Himiko frowned as she watched the man while the shadow shrugged.
"You're no fun…" she commented.
The man scoffed and looked the other way.
Himiko began walking down the stairs when she noticed that it was not just the three of them; there were several other people scattered around the abandoned space.
Most were notable villains, people that she had heard of many times in the past.
Sitting in the corner alone was a man who covered every single part of his body in black spandex. He seemed to be talking to himself, but the moment he saw Himiko, he waved at her.
Himiko waved back, smiling, the man who smiled back.
'That must be Twice.'
There was another man hanging upside down from the ceiling, his legs hooked on the metallic railing above.
He had a white mask hiding his features and wore what looked like a magician's uniform.
"Mr. Compress!" Himeko waved at him while jumping a few times.
He had put up a few shows in the past, villain exclusives where he showed off his powers. Himeko happened to have attended one of them.
Mr. Compress acknowledged her greeting with a polite nod. "It's always great to see a fan!"
Himiko walked past another man, or at least that was what she thought he was. He was like an amalgamation of lizard and man and had a red material tied around his eyes like a ninja turtle.
Himeko had no idea who he was.
The last person was the only other woman apart from her, a curvaceous lady with long silver hair that went down to her back.
Her skin had a strange metallic gleam, which Himeko noticed at first glance.
When she caught her stare, the lady frowned, glaring at her from a distance.
"I guess she's not the friendly type…"
Himiko jogged over to her and relaxed on the wall just beside her. The woman said nothing at first, but it was clear that her irritation was growing.
After a few seconds of silence, Himiko began whistling, and then shortly after, she started tapping her foot on the floor while doing a little dance.
Then she stopped and turned to the woman, who was looking in the other direction, doing her best to avoid eye contact.
'If I ignore it, maybe it will go away…' the woman thought, doing her best to seem invisible.
Himiko leaned closer to her. "How long are we going to wait?"
"…"
"Is there an audition or something?"
"…"
"What sort of quirk do you have—"
"Stop it!" the woman screamed so loudly that her voice echoed back.
Everyone turned their attention to the pair, and she blushed, then quickly stared at the floor.
Himiko bumped her with her shoulder. "You're a shy one, aren't you? Don't worry, they aren't looking…" she said in a cheery voice.
The woman slowly raised her head and shot Himiko a glare.
Himiko smiled in response. "What is your name?"
Seeing that nothing she did was working on Himiko, she sighed, her shoulders dropping slightly.
"My name is Silver. Can you please leave me alone?"
Himiko frowned playfully and was about to speak when the sound of approaching footsteps reached her ears.
Everyone in the hall turned to the direction of the sound, watching as the man descended down the steps.
He had grey skin that appeared dead and blue hair that bounced behind him as he descended the steps.
There was a certain commanding aura about him that caught everyone's attention and an air of dread that seemed to follow him wherever he went.
Himiko knew at first glance… he was the boss.
Tomura Shigaraki, the man who brought war to U.A. right in their base and managed to escape alive.
'So he is the one forming the league…' she mused.
When he had descended about halfway down the stairs, he removed his hands from his pockets, his eyes sharp as they took them all in.
"Welcome to the League of Villains."
•••
Shigaraki didn't waste time with empty words; he made his purpose as well as the purpose of the league clear with very few sentences.
It was destruction.
Destruction of the current system where villains were oppressed, destruction of the heroes, destruction of the false ideals they were forced to live by.
But that was not all; he also promised whoever would join freedom to do as they liked under the protection of the league.
Every member was allowed to pursue whatever goals they had, as long as it did not interfere with league business, they could do as they liked.
This was the part that appealed to Himiko the most.
All her life, she had lived like a caged mouse, tied down by what people believed was 'normal.'
She was shunned because of her quirk, eventually kicked out by her parents, and left to fend for herself.
Himiko's entire life had become a mess from that very moment, and yet, it was only after then that she felt the most alive she had ever been.
The only thing in her way now were the heroes…
Every now and then, whenever she had her cravings, she had to always be careful and look out for the heroes who covered the city like ants.
"In the league, you will be able to do as you want, the consequences be damned!"
Shigaraki boldly declared, his fingers tightening into a fist.
"Follow me, and I will lead you to a new world. A world free of heroes, a world where our expression is not a crime, a world where we can take pride in chaos!"
It was an irresistible offer, but—
Himiko's mind went back to what had happened a few weeks ago.
'Kyle…'
"If you ever want to see a world bigger than what is in front of you, then you know where to find me..."
She was yet to understand what he meant when he said that, and she was itching to know.
Shigaraki let out a breath as he finished his speech and began walking towards them. "If you wish to join the league, raise your hand; otherwise, you may leave now."
Twice's hand shot up, the lizard man sluggishly raised his hand as well.
Mr. Compress raised his hand up—or was it down? Because he was hanging upside— you get the point.
All around her, everyone was raising their hands. Even Silver, after a little hesitation, lifted her hand as well.
Now the only person left was Himiko.
She wanted to join the league if it meant she could be free.
But at the same time, she wanted to see Kyle, the only person who had made her feel strange for the first time since she was born.
Deep in her heart, she knew that she could not pick both; one had to go for one to remain.
It was the league or Kyle.
"Haaaa—!"
Himiko sighed tiredly and went down to her knees.
'Why am I having to think this much these days?'
"Can I decide la—"
Crash!
The window of the cinema suddenly shattered as a small rocket tore through it—speeding right at Himiko.
"?!"
BOOOOM!
Everyone stared at the projectile in shock as it closed the distance within seconds, exploding the moment it got to Himiko and encasing the area in a fiery inferno.
At the ceiling stood a man in a long black cloak and a fedora tilted forward.
On his shoulder was an RPG, which was still smoking from the earlier shot.
He looked at them and scoffed. "It looks like the rats are all having a party. May I join in?"