Chapter 66: Hello There
A few days later news channel.
The anchor sat too straight. The graphic behind her said U.A. TRAINING CAMP ATTACKED in bold white letters.
"We begin this hour with covering the attack on U.A.'s training camp now with more insight than before and official statements. This is now what officials are now calling a coordinated strike," she said. "The League of Villains attacked U.A.'s summer training camp in an attempt to capture specific students that were on a list. According to sources on scene, that attempt failed after one student put a stop to the leader of the group that arrived. Meanwhile the other members were fought off by the students and teachers at the camp."
A still of Cid from the Sports Festival came up. The medal shot. Then a second clip from Osaka, grainy, him standing in the street defending civilians.
"That student has been identified as Cid Kageno, first-year hero course, winner of this year's U.A. Sports Festival, and previously seen at the site of the Osaka attack. All Might and other staff arrived after the fighting had already concluded. Our sources say Kageno was severely injured in the battle and was rushed from the scene by All Might himself. His current condition has not been released to the public."
She paused just long enough to change slides.
"A rumor has also begun circulating that a student lost an arm and an eye during the attack. That has not been confirmed, but If it is true, the most likely person those injuries belong to is Mr. Kageno. Some have already begun asking what that would mean for his future as a hero or how this will affect his day to day life from here on out. We will not speculate beyond that. We hope this young man recovers quickly and returns to good health."
The tone shifted.
"But it does raise a harder question. If a first-year student has to step in this often, what are the heroes and the staff at U.A. doing? Are they prioritizing the safety of their students? Also is it safe to send our young students to this school if it keeps getting targeted?"
"We have been given an official statement from U.A. it reads as follows."
"U.A. university is reviewing its security measures to ensure the safety and security of our students and faculty. We hold this as our number one goal as an education institution and strive to accomplish this. Also we as an institution cannot comment on any student's medical status other than that he is recovering well and it is hoped that he will return to classes soon." She ended reading the press release and took a breath.
"It is also noted by principal Nezu himself that The League of Villains is now being treated as a threat to the country. Officials say they are working with the government to contain the situation as quickly as possible."
She touched her earpiece while listening in for a few moments. Then her face changed from curiosity to surprise.
"This just in. We have obtained footage from the training camp and of where the battle took place."
The screen cut to a video feed of a forest before it shifted to show where the battle took place.
In the middle of the forest there was a wide perfectly circular ring of destruction that looked like everything had been flattened. The trees were smashed into the ground, splintered and random pockets of destruction were scattered about. Entire sections of the landscape were charred to ash and you could see burn damage across acres of property. A short distance four mountains stood in a line behind the camp, each of them had a large hole punched clean through taking out massive sections of them. It didn't look like damage a quirk could have done it looked like someone had just deleted everything in the path of the attack
The anchor stared at it a second too long and gulped lightly.
"F-From what we have been told by our source," she said, stuttering then spoke slower, "those holes through the mountains were caused by a attack Mr. Kageno used to end the fight. With much of the damage to the forest being due to a villain with a fire quirk" She swallowed. "Several students were hospitalized. With only one other in serious condition. But it reported that all of them will make a full recovery."
She looked back at the camera.
"We have confirmation the villain involved survived, but that the rest of the league escaped with the help of a villain named Kurogiri. When interviewed All Might has refused to identify the lead villain, and has asked that Mr. Kageno not be questioned and be left to rest if he is seen in public as he has been through enough stress recently. We were not able to ask further questions as he had to attend to important matters at the moment."
The mountains stayed on screen behind her and for a moment the studio did not seem to know what else there was to say.
"Some experts are now questioning whether a student with that level of power should be allowed to operate without tighter accountability. A few have even suggested a specialized program—"
The TV abruptly shut off
Yui set the remote down harder than she needed to.
"That's enough of that."
Cid's face flattened and glared at the tv screen in thought. Before he could think on it further the door opened and the nurse came, rolling a wheelchair ahead of her.
"Everything's been finalized for your release, Mr. Kageno," she said. "Let's get you in the chair and you can leave."
Cid ignored the chair and stood up on his own determined to walk out on his own. He regretted it immediately. Pain tore through his side and lit up the healing ribs in his chest. He made it a few steps anyway, jaw tight, like finishing those few steps at the least would prove something.
"What are you doing sit down, You'll tear the stitches."
He didn't. He ignored her and tried to force his back straight to walk.
Yui spoke but her tone was different and she leveled a glare while smiling sweetly.
For some reason this alone actually made him shiver and break out into a cold sweat.
"Sit down. Now, dear." Her tone was nice, sweet even, but it made him shiver even more as if his instincts knew disobeying meant death. "I'm not having you hurt yourself again because you're being stubborn."
Sweat hit the back of his neck. He obediently made his way over to the chair and lowered himself into it.
"…Yes, ma'am."
Yui's face smoothed out like the glare had never been there.
"Good," she said, back to normal then kissed his cheek, then straightened out his shirt and hair.
'When did she get that aggressive?' Cid thought, and had to fight another shiver at the memory of just her glare. 'She's far scarier than All For One was to fight.'
The nurse quickly adjusted him then took the handles and pushed him through the building. Yui stayed close behind them the whole way through the hall, into the elevator, and out to the front doors.
A black limo was already waiting at the curb.
Cid's eye moved over the street first, half expecting cameras, reporters, or at least a few people with phones. There were none at all which he was completely fine with. He let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding and relaxed a bit.
Aizawa stepped out of the back and pulled the door open wide to reveal Nezu who was standing on the seat inside, one paw raised cheerfully.
"Hello there."~
Yui snickered under her breath, catching whatever reference that was. Cid just looked confused, not understanding what just happened.
The nurse quickly helped him and then departed as Yui climbed in after him followed by Aizawa. He pulled the door shut with the outside noise and view disappearing behind the tinted glass.