"Huff… fuff…"
Ragged breaths echoed through the sewer. A man in a hero suit stumbled forward, boots slapping against damp concrete.
"Don't hide from us, dear."That same smooth, soothing voice, relentless and sweet like poison, followed him."You're part of our family now."
"Pro Hero Aquarus," the voice purred."You don't belong to those heroes. You belong with us, my dear."
Aquarus, real name Kota Izumi, age 28, gritted his teeth.
One hand pressed hard against the bleeding gash across his abdomen. His suit clung to him, stained and torn. Labored breathing gave way as he fumbled for a small capsule and swallowed it.
A recovery pill.
Ever since the war, medical science and healing quirks had advanced at breakneck speed. The combined efforts of Recovery Girl, Reverie, and Surgeon-X had birthed these experimental miracles. Not full cures. Not yet. But enough to buy time.
Kota slumped against the slick tunnel wall, panting. He needed to move. Fast.
"I should've stuck with Mineta-senpai…" he muttered under his breath.
Three hours earlier, before Mineta's clash with the thugs.
"Kota, you got the blueprint?"Mineta crouched behind a rusted cargo container in an abandoned warehouse.
"Yes, sir," Kota answered, handing over the rolled-up plans.
Even now, Kota couldn't get used to Mineta-senpai's new demeanor. Seeing him again after all these years—after the war—it felt like meeting a stranger in a familiar body.
Kota had been close with Izuku and Eri. He'd spent time with Aizawa, too… but the rest of Class 1-A? They were almost ghosts to him. Distant, untouchable.
Still, he never expected Mineta to be the one who had changed the most.
And not just metaphorically.
"We should split up," Kota suggested, glancing at the branching tunnels ahead.
"Not," Mineta replied flatly, eyes forward.
"The sewer system is massive—and dangerous," he continued. "You don't have much experience with missions like this."
"Mineta-senpai, I've been a Pro Hero for almost ten years now," Kota snapped, trying not to let the irritation slip into panic.
"And my class fought a whole war when we were younger than you," Mineta said calmly, his tone bored. "Anything else?"
Kota fell silent.
Mineta finally turned, eyes unreadable behind the dim glow of his goggles.
"Kota, I don't doubt your abilities. If I did, I wouldn't have brought you."He let the silence breathe a moment."But this mission is underground. Low-profile. Aizawa recommended you for a reason—your water-based quirk gives us an edge. Your job is to flood specific sections of the sewer. Quietly. That's our window."
"Couldn't we just flood the place by damaging the valving system?" Kota asked.
"We could," Mineta admitted. "But that would cause unnecessary damage. And attention."
He gave a faint, almost smiled.
"Besides… I could use some reliable help."
Present
The pills were working. Bleeding slowed. Breathing steadied.
Kota was moving again.
"Ohh my… leaving so soon?"
Shit. I've been found.
He turned.
She stood at the edge of the tunnel, robes a vivid crimson dragging through the sewer filth. Her face was smooth, looking like it was sculpted.
"Kota-kun," she cooed, tilting her head. "You made me work so hard to find you."
her was sweet it was almost sickening.
She reached behind her back, unsheathing a long, curved blade that gleamed unnaturally.
"Please… stay. Let us show you our hospitality."
Her lips curled into a maniacal grin.
Kota took a shaky step back.
"I prefer the quiet types over the crazy ones," he muttered.
"Is that so?"
She lunged.
"Water Repulse!"
Both arms flung forward, blasting a high-pressure surge of water.
But she didn't budge.
She stood, feet rooted. Like a damn statue.
Kota gritted his teeth. He had bought himself maybe two seconds.
It would have to be enough.
"MINETA-SENPAI!!"
His scream tore through the tunnel, bouncing off the sewer walls.
His side burned. Blood was still on his suit despite the pill. He didn't know if Mineta could hear him.
But he screamed anyway.
One hour earlier
Mineta and Kota walked through ankle-deep water, tapping the side of their comms earpiece.
"Sato, go ahead."
Static cleared.
"We've only mapped 20% of the sewer so far, right?" Sato asked.
"Yeah. Kota and I are still charting this stretch."
"Good. Got a lead, someone dropped a tip. Unusual movement in Zone C. Could be cult activity."
Mineta's expression sharpened.
"Understood. We'll intercept. Give us twenty minutes."
Behind him, Kota's voice chimed in.
"Umm, Mineta-senpai?"
"Yeah?"
"I think… we should split up."
Mineta didn't even break stride.
"Kota, we've been over this."
"I know," Kota said quickly. "But if you follow the lead, you'll reach them faster. There are still five hours of ground to cover. We can't afford to lose time."
Mineta didn't respond. Kota pushed on.
"If these are cultists, they've likely stashed something. Journals. Maps. We need intel before they realize they're compromised."
He paused. A breath.
"Please, Mineta-senpai."
Mineta stopped. Water dripped in the silence.
He studied Kota's face, determined, but anxious.
Finally, he sighed.
"Alright."
He pointed to a junction on the digital map.
"We meet here. One hour. No delays."
Kota nodded.
"If anything goes sideways, you contact me immediately. No hero points for being a solo badass."
"Understood."
"Good. And Kota?"
"Yes?"
"Be careful. These people aren't just freaks in robes. They want to be found."
"I will."
He turned and vanished into the darkness.
Mineta watched him go, a strange chill sliding down his spine.
Present
The blade arced through the air,
Bam
—and a kick collided with the woman's face, sending her flying into the sewage.
Kota stumbled back, wide-eyed.
"M-Mineta-senpai!"
Mineta stood between them, calm and sharp, his stance tight and ready.
"You alright, Kota?"
Kota could only nod.
The red-robed woman rose slowly, rubbing her cheek, eyes glimmering with twisted pleasure.
"Minoru Mineta…" she whispered, shivering with glee. "Ah~ you hit me… are you that kind of pervert?"
Mineta's face twitched.
"Not in the slightest."His voice was steel."But I was looking for someone like you."
She twirled her blade.
"How wonderful~ Then let me greet you properly."
"Kota. Get out of here. Now."
Mineta didn't look back.
She lunged again.
"Enhancement Level 2," he muttered.
A soft blue glow pulsed from the belt around his waist. He ripped one of the orbs from his head, only it didn't bounce. It hardened midair, reshaping into a blade.
Clang!
Metal met metal. Sparks flew.
Kota's jaw dropped.
"What the…? Senpai?"
This wasn't the Mineta he remembered. His Quirk wasn't supposed to do this.
What the hell happened?
Mineta said nothing. His blade shimmered as he pressed forward.
The woman twirled away, laughter bubbling.
"Ah~ So you're not just a pervert—" she moaned theatrically,"—you're a cheater too~ my my what a bad man you are Ahhh~"
Mineta didn't respond. He moved like a ghost, his steps sharp, his focus absolute.
Kota rose to his feet, still bleeding, heart racing.
What is going on…?
This wasn't the Mineta from before.
His Quirk, his moves, his aura…
Something had changed since the war.
Something big.