Receiving the report on the damage, Tsukauchi inquired about the number of injured.The number, though lower than expected, led him to imagine the fierce struggle of the heroes and the desperate resistance of their young trainees.Three heroes were injured.Among the students, one had sustained serious injuries, but their life was not in danger. The injury had been caused by the accidental outburst of their own quirk.
The main issue was that one of the three injured heroes—Eraser Head, Shota Aizawa—was visibly in critical condition.Injuries to the face, right arm, and back—terrible, even by Tsukauchi's standards, who had seen his share of casualties.
Apart from the damage, there was also a strange report regarding the enemy villains.Using electricity- and communication-type quirks, they had paralyzed U.A. High's communication systems.Then, a warp-type quirk user allowed a large number of villains to infiltrate.
That much, while vexing, was still within reason—it was rational, even if the motivation remained unclear.What stood out were the intruders themselves.
First, a modified human—apparently called a Nomu.Clearly not a normal human.Not even a mutant-type.It possessed multiple quirks.It couldn't speak, and likely lacked self-awareness.An exposed brain and skin so dark it was grotesque—unlike any ordinary pigmentation.
Besides that, there had been three others: Shigaraki, Kurogiri, and a man called Jack, serving as vanguard, transporter, and communications disruptor respectively.They could be classified as regular villain threats using quirks.
What caught Tsukauchi's attention was the final individual, referred to as "Connector."If he were just another villain, there'd be nothing more to say—just handle him accordingly.But both students and All Might reported something unusual: he didn't seem to have much malice.In fact, he didn't even appear motivated.
A lethargic villain wasn't unheard of.Usually, they muttered things like "I'm sick of the world, so I want to destroy it."But a villain who didn't even try to destroy anything—just a slightly problematic neighbor with a quirk.
The mystery was, why was someone like that standing alongside the League of Villains who aimed to kill All Might?
"That's the real issue, isn't it?""All Might, more importantly—did I hear right? You were almost defeated?""You really are my best friend, asking the one thing I don't want to talk about!""Hurry up and answer. I've got other work to do."
Tsukauchi stabbed a verbal knife into the pride of the No.1 hero.All Might collapsed as if fatally wounded—a rare sight of him hunched over, which excited Midoriya."No one's here to do the tsukkomi," Recovery Girl muttered.
"...Partly because I was reaching the limit of my muscle form... but to be honest? In a straight, first-time encounter at equal strength, I'd probably have lost.""Wh-What!? No way, not you, All Might...!"
"The darkness among villains runs deep. It's not surprising there are ancient monsters I've never heard of. But... he was still just a boy."
All Might gently grounded Midoriya back in reality.
"His quirk is likely very unique. Probably remote-controlled, with absurd versatility. Kind of like Best Jeanist's thread quirk—but able to manipulate natural elements.""N-Natural elements...? You mean, like, the soil in the USJ...?""When he fought me, he used air. Slammed a mass of it on me from above, no windup. It was like being crushed by deep-sea pressure. Losing a power match in a one-on-one—it was kind of a shocking moment. Please be understanding."
"HAHAHA!" All Might laughed it off, but neither Midoriya nor Tsukauchi could stop sweating nervously.Both a hero nerd and a seasoned cop, yet neither had seen anyone stronger than All Might.Now, someone had physically overpowered him.In a fair fight, that meant no one else stood a chance either.
"Well... I'll win next time!"
For a moment, he reverted to his muscle form, flashing a dazzling white-toothed smile——only to immediately cough up blood and shrink back.
"A-All Might!""Don't be reckless at your age!""S-Sorry, Recovery Girl... but there's still something I need to ask him."
All Might glanced at the XXXL running shirt he wore under his suit.Midoriya was puzzled, but his attention was drawn back by Tsukauchi's voice.
"There were no casualties caused by Connector. If anything, the villains were the ones harmed.""Several villains were knocked out by his attacks using dirt. For a moment, I thought he was on our side."
"But... it is strange. If he could do that, why didn't he use it on us? With that quirk, he could've easily restrained us.""Maybe it has range or size limitations, or... maybe he just didn't want to.""The latter seems more likely. There's no real reason not to. The only ones directly targeted were me, Midoriya, and Bakugo... and none of us were hurt. Even Bakugo, who got kicked, didn't suffer injuries. It seems like he didn't want to hurt anyone."
"So, the question becomes—why was he with the League of Villains?""Let's leave that for tomorrow's strategy meeting.""Yeah."
A villain who doesn't want to hurt anyone.
In Midoriya's mind, a flamboyant gentleman—currently trending on video sites—came to mind.But no, his appearance and demeanor were clearly different.
For now, there was nothing more they could say.Midoriya sighed—first, he had to endure Recovery Girl's treatment.
"Yukinon, you're really okay, right!?""I'm fine. So please, take a step back.""Let me check your back and your throat!""No, really, I feel no discomfort at all.""I'm gonna undress you!""...Fine, do as you like.""Ah, she gave up."
After the police questioning ended, the girls of Class 1-A headed to the locker room.The boys were sent back to their classroom once they were finished as well.The girls were about to change back into their uniforms when Yui simply refused to leave Yukino's side.Perhaps because Yukino had briefly been captured by the villains, Yui was still worried.Yukino had tried to protest, but when Yui burst into tears saying, "You did something reckless again…!", she couldn't argue back.
"But Yukinoshita-san, why did you do something like that…?""Anyone would have. If you aim to become a hero. Given that situation, and thinking about All Might and the future of society… anyone would have done the same.""Still, that was an instant decision… I wonder if I could've done it.""Totally! It's been ages since I felt something that intense!""But none of us would've done it."
Everyone turned their attention to Yui.As she gently rubbed Yukino's back, Yui narrowed her eyes and continued.
"None of us would've done it. We couldn't. When Yukinon says 'anyone,' you mean… probably, Hikki, right?""…""You don't have to follow his example, Yukinon. But next time Hikki tries something like that, I'll either slap him to stop him or join him.""…You're right. But first, we need to drag him back.""Yeah!"
"Jeez, how long does he plan to stay gone?", said Yui."He's just slacking off. Typical.", added Yukino.While Kyoka Jiro and Mina Ashido tilted their heads in confusion, Saki sighed and Kaori laughed out loud, saying it reminded her of Hikigaya.
"Come to think of it, the U.A. Sports Festival is coming up soon.""Yes, although... will it still happen after the villain attack?""Sports Festival…!""Ochako-chan? Your eyes look… fiery.""Fiery eyes!? …You're right, they're burning!"
"Yukinoshita, are you in here?"
The door to the locker room slid open with a bang, and the hero Scream Fist, Shizuka Hiratsuka, poked her head in.The girls all turned with startled expressions.
"Sensei, please knock. You haven't changed at all since middle school. That lack of consideration drastically lowers your charm as a woman.""Gah!!! …I'm sorry…""Wait, you two know each other?""She was our teacher in middle school!"
Hiratsuka quietly closed the door behind her, coughing up blood.Clearly, Yukino's verbal blade had landed hard.
"So, what brings you here?""Ahem. U.A. will be closed tomorrow due to the recent villain attack… but there will be a meeting regarding the incident. Yukinoshita, you've been asked to attend. They want your insight both as a hero and as a student, especially since you were at the scene.""Understood.""Good. I'll send the details later… see you."
Hiratsuka left, stumbling slightly, mumbling her usual line, "I want to get married…"Watching her, the girls silently vowed not to end up like her.Even if they became heroes, they still wanted to get married.Hiratsuka was, if anything, a perfect example of what not to become—as women.
"…As a hero?""Yukinon has a pro license, right? So it's probably that.""That's right.""Eh!?""Wait, what!?""Exactly what it sounds like. I got my pro hero license in winter of my third year of middle school."
A chorus of shock echoed through the locker room.Covering her ears at the noise, Yukino was already thinking about Kurogiri and the villain from before.When Kaori asked Kurogiri about Hikigaya Hachiman, it seemed like Kurogiri knew something.It was almost certain now—he was the same villain they encountered two years ago in the Volunteer Club.
(More importantly, he knows about Hikigaya-kun.)She would never let him escape again.She would do whatever it took to capture him—and bring Hikigaya Hachiman back.
That's why she had earned her hero license three years early.
Renewing her resolve, she began folding her costume carefully.That's when she noticed something.
The stitching on the inner back of her costume was frayed.Strange. It was supposed to be brand new.She had had this costume made separately from the one she used in middle school.And yet—it had come undone.
She searched for the base of the thread to cut it… and then noticed a small indentation in the fabric.Several thin lines stretched across the costume, forming what looked like letters.
"…ka?"
Was that a "ka"?Then the next… was that "na"?And then—
"!!"
She realized it immediately.It was a message.From whom?She already knew.
"…Hiki…gaya…kun…"
『かならずもどる』("I'll definitely come back.")
What a simple sentence."Couldn't you have written more?" she muttered, covering her face.
No.She couldn't let go of this right now.If she did, the tears in her hand would fall.
Why?When?How?
Those questions arose—and faded.Right now, none of it mattered.
He—the one she could never stop wanting—was alive.And for now, that was enough.