The Tick vs... MY HERO ACADEMIA! Issue 86

Life was starting to go good for the League of Villains. They were back on top of the food chain when it came to the premier villain group of the nation! They were flush with cash and treasure and honestly... Tomura was surprised how much social engagement their little attack on the Creature Rejection Clan was going.

"Do you really think that maintaining a social media presence is the best idea?" Tomura wasn't sure if the Brainchild could be more then an annoying little monster, but here they were... not only were they getting people of... various degrees of mutation quirks telling them that it was about time someone went after the CRC, they... actually had fans.

Tomura really wasn't sure what to think at this point.

"Worried? Pfffft! I'm behind like... seven proxies! There's no way some boomer in some police department is going to track us." The cocky grin he had was... Charles got results, as he turned to Himiko. "You got that new post, babe?"

Oh, right. That. The fact that Himiko Toga, an out and out serial killer, was in some strange relationship with the Brainchild made his skin CRAWL.

"Just about done! Hashtag yes all heroes... hashtag you too... and... hashtag where do we go from here. Aaaaaand post!" She was smiling, showing off her four sharp fangs. Tomura wasn't sure how the Brainchild could put up with the insanity that was the blood crazed yandere, but better he was the one who held her... affections... then Tomura.

With a sigh, he pulled up his own phone and decided to see just what Himiko had posted. And already it was getting ratio'd to hell and back. Sure, the League of Villains had some support, the whole downfall of society and going after the CRC did help to clear up their image, but the world was filled with sheep that were more then happy to keep going with the flow of things.

Oh well, one step at a time.

His revelry was broken by Chairface. "Well... after talking with most of my contacts, I believe I've managed to flip the stones from the jewelry we made off with for almost 45 cents to the dollar." That was good news! Gemstones were notoriously hard to flip. "As for the artwork, I had a few dealers in Europe that would be... more then interested in what we managed to... relieve."

The precious metals, of course, were melted down and processed into ingots. Easier to transport and easier to flip. Things were going good for the League of Villains... at this rate... Tomura had ideas... there was only one group left to surpass in Japan that would solidify their legend and leave them as more then just some up and comers.

"This... is an out rage!" Only to be interrupted by one of the more loony members of the League of Villains. The evil chef himself, the Breadmaster, came storming from the kitchens, holding a newspaper. "Look upon this vile idolatry and bear witness to the culinary doom!"

He waved it front of Tomura, who looked over to Chairface. The consigliere shrugged before Tomura sighed and grabbed the news paper proper. He read over the front page and had no idea what he was supposed to be looking at. "What's got you so riled up, Breadmaster?"

"Do you not have eyes? Can you not see!? Look at it! Right there, black and white!" He pointed to the article in question. Oh, looked like those Iron Chef people were going to honor some celebrity chef from New York with some kind of award. Is that what was really bothering him?

"Is that really bothering you?" Tomura asked.

"Yes! That hack fraud and his molecular gastronomy is the biggest affront to the culinary arts the world over! To think that the Thirteenth Chairman would spit on the legacy of his ancestors to do this!?" He was fuming, upset, inarticulately angry. The real question is, what was he going to do about it?

"Chairface, Tomura... I'm going to be taking a leave of absence. This... is BLASPHEMY! And I must correct it!" He didn't wait for them to say anything else, just headed out, marching like an angry general off to war! Tomura was reminded what Chairface had said about villains vs criminals and this made quite a bit of sense.

Sometimes it was nice to just go ahead and relax, especially after working a hot day in the kitchen. Even though Shoto Todoroki was more then capable of using his quirk, Half-Hot Half-Cold, to keep himself cool in the hot kitchen, it was nice to just... kick his feet up and relax with a cold drink.

It was just himself and the professional hero he was interning, the support Hero Lunch Rush. And while he wasn't too sure about how it was going to go the first couple days, he was really starting to enjoy himself in the kitchen. It was nice to be able to work with his hands and do things that he didn't think himself to be capable of.

"I'm not one to watch television that much, Lunch Rush sir... but I didn't realize that you challenged the Iron Chefs a record fifty two times." Not only that, but the support hero had lost each and every time!

"It was a long time, when I was a much younger man. I had a chip on my shoulder and thought myself to be above things like heroism, so I did the only thing that made sense for an up coming and coming chef in Japan, I begged and cajoled my way into those challenges, losing each time. And believe you me, once you loser for the fifty second time in a row, the humility starts to kick in." The professional hero turned to his young apprentice. "I'm very good at what I do, and there was this earthquake and I managed to feed everyone over the course of three days and I found something that called to me louder then any Michelin star."

"Being a hero, sir?" Shoto asked.

"Being a hero." Lunch Rush nodded. "Two years of night classes so I could be licensed, and the next thing I know, I'm a super hero. But I'm a still a chef and here I am, feeding the minds and bodies of would be super heroes of the next generation."

"I suppose it doesn't hurt that you have both of your hero licence and your Michelin stars, though." Shoto replied. Lunch Rush, himself, had a full 3 Michelin stars, and only because he was running the cafeteria at UA instead of doing a series of restaurants around the world. It was a pity, his skill and talent could bring light to the world, but right now it was only enjoyed by students and those that were caught in a disaster.

C'est la vie, as the French would say.

"Still, I think it should be you and not that guy they should be honoring." They were, of course, watching the Iron Chef special, honoring some celebrity chef from New York that changed the entirety of molecular gastronomy in a way that hadn't been done in over a hundred years. But it was a big deal and it's not like he had anything else to do before curfew.

They were about to do the big ceremony, raising the man just like they would the various champions of cuisine like he was one to stand among the few that could call themselves cooking gods!

And raised he was, only for the broadcasters to gasp! The chef, was there, but encased in frozen strawberry sherbet!

"AHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The laughter was carried through the speakers. "Ladies and gentlemen of Kitchen Stadium! I! The Breadmaster, place a challenge upon all who would walk these hallowed halls! Who among you is capable of facing me!? Who is capable of defeating me!? Because it's not just this young man that is on the line, but the entirety of this Gourmet Academy!" The villain laughed again, as he pointed to the camera!

"SO SEND ME YOUR BEST! AND I WILL SEND THEM TO THE GRAAAAVE!"

With that, the broadcast cut off, with a card stating Technical Difficulties, Please Stand By.

Hero and Hero-in-Training looked to each other. "Are you going to go?" Shoto asked. It was quite obvious that Lunch Rush was going to do just that, to defend not only the nation, but for the food of said nation.

"... there is no doubt that I'm going to have to go face that mad man in glorious, culinary combat." He took a deep breath.

"You'll need a sous chef, won't you." Shoto asked. This was... he was a only an intern, working for a pro hero in a manner befitting to his education.

"I will... and, much as I hate to say it, you aren't my first pick, Shoto." It wasn't that the fire and ice user was insulted. He was just a trainee hero and an apprentice chef. There was nothing insulting in honestly.

"But... I don't have much choice."

No, he did not!

Heading down to the FujiTV broadcast station was difficult, the police had cordoned everything off, but the arrival of a hero who had... expertise in such a situation was needed. The Breadmaster had placed several bread bombs in the area and that was keeping the police and a few other pro heroes busy. At the moment, several of the chefs in attendance for the ceremony have themselves met the same fate as the guest of honor.

"According to the Breadmaster himself, the frozen sherbet has them in a sort of suspended animation. They can be revived, but he'll only turn them over if he's defeated in an actual challenge." The lead officer at the studio stated to Lunch Rush.

"Has anyone tried to face him yet?" The hero asked, as the officer looked away.

"A few... but he's found their skill to be so lacking that before the match starts he has them sherbeted or uses some other dastardly concoction to send them packing." The hero nodded.

"Truly, he only wants the very best to challenge him. Not only that, if I knew the likes of the Breadmaster, he'll want this broadcasted. Tell the studio that I'll face the Breadmaster... and we'll need this fight to air, live... in real time!" In true heroic fashion, he didn't even let the officer responded, as he headed into the studio.

Shoto Todoroki didn't know what to do, but followed after the man who was going to lead him in this culinary challenge!

When they entered Kitchen Stadium, they found the Breadmaster and his sous chef, the aptly named Buttery Pat (Shoto was told about the man with the quirk, Butter Body, from some of his classmates from the assault on Summer Camp) waiting for them.

"Well, Breadmaster, looks like I'm your huckleberry today." Lunch Rush said, walking up to the position usually held by one of the Iron Chefs, leaving Breadmaster as the challenger.

"Oh ho! A professional hero! I'm shaking in my toque and clogs." Was the villain's reply, as they both looked towards the top of the dais where the secret ingredient would be held. The 13th Chairman Kaga, took a step forward.

"This is quite the surprise... a villain and a hero in our hallowed halls, fighting for the title of... the Best! Fighting for pride... fighting for what they believe in! It brings a tear to my eye!" He tossed his cape to the side. "And because of that! We'll do something different! The secret ingredient for this battle!" He pulled the cloth aside... revealing!

A plinth, a veritable treasure trove of expensive kobe beef... blue fin tuna... black truffle... king crab! It was a last meal worthy of a billionaire!

"Behold! The Billionaire's Wager! So with open arms, and an empty stomach! I call upon you with our ancient cry to battle!" The chairman took a step to the side, and turned to the Breadmaster and Lunch Rush and their sous chefs.

"ALLEZ CUISINE!"