===(In a Storage facility)===

The man paced back and forth in the dimly lit storage facility, his phone pressed tightly against his ear. The faint hum of machinery and muffled voices of his subordinates filled the cavernous space, echoing off the steel walls. His sharp eyes darted to the large containers being pried open by his men, revealing crates filled with ominous-looking equipment and devices.

"I picked up the goods as planned..." he muttered into the phone, his voice low and gravelly, tinged with irritation. He paused, his jaw tightening as the voice on the other end relayed new information. His brow furrowed, and his fingers gripped the edge of the crate nearest to him. "What? All Might and his daughter are here now?"

The man let out a sharp exhale, a mixture of annoyance and amusement flickering across his face. He turned to glance at his men, who were diligently unloading the materials with precision, their movements swift and mechanical. His lips curled into a smirk as he processed the implications of the unexpected news.

"It doesn't matter," he said dismissively, brushing off the weight of the revelation with a casual wave of his hand. "We can handle him, no problem. Besides, our jobs have gotten easier now that she's here."

He hung up the phone with a snap, sliding it into his coat pocket. He stood still for a moment, his hands resting on his hips as he surveyed the bustling activity around him. The cold, calculating glint in his eyes betrayed his calm demeanor.

"Of course, he had to show up," he muttered to himself, his voice dripping with irritation. He began pacing again, his boots clicking against the concrete floor with a steady rhythm. "Always showing up when things are about to go smoothly. But now that Twilight is here..."

He paused, his smirk deepening into something more sinister as he tilted his head, gazing toward a large open container where several men were unloading sophisticated-looking weapons and devices. His gaze then shifted to the corner of the room, where a group of staff members lay unconscious, their hands bound behind their backs. Two guards stood over them, their postures rigid, gripping their weapons tightly.

"...I guess we'll be killing two birds with one stone," he said, his tone laced with dark amusement.

One of his subordinates approached, his stance cautious but respectful. "Sir, the equipment's almost fully unloaded. Everything seems to be intact."

"Good." The man nodded, his eyes narrowing as he tapped his fingers rhythmically against the side of the crate. "Get it ready for transport. We don't have time to waste now that we know we've got company. And make sure those hostages don't wake up. I don't want any surprises."

"Yes, sir," the subordinate replied before retreating back into the shadows, barking orders at the other men.

The man lingered for a moment, his gaze falling on the glowing blue light emanating from one of the devices being carefully extracted from a heavily secured container. The faint hum of energy crackled in the air, and the man's smirk grew darker.

"Twilight, Twilight..." he murmured, almost to himself, as he ran a gloved hand over the edge of the crate. "I am really looking forward to this. Let's see if you're as strong as they say. Or if you'll break just like everyone else."

His laughter echoed through the space, low and chilling, as the preparations continued around him.

.

===(In Dave's Private Lab)===

All Might, in his slim, weakened form, stood inside a glass tube filled with water, wearing only his undergarments and a mask over his face to help him breathe. He watched Dave work from within the capsule as his friend ran data through an analysis screen, trying to assess his health. Dave's brows furrowed as the results loaded on the screen, and his hands froze when he finally saw the data come through.

Dave's eyes widened, and he quickly extracted the liquid from the capsule, releasing All Might so he could get out.

"Toshi," Dave's voice trembled, his expression conflicted between concern and frustration. "These results... I don't get it. Why are your Quirk levels plummeting so dramatically?"

All Might took a step out, resting his hand gently on the jagged scar on the left side of his abdomen, the painful reminder of his encounter with All For One.

Dave shook his head, pointing at the charts on the screen, which displayed an alarming downward trend. "I know you sustained a serious injury, but this is something else entirely. What happened to you, Toshi? This kind of drop... it's unbelievable."

All Might coughed lightly, his gaze lowering. He felt the weight of Dave's unspoken fear. He struggled internally, wanting desperately to confide in his friend but holding himself back.

I wish I could tell him about One For All, All Might thought, clenching his fists. But I can't risk getting him or Melissa involved in the fight against All For One.

Dave, watching his friend struggle, felt a pang of helplessness, and his thoughts turned bitterly towards the future. At this rate, the Symbol of Peace will vanish. Japan relies on you to keep the crime rate low... If you're gone, everything changes. Countries everywhere struggle to keep peace without someone like you. Honestly, part of me wishes you'd never left the States. America needs heroes like you.

But, unable to keep these thoughts to himself, he muttered quietly, "Honestly, I wish you'd never left. America could use someone like you. We still could."

All Might, noting the concern etched into his friend's face, placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and tried to offer him a reassuring smile. "There's no reason to be so pessimistic, Dave. The world is full of capable pro heroes, and there are people like you supporting them. I'm still here, too. I can still be All Might for a few hours each day... I'm not gone yet—"

"Hours?!" Dave interrupted, turning sharply to face him, his voice a mix of fear and anger. "What if a monstrous villain appears, and you're not capable of saving everyone? What then, Toshi? Or—God forbid—what if it's (Y/n) out there facing that kind of danger without you?"

All Might's expression softened, sensing the underlying desperation in Dave's words. He understood his friend's worry for both him and his daughter, feeling the same himself every day. But he held his friend's gaze and spoke with quiet conviction. "I know the risks, and I've prepared for them. If the day ever comes when I can't stand on the front lines myself, I'll have left behind those who can." His thoughts shifted to Midoriya and (Y/n), a rare gleam of pride lighting his eyes. "For the future of One For All and the Symbol of Peace, I've placed my trust in the next generation."

Dave watched him, his lips pressed together in thought. He hesitated, as though unsure whether to ask what was on his mind, but then sighed, glancing toward All Might with a cautious expression. "Speaking of (Y/n), Toshi... has she ever considered learning more about her real family?"

The question caught All Might off guard, and he raised an eyebrow, caught between surprise and mild amusement. "Whoa, Dave, that's a pretty big shift in topic there!" He chuckled, but Dave's serious gaze brought him back down.

"Don't get me wrong; it's not like I want to separate her from you or anything," Dave explained, his tone softening. "But she's got powers none of us have ever seen before. Sam and I have looked into it as much as possible, analyzing public footage and tracking patterns. Nothing remotely resembles the kind of abilities she has. I just wonder... if she had the answers about her origins, maybe it could be useful. Maybe it could help her—and you too. She was brought to you for a reason, right? Hasn't she ever asked?"

All Might paused, taking in Dave's words. He folded his arms and considered his answer carefully, not wanting to downplay his daughter's strength, yet not wanting to stir up questions that would further increase Dave's curiosity to avoid the topic of Narnia, "(Y/n) has thought of it now and then. She's only human. But I can tell you, Dave—she's happy. She's accepted her life fully and doesn't let questions of the past hold her back. She's focused on the present, on being a hero, and on helping others. That strength, that conviction... it's the greatest help I could ever ask for."

Dave listened, nodding slowly, though his expression held a hint of sadness. He sighed, almost laughing at himself. "You're right, Toshi. It's just... curiosity, I guess, that maybe there's something she hasn't uncovered yet. Something she could use or learn to strengthen herself, that's all. I worry."

All Might placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, his voice steady but filled with a warmth that was uniquely his. "You've always been there for us, Dave. I know you're looking out for her, too. But she's stronger than you realize. And if there's ever anything more she needs to know, I'll be there to guide her."

.

===(In the Hotel)===

Todoroki strolled through the pristine halls of the hotel, his mind preoccupied with the events of the day, especially after the small confrontation with Bakugo at the arena. Though he had to take his leave despite wanting to stay longer to be with (Y/n), he had matters to attend to since he was representing his father. As he rounded a corner, he noticed a familiar figure standing near the elevator, hands casually tucked in his pockets—Damian Wayne.

Upon noticing Todoroki's approach, Damian raised an eyebrow with an amused smile. "Ah, Todoroki. Late-night stroll?" he asked, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips.

Todoroki nodded curtly. "Something like that." He paused before adding, "Didn't expect to see you here, Wayne."

"Just finished dropping off (Y/n) at her room," Damian replied, sounding almost casual as he adjusted the cuff of his sleeve. "She looked like she could use some rest after the day she had before the expo event later."

Todoroki's gaze sharpened, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "I'm aware she spent time with you," he said, his voice low, calm but firm. "But I can't help but wonder why you're here, Wayne. What exactly are you after?"

"Straight to the point. I can respect that," Damian said, chuckling. "I assure you, Todoroki, I'm here on business. And as for (Y/n), well... let's say I just enjoy her company." His eyes glinted with mischief as he brushed off Todoroki's probing, appearing unfazed.

"Business," Todoroki repeated slowly, his gaze never wavering. "If that's all it is, then why did you need to escort her? You're here for more than 'business,' aren't you?" Todoroki's words were steady, but Damian didn't miss the underlying tension in his tone.

Damian's smirk deepened. "It's interesting to me that you're so invested in her whereabouts. Could it be that you're hoping to win her over? Last I heard, that's a tall order, especially with other... interested parties in the mix."

Todoroki's expression barely changed, though his jaw clenched slightly. "I don't think that's any of your business," he replied coolly, though the hint of irritation in his voice was unmistakable.

"Oh, but I'd say it's very much my business," Damian replied smoothly, crossing his arms. "After all, if it's a competition for (Y/n)'s affections, then I suppose I'm involved, too. Why should you get a head start?" He gave a playful shrug, his confidence bordering on arrogance.

Todoroki remained calm, but his eyes burned with a steely intensity. "You may be 'involved,' Wayne, but don't assume you know everything. And don't assume she's interested in your games." He kept his voice low and controlled, yet each word seemed edged with a subtle threat.

"Oh, I wouldn't dream of it," Damian replied with a smirk, unfazed by Todoroki's hard stare. "But (Y/n) appreciates someone who understands her world and her unique experiences. Just something to consider, Todoroki." With that, Damian turned, his smirk unwavering, and began to walk away, leaving Todoroki to mull over his words.

Todoroki clenched his fists, a simmering frustration rising within him. Watching Damian's retreating figure, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was far more between Damian and (Y/n) than he'd initially realized, something hidden beneath Damian's flippant words and carefully controlled demeanor.

.

===(Bakugou's Hotel Room)===

Bakugou laid back on his bed with his hands behind his head, looking every bit as uninterested as he sounded. "Why would I wanna go to some party? It'll just be a bunch of old geezers I don't know giving boring speeches. Sounds like a waste of time if you ask me."

Kirishima, rummaging through his suitcase with his red spiky hair still a bit tousled, rolled his eyes at Bakugou's predictable response. Standing shirtless as he dug around for his clothes, he shot a grin over his shoulder.

"Dude, but think about it," Kirishima replied, pulling out a shirt and tossing it onto his bed. "We can eat as much gourmet food as we want. Like, the real fancy stuff."

Bakugou gave a dismissive snort, though his expression softened slightly at the mention of food. "So what? Fancy food isn't enough to make me put on some stupid suit. And besides," he added, looking smug, "it's not like I brought any 'fancy clothes' with me, anyway."

Kirishima smirked, barely holding back his excitement. "Yeah, I figured you'd say that." He finally pulled out two carefully folded suits from his suitcase, standing up and holding them out for Bakugou to see with a proud grin.

Bakugou blinked, his brows knitting together in surprise. "Huh?" he muttered, looking between the suits and his friend. "What are you talking about?"

"That's right, man!" Kirishima laughed, giving him a thumbs-up. "I brought some stuff for you. Thought you'd need a little... well, encouragement, y'know?"

Bakugou sat up quickly, his face contorting in mild outrage. "You've gotta be kidding me, you spiky-haired idiot!" he barked, grabbing a pillow and tossing it at Kirishima's head. "Why the hell would I put one of those on?"

Kirishima dodged the pillow, laughing as he shook his head. "Come on, Bakugou. I'm just tryin' to help a bro out! Think about it—it's a big event, everyone's going, and you're seriously not the least bit curious how you'd look in one of these?"

"Hell no," Bakugou muttered, folding his arms over his chest defiantly. But Kirishima wasn't done. He smirked, knowing just the card to play.

"Alright, alright," Kirishima shrugged, feigning indifference as he began to fold the suits again. "Guess you wouldn't care that (Y/n) is gonna be there, either. I heard she's dressing up for it too."

Bakugou paused, his brows raising just slightly. "Tch, yeah, right," he grumbled, trying to keep his cool. "Why would she care about that? It's not like what anyone wears to this dumb thing matters."

"Well," Kirishima continued casually, picking at a piece of lint on one of the suits, "I don't know, man. Knowing (Y/n), I bet she's gonna look... well, kinda stunning, y'know? She might even turn some heads. Bet she'll look... pretty."

The faintest blush crept onto Bakugou's cheeks, though he tried to hide it by scoffing and turning his head. "Whatever. Not like she's getting all dolled up for me or anything," he mumbled, his tone betraying a slight hint of frustration.

Kirishima grinned, his eyes sparkling as he leaned in a little closer. "Aw, come on, Bakugou! Aren't you the least bit curious? Imagine her in a dress or something... maybe something that really brings out her, uh... unique charm. Bet she'll be absolutely drop-dead gorgeous."

"Will you shut up already?" Bakugou snapped, his face growing redder by the second as he tried not to picture (Y/n) in anything remotely close to what Kirishima was describing. He sat up straighter, looking away and grumbling under his breath.

"Fine, fine, I'll stop," Kirishima said, holding up his hands in surrender. But he couldn't resist one more nudge. "But just think about it. You might be the only guy not there while everyone else sees her all dressed up. And hey, don't you wanna keep an eye on her? Make sure no other guys try to get her attention?"

Bakugou clenched his fists, the thought sparking something possessive within him. "Tch. Like hell, I'd let those extras get near her," he muttered, though his resolve was weakening. Kirishima could see it—the tiniest crack in Bakugou's gruff exterior. He seized the moment.

"Then just come, man!" Kirishima grinned. "I mean, it'll be a good chance for you to show off a little. Plus, you'd look pretty awesome in a suit. You'd be hard to ignore, too."

"Not interested in 'showing off' for a bunch of useless extras," Bakugou growled, but his tone lacked conviction. His mind wandered back to (Y/n) for a brief moment, wondering what exactly she'd look like tonight. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if he were there... just to keep an eye on things.

Kirishima, sensing victory, decided to go all in. "Look, dude, the food's gonna be great, and you won't be alone. I'll be there, and so will Midoriya, Todoroki, and all the other guys. It's not like it's just some dumb 'fancy' event for old geezers. It's a chance to hang out, eat, and make sure the whole room knows we're from UA!"

Bakugou's shoulders relaxed slightly, and he took a deep breath, rubbing the back of his neck. "Fine, whatever. I'll go," he finally grumbled, looking off to the side as if he didn't care.

"Awesome!" Kirishima cheered, handing him the suit with a grin. "You're not gonna regret this, man. Just wait until you see her."

"Shut up!" Bakugou barked, yanking the suit from Kirishima's grasp with a scowl, though he couldn't quite shake the blush creeping up his cheeks.

As he held the suit, he felt a pang of nerves—something he wasn't used to. Maybe it was the idea of seeing (Y/n) all dressed up, maybe it was the thought of her seeing him all cleaned up... or maybe, just maybe, he wanted to prove something. To her, to his friends, to himself. But whatever it was, he wasn't about to let Kirishima know he cared.

"All I'm saying is, you might actually have a good time tonight," Kirishima added with a smirk. "Just don't kill anyone with that glare, alright?"

Bakugou rolled his eyes, shoving Kirishima away. "Yeah, yeah, whatever, idiot," he muttered, clutching the suit with a strange mixture of irritation and... anticipation.

As he slipped into the bathroom to get changed, he caught a quick glance at himself in the mirror, his face still tinged with a faint blush. He let out a frustrated huff, running a hand through his hair.

"Stupid extras... stupid party..." he mumbled under his breath, though he couldn't quite hide the small, reluctant smile tugging at his lips.

.

===(In (Y/n)'s Hotel Room)===

(Y/n) sat on the edge of her bed, the weight of Damian's information still fresh in her mind. She had managed a short rest, but as evening approached, she knew it was time to prepare for the expo event. The sleek evening gown she'd chosen lay neatly on the bed, a soft, simple, elegant piece that captured her calm confidence. She took a deep breath, hoping the excitement of the evening would distract her from the lingering questions in her mind.

A gentle knock at the door broke her train of thought. "(Y/n)? It's Melissa! Can I come in?"

(Y/n) opened the door to see Melissa standing there, already dressed in a smart, elegant outfit that suited her