Darkness enveloped a room like a thick cloud of nothingness, shadows clung to the walls like a curse, slowly shifting when the flickering light overhead would sway.
There was a thick smell of dust and abandonment, which was only natural…
The space was once a bustling bar, but now was completely devoid of customers. Chairs stood idle in front of tables that had been long forgotten, dust clinging to every aspect of them.
Yet, in the abandoned bar there was one man present, a young man who sat idly at the counter, scratching his neck every now and then.
Multiple eerie hands lined his body, the limbs as though alive clinging to him as though afraid to let go.
This man was Shigaraki Tomura.
He sat in the blissful silence of the room for a few seconds until something changed about the darkness.
The darkness suddenly felt more… alive.
Shigaraki raised his head and peered into the darkness, then a dry smile appeared on his lips as he scratched his neck.
Then he spoke, as though the darkness could hear him. "How are the preparations going?"
Two yellow eyes suddenly split the darkness apart, narrowing as they locked on Shigaraki.
"We have found the location of the special training program."
Shigaraki's fingers thrummed over the table. "Who will be in charge of the students?"
The darkness shifted slightly, a low thrum spreading through the room. "Aizawa, Thirteen, and All Might."
Silence.
Then laughter erupted in the empty space, the sound echoing through the room.
Shigaraki's fist tightened as a bright smile appeared on his face. "Perfect…"
He stood up, pocketed his hands, then walked right into the darkness, the cloud of black absorbing his entire form.
"Gather the League… it's about time we paid UA a visit."
The darkness vanished, freeing the room from its oppressive weight, but along with it, Shigaraki was gone.
•••
Kyle was twirling a pen in his hands, his expression relaxed as he breathed out a sigh. "So you are saying you don't remember anything from last night?"
Sakura hesitated before nodding.
This was the fifth time he had asked her this question, and hearing her repeat the same answer filled him with joy.
'My cover is safe!'
He melted into his chair, a small smile on his face. When he remembered that Sakura was still seated in front of him, he sat up straight and his expression hardened.
Kyle picked up a stack of papers for no reason and began organizing them.
"So you were late and this is the best excuse you could come up with? Drunkenness and amnesia?"
Sakura stiffened. "I—I'm sorry, sir…"
"Will your apology pay for the damages you have caused me for being late?"
She shifted uncomfortably in her chair, her eyes darting from place to place. "I was just five minutes—"
"What? More excuses?" The audacity of this girl…
Kyle was fully in character.
"I'm sorry! It will never happen again!"
"But isn't it your fault that she is late??" Daisy asked, her voice barely audible.
Kyle pinched the spot of his shirt where she was hiding, and she let out a loud yelp.
Sakura immediately jumped to her feet, her eyes wide. "What was that? Did a rat find its way into the cafe?"
"Rat?? I am a mouse!" Daisy whispered sharply. She was struggling to jump out of his shirt and assault Sakura, but Kyle kept her in place with a single finger. "Let me at her, let me at her!"
Ignoring her, Kyle continued. "I'll let you off with a warning this time. Try not to drink so late into the night next—mmmh."
Kyle froze, his hands shaking slightly and his face blushing red.
Sakura took a step toward him. "Sir? Are you okay?"
"What? I'm fine, I'm fine, heh. You can go."
Sakura stared at him, unsure of how to react. He had let her go with just a warning; he didn't even cut her salary in half like last time.
"What are you waiting for? I said you can leave!"
"Yes, sir!" She yelped and practically sprinted out of the room.
Immediately the door was shut—
"Ahh! Daisy?!"
The little rat had bitten him in the chest!
He pulled her out and tossed her to the table, gasping breathlessly. How could something so tiny cause so much pain?
Daisy pouted, her tiny hands folded across her chest.
"This is why—" Kyle was about to scold her when he heard a certain voice, one he had heard many times in the past.
Although the person was in the cafe, he could easily hear her with his enhanced sense.
"Is that Midnight?"
He adjusted his shirt and shot a glare at Daisy before walking out of his office.
Sitting at a table at the end of the cafe was none other than Midnight and another person who was most likely an academy professor.
Kyle walked to the reception and began fumbling with different tools under the pretext of working, but he was actually listening in on their hushed conversation.
Akiko's posture straightened at the sight of him, while Sakura kept her eyes locked on the plates she was washing.
"Yes, the USJ training should help them get a proper feel of how real-life situations will be," Midnight said, cradling her cup of coffee in her hands.
"Will All Might really tutor them himself? I wish he would make a guest appearance in my class one of these days…"
"Shhh." Midnight's gaze strolled to where Kyle and his workers were.
None of them were looking her way; they seemed more engrossed in their work than paying attention to their conversation.
Besides, the distance was too great for them to overhear anything.
She turned back to the professor. "Let's keep all discussions about him on hold until we get back."
Immediately after she finished speaking, Kyle grabbed a cupcake from the display and strolled back to his office.
'USJ?'
He bit into the cupcake and pushed the door to his office open.
'Where have I heard of it before?'
It took only a few seconds for it to click in his mind, and when it did, a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
Unforeseen Simulation Joint.
'I guess the Villain League is finally going to make their move.'
It was about time Kyle made his move as well.
.
.
.
A/N
We have been at the introductory part of the story for sometime now. The more serious arcs are about to begin :)
Brace yourselves for peak