Miyako Island, off the southeast coast of Tokyo, was home to the E.S.C.A.P.E. factory belonging to the FLT.
The day carried on as usual—until a man appeared in the sky, hovering high above, gazing down at the sprawling factory by the sea.
"What a nuisance," the man suddenly smiled. "Well... no matter. It's time to send a message."
Below, one of them noticed something in the sky. He lowered his hat, squinting his eyes—then, without warning, the earth shook.
---
Although it was six in the morning, no sunlight reached into the cave.
After finishing his daily training, Yuji took a quick bath and changed into the same clothes he had worn yesterday cause he hadn't brought a spare. Still towel-drying his hair, he settled back in front of his computer.
Mitsuki, having just finished making breakfast, walked over and placed a tray beside him.
Yuji glanced at it and smiled faintly. "You don't have to go through the trouble," he said.
Mitsuki hummed, brushing it off. "You can't skip breakfast after training like that. Come on, let's eat together."
Yuji sighed inwardly. "Alright."
As they ate, Mitsuki's eyes wandered to the screen behind him. Several images were pulled up on the monitor.
"Who are they?" she asked.
Yuji swallowed his bite before answering. "The boss mob I'm investigating. In short, he's Yakuza. Name's Chiaki Koji."
Mitsuki leaned closer, studying the photos. "And this one… don't tell me—"
Yuji nodded. "Yeah. I might've met him in person. At the funeral."
Mitsuki's brow furrowed. "Amai Mask's funeral? You're actually going?"
"It's a pain, but it's a good opportunity," Yuji said, brushing crumbs off his lap.
She frowned. "You're really making a public appearance as Taurus Silver, huh? Wait, you should get going—it's a two-hour drive to Yokohama!"
Yuji snapped his head toward the clock on the screen.
"Shit, you're right."
He scarfed down the rest of his sandwich, gulped half the coffee, and leapt to his feet, patting down his clothes in search of his suit and watch.
"Uh... do you know where my suit is? And the watch I had on yesterday?"
Mitsuki, having barely touched her sandwich, let out a long-suffering sigh, her expression deadpan.
"You seriously never know where you leave your stuff," she said, standing up. "Stay here. I'll get it."
"Sorry for the trouble," Yuji mumbled, scratching his head. Despite his skills in the field, he could never seem to keep track of his personal things. Mitsuki, somehow, always found them instantly.
"You left it in the closet," she said, returning with his silver watch. She handed it over with a pointed look. "Next time, put it somewhere obvious. What if you lost it?"
Yuji shrugged, fastening the watch. "Relax. It's only a hundred grand watch."
Mitsuki blinked. "Hundred... grand… um, yen?"
"Where's the suit?" he asked, deliberately dodging the question.
That alone told her it wasn't yen.
Suppressing a groan, Mitsuki pulled out a neatly packed suit in a plastic cover. "I brought a spare from your apartment in Musutafu. Also, the car you gave me was big enough to haul whatever I wanted—and I just had a feeling you'd need it."
Yuji gasped, eyes lighting up.
"Wow…"
He took the suit from her hands, his face softening with gratitude.
"Thank you."
Mitsuki smiled. "Thank me later. You're running out of time."
Yuji quickly changed into the new suit. As he adjusted the jacket, Mitsuki stepped in and began fixing his tie. She hesitated for a moment, staring at the light stubble on his face. A clean shave would have been nice, but somehow the rugged look suited him—gave him an air of strength and dependability.
"You have to keep up appearances," she said, tightening the knot of his tie with careful. "You're still Taurus Silver. And no matter how you see yourself, lift your head high. What you're doing matters. You're helping more people than you realize."
She took his hand gently, as if trying to carry a piece of his burden.
"Be proud of yourself, okay?"
She met his blue eyes that looked like a candle on the verge of flickering out. She wished she could shoulder the weight pressing down on him, but all she could offer now was her hand, her voice, her unwavering support.
"You won't ever give up on me?" he asked.
A soft smile tugged at her lips. Rising on her toes, she leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Never." Then she pulled back, a mischievous glint in her eyes and a sly smirk playing on her face.
Yuji chuckled softly. He then brought her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss against her knuckles.
"Alright."
It was enough to light something fierce inside his chest—a blazing certainty that he could push through the chaos of his life. Because someone was waiting for him to come home.
With a fresh sense of purpose, he fired up the black Toyota 2000GT and sped toward Yokohama.
---
The Hall of Heroes stood solemnly in Yokohama, where Amai Mask's official funeral was about to take place. To honor his memory, million fans flooded the streets outside.
The scent of rain-soaked earth hung heavy in the air, the pavement still glistening under the overcast sky.
Inside the old black car, a gloved hand tightened around the steering wheel as the vehicle crawled forward in a slow procession. Beyond the windshield, the restless crowd churned under a sea of black umbrellas, their angry shouts of "No more lies!" slicing through the damp, rain-soaked air.
Yuji shifted into first gear as the line crept forward. Police officers and pro heroes, dressed in formal black, formed a human barricade between the crowd and the path leading to the Hall. Each car was being inspected one by one.
Finally, the old black car caught the attention of the officers at the checkpoint.
"What a retro car. Who the hell drives that at this era?" one officer muttered, loud enough for his partner to hear.
"No idea. Looks expensive though. Should we let it through?"
"Let's find out."
As they flagged the car to a stop, the window eased down smoothly.
The officer froze, his breath catching in his throat. "Ah—my apologies, Mister Yamano!"
"Good morning, officer," Yuji said, his voice steady. "Uh... I'm not sure if I brought the invitation with me—"
"That won't be necessary, Mister Yamano," the officer blurted, stiffening immediately. A nervous sweat broke out on his forehead. "T-this way, sir."
He quickly tapped his radio and hurried ahead, motioning the black car toward the lobby.
"Important guest incoming," he said into the comms.
[Copy. Identity?] crackled the reply.
"It's Taurus Silver himself."
[Uh... confirm? No prank, please.]
"I'm looking right at him—it's him. No mistake."
At once, the black car rolled forward into the main lobby area, its classic design standing in stark contrast to the modern electric vehicles of the other guests. On the sidelines, media crews erupted into a frenzy, camera flashes slicing through the air in rapid bursts of white light.
"Who the hell is that with James Bond car?"
"Some rich old geezer, maybe."
They murmured among themselves as the car slowed to a halt, the brakes letting out a soft screech before settling into silence. A man with short black hair and piercing blue eyes stepped out, closing the door behind him with a muted thud.
"That's Taurus Silver!"
"Mister Yuji!"
"Mister Silver, over here!"
Reporters surged toward him, shoving microphones forward, desperate for a comment. Yuji managed a thin, polite smile, even as irritation gnawed at him. It had been a while since Taurus Silver had appeared in public after revealing his true identity—and apparently, the world had been waiting.
'Now what?'
Standing stiffly beside his car, Yuji could feel hundreds of eyes crawling over him. Yet none of the other guests dared to approach. They merely stole glances before hurrying inside.
'I guess I'll wait inside.'
Turning away from the media circus, Yuji ascended the wide marble steps into the Hall. The grand facade was draped in a sea of white flowers, a somber tribute to Amai Mask.
At the entrance, Yuji slowed. His eyes narrowed slightly.
There, amid a small circle of guards, stood a man speaking quietly with a woman. Yuji recognized him instantly.
Chiaki Koji. The current leader of Shie Hassaikai, the largest and strongest Yakuza clan.
Yuji didn't hesitate. He approached with casual, unhurried steps, but his eyes locked onto his target like a hawk zeroing in on its prey.
"Whoa, whoa!"
The bodyguards, caught off guard, quickly moved to intercept.
"Back off, sir!"
Hearing the commotion, the middle-aged man in a black hakama turned. His white hair gleamed under the lights, and his eyes widened slightly.
"Easy, boys..." he said, stepping forward with a sly grin as the guards parted for him. "Look who it is—the Prince of Tokyo himself." His voice carried a lazy amusement. "What an event. To think even a recluse like you would crawl out of the FLT Tower for this."
Yuji didn't flinch. "I thought a Yakuza like you wouldn't be bold enough to show your face in broad daylight."
Chiaki Koji chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "You think the police will catch me?" His eyes glinted with mischief. "Still... allow me to offer my gratitude. The Miracle Pill you created saved my wife's life, Mister Yamano."
Yuji pulled off his glove and shook Koji's hand, expression cold. "I just did what I could for society."
"How noble," Koji said with a soft laugh. "But ironic, isn't it? The hero meant to protect us all... couldn't even save one of his own. Let alone us—quirkless monkeys. In the end, we're always on our own."
He pulled a black card from his pocket and slipped it into Yuji's hand.
"If you ever need protection, I can introduce you to someone I know. We should met and have a drink together. The Red Circle always welcomes a new customer—and maybe ally too. Still, that new project you're working on seems to have angered some very powerful people. Be careful. I doubt even All Might could take him down."
With that, Koji turned and strolled away, his guards trailing behind him.
Yuji stood still, the black card burning like a brand in his gloved hand. Quietly, he focused his quirk, tracing the residual energy left from the handshake.
'I confirmed it.'
He had a link now—a thread to follow. Although, it would last about a week before fading.
And if Koji's casual reference was any hint, the "him" he mentioned could only be one man.
'All For One...'
Which meant Chiaki Koji wasn't just Japan's crime boss. He was one of All For One's agents in Japan.
"So you came after all," a familiar voice said behind him.
Yuji turned slightly to see All Might approaching, dressed sharply in a black suit.
Unlike his usual cheerful self, All Might wore a somber, steady expression.
"I thought I should," Yuji replied flatly, "Where's Endeavor?"
All Might hesitated. "Well... after what happened back then, he definitely won't be showing up."
"Of course. When he hates someone, he doesn't bother hiding it."
All Might chuckled, a low sound. "Speaking of which, when news spread that Taurus Silver showed up, you nearly gave the police and heroes a collective heart attack. That's why, I was assigned to stay close—just in case anything happened."
Yuji exhaled through his nose, barely hiding his irritation.
On a whim, he glanced to the side—and noticed a group of teenagers lingering nearby.
A boy with long, messy hair and a dark, edgy aura. Another boy stood beside him, radiating pure party energy. Third, cheerful-looking one with cloudy blue hair. And finally—a girl with bunny ears, waving enthusiastically at him.
"Oi, Mister Silver!" she called out.
"Silence. This is a funeral, you idiot." Aizawa, muttered.
"Damn it, Mirko. I knew she'd make a scene," another boy chimed in with a sigh.
"What? I just wanted to say hi!" the bunny-eared girl protested.
All Might grinned slightly and waved them over. "Students. Come here."
The teens flinched but obeyed.
"On behalf of Mirko, we apologize for being rude," Aizawa said, bowing deeply while the others dragged the bunny girl forward.
All Might chuckled. "It's fine, young Aizawa. Raise your heads." He turned to Yuji. "These incredible young ones are U.A. students. They're currently interning at my agency. This one is Aizawa Shoto, Yamada Hizashi, Shirakumo Oboro, lastly—Usagiyama Rumi. And this is my best friend, Yamano Yuji."
Yuji gave a small nod. "Good work. Yamano Yuj—"
"Mister!" Rumi, the bunny-eared girl, rushed forward and seized Yuji's hand, shaking it vigorously. "It's such a blessing to finally meet you! Thank you for creating the Miracle Pill—my mom's healthy now because of you!"
Before she could say more, her friends yanked her back, mortified.
All Might scratched the back of his head. "Alright, students. Back to your posts."
"Yes, sir," they chorused, retreating quickly.
As they left, All Might smiled proudly. "Besides me, they'll be keeping an eye on you from a distance."
"I don't need special treatment," Yuji said coolly.
All Might just laughed. "Unfortunately for you, we're already here—"
Boom!
A violent tremor shook the ground.
Yuji widen his eyes as he staggered, his instincts flaring. Around them, the crowd gasped. The marble floor vibrated under their feet. Cars rocked in their spaces. People began to scream and panic.
"An earthquake?" All Might muttered, stepping forward, raising his hands to calm the crowd. "It's alright, everyone! Stay calm!"
The quake passed—but the unease in Yuji's chest did not. He pulled out his phone and dialed quickly.
[Honey, are you alright?!]
Mitsuki's voice came through, a little shaky.
"I'm fine. You still there?"
[Yes. Should I leave the cave?]
Yuji stepped outside the building, glancing up at the sky. Black clouds churned over eastern Yokohama, thunder growling deep within them.
"Stay where you are," Yuji ordered. Lowered his phone then he hung up.
A flash of light caught his eye.
Every hologram screen around the plaza flickered—then went black.
Then a new broken image appeared.
A man wearing a half-mask stared out from every screen, smirking coldly.
[Dear lovely citizens. My name is All For One.]
The voice boomed across the city. Yuji narrowed his eyes.
[Just now, I destroyed one of the E.S.C.A.P.E.S factories on Miyako Island. I used my quirk to trigger tectonic energy, turning the island into a sea of lava.]
The crowd, frozen with grief only moments ago, now stood in silent horror.
[The reason behind my action is simple. Your project has been interfering a lot. So I offer this—Taurus Silver, if you're watching… withdraw your project. Or I will find you—and everyone you care about.]
The masked man's smirk widened.
[And since I have already disturbed this sacred funeral, allow me to add one more gift. I'll reveal the true culprit behind Amai Mask's death—the same one who has been hunting me for years. His name… is Lockdown.]
The holograms flickered and vanished, plunging the square into chaos. A tsunami alert blared, its wail cutting through the air, reverberating across the city. Panic erupted as people screamed, exchanged accusations, and scrambled for safety. But Yuji stood frozen, unmoving, lost in his own thoughts amidst the turmoil.
"Mister Yamano!"
A group of undercover officers rushed to him.
"Forgive us if we sound blunt, sir, but we need to move you immediately. Villains could target you at any moment. This place is no longer secure."
Yuji glanced at them, his face a mask of calm. They didn't seem to realize what the danger actually was. However, Yuji simply nodded at them.
"Very well," he said.
As he followed them, his fists clenched at his sides.