Because of Bakugo's sudden departure, the atmosphere in the classroom quickly cooled.
"By the way, Masata," Kirishima said, trying to liven things up again,
"you're not seriously planning to use that magma against us during the Sports Festival, right?"
"Yeah, yeah!" Kaminari immediately chimed in.
"I really don't want to fight you head-on. It's terrifying! I heard that most of the villains you fought at USJ ended up missing arms and legs!"
"And just thinking about the temperature makes my skin crawl," someone added.
"That Quirk of yours feels like it was made purely for combat!"
Hearing everyone's concern, Masata raised a hand casually.
"Relax. I won't be cruel to my friends," he said lightly.
After all, he'd been using his Quirk since childhood. He had long since learned how to control it—unless he wanted to be dragged off by the police for a 'friendly chat.'
"…It looks like everyone's really fired up," Yaoyorozu said, watching her classmates discuss strategies for standing out at the Sports Festival.
"We'll probably need special training for the remaining two weeks."
She sighed slightly.
Yaoyorozu wasn't good at direct confrontation by nature, and her Quirk was more tactical than explosive. In real combat, she had to consider factors like fat reserves, material limits, and production time. Head-on battles were never simple for her.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside U.A.'s principal's office was far more serious.
"The villain organization calls itself the League of Villains," Officer Naomasa Tsukauchi reported, scanning the documents in his hands.
"The leader goes by the name Tomura Shigaraki, estimated to be between twenty and thirty years old. His Quirk causes objects to collapse when touched with both hands."
"That's all the confirmed information so far."
"No matching records were found in the police database," Tsukauchi continued.
"The same goes for the one calling himself Kurogiri, whose Quirk appears to be a type of portal."
"No registered identity, likely aliases, no Quirk registration… possibly unregistered citizens."
As Tsukauchi finished, several U.A. Heroes voiced their concerns.
"We know almost nothing about these villains," one said grimly.
"We have to act quickly. We cannot allow such dangerous criminals to continue threatening the students."
All Might was present as well.
Everyone in the room was a trusted U.A. staff member, and Tsukauchi had been All Might's close friend for many years. There was no need for secrecy.
"From this attack, it's clear the villains planned carefully," All Might said slowly.
"But their leader kept talking about Nomu. According to student reports, when Igarashi Masata appeared and disrupted his plan, he became extremely agitated."
"He even voluntarily revealed Nomu's abilities," All Might continued.
"Almost as if he were… showing off."
Principal Nezu raised a paw, signaling for All Might to continue.
"Making childish declarations, flaunting his 'toys,'" All Might said.
"Believing the world would develop exactly as he imagined—yet executing a carefully planned raid."
"All of that combined tells me something."
"He's a giant infant," All Might concluded.
"A man who believes the world revolves entirely around him."
Some Heroes nodded in agreement.
"But analyzing his psychology won't help us capture him faster," Vlad King—Class 1-B's homeroom teacher—said with a frown.
"Shouldn't we focus on arresting him as soon as possible?"
Tsukauchi exhaled softly before responding.
"At USJ, we arrested seventy-two villains," he said.
"Most were street-level thugs. Only a handful were truly capable."
"But here's the problem."
"They all agreed with Shigaraki's ideology."
After a brief pause, Tsukauchi continued,
"They believe modern society is too boring. They want to destroy the current system."
"That's the real danger."
"In an era where Heroes are everywhere, the resentment that's been suppressed… may be drawn toward Shigaraki's pure, destructive malice."
The room fell silent.
The League of Villains alone wasn't the most terrifying thing.
Their ideas were.
Ideas that could gather the darkness from society's corners—
and eventually swallow the light.
Back in the classroom, Yaoyorozu finally understood something after Ochaco explained it.
Whenever Ochaco became overly tense or emotional, her enthusiasm skyrocketed.
Ochaco wanted to earn a lot of money as a Hero someday—so her hardworking parents could finally live comfortably. That was why she desperately wanted to shine at the Sports Festival and catch the attention of professional Heroes.
Hearing this, Yaoyorozu's eyes instantly filled with tears.
It was the first time she truly understood the struggles of an ordinary family.
Masata's family wasn't wealthy, but they were never lacking. Ochaco's situation was different.
"Don't worry, Ochaco!" Yaoyorozu said firmly, wiping her own tears.
"You'll definitely achieve your dream!"
Then she hugged Ochaco tightly.
"Masata will open his own Hero agency someday!" Yaoyorozu continued confidently.
"When that happens, you can join him!"
"And if he ever treats you badly, tell me—I'll teach him a lesson!"
"…Eh?"
Ochaco froze.
"Masata is going to open his own Hero agency?"
"Of course," Masata replied lazily, sprawled across his desk and completely ignoring Yaoyorozu's threats.
"A strong guy like me isn't going to work under someone else forever, right?"
"That's been my plan since I was a kid."
Shifting into a more comfortable position, he continued,
"And now I already have my first member—Yaoyorozu right in front of you."
"How about it? This will be the strongest Hero agency in the future. You should definitely join us!"
"O-Okay!" Ochaco said, her face turning bright red.
"I believe in you, Masata! And if I join your agency… the three of us can stay together, right?"
Yaoyorozu's face darkened instantly.
She stared at Masata for a long moment—then grabbed Ochaco and dragged her away toward the cafeteria without another word.
Masata was left sitting alone, utterly confused.
...
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