'The next day'
Izuku stood next to the podium as the priest read a verse from the bible. Izuku tried his hardest not to cry while the verse was being read, but he'd never imagined seeing his mother in a coffin so soon. She was only 50; she had plans in place for the rest of her life already. She was going to get remarried eventually so Izuku didn't have to constantly worry about her, she was going to live a better life.
" And so as it was stated in the bible 2 Corinthians verse 12:10 'For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.' Let us pray for this young man, Izuku Midoriya, to forever persevere throughout the hardships and whatever the lord may throw at him, even without his mother's guidance. For that is what will make him stronger, and unbreakable." "Amen" "Izuku, would you like to say anything about your mother? Any final parting words?"
Izuku nodded quietly and took the stage, as he stood behind the podium he could see Katsuki and Shoto stare at him sadly, meanwhile, Katsuki's mother couldn't even bear to look up at the casket.
"My mother, I regret not having better last words for her. She was the greatest mother and father I had… From the time I was born my father had left us already saying he wasn't ready for that responsibility and that they should see other people. And that broke her heart to pieces, but it never stopped her from giving her all into raising me to be the best version of myself. She was always so patient and understanding. Without her I wouldn't be here. Now she's been taken from me and the world unfairly…"
Izuku could feel tears start to stream down his face as his grip on the podium became tighter from remembering what had happened to her. His blood boiled the more he thought about how he couldn't save her.
"She- *sniff* She was the best mother a son could ask for… and I can't believe she's gone so soon… Goodbye mom, I hope we meet again someday."
Most of the people in the room had started to cry already while others had their heads hung low. After the funeral service everyone headed to the cemetery where Inko was laid to rest for the final time. Izuku, before the casket got lowered, place a white rose and a letter. The letter said
'Mom, I'm sorry that this happened to you. It's all my fault, and I'm going to make it up to you.'
The priest happened to look at the letter before it was buried and went to Izuku later.
"Izuku." "Yes, priest?" "I happened to see your letter to your mother before it got buried. Is something troubling you? Is someone troubling you?" "Not at all priest… I was just a little upset. Nothing to worry about." "Well, If you say so Izuku… But remember as it says in Romans 12:21 ' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.' Take good care of yourself, Izuku Midoriya, not only for your mother but for yourself as well." "Yes, priest."
Izuku watched as the priest walked away from him and towards Mitsuki to console her. Izuku watched in pity and sadness as she cried into her husband's shoulder hysterically. Suddenly Izuku felt a light tap on his shoulder.
"Don't be alarmed, it's just your friendly neighborhood detective." "Oh, detective Keigo. I thought it would take two days for you to heal fully." "Yea, but I couldn't miss the funeral. This will be the hardest time in your life, and you'll need a little bit of consolation from everyone at least."
Izuku walked over to a nearby tree and leaned on it, deep in thought. Then he looked over at the newly filled grave that his mother had just been put into and said:
"The only things I want now is My mother's warm embrace, and to see the face of that man as he's being taken away to jail for the rest of his miserable life. And one of those things I'll never have again. I'm not going to lose my chance at getting the second one."
The detective looked at Izuku nonchalantly and sighed heavily.
"Ok then. Meet me at the Kashima Jingu shrine in Hitachi tomorrow at 6:00 am. And be ready to fight back." "Yes, detective." "I wish the best of luck to you Izuku Midoriya."
Izuku was about to respond as the detective walked away but he was pulled aside by Shoto and Katsuki. He turned back to find him, but before he knew it the detective was gone. He turned back to Katsuki and Shoto who were waiting for him to answer their questions. Katsuki had the first say.
"Izuku was that the fucking detective? Why was he asking you to meet him in HITACHI? What's going on?" "Look, Kacchan, it's nothing to worry about, ok? I'm fine" "Izuku, Katsuki is right. We need to know what's going through your head. What you said concerned me deeply and I want to know what you meant by 'Things have changed'." "Izuku, what's two-hair talking about?" "..." "Izuku what does he mean!?"
Katsuki looked at Izuku with a worried and concerned look.
"I've had a change of heart regarding the police's plan." "So you're going to…" "What if you confront him and try the police officer's plan? What if he kidnaps and kills you!?" "As long as he gets caught, I don't care what happens to me…" "I fucking care Izuku! I care! I just lost Aunt Inko and I don't plan to lose you either!" "What would you know about losing someone, Katsuki!?" "I lost Kirishima! And that shit hurt! He was one of my best friends, and he was gone just like that! So don't give me that shit! Your mother was like a second mother to me! I feel your pain! But whatever you're about to do for these police? I don't trust it one damn bit!" "You wouldn't get it Katsuki…" "Midoriya, Katsuki, please stop fighting… I'm sure we can work something out…"
Both Katsuki and Izuku were going to turn to Shoto to shout at him, but they realized that it wasn't right to take out their anger and sadness on him and each other. They stared at each other, each realizing that they were only this agitated because they had just lost Inko. They both turned towards Shoto and they both tapped his shoulders.
"Thank you shoto… And Katsuki, if you are that worried about me, you can come with me. Same for you shoto."
Shoto nodded and walked towards his car, meanwhile Katsuki stared at the picture of Izuku's mom. He sighed heavily and said:
"I know you didn't mean half of that stuff Izuku, you were just upset because of your mother. I do plan to come with you just in case something goes wrong. I'm just worried for you like I said…"
Izuku nodded as Katsuki started to walk away, he turned back when Izuku said:
"Be at the Kashima Jingu before 6:00! I'd really appreciate it if you did come…"
Katsuki smiled subtly and nodded before walking away towards his mother. Izuku walked to his car and started the engine as he drove towards Mina's and Ochaco's house.
/////
Inu barked and jumped around excitedly as Izuku walked in. Izuku immediately crouched down and held out his arms for Inu to jump into, considering this will be the last time he sees his dog for a while, he thought it would be better for him to see him in person. Mina invited Izuku inside and had him sit on the couch.
"Has Inu been good lately?" "Yes he's behaving. He's like a little Katsuki sometimes." "That's good, hey mina, I'll have to thank you again for taking care of Inu. I'm not feeling my best and I have something very important to do, and doing this while having Inu still around me is too dangerous for him." "It's ok Izuku, me and ochaco don't mind, but if it's ok for me to ask…Is it about him?" "Kirishima?" "Yes of course him too! But I mean… him." "Oh…"
Izuku averted his gaze from Mina and focused it back towards Inu who was sleeping peacefully in Izuku's lap. For a brief moment, Izuku wondered what he was dreaming about. Maybe it was tons of steak, maybe it was about being his protector, or even a nice normal dream like anyone else would have. Whatever it was, Izuku found the peaceful sleep of his dog cute and he took a picture. Mina once again caught his attention and said:
"Hey, Izuku… You'll be ok right?"
This question caught Izuku off guard, so he didn't have much of an answer to her question.
"I'm… not sure. I'm doing something that puts me at a bigger risk than the police if they don't catch him, and I'm sure that there are others that the police can use after me if things don't go their way. But I have to do this, for everyone to be safe." "But Izuku you don't have to!-" "I need to Mina! If I don't then he won't stop! He'll keep on doing this until he decides it isn't fun or until they actually catch him… I can't stand by and watch it go on any longer, I need to end this…"
Izuku carefully scooped Inu up in his arms and placed him down in his bed, then gave him a kiss on the head and a gentle pat before standing up and walking to the door as Mina shouted:
"Izuku, wait!"
Izuku only looked back at Mina and said:
"If you get news that I didn't return with the police, make sure to tell Inu I said goodbye…"
And with that, Izuku left.
'The next day'
Izuku took his keys and an extra weapon in case he needed it if the situation got dire. Next he took Kirishima's camera, which had been left in perfect condition surprisingly. He looked at the most recent picture in the camera, At first he only felt pure disgust. That man was going to get what was coming to him, but the longer Izuku looked at the picture he could make out a tinge of purple that was much smaller than the amount he had seen while driving away from him. Izuku didn't think much of it, but it still unsettled him a bit more than he liked it to. He turned off the camera and walked out of the house quietly closing and locking the door behind him. He grabbed his car door handle and stood there in a daze for what seemed like an hour. This was really going to happen wasn't it? He was going to be there, in front of that man, and he would be bait. Completely helpless if the plan went wrong and scared shitless even if it did go well. Either way, Izuku had no choice now. It was either him or that man, and he sure as hell didn't plan on being the next unfortunate victim. He opened his car door and quickly stepped inside, he stared at the joystick for a moment before finally putting the car into drive and taking off.
\\
Izuku stood in front of the large and intimidating building. Such a holy place being the main focal point in stopping the most wanted criminal in japan, and Izuku could think of nothing but taking it all in. He was at the Kashima jingu, and it was beautiful. The petals from the surrounding trees showering the large gate that greeted him and landing softly and gently into the koi ponds surrounding. The sun just started to rise above the trees as the shrine stood front and center. He lifted the camera finder to his eye and took a picture of everything, easing his nerves and his mind. He looked at the shrine and marveled at how beautiful this place was, and in a matter of time he would either love or hate this place with all of his heart.
"You can't take your eyes off it either can you Izu?" "It really is an amazing sight, Midoriya…"
Izuku looked behind him, surprised to see Katsuki and shoto standing there observing the shrine alongside him. Katsuki held three coffee cups while Shoto held a bag with bagels inside.
"S-shoto, K-katsuki! When did you two get here?" "We decided we'd come along Izuku, to support you. This is a huge moment for you, and not everyone can stand up against those who've done you or others wrong. That takes a hell of a lot of guts…" "And we know the kind of person you are, you aren't weak or defenseless, sure. But you won't eat because you'll get so damn nervous and you end up going hungry for god knows how long, we can't let you do that again either, and knowing you probably left the house hungry." "And tired, hence why Katsuki brought coffee too."
Izuku tightly hugged both Shoto and Katsuki before sitting down and eating. To think that he had friends like this, that would come to comfort him even in the most dangerous and nerve wracking situation, he felt extremely grateful for such caring friends. Just as he finished the last bite of his bagel he heard someone say to him:
"So, I see that you're already here and prepared I hope."
Izuku turned back to face the detective and said:
"I'm more than prepared. I'm ready to send him to jail for life…" "That's refreshing to hear Mr. Midoriya."
The detective smiled at him before looking at Shoto and Katsuki, turning his cold stare towards both of them in the process.
"Is there a reason why your friends are here?" "They came to support me, Detective Keigo. I tend to get really nervous with things like this…" "You know that they'll only distract you from completing this mission right? And someone as famous as Mr. Bakugo and Mr. Todoroki shouldn't be here. Their lives will be in the most danger since they're so renowned." "Ah I didn't even think of that… I'm sorry guys, you don't have to-"
Katsuki held up a finger to signal Izuku 'Stop talking' and Izuku listened as Katsuki said:
"I came here because I wanted to, and I came here because my best friend is going to risk his life because you're not doing your job right. I think I'll stay, Detective Keigo…"
Katsuki glared at the detective making his attitude towards him more prominent than it was before.
"And what about you Shoto Todoroki? Why are you here?" "For the same reason as Katsuki, I came here to support Midoriya because I feel guilty for not being able to protect him when It happened, so the least I can do is protect him well enough so he can finish it alive. I regret not being there for him before, so I have to be there for him now."
Izuku looked down and smiled in happiness and embarrassment. He felt so happy that even when they were told that their lives were in danger they still chose to support him, and he would do the same for them. The detective scoffed softly and pointed to the stairs leading up to another shrine before he started to speak again.
"Go up those stairs and when you get to the top there will be Officer Aizawa and Officer Yamada waiting for you. You can take as much time as you need, we aren't in a rush…"
Izuku shivered as he heard that sentence from the detective, as he remembered the night that had first gotten raped by that man. Suddenly the fear sank in as he realized the role he was really playing in all of this as he nodded and walked up the stairs with Katsuki and Shoto.
"This is Detective Keigo speaking, make sure to immobilize the actor first. Deal with the model when he arrives…"