Sussy Baka in MHA-Chapter 67: Last Gift

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Suzaku sat next to his parents, surrounded by many others. Some were familiar faces—heroes, detectives, high-ranking police officers, while others were unknown, people you could see anywhere.

All of them, however, were focused on a single place—a podium, where the framed photo of a familiar face was displayed among white flowers. In front of the photo, a man with the head of a dog stood before the microphone, addressing the gathered crowd.

He was Kenji Tsuragamae, chief of the police force.

"Tatsuo-san... he was a great man. Although he never cared much for the fame or recognition that came with his deeds, the impact he left on the world we live in today is undeniable."

He stepped aside, revealing the picture of a younger Tatsuo. Unlike the older man Suzaku had known, this version had blond hair, fewer wrinkles, and a much fiercer look—befitting his more active years as a vigilante.

The difference was striking, yet he was still unmistakably Tatsuo.

"He was..." The dog-headed man chuckled. "Hah, he was a fierce man in every sense. Competitive, reckless, sharp-tongued, and maybe just a little too violent-woof." His laughter carried through the speakers before his tone softened. "But he was also my friend, an old pal whom I fought side by side during more dark times. And I know that, to each of you, he was also something else—an old partner, a rival, maybe even a lover... or perhaps someone you owe a lot to."

For a brief moment, his gaze landed on Suzaku.

"Or maybe... a mentor."

His voice grew solemn again. "No matter what he was to you, I doubt anyone here can sum him up in just a few words. Tatsuo wasn't just a name or a memory—he was a part of our lives-woof. And even though he's gone now, the way he shaped us, the way he changed our lives, and the lessons he left behind will always remain. So, in a way... he's still with us."

He straightened the tie on his collar, and while looking at everyone with a serious gaze, he leaned forward on the podium. "While I know that this is a sad event, I hope most of you will know not to be sad because it's over, and instead be happy because you met him in the first place... That's all—woof."

With a deep bow, Kenji stepped away from the microphone and descended from the podium, going back to his seat amidst the group.

A quiet moment passed before the next person stood up—Suzaku.

A dozen eyes followed him as he made his way forward.

He stopped at the microphone, taking a deep breath. His mouth opened slightly, but then he hesitated.

For a brief second, he wasn't sure what to say.

He didn't have anything written, and he wasn't exactly a master of speeches.

But then, his eyes landed on the image of the younger Tatsuo, and as if it was some sort of motivator, Suzaku shook his head for a moment, before opening his mouth. No longer hesitating.

"I don't have much to say," he admitted. "The old man and I... well, we weren't exactly affectionate with each other. In fact, I don't think we ever had a conversation that didn't involve insults or a fight."

A faint smirk tugged at his lips as he scratched the back of his head.

"He used to beat the crap out of me when I was a kid. And it wasn't until I started catching up with him that the fights actually started becoming two-sided..."

His smirk faded into something more thoughtful.

"But despite all that... I don't think we ever had a bad relationship."

For a moment, Suzaku looked down at his hands, tracing the callouses on his palms and knuckles. Then, he turned to glance at his parents, who watched him with quiet smiles.

Just yesterday, he had won the Sports Festival—an event people claimed was as prestigious as the Olympics had been in its time.

His body, his skill, his fighting ability—they had reached levels he never imagined possible.

And if things kept going the way they were... one day, he'd probably become a Hero.

That was crazy to think about.

But he knew the truth.

Reincarnating hadn't come without consequences. When he was still a kid, he was resentful and frustrated about dying and having to start over from scratch. Thus, choosing the Hero Course hadn't been some grand ambition—it had just seemed like the easiest way to make good money for his uncaring and frustrated past self.

And yet, so far the path had been anything but easy.

He had worked harder than he ever thought possible.

And the only reason he had been able to do that... was because of Tatsuo.

If he hadn't met that old man the day he blew a guy's balls off, maybe he wouldn't be here today.

Maybe he would've given up halfway in all this of being a hero.

Maybe he would've ended up at some other school, in some other life, on a completely different path.

Tatsuo had changed him, through the years of training, he had grown into a different version of himself.

Even if he was still slightly frustrated, and was not that passionate about hero stuff, that didn't change the fact that this path wasn't one he could have taken without the old man to shape him into a proper fighter, and maybe even a better version of himself.

"I've gotten quite a few injuries from him... some pretty serious ones." Suzaku let out a short breath. "But in a way, every single one of them helped me grow. Without those fights, without those beatings—without Tatsuo—I don't think I would've made it this far."

His gaze drifted to the framed photo once more.

"I owe him the person I am now. And like someone said earlier... even if he's gone, the impact he left on me, the lessons he taught me, and the memories I have of him... those will stay with me forever."

With that, Suzaku gave a faint bow before stepping down from the podium.

After him, more people came forward. Several heroes spoke about how Tatsuo had taught them a thing or two. Civilians who had once been saved by him shared their gratitude. Members of the police recounted their experiences working alongside him. Even a few people stepped up claiming to have been his lovers or friends at some point.

For someone who always seemed like a loner, Tatsuo had never really been alone, had he?

Suzaku smiled a little bit at the realization.

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The speeches continued for a while after that, until, eventually, it was time for the burial.

The coffin was slowly lowered into the grave. As a final farewell, everyone took a handful of soil and tossed it over the casket.

Suzaku watched silently, his expression unreadable.

Even after two days to process everything, the whole thing still felt... surreal.

He had seen death before.

In his past life. In this life—a lot in this life.

He was not unfamiliar with it. He had even died himself. And ever since reincarnating, he had caused the deaths of hundreds.

But this... This felt different.

Maybe because it was the first time since his own death that he had to watch someone close to him die.

His eyes stayed glued to the coffin as a thought drifted through his mind.

'What really lies beyond this?'

Suzaku had been reincarnated because of that Impostor God. But what about Tatsuo? His own reincarnation had felt like a one-time thing, so he really doubted the old man—or anyone else for that matter—would be getting reincarnated like him.

So what really lay after death?

Where was Tatsuo now?

Where were the people he had killed?

And when his time to die came again... what would await him?

Would the Impostor God reincarnate him yet again?

Or would that be the end?

Would there be a hell waiting for him? or would there be a heaven waiting for him?

"Hmph." Suzaku snorted.

Yeah, the last one didn't seem likely. Not with all the people he had killed so far. Villains or not.

His eyes drifted over the group surrounding the grave, narrowing slightly as a question crossed his mind.

'Did the villains or any of the others I killed have a funeral?'

They had been working for a bad guy, so maybe not. But some of them must've had someone who mourned for them, right? Family, friends, maybe even lovers? Just like the people here were mourning Tatsuo.

'What about mine?'

Would he get the funeral of a big-shot hero, like he hoped to achieve?

Or would all the lives he'd taken away come to light, and he'd go down as a criminal or maybe even a villain?

His abilities did fit that label, after all.

Even now, the title of Hero he was hoping to obtain in the future contrasted a bit too much with the way he'd been leading his life. And not even the future he could imagine for himself seemed to fit with that of becoming a hero, not with those abilities of his leading his life.

So, what would await him?

Would people mourn him? Or would they celebrate his death?

{"Whatever it is you desire to become, whatever is it you desire to achieve... You better do it with the intention of achieving the top."}

Tatsuo's words echoed in his mind.

Right. His master never gave a damn about things like justice or morality. Whatever fate had in store for him, Tatsuo had only asked for one thing—

To be the best at it.

And Suzaku felt the same way.

Whatever path his destiny took him down, however his funeral would play out in the end—if he even got one—it didn't matter.

He just had to try his best.

With that thought, Suzaku closed his eyes, exhaling slowly.

Then, he opened them again, watching as the last bits of dirt were thrown over the coffin.

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|An hour later...|

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After the funeral ended, Suzaku spoke with his parents for a bit.

There wasn't much to talk about—just the usual questions about how he was doing now that he had his own apartment, how school was going, and a few comments about the funeral.

Suzaku kept his answers short and to the point, sharing only a few details and assuring them he was fine. It was clear his mind was still elsewhere, still processing everything.

His parents might have wanted to talk about the Sports Festival, but they seemed to realize this wasn't the right time.

So, after a bit more conversation, they bid him farewell, assuring him they'd talk again later. For now, they had to get back to work—they had squeezed some time out of their schedules to attend the funeral.

And with that, Suzaku was left alone.

Sitting on a park bench nearby, he let his thoughts drift. Hoping the calmness of the place would let his mind process properly all that had gone down in such a short time.

But before he could get too lost in his thoughts, a figure approached, snapping him out of his daze.

It was the dog-headed policeman that had given a speech earlier.

"I hope I'm not bothering you, lad," the man said, taking a seat beside him.

Suzaku didn't respond immediately, simply giving him an inquisitive look, waiting to see what he wanted.

"I saw your performance at the Sports Festival," Kenji started. "I have to say, I'm impressed. It's no wonder Tatsuo-san called you his disciple."

"Technically, I graduated in our last meeting. I'm a master now."

"Haha, is that so?" The dog-man laughed, scratching the back of his head. "Well, you certainly deserve it—woof."

Suzaku gave him a strange look at that last part but ultimately shrugged it off. Some people had odd verbal tics due to their Quirks, so it wasn't anything out of the ordinary.

As Suzaku's mind began to wander away from the conversation, Kenji pulled out a stack of folded papers from his pocket and handed them to him.

"Take this."

Suzaku took them without a word and unfolded them. "What's this?"

"They're reports on a group of villains we've been tracking. They were found dead a day or so ago. We believe they were connected to the people who arranged your kidnapping."

Suzaku raised an eyebrow as he skimmed through the images—all of them were of the villains he had killed at the festival.

"By arranged my kidnapping, you mean that psycho doctor?"

"Daruma Ujiko—or by his real name, Kyudai Garaki, yeah. Him and others we have yet to identify." Kenji let out a tired sigh. "A few days ago, we got a lead that they were planning something. So, together with Tatsuo-san, we raided their base. Caught a lot of villains, but not the ones at the top."

"The old man?" Suzaku's brow furrowed slightly. He hadn't known Tatsuo had been part of that raid—the same one where 50 villains had been captured.

Then, something clicked in his mind. His eyes widened for a second before a faint frown formed on his face.

"Tell me... How did the old man die?"

Kenji looked at Suzaku silently for a moment. The longer the silence stretched, the more Suzaku felt a strange unease growing inside him.

But then, the policeman suddenly laughed, breaking the tension.

"Don't worry, young man. Tatsuo-san didn't die in battle, nor did he suffer any grave injuries there."

"Then...?"

Kenji hummed. "Have you heard of the medical term Terminal Lucidity?"

Suzaku nodded. It was when a dying person experienced a sudden burst of energy and clarity before their final moments. He had read that it was the body's last desperate attempt to recover, burning up every last resource it had.

Then, his eyes widened again—this time in realization.

Kenji smiled faintly and continued.

"He had been bedridden for the past week. His health worsened with each passing day. Then, on the day he experienced Terminal Lucidity, we all advised him to spend it enjoying himself—to make the most of the time he had left."

The dog-headed officer shook his head with a wry smile.

"But he refused. He wanted to use the last of his strength fighting. So, we went ahead with a raid we had been planning for weeks."

Kenji looked up at the sky with a small, nostalgic smile.

"He fought like never before. It reminded me of how he used to fight when he was younger—reckless, completely unconcerned about his own body, and merciless on the villains. By the time the raid ended, not a single villain had managed to land a hit on him. Not one."

With that, Kenji stood up, slipping his hands into his pockets.

"He passed away the next day, in his sleep. Not at the hands of anyone."

Suzaku remained silent, momentarily speechless at the revelation.

Then, for the first time that day—he laughed.

A genuine, unrestrained laugh. A smile stretched across his face, one filled with relief and amusement.

"Is that so? Hahaha... I guess that's a fitting way to go."

To think that Tatsuo had gone out like that... In a way, there was no more appropriate end for him than to do what he had always done—fight.

As Suzaku chuckled to himself, Kenji simply watched with a smile of his own, finding the reaction amusing.

It wasn't until Suzaku's laughter faded that Kenji finally spoke again.

"Anyway, that's pretty much why I came to talk to you, kid. The people who targeted you are still out there. If you notice anything unusual or get the feeling they're after you again, don't hesitate to call me. We'll move immediately."

He handed Suzaku a small card with his number and other contact details.

Suzaku nodded, eyeing the card with a curious look.

But just as Kenji turned to leave, he suddenly stopped, as if remembering something.

"Oh, that's right. When you return to Musutafu, expect a lawyer to contact you."

"Huh?" Suzaku frowned. "What for?"

Had his words after winning the festival gotten him into legal trouble? He had just said them because he thought it'd be fun.

Kenji chuckled. "Don't worry. It's because of a gift Tatsuo left for you before he passed. He told me it was meant to be your final test as his disciple. I don't know what it is, but knowing him, it's probably one last way to make things difficult for you."

Suzaku let out a wry smile. Tatsuo had always believed that hardship made people stronger, so this didn't come as a surprise.

"Alright... Thanks for the heads-up"

"Don't mention it, kid... Well then, I'll be going now. I hope the next time we meet, you'll be a full-fledged hero."

Suzaku shrugged, slipping the card into his pocket. "I'll do what I can."

With that, Kenji nodded and walked away, leaving Suzaku alone to his thoughts.

"What the hell did that old man leave me?" He could only sigh, dreading whatever Tatsuo had left him.

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|A day later, back at Suzaku's apartment|

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A sharply dressed man in a suit stood before Suzaku, holding a briefcase outside of his apartment with a poker face so expressionless that many gambling addicts would kill for it, giving no sign of whether his presence there was a good or bad thing.

Fortunately, his next words did help make that clear for Suzaku.

"I am here to formally inform you that the late Sawaya Tatsuo has bequeathed to you the entirety of his estate, which includes all financial assets, real estate holdings, and material possessions."

...

Suzaku blinked in confusion. "...Come again?"

...

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-To be Continued...-

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(A/N: Sorry for the wait, more information about why I took so long in the next Chapter.

Officially, the arc of the Festival is completely finished. Now, comes the arc of actually working as a hero, choosing a hero name, and getting some further character development for Suzaku—aka the Hero Killer arc.

To be honest, when I began writing this fanfiction—which was long ago—I only planned on humiliating Stain and letting Suzaku show off, but I think his character and values will work just fine for the path that Suzaku will take from here on.

I also plan to maybe start making Suzaku explore his limits and expand his abilities, as I know reading MCs grow stronger is always something fun to read, and Suzaku has been stale for quite enough time now.

Anyway, that's all, see you in the next Chapter.)

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