The incident in which a Vilin broke into an experimental technology boratory caused a stir. Not so much because of what had been stolen, but because of how the situation had evolved.

  During the escape, the Vilin broke into an elementary school and took one of the children hostage to try to get away with it, but the experimental transport device he had stolen had somehow become damaged, causing a malfunction. The dark portal it created swallowed the Vilin and his hostage.

  And now, nobody knows anything about either of them. No one knows the fate of Izuku Midoriya, the child taken hostage, nor that of the Vilin who caused those events.

  Mitsuki Bakugou still remembers how Inko Midoriya, her best friend, colpsed to the ground at the news, in tears and with a pain no mother should have to feel. No one can know or dare pretend to know what it means to lose a child.

  The agent of the Hero Public Safety Commission dared not say a word in front of that grieving mother; he hadn't the heart to make vain promises.

  ?Why?? Inko asked, crying ?Why, my Izuku? Why does this have to happen to him? What did he do to deserve it??

  Those questions were unanswered, and the only thing Mitsuki could do was stay by her side and offer her all the comfort she needed as she awaited the return of her husband, Hisashi Midoriya. The man had almost set his office on fire upon hearing the news and immediately booked the first flight back to Japan.

  ?Midoriya-dono, I once again offer you my sincere apologies for what is happening to you.? the officer stated ?We have notified each police precinct and taken a photo of your son. They will do everything they can.?

  Without holding back any further, the officer left the woman who had just seen the world colpse on her doorstep, entrusting her to Mitsuki to take care of her.

  The tter, however, was fighting with herself. She didn't know whether to stay by her friend's side or chase that officer to reproach him for the callousness with which he had taken his leave. In the end, compassion prevailed.

  Mitsuki helped Inko get up and into the home, her eyes still red and wet from the tears she had shed.

  ?Take. It will help you calm down.? Mitsuki offered her a cup of tea.

  With shaking hands and empty eyes, the woman took the cup and sipped. A spark of life was rekindled in her heart, but it was insufficient to make her again the cheerful woman and devoted mother she was. It would take time, a lot of time and care to bring her back even a shadow of the person she was.

  *****

  It's been 5 years since Izuku disappeared. The search in Japan was fruitless, prompting the local police to seek assistance from other international w enforcement agencies. Many had given up on research for various reasons. Unfortunately, even w enforcer, who should have been impartial in doing their duty, proved to be only an evolved version of ancient racial favouritism... even if it was not skin colour that dictated favouritism now.

  However, they now considered the boy dead, while still defining him "missing."

  Had it not been for her husband, Hisashi, who had secured a permanent transfer to Japan, Inko Midoriya would likely have attempted suicide more than once after the police decision. The presence of her husband, Mitsuki, and her husband, Masaru, was the only thing that could keep her anchored to life. The woman was really trying to find her old self, but the desperation of not being able to protect her son continued to devour her, like a cancer.

  Everything changed on a cold, lonely night. Unfortunately, her husband had to rush to work, but he assured her that he would return as soon as possible. As she watched the darkness in her room, the woman closed her eyes, hoping that, at least in her dreams, she might see her son again. These were some of the "most beautiful" moments she could remember, however fleeting they were. When sleep reached her, however, she didn't exactly have a dream... but rather a vision.

  In the total darkness in which she thought she had seen her beloved, smiling son again, she was bathed in a golden light. A warm, blinding light that forced her to cover her eyes before they adjusted.

  She saw a Golden Throne atop a pyramid. At each step of the pyramid, there was a ceremonious vigil, towering golden armour armed with spears. On the throne was the figure of a wounded and bleeding man, but his expression was hard and indomitable, while his eyes, which shone with golden light, looked at her.

  She felt the gaze of that figure; her presence made her instinctively... cry with wonder and terror. Her legs refused to support her, and she fell to her knees.

  One of those armours pced at the base of the pyramid, with ceremonious reverence, climbed the steps. With each step he took, the armour became more ornate; symbols and words were integrated into it. Halfway up the pyramid, a flowing cloak fell from its shoulders, and when it came before the figure seated on the throne, it bowed, and the helmet was removed. Inko couldn't see the head uncovered, but she realised the armour was being worn by someone and noticed that her soul, somehow, knew that kneeling figure, causing her to shed more tears, filled with joy and pride.

  ?It's not time yet.? said a deep, imperious voice that rang out in that pce. ?You can't let it go yet. Wait and have faith.?

  A star fell over the head of the kneeling armour and took the form of a urel wreath made entirely of gold. Leaning where the head of whoever wore the armour was supposed to be, the figure rose, beginning to shine again with that blinding golden light. All she saw of that person was a sweet smile. A smile that never faded in her memories.