an ODST among Heroes.

S3-2

Izuku arrived at the police station, pulling a large, rugged container behind him, its weight apparent from the heavy groan of its wheels. All eyes turned to the green-haired young man as he stepped through the doors, the faint clink of his equipment drawing attention. Resting his hand on the shotgun slung over his shoulder, he offered a polite yet firm greeting.

"Sorry about the noise," he said casually, his tone belying the imposing presence of the weapon he carried.

One officer, a woman seated at a nearby desk, frowned slightly. "Excuse me, but civilians aren’t allowed to carry firearms like that on station grounds—"

"I'm no civilian, Ma'am," Izuku interrupted politely but firmly, turning to meet her gaze. "Trust me on that."

Before the officer could press further, a familiar voice called from across the room. "Halsey!" Detective Naomasa rose from his desk with a welcoming smile. "Katherine told me you'd be arriving. The UEG also mentioned you'd be bringing something along, and I was told to expect you’d be...armed."

"Yes, sir," Izuku replied with a nod, tapping the top of the massive container behind him. "Apparently, ONI's running field trials with the Yggdrasil series in civilian sectors. They wanted me to bring mine for demonstration purposes. Weighs in at 600 kilograms, and I lugged it here myself, sir."

Naomasa raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "Well, you’ve already made an impression. Shall we discuss the details over some coffee?"

Izuku smiled faintly, a flicker of ease breaking through his stoic demeanor. "With pleasure, sir."

As Naomasa gestured him toward a quieter area, the other officers exchanged curious glances, murmuring among themselves. It wasn’t every day that someone walked into their station with such a commanding presence—and certainly not with ONI-grade equipment in tow. The faint hum of the Yggdrasil’s container lingered in the air as if to remind everyone of its hidden power, a testament to both Izuku’s training and the silent authority he carried.

---

Monika's eyes lit up the moment she saw Izuku enter the room. Without hesitation, she rushed forward, wrapping her arms around him in a firm, heartfelt embrace. "Halsey," she said softly, her voice tinged with both relief and warmth. "It's so good to see you again."

Izuku hesitated for a moment before allowing himself to lean into the hug. The weight of the past months, the sacrifices, and the memories of what was lost, hung heavy in the air. "I just wish everyone who went with me came home," he said quietly, his voice breaking slightly.

Monika tightened her embrace, her arms providing a silent comfort. "I know," she whispered. "I know."

For the first time in what felt like forever, Izuku let the tension ease from his shoulders as he muttered, "It's good to see you too, Monika."

After a moment, Monika pulled back slightly, giving him a reassuring smile. "Well, the good news is we’ll be living together this week. It'll be nice to catch up properly. But..." Her gaze fell to the large container he was dragging behind him. "What’s that you brought with you?"

Izuku straightened, patting the container with a faint smile. "A suit of armor," he explained. "Let’s just say someone wanted to tell your world thank you in a very special way. And... the force is getting an upgrade."

Monika raised an eyebrow, a curious grin spreading across her face. "An upgrade, huh? I can’t wait to see it in action. You’re going to have to fill me in on everything, Halsey."

Izuku chuckled softly, a rare sound that Monika hadn’t heard in far too long. "Don’t worry, I will. One step at a time."

As they began walking together, Monika glanced at him, her heart aching for the weight he carried but glad that, at least for now, he wasn’t carrying it alone.

---

A convoy of armored trucks pulled up outside the police station, their engines rumbling as they came to a halt. Officers gathered around, curious and murmuring amongst themselves. When the doors opened, a dozen Yggdrasil Mark II Advanced Defense Suits were carefully unloaded, their imposing frames gleaming under the station's lights. Painted a sleek black, the suits bore the emblem of the police department proudly emblazoned across their chest plates in bold, white lettering.

Monika stepped forward, brushing her hand across the surface of one suit. The metal was cool to the touch, a seamless blend of advanced technology and sheer engineering prowess. She couldn't help but marvel at the intricate craftsmanship.

"These are incredible," she murmured, her voice filled with awe as she took a step back to take in the full scope of the suits.

Around her, the gathered officers were equally astonished. Whispers turned to exclamations of admiration as they realized what they were seeing.

"This is some upgrade," said Naomasa, his usually calm demeanor giving way to a faint smile of approval as he stepped forward to inspect one of the suits. "The Yggdrasil Mark II... ONI wasn’t exaggerating when they said this would revolutionize police work."

Izuku stood nearby, watching the reactions with a mix of pride and nostalgia. "They're not just suits," he said, his voice cutting through the hum of conversation. "Each one is a multi-role system designed for urban combat, crowd control, and even search and rescue. This isn’t just gear. It's a game-changer."

An officer approached one of the suits, hesitantly running a hand over its surface. "They look more like something you'd see on a battlefield than on the streets," he said.

Izuku nodded. "They’re built for both. The Mark IIs are modular and adaptable. You’ll have integrated AI support, advanced threat detection, and even non-lethal options for de-escalation. This isn’t just about firepower—it’s about saving lives and keeping officers safe."

Monika glanced at Izuku, catching the faint shadow of responsibility that seemed to linger in his eyes. She stepped closer, offering a reassuring smile. "You’ve seen these in action, haven’t you?"

Izuku hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "More times than I’d like to remember. But here, they’re not tools of war—they’re tools of protection. That’s the difference."

Naomasa clapped a hand on Izuku’s shoulder, breaking the tension. "Halsey, you’ve done more than enough to earn your rest. But once we’ve had time to get familiar with these, you’ll have to stick around for a demonstration. I’d like to see how they perform under pressure."

Izuku smirked faintly. "You’ve got it, Detective. Just try not to fall in love with them too quickly—they’re hard to part with."

The room filled with laughter, the initial tension giving way to excitement as the officers began exploring their new equipment. For a brief moment, Izuku felt the weight on his shoulders lighten, knowing that these suits would help protect others in ways he couldn’t before.