MHA: I Am Homelander

The room was dark, moonlight slanting through the blinds in long, silvery bars.

Kazuo stood stiffly at the doorway, his hand on the wall after just having flicked the lights on, his expression a stone mask. The silence in the room was heavy—charged.

"Where have you been?" Kazuo asked flatly, his tone edged with restrained tension.

Loid sat on the edge of his bed, pulling his shirt over his head and tossing it aside. He didn't bother pretending otherwise. He didn't need to.

"Yeah," Loid said, voice even. "Figured you'd catch on sooner or later. Not this quick, though. What the hell are you doing up so late?"

Kazuo took a few slow steps inside. His eyes flicked toward the slightly ajar window, the cool night breeze wafting in. "Dude, this isn't a joke."

Loid looked up, his piercing blue eyes calm and direct. "Then I'll get to the point and answer your question. To put it simply, I've been kicking the crap out of bad guys."

Kazuo blinked. There was a beat of stunned silence. His mouth opened, then shut. He didn't know whether to be surprised about the words said or the fact that Loid said them so casually.

His brows furrowed deeply before he suddenly stood straighter, tension rising.

"What?! Are you insane?" he snapped. "If you get caught, that's it. Your shot at being a Hero? Vanished. Poof. Gone, before it has even started."

"I won't get caught," Loid cut in sharply. His voice was low but carried weight. "I'm careful, smart...and just really fast."

Kazuo looked at him as if he were talking to a crazy person. But Loid didn't stop there.

"Which is why I'm going back out tomorrow night...and the reason I didn't hide it is simple..."

Kazuo stared at him, clearly thrown, trying to make sense of the madness as Loid rose to his feet, staring straight at his friend.

Then Loid added, almost casually, "And I want you to come with me."

The room hung in silence again, heavier this time.

***

~The Next Day~

Morning light spilled across the classroom's polished floor. Loid sat at his usual desk in the corner of the class and beside the window, elbow propped lazily, chin in his palm, eyes drifting outside.

He wasn't really looking at anything—just thinking.

He then couldn't help but turn to Kazuo who sat a few rows ahead, his back turned, posture rigid.

'Well...that didn't go how I had planned...' Loid thought, remembering how things had ended between them the previous night.

They hadn't said a word to each other since then. Kazuo had left in a flurry of frustration.

Still, Loid didn't feel guilty. Not even a little. Hell, he planned to go back and continue this conversation when Kazuo had calmed down.

He'd said what needed saying. He meant it. Kazuo needed to grow—had to.

Not just for himself, but for Loid's sake too. He couldn't be the one doing all the heavy lifting forever.

And how things were going...well, he knew Kazuo. He understood that nothing good would come from Kazuo slowly realising that he was always behind him, too weak and too slow to catch up as he was left behind.

"Loid," a voice snapped from the front. Miss Takegawa, the young and sharply dressed teacher, had her arms crossed.

"Are you paying attention?"

Loid blinked, then gave a faint smirk. "If I say yes, are you going to make me answer a question?"

She arched a brow, her voice cool but carrying a hint of amusement. "Loid, are you even paying attention?"

Loid lifted his chin slightly, smirking faintly. "If I say yes, are you going to make me answer a question?"

Miss Takegawa rolled her eyes. "I'll do so anyway. Tell me what the fox's actions in Chapter 3 reveal about his motivations."

Loid didn't miss a beat. "The fox's decision to lead the wolf into the brambles reveals his underlying guilt about the betrayal in Chapter 1. He's not just trying to sabotage the wolf—he's trying to punish himself. Pretty edgy stuff for a kids' book, honestly."

She blinked. "Oh. Uh… right. That's right... Well, at least pretend you're paying attention from now on."

Loid nodded as she continued teaching.

If he were being honest, even he was somewhat surprised at this feat.

He didn't even know the name of the book they were currently reading as a class.

Ever since his powers awakened, Loid's mind had shifted.

Memories sharpened. Thoughts flowed like clean water. What once felt like mental fog now parted like morning mist, resulting in things like him remembering yesterday's material enough despite not paying attention and being able answer today's question, despite his grades only being average.

'I'm learning more and more about my new self as the days go by. I wonder what I can do with this.'

It wasn't long until the bell rang and Loid stood with purpose.

Kazuo was his target, but as he looked up, he could already see the former leaving the class amongst the flood of students, Loid stuck at the back of them all.

'Great...'

But before he could reach him, him being the last in the room and scurrying to the exit, the classroom door slammed shut, 

Tetsutetsu and his goons loomed.

Loid sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Really? This again?"

Tetsutetsu rolled his shoulders and cracked his knuckles. "What's the matter? No Mr. Hotfoot today to back you up?"

Loid didn't give him the chance to activate his Quirk.

"Get out of my way, idiot."

With one swift motion, he slammed Tetsutetsu's head into the wall. The metalhead groaned, his eyes rolling back as he dropped to the floor like dead weight.

The other boys froze in place, eyes wide.

A few weeks ago, they'd have lunged at him—eager, cocky, cruel. Now?

Now they knew better.

They had seen what Loid could do. Heard the rumors. And just now? That wasn't a rumor.

Loid casually brushed past them.

But upon stepping out to the hallway and looking around, Kazuo was gone.

Loid cursed under his breath. "Whatever, I'll find him later. I've got something else to take care of anyway."

***

That afternoon, Kazuo walked alone through the bustling streets of the city.

It was still midday, and the sidewalks were alive with movement—vendors calling out deals, the scent of grilled food wafting from nearby stalls and most commonly frequent stares at Loid since he was a student wearing his school uniform yet not in school during high noon.

But he ignored this, darting his eyes between the phone in his hand and the apartment complex that now stood before him.

He stepped forward, reaching the entrance and pressing a button beside the intercom.

There was a brief crackle. "Who is it?"

"It's Loid—"

"Homelander! Come on in!" the voice blurted, full of energy.

Loid winced slightly at the nickname but chuckled. The door buzzed open.

He climbed the worn stairs, coming to a narrow hallway and a plain door.

Before he could knock, it swung open.

There he stood, before Loid, dressed casually in a simple hoodie and joggers, smirking slightly.

"Hey, Kiyoshi," Loid spoke first.

The boy at the door beamed. "Yo, what's up, Homelander? Long time no see!"

Kiyoshi stepped aside to let him in, the door clicking shut behind them as Loid looked around.

Kiyoshi's room was exactly what Loid expected: a chaotic fusion of ambition, caffeine, and clutter.

Posters of fictional news anchors and viral social media figures covered the walls, some signed with personalized messages.

A cluttered desk was home to dual monitors, a buzzing tower of hardware, energy drink cans, and a microphone on a swiveling arm.

Index cards, notes, and post-it reminders formed a mosaic across the corkboard above.

Loid stood in the doorway, hands in his pockets, eyes drifting over the room.

"Still running your empire from this little warzone?" he asked dryly.

Kiyoshi beamed proudly. "Hey, chaos fuels genius. Come in, come in."

He quickly scurried to his desk and swept off a mess of papers and wires from a nearby chair. "Here, sit. Sorry about the mess. Wasn't expecting royalty."

Loid raised an eyebrow but took the seat without complaint.

Kiyoshi moved to the small counter by the window and began preparing tea.

"Kazuo mentioned you've been busy. Said Heroes kept bugging you. That, and adjusting to your new Quirk, because of that the rest of the gang haven't gotten a chance to catch up with you. They miss you. Guess you've become a bit of a ghost."

Loid smirked faintly. "Guess you could say that."

Kiyoshi poured the tea and handed a cup to Loid before sitting across from him, blowing on his own.

"So," Kiyoshi said after a sip, "What brings you to my humble newsroom?"

Loid set the cup down on the table between them. "I need a favor."

Kiyoshi paused mid-sip of his drink, raising a brow. "A favor?"

Loid nodded. "You're good at this kind of thing. Reading the crowd. Influencing the public. You've got a feel for how people tick, especially online. That's why I need you to take over my social media identity."

Kiyoshi blinked, his mind clearly racing. "Wait, I didn't even know you had a social media identity. Outside of the buzz around you lately, that is."

"I don't," Loid said flatly. "Which is exactly why I need you to create one. Build it. Brand it. Maintain the hype and push the name Homelander into every screen in this city. Keep the mystery alive just long enough for me to make my next move."

Kiyoshi stared. "Make your next move? You've been thinking about this for a while, haven't you?"

Loid nodded once. "I've got plans. Big ones. This will help me get there. The attention, the speculation—it all builds to something. And besides…" He flashed a sly grin. "The clout and cash we'd get out of it wouldn't hurt either."

There was a moment of silence. Then Kiyoshi scratched the back of his neck.

"I'm flattered, but... this sounds big. Like, really big. I don't know if I can commit to all that. Just yesterday, I mailed an application to the biggest news network in Musutafu."

"I got attention from your little stunt too, you know? If all goes well, that letter should be on an executive's desk in the next few hours. I should be hearing back soon."

Loid remained silent, unreadable. "I see."

But his smile slowly returned as he replied.

"I'm not saying no, just... I'm already juggling a lot," Kiyoshi added, eyes apologetic.

Loid stood slowly. "I get it."

He stepped toward the door, hand already on the handle. "Thanks for your time."

"Yeah. Good luck, and hey, keep in touch this time." Kiyoshi joked as Loid shut his door.

***

~A few hours later~

DING.

Kiyoshi spun around as the notification lit up his monitor. "Yes!" he shouted, diving into his chair and opening the email.

His eyes scanned the words eagerly.

That enthusiasm drained fast.

"…what the hell?"

The message burned into his retinas.

"...your submission was not only amateurish, but borderline insulting to the professionalism of this industry. Expect to be blacklisted from any network worth its salt."

Words like "disappointment", "immature stunt", and "unfit for media" bled from the screen like poison.

"No, no, this—this has to be wrong—" Kiyoshi couldn't take his eyes off the screen, his heart sinking further and further into his chest the more he read.

However, as if to snap him out of his trance, a voice entered his ears.

"That doesn't sound good," the voice spoke smoothly. "Terrible stuff, really. Not the kind of behavior you expect from such a young prospect with a bright future in the Media Industry...well, two of those things aren't true. At least you're still young, ay?"

Kiyoshi stood slowly, turning, only to find Loid, his hands resting behind his back and his chest puffed out, standing before his window.

He wore a soft smile as he stared with lazy eyes.

Kiyoshi's eyes wide and his breath shallowed. "You..."

Loid tilted his head. "Me?" He shrugged. "I don't know what you're talking about. But let's be honest..." His voice dropped, his grin stretching. "My offer's looking a hell of a lot better now, huh?"

The air grew still.

"Besides, if anything, this is on you. I mean, who the fuck sends letters in this day and age..."

Loid couldn't even finish his words before Kiyoshi snapped, rushing forward and grabbing Loid's collar.

"You have any idea what you've just done?! I worked years for this—"

Loid looked down at the hand gripping him, then back up with cold amusement. "Well, see, now I'm being assaulted."

In the blink of an eye, Loid's hand shot up and clamped down on Kiyoshi's face—tight, unforgiving.

His fingers dug into his cheeks, palm sealing his mouth shut as his eyes began to glow faintly red.

Kiyoshi froze for a second, his eyes widening more than before but for a completely different reason now.

He flailed, trying to break free, muffled shouts lost behind Loid's vice grip. Panic flashed in his eyes as he saw the thin red glow humming to life just beyond Loid's pupils.

"You might be too stupid to understand this, so let me simplify it," Loid hissed. "In one hour, I wrecked your future. Ruined your shot. Maybe permanently."

He leaned in, voice venomous now.

"Imagine what I could do with a day. A week. A month. I will ruin your life and then burn your fucking brain out just for the fun of it!" Loid's voice boomed with his last sentence, Kiyoshi whimpering at the former's words.

Then, Kiyoshi's knees buckled.

Loid dropped him to the floor.

The boy collapsed, trembling on his hands and knees.

Loid adjusted his shirt, brushing imaginary dust from his sleeves.

"Now then. Say the words."

Kiyoshi's lips quivered. He glanced at the screen, then back to Loid. His voice broke as he whispered, "I'd be honored to work for you."

Loid scoffed, already turning. "Of course you fucking would."

He stepped back toward the window, pausing only once more.

"I expect a full launch of the Homelander profile by tomorrow. Make it sharp, fast, and effective. Don't embarrass me."

He looked over his shoulder.

"And get off the floor. You look pathetic."

***

~Later that night~

Loid lay on his bunk, arms crossed, eyes locked on the ceiling.

Then, with an annoyed grunt, he sat up and leapt from the bed in one smooth motion. He glanced over.

Kazuo was in his top bunk, back to Loid, completely silent and still.

Loid scoffed. "I know you're awake."

No answer.

"I'm leaving, aren't you going to stop me?" Loid instigated, but was once again met with silence.

He stepped toward the window and pushed it open, feeling the wind lick his skin.

"I mean, who knows," he said, more to himself than anyone at this point. "Maybe tonight gets dangerous. Maybe I get really hurt."

Still no movement.

Loid rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

With that, he leapt out, soaring across rooftops, landing cleanly in the alley near the familiar garbage pile.

He grinned. Tonight was Division 5. The real challenge.

He was about to grab his gear when—

"Hey!"

Three thugs stepped out from the shadows. One brandished a knife, eyes hungry.

Loid sighed. "Really? I was hoping not to get bloody tonight—"

VUANK!

Suddenly, a blur shot from the rooftops.

Two of the thugs dropped in an instant—one slammed into the wall, the other hitting the pavement with a strangled gasp. The third barely had time to process the scene before a kick to the jaw sent him sprawling.

Loid raised a brow.

Then smiled.

"Look who came around."

Kazuo straightened, barefoot and exhaling.

"I'm only here," he said flatly, "because someone's got to be the functioning brain in this operation. And you clearly aren't it."

Loid chuckled, "Whatever works for you, buddy. Now, stay there while I get my stuff and I'll really introduce you to this game I like to call "The Streets"." He winked, leaping into the garbage to retrieve his hidden gear.

Behind him, Kazuo's expression tensed.

'I've got a bad feeling about tonight…'

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Sorry about the late uploads, so you get an extra long chapter today.

Also, I was not expecting to already be halfway toward are next Powerstone target.

Lemme remind you, 200 Powerstones gets you guys a bonus chapter.

As for regular chapters, I'll try upload them faster. Sorry and thank you all once again.