The Emperor's Dragon II

Trusted Confidants

Yakuni tapped a few more things into his computer. Izuku thought they were notes about what he had to do before the young man turned around and gave him a look with his brown eyes. It said without words that he knew Izuku still hadn't finished his requests.

"When did you get to know me so well?" Izuku grumbled softly.

Yakuni grinned. "The instant you took over," he replied.

"Killing Tomura is taking over?"

"Yep. But you've been thinking ever since. Planning, or attempting it and trying to come up with something you can do to reach your goal, haven't you?" Yakuni pressed.

"Yes," he admitted. "But I-" Izuku sighed heavily. "I just can't come up with anything definitive."

It actually felt good to get that off his chest. It was even nicer when Yakuni just nodded his acceptance. He didn't look disappointed or anything.

There was silence for a few moments until Himiko fidgeted.

Izuku giggled. It was like her.

"You know your end point though?" Yakuni asked and Izuku could hear that he was thinking about something.

He nodded. He definitely knew his end point. It was just... "I want the world to see that heroes are holding them back. I get that people want to idolise someone. It's been done throughout history!" Izuku huffed. "But there's idolisation and stupidity, and the hero worship of today has moved into stupidity. In the past, idols weren't given anywhere near this amount of power. They had influence," Izuku allowed. "But seldom direct power. Society has given Heroes control over life and death." He shook his head. "That's gone too far. Now, we focus so much on Heroes that society as a whole is not growing and there is too much black and white. It has to be that way for heroes to work and be accepted but it's not that way."

"That's the end point, though what takes the place of heroes?" Yakuni asked. "Dragon, you know people want to idolise something, so what takes the place of heroes? How do you introduce that aspect to the public?"

Izuku blinked. That was a good question. It was a very good question. He'd never thought of that. His silence told Yakuni everything the formerly quirkless young man needed to know. "You are right," he said softly. "UA, with its presentation of the sport's festival has taken the place of athletes," he mused. It hadn't completely taken their place and sports were still played but there wasn't nearly as much professional sport as there had been before quirks.

"Actors and actresses," Izuku groaned. Again, people enjoyed watching television and movies but much of the acting was done by either active or former heroes who moved into that profession. Product endorsements were almost always current heroes. Though why you'd think their opinion of a washing powder was important, Izuku had yet to figure out. You'd be better off asking a housewife!

There was still the occasional scientist and intellectual who were idolised but that was only in certain circles and their fame didn't spread far.

"I'll have to think on that for a bit," Izuku admitted.

"It's only one thing," Yakuni warned.

He nodded and Izuku realised that he really wanted to speak to his dad. "Dad seemed to have a plan," he said slowly. "But I don't know how he was going to address some of those issues."

For a moment it looked like Yakuni wanted to ask a question but then thought better of it. Izuku filed the moment away. He'd have to ask later. "Changing society is complicated," Yakuni said.

"It is," Izuku agreed. "But there is one thing I think I'm going to need, regardless of whatever plan goes ahead."

"Oh?"