At Any Cost (Part 7)

Endeavor's quiet breathing was the only sound that could be heard. Shoto was sitting next to her father. The door burst open, forcing Shoto out of her trance. It was her older brother and sister, Natsuo and Fuyumi respectively. Fuyumi threw her arms around Shoto. "Oh my god, are you ok?!" "I'm fine." The two sisters looked over at Endeavor. Natsuo stood on the other side of the bed. "What happened out there?" Shoto sighed. "...he saved my life… and the lives of everyone around him…" Natsuo nodded before taking a seat. "...so he was doing his job… figures…" Shoto just stared at her father. His words to her after the most recent Sports Festival echoed in her mind. "I promise to become someone you can be proud of. Not just as the Number One Hero, but as the man you call 'father'." Shoto placed a hand on her father's hand and whispered. "...I am proud of you, father…"

Before her siblings could ask what she was talking about, there was a knock on the door. They all looked at it. When the door opened, Best Jeanist entered. "I came as soon as I heard." The Number Two Hero stood next to Endeavor. "How long has he been out?" Shoto looked back at the hospital bed. "Ever since he beat the Nomu. The doctors believe he's in a coma." Best Jeanist swore. "...then it's up to me now." Fuyumi looked up at him. "What is up to you now?" Best Jeanist turned towards the door. "It's up to me to defeat Shigaraki and the League of Villains. At least until Endeavor is back up." After another knock, the door opened again. It was Momo. "Hey, Shoto…" Shoto turned her head. "Yes?" "You wanted me to come fetch you when Jason woke up." The red and white haired woman quickly stood up out of her seat. "I'll be back. Can you two keep an eye on dad?" Fuyumi giggled. "Go be with your boyfriend."

Kirishima hardened his hand and pinned Jason's arm to the bed. "Stay down!" Jason would've broken free of the hold if Chris didn't pin Jason's left shoulder down to the bed. "Jason, do not make us hurt you!" Mina got a hold of Jason's other arm and managed to pin it. "You need to calm down!" Jason spoke through gritted teeth. "...you… can't… stop… me…" Chris used his other arm to grab Jason's hair, making his best friend face him. "The doctor ordered you to stay in bed!" Jason shouted back. "I just want to take a walk!" "And the doctor said no!" "What the hell is going on in here?!" All movement ceased, with the exception of the four friends turning their heads towards Momo's voice. A confused and angry Momo was standing in the open doorway. Shoto peeked her head around Momo and saw Jason. They locked eyes. The others let go of Jason as Shoto ran towards the bed. She jumped into Jason's open arms. The couple held each other, both fighting back tears. The rest of the group smiled. Chris wrapped an arm around Momo. She looked up at him. "Please tell me what the fighting was about." "Oh, it was mainly rough housing. He wanted to go for a walk around the hospital to look for Shoto, and we were just trying to make sure he stayed in bed." She sighed. "Sounds like him."

Mina cleared her throat to get everyone's attention. "I'm sorry to ruin the mood, but I think it's time we have a very serious conversation. We need to catch Jason up to speed." Shoto readjusted herself so she was sharing the bed with Jason. He looked at the rest of his friends. "What did I miss?"

Chris sat down in the chair next to Jason. "When we went to save you, we encountered something that we've never run into before: a Nomu we couldn't beat." Jason's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean you couldn't beat it?" "It was stronger and faster than anything ever encountered. I dare say it was stronger than the one that All Might beat." Jason stared at the floor. Shoto piped up. "It was also intelligent. It was thinking, speaking, and learning our combat styles. If dad didn't do what he did…" Kirishima nodded. "We all would've been dead." Jason just stared at the floor. "...smarter and stronger Nomus… anything else?" Mina nodded. "Both Fatgum and Endeavor are down." Jason looked up at her, shocked. "Who and who are down?" Momo held her arm. "Fatgum had some rebar shoved through his chest. Three inches to the right and it would've pierced his heart. Not to mention a broken leg from being thrown by the Nomu." It was Shoto's turn to solemnly look down at the floor. "Endeavor is in a coma after he maxed out his Prominence Burn to take out the Nomu. It's a miracle he survived using so much power. Not to mention he survived the fall with only a few broken bones." Jason sighed. "...wow…"

Shoto looked up. "That reminds me for whatever reason. Best Jeanist came in to see Endeavor. He said that he was going to try and take down the League of Villains." Jason scoffed, surprising everyone. Chris blinked a few times. "...what was that for?" "Best Jeanist? Really? He's only in the Number Two spot because he is the most popular hero. In terms of power and skill, he can't compare to anyone around him. Edgeshot would be better at this task. Or Gang Orca." Momo nodded. "I hate to talk down to a pro hero, but he is in way over his head if he wants to go after Shigaraki." Jason smirked and swung his legs over the side of the bed so he was sitting up. "Then that settles it. "It's up to us." Kirishima looked up at him. "How the hell are we going to take down Shigaraki? We don't have any pro heroes with us." Mina nodded. "Also, let's not forget that we are still only interns." Jason was still smiling. "Yes. We are interns. Interns of Hero Agencies who's heroes are medically restricted. Meaning all command decisions fall to the next in line." Chris thought for a moment. "...Tamaki is Fatgum's sidekick, meaning he would be in charge." Jason looked at him. "Do you really think Tamaki would try to stop us from doing anything?" "...no, I guess he wouldn't. Now we just need a base here in Santa Cruz." Shoto looked at the group. "We can still use the Endeavor Agency. He doesn't have a sidekick, meaning that I'm in charge until he gets back up."

Jason smiled and stood up, wobbling a little from slight atrophy, but was otherwise fine. "Then it's settled." Chris smiled and stood up too. "The four of us are going to take down the League." Momo looked confused. "Four?" Jason also looked confused. Chris looked at his girlfriend. "You and Mina were only sent to the Fatgum Agency for the duration of Jason's case, right? Well, we found him. Doesn't that mean you two have to go back?" Mina crossed her arms. "I am not letting you guys take on the League without me." Momo thought for a second. "...I am fairly certain I could pull some kind of paperwork shenanigan to extend us at least until Fatgum is recovered. Assisting another Agency, or whatnot." Jason smiled again. "The six of us are going to end Shigaraki's League of Villains once and for all." He put his hand out, as if leading a team cheer. Momo smiled and put her hand on top of his. "To the unofficial start of the Endgame Agency." Chris smiled and put his hand in next. "I'll fight for that." Shoto got out of the bed as Kirishima put his hand in, with her hand following a split second after. Mina put her hand in, also smiling. "We'll show the League what happens when you mess with us."

Shigaraki lowered his binoculars. "Hm." Vortex looked up at the group leader. "What do you see?" "It would appear that Jason is fitting back into his role as team leader." Vortex looked back at the hospital, which was a few blocks away from their rooftop lookout. "So this was all a failure. We lost all six Nomus that were designed to destroy them, we lost one of our few High End Nomus, and the only person who is a threat to you is now running things again." Shigaraki handed Vortex the binoculars. "We're leaving." Vortex put the binoculars in his backpack before picking it up. "We've lost, Shigaraki." "No. Everything is going according to plan." Vortex laughed. "You mean to tell me it was part of your plan for Jason to be rescued?" Shigaraki stopped and turned his head with an evil smile. Vortex's face softened. "...wait, was that actually the plan?" Shigaraki put his hand-mask back on his face. "Once we regroup with the others, I'll explain everything." The two villains disappeared into the shadows.