The sun was beating softly on the windows, and the safe house buzzed with a sense of need. Hana leaned forward at the table and stared at the flickering screen that showed intercepted calls and fuzzy surveillance video. The people on her team moved around in their seats, and stress could be felt in the air.
With a steady yet low voice, Hana said, "We've confirmed new information about Shigaraki's League." The tension in the room grew as Hana continued to outline the next steps for their operation. Everyone listened intently, knowing that the stakes were higher than ever before.
She tapped the screen, bringing up a dossier of names. "This isn't just expansion; it's consolidation."
The tech operator, Masa, took a deep breath. We've kept track of what you've said about Dabi, Toga, and Twice. "They are now coordinating their movements for something."
Hana clicked a photo of Dabi's blue flames licking the night sky.
"Dabi's blue fire is already a public threat. But Toga… she's unpredictable." She switched to a grainy image of Himiko Toga. "And Twice, if he's present, there could be multiple duplicates. We're dealing with an entirely new level of danger."
Miyako, a recent addition to the team and a former analyst from the Metropolitan Police, leaned forward, her sharp eyes fixed on the scrolling data. "Any sign of Kurogiri or Gigantomachia?"
"Yes," Hana replied, pulling up a surveillance shot of Kurogiri emerging from a portal.
"Kurogiri's transportation Quirk is key; they're covering their movements. And Gigantomachia… his presence means they're no longer hiding in the shadows. They're flexing power."
Tomo, the communications expert, added gravely, "We also intercepted intel about Doctor Ujiko and Giran. Ujiko's Nomu creations could be deployed at any moment. And Giran… he's rewriting memories to recruit new agents."
Hana exhaled, tension coiling in her chest. She scrolled through the report, where names and ranks were listed:
Dabi: An A‑rank villain known for blue fire and ruthless demeanor
Himiko Toga: Shapeshifter who feeds on blood to mimic others
Twice: S‑Rank villain with cloning abilities
Mr. Compress: B‑rank villain skilled in compressing objects for transport or attacks
Spinner: C‑rank villain with reptilian traits, inspired by Stain
Magne, Muscular, Mustard, and Moonfish: Various-ranked villains with dangerous Quirks
Gigantomachia: S‑rank enforcer with overwhelming strength and unwavering loyalty to Shigaraki
Kurogiri: Nomu-like second-in-command, essential to Shigaraki's operations
Doctor (Daruma Ujiko): Scientist behind the creation of NomuGiran: Broker capable of altering memories to recruit new members
All For One: The original leader, a looming presence behind Shigaraki's ascendancy
The weight of the list hung in the room. "They're building a network that's scientific, strategic, and lethal. We need to act before they strike again."
Hana's gaze shifted.
"How did we get all this? Where did the intel come from?"
Masa exchanged a glance with Tomo.
"We have new operatives who joined recently, people with Quirks that give us access to places we couldn't reach before. A tracker named Quirk, an empath who senses emotional shifts, and a code breaker who can hack encrypted comms. They've been gathering data quietly, slipping in and out of villain circles."
Hana nodded, absorbing the explanation. It wasn't just tech; it was people. "So this isn't just surveillance. It's infiltration, quietly done." But Hana was feeling that even if it was just them getting information, this level of detail of intel wasn't normal. She couldn't shake the feeling that something big was on the horizon.
Masa nodded. "Exactly."
Hana's expression hardened. "I need to meet these new members. Face to face. I need to know who they are and what they're capable of before we move forward."
Miyako, the former analyst, leaned forward. "Yes, I understand, and about these intels about Shigaraki's League, the Commission is already stretched thin. If we don't act carefully, we risk escalating this into chaos."
Hana took a steady breath. "I understand. But we need to be prepared. I'll handle it carefully. Keep monitoring them discreetly."
Hana met his gaze. "I know. That's why we must be precise. We won't expose heroes; we'll expose villains. We'll protect people without bloodshed."
A flicker of resolve passed through the room. Hana continued, quieter but unwavering:
"We may be in the shadows, but we're not powerless."
In front of the U.A. High School, Grey was sitting in the driver's seat of a parked car, the engine off but the radio faintly playing inside the cabin. Through the windshield, he watched U.A. High's towering facade loom in the late afternoon light. In his hand, he clutched a map with his plan sketched in pencil and ink, complete with hero agencies, access points, and zones where the recent intel they gave to Hana had helped her to disrupt villain activity.
Inside the car, the world felt quieter, a fragile bubble compared to the bustling school grounds. Students and staff moved across the campus, unaware of the undercurrent of danger he perceived. Every laugh and casual conversation echoed in his mind with a sense of urgency via the drones they set up to survey the school.
A soft knock on the passenger window broke his focus. He turned to see Sato standing outside, with two coffees in hand. Grey rolled down the window.
"That's a bold plan," Sato said, nodding toward the map. "But is it wise to act as Hana's intel?"
Grey's gaze returned to the map spread across his lap. "Hana's intel is precise. Her quiet, effective methods have prevented attacks without violence."
Sato leaned closer, lowering his voice. "But exposing villains, even subtly, could provoke retaliation. And what about the Commission? They'll notice the pattern."
Grey carefully folded the map and placed it on the passenger seat. Through the windshield, U.A.'s emblem seemed to pulse with significance.
"That's why I'm here." He tapped the map. "U.A. is a symbol. An attack there would spread fear. But as long as we stay just outside their sphere, we can anticipate the League's moves without triggering mass panic."
Sato hesitated. "Still, relying on her is risky. The League might trace them or worse, set a trap."
Grey's eyes hardened. "Hana's footprints are subtle. I'll use them strategically. If the League reacts, I'll be ready."
Sato exhaled, concern and respect mingling in his expression. "Just be careful. U.A. isn't just a school. It's hope."
Grey nodded, taking one last look at the map before closing it. He would move, observe, and use every advantage he had, including Hana.
Grey nodded. After a moment, he shifted the conversation. "How are things progressing at the doctor's lab? Is everything moving according to plan?"
Sato's features grew serious.
"Yes. Our asset inside the lab confirms Nomu production is accelerating, but we're intercepting updates. Lab activity is being monitored, and our operatives relay real-time intel. Everything's proceeding as expected."
Grey looked back at the school. "Good. That means we can stay one step ahead. Keep that communication channel open. Any deviation, any sign of escalation, let me know immediately."
Sato nodded. Grey started the engine, the hum echoing like a heartbeat, steady and resolute. His plan was in motion.
As he turned the key, a heavy thought surfaced, one he'd tried to suppress. He was living someone else's story. Deku's story. A young hero's journey, full of hope and sacrifice. He'd taken it for his own, twisting it into something darker.
A pang of guilt flickered in his chest. He closed his eyes briefly.
I'm stealing a child's story.
But he pushed the thought away.
This world's problems aren't theirs to solve. It's not for the children to carry the weight of our adults' failures.
He opened his eyes, determination setting in like steel. He would reshape the story one way or another.
The night dripped with tension. Hidden in his control room, Grey watched the scene unfold via a covert surveillance feed. The camera had been planted in advance inside the skeletal frame of the half-built construction site. On the screen, shadows clung to steel beams and dusty concrete, the flickering light from a lone bare bulb casting long, wavering silhouettes across the empty corridors.
Stain moved like a ghost through the dimly lit structure, trailing a lone hero whose cautious steps echoed in the silence. The hero paused, scanning the space with vigilant eyes, an unwavering symbol of hope in a world slipping into darkness.
His breath was steady as he whispered under his breath:
"Let justice be done in the shadows."
But then, the night turned. Stain paused, sensing something. A sudden click echoed through the space; a trap sprung. The hero, standing just ahead, let a knowing smile spread across his face. He had led Stain here intentionally.
Then, without warning, the explosion detonated. BOOM! The building shuddered, dust and debris exploding into the dim light, obscuring everything in a cloud of chaos.
Stain was thrown off his feet; his bones rattled, lungs burned, and vision blurred. He lay amid the wreckage, coughing and gasping.
Stain tries to push himself upright, but his breath comes in pained rasps. He blinked through the haze, confusion swirling with the sting of debris in his lungs. He didn't understand what had just happened.
Then, from the swirling dust, a figure emerged, limping but with a composed, deliberate motion. The hero. The same one Stain had been trailing. His face was calm, almost compassionate, but his eyes held a cold clarity. Under the dim light, his features began to change to another, calm resolve replacing the earlier smile.
Stain's voice was thin and ragged. "You're… not a hero."
The figure stopped a few feet away, dust clinging to his uniform. He knelt, helping clear debris from the path between them. His voice was low and controlled:
"You're right. I'm no hero."
Stain's eyes narrowed. "Then… who are you?"
The man straightened, voice quiet but firm:
"My name is Jiro Takeda. I work for the Fraction. And I'm proud to say thank you for all the work you've done until now."
Stain's gaze hardened. "You used me."
Jiro nodded. "Yes. We needed you to clean all those useless heroes. We needed Stain, not the Hero Killer, but the symbol he represents, to lead us to the heart of the League's operations. Your presence here wasn't random. You were just bait."
Stain staggered to his feet, fury and betrayal flaring in his eyes. "How dare you manipulate me!" Jiro held his ground, unwavering. "It was necessary for the greater good," he explained calmly. "Your actions have brought us closer to dismantling the League once and for all."
Jiro's expression remained calm. "Our boss enjoyed using the available tools." But you're no longer needed. "You're no longer useful."
Stain clenched his fists, pain and anger battling within him. "I will never forgive you for this," he growled before storming out of the room, leaving Jiro to contemplate the sacrifices made in the name of justice.
Jiro shook his head. "No! No! No! Rest assured, becoming obsolete does not imply that you must perish; I am not here to cause your demise. You're never out of opportunities. You were a weapon; now, you're a witness."
The world was spinning as Stain took a sharp breath. Not only was the dust heavy on the ground below him, but so was the truth. He also felt his eyes close and his vision fade.
Jiro turned away, calling into his comm device. "Target secured," he says with a smile.
"The mission is complete," Jiro announced to his team. "Let's move out." With a sense of relief, Stain knew that his sacrifice was not in vain as he drifted into unconsciousness.
Grey was observing everything unfold on his surveillance feed, his face illuminated by the glow of the screen.
The betrayal and the setting up. It all clicked into place. A slow, cold smile spread across Grey's lips.
He leaned back in the driver's seat, voice steady. "Well done," he murmured to no one.
"Now… we move on to the next plan."
Grey started the engine, the hum echoing in the dark. Ahead lay his next target: the Endeavor Agency.