Fractured Wings

"That's something I never thought I'd see." The voice that spoke beside me sounded happy but also a little disappointed. 

"Honestly, I really wanted to be the one to see if I could make All Might get his first kill." Daiki spoke with a poetic tone that would make many people think he is of high class, but obviously I knew that weren't the case. 

None of us were dead. And we were finally back in out real world. I was alive, so was Nagant, So were the rest of the small crew that was sent out. 

That was surprising. But the reason for it cleared it all up. 

"Well since we're basically allies Kobe, I might hold off on trying to kill you." He spoke while putting his hand out, he was looking for me to shake it. "But know, alliances between big villain groups like ours, do not last." 

That was something I believed, people naturally are filled with too much hubris, so a self-proclaimed villain would obviously live like that too. 

I shook his hand, the adrenaline was gone so the pain arrived. Daiki was powerful, how did the League of Villains recruit someone like him? 

If I were fully on the heroes side I think that I would be feeling a little scared for my future. 

Daiki then looked to the people in the distance which were part of the little Proxy elimination squad and waved to them. 

"Next time we meet will be around the week of the Hero's Eve." 

With that he blitzed away without even leaving a trail of wind. 

Thank God for that. I still had a small window of opportunity before without the chance of getting caught. Due to the power of both my quirks I have a pretty good sense of danger and when people intend to do me harm and how close they may be. 

Near us right now, far above the clouds looking down and getting ready to swoop in with a lethal kill-shot, was Hawks. 

There was no way or reason to risk a fight with him now. And I already had a way to stop that and it was being sent in his direction. 

"How do you know him?" Nagant asked me, her arms were crossed and she seemed to calm down. 

Ren, Miku and Arata were all analyzing me intensely too waiting for an answer. Well I obviously wasn't going to give them a real answer. 

"Just an old friend I guess." There was no way I'd actually call Daiki a friend, he was a madman that I didn't want anything to do with, hoping he would die out on his own without bothering anyone. 

Miku scoffed and Ren shrugged her shoulders, I heard Arata repeat what I said in a low mutter. This is something that would be reported to Destro, I wonder if he'd call me in to try and figure out my past with him. That would just tell me that Destro knows more people that I wouldn't expect him to know. 

The attack on Hero's Eve, well I noticed that Hawks stopped his movements and due to the paper bird landing on a nearby building it should be following my next instructions now. Which were to unravel and give him the information that I have found out, like the attack that will happen on Hero's eve. 

"Let's head back to the base." Arata announced. 

"Wait—" Nagant halted everyone. "Since Proxy is dead, we're not obligated to follow you guys anymore." 

True, but why would she bring that up now. If these guys wanted to fight it would just cause noise that the heroes would pick up on and pounce on us. 

"We believe it may be best to head back to the base first and then discuss that." Arata started with a cool motion. "But it's understandable if you don't want to do that and just leave now. But where would you go?" 

Nowhere. 

She has nowhere to go and a shoddy ambition at best. Staying with the MLA or going back to the commission are her best options. 

She sighed and resigned letting herself be lifted up by a paper dragon this time. 

Anyway, as I was saying. The information in Hawk's hand now details that the League are working with the MLA as well as the fact that many villains and organizations have decided to also work under the league and all plan to show out during the Hero's Eve attack. 

Information on the fact that the MLA have at least 50000 members, although less than a quarter of that population is capable of mobilising and fighting as Destro wouldn't deploy all his people for All For One. 

And lastly, I left some information about the Eden Project, information that tells him I was a part of it and that I know the commission is keeping it a secret... soon he or someone else close to him will find a way to get in contact with me. 

And that was the goal. 

Now I'll have to wait for a contact and then start planning a way out of this dumb organization. But then again, with the way things have been for the heroes I don't think they have it in them to get the win if they went up against the combined forces in a couple months time. 

***

November 1st

National Broadcast | 7:00 PM JST 

It was the day after Halloween but you wouldn't be able to tell looking at the streets of Japan. It was only a few days after the nationwide incident and no one wanted to be out in big groups for too long out of fear. They didn't know what would happen. 

Information about the outcome with Proxy was never stated, some people started having manic episodes believing they were still in that world, that we were all brainwashed into thinking they were home, alive and well.

That only added to the fear but today's news should clear all doubts. 

The screen flickers, shifting from a brief weather report to the main evening news segment. The set is pristine, polished and sterile in it's perfection. Behind the anchor, a digital display looms, showing a solemn montage of the Pro Hero commission's emblem, flickering images of a devastated U.A. campus, and a shadowed figure labeled "Proxy." 

The nation watches in silence as the anchor, a poised woman in her mid-forties with an expression carefully schooled into professional solemnity, straightens her papers and begins to speak. 

"Good evening Japan. This is Kiyomi Tanaka, bringing you the latest on what is now being called the single most decisive victory in our nation's battle against villainy. One week ago, on the evening of October 25th, Japan's greatest heroes engaged in a critical battle against one of the most dangerous threats in recent history, Daigo Kiyoshi, the villain known as Proxy. We can now confirm Proxy has fallen and was slain in battle. 

The Hero Commission has declared this a momentous victory for out country, citing the efforts of our heroic forces, particularly out Number 1 and Number 2 heroes, for ensuring that justice was served. The Commission urges the nation to stand in gratitude, as this battle has prevented further catastrophic loss.

They would also like to apologize for the delayed response regarding this matter, while also reassuring you that everything was handled with the necessary efficiency to ensure the nations safety. 

In other news, U.A. High School, one of Japan's most esteemed institutions for hero education, has officially announced indefinite closure following the brutal attack that has been confirmed to have been orchestrated by Proxy himself. The assault, which came from an aircraft in command by another unfortunate victim of his, left countless injured and resulted in four confirmed deaths. While identities of the victims remain undisclosed out of respect for their families, it has been reported that students, faculty members and Pro Heroes alike have suffered losses. 

In response, the government has declared that the remainder of the day, November 1st, will be observed as a day of silence to honour our saviours and the fallen. 

Stay safe Japan. And remember—Heroes will always fight for us." 

The screen fades to black, transitioning into a montage of flickering candle flames, a silent homage to the lives lost. 

***

Stress lines were on the face of the head of the commission, Rika Amamiya. She never got transported but she was waiting for it, only to then be glad to see Hawks appear back in his position with news that the madman Daigo Kiyoshi had been killed. 

But that joy didn't last long. She knew it wouldn't she was only waiting for the calls and complaints to start rushing in, she had barely even thought of the incident that happened in UA. But what Hawks brought back had set her off even more. 

Soryu, or better yet, Kobe Arakawa. He knows all about the Eden Project, he knows that the commission has been hiding it and even more, he brought information about an attack being planned by the League of Villains and the remnants of Destro's army, by a supposed heir. 

Everything was going wrong. 

She had turned off the Tv projection that she laid on the desk in front of the necessary people in the room so they could get started on their meeting. Those in the room were few, one of the people being Hideaki Kurogami, the towering bear-like figure was sat in silence with a look of shame on his face. 

He had been a major investor in the Eden project, wanting to curry up favour while also testing his limits. He has claimed to be a changed man, but how was she to tell when he couldn't even bring the information of all the project had done to her himself. 

Across from him to her right was Hawks with his feet on the table as he leaned back on his swingy chair, he whistled out a tune as the news segment ended. Beside him was Best Jeanist and across from him was Edgeshot. 

Hawks had gathered them all and decided that it would be best to not include Sir Nighteye, stating that he looks like he's going manic whenever he speaks about the bad future that is to come. And he seems to obsessive on his target Soryu. 

"Some people are still out there worrying and I would like to be out there helping any way I can." Best Jeanist said in a cold tone. 

Before Rika could speak, Hawks interrupted. 

"Hold it, many people are actually still inside, scared. Any minute now and the old man will be here and then we can start." 

Hawks had also decided to go and fetch someone else and told Rika that it's a surprise. She didn't like it, how he was so casual and playful in situations like this, she knew deep down he probably felt as terrible as they did, but he was raised to suppress that side of himself. 

A few seconds later the door opened slowly, without a knock, and in came a little old man in a white hero suit with yellow accents, a yellow cape and thick yellow boots, in his hands was a bag of crisps that he lifted up and tilted to finish the remainder. He then dumped the bag in the bin and let out a loud burp which Hawks laughed at and Rika and the rest found disgusting. 

This little old man was a hero named Gran Torino. Someone who had been fighting crime for many years now, and some even believed he had stopped. 

He walked over to the space to the left side from Rika's perspective, he sat beside Edgeshot. 

"Nice to meet all you youngins. You can all address me as Torino." He said as he sat down quietly. 

"Hawks," Rika said in a curious tone. "Can I ask why you decided to scoop him up and not just leave it at us five." 

"Well he worked with Nighteye for a long time so if need be he could give us a certain perspective that is similar." 

She sighed and lifted up her papers and welcomed the elder hero. He nodded in response. 

She didn't know which to start with, the heroes eve incident that she wants to cancel, or the news about the Eden Project. 

A rumble and low cough came from her left, it was Hideaki. So he wanted to start it. 

"To start, I want to remind you all that everything said in here is confidential and will have it's time to reach the outside world. A time that is not now. So for now you will be briefed on a topic that heavily revolves around the young man known as Soryu." 

"Ooh that young skipper," Gran Torino interrupted. "he was a classmate of the brat that interned with me." 

That was information they already knew, but it was still welcome. The old man seemed to be in bliss, less aware, maybe it was age, Rika didn't know since he had hardly done any interviews that she could compare it to. 

A cough came that stopped all speaking. 

"I will be speaking about this subject," Hideaki interjected. "The Eden Project." 

There were curious faces among the heroes that knew nothing. And Hideaki satiated that curiosity. 

"This was an initiative set forth by the previous head of the Commission, Tatsuo Kanzaki. Kanzaki sought to craft the next generation of heroes, ones who could dominate the top ten, specifically to create the next All Might." He let that sit in for a moment, his gaze lowering. "He needed investors. Those who funded the project were granted untouchable positions within the commission, securing their influence indefinitely." 

Best Jeanist's hand curled into a fist on the table. Edgeshot's eyes narrowed, his normally tranquil presence shifting into something colder and sharper. 

"They sourced their subjects from orphanages and reformatory schools," Hideaki continued. "Children with no guardians, no one to report them missing. Some were labelled delinquents, destined for behavioral correctional camps that were, in reality, fronts for the project." 

Gran Torino's eyes, sharp despite his age, flickered with recognition. "That's like those orphanages that get found out trying to create super soldier's after some big war." 

The elder man was right, but he was mainly referencing history from long ago, even before the first quirk was sighted. They were big in Europe, mainly Germany and countries it borders. 

"The similarities are undeniable," Hideaki admitted. "The methods used in the Eden Project were... unforgiveable." He drew in a breath. "The children were subjected to conditions designed to erase weakness, both physical and emotional. They were tested under extreme duress—starvation, sensory deprivation, and prolonged exposure to hallucinogens to distort their perception of reality. Isolation rooms, pitch black or blindingly white, were common. Physical endurance trials meant to push them beyond their limits often resulted in fatalities." 

Rika remained composed in her chair. Hawks had gone still, watching the others with quiet calculation. 

"The children were required to kill," Hideaki continued. "Only once, but if they did not do that then they would be made to watch others die in their place. They were assigned numbers instead of names, reducing their sense of identity. When they killed, they were made to deliver eulogies for their victims—and for themselves, as if they were already dead." 

A sharp intake of breath came from Best Jeanist. "Monstrous," he uttered, barely containing the revulsion in his voice. "How is that supposed to create heroes. That's not humane." 

"Many of them lost the ability to feel fear. To feel sorrow. Those who showed hesitation were broken down further," Hideaki admitted, his voice quieting. "They were made to disassociate. Anything unnecessary was removed." 

Edgeshot's gaze bore into him, unreadable but filled with something fierce and restrained. "And you invested in this," he said, his voice dangerously low. "You put your money into this horror show?" 

Hideaki flinched. "I did. At the time I didn't see anything wrong with it. And I was promised a position of high rank within this organization, we were just at the tail end of an oncoming mutant war and I wanted to be in a place where I would hold influence. And more than that I thought it was needed." 

"How?" Best Jeanist snapped, his voice cutting through the room like a whip. "You were complicit! You sat and watched while children were abused and left each other broken and you thought it was for some good?" 

Hawks just sighed, lifting his hands. "Relax Jeanist. We're not here to rip the guy apart just yet." 

"Yet?" Edgeshot repeated. "Are you suggesting we let this go?" 

"I'm suggesting we listen," Hawks corrected, still calm but his eyes sharp. "We can tear into him later, plus he's not going anywhere. Have any of you met his daughter?" Hawks jeered, Hideaki shown no visible reaction to that. 

"Oh God." Gran Torino breathed out, he already knew where this was going. 

"She was a part of the project too." There was a sudden freeze from the previous heroes in the room. Hideaki nodded and continued while staring down at the table. "But she only came under my care after the current head came into position and shut the project down." 

There were no more words they could add to show how much they did not like the man that sat so near the head of the table. So he carried on. 

Hideaki exhaled and steeled himself. "The first subject of the Eden Project... was Daigo Kiyoshi. Proxy." 

Silence. The weight of the revelation was suffocating. 

"He was Kanzaki's son," Hideaki finally said, watching as the others reeled from the revelation. "The first experiment. Kanzaki had been performing these experiments long before he came into his position as head of the commission so there was very little rough work he had to conduct before getting straight into it." 

"Really," Gran Torino drawled. "I'd say the boy turned out shit." 

"I never met the last commission head. How was he like?" Best Jeanist asked. 

Rika felt that this time she could give an answer, she had been politically battling him for long and had met with him and had plenty conversations with him over the years. 

"He was slimy." she started. "He was able to keep his persona clean for the public but he was more deranged, I never thought it could get so far that he would be conducting experiments on his own child, but he was obsessive and never actually cared for public safety or anything close to it. He just wanted to get as much power as he could and live life as he pleased." 

"Was his funeral secret, cause I never seen his name in the death index?" Jeanist asked again. 

And that's when things got weird. 

"As far as I know, the man isn't dead, but in hiding." 

A look of shock and worry was etched on the faces of the heroes in the room, all except Hawks of course, as her right hand Rika couldn't have him lag behind like that. 

"I've had Hawks and a small team of commission trained individuals to follow any leads that we have come across but there's been nothing about him." 

Best Jeanist was about to ask another question but Hawks cut him off, "Let's get back to Hideaki please." 

All eyes went back to the bear and let him carry on. 

"Another name we all know is Soryu, or Kobe Arakawa. He was brought into the program when he was nine years old." His voice was heavy with knowledge. "He was one of the most promising subjects, ranking among the best. His potential... was assessed to be capable of reaching at the very least the number three hero ranking when it came to power. If not higher." 

Edgeshot's fists clenched. "That boy was meant to be a hero." 

"They all were." Hideaki looked at everyone with dark eyes and remorse. "But from what we can tell, our training certainly didn't make any of them want to follow in that path, instead they all seemed to have an aversion to it." 

"How were they lost?" Rika asked, this was something she didn't even know. She shut down the project but she never sent any operatives to guide the children out. 

"I don't know," That answer certainly disappointed the small crowd that was there, "All I know is, when I got there the only person I could find was Akari, hiding in a cupboard. I then decided to take her in after that. From the mess that was left I assumed the children all worked together or fought each other when they seen no one watching over them and then found a way to escape together. But we won't know unless one of them tell us." 

"Your kid has nothing to say?" Hawks asked. 

"As I said, she was hidden when she said fighting and screaming started so she didn't know what went on other than a sudden silence before everyone just started to leave." 

There were a few cracks and pops of relief and heads shaking at the news they had heard. The silence was unbearable and Gran Torino decided to speak up first. 

"What's the deal with Soryu then?" He asked. "Are you really gunning after him with such a high villain ranking? There are only a handful that have ever received the nationwide threat level on their heads." 

Rika looked to Hawks and the other two top ten heroes. 

"Well, I really didn't know what to do about him. Nighteye came in one day and said he seen a terrible future with him in it and saying that his capture is top priority." She answered honestly. 

Gran Torino looked to be contemplating something for a minute. 

"The fact that he came out and told you of his quirk is a surprise, but that also means he is truly taking the boy incredibly serious." The old man then started scratching at his head. "But knowing his past and even getting detailed reports about the boy, he may be someone that still thinks being a hero would be worth something, even though he's a little brutal." 

Hideaki started rummaging around and then picked out a USB and plugged it into the table to show up on the holographic display that rose up. 

"This will show you all the members of the Eden project that did make appearances." he said. "All of them became involved in crime some way or another." 

The screen flickered to life, projecting a series of images and data files. One by one, the names and faces of those who had emerged from the Eden Project were revealed. Each file grim, each story a tragedy. 

Shinji Masaru - The Flesh Architect 

Crime: Organ Trafficking, experimental surgeries on live victims. 

Status: Killed by rival crime syndicate. 

Notes: Shinji ran an underground operation, using his quirk Graft to transplant and modify bodies at will. He was found brutally dismembered, his own organs harvested. 

Rina Eguchi - Widowmaker

Crime: High-profile assassinations. 

Status: Suicide after cornered by law enforcement. 

Notes: Rina's quirk, Hollow Point, allowed her to accelerate and redirect projectiles with deadly precision. She was found in a hotel room, with a single bullet wound going through her skull. 

Tetsuya Fujioka - Phantom 

Crime: Serial Kidnappings, human hunting games. 

Status: Found torn apart in a custom-made trap. Believed to be part of the creation of said trap. 

Notes: Tetsuya possessed Predator's Gift, a quirk that gave him heightened senses and monstrous physicality. He ran an underground 'game' where captives were forced to evade him for sport. When heroes finally closed in on him, they found him mangled in a trap as he was attempting to evade capture. 

Aira Momose - Silent Swan 

Crime: Mind control, Extortion, high-profile political manipulation. 

Status: Executed by a hero in the field. 

Notes: Aira's quirk, Echo Chamber, allowed her voice to override the will of others. She had manipulated several politicians into passing harmful laws before she was confronted by authorities. Best Jeanist had been among those who fought her. 

Hiroshi Kaname - Veil

Crime: Espionage, government infiltration, blackmail. 

Status: Disappeared. Whereabouts unknown. 

Notes: Hiroshi's quirk, Shroud, made him undetectable in darkness and electronic devices. He had infiltrated multiple government facilities, stealing classified data before vanishing without a trace. His file remains open, and his last known location was over three years ago. 

Hideaki let the silence stretch, allowing the weight of the information to settle in the room. Best Jeanist was the first to react, his voice cold with disbelief. "So every single one of these so-called 'projects' turned to crime. And all but one ended up dead. Tell me Hideaki, how is this anything but a horror story?" 

Edgeshot's eyes narrowed. "You said this was meant to create the next generation of heroes. What it created was death, destruction and suffering. There's no justifying this." 

"I'm not justifying anything," Hideaki firmly replied. "I know exactly what it is. That's why I brought it to the table. The commission's hands are covered in blood. This was the cost of their vision. And now it's our problem." 

Gran Torino, who had been silent up to this point, shook his head slowly. "All that training, all that suffering... and not one of them turned out the way you wanted, maybe its rebellion. But either way it ain't just tragic, its a goddamn disgrace." 

Hawks, sat their thinking. 'There's a lot more to this meeting we still haven't discussed, I'd rather get to it soon.' 

"Well there's more too. Names and faces that I got last week." 

"How?" Hideaki asked, this was the only time his voice seemed to be raised. 

Hawks then pulled out a USB that was wrapped in 'paper. "Soryu gave it to me at the end of his battle with a young man who's name is on this named, Daiki Tenma." 

Hideaki wasn't the only one with a look of surprise, but so were the rest of the heroes in the room. Three of them were part of a squad that was meant to capture Soryu, but none of them had even got close, and now it sounded to them like they were hearing that Hawks got close enough to make some kind of exchange.

He corrected that. 

"I'm guessing he sensed me or seen me above ready to swoop down and take him out, then he sent a paper bird to me which unravelled to be a few sheets of information on what he's up to and a USB revealing much more information about the Eden Project." 

"But that's not it." Rika interjected. "We've spoken plenty about the dreadful project, we should now focus on the information that Kobe handed us, since it is incredibly important." 

She placed the papers under a shining light which then showed up on the hologram with the information she had wanted them all to see. 

"This is about an attack on the Hero's Eve." Hawks said, his voice serious. "Soryu's intel confirms that both Destro's faction and the League of Villains are planning a coordinated attack on the festival. More than that, it details and unprecedented level of organization among criminals." He tapped the screen. "All For One's name is all over this." 

At the mention of that name only Gran Torino reacted visibly. The others were oblivious, but the weight in the air was undeniable. 

Gran Torino exhaled sharply, leaning forward with his fingers steepled. "So he's still pulling strings from the dark." 

Rika nodded. "That's correct. And this document confirms that he has unified nearly all active criminal organizations under his influence. The attack on Hero's Eve won't be a rogue act, it will be a large scale assault. 

"Then we cancel the event," Hideaki said, his voice firm. 

"It's not that simple," Rika replied. "The festival is deeply ingrained in tradition. It's more than just an event, it's a political statement. Cancelling it requires full agreement from the government and multiple parties within the commission. There's already a chance they know that we are onto them for the entire Eden Project and working with Proxy since the beginning, so they would just view that as a chance to escape." 

There was a moment of silence. 

"Then what's the play here?" Best Jeanist asked. 

Hawks tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table, then smirked. "We work with Soryu." he said. 

"You're joking right?" Jeanist narrowed his eyes. "We've spent months trying to capture him, and now you're suggesting we ally with him?" 

"Somewhat, more just a continuous trade of information." Hawks clarified. "He's already given us more than we've uncovered on our own regarding the Eden Project, add on the incoming attack. Now it's time to stop hunting him or we'll really be pushing him towards the villains. He has eyes on things we don't. Let's use that potential... the right way, right Hideaki?" 

The bear nodded his head in agreeance. And the Commission head took back over the conversation. 

"And Nighteye?" 

"We keep him out of the loop as best we can," Hawks said bluntly. "He's slipping into obsession. Every time Soryu comes up, he loses focus. I don't trust him to see the bigger picture anymore." 

A murmur of reluctant agreement followed. 

"So how do we prepare for an attack we can't officially acknowledge?" Gran Torino asked. 

"We slowly drop hints," Hawks answered. "Nothing direct until we're closer to the day. In case some we're being listened in on by traitors. Also," he paused while glancing at everyone in the room. "We're going to have to include students in this." 

There was a subtle tenseness in the room but nobody spoke up again. 

"They'll already be there anyway, most likely. So it's best we key them in so they don't get in the way and instead work in conjunction and do their part." 

They all nodded their heads at that. Heroes like those in the top ten will come to know this information within the coming days of course, it was far too important not to include them early on. 

Although they didn't want to disturb those close to UA right now, they were going through enough troubles already. They had lost their home ground, many were injured, some even died and now one of their top first year students had been kidnapped by the League. 

Jeanist let out a tired sigh but then spoke again about something he was planning to stay quiet about. 

"The hit that was on the Ministry of Justice," The news reported the man as assassinated but few in the room knew of his actual status. "Soryu faked the man's death, but he didn't say who targeted him." 

"We can make assumptions." Rika said, "Regardless, it's one more thing we owe him for." 

The room sat in contemplation, the weight of their decisions pressing heavily. Finally, it was decided, Hawks and Gran Torino would be tasked with tracking Soryu down, establishing a line of communication, and planning their next moves. 

As the meeting drew to a close, the sense of unease lingered. They were balancing on the edge of a blade, and the next few weeks would determine if they could prevent another disaster, or crumble and be swallowed by it. 

***

A single, flickering light buzzed overhead, casting eerie, distorted shadows along the cracked concrete walls. The League of Villain's hideout smelled of stale smoke, old wood, and something faintly metallic, blood, maybe rust from the damp air. 

The room itself was dim, a cluttered space that seemed neither here nor there, a forgotten corner of society, perfect for people who lived in shadows. 

And in the center of it all, tied to a chair with thick ropes that dug into his arms, ankles, and torso, was Katsuki Bakugou. 

He was bound with care, his wrists double-knotted behind his back and his mouth wrapped in tight bondage, silencing whatever explosive curses he had undoubtedly been hurling at them when he woke before they gagged him. His red eyes burned with hatred, fierce and untamed, scanning each and every villain in the room as if memorizing their faces for when the tables turned. If they turned. 

The League members stood around him, all regarding their prize in their own ways. Toga hummed as she swayed on her heels, tilting her head with curiosity. "The media hasn't even spoke of this, it's been a week." she noted, almost disappointed. "I was expecting some breaking news by now! 'Explosive UA student missing! Could it be the League's doing?'" Her voice was airy, light, but her golden eyes gleamed with something unsettling. 

Twice crossed his arms, then uncrossed them, then crossed them again. "Oh, he's not gonna join us. Not a chance. Nope, nope, nope—maybe?—Nope." He let out a frustrated huff, shaking his head. "He's not too stubborn. I like stubborn, but I also hate stubborn!" 

"And so what if he does," Spinner muttered, crossing his arms, eyes narrowing at the boy. "Shigaraki only wanted to prove a point." 

And that point was evident in the way Shigaraki watched Bakugou with an almost childlike amusement. He didn't care if Bakugou joined them or not. He wasn't here to recruit, well he kind of did want one of UA's top students, it would make a point if everyone seen one join his team. 

Kurogiri was nearby, silent as always, his mist shifting subtly in the dim light. Compress leaned against a crate, fingers tapping idly against his mask. Miyu Ogawa, seated further away paying very little attention. 

"We should keep him bound," Magne stated, her arms folded as she frowned. "He's dangerous, and too aggressive." 

But Shigaraki ignored her. He lifted a hand, fingers twitching slightly. "Twice, take off the bindings." 

There was a pause. Toga's eyebrows raised. Spinner frowned. Even Twice hesitated. "You sure? Cause I can do that, but I also don't wanna do that, but I'll do it anyway—" 

"Just do it," Shigaraki snapped, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. 

Twice muttered under his breath but obeyed, stepping forward and unwrapping the bonds around Bakugou's arms and his mouth. 

The moment Bakugou felt his arms free, he wasted no time. 

His palm ignited, sparks crackling to life, but before he could unleash an explosion, Muscular's massive hand clamped over his wrist, engulfing it entirely. The explosion went off, but it was muffled, contained within Muscular's grasp, the heat licking at his skin but doing little damage. 

Muscular let out a laugh, shaking his head. "Oh man, that barely tickled. What, you goin' soft on us, kid? Must be 'cause you've been all cooped up in that little cell of yours. Weakening already?" His grin widened, his eyes or his lone real eye gleaming with excitement. 

Bakugou snarled, his teeth bared like a cornered animal. "Shitty bastard—!" 

But before he could say more, Muscular swiftly wrenched his arms back and secured them once again, this time even tighter. He left Bakugou's mouth uncovered, though, as if daring him to keep talking. 

Shigaraki crouched down in front of him now, resting his chin on his palm, elbows propped on his knees. His red eyes were unreadable, but there was something almost playful in the way he tilted his head. 

"I'm not gonna ask you to join us, not yet anyway," he said casually. "Don't really care if you do or don't." 

Bakugou scowled. "Then what the hell do you want?" 

Shigaraki shrugged. "Just conversation." 

Bakugou had a stupefied expression on his face. "You kidnap me for fucking conversation. Go talk to someone else you freak." 

Shigaraki smirked. "You're angry. Always angry. But you're scared too, aren't you?" 

Bakugou's hands twitched against the bindings, but his glare remained unyielding. "Scared? Of you rejects? Keep dreaming." 

Shigaraki leaned in slightly, his voice dropping. "Why do you wanna be a hero?" 

Bakugou rolled his eyes. "Because I wanna be the best, and smashing your face in would be a bonus." 

"Hm," Shigaraki's gaze lingered, then he asked. "Who's your favourite?" 

"All Might," Bakugou replied instantly, his voice filled with certainty. 

Shigaraki's fingers twitched. His lips curled ever so slightly in distaste. "Of course." 

Bakugou snorted, "What? That piss you off?" 

Shigaraki didn't rise to the bait. "Not really. Just keep on seeing how stupid our society is." 

Bakugou sneered. "Yeah? And what do you know about society?" 

Shigaraki's eyes darkened. "I know it's rotten. And it deserves to fall." 

Bakugou let out a sharp laugh, shaking his head. "You sound like a broken record, man. Same villain crap, over and over." 

Shigaraki's fingers twitched again. His expression remained unreadable for a moment longer before he straightened, glancing toward Kurogiri. 

"Sedate him. Put him back in his cell." 

Bakugou barely had time to react before Kurogiri's mist curled around him, and a sharp prick of a needle against his neck made his vision blur. His struggles grew sluggish, his breath uneven. His mind screamed at him to fight, but his body was already betraying him, sinking into numbness. 

The last thing he saw before the darkness swallowed him whole was Shigaraki's unwavering stare, watching him like a piece of meat to be bought at a butchers. 

And everything went dark. Again.