Overwatch system in Mha

(3rd pov)

The streets of Osaka were alive with their usual energy, but in a small, dimly lit café tucked away in a quiet district, three heroes gathered under the veil of secrecy. The table in the farthest corner was claimed by a group that looked entirely out of place—yet no one dared approach.

Aizawa Shouta, known to the world as Eraserhead, leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his usual scruffy appearance unchanged despite the situation's gravity. His piercing gaze shifted between his companions as they discussed their course of action.

Across from him, Mirko, the Rabbit Hero, practically radiated energy even while seated. Her muscular arms rested on the table, her sharp crimson eyes narrowing as she listened. Despite the tension, a small smirk played on her lips, eager for action.

And then there was All Might, the Symbol of Peace. Though his weakened form was far less imposing than his prime, his presence was no less commanding. His eyes, framed by the shadows of his gaunt features, reflected his unwavering determination.

"She has Lucio?" Mirko asked, her voice sharp and to the point. "That's the kid Widow was after, right?"

Aizawa gave a curt nod. "Asa Yamagami claimed she's keeping him safe. She's about to send the exact coordinates where we can meet them."

All Might's brow furrowed. "This situation is more complex than I anticipated. If the bounty was only for his parents, why go to such lengths? The boy might know something."

Mirko snorted, leaning forward. "Or he's got a price on his head too, and the bounty hunters just aren't done yet." She clenched a fist, the motion causing her toned arm to flex. "Either way, I'm not letting some kid fend for himself while assassins are on the prowl."

Aizawa sighed. "I don't trust Asa entirely. She's a rogue hero at best and doesn't operate within the system. But if she's protecting the boy, we don't have a choice."

All Might's voice softened. "We'll approach carefully. This is about saving lives, not placing blame. Asa has done what many of us might have in her situation—acted to shield the innocent."

Mirko smirked. "And you say I'm the idealist, old man."

Before All Might could respond, Aizawa's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and then lifted it to his ear.

"Asa?"

Her voice crackled through the speaker. "I've got the coordinates for a safe meetup point. I don't want to take any risks, so we're sticking to neutral ground."

"Send them," Aizawa replied curtly.

"Done," Asa replied. "But make it quick. I think someone's already sniffing around here."

The line went dead.

Aizawa looked up, his expression unreadable. "Osaka's south district. An abandoned warehouse near the docks."

"Predictable," Mirko muttered, standing and cracking her knuckles. "Let's move."

All Might rose to his feet, his resolve apparent despite his frail form. "This might be the only chance we have to ensure their safety."

Aizawa gave a slow nod, his sharp eyes glinting in the dim light. "Then let's not waste it."

The three heroes exited the café together, a trio of determination and purpose. The stakes were clear: protect the boy, uncover the truth, and stop whoever might be pulling the strings behind the bounty.

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The room Asa had secured was small but serviceable—a quiet, neutral space where she and Lucio could regroup and wait for the heroes. The air was tense, and even the faintest creak of the floorboards seemed amplified in the silence.

Lucio sat on the edge of a worn sofa, his gaze fixed on the floor as his fingers fidgeted with a loose thread in his shirt. Asa leaned against the wall, her sharp eyes darting between the door and the window, her body language betraying her readiness for a fight.

After what felt like an eternity, Lucio broke the silence. "Yamagami-san... can I ask you something?"

Her head tilted slightly, her dark hair catching the faint glow of the room's single overhead bulb. "Go ahead, kid."

He hesitated, his small hands clenching into fists. "When my dad wrote his will, he told me something. He said if anything ever happened to them... I could choose who I wanted to take care of me."

Asa's guarded expression softened, but only slightly. "That's a big decision, Lucio. You've got family or someone else lined up for that, right?"

Lucio shook his head, his voice quiet but steady. "No. Not anymore. You... you've been looking out for me. More than anyone else has."

For a moment, Asa said nothing, her mind racing. "Kid, I'm not exactly the picture-perfect guardian. I've got a messy history, and people like me aren't meant to settle down."

Lucio's gaze finally lifted to meet hers. "You don't have to be perfect. You saved me. You care. That's more than enough."

Asa crossed her arms, staring down at the boy who'd seen more than anyone his age should have. "We'll talk about this later. Right now, we've got bigger fish to fry."

Before either could say more, a sudden noise outside made both of them freeze. It was faint, like the sound of footsteps or something rustling against the building. Asa instinctively moved closer to Lucio, her hand already reaching for the knife sheathed at her hip.

"Did someone follow us?" Lucio whispered, his voice barely audible.

"Stay quiet," Asa murmured, her sharp eyes scanning the window.

A tense moment passed before something darted into view—a blur of orange and white streaking past the open window. Both Asa and Lucio tensed, their hearts pounding.

Then, without warning, a small Japanese fox leapt into the room through the open window, landing lightly on the floor.

Asa blinked, momentarily stunned. "What the hell...?"

The fox tilted its head at the duo, its bushy tail flicking with playful curiosity. Before either could react, it bounded over to Lucio and, to his surprise, licked his face.

"Hey!" Lucio exclaimed, half-laughing, half-protesting as the fox's tongue tickled his cheek.

Asa groaned, lowering her knife. "Damn fox nearly gave me a heart attack."

The fox, seemingly unfazed by the tension it had caused, wagged its tail and let out a small yap before leaping back onto the windowsill and disappearing into the night.

Lucio wiped his face with his sleeve, still chuckling. "Guess it wasn't someone following us after all."

Asa sighed, rubbing her temples. "Yeah, but we can't let our guard down. Cute or not, that thing could've been a scout for something worse."

Lucio nodded, his laughter fading as the weight of their situation returned. "Yamagami-san?"

"Yeah?" she replied, her voice softer now.

"Thanks for staying with me. Even if you don't think you'd be a good guardian... I do."

Asa paused, her gaze softening as she ruffled his hair. "Let's make sure you've got a future to worry about first, kid."

The room had grown quieter, with only the faint hum of the nearby streetlights seeping through the walls. Lucio had dozed off on the sofa, his small frame curled up under Asa's coat, which she had tossed over him earlier. Asa sat on the floor near the door, sharpening her knife with rhythmic strokes against a whetstone. Every few moments, her sharp eyes flicked to the window, her ears attuned to any sound outside.

Her mind wandered briefly to the conversation she'd had with Lucio. The boy's trust in her felt like both a gift and a burden. She wasn't used to being relied on—not like this.

The faint sound of footsteps outside the door snapped her out of her thoughts. Asa's grip tightened on her knife as she stood, her body tense, ready for a fight.

Three knocks echoed through the room.

Lucio stirred at the sound but didn't wake. Asa frowned, tilting her head. The knocks weren't random or forceful—they were precise, deliberate.

Aizawa.

Asa exhaled softly and relaxed, sliding her knife back into its sheath. Only Aizawa would knock like that—he'd developed a habit of using specific patterns to avoid misunderstandings during high-stakes missions.

Moving to the door, she glanced back at Lucio, who was still asleep, then turned her attention to the peephole. Sure enough, Aizawa's tired face stared back at her, framed by his unruly hair.

"It's me," he said in a low voice, audible through the thin door.

Asa unlocked the door but kept the chain on, opening it just wide enough to confirm who was with him. Behind Aizawa stood All Might in his slightly slimmed-down civilian form, his towering presence still unmistakable, and Mirko, who looked as battle-ready as ever, her sharp red eyes scanning the hallway.

"It's about time," Asa muttered, shutting the door to undo the chain before swinging it open fully.

Aizawa stepped inside first, his dark gaze sweeping the room before settling on Lucio. "He looks safe enough."

Mirko followed, her energy like a coiled spring as she scanned the windows and corners. "Nice setup. You expecting a welcoming party?"

Asa shrugged, shutting the door behind them and locking it. "Couldn't be too careful. Widowmaker's good, but she's not infallible. You didn't have trouble getting here, did you?"

All Might smiled faintly, his hands resting on his hips. "No trouble. Though we moved quietly to make sure we weren't followed."

Aizawa crouched slightly, inspecting Lucio from a distance. "So this is the kid. Asa, I hope you know what you're doing. There's a lot riding on this."

Asa crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "I'm aware. But he's not just some mission, Aizawa. He's a person. A kid. And someone needs to make sure he gets out of this alive."

Mirko grinned, her sharp teeth gleaming. "I like her. You've got fire, Asa. Alright, so what's the plan?"

Asa moved to the small table in the corner of the room, pulling out a folded map and spreading it open. "Widowmaker's trail is cold for now, but that won't last. We need to move fast if we're going to get Lucio somewhere safe."

All Might nodded, his face grave. "Understood. Let's go over the details, then."

Lucio stirred again, blinking awake as he rubbed his eyes. He froze for a moment when he saw the newcomers but relaxed when he noticed Asa's calm demeanor.

"Lucio," Asa said, her voice steady, "these are the heroes I told you about. They're here to help."

Lucio sat up, his expression wary but curious. "You're really heroes?"

All Might crouched slightly, offering the boy a reassuring smile. "We are. And we'll do everything we can to keep you safe."

Aizawa glanced at Asa, his voice low but firm. "Let's make this quick. We don't have much time."

Lucio stood by the door. His wide eyes looked up at Asa, hesitant and full of unspoken words. She crouched to his level, her expression softer than usual, though her sharp edge of vigilance never completely faded.

"You'll be okay with them," Asa said, her voice steady but not unkind. "All Might's the strongest there is. Mirko's fast, and Aizawa? He doesn't miss a thing. You're in good hands."

Lucio fidgeted with his headphones, glancing over at the towering figure of All Might, who smiled warmly. "But what about you? Are you coming with us?"

Asa shook her head. "Not yet. Someone's gotta stay behind and make sure Widowmaker doesn't double back or set a trap. I'll catch up when I'm sure it's safe."

Lucio's face fell, his voice barely above a whisper. "What if something happens to you?"

Asa placed a hand on his shoulder, her grip firm but comforting. "I've been through worse, kid. Besides, I said I'd keep you safe. That's exactly what I'm doing."

Lucio swallowed hard, his eyes glistening but refusing to let the tears fall. He straightened his posture, trying to appear brave, though his voice trembled. "Okay. I'll see you later, Asa."

"You better," she said with a small smirk, ruffling his hair. "No slacking off while I'm gone, alright?"

Lucio nodded, finally cracking a faint smile.

All Might knelt down beside them, his broad back turned toward Lucio. "Hop on, young man. It'll be faster this way."

Lucio hesitated for a moment before climbing onto All Might's back, his small arms wrapping tightly around the hero's neck. The boy's face was a mixture of excitement and lingering sadness as he looked back at Asa one last time.

"Goodbye, Yamagami-san!" Lucio called out, his voice louder now, more confident.

Asa stood and gave him a two-finger salute. "It's not goodbye. Just 'see you later.' Now go. They'll keep you safe."

Mirko grinned, her energy infectious as she winked at Asa. "We'll make sure he gets there in one piece. Don't you worry."

Aizawa simply nodded, his expression unreadable, though his glance toward Asa carried an unspoken understanding.

As All Might carried Lucio out of the room, the boy's laughter echoed faintly down the hallway. Asa stood there for a moment longer, her arms crossed as the sound faded.

Once the hallway was silent, her smile dropped, and her hand instinctively moved to her blade. The job wasn't done yet, and she knew the real danger was still out there.

"Stay safe, kid," she muttered under her breath, already moving to reinforce the room's defenses.