In an undisclosed location around Naruhata’s outskirts, sounds played from the television in the corner of the room. Giran had found it in a storage room two floors up and had carried it down himself, which said something about his commitment to staying informed.

Giran leaned back in a battered leather chair, blowing a long, thin stream of smoke toward the ceiling.

Beside him, Shigaraki sat on an overturned crate with his knees up and Father’s hand covering his face and watched the rat principal finish his closing statement.

’This concludes the briefing for today. We will provide updates as the investigation allows. Thank you.’ The feed cut to the NHK anchor.

"The mouse-man is good. Talked for forty minutes and said absolutely nothing. It’s a talent." He reached over and turned it off.

The room was quiet except for the distant sound of the city outside. "Well," Giran said. He tapped the ash off his cigarette. "Looks like the League is no longer the hottest topic in Japan." He smiled at his own observation. A smile that Tomura Shigaraki for one, found particularly insufferable.

His hands twitched slightly, resisting the urge to destroy something due to mounting irritation.

"All For One makes his grand entrance, levels half of Tokyo, gets himself killed, and by the evening news, everyone’s arguing about whether a cartoon bear is going to send his teachers outside." He spread his hands. "The news cycle is a beautiful and terrible thing."

"Shut up." Shigaraki uttered in a low tone, eyes fixed on the broker. "Mention my master like that again, and I’ll kill you." Giran held up both hands in a gesture that was meant to be apologetic.

"Hehe .. take it easy now. You have my genuine condolences." He said. "Genuinely. I met the man twice. Both times he was the most composed person I had ever met. That’s rare in business."

"I’m not here for your condolences." Shigaraki uttered blandly. "Tell me ... Where is my War gate?"

This was the reason why he was here. It had been several hours since Shigaraki had broken into several prisons, enacting his plan under his master’s shadow to free numerous criminals from the bindings and unleash them into society. It worked.

The momentum back then was unstoppable. The league had gathered thousands of criminals ready to step into the new era. Too bad, nothing good lasts forever. In his final moments, his master had ultimately been defeated by All Might and that darned brat.

In those moments, Shigaraki had abandoned the previous plan to amass an army of supervillains to join the League Of Villains. He knew his limits. Without his master, properly organizing such a large group of villains was not only beyond the current him as he lacked the power, but would also make them an easily located target.

Most of those stuck up criminals didn’t want to join anyway. The result was that Shigaraki’s army of quirk villains had dissolved before even formally taking on the name, League of villains.

Not all were abandoned though. He had chosen a few ones with good strength from those who wanted to stay to join their ranks. Then from intel granted by Giran, learned that the HPSC would be transporting All For One’s body.

Kurogiri had taken the new recruits to complete the mission. Now, hours later, they still hadn’t returned.

The others could be ignored, but Kurogiri was vital to the movements of the league.

"Down to business now are we?" Giran smiled it off. "Well, looks like you’ve grown a bit. Anyway, don’t get all worked up." He reached into his jacket pocket. "I have your information right here."

He produced his phone in an unhurried manner.

"Honestly, I was going to charge you for this. Standard rate for NPA-adjacent intelligence, which isn’t cheap." He turned the phone face-up on his knee but didn’t hand it over yet. "But since it’s already leaked to three platforms and anyone with a decent source can pull it for free at this point ..." he slid it across to Shigaraki "—consider this one on the house."

Shigaraki took the phone.

The notification was running across multiple platforms simultaneously. Anonymous law enforcement sources. Two items.

First: the League of Villains had attacked a classified NPA transport and stolen All For One’s remains.

Second: four individuals connected to the attack were in NPA custody. Their names followed with quirk classifications listed alongside.

Shigaraki read all four names. He knew them all. After all, these were ones he had selected to join his established team. However, among the names of those captured, Kurogiri’s name was not on the list.

"They’re saying the League of villains hit the convoy transporting All For One’s body and managed to steal it at the loss of several men. But from the fact you’re here, that’s only partially true, isn’t it?

Crack! Shigaraki’s hand closed around the phone.

The decay moved from his palm in a second and what had been a phone became grey dust sifting through his fingers.

The League was being credited with stealing the body, but Kurogiri hadn’t returned yet. Four of the men with him were now in a cell somewhere.

And Kurogiri himself was neither confirmed captured nor confirmed dead. Which left a narrow set of possibilities, none of which were good and one of which was significantly worse than the others. ’Something fishy is going on here ..’

Giran looked at the phone now dust and back to Shigaraki now scratching his neck in irritation. "That’s going on the previously non existent bill," he said.

"Shut it " Tomura rasped as countless thoughts filled his mind. How had everything changed in such a short time? ’First master ... Now Kurogiri and my underlings ... This game ... It’s no longer fun anymore.’ How did things get to this extent?

Tomura’s eyes burned with a searing hatred. They were already so close ... So why wouldn’t this goddamn society collapse already? His scratching grew more frantic ... Then stopped as he fingers drew blood. With that, his eyes widened. That seemed to calm him down.

"Tch." Giran looked at him, that insufferable smile still ever present. "Calm now?"

There was a long silence. Until .. "... That ... Yeah. I feel fine." He uttered, the manic looks in his eyes fading. ’It’s nothing much ... Now the game’s just levelled up ... That’s why things are harder. I just need to level up too ..’ He thought.

"So, what do you plan to do now ... Leader of the League of villains?" Shigaraki didn’t answer immediately, seemingly pondering over the question himself. Not long after, he had his answer. "What I’ve always planned to do." He raised his head up, looking out the windows

"Destroy Hero society. Now that I’m so close ... I’ll finish what master started." Then turned back to Giran. "For that .. I’ll need people. Giran, do you have anyone to introduce to the League."

Giran raised an eyebrow. Once would think that after last night, the League would be flowing with new recruits. However, as a proper businessman, he was principled enough not to ask of things that didn’t concern him.

"Of course, things are different now compared to back then. All Might is no longer the top Hero, and society has lost even more than just him." Giran lit a new cigarette, now his turn to look out the window. "This new Era ... Is lined with so much opportunity. Recently I’ve gotten in touch with a few people that I think you’d personally get along with. Useful quirks too." He turned back to Shigaraki.

"However, no matter how much I favor you and my past relationship with your master, I am still a businessman at heart. Your current situation being what it is ..." Giran’s eyes moved briefly to the dust " ... you’re not exactly swimming in leverage to offer."

"Add whatever you need to the bill." Shigaraki moved toward the door. "I’ll get it on hand."

"Hmm, I suppose that is good enough for me. I’ll leave you the down payment for the finders fee for now." He smiled. "Good luck Shigaraki .. you’re going to need it."

Tomura said nothing, just turning and passing through the exit.

Meanwhile, at U.A high school. "Okay, the cake is in the fridge, the streamers are up, and Sato is finishing the last of the hors d’oeuvres," Ashido Mina whispered, her hands waving frantically as she addressed the group. "Now we just need the guest of honor. We need a retrieval team."

"Perfect. I’ll go with Midoriya." Iida walked, slapping a hand on Midoriya’s shoulder much to his panic. "Hold on .. what?"

"Yes. As the class president, it’s my duty to invite him over. Midoriya, you’ll come with me."

"No!" Mina and Hagakure shouted in unison, their voices echoing in the high ceiling of the common room.

Midoriya who hadn’t even had the chance to refuse blinked, startled. "Wait, why not?" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Um .. no offence Deku, but you kinda have the poker face of a glass of water," Uraraka said, with a slight smile. "You might accidentally ruin the surprise."

"What ..."

Hagakure’s invisible head nodded in agreement. "Yeah. You’ll start muttering, then you’ll overexplain, then you’ll panic, then you’ll apologize for something that hasn’t even happened yet, and then boom—surprise ruined before he even puts on his shoes."

Midoriya opened his mouth. Closed it. "...I... might do that," he admitted quietly.

"Hold on .. it’s supposed to be surprise?"

"Of course it is. Which is why Iida isn’t going either?"

The class president was stunned. "Huh? Wait a minute. I get Midoriya, but why me?"

"Because you’re too formal." Mina answered this time. "That’s the impression everyone has of you. If you make an excuse with something that doesn’t fit your persona to bring him over, he’s gonna know something’s up and the surprise won’t be a surprise anymore. You and Iida are bad fits."

Both looked visibly dazed. "She’s right, guys," Kaminari added with a sympathetic pat on their backs. "You’re too pure for this mission."

"I could go," Mineta smirked, leaning back with a smug expression. "I have a very convincing way of persuading people to—"

"You too, Mineta," Jiro interrupted, not even looking up from her jack-cables.

"Hey! Why me?!"

No one answered him.

"Hey, no worries about this. I can go tell him."

"Well I guess it’s fine. But ... What are you going to tell him Kirishima?" Kaminari looked over. "I mean, you two aren’t exactly very close."

"Come to think of it, we can’t really say any specific person in class is closest to him or something. We all haven’t really spent much time with him so any one person going alone would need a very good reason. Anyone have any ideas?"

"That’s true." Sero said, hand on his chin. The next moment, his eyes lit up. "I got it. Instead of one, let the three of us go get him. We can make up an excuse that Mr. Aizawa wanted him to come check his dorm room or something. Kirishima, Kaminari, and I will go. We’re the ’Relaxed Squad.’ so it’ll be the least suspicious."

"That’s perfect." Mina brightened. "Alright, let’s get going. It’s getting late."

Five Minutes later, at the staff residential wing, south garden ...

The sun had begun to dip below the horizon, replaced by the amber glow of the campus security lights.

As the trio approached the area near the faculty housing, they stopped short.

Down in the courtyard, a small girl with a single horn was giggling.

Yuta was crouched beside Eri, his palm pressed flat against the dark earth besides Eri looking like a tired older brother.

"Alright, Snowball," Yuta said softly. "watch this," The ground shifted the moment he finished his words. Chakra flowed from his feet into the earth.

Seconds later, tiny, perfectly detailed structures began to rise from the dirt. Miniature skyscrapers, a small replica of a park, even a tiny bridge crossing a non-existent river. Within seconds, a sprawling mini-city had manifested around Eri’s feet.

Eri’s eyes widened. "...Wooooah..." She leaned forward, tiny hands gripping the edge of her dress as she stared.

Yuta smirked faintly. "Told you." then urged her in.

In the distance, the three boys who just arrived stood there for a second. "...Since when can he do that?" Kaminari whispered.

"No idea," Sero replied.

Kirishima grinned. "That’s actually kinda manly."

Their arrival didn’t go unnoticed. Yuta glanced up, noticing them. "...Oh. Hey guys. What’s up?" he asked.

Kirishima stepped forward first, easy grin in place. "Yo, man. You’re up already?"

"Barely," Yuta replied dryly.

Sero crouched slightly, eyeing the miniature structures. "That’s insane, by the way."

"Thanks." Yuta said simply. He stood up, dusting his hands. "What brings you three out here? I figured you’d all be glued to the news."

Kirishima cleared his throat, stepping forward with his best ’casual’ display. "Actually, Aizawa-sensei sent us. Said something about a room in the dorms. Said something about since your status is being officially cleared tomorrow, you need to ... head over to the dorms tonight and clear out your designated room. He wants you moved in before the morning briefing."

Kaminari nodded rapidly. "Yeah. Said we should grab you."

There was a moment of silence. Yuta looked at them and his brow raised slightly.

"...Aizawa-sensei?"

"Yeah," Kirishima said, not missing a beat.

Yuta finally nodded. "...Interesting." The lie was a good one, but it hit a wall Yuta hadn’t told them about.

He had just finished a long, heavy discussion with his mother about the I-Island offer. Nezu was still waiting on their answer. Aizawa, who was practically Nezu’s shadow today, would have known that as well.

There was no way Aizawa would casually assign him dorm cleanup in the middle of that.

So. Either they were lying. Or ...They were badly lying.

If this wasn’t U.A high, and these weren’t teenagers, his first thought would be these guys were under some kind of mind control trying to lure him away for something.

"Okay," Yuta said. He turned to Eri, who was still watching the city with her focused attention. From the looks of it, she was going to watch it as long as it remained watchable. "Hey, snowball."

She looked up. "You want to stay here and keep playing with your city for a bit, or do you want to come with us?"

Eri considered this with all seriousness. She looked at the city. Then at Yuta. Then at the three unfamiliar boys standing at the garden’s edge, one of whom gave her a small wave when she looked at him, which was Kirishima, and looked back at Yuta.

"Come," she said.

He nodded then turned to the miniature city for a moment and pressed his palm flat against the ground one more time. The city collapsed inward slowly, the earth returning to itself in the same way it had risen, until the garden was a garden again.

Eri watched it go with a slightly sad expression.

"We can make another one," Yuta said.

She nodded once. Then stretched her hand asking for uppys, which Yuta gladly obliged by picking her up and putting him on his neck.

"Alright then, lead the way. Let’s see this ’room’ Aizawa is so worried about."