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|Kamino, Yokohama, in an abandoned bar…|
…
A man in a battle-worn combat suit, clad in dark, tattered armor, stood before Shigaraki and Kurogiri. Two katanas hung on his back, their hilts wrapped in faded cloth. His face, partially obscured by a mask-like covering, revealed piercing, bloodshot eyes that burned with an unwavering conviction.
"I only came because I was wondering what kind of madmen would contact me so brazenly, and you say you want me to join your… what did you call it… League of Villains?"
"Yeah, come on. You've got a whole lot of experience as a villain, sir." Shigaraki unenthusiastically said, not even moving from his seat.
That didn't seem to bother the man, however. Instead, he simply squinted his eyes, locking his gaze onto Shigaraki with the intensity of a predator sizing up its prey.
"What are you after?"
"Hmm?" Shigaraki tilted his head lazily, not quite getting the question.
Stain's eyes narrowed further, his grip tightening on the handles of his blades. "What is your purpose? Your conviction?"
Shigaraki rolled his eyes. "Conviction? I don't know… For now, I just want to kill All Might…" His eyes then gained a faintly murderous light. "...and a certain someone."
For a moment, Stain's gaze turned disappointed, clear disdain flashing in his expression. His fingers twitched, shifting slightly toward the hilts of his weapons as though ready to strike—before he stopped just short of drawing them.
"A certain someone?"
"Hm…" Shigaraki nodded, his irritation bubbling to the surface. "A damn glitch that popped out of nowhere and ruined my ascent into fame a few days ago… He alone took on two pretty powerful guys that had been made for the sole purpose of killing All Might, and took down all the 50 so-called villains I had recruited for that operation without as much as a scratch…"
Stain stiffened slightly at that. Although he had no reason to take Shigaraki's words at face value, the mere possibility of someone that powerful existing was… interesting.
Regardless of his response, Shigaraki continued. "That's why we talked to you. I don't need more fodder that can't deal with just one guy, and seeing how you've killed many heroes, I bet you've got enough experience to know how to deal with guys like this… Stain-senpai."
Stain, the Hero Killer, closed his eyes for a moment, as though processing the conversation. Then—
-Shing!-
—In an instant, he unsheathed both long knives at his waist and lunged at Kurogiri.
The villainous bartender barely managed to react, phasing just in time to avoid a deep cut—but not quickly enough to prevent a shallow graze on his arm.
Then, as if that cut had been enough, Stain proceeded to redirect his momentum and lunged at a stunned Shigaraki.
-Thud!-
-Schk!-
Less than a second later, he had him pinned to the ground. One knife embedded straight into Shigaraki's shoulder, while the other hovered near his lips as Stain flicked his tongue across its bloodstained edge.
"Kgh—!" Kurogiri attempted to assist, but the moment he moved, his body froze. His limbs locked up, refusing to obey his will. His eyes widened in realization. 'This is—?!'
Stain glared down at the pinned-up Shigaraki, who writhed beneath him, pain twisting his features.
"I was foolish to even consider coming here… You're the type of person I hate the most." With a sneer, he twisted the knife slightly, earning a fresh groan from Shigaraki. "You want me to go along with your childish tantrum? What meaning is there even in killing without conviction?"
"Kurogiri, take him away." Shigaraki groaned, annoyance creeping through the pain in his voice.
"I—I can't move." Kurogiri struggled, but his body remained paralyzed. "This must be product of his Quirk!"
Stain barely acknowledged their conversation, his eyes gleaming with fanaticism. "In a world where fake heroes wander around and are publicly acclaimed, and where criminals flaunt their power uncaringly, it is my duty to purge them all… You included."
His gaze darkened as he moved his second blade toward Shigaraki's face, intent on removing the hand covering it.
"No, not that hand."
"...!"
However, just as the blade was about to graze the hand, Shigaraki's own palm snapped upward, catching the steel between his palm. Blood flowed down his wrist, but his grip remained firm on the blade.
His eyes locked onto Stain's with a hatred that seemed to boil over.
"I'll kill you."
The moment those words left his mouth, the knife in his grasp began crumbling apart, dissolving into dust as if eroded by time itself.
Stain's eyes widened in surprise.
"You sure like to blabber on your own a lot… Conviction? I don't have anything grand like that…" A grin spread across Shigaraki's face, stretching behind the hand covering it. His voice grew darker, more venomous with every word. "If I had to name one, yeah, killing All Might—no, crushing this whole society where trash like that gets worshipped… That's my conviction!"
"...!"
As he finished speaking, his hand shot toward Stain, forcing the Hero Killer to leap back before it could reach him.
"I thought I was going to die…" With the distance between the two made, Shigaraki stood up, annoyance being way more noticeable in his voice rather than pain. "This wound will take an eternity to heal… How will you take responsibility?"
His eyes gained a dangerous light; Shigaraki was ready to fight Stain.
However, just as it seemed a clash between the two villains would ensue, Stain's voice broke the tension between them.
"So that's who you truly are…"
"Huh?"
Stain grinned. "Our goals oppose each other, but we agree on one thing—destroying this society."
Sadly for him, Shigaraki was way beyond reconciliation right now. "Don't joke with me. You said it yourself, didn't you? I'm the type of person you hate the most. Go kill yourself or something, just get out of here."
Stain scoffed. "I was merely testing you. People only show their true colors when faced with death."
Then, he smiled faintly, as if excited about something. "While not exactly what I would call a purpose, you do have a twisted sprout of a conviction surging within you, one that makes me wonder… How will it bud?"
Shigaraki's eyes squinted in anger. But the Hero Hunter didn't care.
"I think I can bother to follow you around until I get to see that. After that, I can just dispose of you."
"Dispose of me?" Shigaraki's face twisted in disbelief; the Hero Killer sure was straightforward, revealing his traitorous intentions from minute 0. He scoffed. "Kurogiri, get this lunatic out of here. I don't want someone this bad in the head to join my party."
Kurogiri, who was just beginning to be able to move, spoke softly. "Young master, he will be of great assistance if he joins us. With a Quirk like that in our arsenal, plus some of the new projects Garaki has been working on, if we were to clash again with that mysterious individual, we'd have a chance."
Shigaraki frowned in displeasure but didn't say anything. It seemed that even he recognized the usefulness that Quirk would represent if they were to fight that "Glitch" again.
Ignoring the displeased Shigaraki, Stain turned to Kurogiri.
"If we are done here, return me to Hosu…" He demanded, before his eyes turned murderous, and his long tongue grotesquely licked his lips.
"I still have unfinished business there."
…
°
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|Meanwhile, aboard a train passing just by Hosu…|
…
Midoriya sat by the window, his gaze shifting between the passing nightscape and the glowing screen of his phone. A group chat with his closest friends was open, but one message stood out—a text he had sent just minutes ago:
[You: I'll be passing by Hosu!! How are things going with you, Iida?]
It was a casual message, something he could have sent any day. And yet, something about it worried him to no end.
A small, innocuous detail right beneath his message…
(Read.)
Iida had seen the message. But he hadn't replied.
That alone was strange. Iida wasn't the type to leave messages on read. If anything, he was the most thorough person Midoriya knew—always responding quickly, always considerate. For him to ignore a message, even for just a few minutes… it was unsettling.
Midoriya's fingers hovered over his phone as his thoughts churned.
'Is he still upset about his brother?'
That was the most logical explanation. Ingenium's injury had shaken him to his core, so maybe Iida just wasn't in the mood to talk.
'Or has something happened?'
His stomach twisted at the thought.
Midoriya turned back to the window, his reflection barely visible against the darkened city. The lights of Hosu flickered outside, illuminating the streets in eerie yellow. His mind whispered warnings, but he tried to shake them off.
'Maybe I'm just being paranoid. He'll answer soon. We're all busy with internships, after all.'
A weak smile formed on his lips—forced, uncertain. He took a deep breath, trying to dismiss his unease.
'Hopefully, everything is alright.'
Outside, the city remained eerily still. No explosions. No rampaging villains. No sudden disaster that would force him to leave the stillness of the train.
Just a quiet night.
And as the train rolled past Hosu Station, Midoriya and Gran Torino continued toward their next destination—leaving behind what seemed to be a peaceful city.
…
°
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|At Hosu…|
…
Just like the nights before, Iida and Manual patrolled the city, weaving through the streets and keeping an eye out for trouble.
The people greeted them warmly, waving as they passed. Manual responded with a smile and a friendly nod, while Iida—though he acknowledged them—remained distant, his mind elsewhere.
He couldn't stop seeing it.
The image of his brother, lying on a hospital bed. Motionless. Helpless. Stripped of everything he had worked for.
Tensei, the hero he had admired for so long… would never walk again.
Iida's fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tightening beneath his helmet. But after a moment, he exhaled sharply, forcing himself to calm down. He had to focus on the present.
Yet, his eyes betrayed him.
Every alleyway, every dimly lit corner—his gaze flickered toward them, searching. Hoping.
For him.
Stain.
He saw the hero killer's shadow in every corner of his mind. His bloodshot eyes, his wicked grin, the bloodstained blades that had ruined his brother's life. Every time Iida blinked, he could see him. Feel him. The thirst for vengeance burned through his veins like fire.
The hero Manual had figured out his intentions of why he had chosen this city and him as the place and hero to intern under and warned him, telling him not to fall into the trap of revenge.
But how could he not?
He wanted to kill him.
He needed to.
He wouldn't be able to rest until he did it.
"Tenya, a purse theft was reported a few streets away. Let's go!"
"...!"
Manual's voice snapped him back to reality.
Iida stiffened, blinking as his mentor rushed ahead. Forcing himself to shake off his thoughts, he exhaled and prepared to follow—
But then he saw it.
A flash of movement in a dark alley. A shadow chasing a hero. The gleam of sharp weapons catching the dim light.
And this time, it wasn't an illusion, nor a mirage.
His heart stopped.
"Ah...!"
For a split second, his mind screamed at him to turn back, to tell Manual—
But his body had already moved.
"Stain…!"
Without hesitation, Iida bolted toward the alley, leaving Manual behind, who failed to notice his intern taking a different path.
His engines roared to life, fire furiously blasting from his calves. His speed increased, turning him into a blur as he shot straight into the alleyway, his posture shifting into a powerful kick aimed at the man pinning a wounded hero against the wall, a sword pointed at his throat.
"RAAAAGH!"
With a guttural roar, Iida swung his leg.
-Clang!-
"—Ack!"
Sadly, the Hero Killer wasn't infamous for nothing. At the last second, his figure vanished, ducking just in time before slamming the hilt of his katana against Iida's face, causing him to plummet to the ground.
Additionally, Iida's hero mask went flying, clattering to the ground and leaving his face exposed for Stain to see.
"A kid?" Stain's eyes narrowed as he took in the details of Iida's hero suit. However, despite the realization, he locked eyes with him again, an almost imperceptible reluctance creeping in. "Go away. This is no place for children."
"You're Stain, aren't you?!" Iida ignored him completely, meeting his gaze head-on with bloodshot eyes. "I've been looking for you. Who could've thought I'd find you this soon? I'm—"
His words were cut short as the tip of a katana suddenly fell right before his eyes, stopping mere centimeters from stabbing him.
"Those eyes…" Stain's voice dropped to something colder, more dangerous. "You're here for vengeance, aren't you?" His grip on the sword tightened. "Watch your next words, kid. Depending on what you say, even a brat like you can become my target."
Despite the initial shock of nearly being impaled, Iida's blood soon began boiling again.
"You're saying I don't even qualify as a target right now…?" His teeth gritted as he slowly stood up, fists clenching. "... Then listen well, scum. I am the younger brother of a hero you attacked—an excellent hero who didn't deserve that. And I've come to stop you in his place!"
Flames burst to life once again from Iida's calves, his fighting spirit igniting just as fiercely as his thirst for blood.
"You'd better remember my name for what remains of your life… Ingenium—that's the name of the hero who will defeat you!"
Then, without waiting for a response, he launched forward with the fastest kick he had ever mustered.
"Recipro Bu—what?!!"
But before his leg could even reach halfway, Stain disappeared.
As a result, Iida's foot tore through empty air, his heart sinking.
Then, a voice whispered from behind him.
"Is that so? Then you can die."
-Bam!-
"Argh—!"
A spiked boot slammed into the back of his shoulder, sending sharp pain through his body. But it didn't end there.
Before he could react, Stain's knee smashed into the back of his head, sending him crashing to the ground, vision blurring.
"Kgh, I won't—" Still, despite the pain and dizziness, Iida struggled to rise, trying to make distance desperately.
-Bam!-
-Crack-
However, before he could even attempt to push himself up, A heavy boot stomped his head against the pavement.
'Shit…'
His skull rang like a bell, warm blood trickling down from somewhere it shouldn't.
And unfortunately for him, that was just the appetizer.
"You're weak… You and your brother." Stain spoke with disdain in his voice.
-Swish!-
-Tshck!-
"AAARGH!"
Without hesitation, Stain drove his katana into Iida's shoulder, tearing a guttural scream from him. The young hero's body jolted in agony, but he was still pinned to the ground, unable to escape.
"Do you know why you're weak?" Stain's voice remained cold, almost casual. "Because you're fakes."
"SHUT UP!" Iida's furious shout echoed through the alleyway. Despite the pain, his rage burned hotter. "My brother was a great hero! And despite that, you almost killed him! You… I'll kill you!"
Stain's eyes narrowed, then a smirk crept onto his face. He casually gestured toward the hero he had pinned earlier—Native, who remained frozen in place.
"Before that, shouldn't you try saving that guy first? You let your hatred consume you and forgot what a hero's duty is. That is the farthest thing from what a real hero should be."
With chilling amusement, he yanked the katana from Iida's shoulder, licking the blood from its blade with his grotesque tongue.
"And for that, you will die like the rest."
The moment the blood touched Stain's tongue, Iida felt his entire body lock up. His arms, his legs—he couldn't move.
'M-My body—?!'
His breath hitched as his limbs refused to respond.
Seeing his prey now defenseless, Stain removed his boot from Iida's head and raised his katana high.
"Be grateful. You'll be an offering for a just world."
With death looming, Iida's eyes widened, but his fury surged beyond all limits.
"SHUT UP! NO MATTER WHAT CRAP YOU SAY, YOU'RE JUST A PSYCHO WHO HURT MY BROTHER!!!"
Stain decided to end it there.
"Die."
The katana descended.
Everything seemed about to end—
"Hey, mister, did you know that pointing weapons at children is illegal?!"
"...?!"
Stain's eyes widened, his instincts sending alarms, and in an instant, he shifted his blade upward to block.
-Splat-
...Only to be met with an unexpected impact.
"A burger?" Stain muttered, tossing a piece of cheese from his face.
His gaze snapped to the end of the alleyway, where a red-haired teenager in a hero suit stood, frowning at him.
"I'm pretty sure hurting heroes is illegal too." The kid sighed, glancing at Native with a raised eyebrow, before his eyes shifted toward Stain's katana. "And I could've sworn it was mentioned at some point in class that you need a permit for weapons and all that…"
Stain blinked. Did this brat have zero situational awareness?
The redhead let out a dramatic sigh, pulling a staff from his back before assuming a combat stance. A smirk tugged at his lips.
"It seems I'm gonna have to put you behind bars. What a shame, isn't it?"
…
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-To be Continued…-
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(A/N: A chapter with little Suzaku presence, although he still appears at the end.
It was basically a condensation of what already happened in the actual show, but with some minor changes that should—if I plan things correctly—spiral into bigger changes in due time.
Among them is the fact that Midoriya isn't going to come to the rescue of Iida, and hence, neither is Todoroki.
So, this will truly be a one on one fight between the sussy teenager and the licking assassin.
On other news, university sucks. I should have simply gone the Izuku route, and applied for minimum wage.
Maybe putting the fries in the bag is my true profession.)
->