Ultra Responsibility (My Hero Academia X Spider-Man Reader)

Issue 130 - Norman Osborn: Rising

Three weeks after the U.A. Cultural Festival, Endeavour became Japan's Number One Hero.

The announcement received polite applause.

All Might's retirement had left an empty place at the top of the Hero Billboard Chart. Endeavour possessed the victories and solved cases required to fill it, but statistics could not make people look at him the way they had looked at All Might.

Hawks accepted the Number Two position beside him.

They left the ceremony together, moving towards a restaurant across the street while reporters remained behind.

Hawks placed both hands inside his jacket pockets.

"The tides are shifting again."

Endeavour kept walking.

"They never stopped."

"The Japan Avengers branch is seemingly being put on ice."

That earned his attention.

Hawks continued.

"Nothing official yet, but its government contracts are under review. After Spider-Man killed Chameleon in broad daylight and caused that much damage across the city, the people funding the agency think it would be better to distance themselves."

"Good. If the people behind them are getting cold feet, perhaps they have finally seen what was obvious."

Hawks raised an eyebrow.

Endeavour did not soften the answer.

"We do not need American heroes and their ideas forced into our lives. The Avengers got too big for their boots. They began acting as if borders, laws and existing agencies were obstacles beneath them."

"They would call it international cooperation."

"I would call it arrogance."

Hawks gave a faint shrug.

"Still, it's a shame about Parker. He was turning into quite the hero before everything fell apart. Now there are rumours he might leave the Hero Course and give up being Spider-Man entirely."

Endeavour's flames moved along his shoulders.

Hawks smiled.

"I thought you'd be relieved. Give him another few years and he might have stolen your new spot before you had time to enjoy it."

"If Parker possesses the ability to surpass me, then he should try."

Hawks glanced towards him.

Endeavour's expression remained hard.

"Walking away because the work is difficult would be disappointing. Walking away because he is grieving would be understandable, but still a waste. Someone with his power and instinct should not surrender to his worst day."

"That almost sounded supportive."

"Do not make me repeat it."

Hawks laughed beneath his breath.

"So you hope Spider-Man changes his mind?"

"I hope Parker does."

They never reached the restaurant.

The upper floors of a nearby tower exploded.

Glass and concrete filled the air as something black forced its way through the building. It carried the rough shape of a man, but muscle and exposed tissue twisted across a body built too large to be human. Wings opened from its back while several smaller heads moved around its shoulders.