Chereads / My Hero Academia: The Legacy of Lost Numbers / Chapter 7 - The War and the Game

Chapter 7 - The War and the Game

Momo, her voice steady despite her shock at Shoya's eyes: "We are heroes. It's our duty to help those in need. We want to help you and your allies find peace and justice."

Shoya's gaze hardened again, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Shoya: "They're not my friends. We only considered ourselves allies, nothing more. We went our separate ways to avoid attention. And if you try to harm them, I won't hesitate to do what's necessary to protect myself."

He emphasized the last part, a reminder of the boundaries he was setting.

Deku, Bakugo, and the others exchanged glances, understanding the delicate balance they needed to maintain with 03. They nodded in agreement, acknowledging his terms.

Deku: "Understood, 03. We respect your boundaries. We're here to help, not to cause harm."

After Shoya left, the tension in the room lingered heavily. Momo, who had been holding herself together throughout the conversation, suddenly felt overwhelmed by a wave of emotions. She turned away from the others, trying to compose herself, but tears welled up in her eyes and she couldn't hold back any longer.

Momo: *sobbing* "I-I'm sorry... I just... I saw his eyes... and it was like looking at a stranger..."

Shoto, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, felt his own emotions stirring.

Shoto: "It's okay, Momo. We knew this wouldn't be easy. Seeing him like that... it's a lot to take in."

Bakugo, typically stoic but deeply affected by the encounter, stood nearby, his jaw clenched in frustration.

Bakugo: "Damn it... He's strong, but he's so lost. And we can't even call him by his name."

Ochaco, coming forward to embrace Momo, shared in their grief.

Ochaco: "We have to believe that we can help him find his way back. He needs us more than ever."

Deku, feeling the weight of their collective sorrow, spoke with quiet determination.

Deku: "We won't give up on him. We'll find a way to break through to him, no matter what."

As Momo continued to cry, her tears a mix of sadness and hope, the group found solace in their shared resolve. They knew the road ahead would be difficult, but their love for Shoya, now known as '03,' and their determination to reunite their family gave them strength to face the challenges to come.

As Shoya walked outside, he encountered Shoka and her friends. They were curious and somewhat confrontational, questioning his identity and strength.

Shoka: "Who are you? How are you this strong?"

Shoya ignored her, continuing past them. Izumi, growing annoyed, grabbed Shoya's collar, ready to strike, but Shoya effortlessly halted her punch mid-air.

Shoya: "Who are you, and what do you want?"

The group was taken aback by his calm demeanor and lack of recognition.

Katsu: "We're annoyed that you're so strong and didn't even try during the test."

Shoya remained nonchalant, his focus elsewhere.

Shoya: "I'm not interested in the hero course. I just want to complete my education. I don't see anyone here who can rival me."

His words stunned them. Katsu, frustrated, moved to attack him with her explosive abilities, but Shoya warned her calmly.

Shoya: "There's a camera here. Do you want to be that reckless?"

Katsu glanced at the camera and hesitated, stopping herself. Shoya then turned and began walking towards the exit.

Shoya: "Consider yourself lucky."

As Shoya walked away from U.A., his thoughts turned to his allies, whom he referred to as '01' and '02'. Despite his stoic exterior, he couldn't help but wonder about their well-being and the possibility of reuniting.

Shoya: "I wonder how 01 and 02 are doing. They're strong. It might be time for us to come together for whatever lies ahead."

His mind raced with possibilities, knowing that their paths were intertwined by more than just shared experiences. As he disappeared into the distance, his determination to find answers and reconnect with his allies burned stronger than ever before.

In a dense, ominous jungle, a group of villains moved cautiously through the shadows, their senses heightened with fear and anticipation. Among them, Jugo and Jayden voiced their concerns, aware of the deadly consequences of failure.

Jugo: "If we can't capture him, it's the end for us. All For One won't spare anyone."

Jayden nodded grimly, his eyes scanning the darkened foliage for any sign of their elusive target. Suddenly, a swift movement sliced through the air, leaving a deep gash across their chests before they could react.

Jayden: "How... who's there?"

A voice cut through the tension, dripping with quiet menace.

Ken: "You weren't even paying attention."

With a swift kick, Ken dispatched the assailant who had questioned them, sending a chilling message. Jugo recoiled in horror as recognition dawned.

Jugo: "It's... it's 02!"

Ken, his demeanor calm and collected, acknowledged his newfound reputation.

Ken: "Seems I've made a name for myself. Shall we see what you have to offer?"

With lethal precision, Ken unsheathed his claws and swiftly ended Jugo's life. Jayden, trembling in fear, attempted to reason with the formidable foe.

Jayden: "We... we want to capture you, 02. With your capture, we can... we can get to 01 and 03."

Ken's dark orange eyes bore into Jayden, betraying no hint of mercy.

Ken: "And what then? More violence, more chaos?"

In an instant, Ken silenced Jayden, his swift strike leaving no room for further discussion. Standing amidst the fallen foes, Ken's thoughts turned to the future.

Ken: "It looks like war is inevitable now. I wonder if there's anyone out there who can truly challenge me."

With a steely resolve, Ken disappeared into the shadows, leaving behind a chilling aura of impending conflict and uncertainty in his wake.

As Shoya strolled casually down the street, his keen senses caught sight of a figure standing nonchalantly on a building corner. His demeanor remained composed as he addressed the familiar presence.

Shoya: "I didn't expect to see you here, 02."

Ken's smile widened, his gaze locking onto Shoya with a mixture of recognition and intrigue.

Ken: "It's been a while, 03. How's it going?"

Shoya approached the building corner where Ken stood, and the two former allies regarded each other with a mix of curiosity and guarded respect. They stood in silence for a moment, as if assessing each other's current state and gauging the unspoken weight of their shared history.

Shoya: "So, where have you been all this time, 02?"

Ken's expression softened slightly, a hint of reminiscence touching his eyes.

Ken: "Around. Dealing with my own stuff."

Shoya nodded knowingly, understanding the need for secrecy and autonomy in their fragmented world. They both knew that their past lives, erased by experiments and trauma, had left them with more questions than answers.

Shoya: "I heard you've been making quite a name for yourself."

Ken chuckled softly, a touch of pride in his voice.

Ken: "Same could be said about you, 03. Heard you've been showing off quite a bit at U.A."

Shoya's lips quirked in a half-smile, acknowledging the truth in Ken's words. Despite their current paths diverging, their mutual respect and camaraderie still lingered beneath the surface.

Shoya: "What are your plans now, 02?"

Ken's gaze turned thoughtful, contemplating his next move in the ever-shifting landscape of heroes and villains.

Ken: "Not sure yet. But I'm not interested in being anyone's pawn again. I'll find my own way."

Shoya nodded in agreement, understanding Ken's desire for autonomy and purpose. They both knew that their destinies were intertwined, whether they liked it or not.

Shoya: "Well, if you ever need backup, you know where to find me."

Ken smirked, a glint of mischief in his eyes.

Ken: "Same goes for you, 03. Just don't expect me to play nice."

As Shoya and Ken continued their conversation, thoughts turned to their missing ally, '01', and the possibility of their paths intersecting again.

Shoya: "We need to find 01. UA might have some leads on where they're hiding."

Ken remained skeptical, his confidence in his abilities evident.

Ken: "I don't need to join UA. There's no one there worthy of facing me except you, 03."

Shoya considered Ken's words, knowing his ally's strength but also recognizing the value of gathering information.

Shoya: "There's more we can uncover at UA. Information on those villains, their plans. And it might not be so bad. You and I could keep each other entertained."

Ken smirked, acknowledging the truth in Shoya's words despite his initial reluctance.

Ken: "Fine. But don't expect me to enjoy it."

Their decision made, they resumed their journey with a shared purpose, their identities concealed behind the aliases '02' and '03'. In a world where alliances were fragile and enemies were everywhere, they found solace in the bond forged through trials and shared destiny.