A few days later...
[Somewhere in Yokohama]
It was a bar, though an abandoned one. There was no one except for three people.
A man with a mist covering his face with two devilish eyes looked at the headline on the newspaper. 'Temporary Leave From Hero Agency: All Might to teach in U.A.!!!'
"You see this? He's a teacher now." He told to the man beside him.
"Hmm..." The man beside him continued, "Now, what would happen if the symbol of peace were to be killed by villains? About how we should... fear the cleverest of villains." He completed his monologue.
He looked onto the TV in front of them, in there was a man,
"The world fears what it does not understand. And what it fears… it seeks to destroy."
The man's red eyes gleamed as he watched the broadcast. "Sensei," he muttered under his breath.
The mist-face man turned his attention to the screen. "It seems he has something to say."
A deep, calm voice continued through the speakers. "What about the boy that Kazuki scouted a few months ago... the Lawbreaker, Shigaraki?"
Shigaraki's fingers twitched at the mention of that name. "Lawbreaker, huh?" He let out a dry chuckle. "So he's finally caught your interest, Sensei? What do you say, Kurogiri?"
Kurogiri remained silent, but his glowing eyes flickered slightly. He, too, had heard whispers about the boy—a mystery, someone with immense potential yet difficult to predict.
The voice from the screen remained steady.
"Power alone is nothing. Control, precision, and purpose… these define true strength. Kazuki spoke highly of his efficiency, his ability to dismantle his opponents with minimal effort. And yet, he walks the path of a hero." He continued, "I was always interested in him, but I wouldn't dare attack him now, and neither should all of you. I want to know about the boy with a quirk that surpasses mine... Tell our informant to report on him."
Shigaraki narrowed his eyes at the screen, his fingers twitching slightly. "A quirk that surpasses yours?" he muttered, his voice laced with disbelief. "Tch."
"What? You think he's a joke?" Kazuki questioned Shigaraki. "He almost killed me. But then, he left me, like... like he didn't care."
Shigaraki turned to Kazuki with an unimpressed scowl. "Tch. Almost killed you, huh? And yet, here you are. Sounds like he did care—just not enough to finish the job."
Kazuki clenched his fists, frustration evident in his glare. "You don't get it, Shigaraki. He wasn't merciful. He was indifferent. Like I was nothing. Like it wasn't even worth his time."
Shigaraki's eyes darkened. He understood that feeling all too well—the sting of being overlooked, dismissed as insignificant. It made his fingers itch, the urge to decay something rising in his gut.
Kurogiri remained silent, absorbing the information. Meanwhile, the voice from the screen continued.
"Indifference is a dangerous trait. It means he does not see you as a threat… yet."
Kazuki exhaled sharply, regaining his composure. "So what's the plan, then? If we're not touching him yet, what are we doing?"
A long pause followed before the deep voice spoke again.
"We watch. We learn. If he truly surpasses me, then there may come a time when even I must act. Until then, patience. Let him grow, let him believe in his ideals… and when the moment comes, we will see if he still walks the path of a hero."
Shigaraki's fingers twitched restlessly. His lips curled into a scowl as he exhaled sharply, his irritation barely concealed. "Tch. Always with the waiting, huh? It's boring." He flexed his fingers, the urge to destroy something creeping up his spine. "We're supposed to be tearing this rotten world apart, not sitting around watching some kid play hero."
Kurogiri's mist swirled slightly, his deep, measured voice breaking the silence. "Patience is necessary, Shigaraki. If Sensei deems this boy significant, then we must not act recklessly."
Kazuki, still brooding over his past encounter, scoffed. "Call it what you want. I just know that kid isn't normal. You should've seen the look in his eyes—cold, detached. He knew he could end me. And he didn't. That kind of restraint?" He shook his head. "It's dangerous."
Shigaraki narrowed his eyes. "You sound scared."
Kazuki's jaw tightened, but he didn't answer. He was scared—not of the boy's strength, but of the uncertainty. What kind of person holds that much power and chooses not to use it? That wasn't heroism. That was something else.
Something worse.
Kurogiri glanced at Shigaraki. "Regardless, we have our orders. I will inform our contacts to keep watch on the boy. We'll know more soon enough."
Shigaraki exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "Fine. But if he does get in our way..." His lips twisted into a grin, his fingers twitching eagerly.
"I'll make sure he regrets it."
"Whatever, we're still attacking USJ, right?"
"Yes, but then again, avoid 'him' at all costs."
[At U.A]
I yawned. Today's the day. They announced that we were going to USJ yesterday, and to be honest, I was a bit interested in that.
The thought of practicing rescue scenarios wasn't exactly thrilling to me, but it was better than sitting through another dull classroom lecture. I stretched my arms as I walked through the dorm halls, passing by some of my classmates who were already chattering excitedly about today's exercise.
"Kaito!" Kirishima called out, I knew it was him by his voice, then shortly after that, "Kaito," Toru called out, and then, "Kai-"
"Oi! Shut the f*** up, or I will make you," I told to Kaminari, who was cut off by me.
Kaminari raised his hands in surrender, laughing. "Damn, man, you wake up on the wrong side of the bed or something?"
I rolled my eyes. "No, I just don't want to hear my name like a broken record."
Kirishima grinned, slapping my back. "You're always so serious, man. Lighten up! We're going to USJ—it's gonna be fun!"
"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, adjusting my uniform. "Just don't slow me down."
Toru giggled. "Oh, please. Like anyone here could keep up with you."
She wasn't wrong. Not that I cared.
We made our way to the bus, where Aizawa stood waiting, his usual tired expression barely masking his sharp gaze. The class piled in, chatting away about the upcoming exercise.
I took a seat near the back, closing my eyes as I rested my head against the window. Something still felt off, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
"Oi, Kaito," Bakugo's voice growled from a few seats away.
"Shut up, Bakugo. No one wants to talk to you."
"What did you say to me?"
I knew if I continued, the bastard won't stop, so I ignored him.
Toru quickly sat next to me, to my surprise. I thought she would rather sit with the girls?
I raised an eyebrow at her. "What? Lost your seat or something?"
Toru giggled, her invisible form shifting slightly. "Nope! Just figured I'd sit with you today. You always sit in the back, all quiet and brooding. Thought I'd change things up!"
I sighed. "You're not gonna let me sleep, are you?"
"Probably not," she said cheerfully.
I shook my head, resting my head against the window again. "Fine. Just don't be annoying."
"Driver! Start the bus, everyone's here." Aizawa told the bus driver.
As the bus slowly began to pick up pace, I rest my head to side.
My eyes were closed, my body relaxed, but my mind was still sharp.
That feeling hadn't gone away. The nagging sensation that something was coming.
Toru shifted beside me, her presence light and playful, but I could tell she was observing me.
"You okay?" she asked after a moment.
I cracked one eye open. "Yeah. Why?"
She shrugged, or at least I assumed she did. "You seem tense. Like... more than usual."
I sighed. "Just got a bad feeling, that's all."
Toru was quiet for a second before speaking again. "Think something's gonna happen at USJ?"
I exhaled slowly. "Wouldn't be surprised."
That made her pause. "You're kinda scary when you say things like that, you know?"
I smirked slightly. "Good."
The bus continued moving, and I let my head rest against the window again. Whatever was coming, I'd be ready for it.
Or so I thought as I slowly closed my eyes.
"Kaito...kaito....Kaito!" I heard as I jolted awake, it was Toru. "We're at USJ. C'mon, get up."
I exhaled sharply, rubbing the bridge of my nose before sitting up. The bus had come to a stop, and my classmates were already starting to get off, stretching and chatting excitedly.
USJ—Unforeseen Simulation Joint. A facility built to test our rescue abilities in simulated disaster scenarios. But that nagging feeling in my chest hadn't faded. If anything, it was stronger.
I followed the others off the bus, shoving my hands into my pockets. The sky was clear, the air crisp, but something just felt off.
Toru stuck close to me, which was unusual. Normally, she flitted around between the other girls, but today? She kept throwing glances my way.
"What?" I muttered, not in the mood.
She hesitated before speaking. "You really think something bad's gonna happen?"
I glanced around the facility as we entered. The massive dome-like structure stretched out before us, filled with artificial disaster zones—floods, landslides, collapsed buildings. It looked just like the photos. But there was something else. Something lurking.
I barely heard Thirteen begin her introduction, explaining the purpose of USJ and the importance of hero work beyond just fighting villains.
I wasn't listening. My eyes swept across the area, scanning. Searching.
Then, I saw it.
A shimmer. A distortion in the air.
Right in the middle of the facility.
I narrowed my eyes. A warp gate?
As if answering my suspicion, a dark, swirling mass expanded from the center of USJ, the air warping unnaturally.
My body moved before my mind caught up.
"Get back!" I shouted.
Aizawa snapped his attention toward the anomaly at the same time I did. His eyes flashed red.
And then—
Villains poured out.
"What the heck? Battle Robots? Like the one in the exam?" Kirishima asked.
"Don't move, those are... villains," Aizawa announced as everyone instinctively took a step back after looking at the mass of villains.
At the center of it all stood two figures that immediately caught my attention.
A man with a mist-covered face and a man with his face covered in... fingers.
Then, he spoke.
"Where's All Might?" His voice was impatient. "I thought he was supposed to be here."
All Might? So they were here for him?
Aizawa didn't answer. He just tensed, his eyes narrowing.
The villains kept pouring out of the portal behind them. There were dozens—maybe more. My classmates were frozen in place, some already starting to panic.
I exhaled sharply. This isn't just some training exercise.
The mist-covered man continued. "Ah, it seems we arrived at an unfortunate time. But no matter… I suppose we can still send a message without him."
My fingers curled into fists. These guys weren't here to play games. They had a plan. And that meant we were already at a disadvantage.
Aizawa shifted his weight. "Thirteen, get the students out of here—now!"
Thirteen turned to activate her Quirk, but the mist-covered villain—the one who had been standing beside the hand-covered man—shifted. His form expanded, tendrils of dark fog spreading out like a net.
"Now, now," he said, his voice smooth and controlled. "You won't be escaping so easily."
Before Thirteen could counter, a black void swirled around her, pulling at her body.
Warping Quirk.
I didn't hesitate. I lunged forward, my body moving on instinct as I reached for Thirteen—
But in a blink, the entire class was gone.
Vanished.
I landed on solid ground, but it wasn't where I was supposed to be.
The sky above me was dark, cloudy. The air felt damp. I could hear the sound of rushing water, waves crashing against something metallic.
I wasn't in the main plaza anymore.
I was in the Flood Zone.
Tch. A warp quirk and an ambush? This wasn't just some random villain attack.
This was a full-scale operation. F***, they formed a syndicate to kill All Might?
A splash echoed behind me. My body reacted before my mind could process it—I twisted, sidestepping just as a thick metal pipe swung past where my head had been a second ago.
Three villains.
One was big—muscular, his arms covered in scars. The second was wiry, with sharp teeth and a manic grin. The third had a mechanical-looking arm, his fingers twitching like he was waiting to grab something.
"You're that Kaito guy, huh?" the wiry one sneered. "Kazuki wasn't lying—he really did run into you."
I didn't respond. I just cracked my knuckles.
The big one grinned, slamming his fists together. "Boss says we're not supposed to mess with you too much, but you did hurt one of our own. So, you know… we gotta return the favor."
I exhaled. My stance shifted, muscles tensing.
"Yeah?" I muttered. "You can try. By the way, who's your boss? Is he the pale guy?"
The big one rushed at me, and just as he was about to punch me, with a flick of my power, kinetic energy, gone.
The massive villain's fist stopped inches from my face, his momentum stolen in an instant. His eyes widened in confusion.
Then I disabled perception, making everyone in there... blind, deaf and nullified in every sense.
The big one flailed, his fists swinging wildly in the air, trying to regain his balance. The wiry one stumbled back, his manic grin twisting into a grimace of confusion. The one with the mechanical arm froze, his fingers twitching but unable to find a target.
I exhaled, stepping forward.
"Pathetic," I muttered.
I grabbed the big one by the wrist and twisted—hard. A sickening crack echoed through the Flood Zone as his arm bent the wrong way. He let out a silent scream, his mouth open but no sound escaping. Ouch.
I looked at the others, who were still swinging wildly, hoping to get a hit. I then reinitiated perception. Then, I broke inertia, locking them in place.
"Now, if I were to remove the concept of vibration, your hearts won't be beating, alright?" I told them as a bead of sweat flowed down their heads, "Then your body goes to cardiac arrest and then you die here, and no one would blame me, thinking you got a cardiac arrest, naturally, but we wouldn't need that to happen, would we?"
The villains were silent—well, as silent as they could be while frozen in place, fear radiating from their wide eyes. The big one was still clutching his broken arm, his breath ragged. The wiry one, the loudmouth from before, had gone completely still, his manic grin long gone. The one with the mechanical arm twitched slightly, like he wanted to fight back but knew he couldn't.
"C'mon guys, show some energy..." I told them but still met with silence.
I sighed. "Do you really want to die? Well then, have fun in space." I broke gravity.
The three villains shot up into the sky instantly, their bodies yanked away by the sheer force of gravity—or rather, the lack of it.
I watched as they ascended, getting smaller and smaller. The human body wasn't built for space. If I let them go high enough, they'd suffocate long before they actually left the atmosphere.
Not that I cared.
But… I still needed answers.
I snapped my fingers.
Reinstate gravity.
They dropped like meteors, slamming into the concrete with sickening force. Dust and debris exploded from the impact, and when it settled, all three were sprawled out, twitching, groaning in pain.
"Okay, final chance. Tell me or die." I took a knife from one of them and held it against the one with the bent hand.
The big guy wheezed, his breath ragged as he clutched his mangled arm. His eyes darted between me and his unconscious comrades. The wiry one, the loudmouth, had stopped grinning a long time ago. Now he just stared at me, wide-eyed, sweat dripping down his face.
The mechanical-armed one groaned, spitting out a bit of blood. "You… you're a monster," he croaked.
I pressed the knife against the big one's throat, tilting my head slightly. "That's not an answer."
He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing against the cold metal. "Tch... You think I know anything? They don't tell grunts like us sh*t."
I narrowed my eyes. "Lame excuse. But let's test that theory."
With a flick of my power, I negated the pain concept from his body. For a moment, he looked relieved—until I tightened my grip on his broken arm and twisted it further, feeling the bones grind against each other.
He didn't scream.
He couldn't.
His eyes bulged, veins popping along his forehead as his body convulsed, the pain registering in his mind but never manifesting. His body knew it should hurt—it just wasn't allowed to. A cruel trick.
"You sure you don't know anything?" I asked, my voice calm, almost bored.
He gasped, his breaths short and frantic. "T-The pale guy! Yeah! He's the boss here!"
"Yeah? Who's pulling the strings?" I asked them as I brought the knife closer.
"We don't know. They call him 'Sensei' and that's all."
"Sensei? Huh?"
Now that we have this, time to take care of the others.
"Stay here, and wait for the heroes to come and capture you or else..."
With that, I ran off.
The sounds of battle echoed from different parts of USJ—explosions, shouts, and the unmistakable sounds of people fighting for their lives. The class was scattered. If anyone ran into a strong villain alone, they were done for.
I jumped onto a half-sunken boat, scanning the area. If I moved on foot, it'd take too long.
I flicked my fingers—
Gravity: Disabled.
I launched myself into the air, soaring above the Flood Zone. Below, students fought desperately against villains, outnumbered but still holding their ground.
Then—
"There!"
Tsuyu was carrying someone on her back—Mineta. They were moving across the wreckage, but three villains were closing in fast.
Mineta looked different than before. His body moved with more control, his expression hardened with focus. He wasn't the same weakling from before.
But they were still too slow.
I twisted mid-air and snapped my fingers.
Inertia: Gone.
The three villains suddenly stopped, their bodies locking in place as if frozen in time. Their eyes widened in confusion, their momentum stolen away.
I dropped back down, landing between Tsuyu, Mineta, and the immobilized villains.
Tsuyu blinked. "Kaito?"
I ignored her and stepped forward. The first villain tried to speak, but I cut him off with a punch to the gut, sending him flying backward into the water.
The second one twitched, trying to move. Too late. I grabbed his head and slammed it into the ground.
The third? He was smart. He didn't even try to fight.
"Run."
He didn't hesitate. He turned and bolted.
Tsuyu whistled. "You're scary, Kaito."
I glanced at Mineta, who was catching his breath. He looked at me and nodded.
"Good. You're not dead," I muttered.
Mineta smirked. "Not yet, at least."
I turned my attention back toward the plaza. The main fight was there—Shigaraki, Kurogiri, and that monster-looking thing.
I clenched my fists.
"No more distractions."
"Tsuyu, get out of here with Mineta. I'm heading to the plaza."
She frowned but nodded. "Be careful."
I didn't answer. I was already moving. I needed to find Toru, she can't do shit because she doesn't even have have an offensive ability.
[guess what?! Guess what?! 3300 words!]