Chapter 97: Kira-kun, Help Me!
In a dim bar, a man with messy hair sat in front of a television, idly chatting with a voice that seemed to come from nowhere.
"Teacher, do I really have to contact this so-called 'Hero Killer'?" the man with the hand on his face said with annoyance. "I have no interest in someone who just goes around killing Pro Heroes."
"You need to unite those who should be united, not the rabble you gathered for the USJ. If possible, I would very much like for you to develop him as an ally."
"Ugh. Since you're asking, Teacher, I guess I'll try," Tomura Shigaraki replied. "But if we meet and don't see eye-to-eye, I'm going to kill him."
"That is for you to judge. The one who will destroy this society is you, not me," the voice said. It then changed the subject. "Kurogiri, what are you watching? It sounds a bit like rock music."
"Are you interested in this as well, Master?" Kurogiri brought the phone over to the television. "This is a live broadcast of a rock concert at Seaside Park tonight, commemorating the band 'Queen'."
"'Queen'... that's a nostalgic name," the voice mused. After watching for a moment, it offered a critique. "While they are a far cry from the original, to be able to recreate it to this extent without any video records is commendable."
"I don't see what's so interesting. Electronic music is more my style," Shigaraki said, leaning in. His eyes suddenly narrowed. "Wait. Kurogiri. That guy named 'Kira'... isn't he the one who hurt me back then?"
Although the video was pixelated, making it impossible for Shigaraki to see his face clearly, the name "Kira-sama" popping up in the comments below made him sensitive. And looking at that bright blond hair, Shigaraki was instantly reminded of the day his hand had been burned.
Kurogiri didn't answer, but in Shigaraki's eyes, who knew him well, his silence was a confirmation.
"That's right, it's him! It has to be him!" Shigaraki clutched the hand on his face and began to laugh. "I never thought I'd see him in a place like this. And singing something called 'Killer Queen'? A sappy song like that doesn't suit him at all!"
"You said he's the ally you picked out for me at the Sports Festival? Impossible. He doesn't have that... aura at all," Shigaraki's teacher said, then paused. A low chuckle rumbled from the speaker. "Hahaha... interesting. This makes me even more interested in him..."
"Hey, Nezu? The person you mentioned this morning... his name is Yoshikage Kira, right?"
That same night, Principal Nezu, who was fast asleep, was jolted awake by his phone ringing.
"Director Rabbit? You..."
"Cut the crap. Just tell me, is that his name or not?"
"Yes, the boy's name is indeed Kira."
The rabbit hero was sitting at a street stall, crunching on a carrot, and let out a wild laugh. "Good. That one... he's mine."
Nezu was momentarily stunned. "But I thought you said he—"
"Hey, Mole. Since when is it your place to question my affairs?" Although all that came through the phone was the sound of crunching carrots, in that instant, Nezu once again felt the overwhelming, domineering presence of the Director.
"I understand. The proof of certification will be taken care of."
"Thanks, Nezu! I'm counting on you!" As if his previous words meant nothing, the rabbit hero cheerfully thanked him.
Nezu then heard a hearty voice interrupt through the receiver. "Here you go, sir! Your ramen, just as you ordered—piled high with carrots!"
"Thanks, pops!" the rabbit laughed, then spoke back into the phone. "Anyway, I'm hanging up now. Don't call me again unless you have a good reason!"
Listening to the dial tone, Nezu, all sleepiness now gone, put on a robe and opened his computer.
"I see... so it was a concert."
Kira had underestimated his current influence. Or perhaps, he had underestimated the quality of the performance... and the reach of Camie Utsushimi's connections.
Besides inviting the DJ, Camie had also invited reporters from several TV stations. The moment Kira had appeared on stage, these reporters, like mice that had found cheese, had lit up. This was the scent of a big story.
"SHOCKING! FAMOUS U.A. STUDENT'S SECRET LIFE!"
"THE REAL REASON THE SPORTS FESTIVAL RUNNER-UP MISSED THE AWARDS CEREMONY!"
"SUPER-AAA-RATED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, YOSHIKAGE KIRA!"
Yes, they were all the kinds of headlines designed to grab your attention. And with the Sports Festival having just ended, it was still the hottest topic of conversation. Soon, a late-night TV station had broadcast several clips of the performance.
In high definition.
In short, the concert had become an overnight sensation. Although Kira's face was pixelated in the clips circulating online, it didn't stop the audience from appreciating the songs.
Whether it was Kira singing "Killer Queen" and "Under Pressure," or 'soul' performing other Queen songs, every track was a classic. They gave the viewers a completely new experience, even causing some to become interested in rock music and begin to investigate this forgotten history.
Mitsuki Bakugo, having just returned from the concert, took off her duster coat. She was about to go wash up and sleep when she noticed that although the lights in the living room were off, it was illuminated by a white glow.
She walked over and was startled. Katsuki Bakugo was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, holding his phone, his face dark as he scrolled through something.
"Hey, you brat! Why aren't you in bed at this hour?"
Bakugo turned his head and switched on the TV. At that very moment, a segment about the 'soul' concert was being broadcast.
Bakugo pointed at the TV, his expression thunderous. "Old hag, this is the concert you went to today!?"
Mitsuki was surprised. "That's right! It's only been a few hours, and it's already being broadcast on TV? That's unusually fast..."
She paid it no mind and, in her excitement, pulled out her phone and showed Bakugo the pictures she had taken. "Look! This is a picture from the concert! This is your classmate, Kira, right? I thought he was so cool on stage!"
The hand Katsuki Bakugo was holding his phone with began to tremble. "Yoshikage Kira... No wonder you were acting so weird during our match. So your mind was on this all along... You were looking down on me!"
Never mind the self-deceiving Bakugo for now. Let's turn our attention to Satomi Ishihara, who was fast asleep in her own apartment. Coincidentally, she also received a call from her boss.
"Ms. Ishihara, you know the runner-up from the U.A. Sports Festival, don't you? Can you get us an interview with him!?"
"Boss? Are you talking about Kira-kun?"
"That's right, him! Do you have his contact information?" Although the boss was asking, he didn't have high hopes. Kira was just a student and didn't have business cards to exchange. He wouldn't just give his email to someone he had only met a few times.
Satomi's heart trembled. She suspected that her boss knew about the robbery.
She had exchanged contact information with Kira at the police station. But because the police had told her it was best not to disclose the incident, she hadn't told anyone that she had Kira's info. And Kira wouldn't have said anything either.
Could it be... that my boss is the mastermind behind the attack? Is he asking for Kira's contact information so he can find a chance to kill me?
The more Satomi thought about it, the more likely this possibility seemed. Her finger hovered over the hang-up button. "I'm sorry, Boss. The signal is bad over here. Can we talk about this tomorrow?"
Before he could reply, Satomi hung up. She breathed a sigh of relief, but then was immediately filled with anxiety. If her boss really was trying to kill her, he knew her address. He could be on his way over right now!
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