was my idea. You know they hate me.”
“I don't like you either.”
“You've been contaminated by that octopus's thinking. Move on, Karasuma, move on!”
“Since your message has been conveyed, please leave.”
“Oh my god, how cold. Look at that Eraser Head, your friend is so cold.”
Shōta thought the interaction between these two people was very strange. Tadaomi did not seem to respect Migitsuma at all. Even though everyone else greatly respected the former prime minister.
“Is there anything else you want to discuss, Eraser Head?”
Migitsuma's question snapped him out of his reverie. “Oh, no. We can go now. Karasuma, give me your number.”
Without saying a word, Tadaomi tore off a piece of blank paper and wrote his phone number on it.
“Well then, we'll take our leave. Details about this case will be explained later when everyone is gathered. And Karasuma, I thank you for starting to open up. Those children need to be seen and heard by the world. You know that, right?”
“Yes, I know that very well.”
After the two left the room, Shōta's head was filled with even more questions. Why does Karasuma Tadaomi know those assassins? What is the government hiding? Why did those assassins take this case?
“Save your questions for later, Eraser Head.”
Migitsuma just smiled at Shōta's confused face.
“You'll find the answers later.”
Meanwhile, far away in a café in Tokyo, an employee had just finished washing the dishes when his cell phone rang. He took off his rubber gloves and answered the phone.
“Hello? Oh, Sensei... Hm... I'm working—at the café... Yes... Really?”
His calm expression changed to one of slight surprise.
“... I'll try to talk to them... Hm... Okay, see you later, Sensei. I'll let you know more.”
The phone was hung up. The handsome male employee sighed deeply.
“I hope this all ends soon.”
“Isogai-kun! There are more dirty dishes!”
“Ahh, okay!”
With that, he went back to work.