The fall of AFO and the retirement of All Might had created a new era of chaos within Japan.
From every corner of Japan, criminals and villains began to rise. Some sought to replace AFO as the unseen ruler of the underworld, convinced that they possessed the power to take the vacant throne of the underworld. Others believed that with the strongest hero gone for good, they were finally free to act without restraint.
Heroes and police who had once prioritized locating Junsei's whereabouts could no longer afford that focus. The country was fracturing under simultaneous outbreaks of violence. So all investigations were postponed and the task forces were reassigned to handle the villains.
Between All Might's retirement and the beginning of a new U.A' second semester, the national crime rate surged from just over two percent to twenty-five percent. Japan, once the lowest country in crime rate, had exceeded the global average of twenty percent.
When the new school semester began at U.A. High School, Momo walked through the gate of a school alone for the first time in years.
It felt wrong.
For so long, Junsei had arrived beside her and left beside her. Now she was all alone.
She still struggled to accept how everything had unfolded. There were moments when she wondered if this was some vast misunderstanding. If perhaps there had been context she and everyone else had missed.
But she had seen the aftermath of his actions. She had heard his words to AFO. Junsei was not misunderstood. He was a villain, and an extremely dangerous one.
She had wished many times for everything to be a bad dream and she would wake up the next moment.
As she walked into the school grounds, there was an immediate shift in the atmosphere around here.
Students halted their conversations and slowed as she passed. Some turned and walked away. Others frowned openly. A few did not bother hiding their hostility.
Then a group moved to block her path.
"I can't believe you dare show your face here after what that monster did," one girl said.
Another said. "What kind of hero are you? Living with a monster for years and staying silent. Thousands died because you hid his nature."
Voices began to overlap. Students from different classes and different years. All kinds of accusations and insults were directed at her. Students masking their anger and fear as righteousness.
Momo lowered her head.
They were not entirely wrong. What Junsei had done was unforgivable.
But then a familiar voice came from behind Momo.
"What exactly do you think you're doing?"
Hitoshi Shinso stepped forward from behind her, hands in his pockets, expression flat.
"She had nothing to do with anything Junsei did."
One boy frowned. "Stay out of it. Or are you defending your villain friend? Now that I think about it, you've got a villainous quirk too."
Shinso chuckled softly.
"That's a creative theory. But if anything, I'm saving your lives."
The students stiffened.
"Imagine," he continued calmly, "if what you're saying reached Junsei's ears. How do you think he would react? You, your families, you'd all be fair game to him. He's a dangerous villain, right?"
Silence spread.
"And who's going to stop him?" Shinso added. "All Might is gone. And Junsei is probably stronger than All Might in his prime."
The color drained from several faces.
"I suggest," Shinso said evenly, "that you leave and pretend you saw nothing. I happen to like this school. I'd rather it not shut down because a few idiots couldn't control themselves."
No one argued.
They dispersed quickly.
Whether Shinso was right no longer mattered. The risk was not worth testing.
"I think that's the longest I've ever spoken at once," Shinso muttered.
Momo turned toward him. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it," he replied. "And I meant what I said. I have no interest in finding out how Junsei would react if he heard some idiots were harassing you."
She hesitated.
"Aren't you angry? About what he did?"
Shinso looked ahead, expression unreadable.
"What he did has nothing to do with you. You were a victim. Blaming you makes no sense." He paused briefly. "I sat next to him for an entire year. Does that make me his accomplice?"
Momo didn't speak.
Shinso exhaled quietly. "I didn't want things to turn out like this. As strange as our relationship might sound to others, I considered him a friend. Maybe even a kindred spirit."
His words followed by a moment of silence.
"Anyway," he continued, straightening slightly, "I need to get to class. If anyone tries to say something clever again, just remind them Junsei is still out there. That should be enough to discourage most idiots."
Momo gave a small nod.
He left without further ceremony.
She remained standing for a moment longer before turning toward her own classroom. The thought of facing her classmates again, after months, after everything, filled her with worry. After that night, many of them called her, but she didn't answer their calls, she didn't dare to. What was she going to say to them?
——————
Minutes later, Momo walked into her classroom. The moment she stepped inside, the entire room went silent. Every pair of eyes turned toward her.
She was the last to arrive for the first time.
Momo kept her back straight despite the anxiety she was feeling.
"Good morning," she said.
Mina was on her feet instantly. "Are you okay? I was so scared when I saw the news, and I tried to call you!!"
Momo blinked. "I am fine," she replied evenly. "I was in no mood to speak."
She had expected more suspicion and accusation. Instead, to her surprise, her classmates began asking about her well-being one by one. They did not accuse or blame her. They simply had concern for her.
It made her feel both foolish and grateful.
Kaminari scratched the back of his head. "I knew he was super scary and evil, but I didn't expect he was that evil. You're lucky he didn't hurt you."
Jiro shot him a sharp look before turning back to Momo. "More importantly… where did he go? Do you have any idea?"
Momo shook her head slowly. "He can be anywhere. He didn't try to talk with me, and I don't think he will ever do that."
The door slid open again. Aizawa entered the classroom.
"At this point," he said, "I think it is for the better. It will cause you only trouble if he tries to communicate with you. You are obliged to share everything you know or you will be considered an accomplice in law."
Iida asked. "Where could he possibly go without anyone finding him? I heard heroes even searched forests."
Bakugo scoffed from his desk. "Why not ask that red bird around for his location? He's good friends with all animals, and they rush to help him whenever he fights, right? The one that lived with him should know even more."
Momo hesitated. "I actually tried to tell Dola to call him, but I am not sure if she can't do it or she doesn't understand me at all without Junsei being around."
Aizawa's tired eyes sharpened slightly. "Is Dola the bird you had with you on the bus while going to USJ?"
Momo nodded.
"It still lives with you?"
She nodded again. "It stuck around. I think she likes the food too much."
Aizawa pressed his fingers against his temples. "All along we assumed all animals and insects left your home after he left. But that bird could be a lead." His gaze shifted across the classroom. "You do realize you have a classmate who can speak and understand animals and insects, right? If it can tell us even the general direction, or whether he communicated with her, that would be a major help."
Momo froze.
Slowly, she turned her head toward Koji Koda.
She had forgotten him completely.
Aizawa continued, "The principal had many birds captured from all over Japan and planned to ask Koda to try and find Junsei's location. And you had that bird with you the whole time."
Momo lowered her head. "I am sorry."
"I'll inform the principal," Aizawa said at last. "After school, we will go to your home to pick the bird up." He looked at Koda. "We'll let your parents know you'll be a little late."
Momo hesitated. "Actually… we might not need to wait that long."
She stood up and walked toward the window. The classroom watched in silence as she slid it open.
From her pocket, she brought out a small whistle.
She blew through it.
Only seconds passed before a small figure darted through the open window and into the classroom. Dola landed neatly on Momo's shoulder and chirped.
Uraraka's eyes fixed on the small bird perched proudly on Momo's shoulder. "Does it still follow you to school? I didn't think she would stick with you."
Mineta snorted. "More like a very greedy bird that abandoned its survival instincts and first friend."
Sero glanced toward Koji Koda and smiled. "It's finally your time to shine."
At the front of the classroom, Aizawa gave a small nod. "We'll go to the principal's office and question the bird there."
Mina immediately protested. "Not fair! We want to hear as well!"
Kirishima added eagerly. "Not to mention, it was Baku-bro who suggested it, and I'm sure he wants to hear as well."
Bakugo's head snapped toward him. "Don't speak on behalf of me!!"
Iida rose from his seat and spoke in all earnestness. "Sensei, please let us listen. We would know anyway through Momo and Koda."
Aizawa was silent for a moment, his tired gaze sweeping across the class. Then he exhaled softly. "Troublesome children… fine."
He shifted his eyes toward Koda.
Koda looked around, visibly nervous under the attention, before standing up and walking closer to Momo. Dola watched him with curious eyes.
Koda spoke gently. "Hello. Do you know where Junsei went to?"
Dola chirped lightly, tilting her head.
Koda blinked. "She doesn't know who Junsei is."
A brief silence settled over the classroom.
Kaminari raised an eyebrow. "Dude… are you sure you understand bird language?"
Koda lowered his head. "I am sorry."
Momo's brows furrowed as she thought. Then she said quietly, "Ask her what she calls me"
Koda nodded and turned back to the bird. "What do you call Momo?"
Dola tilted her head again.
Koda gently pointed at Momo. "I am talking about her."
The bird chirped brightly, almost cheerfully.
Koda translated, "The good human with tasty food."
Students finally understood what the problem was.
Aizawa remained focused. "Ask about Junsei again. Try describing him with simple words."
Koda nodded. "Do you know where the friend of this good human had gone to? The one with white hair and blue eyes… and can talk to you."
The bird chirped again.
This time, Koda's expression shifted into confusion.
Momo asked, "What did she say?"
Koda hesitated. "She said… the World Soul went to sleep."
A ripple of uncertainty and confusion passed through the class.
The students did not understand the meaning of those words. They had not heard the final words of AFO. They did not know he had spoken of 'The World' with an unsettling fear before meeting his end.
But Aizawa and Momo had heard about his words from the heroes present. And no one had understood what 'The World' meant.
Aizawa's voice lowered. "Why does it call him the World Soul? What does that mean?"
Koda translated the question.
Dola chirped again, softer this time.
Koda swallowed. "She said… because he is the beginning that connects all things."
The classroom fell completely silent.
Koda continued carefully, "I asked her what does the beginning mean. She said… the beginning is the beginning."
The answer was completely unhelpful.
Aizawa spoke again. "Ask her where he is. Where is he sleeping?"
Koda relayed the question.
Dola's feathers puffed slightly before she chirped in a sharper tone.
Koda translated, voice quieter now. "Humans are not allowed to know."
Aizawa's eyes narrowed. "Why?"
Koda's fingers clenched at his sides. "She said… most humans are bad and enemies of Life. We protect Life from bad humans."
Aizawa continued questioning, changing the phrasing and attempting different questions to try to pry anything useful out of the bird. Each time, the result was the same. Either the bird refused outright, or her answers dissolved into vague, simplistic fragments that offered no real direction.
Whether it was loyalty, instinct, or limited intelligence, the truth remained hidden.
But one conclusion grew increasingly difficult to ignore. The final words of AFO had carried some meaning.