If there's one thing Dabi will give to the mildly off-putting teenager beside him, it's that she's completely unbothered by the look of pure disdain from the Hand Freak.
Her only outward reaction is to grin wider, her sharp canines reflecting the meagre lighting in the bar. It's a good attitude to have in the world of Villains; confidence bordering on the brink of insanity is respected far more than cowardice.
Hand Freak huffs, turning away as if that would make everyone leave quicker, "Kurogiri, get rid of these two, I can already tell they're exactly the kind of trash I hate. A brat and a guy with no manners."
The mist guy, Kurogiri, it seems… Shakes his head? Considering his head and body as a whole are comprised of mist, it's a challenge to figure out exactly what he's doing.
"Now now, Shigaraki Tomura," Kurogiri says, which Dabi decides to ignore in favour of keeping the nickname, "They came all this way, the least we can do is hear them out. Give them a chance. Besides, this broker is respected in the underworld; they're bound to be valuable assets."
Giran, said 'respected broker', shrugs without a care towards Hand Freak's opinion, "Like 'em or not, you still owe me a finder's fee. In cash."
Hand freak shoots him a glare, one that has Giran huffing out a laugh before reaching into his pocket, a cigarette soon taking place on his lips, "I suppose I could introduce the two of 'em before I go. This one looks like an adorable high school girl, right?"
Said 'adorable high school girl' waves her hands as Giran continues, "She's actually a suspect in a series of deaths where the victims all bled out. So far, her name and face have been kept out of the media."
Which, from a Villain's standpoint, Dabi can respect. Too many Villains these days are in it for stupid reasons; too many don't have the guts to make their twisted dreams into reality.
Little miss insane nods her head, "Toga here, Toga Himiko! Life is too hard, I just wanna make it easier to live in this dumb world!" She grins, the sight far too bloodthirsty and toothy for her to ever be mistaken for a regular schoolgirl, "I wanna be Mr. Stainy. I wanna kill Mr. Stainy. C'mon, Handy-man, please let me join your League of Villains!"
No one speaks for a second, which gives Toga the chance to start bouncing up and down a little.
Hand Freak stares long and hard at this display, maybe wondering how he got to this point in life, before scoffing, "You gotta be kidding me. Is she crazy?"
Giran, likely used to working with all manner of Villains, shrugs, "Well, she can hold a conversation, for the most part at least."
Toga nods, although Dabi gets the feeling most of her 'conversations' are about killing people and Stain. Which… As far as Villains go, isn't that out there. Dabi has certainly met some Villains who don't have a personality outside of stealing things and causing chaos, and that was before Stain came onto the scene and got everyone inspired.
"C'mon, she can be useful," Giran continues, taking a puff of his cigarette before gesturing to Dabi, "and this guy, he hasn't committed any flashy crimes, but he's taken Stain's ideology to heart."
There's part of Dabi that wants to protest, because killing Endeavor has been his plan long before Stain got involved, but there's no need to put himself out there for now. If this group turns out to be half decent, then maybe he'll reveal his actual motives.
He's not gonna risk everything he's done so far on a group of potential nobodies.
"I don't like this. Is your group really dedicated to the Hero Killer's mission? I can't imagine you are if you're gonna let this little psycho join you," Dabi gestures to Toga, easily ignoring her half-offended huff.
Sure, Dabi can respect Toga from a Villain's standpoint, can see that she isn't a pathetic edgy teen that will flake the moment things get real, but that doesn't mean she's someone he can rely on. Case in point, she just declared her desire to kill Stain, her biggest idol.
Dabi would rather not end up getting stabbed in the back, literally, if he joins the League.
Which, sure, is par for the course with Villains, but Dabi would expect a group dedicated to killing All Might to be a step above the average Villain. There should be some decency among them, an agreement not to go around stabbing each other and draining their blood out.
Although Dabi has had his fair share of burning establishments (and people) to ash when pissed off… But in his defence, they were all idiots anyway. If this League turns out to be useful, then Dabi can keep his fire to himself.
Hand Freak rolls his eyes, "Grow up, at least she knows how to introduce herself to people."
Which is rich, given he was just questioning her sanity, too.
"Don't just stare; what's your name?" Hand Freak asks, although he clearly means it as a demand.
Dabi shrugs, "Right now, I'm going by Dabi."
Hand Freak shakes his head, his eyes sharpening like a knife, "No, I want to know your real name."
Hah, and yet Dabi is the one with no manners? Does this guy understand how hypocritical he's being, or is he too stupid to put it together?
"I'll tell you when you need to know it," Which will likely be the same time the rest of the world finds out. "In any case, my new purpose is to carry out the Hero Killer's will."
Hand Freak shakes his head, his voice dropping a few levels, "That wasn't what I asked you, Patchwork." His hands, just as crusty looking as the rest of him, half clutch onto the bar counter in an effort to pull himself onto his feet, "Jeez, why is everyone so hung up on Stain? He's all I ever hear about."
Had Dabi the opportunity, he'd love to point out that Stain killed, or gravely injured, a fuck ton of heroes. That's why people talk about him, and not some group that only plans to kill All Might.
Hell, those two boys from Yokohama blow the League of Villains out of the water in that aspect.
If only they hadn't been caught, maybe Dabi could have struck a deal with them.
Kurogiri sets his glass and cloth down, the urgency pushing Dabi into a defensive stance, "No, don't do it—"
"Every damn day. It's really pissing me off. You two are done." Hand freak lurches forward, both hands stretched out wide.
Dabi might not know this guy's Quirk, but he knows a threat when he sees one.
The sound of knives scraping together rings out, only slightly muffled by the ignition of Dabi's blue flames.
His arm burns, but it's nothing Dabi isn't used to.
No, by now the overwhelming heat of his fire is the thing he knows best. This pain is one he can wield, one he can use to turn this damn bar into ash.
Except, just before his flames catch on hand freak, Dabi's arm just… disappears.
In front of him, a swirling portal of purple mist has taken his arm, too. Dabi risks a quick glance around, just above his own head. Perfectly positioned so Dabi would take the brunt of any attack, how quaint.
The only consolation is that Hand Freak got the same treatment and, if Dabi is reading him right, is beyond pissed off about it. Kinda like a toddler being put into time-out, or having their favourite toy taken away, which is a comparison that brings Dabi instant amusement. Now, what would Hand Freak do if Dabi pointed that out?
Kurogiri's body ripples, his neck stretching so that his head is neatly positioned by Hand Freak's ear.
"Please calm yourself, Shigaraki Tomura." His voice is steady and unbothered by the near bar fight, probably a consequence of it happening so often. "If your desire is to be realised, then we must increase our numbers. Now that we're in the spotlight, our chance is at hand. I advise you to be more accepting."
His head moves closer still, yellow eyes tracking both Dabi and Toga as he, presumably, whispers something.
Hand Freak yanks his hands free from the mist, not bothering to spare Kurogiri a single look before storming past both Dabi and Toga. "I'm outta here."
Giran, tucked away by the door and away from the conflict, raises an eyebrow. "Where are you off to?"
Hand Freak shoves past him. "Shut up."
And just like that, the door slams shut.
There's silence for a moment, however brief, before Giran whistles, "Tough crowd, huh?"
Kurogiri's mist disappears, thankfully giving Dabi his arm back, before sighing, "Shigaraki Tomura knows what he must do."
Which is cryptic as fuck, but whatever.
Toga, unfazed, begins to wave her knives around, "So? Do I get to join or what?"
Dabi takes a large step away from her; he'd rather not get cut by blades that have been who knows where. The last time he got an infection, he was bedridden (floorridden?) for a week, and at least he knew the bastard that did it had actually cleaned her knives.
Toga doesn't strike Dabi as the type to be conscious about bacteria and infection, not with the dried blood all over the knife handles.
-
When Mina tells people she likes to watch the news, she's usually met with disbelief and confusion. That quickly turns to a sarcastic "I bet you do" or "Right, but only the entertainment part?"
Which is fair, given the horde of dramas and anime she watches, but Mina isn't such a one-note person! Keeping up with the news is important, even if it's mind-numbingly boring some of the time.
…
Alright, it's boring most of the time, but still! Mina makes an effort to keep up to date with important things, both out of personal interest and in preparation for her Hero career!
Hearing about national treasures going on new tours or getting married makes her excited, while hearing about Villains encourages her to think about the best way she could take them down, if it ever came to that.
Unfortunately, today's news is lacking in any Villain announcements, which, yeah, is a good thing, but Mina can still be disappointed!
With a sigh, she picks up her favourite eyeliner, turning away from the TV screen to make sure she gets the application juuuust right.
"Do you need any help with that?" Uraraka asks, just about popping into view.
Mina shakes her head, "I'm an expert at applying makeup on other people, don't worry about it!"
That's not to mention this isn't her first foray into gyaru makeup! Back in middle school, there was a solid three weeks where Mina was obsessed with the style, which only ended when she found a new style to obsess over. On top of that, one of her best friends is still a gyaru girl all the way!
Uraraka smiles, taking a moment to walk around Mina before gasping, "Mina! I can barely recognise him!"
Mina preens, because that's the whole point of the makeup!
Chuuya, however, doesn't seem so happy. "Okay, I need a mirror."
Mina whips her head around, making sure to put on her most pathetic face, "You look great, I promise! Just don't look before I'm done!"
The outfit Yaomomo made for him probably gives away the style Mina was going for, but it's the makeup that's the real selling point! The thing that pulls it all together with a neat little bow!
Ripped denim shorts, a black jacket with gold details, and the perfect low-rise shirt that hints at, but doesn't actually show, Chuuya's muscles; it's a combo that demands the perfect makeup and hairstyle!
His hair is already in place, a little more exaggerated than his usual style, but not quite what Mina would usually do for a gyaru style. As much as she would love to go all out, there is a real risk that Chuuya won't appreciate the end look and ruin her hard work.
Which is why he cannot see the makeup before it's done! Chuuya might get disheartened and wipe it all off… Maybe even give up on the plan altogether!
Which cannot happen under any circumstances.
Fortunately, Chuuya just sighs, which Mina counts as a win!
Still, Mina makes quick work of grabbing the false eyelashes and applying them. She's so close to being done, she can't let Chuuya change his mind now!!
While she works, she tunes into the news again, half-heartedly hoping something interesting might be happening.
"In other news, a group of Pro Heroes has taken to patrolling the border around Yokohama in hopes of finding a weak point. Officials say that this could help drastically if any—"
Mina promptly tunes back out of the news.
"What idiots," She sighs before leaning back, finally satisfied with the makeup look, "Isn't it obvious they should leave Yokohama alone by now?"
So focused on double-checking that the eyelashes are exactly where she wants them, Mina completely misses Chuuya's surprised look.
-
"So uh. Do the bandage come off or???"
Only a second after Kaminari asks that, Jirou whacks the back of his head hard enough that he feels a little dizzy, "You're not supposed to ask stuff like that!"
Kaminari, despite still feeling the aftereffects of her attack, is quick to defend himself, "I know that much! But this is a special situation!"
Maybe as a kid, Kaminari was dumb enough to ask questions like that, but not anymore! He has tact, thank you very much.
It's just that, given that it's Kaminari's temporary job to dress Dazai, he should know if the bandages come off! Uh, well, Kaminari thinks so anyway.
"I just wanna know for the outfit!" Kaminari continues, "If they don't come off, we can… Like, gel his hair over them or something. Or maybe get a sick eye patch."
In truth, Kaminari had been hoping to give Dazai a cooler hairstyle than that, something a little crazy and out there, but he can make this work. Probably.
An eye patch might not be the best fit for the rest of the outfit, but between his epic sense of style and Jirou's makeup skills, they have to be able to figure something out.
Especially since Mina is probably killing it with her look for Chuuya, Kaminari just can't let her down!
Dazai leans back in his chair, "I'd rather not take them off."
Jirou is quick to respond, maybe scared Kaminari will say something dumb (rude!), "Don't even worry about it, just leave everything to us."
Kaminari nods, "Jirou, you get the clothes, I'll start thinking about hairstyles."
About ten minutes of mood boards from Kaminari, unhelpful commentary from Dazai, and groans of frustration from Jirou, and it's time for Kaminari's skills to shine!
Kaminari's younger sisters, while being very dear to him, have always been the absolute worst with hairstyles. And by that, Kaminari means they would innocently request help with something, and when it's too late to back out, they'd reveal the insane style they want.
At least this style will be easier—just a teased side part look that will go with, but not take away from, Jirou's chosen outfit.
Which looks pretty cool, actually, what with the black leather jacket and harness over a blood red shirt. The baggy black trousers, featuring various zips and rips, add just enough laid-back energy to make it all work.
"You're gonna want to close your eyes and hold your breath," Kaminari warns, giving Dazai a few seconds to comply before covering his hair in hairspray. Maybe it isn't completely necessary, since Dazai does have naturally wavy hair, but Kaminari doesn't want to risk the style coming apart.
Once satisfied with the amount of hairspray, Kaminari picks up a section of hair and begins to tease it from the top down. Not too much teasing, but still enough to stand out…
It takes a few minutes, and in hindsight, Kaminari is surprised it took that long before he messes up.
Or, well, technically, he didn't mess up, per se, but his finger skimming across Dazai's scalp definitely wasn't intentional.
A small, familiar blue light sparks at Kaminari's finger tip before his Quirk disappears.
It's…
Really bad, actually. Like, there's no way in hell anyone manages to touch Dazai and not realise what's happened.
Of course, Kaminari's first reaction is to yank his hand away so he can feel the crackle of his Quirk again, but a quick glance at the clock tells him there isn't much more time to be messing around with Dazai's hair if they wanna get the makeup done too..
Styling Dazai's hair without touching his scalp would be possible, sure, but not in this time frame. Mina is probably just about done with her look for Chuuya, and she was really insistent on the two of them having some big reveal right before everyone leaves.
Well, looks like Kaminari is just gonna have to suck it up.
With a quick mental reminder that his Quirk isn't gone forever, despite how it feels, Kaminari gets to work.
Fortunately, it only takes about five more minutes of occasional Quirklessness before Dazai's hair is perfectly done.
Kaminari takes a step back, admiring his work, before nodding in Jirou's direction, "Alright, makeup time."
Jirou, brush in one hand and eye shadow in the other, wastes no time in getting to work.
The look she's going for, as far as Kaminari can tell, is a silver and red winged eye shadow with black stars dotted around.
While Jirou carefully colours in one of said black stars, Dazai, out of nowhere, pipes up, "So, you wanna know what happened to my eye?"
"Wh— Your eye??" Kaminari stutters, doing his best to figure out how Dazai had even gotten to this train of thought. Kaminari's question about the bandages was ages ago!
Dazai hums, "Yep. So, wanna know?"
Kaminari looks at Jirou, who, unfortunately for him, hasn't noticed his pleading gaze.
What's he meant to say here? Like, sure, he's been curious as hell since day one, but just straight-up asking is hella rude. Although Dazai was the one to offer the information up, so it's probably okay? So long as Kaminari doesn't react like an idiot or anything, right?
Hesitantly, Kaminari nods, "Yeah, alright, hit me!"
Too cheerful? Maybe, but Kaminari just has to roll with it.
"Well," Dazai starts, his voice dropping to something a little more sombre, "I actually lost it in a freak boating accident."
Huh.
-
Chuuya isn't a stranger to dressing up for undercover missions.
Hell, he's not even a stranger to crossdressing for undercover missions. As much as he prefers dressing more masculine, there are times his shorter stature comes in handy with misogynistic fuckers. They never expect the short one in a dress to body slam them through a window, which is really a rookie mistake in a place like Yokohama.
But, back to the point, dressing out of his comfort zone isn't a new thing for Chuuya. So, theoretically, he shouldn't be bothered by what Mina has him wearing, and yet…
And yet, the moment Dazai walks out in a punk rock look, Chuuya knows he's been had. Why the hell couldn't he be dressed like that?
The gyaru look isn't bad, but that Mackerel is more likely to make fun of someone for liking rock music than to actually enjoy it, unlike Chuuya, who is able to appreciate it.
Dazai, the insufferable fuck, grins at Chuuya in a way that conveys he's thinking the exact same thing and loves it, "My my Chibi, I didn't think you could look this good!"
He leans down a little, bastard, before whispering just low enough to keep it between just them, "Try not to slobber over everything, little dog~"
There are exactly two things that keep Chuuya from decking Dazai in that moment.
One, Mina's frankly worrying hyperventilation behind him. Is she having a heart attack or something?
Two, the pitiful sniffs from both Kaminari and Jirou, who were in charge of getting Dazai ready.
Deciding to be good, Chuuya settles on shoving Dazai rather than knocking him unconscious.
Without a care towards Dazai's whines, Chuuya makes sure Mina isn't actively dying before turning to Kaminari and Jirou.
While they aren't outright crying, their eyes are red enough to show they had been recently. Which, Chuuya just knows, has to be the fault of Dazai.
"What'd he do?" Chuuya asks, not in the mood to waste time.
Jirou and Kaminari share a look, one that causes Kaminari to tear up even more before stuttering out, "It— About his eye…"
Ah, right, Dazai's eye.
One of the many mysteries of the Port Mafia, the type of thing that is whispered behind closed doors for fear of anyone overhearing. Just how could someone like Dazai, a genius above all else, get hurt so badly if not by his own hand?
"Was it the fishing pole?"
Kaminari looks taken aback, "No?"
"Bus?"
Confusion quickly takes over Kaminari's face, "Uhhh?"
"Don't tell me it was the chuunibyou bullshit."
Jirou, having cleared up her own remaining tears, shakes her head, "No, it was…"
"That fucking carp."
Without waiting for confirmation, Chuuya turns to glare at Dazai, "Stop making shit up about carps taking your eye!"
Dazai huffs, his clearly (to Chuuya, at least) fake upset pout clashing horribly with his outfit, "Chuuuuuyaaaa, don't be like that!"
When Chuuya had first started working with Dazai, he carefully ignored the lies Dazai would tell when asked about his eye. He had figured, at the time, that even if Dazai was an annoying bastard, the reason he actually wore those bandages wasn't something he had to tell everyone. If he wanted to lie to people, then that was his own right.
Then, the lies got bigger, more ridiculous, and started involving Chuuya. It was all, 'Chibi threw a knife!' this and 'That Slug caused an earthquake!' that. Which, the only thing dumber than Dazai saying that shit, were all the people who actually believed it.
It's a well-known fact that Dazai has been wearing those bandages since before Chuuya joined the Port Mafia, so why the hell does anyone put any stock in that one??
Chuuya turns back to Jirou and Kaminari, "Don't trust a word this idiot says, yeah?"
They both nod, their faces still mixed with confusion.
Turning away, Chuuya catches sight of the door opening, which, for a second, he fears is Aizawa here already.
While yes, Chuuya knows Aizawa will have to see him dressed like this, as it is the plan, he had been hoping more of class 1A would be around at that point. There's strength in numbers, or at least that's what Chuuya would say if anyone actually questioned him on it.
Thankfully, instead of the scruffy teacher he's come to know, a horde of 1A students makes their way through the door.
Which does raise a question or two, like how they all timed it to be downstairs at the exact same time. Even if they had agreed on a set time, it's incredibly unlikely for none of them to be late by a few minutes.
"Alright, everyone! We'll be departing soon, so please ensure you're ready!"
Ah, right, Iida.
Leading the group, Iida marches into the room, still looking rather professional despite being out of uniform, only to visibly double-take upon noticing Chuuya and Dazai.
It takes a second, during which more of the 1A kids funnel in, before Iida promptly makes his way over to Mina, Jirou, and Kaminari.
Kaminari, still with puffy eyes, is quick to shake his head, "Nuh uh, you can't tell us off! This was the plan!"
"You did a fantastic job," Iida bluntly says, robotically gesturing over to Chuuya before continuing, "I was much too shocked by the fashion choice to question who I was looking at."
Mina grins. "That kinda feels backhanded, but hell yeah!"
A few steps away, Dazai chuckles, either at Chuuya's outfit or Mina's comment.
Chuuya elbows him anyway, just to be sure.
It doesn't take long for the rest of the class, the more extroverted ones at least, to gather around, making comments on the disguises.
"Dressing like that… is so manly!" Kirishima exclaims, giving Chuuya a sincere smile when he looks over.
Beside him, Sero looks amused. "Isn't that style literally for women? How can it be manly?"
Funnily enough, Kirishima genuinely looks a little offended by that. "Dude, that isn't what being manly is about! It's about being brave or determined, and what's more brave than wearing a style so different than your own, all for the sake of the mission?"
Chuuya, personally, can think of a few things, but whatever, sure.
Mina, breaking away from Iida, is the next to chime in. "Exactly! Plus, the gyaru style isn't just worn by women anymore! It's really popular among mutants of all genders!"
Chuuya takes a step back, intending to let Mina deep dive into the history of the gyaru subculture on her own, which, of course, is exactly when Dazai decides to drape himself over Chuuya's back with a loud sigh. "Chuuuya, are we leaving yet?"
Chuuya does his best to shrug Dazai off, which quickly turns into a fruitless endeavour when Dazai just clings on harder. God, where was this strength when Dazai was whining for Chuuya to come save him?
"Anyone care to explain?"
And just like that, the idle chatter of the class disappears into nothing, a particular talent of Aizawa's that Chuuya is no longer surprised at.
Aizawa is looking directly in Chuuya's direction, an eyebrow raised as if he expects Chuuya himself to explain.
Fortunately, that responsibility is taken out of Chuuya's hands rather quickly.
"Sensei!" Mina calls, "Just hear us out!" She sends a pointed look towards Midoriya, who is quick to stutter in shock. If Chuuya had to guess, he was the brains behind this whole thing, entertaining Mina and Kaminari's wishes but not actually expecting anything to come from it.
He had, very clearly, also not expected to be the one to convince Aizawa.
Still, despite being caught off guard, Midoriya does an admirable job getting his thoughts in order. "A-Ah, Sensei! Since we're all going shopping today, well, we thought Dazai and Chuuya could come with us? They need the supplies!"
Hagakure's arms wave around. "Yeah! And with these disguises, no one will recognise them!"
Aizawa says nothing.
Hagakure visibly wilts despite, well, being invisible.
Chuuya has to give it to Mina, who refuses to give up just yet. "People will only focus on the outfits, not the people underneath, I promise!"
This time, Aizawa sighs, a hand coming up to rub his eyes. "Putting aside that it goes against the legal agreement of keeping those two here, did any of you think of what would happen if you got recognised?"
"Huh, but we already—" Kaminari starts, only to be sharply cut off by Aizawa.
"Due to the Sports Festival, and the USJ incident to a lesser degree, you lot are popular with the public. You've disguised those two, but what might happen if anyone recognises you as class 1A?" Aizawa asks.
Midoriya gasps, "Ah!! I get it! Dazai and Chuuya staying with us is public knowledge, so if anyone recognises us, then they'll be able to see past the disguises!"
Aizawa nods. "Exactly. Now, go get on the bus."
Iida, never needing to be told twice, begins gesturing wildly in an effort to get his classmates out the door.
It partially works, with students like Yaoyorozu waving goodbye to Chuuya and Dazai before leaving.
With other students, however, Iida is left waiting longer.
"But Sensei!" Mina nearly shouts, "It's totally not fair to keep them locked up here!"
Beside her, Kaminari nods. "Yeah! And they need stuff for the camp, so it makes sense for them to come!"
"It was between them being locked up here or in prison," Aizawa replies without hesitation. "Besides, they'll be coming to the training camp, which, for the record, I already had a plan for getting them supplies."
Mina frowns. "You did?"
"Yes. Now get going," Aizawa levels Mina with a sharp look, perhaps planning to forbid her from leaving if she continued to argue.
Sighing, Mina sends one last look in Chuuya's direction. "I'll get you guys some fun stuff, don't worry."
And with that, she grabs the arm of Kaminari and drags her feet all the way through the door.
Once alone, Aizawa gives Chuuya and Dazai a look that perfectly says, 'Why the hell did you entertain that?'
"Felt like it." Dazai shrugs, which almost causes Chuuya to lose his balance.
Aizawa sighs, "Whatever." He's quiet for a moment before his signature smirk appears, "Oh, by the way, I invited Present Mic and Midnight to do some online shopping with you both. They should be here soon."
Present Mic and Midnight…
Be here soon…
Chuuya jolts, the sudden need to dump Dazai on the floor and find somewhere to hide, taking over his body.
But, as if on cue, the door opens once more, and in walks Yamada.
Yamada, who, upon seeing how Chuuya and Dazai are dressed, gasps louder than the average person can shout, "Little listeners!"
Great.
-
It's not that Midoriya hasn't ever been to a large-scale shopping centre; rather, he just doesn't visit often.
Most of the things he buys can be found in local shops, or even online (which, he admits, is mostly All Might merch).
But still, even with his limited experience, this place seems a kinda… Well, huge.
A few steps away, Mina pumps her fists into the air. "Oh man, do I love this place! It's literally got a shop for everything!"
Looking around, Midoriya can see what she means. Not only are there the normal shops you'd expect to see, but Midoriya can pick out a few specialist places for different Quirks and body types.
Which is just so cool to think!
Part of Midoriya wants to go visit those places, just to ask about the logistics behind some of their designs. Sure, making clothes for someone with Shouji's body type wouldn't be too difficult, but what about other Quirks?
These days, it's impossible to simplify the different types of mutant Quirks, so how do they manage? Oh, maybe they work by request if someone has a more unique body type? Would that cost more?
Or maybe—
"You're going to scare the children. Stop." Tokoyami deadpans, nearly giving Midoriya a heart attack from his sudden appearance.
But wait, does that mean Midoriya accidentally started muttering again?!
Flushed with embarrassment, Midoriya weakly nods. He really needs to work on his muttering problem.
It's at that moment, while he's stewing in his embarrassment, that Midoriya takes note of the various people pointing in his direction.
Actually, it's not just his direction, but rather in the direction of his whole class.
"Hey, aren't those the kids from UA?"
"Wait, I remember that guy from the Sports Festival!"
"Oh, but she was so cool in her fight!"
Huh, it seems Aizawa-sensei was right when he said they'd be recognised. Which is really something Midoriya should have realised sooner, especially since he always remembers who takes part in the Sports Festival, but it just feels weird to think about!
Never in his life has Midoriya been this popular, and now people are recognising him for something he's actually proud of!
His classmates seem to be in the same boat, if the shock and awe on their faces is something to go by.
Fortunately, it only takes a few moments for things to calm down a bit, likely due to the fact that they're still only first years. The third-year fights always get the most attention, and for good reason!
Before he can start muttering again, Midoriya turns his attention to his classmates as they begin talking.
Kaminari, with a sigh, says, "I guess I should buy some outdoor shoes for this thing."
Hagakure, wearing a long-sleeved shirt today, waves her arms in what Midoriya has learnt is her way of nodding. "Oh, good idea! Me too!"
Iida, whipping out the guide they were given, is quick to shake his head. "But wait! The guide says your shoes should already be broken in! Although…." He trails off, effectively burying his face in the guide with a conflicted expression.
Kirishima, shooting Iida an amused look, speaks up, "Why don't we split up and look around? We can meet up again when we're done."
Which makes sense, given they all need different things.
Midoriya can only imagine the chaos that would come if the whole class were dragged around to each and every shop. He's sure at least a few of they would be kicked out.
Mina sends a look to Hagakure before nodding. "Great idea!"
Kirishima smiles. "Alright! Let's say we're all back around three?"
Midoriya glances up at the nearest clock, pleased to find he'll have plenty of time to get what he's after. And maybe, if he has a little extra time, hit up a few merch shops he's been meaning to visit…
The rest of his class chime in with their agreement before splitting off into smaller groups, ultimately leaving Midoriya alone with Uraraka.
"What are you looking for today?" Midoriya asks, "I wanna find a few heavier wrist weights so I can up my training."
Uraraka hums, "I mostly just need bug spray."
Ah, right, Midoriya should probably get some of that too! Who knows what the conditions at the camp will be like? Ah, just thinking of being kept up all night by bugs is already making him feel tired.
Without warning or reason, Uraraka's face flushes, her eyes flicking around widely before settling on Midoriya.
Midoriya is about to ask if she needs to sit down for a second when she shakes her head dramatically. "Gotta keep those pests away!"
And then she just… Runs away.
Midoriya, stuck in his shock, can only watch as Uraraka runs further and further away.
Had he somehow done something wrong? That seems unlikely, but he genuinely can't see any other reason for Uraraka to run away like that.
Maybe she just really needed to get that bug spray?
Well, whatever, it's not like Midoriya can do much about it now. There are a few things he needs to pick up, so it's better not to waste time waiting around in the hopes that Uraraka comes back.
Although…
Midoriya can't help but notice that, even though he came with almost everyone in class 1A, he's now by himself. Oh well, maybe he can look around and—
"Oh, it's someone from UA, nice."
Midoriya tenses when an arm is thrown around his shoulders, the heavy weight threatening to buckle Midoriya's knees.
With a weak nod, Midoriya wills himself to relax. While this guy really shouldn't go around grabbing strangers like this, he's clearly just someone excited to meet a UA student.
Besides, Midoriya knows just how important it is to always treat your supporters with respect. After all, if people didn't take an interest in Heroes, they'd never be what they are today.
The man shifts a little, leaning in just a touch more. "I want an autograph. You were the one who got beat to hell at the Sports Festival, right?"
"Uh, yeah…" Midoriya does his best to laugh, although it immediately sounds way too fake. Usually, he's better at this type of thing, and yet now, when it counts, he finds himself stumbling.
That aside, the idea that someone wants Midoriya's autograph is just… Well, he can't comprehend it. The Sports Festival was a while ago now, and yet still, so many people remember Midoriya.
Perhaps not for the best reasons, he can admit, but still! Being recognised by the public feels like step one to being a full-fledged Pro!
The man hums, the sound just as off-putting as the ever-tightening arm around his shoulders, "Aren't you one of the students who ran into the Hero Killer in Hosu, too? You're practically famous."
Which… How does he know about that? Sure, there were reports about Midoriya being present, but since Endeavor took credit for Stain's takedown, no one has ever given a second thought to the UA students who were there.
There's part of Midoriya that rationalises this, that knows it's not impossible that someone might have paid closer attention to the reports about Stain than everyone else.
This guy, whoever he is, clearly has some interest in UA if he watched the Sports Festival, so remembering that UA students had a run-in with Stain makes sense.
The logical conclusion is that there's nothing to worry about, and yet…
And yet, a familiar feeling spreads across Midoriya, something akin to fear, and yet just slightly off.
This isn't his first time feeling like this. Midoriya knows this with certainty, and yet he just can't quite pinpoint when it happened last.
"You sure do know a lot," Midoriya replies, mind working a mile a minute to figure out just what's going on.
This feeling, this part of himself that wants to shove this guy off and make a run for it, when has it appeared before?
Not quite fear, and yet still clearly something. Something off-putting, something that goes against Midoriya's preconceived expectations.
Like taking a bite of an apple, only to find it's made of cake.
Like seeing a Pro Hero, in full costume, sitting in a fast-food place.
Two things that don't quite make sense together…
Like seeing two teenage boys laugh and joke while killing someone without so much as a blink.
The man laughs, and Midoriya knows that voice. "What can I say? I'm just a big fan of yours. Man, I can't believe I'm running into you again. It makes me think it might not be a coincidence."
Dammit, he's such an idiot!
Midoriya whips his head up, a cold sense of dread forming in his chest when the situation finally becomes clear to him.
Shigaraki Tomura, the man behind the USJ attack, clasps a cold hand around Midoriya's neck before smiling. "No, no, this feels like destiny."
Midoriya feels his breath coming in short, his mind scrambling to come up with an explanation for this. Why is he here, of all places? Is the League of Villains planning on attacking the shopping centre?
Shigaraki's smile widens, the skin around his lips crackling bit by bit. "Why don't we spend some time catching up, Midoriya Izuku?"
Midoriya grits his teeth, an unfamiliar anger rushing in. This guy almost killed Aizawa-sensei, left the rest of his class terrified and in pain, and he has the gall to ask for catch-up time?
The hand on Midoriya's neck tightens, Shigaraki leaning in just enough to whisper, "Act natural, don't make a scene. I'm just an old friend who ran into you at the mall."
Midoriya, unable to think of a way out of this, is forced to comply with Shigaraki.
Slowly, Shigaraki begins walking backwards, leading the two of them towards a bench. He's silent, but there's hardly a need for verbal threats when his hand is wrapped around Midoriya's neck.
Keeping his head perfectly still, Midoriya recalls exactly what happened to Aizawa-sensei when all five fingers touched him. If, within just seconds, Aizawa-sensei's elbow was stripped down to muscle, then what could happen to Midoriya's neck?
How long would it take for him to be beyond healing?
Shigaraki sits, pulling Midoriya down without a care in the world. Midoriya can't help but feel frustrated, both at the situation as a whole and Shigaraki's stubborn silence. Is he doing this just to mess with Midoriya?
It takes a few moments more, but Shigaraki finally speaks, "I just think we should have a conversation. A friendly chat."
Midoriya, unwilling to risk turning to face Shigaraki, does his best to calm himself. He focuses on random people in the crowd, a pathetic attempt at distraction, considering he's the closest to dying he's ever been.
Still, he allows his eyes to follow as a pink-haired girl grabs onto their friend, tugging at their frog-patterned jacket in the direction of an antique bookstore.
A bunch of kids, on a school trip maybe, jump around in barely contained excitement the closer they get to the food court area.
"Oh, and of course, if you try to run or fight me in any way, it'll be fast," Shigaraki adds, as if calmly commenting on the weather, "Soon as all five of my fingers touch your neck, your throat will be the first thing that disintegrates."As soon
Midoriya steadies his breath, his eyes jumping from a couple of mutants heading upstairs to a girl with fire for hair being held up at the door.
He needs to stay calm. If he freaks out, then one of two things could happen, both ending with his death.
One, Shigaraki gets annoyed and kills him.
Two, he moves unexpectedly, or breathes too deeply, and accidentally makes contact with Shigaraki's last finger.
"If you do that here, where there are so many people, a Hero will come and catch you in no time. You couldn't escape," Midoriya's voice is as level as he can get it, a desperate attempt at staying confident.
A little boy with a green cape trips and falls, his cries startling a nearby baby into tears, too.
A member of security, one just far enough that making any sort of gesture would be pointless, talks to her coworker with a loud laugh. It reminds Midoriya of his classmates, of how they slack off to joke around when they really know better.
Shigaraki's other hand lifts and, for a heart-stopping moment, Midoriya believes he's about to grab the green-skinned mutant passing by.
He doesn't, and Midoriya is able to breathe again.
Shigaraki points out to the crowd of people enjoying their day, completely unaware of the Villain just steps away. "I don't doubt that. But just look around you, anyone here could use their Quirks and start a massacre if they wanted. And yet they're all here, smiling."
Midoriya, loath to go along with Shigaraki, does look around as told.
A group of three, one with split dyed hair, one with horns and a tail, and one with a plant on their head, rush over to one of the clothing shops Midoriya had spotted earlier. The horned one points out a particular dress, the details lost to Midoriya at this distance.
A person with a duck head is being scolded by the fountain nearby, their wet feathers giving Midoriya all the information he needs to know.
Shigaraki's hand begins to move, passing over all manner of people. "They assume laws and rules will protect them, that everyone shares their same morals. They're convinced nothing bad could ever happen to them…"
He trails off, but Midoriya, deeply and suddenly, understands what he's saying.
Just a few steps away is someone with the brightest yellow eyes Midoriya has ever seen.
Sitting on the next bench over is a grey-haired man, three kids tugging on his arms in a way that could only be annoying, and yet Midoriya can see soft amusement in his visible eye.
An elderly couple walks hand in hand, their steps unsteady, and yet their grip on each other is tight. The one on the left, a woman with spiky hair, leans over to whisper something in her wife's ear. She laughs.
All these people, everyone moving around their day with smiles and warmth…
"After you, I could kill twenty, thirty, maybe even more before a Pro shows up and manages to stop me."
If Shigaraki wished it, he could cut their lives short. He could turn an ordinary outing into a tragedy, could leave children going home orphans, friends gone forever, widows left with nothing but ashes to mourn.
Midoriya swallows, his throat like sandpaper. "I get it. Let's talk."
Shigaraki hums, pleased in a way that makes Midoriya hate him even more. How could he sit there and threaten so many people and not even care?
"When it comes down to it, I hate basically everything, but the Hero Killer pisses me off the most right now," Shigaraki says, his hand loosening ever so slightly on Midoriya's neck.
It's still way too tight, still too much of a threat.
"Isn't he one of your guys?"Midoriya asks, although part of him wants to scream. Just what the hell does Shigaraki want from this?
Shigaraki scoffs, "Not technically, but that's what the media made it look like. And that's what my problem is. It's like everyone is obsessed with that stupid Hero Killer. The attack on UA, the Nomus I released on Hosu— He upstaged all of it."
There are way too many people around. Even if Midoriya managed to free himself from Shigaraki's grasp, it would surely be impossible to stop him from killing anyone.
"No one's even giving me a second thought. Why is that?"
A bitter part of Midoriya wants to spit out an insult, a few choice words he's heard Kacchan say that earned him a particular scolding from his mother.
He wants to roll his eyes, wants to say that Shigaraki can't control what people think or talk about. That just because he managed to attack the USJ, doesn't mean he'll be the centre of attention forever.
"Despite what he claims, all he ever did was try to get rid of things he didn't like. What do you think the difference is between us, Midoriya?" Shigaraki asks, finally getting to the point.
And…
And Midoriya doesn't answer right away. Of course, he had a hundred things waiting on the tip of his tongue, but he's not that much of an idiot.
Shigaraki doesn't seem the type to deal well with petty insults, and Midoriya can't afford a single mistake here.
So, he'll answer honestly.
"What's the difference?" Midoriya says, deceptively low and calm, "I don't understand you. Your goals and your Villains, I don't agree with anything you do."
Midoriya looks out to the crowd around him once more, to the children happily eating burgers, to the duck mutant climbing into another fountain.
He can stay calm, for the sake of the innocent people who have no clue how in danger they truly are.
With that in mind, he continues, "It's not like I agree with the Hero Killer, but I can understand him— at least sort of. Despite everything, we both had something in common. We're both inspired by All Might."
Memories of his fight with Stain come flooding back, memories of being snatched up by a Nomu, only to be saved by the very man who had been trying to kill him minutes prior.
Stain, with blood dripping down his face and a crazed smile, had saved Midoriya from the flying Nomu while all the other Pros stood back in shock. He had, until the very last moment, held onto his beliefs that the only one worthy of being a Hero, the only one worthy of killing him, was All Might himself.
"That night, he even saved me from the flying Nomu. He's a maniac, but he doesn't destroy things just because it sounds fun."
Unlike Shigaraki, who, when things started looking bad at the USJ, had been all too willing to leave. He'd said it was 'game over', as if attacking the USJ was just some fun side quest.
Midoriya tilts his head, just enough to catch a glimpse of Shigaraki's face before continuing, "And when things were going bad, he didn't abandon his mission like you did. Even if the way he acted was wrong, he held true to his beliefs. That's the difference."
For exactly one second, Midoriya feels smugly satisfied with his answer. Shigaraki, for all he did to Aizawa-sensei, deserves to be taken down a peg or two.
Then Shigaraki's face twists, anger pulling at his eyebrows, and Midoriya finds himself feeling like an idiot.
Why did he say it like that? Yes, that was his honest opinion, but Shigaraki literally has Midoriya's life in his hands right now. He should have softened the blow a bit, shouldn't have been distracted by the lure of getting his own back, even if only with a small dig like that.
But then, had he lied and attempted to say what Shigaraki wanted to hear, would that have even helped? It's possible Shigaraki would have picked up on it and, annoyed by Midoriya being dishonest, lowered that last finger onto his neck.
"I see it now, all the dots connected," Shigaraki starts, "Why he makes me so angry, why you irritate me so much… It all makes sense now."
Shigaraki grins, a terrible juxtaposition against the quiet anger Midoriya knows is there. "It's him. The problem is All Might."
Midoriya risks a glance away as Shigaraki continues, a fresh wave of fear hitting him. Back at the USJ, when Shigaraki's plans were ruined, he decided to lash out and try to kill Midoriya's classmates. Will he do that now?
Sure, he seems somewhat satisfied with Midoriya's answer, but that doesn't mean anything. If he's mad about Midoriya's little dig, or about anything really, he might just reach out and kill someone.
Shigaraki's hand tightens, the pressure bringing Midoriya's attention back to his words. "It's all because of him. He's the reason these morons can smile thoughtlessly, as if there's no one in the world he can't save!"
He laughs, "Oh, I'm glad we had this chat, I feel better. I can't thank you enough, Midoriya." His grip tightens even more, and a distant part of Midoriya wonders if he'll die of strangulation rather than Shigaraki's Quirk.
It's risky but—
But Midoriya can barely breathe; he has to do something.
With shaky hands, he reaches up and grabs what he can of Shigaraki's hand. He pulls, desperate to get even just a tiny bit more air.
"I don't need to change my way after all— Oops, don't struggle now, unless you want to die," Shigaraki squeezes his hand tighter, just for a second, and Midoriya starts seeing spots.
He needs air, he needs to get away, but how? How can he get away when Shigaraki has him held like this? When the lives of so many people are on the line?
How can he get away? How? He needs to think! Focus! He needs a plan—
"Uh, Deku?"
Midoriya's eyes, which had closed without his knowing, snap open. Dread washes over him. When had Uraraka gotten here?
"Is that a friend… No, that can't be right," Uraraka says, and Midoriya can see the moment it dawns on her. When she realises the danger Midoriya is in.
The colour in her face drains, her hands grip into fists as she takes a tiny step forward. "Hey… Let go of him."
Using what little air he has, Midoriya is quick to speak, "Everything is fine! Don't come any closer!"
Uraraka is out of Shigaraki's range right now, but if she steps any closer then— Then—
Air rushes back into Midoriya's lungs with so little warning that he's left gasping, his mind torn between relief and pain.
Shigaraki stands, his voice perfectly deceptive, "Oh, you were here with a friend? Sorry about that, I didn't know!"
Midoriya desperately wants to call out another warning to Uraraka, tell her to get away, or take Shigaraki down, or anything, but all that comes out is sharp coughing.
Shigaraki glances back, his voice dipping into a whisper, "If you try following me, I'll get angry."
And if he gets angry, who knows what will happen to the people surrounding them.
Uraraka, thankfully, waits until Shigaraki has walked away before rushing over, worry etched deeply into her face. "Deku!"
Midoriya watches as Shigaraki continues to walk off, as if nothing had ever happened.
He should reassure Uraraka, should call out to the security guards, should try and get his breathing under control.
He should do a lot of things, and yet his first instinct is to call out, "Hold on, Shigaraki!"
Beside him, Uraraka jolts, no doubt recognising the name.
Shigaraki stops, his head tilting back just enough to lock eyes with Midoriya.
He shouldn't be continuing this conversation, and yet there's something that's been bugging Midoriya this whole time. Something that, only now that the situation has mostly passed, can he identify.
"You're upset that Stain took attention away from you, but you never said anything about what happened with Mt. Lady," Midoriya keeps his eyes carefully on Shigaraki, hoping to glean some information through his body language.
It just doesn't make sense. Why would he get upset about one but not the other? Stain stole the spotlight by killing Heroes and, eventually, being taken down in Hosu. Dazai and Chuuya, despite not killing nearly as many as Stain did, definitely got more media coverage than the League's attack on UA did.
Unfortunately for Midoriya, all he does is shrug. "Why should I care about those brats?"
He walks forward, only to stop for another brief second. "Oh, one last thing, friend. I'd be careful if I were you. The next time we meet, I'll likely have to kill you."
And with that, he's gone.
-
"What meaning is there to killing if you don't have real convictions?"
Shigaraki scoffs; the Hero Killer had been so quick to judge, and yet it turns out Shigaraki has had convictions and ideals from the very beginning.
Talking with Midoriya has only made Shigaraki aware of them, made him aware of what he's truly working towards.
The world he wants to build, the one without All Might or that pathetically fragile sense of safety everyone seems to depend upon. That is what drives him, and from this day forward, Shigaraki will call it his conviction.
Everything is All Might's fault, and Shigaraki will personally see that he's taken down once and for all.
Notes:I'm back! And hopefully with a chapter you all enjoyed ^-^ I feel a lot better about this one than I have for the last few, which is probably because it's not as high stakes haha. Writing this chapter came very easy, and I managed to just squeeze past 9k words! A nice long chapter to make up for the wait <3
And ahhhh! We're so close to the training camp!! I'm really excited for it! Although I have yet to iron out my plans for it.... Oh well, I'll figure it out in time I'm sure haha!
Also! Some of you might be wondering if I'll be making Uraraka x Midoriya canon in this fic, and I'm here to say that I won't be! SKK and Erasuremic (who weren't even supposed to be here, but alas) are gonna be the only ships in this fic. I'm not really big on bnha ships anymore, so that's why! Buuuut, I will be including scenes such as Uraraka getting flustered in this chapter, simply because it makes it easier to follow the bnha episodes haha. (And for the Uraraka x Toga shippers out there, I won't be ignoring their relationship! This fic probably won't get far into it, but it will be in my mind when I write them!)
In other news, I keep getting distracted while I write by thinking of bnha world building. Like, since everyone has super powers, what would a chunnibyou be like? Would they pretend to be Quirkless? Or say they have a super classified Quirk?
And like, what about the gyaru style? Since it was made to defy Japanese beauty standards, how would that change in a world where people can have any combo of hair and skin colour? Would the style be really popular with mutants?
Which, speaking of, what about Halloween costumes? Is it seen as super inappropriate to dress in like a dinosaur costume, since people who actually look like that get discriminated against?
I… I just really like bnha world building. There's so much to think about.
And that's not even talking about my thoughts about crossovers and the world building for that... If you're in the discord you might have seen me talking about it the other day haha. For those that aren't... Well, I hit the character limit twice while describing my crossover ideas