AM N. NOT.(っ－＿－)っ
In the condo…
Maki stood over the chopping board, his right hand wrapped around the kitchen knife's handle, left palm pressing flat against a bunch of fresh spinach. He was locked in total focus – more intense than he'd been for anything else, including the fight with the Anomalies.
The Cook-Cook ability he'd drawn earlier was proving far more complex than he'd expected. During his basement experiments, he'd discovered the core of it: he could turn any inanimate object into whatever food he imagined. No prep work, no ingredients needed – just visualize the dish, slice the material, and it would transform. But there was a catch. Dishes with layered flavors – like fish soup with dozens of distinct components – couldn't be replicated perfectly in one go. His imagination could set the overall taste profile, but every ingredient would end up tasting the same. The result was good – even delicious – but it was flat, lacking the complexity that made real cooking worthwhile.
Different ingredients had their own unique character, and the ability only followed his mental blueprint. So his plan was simple: use the ability for core components and spices, but source vegetables, fruits, liquids, and other complex elements the old-fashioned way. Right now, he was pushing further – trying to turn nothing but spinach into noodles. No flour, no water, just the green leaves and his ability to will them into shape. He had to visualize every detail: the chew of the noodle, the subtle wheat-like flavor he wanted to infuse, even hints of meatiness to elevate the taste.
Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his Sharingan spun wildly as he leaned in, movements precise as a surgeon's. If the Anomalies could see him now, they'd scream in fury – he'd barely broken a sweat facing them, yet here he was, pouring every ounce of concentration into a handful of greens.
Back on 23rd Street…
The area was slowly returning to normal. Civilians from the wooden cage – some unconscious, some injured – were loaded into ambulances and rushed to nearby hospitals. Those unharmed waited on the sidelines, watched over by Phylax officers.
The street itself was a mess of dents, cracks, and craters – but the woman with earth abilities had already fixed that for the time being. With a few swift gestures, she used her Earth Release to mold new asphalt, carving out a temporary one-way path behind the wooden centaurs. Cars could now weave past the towering statues to keep traffic moving – the fastest, simplest solution to the gridlock.
All Might stood guard nearby, his eyes scanning every corner. Anomalies were unpredictable by nature – some mimicked human voices, others shifted shape or absorbed energy from their surroundings. A few could even revive themselves. That's why they were called Anomalies – they defied every rule this world had to offer. He wasn't taking any chances.
Then the whir of helicopter blades cut through the air, and a ladder dropped down to the street below. Ten figures in sleek black armor rappelled to the ground – their bodies covered in reinforced plates from shoulders to fingertips, legs sheathed in the same dark metal.
The Haruspex team had arrived.
Even from above, they'd spotted the difference in these creatures. One look was all it took to know they were dealing with a new variant – maybe even a mutation. They moved with urgent precision, no time to waste.
"Hurry up! Launch the drones – capture every angle, don't miss a single detail!"
"Move it! The shadows are washing out their color – we're running out of time!"
"Faster!"
Tap.tap.tap.tap.tap.tap…
The sound of their armored boots hitting asphalt echoed across the street. They knew the clock was ticking – Anomalies never stayed whole for long. They had to gather evidence before the bodies faded away entirely, as if they'd never existed at all.
"Get shots of every corner – top to bottom!"
"Fly the drones closer – we need high-res footage of the internal structure!"
"Focus on the flower at the head – that's the key difference!"
Their leader's shouts cut through the noise. For the Haruspex, this was more than just a cleanup – it was a breakthrough, a mystery begging to be solved.
All Might watched them work, grinning. "Always so fired up, aren't they?"
The woman finished smoothing out the last of the temporary road, her eyes fixed on the centaurs. "They have to be. You know how it is – Anomalies vanish like smoke if you blink."
As if on cue, the creatures suspended above began to shift. Their dark scales drained of color, turning bone-white as if all blood had been pulled from their bodies. Then the white faded to transparency – first like glue, then like glass, until they shone like pure water.
The massive forms began to compress, as if squeezed by an invisible hand.
Claaaaaaaaang… claaaaaang… claaaaaang… claaaaaang…
The sound was like hammer on crystal, echoing through the street as the bodies were forged into something new. What remained were three clear, diamond-like shapes – perfect in form, catching the sun and scattering light across the asphalt.
Then, from the center of each crystal, a tiny pinpoint of light appeared.
ZAP…
The light exploded outward, wrapping the diamonds in a brilliant glow. And suddenly, the clear structures...
AM N. NOT.(っ－＿－)っ