[Time: 03:15 AM][Location: Heights Alliance Dorms – Class 1-A Common Room]
The atmosphere in the common room was suffocating.
No one was sleeping. The entire class was gathered in their pajamas, sitting on the sofas or standing near the walls, huddled in blankets. The usual chatter was gone, replaced by anxious glances at the shattered windows and the police tape blocking off the stairwell.
Reiji sat on a stool in the center of the room. A paramedic was finishing wrapping a bandage around his neck where the Nomu had strangled him.
He held an ice pack to his bruised throat with one hand and a notepad with the other.
SLAM.
The front doors of the dorm burst open.
Aizawa Shota (Eraserhead) strode in. He wasn't wearing his hero costume—just sweatpants and a t-shirt—but his capture weapon was wound tight around his neck, and his hair was floating ominously.
His eyes were glowing red.
Behind him walked Detective Tsukauchi and... Principal Nezu.
"Status," Aizawa barked, his voice low and dangerous.
Iida stepped forward, stiff as a board. "Sensei! The intruder has fled! Kurobane, Tokoyami, and Jiro engaged the target on the fourth floor. No major injuries, but significant property damage!"
Aizawa didn't look at Iida. He walked straight to Reiji.
"Kurobane," Aizawa said, looming over him. "Can you speak?"
Reiji shook his head. He tapped the notepad on his lap.
QUIRK EFFECT. SILENCED. 20 HOURS REMAINING.
Aizawa read the note, his eyes narrowing. He turned to Tsukauchi. "A Quirk that nullifies speech? That's specific. Too specific."
Tsukauchi nodded, adjusting his hat. "It suggests they wanted to prevent him from calling for help. Or... prevent him from using voice-activated abilities."
Aizawa grabbed a chair, spun it around, and sat facing Reiji. The rest of the class watched in silence.
"Walk me through it," Aizawa commanded. "Write."
Reiji picked up his pen.
Woke up. Sound on balcony.2. Target: Grey skin, no eyes, large ears.3. It moved instantly. No sound.4. It disabled me before I could fight.5. Jiro and Tokoyami saved me.
Reiji tore the page off and handed it to Aizawa.
Principal Nezu climbed onto the coffee table, his paws clasped behind his back. The small mouse-bear-dog looked unusually grim.
"The description matches the 'High-End' classification," Nezu squeaked, though there was no joy in his voice. "But here is the problem, everyone."
Nezu pointed a paw toward the window.
"The U.A. Barrier did not trigger."
A gasp went through the room.
"That's impossible!" Yaoyorozu exclaimed. "The sensors detect everything! Even an insect entering the campus!"
"Exactly," Nezu said, his black eyes glinting. "Which means one of two things. Either the intruder has a Quirk that perfectly mimics the 'ID Signature' of a student..."
Nezu paused, letting the silence hang heavy in the room.
"...Or someone let it in."
Reiji felt a chill run down his spine. He looked around the room at his classmates. Kaminari looks terrified. Aoyama is shaking. Hagakure is invisible, but her clothes are trembling.
'The Traitor,' Reiji thought. 'They're here right now.'
Aizawa stood up abruptly, his chair screeching against the floor.
"Tsukauchi, take statements from Jiro and Tokoyami. I want a full forensic sweep of Kurobane's room."
Aizawa turned back to Reiji. He placed a hand on Reiji's shoulder. It wasn't a comforting touch; it was a grip of iron.
"You," Aizawa growled, "are officially under 24-hour surveillance. You don't go to the bathroom without a teacher knowing. You don't step foot outside this building."
Reiji scowled, scribbling furiously.
I CAN FIGHT.
"No," Aizawa snapped, his hair flaring up again. "You can't. You're silenced, you're injured, and frankly, you're a magnet for trouble. Tonight, you almost died. If Jiro hadn't been awake, we'd be finding your corpse right now."
Reiji stopped writing. He looked at Jiro. She was sitting with the girls, looking pale. She offered him a small, weak smile.
Aizawa sighed, the red glow fading from his eyes. He looked exhausted.
"We failed to protect you tonight," Aizawa admitted, his voice softer but still stern. "That is on us. But I won't let it happen twice. Go to the common area bunks. No one sleeps alone tonight."
Aizawa turned and marched toward the stairs to inspect the damage, the police officers trailing behind him.
Reiji sat there for a moment, staring at his hands.
[Quest Update: The Eagle's Eyes][Optional Objective Unlocked: Identify the Traitor.][Hint: The breach came from within the system.]
Reiji clenched his fist, crumpling the paper.
The villains knew his name. They knew his face. They knew his weaknesses. And now, they had someone inside the walls.
He looked up. Across the room, Bakugo was staring at him.
Bakugo didn't look angry. He didn't look mocking. For the first time since Reiji had met him, Bakugo looked... serious.
He walked over, kicked Reiji's shin lightly, and grunted.
"Don't die, extra. I still haven't beaten you yet."
Reiji smirked. He picked up the pen one last time.
GET IN LINE.
End of Chapter 106.
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