The months following the fall of the Hero Killer were peaceful, there were no other incidents and the academic year came to a peaceful end.
And with summer's arrival came the annual I-Expo, the grand technological exhibition held on I-Island. The event showcased the latest advancements in Quirk research and support item engineering. Scientists, investors, pro heroes, and corporate representatives gathered there each year to glimpse the future.
Mr. Yaoyorozu, as one of the investors in I-Island's research initiatives, received several invitations. The invitations were more than what he needed, so he chose to send the additional invitations to his daughter. He sent Momo a total of three invites, intending for her to bring Mori Junsei and one school friend.
However, and despite the festival's catastrophic conclusion, Junsei was considered the official winner of the U.A. Sports Festival. As such, he personally received two invitations to the I-Expo.
Together, that made five invitations.
Now, Yaoyorozu Momo, Uraraka Ochako, Jiro Kyoka, Ashido Mina, and Junsei were seated inside a private jet soaring toward the artificial island.
From the moment he boarded, Junsei claimed the window seat. He didn't speak or move, he simply watched the world shrink beneath the plane. If one were to ask him which lives were the best, Junsei would say the ones where he was a bird soaring high and freely in the sky.
Near him, the girls, unaware of Junsei's thoughts and the nostalgia he was experiencing, were enjoying the novelty of private travel while speaking amongst each other.
At some point, Jiro shifted the conversation.
"The third invite was Junsei's, right?" she asked.
Momo nodded.
"Why didn't he invite Shinso?" Jiro continued. "This is a rare chance. Inviting your only friend at school would make sense."
"I suggested it," Momo replied calmly. "Junsei asked him. Shinso declined. He said he has something special prepared for the summer."
Mina blinked. "More special than going to I-Island in a private jet?"
"To Shinso, yes," Momo answered.
Uraraka tilted her head thoughtfully. "Shinso does have a unique personality. Just like Junsei. No wonder they're friends."
Mina snorted lightly. "I'm not sure you can call them friends. It's more like acquaintances who don't have better options."
"That's insensitive and rude," Momo said, her tone firm.
"I'm just saying what I think," Mina replied, shrugging. "And is it wrong if the target of my words doesn't care in the slightest?"
She pointed toward Junsei, who remained facing the window. It was clear to all he didn't care.
Jiro rested her chin in her hand. "I think Junsei is way too unique for Shinso to keep up with."
Uraraka laughed at that.
——————
When the private jet descended and touched down on I-Island, the door opened to reveal the artificial island and its advanced beautiful buildings.
The girls stepped out first excitedly looking around.
"This place is huge! Where do we start?" Uraraka asked as she took in the surroundings.
"There are several exhibition halls and tech museums," Jiro replied. "We can start with the closest one and work our way around."
As they discussed their route, Junsei stood apart.
He scanned the island slowly.
Then his gaze fixed somewhere in the distance.
Momo noticed immediately.
"Junsei," she asked, stepping closer, "is something wrong?"
He answered. "I want to go to the zoo."
Mina blinked. "There's a zoo here?"
Jiro replied. "Ten thousand scientists and their families live here year-round. It's not surprising they'd have recreational facilities, including a zoo. But more importantly, this is a rare opportunity. You can't waste it going to a zoo."
Junsei shifted his gaze to Momo.
"I will go there. You go wherever you want. I know how to find our place afterward."
Momo studied him briefly, then nodded. "If that's what you want, then sure."
Without further words, Junsei turned and began walking in the direction he had chosen.
Uraraka watched him go and said "So his Quirk is also a zoo detector now?"
Momo allowed a small smile. "He can probably sense the animals there. He likes nature."
Jiro said "It's a waste, if you ask me. But if that's what interests him, then fine. Let's not lose time."
The others nodded in agreement.
——————
Junsei walked alone through the streets of I-Island. He observed everything about the island. The people strolling leisurely. The pro heroes waving to their fans. Children tugging at capes and sleeves, asking questions and requesting autographs from those they admired.
The island was like a paradise to the humans. Yet Junsei felt disgusted by this place. The island was lifeless, no evolved creatures beside the humans were around. The water contained within the island's massive surrounding walls held no fish, the sky had no birds and there were no insects around. Even the grass, flowers and trees on this island were synthetic with no scent.
In Junsei's eyes, the island was too ugly. Yet humans looked upon it with fascination, and went as far as calling it a rare chance to be here.
Only one place on the island felt different. He could sense animals gathered in a concentrated location the moment the private jet approached the island. When he attempted connecting with them, he realized they were caged in a human zoo.
At the same time, they felt his arrival and they desired to see him, they were curious about him. So he decided to go find them.
On his way there, he crossed paths with a familiar figure. Izuku Midoriya walked beside a blonde girl Junsei did not recognize.
Midoriya noticed him immediately and stopped walking.
Junsei did not. He passed without acknowledging Midoriya.
As he went further away, he heard the girl's voice.
"What's going on? Do you know him?"
"Y-Yes," Midoriya replied. "He's from my school. I didn't think I would see him here."
"Your reaction was strange," she said lightly. "You two didn't even speak. I guess you're not close."
"Yeah, we are not," Midoriya replied.
——————
Nearly an hour later, he arrived at the zoo. It was housed within a large enclosed structure. Inside, animals of various species were displayed behind wide transparent glass barriers.
When Junsei stepped inside, he connected with the animals one by one. All creatures were confined to a cheap miniature of their habitats.
He learned quickly that every single one of them had been born in captivity. None had experienced the outside world. None knew of oceans or forests, they could not even begin to imagine them.
They did not know what other creatures roamed beyond their immediate surroundings. They were disconnecting from their natural instincts, a similar state to what Nezu is in.
Soo Junsei asked them a simple question 'Do you wish to leave?'
The answer shocked him.
They did not. They possessed no concept of existence beyond the enclosure. No desire to explore it. And the greater shock was that none of them hated humans.
Despite understanding that humans controlled their space, limited their movement, and dictated their lives, there was no resentment. Some even regarded humans as a natural good presence. Providers of food and the source of safety.
They believed they could not survive without them.
So Junsei tried to help them learn the truth and how the world should be, and how they should live. He shared what he knew of the world, talking about forests and oceans, about the beautiful sky. He spoke of instincts and how to achieve their true purpose beyond this confinement.
The animals listened to his voice and thoughts, but they were also frightened by the idea of freedom. No matter how much he shared or how curious they were, fear and helplessness ruled them.
This made Junsei feel anger and frustration. Survival is important, he knew that as much as they did, it was always the goal he sought. But where is the survival in this life? To be killed and removed by your captors when they grow tired of you. That's slow death, not survival.
If they desired freedom and they felt helpless by the situation and the human control, then that would be a different matter, he could understand that. He was in that state more than once, even in this life as a human, he felt trapped by humankind.
Seeing the creatures around him lost the will to be free and accepted imprisonment as life was an extreme shock to him. He could not comprehend how creatures could be reduced to such a state.
For a fleeting moment, the urge rose within him to shatter the glass. To tear down the facility and force them into the open air.
But he understood the consequences and restrained himself. He could only watch in pity and anger the human come and leave laughing at the trapped poor creatures.
Junsei lost track of time inside the zoo and before he knew it, he heard the voice of Mr. Yaoyorozu behind him.
"I heard from Momo you headed to the zoo hours ago, so I decided to check on you. Don't tell me you have been sitting on this chair the whole time"
Junsei turned to look at Mr Yaoyorozu and said "I was"
Mr Yaoyorozu approached "I assume you were talking with the animals here"
Junsei nodded.
Mr Yaoyorozu paused for a moment then said "Something about you is not right. What is wrong?"
"Nothing," Junsei replied.
Mr. Yaoyorozu remained silent for two seconds before saying. "If you are not feeling well, let me know."
He paused for a moment before continuing, "There is a party tonight at I-Island Central Tower. I did not want you or Momo to be late. So I called her and found that she has already gone with her friends to change, which leaves you behind schedule."
He gestured outside.
"Come. We need you to change into something more formal."
Junsei followed.