There were currently four people in the hospital room.

Well, seven if we count the Stands. Apparently, even they were curious enough to hear the results. Granted, Stands of high enough quality do show some personality traits and interests – just not ones that can be indulged in the open.

Cause, you know, poltergeists and all that.

Anyway, back to the people.

One was the doctor who had a Quirk that allowed him to calm people down. Surprisingly, he was called less often than people expected when news needed to be delivered to the patient's who had a chance of reacting explosively.

He was, however, always on call for what would later be dubbed "Kacchan Cases" across the hospitals in Japan.

Ah Bakugo, immortalized at last.

Then there were the Midoriya's. Izuku was there for support, and Inko was there to finalize the paperwork if the test results were conclusive.

Because she was that good.

Plus, it helped to have heroes as patients who were willing to 'lubricate the gears' as it were in the convoluted and ever consuming government infrastructure.

And Hitoshi was there looking at the DNA results with wide, bulging eyes.

"OH MY GOD! We are related!"

Hitoshi, despite his tired demeanor and raccoon eyes, did have a rather loud voice. But while this was said in genuine shock, there were hints of jubilation and hope behind it all.

W&N could pick up such emotions via the voices – who knew?

The doctor coughed to get his attention. "Yes, it seems that there is, in fact, a distant ancestor between you three. However, based on the number of markers, it seems like Miss Midoriya and you are from the same generation while Izuku seems to have half the markers you both have."

"Translation: our ancestor couldn't keep it in his pants and had a late child OR had a fling that bore fruit," deadpanned Inko.

Let it not be said that Inko wasn't as blunt as a bull.

Izuku sighed in resignation at the shocked expressions of the doctor and Hitoshi. "Yare Yare Daze. It's probably the latter. If it was in the family, then ancestors wouldn't have lost track of Hitoshi's branch even during the 'Emergence Era.'"

"In any case…" interjected the doctor before the conversation was derailed. "This should be more than enough to accelerate the adoption process. Still, it is a little odd – for a family to have a birthmark that is so… unique."

"Is it really?" Izuku asked. "Children inherent rather distinct physical alterations from their parents regardless if they get similar Quirks or are Mutants. Is it so strange for birthmarks?"

"I don't want to judge, but those alterations are usually tied to Quirks. As far as I can tell, the star-shaped birthmark on all the family member's back isn't linked to any of them. Still, I am putting a flag in the system for it – who knows, maybe there are other family members out there."

Izuku considered that for a moment. "It's not IMpossible. Still, we may want to broaden the net outside of Japan."

The doctor looked up from his computer, "Any particular reason? I get that both you and your mother are above average for Japanese Humanoid Sizes, but I do not see any non-Asian features among you."

"True," conceded Inko as she signed some forms on her end and gave them to Hitoshi. "But when I was pregnant, I ran a few different DNA tests – checking for Quirk factor and all that."

"Reasonable," agreed the doctor. Most 'new' cases of Quirkless that were diagnosed were a result of the two parents unknowingly being carriers of the recessive gene. Well, it wasn't as simple as that since there were other mitigating genetic factors, but the Pennett Square explanation was something everyone could follow. "You suspected that because of Izuku's…?," the doctor looked at her ring finger for any indications of a relationship.

"No, Izuku's donor had a Quirk, weak as it were. No, it was actually due to a childish fear on my end, being an orphan myself. Still, his results showed multiple times that we had small traces of European blood, primarily British of all things."

The doctor looked at Izuku. "That would explain the broad shoulders."

Izuku chuckled alongside Inko before looking at a staring Hitoshi. "What?"

"Nothing – just wondering if, well,…"

"If you would have looked similar to me if you had a decent diet and a family who cared?" deadpanned Izuku.

Like mother, like son.

Hitoshi winced. "Not in so many words but… maybe? I can't really see myself that buff and all. Maybe tall and lithe but not build a like a brick shit-house."

That got an eyebrow raise from the room. "The orphanage I stay at – stayed at? – has a lot of old American DVD's and the like for the kids to watch. Cheaper than cable."

"Thank you for reminding me," interjected Inko as she got up and shook the doctor's hands. "We should be going. The orphanage isn't too far, but we want to get his stuff and get home before nightfall."

"Oh, then I won't take up your time."

Everyone left, having their respective missions accomplished.

Car drive nearing conclusion…

The drive to the orphanage was going well. No traffic, no hassle, the trio just talking about things, and how the new home dynamic would work.

The topic of 'mother' and 'son/brother' titles was brought up, but that was quickly diverted to less sensitive matters… such as bathroom times and meal preferences.

Hitoshi was shocked to learn that Izuku took his bathroom habits VERY seriously. Enough so that he would fight his mother if that ritual was interrupted in any shape or form. Considering he did just that when she accidentally used up his good shampoo – the one without the more caustic and nauseating chemicals to his 'power' – it wasn't a light threat.

They laugh about it now as an odd moment of hormone imbalance brought upon by puberty but considering that glint in Inko's eye, Hitoshi though she wanted a rematch.

Speaking of 'powers'…

"Hitoshi, something I wanted to ask you. Your Quirk - 'Brainwashing' I believe its called?"

"Yes…" Hitoshi said with hesitance. The Midoriya's already knew the broad strokes of the story, having spend a few days with him after the beach reveal. He was left at the orphanage – again, Inko parallels – at a young age because his Quirk kicked in early. Usually that would be a good thing, an indicator of a powerful Quirk.

But his Quirk quickly fell into the 'villainous' category.

An ever-present issue in the world, ESPECIALLY Japan – 'damn close-minded bastards' Inko repeatedly muttered – broadly applying to any Quirk that had, shall we say, 'dark' overtones.

The laws prevented discrimination based on Quirks, but people were still people, meaning that some Quirks just unnerved them or didn't seem 'heroic.'

MANY a hero fought against this stereotyping, All Might chief among them, somewhat aggressively mind you. Then there were popular heroes like Vlad King who went out of their way to be poster heroes for organizations and support groups for such people. Having faced similar discrimination for having a 'villainous' blood-related quirk, he felt like it was his duty to present a just image for future generations.

But even a parent's love couldn't overcome the shock of becoming puppets to their son every time they responded to him, accidentally or not. Hitoshi was too young to retain a memory of his parents, but Inko didn't really bother trying to find them – anyone willing to abandon their blood just like that was not worthy of whatever family they belonged/were related to.

His years in the orphanage after his Quirk was revealed were… not pleasant, putting it lightly.

It takes A LOT to make a Stand appear.

"I mean, yeah, I had just the Quirk for a while till about a few years back. The older kids were trying to discipline me for having such an unnatural Quirk, and it's just… appeared one day."

Inko considered that. "Well, Izuku's emerged from desperation and physical stress, wouldn't be a stretch to say that the same couldn't be done form mental pressures. Did anything about your Quirk change afterward?"

"Only that I now had to see who was responding to me for the Quirk to 'latch on.' Sort of mitigating the issue by having small clones of me hiding around – they can't use my Quirk, but they count enough as me for it to 'count.'"

"Wait," Izuku interrupted. "You mean you can create numerous copies of yourself of varying sizes? AND you get their memories and experiences when they 'poof'?"

"They can't get bigger or stronger than me, it's very draining the more there are for me to hive command, they need one good hit to 'poof,' and the farther away they are from me, the 'dumber' they get until they stop receiving a 'signal,'" tallied off Hitoshi.

"Trade off's are worth it. Ever try it with objects or people?"

"Objects yes with same restrictions but not people. Why…?"

"We are here," interrupted Inko as she parked outside the rather large home. "Orphanage doesn't seem to be hurting for money."

"Yeah," Izuku muttered with a smidgen of annoyance and concern. As he undid some of his head bandages, he turned to Hitoshi. "What's the turnover for this place?"

"Pretty good, I think. I am one the oldest kid there, but that's mostly cause I am rarely there outside of meals and sleeping. I guess the younger ones get taken earlier, but I never paid much attention to it, being in the middle of the city and all that."

All justifiable reasons in Izuku's mind, but his mom beat him to the punch.

"Hitoshi, as callus as this may sound, adoption is a long and arduous process, especially since adopting someone who isn't related to you in any way is not an easy choice to come to."

Hitoshi stared bug-eyed at Inko as they got out of the car. "But… people get adopted all the time."

"Not saying there aren't good people out there, but there are simply more kids in the system then parents willing to take them in. Under normal circumstances, it would take weeks or months for the paperwork to go through. But you are blood, and I have connections, hence why we can finish it today. Let's not forget that orphanages themselves are more often than not underfunded – the government makes great strides, but things fall through. Unless there is some sort of saint in there keeping vigil over everything, something smells fishy."

Hitoshi pondered this, worry not etching on his brow, while Inko and Izuku raised their guard as they entered the orphanage and walked up to the front desk.

The man at the reception desk was already setting off Izuku's alarms.

While getting information from the air alone doesn't let him get anything personal off the intended target, it is enough to get a 'feel' for them.

The receptionist was giving off sways of 'fear' and 'lies' as well as the smell of both blood and some sort of medicine.

Not good.

The glasses-wearing scarecrow of a man looked up from his monitor, smiling at the sight of Inko before frowning at the sight of Hitoshi. "Hitoshi, where have you been? Mr. Rabisu and I have been trying to find you for days! I am sorry madam if Mister Shinso has disturbed you in some…"

Inko glared at the man. "This boy's name is Hitoshi MIDORIYA [the scarecrow eyes bulged], and he is only here to get his stuff."

The receptionist tried to make sense of the situation, especially when a folder of paperwork was shoved into his chest.

Clearly – to Izuku's amusement – Inko must have also sensed something was iffy about the place.

"But…but… madam, I don't know if you are aware, but…" stuttered the man.

"I am completely aware," interrupted Inko. "But it matters little in this situation. The paperwork there has been signed and officiated by the necessary parties. Now, you're going to tell me where your boss is while my two boys are going to and pack up what little Hitoshi has. Am I clear?"

The receptionist gulped before pointing down the hall. "Take a left and then a right before going upstairs. The office is straight ahead after that, but in case you get lost, there is a map."

"Good. Boys, go get the stuff. Do you need any boxes, Hitoshi?"

"No, Miss Midoriya, I have containers in my room – my room always moves around."

That alone triggered another warning bell in Izuku's head.

"Very well. Call me when you are done, and we will meet outside at the car."

The trio nodded before going their separate ways.

The receptionist waited for them to out of sight before quickly hitting speed-dial.

"Rabisu … Hitoshi came… yes, yes, NO, no, this isn't good! HE IS BEING ADOPTED!... I know we have a buyer for him… THE BITCH HAS PAPERWORK!... Fine, fine… you handle her, I'll handle the kids… He shouldn't be a problem if I don't answer him… the other boy? Don't know. He is big, but he doesn't seem to have an obvious Quirk… same for mother… her name? Inko Midoriya… wait, she does? Who put up a… OH! Really? Well, I guess that would put us in good books with them… Good, let me put my game face on."

The receptionist smiled as he closed his phone. Reaching underneath his desk, he pressed a hidden button, quickly locking up the place. He then proceeded to open a drawer, chuckling as he pulled out his mask and gloves.

"Hitoshi?"

"Yeah, Izuku?"

"I get we took a day off to get our stuff on a school day…"

Hitoshi finished putting away his clothes. "But you are wondering where the young kids are?"

Izuku nodded. "I get the older kids are in class, but I didn't figure this place had a kindergarten or something like that."

"It doesn't," Hitoshi answered without concern. "We hadn't had any new kids coming in for a while, and the other kids are adopted out eventually… I think."

Izuku tapped up the last box. "You think? I get you aren't around a lot, and your Quirk unnerves people, but doesn't that ring something fierce?"

"Let's just say that I had a plan or two to get out of here in case things went south."

"Yare Yare…" muttered Izuku. He had just finished sealing up the last box when he and Hitoshi both got goosebumps.

Hitoshi looked at his arms and almost shrugged off the concern until he looked at the somewhat panicked look on Izuku's face. "…what?"

Izuku undid the bandages on his right arm, quickly putting it to the door. "Tch! I don't think you are the only Stand user in this place."

"…What."

"I just felt the area of this place close off from the outside."

Hitoshi looked outside through his room window, noting that people were still moving outside, and there didn't seem to be any delay in the noise.

"Trust me, we are cut off."

As if to prove a point, Izuku took a baseball and threw it outside. Hitoshi thought it was going to hit a pedestrian, but it soon seemed to disappear through some sort of ripple-like phenomenon. As the ripples continued, Hitoshi spotted that the building was inside some kind of bubble-like structure.

"OH MY GOD! I swear Izuku, I didn't know!"

"I believe you," nodded Izuku. "But that doesn't change the fact that as far as we know, there are only two other people we have confirmation of being inside with us three. The manager… and the receptionist."

"Oh, boy…"

"And that's not the worst of it."

"There's more?!"

Izuku took another baseball – why did Hitoshi have so many in his room? – and threw it again, to the same effect. Except for one difference.

"The sphere is smaller. I can tell its shrinking but not at what rate," deduced Izuku.

"Shit," Hitoshi swore. "What do we do?"

Izuku closed his eyes. "Best scenario? Pretend nothing is wrong and take your stuff. If we meet the receptionist or the manager and they react in some way, THEN we do something about it."

Hitoshi accepted that reasoning; to instantly assume that they specifically were the guilty party with such little evidence would be somewhat foolish.

As small as the odds are, there could be a third party involved.

Infinticeble odds, but odds none the less.

Being nonchalant, the duo took the boxes and carried them outside.

They, unfortunately, had to stop and stare when their suspicions were confirmed.

At the end of the hall stood the unrecognizable receptionist. Unrecognizable because he had decided to do a dress change into what appeared to be trousers, cowl, and sleeves woven and stitched together from various rags with a noose and hood for aesthetics. The eye-catching details were a gas mask with what appeared to be modified googles as well as a glove on the right hand with syringe-fingers filled with something.

The staredown continued until the secretary relented. "Odd… I thought at least Hitoshi would have reacted in some way."

"To be fair, Mr. Kuren…"

"Please, call me Scarecrow when I am in costume."

"Like the Pre-Quirk Batman villain?" interrupted Izuku, his neediness rearing its ugly head.

The gas mask managed to convey the figure's joy. "Just so! I didn't think people actually bothered reading anything from the Pre-Quirk Era. But I digress! Call it lazy, what with my name and all, but hey, you work with what you got," shrugged the man.

"And why exactly are you dressed as a villain?" Hitoshi asked in a mixture of curiosity and confusion.

"Not so much a villain, just a criminal."

Hitoshi raised a brow. "What's the difference?"

"Well, personally? Semantics – Neither I nor my 'friends' go out of our way to make the news or start some twisted gang out of a desire for attention. We do what we do for money – drugs, kidnapping, trafficking, the usual."

"So the kind of guys police go after rather than heroes, fair enough," deduced Izuku. "So, what exactly did we stumble into what caused you to drop your cover?"

"Trafficking," stated Scarecrow as he pointed at Hitoshi. "Interested parties had an eye on Hitoshi for his Quirk for some time now. We figured with his self-isolation and age he wasn't going to be adopted any time soon. We actually manage to line up a buyer for you the day you disappeared and had feelers out in the community to locate you. But then you turn up being adopted and all well… let's just say there will be cleanups."

"My mother?" Izuku inquired.

"Being dealt with by Mr. Rabisu."

Inko jumped out the way as the suit-wearing oni-figured bastard smashed through the couch with his fist.

Was the desk not enough?

Normally she would have dealt with the idiot were it not for two things.

One, the musclehead seemed to have a Stand – she missed the name that he muttered – that appeared to have locked the two inside the rather spacious office.

She could only deduce that seeing as how she literally bounced away from the doors and windows.

Not a deal-breaker – neither could leave the 'boxing ring' as it were.

The problem was his Quirk. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't keep her eyes on him. Whenever she tried, she would just glaze over him, like he wasn't important enough, or she just didn't want to accept that he was there.

"Not so easy, is it, bitch? My "Perception Filter' is just the thing I need to take you down."

Inko was in the corner, but despite his taunt, she just sighed in resignation when she noticed her clothes were ruined.

"Yare Yare Dame," Inko stated and straightened up as she summoned out Electric Avenue to Mr. Rabisu's shock. "I just got this blouse."

"I fucked up, didn't I?" deadpanned the oni before Inko charged in his direction, electricity cackling at the woman's fingers.

"Oh, so one enemy down," deadpanned Izuku. "Can't help but think you are the bigger threat, though."

Scarecrow considered that. "I am smarter than him… and I did modify this place to take full advantage of my Quirk."

Hitoshi could feel the smugness behind the mask, but he had to ask. "You know, we never did figure out what your Quirk was."

"WELL, LET ME ENLIGHTEN YOU!" shouted Scarecrow as bright beams of light shot from his goggles.

"SHIT!" the duo muttered, dropping the boxes and hiding behind furniture in the halls. Unfortunately, the light continued down the hall until it made contact with a mirror, quickly reflecting and bouncing around the room due to reflective surfaces conveniently and strategically placed.

Since he didn't see it coming, the light shown over Hitoshi, paralyzing him completely.

Izuku noticed his friend's distress – his eyes being the only thing moving, panickly looking around – before registering the quickly running claw-out criminal with his 'power.'

Izuku quickly threw a nearby lamp table in the path of the light, interrupting it just enough for Hitoshi to get out of its gaze.

Luckily, he did so right before Scarecrow managed to stab him with the syringes.

Izuku quickly stood guard in front of Hitoshi, who needed to recover his breath. "So, I see what you meant by working with what you had."

"You like?" presented Scarecrow as he pointed at his goggles, which Izuku noticed had lenses that were either self-adjusting or controlled. "Something I had commissioned for my 'Yellowcard' Quirk. Odd name, but it helps hide what it does. See, anything my eye lights shine over is frozen – almost in fear, you can say. Was pretty shitty at using it though, what with how much the vision spread is. Which is what the goggles are for – helps control just what I want to be struck with fear."

"So, the reflective surfaces?"

"Quirk doesn't need direct sight, just the light hitting you," giggled Scarecrow.

"And the syringes? Paralytics? Drugs?"

"Just a cocktail or two to put the victims to sleep – can keep my eyes open only for so long."

Izuku processed that. "Any reason you are so chatty?"

"Well, it's not like you two are leaving this place, so why not monologue?" The goggles glowed again, but instead of a narrow beam, this was more diluted and spread, shining and covering the entire hall like a giant spotlight instead of a flashlight.

However, Izuku noted he could still move – but it felt like he was trudging through molasses.

"Now," commanded Scarecrow as he approached them and raised his claw. "Hold still, I wouldn't want to nick the wrong artery – or would I?"

"Alright, enough of this," Izuku stated.

"What do you…?

"ORO!" shouted W&N as it emerged from Izuku and aimed a punch at Scarecrow. Unfortunately, Scarecrow's own Stand appeared to block the punch but barely.

The force still knocked the two back a significant distance, cause the pair to smash into a wall.

Izuku noted the Stand, which appeared to look like a humanized elephant that was decrepit looking and covered in chains. Or at least that's what it looked like. It was hard to tell if the chains were coming out of the metallic sheen of the figure or just hindering it.

He didn't have time to process this train of thought as he quickly grabbed Hitoshi by the arm and started to run away.

Scarecrow got up to fust himself and crick his neck the right way. "Damn it, a Stand user. I thought the Sanada Brave's had a monopoly on them. Figure a few might escape the net. Still… seemed like a Close Range. Might need to adjust my strategy."

Scarecrow then got up and ran in the opposite direction of the duo, smirking. "Let see how they hand Back Against the Wall [B.A.W]."

The pair kept running, finally reaching the entrance. "So what, we just run to the car?"

"Mom can handle any dope this Rabisu is – if she can kick Endeavors ass, no one else should be a hassle."

Hitoshi chuckled as he opened the entrance door. "High praise, but what exactly is…"

Hitoshi's voice got caught in his through – and Izuku wasn't that far behind despite his controlled facial expression – since rather than seeing the parking lot and trees of the outside, the entrance somehow opened up to the interior halls.

They didn't have time to process the change before the door; they entered through closed and changed from glass to wooden one.

"The hell… this is on the opposite side of the building!" Hitoshi screamed.

"Shit," scowled Izuku. "Scarecrow's Stand… Look out!"

Thank heavens Izuku still had his arm uncovered. The information carried by air was enough for him to sense Scarecrow right behind the corner, firing another beam.

Hitoshi looked up from the floor. "How did he know…"

"Screaming didn't help, but it is his Stand. Who knows what its powers are." Izuku muttered before grabbing a mirror off the wall and realigning the flash back at the criminal.

"Nice try," smirked Scarecrow, still running despite being caught in his own Quirk. "Wouldn't be the first time someone thought that would work."

"Worth a shot," deadpanned Izuku before W&N threw the mirror with a force of a car collision.

Scarecrow had just enough time to open a broom closet of all things and jump into it to avoid the projectile. Izuku quickly rushed to open the door, revealing no one inside other than a shrinking sphere perimeter.

"Damn it, it some sort of Long-Range Stand ability," deduced Izuku.

Hitoshi scratched his head. "The hell does it do – outside of what appears to be teleportation?"

"I don't know, and that has me concerned. Teleportation Quirks are at least bound by some unconventional logic. Stands – not so much."

"We need to get a drop on him," Hitoshi stated as he brought out Eminem. The Stand clapped and poofed up a dozen or so tiny Hitoshi's.

Izuku raised a brow.

"Spread out and stay hidden. Search every crook and corner for some clue as to what the hell is happening. If you get teleported somewhere, poof out so we can get information."

The clones nodded before running on their tiny feet in different directions.

"What are we going to be doing in turn?"

Hitoshi thought about it. "Let's go to the roof. The bubble is shrinking, right? The top would be the last place to go. Plus, its an open roof – doubt Scarecrow has anything prearranged up here to abuse."

Izuku agreed as both ran into the stairwell up to the roof.

Izuku pushed the door to the roof open, revealing the wide-open sky.

Hitoshi ran forward before realizing he was jumping right into the membrane. Izku quickly noted Hitoshi being pulled in, so he managed to grab his arm just in time to be dragged along…

… through a closet cabinet onto the floor.

Hitoshi looked around, noting the wall map marker. "How the hell… now we are in the basement?"

"That's not the worst of it. We LITERALLY just fell out of a wooden furniture catalog despite jumping into the air."

"The hell does this Stand…. OW!" Hitoshi started before grabbing his head in pain.

"What happened?"

"My copies dispelled all at once, apparently. It seems like the same thing happened to them – they pass through the perimeter and appear in a place in the opposite direction – including height."

"So you try exiting up, you emerge from the bottom. You try going outright, you enter left. Anything about the point of exit and entry?"

Hitoshi processed the information. "Closest opening? Some of them don't make a lick of logic."

"Tch. Means we are locked inside a building with a possible deranged lunatic."

"And his partner," added Hitoshi.

"A none issue," deadpanned Izuku.

The oni's suit was in near tatters as he kept trying to avoid the women's deranged onslaught.

"HOW ARE YOU SUMMONING FIRE AND LIGHTNING?!" shouted the confused and panicked man.

"Wouldn't you like to know? DENKA!"

"Seriously, how tough is your mom? And should I be worried about pissing her off?" Hitoshi breathed out as they exited the basement to the 1st floor.

Izuku shrugged. "Well, like I said earlier, she did beat up Endeavor. And not really. She has a temper, but it's a rather long fuse – unless you manage to hit her buttons."

"Good to know – DUCK!"

"I KNOW!" Izuku shouted, having sensed the attack 'pinging' off the walls.

They barely had a chance to get cover before a beam shouts out from a different direction.

"WHAT THE FUCK? How is he firing…?"

"Less talking – more dodging!" commanded Izuku as a THIRD BEAM fired from the freaking vent opening. "The bastard must have more control of his Stand teleportation then we thought – that or the perimeter has gotten REALLY small."

Hitoshi thought about that statement before smirking mischievously. "Let's test that theory,' stated Hitoshi as he ran into a room, disappearing from Izuku's sight.

"Hitoshi, what are you playing at?"

Scarecrow appeared out of the mirror to Izuku's nonchalant surprise.

Catching his look, Scarecrow waved it off. "Trippy, I know. But it sort of fits the nightmare funhouse scenario I have going here."

"Figures our 'closest exit' theory was somewhat off," muttered Izuku as he got up.

"Yeah… I have some more wiggle room to B.A.W's ability compared to everyone else, but I still get confused half the time I use it. I once emerged out of the water in a bathtub believe it or not – did not enjoy that."

"Well then, let's how you enjoy THIS!" Izuku shouted as he summoned W&N for the attack.

To his surprise, Scarecrow just nonchalantly had moved away from the mirror, allowing W&N fist to punch it… or it would have if it wasn't pulled into it.

Izuku barely had time to process what he could from the impact before extreme pain and weakness bombarded his body at once.

"Little trick I made just for Close Range Stands – I take them out of your limited range, and you get whiplash dragging it back to you. The difference is then returned as pain and stamina drain. Neat, huh?"

There was no foolish overtones in that statement – only hard, demented, and calculated logic of a killer.

Izuku really was a bad match for this guy. In a straight-up confrontation, he may be able to do something or even keep track of the bastard. But combine long-range tactics, a teleportation ability, and an evident breadth of experience between the two? Izuku could take him out in one punch, but he was at a clear disadvantage.

"Izuku!" shouted a panicked and running Hitoshi. "Hey Scarecrow, feel this!"

Izuku saw from his kneeling position Hitoshi preparing to punch out Scarecrow, who just sidestepped and didn't respond to his taunting.

Hitoshi only managed to barely graze Izuku – with Scarecrow missing the slight glow of an aura between the two – before the criminal punched him out. As Hitoshi slammed into the ground, he quickly got out a rope to bind his mouth.

"You really think I would fall for your Quirk?!" giggled the man as he took off two circular glass devices from his belt and placed them on the two's heads. As he clocked them on, one his eyes lens blackened out as the two froze as if under the effect of his Quirk.

"Again – best money I ever spend on a commission."

Scarecrow started dragging the two back to the reception desk at the entrance. "You know, you two really did give me a ran for my money. You Izuku put up one hell of a git. Too bad you couldn't land your ability on me – must be something that requires contact. But that's a common problem with Close-Range Stands: really broken abilities, but rather limited ways of applying them. And you Hitoshi? I didn't see you use your Stand. Or maybe you didn't awaken it yet? I know I would have used it in some way."

"OH?" spoke a voice from the desk as the chair swiveled around to a grinning Hitoshi, unscuffed. "And who says I didn't?"

Scarecrow was about to respond in surprise, but he managed to cover his mouth with his left hand, dropping Izuku on the floor.

"Darn," smirked Hitoshi as he snapped his fingers. "So close to getting you to respond."

Scarecrow growled in rage at that before looking between the two in confusion.

"Your next line is 'A cloning Stand? How rare! Wonder how much extra we can get off of you?'"

He didn't even wave his hands in acknowledgment of that statement or if it was going to be his follow up.

"Wow, you are paranoid – did you think a nonverbal response would trigger it? Actually," Hitoshi paused, considering that. "Would it? I never actually tried that – food for thought."

Scarecrow didn't take his eyes off of him as he brought out B.A.W and loosened its chains.

"Paranoid, aren't we? Thinking that maybe I have other clones hidden around me? A trap as it were? But you don't see an active Stand around me, so how could I be doing that?"

All true statements, but Scarecrow wasn't going to admit that. Looking at a mirror to see behind himself revealed that the perimeter has shrunk near to its epicenter. That meant that the lobby was going to be wherever the 'exiter' would emerge into.

So what was the issue here? He had the location advantage, the bigger threat – Izuku – was down, and unless Hitoshi also has a hidden card up his sleeve like another Close-Range Stand, he was in the clear.

But unless he was wrong – which he rarely was – a cloning ability has to have a significant weakness. Meaning that either they couldn't use a Quirk – very likely – or they were easy to beat – less likely – or extremely draining – also less likely.

He had Hitoshi in his arm, gagged and paralyzed. He gave the bastard a hard punch to the noggin, meaning he was either solid or one hell of a durable copy.

There was no visible Stand aura being used, meaning he could have prepared the clone beforehand. But when? When he left the earlier battle? For what possible reason – to get more time for something?

Time he clearly gave him due to Scarecrow's paranoia – he didn't survive this long in the business by making rash decisions. But honestly, this wasn't anything more than a bluff!

So he was calling it.

Summoning B.A.W, he had it summon its chains to tie up the 'Hitoshi' copy, making sure one loop covered his mouth.

"So, paranoid, am I? I am not the one tied up right now, AM I? ANY LAST WORDS YOU PUNK!?" shouted the figure as he walked closer to the purple-haired teen.

He should have noticed something was wrong the moment the copy didn't disappear from the chain whiplash of pulling him closer to himself.

All he caught was the smirking expression of his face, the gleam of his eyes….

… And the glow of his Aura as he summoned W&N!

"THE FUCK!?"

Hitoshi poofed, revealing himself as Izuku. "SURPRISE!"

W&N grapped the chains and pulled B.A.W to himself, rearing up the punches. "OROOROOROOROOROORO!"

The elephant man was pummeled by a barrage of punches, the damage reflecting on Scarecrow as he was propelled out threw the glass door entrance.

He managed to smirk before falling to one knee, "Dammit… still tired from his earlier trick." He managed to drag himself to Hitoshi and taking off the circular tag of his forehead. "since when can you shapeshift your copies into others?"

Hitoshi looked up in pain but proud of himself. "Since a few minutes ago…" before looking at 'Izuku,' as he poofed into another Hitoshi before poofing away. "Substituting myself with a copy? Easy. Making someone else look like me? Harder. Substituting a copy to look like whoever is being substituted? Draining…." Wheezed out Hitoshi.

"Well, it was one hell of a shock to me suddenly appearing in the lobby looking like you. Thankfully, the guy had the building camera set up behind his counter, so I saw him dragging the two of us back here. So I planned out the attack and… well…"

"You clever bastard," muttered Hitoshi.

"Indeed he is," spoke a female voice. Both turned to see a banged-up but not bruised Inko Midoriya dragging a near black and blue pummeled oni-figure ina destroyed suit. She looked at the two in the assessment. "Seems like you two had one hell of a fight. Izuku, I thought I taught you better than that?" She emphasized her point by dropping her enemy on the ground… she wasn't gentle.

"Sorry mom, but the guy had a teleporting Stand ability and a Quirk to keep me at a distance – won't happen again. Also, did you know theirs is a whiplash if a Close-Range Stand is taken out of your range?"

Izuku brows raised at that. "Theirs is? That would explain why you look dead on your feet despite being uninjured… he got you didn't he?"

"In his defense, Miss Midoriya," interjected Hitoshi, trying to get off the floor. "WE thought he was bound to the same rules as us in regards to his Stand."

"Fair enough," she stated as she walked outside and looked around, expression quickly changing to annoyance. "You gave him a good beating, right?"

"Tch, the bastard managed to get away, didn't he?"

Inko walked outside their field of vision before returning with her dialing something on the phone. "Based on how the blood cuts off outside, he must have teleported himself. You got enough off him during the smackdown to give the cops a name?"

Izuku gathered his breath to stand up. "Yeah… only partial info… can't get much off Stands, it seems… his red hair and golden eyes were real, though… name is… Kakashi… something….damn it will come to me…."

Inko smiled a bit. Been a long time since she has seen him that winded. "Sit down before you hurt yourself. I'll prep the idiot there for the cops to arrest… maybe they will get something out of him if they don't ask you for help… again."

Hitoshi laughed out loud at the byplay. "Man, I hope this isn't a common thing cause I don't know what to call it."

Izuku and Inko deadpanned in unison. "We call it Tuesday."

The three froze before their smirks evolved into chuckles into uproarious laughter.

Undisclosed location.

A shadowed figure was working at his station before a report popped up on his monitor. She read the report, which was a summation of an arrest made earlier today at an orphanage.

Noting who was captured, she dialed up someone on her office phone.

"RING, RING, RING… Hello, Seikai? It's Isa. Yeah… I got a report from my contact on the force… Tell Saizō the deal fell through… Rabisu was caught, Kakashi seemed to have gotten away… he will probably go to Kamanosuke… he works mainly for us despite calling himself freelance, so yeah, he has the right… I really don't care how he was beaten… I will look into it, the people who caught him weren't listed… Hitoshi is no longer in the system, and I think his name is changed… yes, it is a loss, but we didn't wire the money yet… Fine, I will get Jūzō to look into it… have a good day too."

The figure put down the phone as she returned back to work.

INFO CARDS

STAND NAME: Back Against the Wall [by Cage the Elephant]

STAND TYPE: Long-Distance Artificial Humanoid

DESTRUCTIVE POWER: E

SPEED: D

RANGE: A

PERSISTENCE: A

PRECISION: B

DEVELOPMENTAL POTENTIAL: C

ABILITY:

Activated when the user enters any kind of territory - a home/house or finite areas such as a park or even a cave complex

Makes it so that no one the user doesn't permit can leave the area, which is enforced by the power. For example, if someone attempts to exit an apartment complex is the roof exit, opening that door will instead make the user enter the building through the basement door. The same for windows, it, ping out of an east window will cause the target to jump back into the building from the west side.

The entrances and exits may not necessarily be windows and doors since the target must return from the opposite side. Meaning that if a need arises, a person can be forced to return his so thing like a closet or a fridge or a mirror.

The dangerous part of this ability is that the perimeter of the ability shrinks the closer the user gets to a singular target, causing them to be locked in a slowly smaller growing cage.

If there are multiple targets in an area, the perimeter shrinks the closer the targets get to each other, meaning that grouping up actually makes the power work faster

The power is not neutral – while the user can't get a layout of the area or how far the perimeter reaches or where people inside the perimeter are, the user CAN manipulate what constitutes as an exit/entrance or not in the immediate environment, displacing people or items or even Stands from others and their allies.

STAND NAME: Eminem [Other Name: Real Slim Shady]

STAND TYPE: Close Range Artificial Humanoid

DESTRUCTIVE POWER: D

SPEED: A

RANGE: D

PERSISTENCE: B

PRECISION: A

DEVELOPMENTAL POTENTIAL: C

ABILITY:

Any duplication requires user focus and will to maintain, similar to Multiplex from 'The Flash,' meaning the user is easy to spot as they will be paler and much more drained compared to their copies. However, the range of the user to command said copies are significant, the user acting more of a hub for the hive mind formed.

The user can replace himself with any of his copies (think Substitution Jutsu), but the target has to be in visual sight.

Any information gathered by copies is shared between all other 'living' copies through the user. Similarly, sensory feedback and information can be sent to additional copies and/or the user to show real-time events happening to the copy acting as a camera.

Living copies are fragile, requiring one good hit to make them go 'poof.' However, copies of items maintain their function and solidity for up to a day before disappearing on their own. However, anything put on them outside the power or that was made by them remains.

The user can only copy himself and anything they have contact with. Duplicating other items, foods, or weapons is not possible.

Copies of other living beings WILL NOT be copies of them. Instead, it will be the user in the appearance of targets. Meaning, the copies of their targets will not know anything about the copied individuals nor gain their abilities. However, the copies will maintain anything inherently physical about the subject, such ability to use bird wings or Mutant Quirk users as their bodies have mutated. Meaning, it will be like Hitoshi 'Henged' into them.

The user can enforce his appearance on others allowing him to substitute them with his copies, sort of like having other 'Henge' into Hitoshi to be part of his Stand purview. This is significantly draining on both fronts, meaning it's not something that can be used without restraint.