Reset and Rewind

Chapter 47 - Breakout Squad

Recruiting Hagakure had been a good choice. She was a stealth hero, after all. Her experience with sneaking around instantly upgraded Izuku's plan from a last minute effort to something that actually seemed decently put together. It did involve bringing more people into the picture though, something Izuku was hesitant about. What would they think? Would they rat them out? Chances were they would go straight to Aizawa sensei since everyone was still worried for his mental health... Izuku was doing better though, for real!

"I can already hear Tenya lecture us about enabling your bad behavior, Izuku," Kyoka stated, not impressed with the plan. "And you, I can't believe you're actually helping him."

"Oi, we both know he's gonna pull this crap either way," Katsuki said, crossing his arms. "So what's it gonna be Ears? You in or you out?"

"Do I have a choice?" she sighed, making a big show and being all dramatic about it, although a tiny smile was tugging on her lips. "Toru recommended me and Fumi already agreed so..."

"You won't regret it," Izuku said, glad recruiting the break-out team had gone without too much trouble. They wasted a lot of time, though. They'll have to hurry up if they wanted to pull this off tonight.

"I doubt that," Kyoka snorted. "But I know what I'm signing up for."

"Good, let's go over the plan one more time," Katsuki said, making sure everyone understood their role.Toru would sneak in first and get up close to the cameras, sabotaging them without being seen. Kyoka would be the look out, warning them of any and all movement around them in case a teacher was coming to check up on their prisoner. Izuku would convince Tenko to go along with everything and together with Katsuki he'd effectively sneak him out of the dorms. Fumikage was essential for their escape plan, having a close connection to Hawks, the hero being tasked with finding Tenko in the first place. If he could convince his mentor, they were all set and Tenko could be brought back to the League without a hitch.

Everything went according to plan at first. Toru sabotaged the cams, Kyoka gave the all clear, and Izuku was able to get into Tenko's room. The boy wasn't sleeping, although it was the middle of the night. No, he was lying awake on top of the covers. He didn't even seem phased when Izuku and Katsuki burst in without any warning, nor when Izuku explained what he was planning.

"You don't seem surprised," Katsuki pointed out, making Tenko shrug.

"I guess I was expecting something like this after All Might came to see me earlier today."

"Wait," Izuku said, his mind going into overdrive, stumbling over his own theories. "All Might... All Might was here?"

"He apologized to me," Tenko explained. "It was...weird, at first. I don't trust him, not after everything father told me about him. But he... He said sorry. For not being able to save me when I was lost? Something about grandma and father and promises..."

Izuku knew exactly what he was talking about, why All Might had apologized, even if Tenko seemed to be at a loss.

"He promised he'd protect me no matter what," Tenko snorted. "Told me he wouldn't let anyone take me back to the League, no matter what their goals were. I instantly thought of you."

"Ha, even the villains know you for your reckless stupidity nerd," Katsuki laughed, but Izuku simply rolled his eyes. Again, Kacchan was standing right here with him, going along with this supposedly reckless stupidity. It couldn't be that bad of a plan if he was going through with it, right?

"That's not the point," Izuku sighed, looking back at Tenko. "I want to protect you too, Tenko-kun. To lock you away where you're safe from the dangers and prejudice of this society, but I know that is not the life you want. I want to give you the freedom to choose your own path, and if that means you want to do what father says and become a villain, I'll accept that..."