The entire school was filled with people from all over Japan.
Stalls were propped up left and right, selling trinkets, foods, and figurines, attracting hundreds of children.
From the 1st to 3rd year, from Hero to Business Course, all had organized their own activities.
If the Sports Festival was where the Hero Course shone, then the School Festival gave an opportunity to the General Education, Support, and Business Course Students.
Of course, because of the Sports Festival, people already had high expectations from the Hero Course as well.
It was especially so for the students of Class 1-A, who had made the news well before the Sports Festival through the USJ Incident.
Seemingly challenging the other Course's students, Class 1-A had decided to capitalize on their popularity and experience, arranging a Drama in the School Festival.
Tomura Shigaraki, wearing a black hoodie and pants, held the leaflet listing out all the events of the School Festival.
He looked up and stared at the people, passing by him with smiles and laughs.
This very moment, someone was dying somewhere. Someone was losing their parents. Someone was losing their family… over petty issues.
Yet, these people — how could they smile and laugh like that?
Shigaraki crumpled the leaflet, resisting an itch.
His Master, All For One, wasn't pleased about him being here already. Not after what had happened when he had gone out to kill Luke's brother.
Tomura walked through the crowd, heading toward Drama's venue, thinking of that moment.
Even now, he was having a hard time believing the series of events that had almost ended up with him being caught by the Heroes.
It was like the entire world had decided to go against him.
Not only that, but it had happened so fast that he barely had gotten enough time to leave the scene.
When he had told his Master about it, All For One had dictated it as nothing but bad luck.
Shigaraki had a feeling it was more than that. But what? What could it be other than a coincidence?
Still, with one attempt failed, he couldn't have gone after that boy.
Ever since then, Shigaraki had been waiting for a moment like this — to visit UA's students personally.
Hero Killer's influence was growing by the day.
Even Giran, the underworld broker, was having trouble hiring villains for them now.
The League of Villains was a league just in name now. This mere fact boiled Shigaraki's blood, making him grind his teeth whenever he thought of it.
How was his League of Villains any different from what Hero Killer was doing?
How were his ideals any different from Stain's?
Shigaraki needed to learn an answer to these questions if he wanted to grow his League.
He needed to know just what it was that made Stain's words stand out so much in these people's minds.
Walking, lost in thoughts, Shigaraki arrived at the venue.
Hundreds of people had gathered in front of a large stage, and the drama had already started.
As per the leaflet, Class 1-A would showcase the key moments of the USJ Incident on two out of the three days of the School Festival.
On the stage, the situation had taken a grim tone.
The students, who were acting as Villains, had gained the upper hand.
There was also a massive Nomu, looking exactly like the one from the USJ incident, on the stage. It had grabbed Erasure Head's head, who was being played by Kaminari.
Surprisingly, there was no one playing him, Shigaraki noticed. There was Kurogiri, but not him. Not him. It was like he didn't even matter.
Shigaraki took his hand out of his pocket and scratched his neck.
Suddenly, gasps rang out from the crowd as the Nomu punched Erasure Head.
"Save him!" The children in the audience shouted, holding All Might's posters. "Save him… All Might!"
Boom!
A cloud of smoke blinded everyone's vision.
"Worry not, children!" a thick voice boomed off the stage as the smoke settled. "Why you ask—"
Izuku Midoriya, wearing All Might's uniform, stepped out of the smoke, wielding the Symbol of Peace's signature smile.
"— Because… I am here!!!"
A wave of cheers washed over the children and adults alike, deafening the ears.
Shigaraki, who was still feeling murderous about being left out of the play, found his vision rooted on the crowd.
Slowly, he looked from the elated crowd to All Might on the stage, and then he looked back at the crowd.
This was it… Shigaraki thought with wide, stunned eyes. This was his answer.
It wasn't like his ideals were wrong, Shigaraki realized. Nor were they any vaguer than Stain's. It was just… he hadn't been actively working on them.
So what if the Villains didn't join his League of Villains?
So what if all the morons were rooting for Stain instead of him?
Shigaraki let out a grin, looking at the joyous crowd as they saw All Might battling the Nomu.
All Might.
All Might.
All Might.
He was the answer. The Symbol of Peace.
Shigaraki turned around, a new light shining within him, making him feel joy as well.
These people… Stain… Half the gutless Villains… Why was the world as it was…
The answer was clear to Shigaraki now — because of All Might.
This was all that mattered, then.
He must eliminate All Might!
Suddenly, another wave of clapping and cheers entered Shigaraki's ears.
Shigaraki stopped and looked to his right, finding another crowd of people living in an illusion. The crowd wasn't as grand as the one enjoying the drama, but it was still a big one, mainly comprising little children.
Shigaraki didn't remember what was happening over there.
However, he could see the large banner propped up over the stage, showing a bowing gentleman with a cane.
UA's Magician!
I do Magic without Quirks!
Shigaraki walked toward the crowd, as he had no intention of leaving the School Festival yet.
Even if he had found an answer to the doubts that had been haunting him for months, it hadn't changed the prime reason for coming here.
Shigaraki was here to kill because —
— Those who mock him must die!
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