The Class That Cried Werewolf

40 - Now Runs Wild

Trigger Warning: This chapter contains scenes of violence, torture, abuse, drug use, and immense depictions of discrimination. Reader discretion is advised. Please prioritize your mental well-being while engaging with this story, and consider seeking support if you find the subject matter deeply unsettling.

---------------------------------------------------------

-3rd Person POV-

Fortunately, Midnight only had a few more families after the Midoriyas to convince before her focus shifted to the more immediate task—the meeting. She could already feel the adrenaline building, a mixture of anticipation and dread that quickened her pulse. The moment she had been longing for was drawing near: the moment when she could join the heroes who were already assembling to plan the rescue.

Midnight hailed a cab and made her way to the rendezvous point. As the vehicle weaved through the city's bustling streets, she couldn't help but replay the events of the day in her mind, wondering if she had done enough to reassure the families. The thought was quickly pushed aside as the cab pulled up to the nondescript building where the meeting was to take place. She paid the driver, stepped out, and steeled herself for what was to come.

The R-Rated Hero entered quietly, her usual playful demeanor replaced with a steely resolve. Inside, the atmosphere was thick with tension. She nodded at Tsukauchi, who stood at the head of the table, his sharp eyes scanning the room as he briefed the gathered heroes.

Mirko radiated a fierce energy, her muscles coiled like springs, ready to leap into action at a moment's notice. With his imposing stature and fiery intensity, Endeavor listened intently, arms crossed over his broad chest. Kamui Woods and Mt. Lady were also present, their expressions mirroring the serious mood of the room.

As Midnight took all of this in, her gaze landed on a figure she hadn't expected to see. Aizawa was leaning casually against the wall, his gaze focused and unreadable. His presence was both surprising and reassuring; if Aizawa was involved, then the situation was even more serious than she had initially thought.

Midnight walked over to him, her curiosity piqued. "Eraser, what are you doing here?" she asked, her voice a mix of surprise and relief.

Aizawa's eyes flicked towards her, his expression as unreadable as ever. "I could ask you the same question, Midnight," he replied, his voice low and measured. "I know this is about rescuing Akiba, but I'm also wondering why they brought us here after having us stay behind before the Kamino raid."

Before Midnight could respond, Tsukauchi's voice cut through the room, bringing everyone's attention back to the matter at hand. "We'll get to that in a minute, Eraser Head," he said, his eyes briefly softening as they landed on Midnight, acknowledging her presence with a slight nod before returning to the task at hand. "As I was saying, we've gathered the best for this mission. Akiba's life, and the lives of others, may depend on what we do tonight."

Midnight found a seat next to Aizawa, her mind already shifting into battle mode. The image of Tatsuya flashed in her thoughts—the young hero-in-training who had been through so much already. She couldn't shake the memory of the fear that had gripped him after his kidnapping, the way his eyes had widened in terror and the hollow look that had settled in them for weeks afterward. Her heart twisted painfully with the knowledge that he was out there, somewhere, needing their help more than ever. The weight of her responsibility pressed heavily on her chest, but it only fueled her determination.

Tsukauchi's voice continued, bringing her back to the present. "In Kamino, All for One mentioned that Akiba was in the hands of the Shikaku Renmei. Fortunately, we've been investigating the yakuza after a separate raid seven years ago, so we've got some leads." As he spoke, he spread out maps and intel on the table, the papers covered with detailed notes and images representing countless hours of investigation. "During an investigation shortly before the attack at Kamino, a bystander in Naruhata pointed out that she had seen a man in his late twenties with short blue hair going near a factory that was supposed to be abandoned."