Chapter 392: (Center Stage)

MHA: Horizon

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CHAPTER START--- 

"Don't move."

Two words, and the world froze. Only the automated cameras dared to move, tracking Horizon as he leans forward to look into Pantu's eyes.

Her Quirk keeps her rampaging emotions in full control, causing him to glare at her. "Annoying," he says before turning around.

He leaves a trail of water and blood on the stage while walking to the Pro Heroes, stopping in front of Hawks, who now had both feet on the ground.

Hawks swallows harshly and looks up at Horizon, numb of any emotion, knowing there isn't a thing he can do to stop whatever happens next.

Horizon silently gazes at him and tilts his head slightly, looking at Hawks with curiosity.

"Endeavor," Horizon says without looking away from Hawks. "Your job is about to get a lot more chaotic. I'm sorry about that."

Endeavor relaxes slightly and turns to look at Horizon, finally able to breathe. "The other prisoners…"

"Yeah, they all got out."

Endeavor nods, "I see. And will—"

"I'm out of the Pro Hero business for Japan." He reaches out and grabs Hawks's face.

"ARGH!" Hawks screams for just a moment before his body twitches and convulses.

Horizon uses Biomimicry to root through his mind for the information he desires, and, surprised by his findings, he drops Hawks.

The Pro Hero is left convulsing on the floor, alive, and healthy enough to make a full recovery. But a terrifying sight as he's bleeding from his eyes, ears, and nose.

"He'll live," Horizon says, turning away and walking back to Pantu. "Just another of her victims…guess we have that in common now."

Endeavor frowns, understanding bits and pieces, but everyone watching here and across the world are left confused.

Before anyone can process what's happening, Horizon stops in front of Pantu, and the woman almost falls off the stage as she fearfully cowers away.

Emotions so extreme that even her Quirk faltered for a moment before Horizon caught her, stopping her from falling.

"You won't need that," Horizon says before she can form words.

"Ngh!" Pantu winces and twitches as immense pain wracks her face and jaw.

She tries to pull away, but his grip is like a vice, holding her as he uses Takt to rip out one of her teeth.

Having it float between them for everyone to see. As her face and jaw begin swelling.

"Not that I think anyone is stupid enough to follow this tracker, but I rather keep where I rest my head to myself…"

SHAMBLES!

They both disappear, and Nezu doesn't even flinch as they appear in his office where he's watching the ceremony.

Horizon tosses her aside, causing her to trip and fall onto one of the couches before turning to face Nezu, who is sitting behind his desk.

"Did the villains die, or did you destroy Tartarus and cause harbor destroying waves for no reason?" 

"It's good to see you too," Horizon says as he takes a seat in front of Nezu.

"The villains?"

"All For One broke everyone out, including me. Figured the least I could do was not instantly kill him."

"So what is this, a head start?"

"I'm out of the Pro Hero business. Your problem now."

Nezu sighs. "It is good to see you, but why did you keep us waiting?"

"Tch, how about I pump boiling mercury into your body and see how long you take to adapt…"

"Point taken. And your plan now?"

Before Horizon can answer, a purple Warp Gate appears in the room and Phantom Thief steps out.

"Take her and the one in my safe house south of here," Horizon says.

Phantom Thief just nods and obeys, making a warp gate to swallow himself and Pantu, then going to collect Lady Nagant.

As they are left alone, Nezu awkwardly taps his desk. "About how things turned out—"

"I don't blame you," Horizon cuts him off. "I read Hawks' mind. Pantu, she was playing a whole other game with us. You were too focused on what I could do for the world to see it."

"And you?"

He sighs. "Part of me knew, deep down I always knew. But I just, wanted to be wrong, so I played along."

"I am sorry for how things turned out. And if there is anything I can do, just let me know."

"You could leave Japan. Come to America, seriously."

"I can't abandon my students. Japan, maybe, but the people…"

"Ugh, you hero types. All For One is on the loose, and Japan is weaker than ever. You know he'll come for you if you stay."

"Yes, but I can't abandon everyone."

"Why are you so annoying?!"

"A bad habit I got from you."

Horizon leans back in his seat. "When I leave, I'm never coming back. You do realize what that means, right?"

"Did you make some kind of deal with All For One?"

"I just don't want anything to do with Japan anymore. I told him once he doesn't overreach, I won't bother him."

"I see, then our best hope of victory won't come save us."

"You're heroes. You shouldn't need saving."

"Everyone needs saving sometime."

"Yes, and All For One saved me, but this is as far as my thanks extends."

"You would have made a fine symbol for the people." Nezu smiles, "oh, what could have been…"

Horizon chuckles, and beneath his visor, he smiles. "It really was incredible, for the short while it lasted. Thank you for that. I learned a lot from you."

"I learned a lot from you, too."

"Well, I was your favourite student."

"I don't play favourites," he lies as Horizon warps away.

He appears in his untouched UA dorm room, sitting on his couch one final time.

But not a moment later, a greasy and grimy Mei Hatsume is warped into his lap, wrench in hand and still making a tightening motion.

"Interrupting something?"

She snaps out of her stupor and turns in his lap, looking at his broken visor. 

"Do you know how hard it was to make this?!" She lunges forward, grabbing his visor to inspect it, pushing him back onto the bed and straddling him in the process.

"Ouch!" he whines as she rips away the visor, revealing his mask beneath. "Glad to see you missed me."

"Why do you always break my babies? Like Sunder, I loved that sword."

"Speaking of—"

"Juzo has the replacement," she says.

"I see. And are you coming with me?" 

She ignores his hands that are slowly moving across her body as she inspects the damage to his Body Glove. "After I graduate. Unlike you Hero Course students, us Support Course people need our certifications."

"Ahh, that makes sense. Did anyone bother you, since you were publicly my equipment lady?"

"Nah. But I don't really leave campus either way, so they never had the chance."

"Mhm."

"Did feel a bit left out though. You warped Mina away, but not me."

"Her and I had a more public faux relationship. She was at greater risk."

"Faux? Really?" she shoots him an exasperated look. 

"I don't know what you're implying."

"You know exactly what I'm implying, but I don't really care," she leans forward, pressing her chest against him before giving him a deep kiss.

Then reeling back and spitting on the floor. 

"Ugh! What was that?!"

"Sorry, should have warned you about the mercury taste."

"Ya think?!" she hops off him and starts scraping her tongue clean. "See, this is why you're only good for stress relief and being a billboard for my babies…ugh it tastes nasty!"

"Alright, get back to work. I'll come see you if I need gear," he warps her to the cafeteria so she can get a drink. "And that just leaves one."

He expands his room, sensing most of Japan, and finding the person he's looking for on the far side of the main island.

SHAMBLES!

He appears on the rooftop of a warehouse on the other side of Japan, beside Pinky, who is too focused on observing the villains below with her new mask.

"Being able to zoom in is nice, but tunnel vision is dangerous."

Hearing a voice, she stiffens for a moment, then relaxes when she turns to see it's just Horizon standing there.

"You're back!" she jumps into his arms, and he awkwardly catches her as she hugs him.

"You just scared away your prey."

"Dang it! Meh, Asui and the others are waiting by their getaway car anyway. Are you gonna say 'hi' to them too?"

"Not really," he sets her down, still holding onto her hips. "Just coming to let you know I'm leaving, or at least I will be. I'll come back to tie up some loose ends, then I'm done with Japan."

"Wow, really? Why?"

"It's complicated, but you'll hear about it soon enough. Want to come with me?"

"Mmm, Juzo already said he couldn't justify my addition to the UN Response Team."

"Pretty sure I outrank him."

"You 'outrank' everyone. But I do have some things I'd like to finish learning from UA. Plus, I can't just ditch my friends. At least not until after graduation."

"Well, just do me a favor and avoid All For One."

"All For One? He got out too?"

"You'll see it on the news soon enough. Stay safe, Pinky."

"Since when do you like it safe?"

Horizon rolls his eyes before warping away, leaving her to chase her Villains…

END CHAPTER---