The moment Junsei returned to Japan, he was met with the legal machinery of Japan. His actions during the villain attack were treated as a major crime. They were all listed in an extremely bad light. He had used his Quirk without authorization. He had killed two villains intentionally before dozens of witnesses. Worse his violent escalation had nearly provoked the villains into attacking civilians directly.
His clear intent as portrayed by the witnesses was damning to say the least.
Even though everything had occurred outside Japanese territory, he was still required to answer for it. Normally, individuals under the age of twenty who committed crimes were processed through family court, where rehabilitation was emphasized over punishment. But Junsei's case did not fit the definition of juvenile misconduct. The confirmed deaths and the international implications of his reckless behavior elevated the case. The decision was made to transfer him to criminal court within 48 hours of his return to Japan.
And that decision ensured the press would not look away. He was already known as the U.A. student who had injured All Might during the Sports Festival. The same student who had defeated the Hero Killer. The one surrounded by inconsistent rumors about his relation to All Might.
On I-Island, he had once again stood at the center of catastrophe. His conduct during the incident could be described as criminal without a doubt. Yet when the villain leader had transformed into a rampaging monstrosity and the assembled heroes failed to stop him and civilians were about to be harmed, Junsei had descended from the sky and ended the threat instantly.
That contradiction interested the public more than the crime itself. It also raised a dangerous question. When the metal giant advanced and heroes fell, the Symbol of Peace had not appeared. Why? What had he been doing? The only confirmed information is that he was on the island and nearby.
So his absence reopened speculation that his injury from months prior had been far worse than officially stated. The doubt about the Symbol of Peace state returned stronger than before.
Another development intensified the scrutiny: the principal of U.A., Nezu, had decided that he would stand by his student in court. That single announcement ignited further speculation. Did U.A. see extraordinary potential in Junsei? Were they willing to defend him despite the deaths tied to his actions? Or was there something about him the public did not understand? This added to the speculation that UA staff saw Junsei as a possible replacement for All Might. And if All Might state was as bad as suspected, then that was pretty much confirmation.
Ten days after I-Island, the trial date arrived.
Most citizens did not care for the details. They wanted a verdict. Yet a few thousand chose to watch the proceedings, curious to witness how this anomaly of a student would be judged
——————
On the morning of the trial, Junsei arrived at the courthouse in Tokyo accompanied by Momo and Sai. Inside, they found Principal Nezu already waiting. The gravity in his eyes can't be overstated. Beside him stood Shota Aizawa, Eraser Head, dressed in an uncharacteristic suit, neat hair, a black case in his hand that Nezu had prepared in advance.
"This is a serious matter," Nezu said without preamble. "Do not say or do anything that will incriminate you further. The situation is already bad enough."
Junsei's response was flat.
"I am tired."
Nezu paused.
Since Junsei's return from I-Island, something had shifted. Nezu could feel the anger burning inside Junsei. He suspected that something on the island had affected Junsei's mentality; and his actions and aggressiveness could be tied to that. But without him choosing to speak, there was no way to figure it out.
"Please," Nezu continued. "Do not do anything in there that cannot be undone. I do not want this to reach a point of no return."
Nezu feared how this case could develop. To him, Junsei's simple sentence was a bad omen of his current state of mind.
Aizawa's eyes narrowed slightly as he studied Junsei. Momo and Sai stood quietly nearby, their concern clear.
Junsei appeared expressionless, as he always did. Yet there was an edge beneath the stillness, something colder than before. Momo felt it most clearly. Ever since that day on the tower, since she had heard him speak about humanity and life, she had not been able to dismiss the unease growing in her chest.
He had sounded full of anger, hate and even despair. That made her fear what he could do if pushed.
Inside the courtroom, Junsei sat beside Principal Nezu at the defense table. Across from them stood the prosecutor confident and composed. Before them were three judges elevated behind the bench and six jurors seated to the side. The gallery behind was filled. Beyond the courthouse, thousands more streamed the proceedings live.
The trial began in standard form. Opening statements were delivered. Charges were read aloud. Then came the evidence.
The prosecutor presented video recordings captured on I-Island. The footage showed Junsei killing the two villains. It showed the headless bodies of his victims.
When it was Nezu's turn, he did not attempt to deny what had happened.
He argued self-defense. He argued lack of formal field training. He argued that Junsei had used excessive force out of inexperience and perceived threat. He emphasized that Junsei had disengaged once he confirmed the remaining villains would not act against him again. He reminded the court that Junsei intervened again only when the heroes were losing and civilians were in imminent danger.
"His actions were not lawful," Nezu said evenly, "but they were effective. He ensured his own survival and preserved the lives of others."
The prosecutor countered. The force used was intentional. Returning to kill the villain leader in front of assembled heroes was unnecessary. The professionals could have handled it. All Might would have arrived at any moment to resolve the situation.
Nezu replied that Junsei acted on limited information. He had no guarantee of reinforcements. The giant had been advancing toward civilians. The scientists' families were at risk. Regardless of interpretation, the threat had ended because of him.
The exchange continued relentlessly, all while Junsei listened.
But his attention kept drifting.
He thought of the animals in cages at the zoo. Of their acceptance of the state they were living in. Of the villains and heroes' words and acts. Of Okina standing next to him, using law and language to shield him from consequences he believed were unwarranted.
What was wrong with prioritizing one's own life? No. Why was he here at all?
How was he any different from the animals who accepted human control? He was tired of them. Tired of their greed disguised as virtue. Tired of their words. Tired of their contradictions. He was tired of it all.
Without raising his voice, he spoke.
"Why am I here?"
The words were quiet, yet they caused the back and forth to halt. The prosecutor stopped mid-sentence. The judges turned their eyes toward him.
Nezu felt something drop inside his chest the moment Junsei opened his mouth. He looked at him, a silent plea in his gaze.
The leading judge looked at him with a frown. "You do not know why you are here? You are charged with multiple crimes, including unlawful use of a Quirk and homicide."
Junsei's expression did not change. "I do not understand why what I did is a crime in your law. What do you want?"
The prosecutor frowned. "You do not see killing and endangering others as wrong?"
Junsei's reply was calm. "Why should I die for someone else?"
The question was surprising.
For a brief second, the prosecutor did not answer. Then he regained his footing. "You acted recklessly. You killed the villains and endangered hostages. Your choices were completely unacceptable. You are a threat to public"
Junsei stared at the man and thought back to all the things humans did, to the death and destruction they caused, about all the life they stole and the suffering the cause to it. Now this man stood before him labeling what is natural as wrong while everything their kind had ever done is wrong.
[Why am I still listening to them?] he asked himself again.
Junsei's eyes began to glow. Before anyone could process it, he vanished from his seat and reappeared directly in front of the prosecutor. His hand closed around the man's throat.
Gasps erupted throughout the courtroom.
"Choose," Junsei said, his voice devoid of emotion. "Who dies, you, or everyone in this room. I will kill you and be punished, or I will kill everyone else and be punished. You have until I finish counting to three. You, or them."
The prosecutor's eyes widened in terror.
"One."
Junsei's grip tightened. The man clawed at his wrist, choking.
The judges stood abruptly.
"Guards!" one of them shouted.
Guards rushed from the side, their guns pointing toward Junsei.
"Two."
The pressure increased again. Chairs scraped. The gallery erupted in panic. Nezu stood as well.
"Stop!" He screamed.
The guards opened fire and bullets struck Junsei in the side and back, but the bullet did no damage, they couldn't pierce his iron-like skin.
The prosecutor, face reddening, forced out the word in pain.
"Them."
Junsei released him immediately.
The man collapsed to the floor, coughing violently. Guards who had been just firing froze when Junsei turned toward them, his eyes glowing cold blue. For a moment, no one moved, before they took a fearful step back.
Then the light faded. His eyes returned to normal.
The prosecutor clutched his neck, staring at Junsei with naked fear.
"You chose to kill everyone here to save yourself," Junsei said evenly. "You are no different from me."
He turned toward the judges, who remained standing, stunned.
"If I asked any of you the same question," he continued, "I think I know what you would choose."
Silence filled the courtroom.
"You condemn me for choosing my life when each of you would choose the same. The only difference I could defend myself then while you are helpless here"
His gaze shifted briefly to Nezu, then back to the bench.
"And you speak of waiting for All Might," he said. "Your hero could not have arrived. He is dying."
A ripple of shock moved through the room.
Junsei looked directly at the judges once more.
"Do you want to punish me because I chose to live?"
The judges stared at the expressionless face with shock, they have never expected or seen anyone act like this in court.
Junsei looked at the judges, guards and the people watching and saw the fear in their eyes.
[They are afraid of me, more than I am afraid of them.] Junsei thought to himself.