Chapter Text
Kyomu's earliest memory is of waking up in the Doctor's lab.
In fact, he doesn't recall any of his life that led him to that point. But perhaps that was for the best, all things considered. He had grown to enjoy his current one.
The first couple of years of his known existence had been devoted to being at Sensei's side, assisting him and the Doctor with their experiments. It was his job to help ease the nomu, as they called them, into consciousness by temporarily removing their abilities with his own. It was easier to see how willingly they would listen when they couldn't lash out. It wasn't until his third year with Sensei that his primary objective changed. A young boy, introduced to him as Shigaraki Itaru, with large, tear-filled eyes and burns on his small body.
His new job? To raise the kid in Sensei's place and ensure his safety.
It hadn't been difficult at all. The young master was a rather quiet and polite child upon their first meeting, and upon finding out Kyomu didn't care for his quirkless status, he had gotten attached to his new caregiver. On that first day, they made quick work of patching him up, and the rest was history.
Now, just over a decade later, the mist-made man was silent as he heard the bar's door open. His gaze turned from the glass he was drying off to the door as his young charge walked in. He bowed his head in greeting. "Young master, good afternoon." Itaru pursed his lips at the greeting, taking a seat at the bar across.
"Kyo-san. You don't have to be so formal when we're alone." The teen placed a notebook on the counter. He easily recognized it as the one he'd been using to plan their first official attack as the League of Villains. It was full of strategies that Itaru had thought up either by himself, with Sensei, or even Kyomu.
"Apologies, Shigaraki-kun. I simply wanted to ensure I avoid any slip of the tongue for when we commence our attack against UA tomorrow. Even with as untraceable as Sensei has made your identity, I'd personally prefer if the Heroes didn't even learn your name. Your safety is my priority, after all." His charge's expression seemed to sour at the mention of the planned attack at the USJ.
"Speaking of that...do you think we're making a mistake by going through with it?"
"What do you mean?"
"Attacking a training center full of teenagers. I know the end goal is revealing All Might, and those in Hero Society don't always uphold the values that they preach...but why is Sensei so adamant on an attack that is private? Wouldn't our cause gain more attention if we publicly displayed that Heroes aren't all they claim to be?"
This was one thing that Sensei didn't like about his successor. Shigaraki Itaru liked to rock the boat by always challenging others. Kyomu knew it was more out of boredom than anything. The boy was smarter than most his age, which is possibly why he was chosen for his role, but his knowledge led him to bring up things that he probably shouldn't discuss. Such as the morality of attacking a training exercise of first-year students. Or even the possibility of genuine Heroes.
"You said it yourself, Shigaraki-kun. Starting off with smaller attacks that are better targeted is wiser than impulsive ones." He watched as the boy started flipping through the pages of the notebook that sat before him, stopping on a page that had a sketch of the USJ layout. "The Heroes don't expect us tomorrow. An unknown attack, especially one on their newest Heroes-in-training? It may just shake the foundation of the culture the Hero Public Safety Commission has built, but it puts our cause out there."
"I guess. I just don't know how I feel about us targeting All Might for our first attack."
"Don't start getting into your head again. You've spent weeks planning this, ensuring we have the best allies to aid us. Besides, tomorrow will be evidence to everyone that All Might isn't as strong as he claims. You don't want this work to go to waste, do you?" He understands where Itaru was coming from. This was a risk as is, but if Sensei believed it was the right one to make, then who were they to doubt him?
"No, I don't." He gently taps the center of the map with his finger. Their personal entry point that Kyomu would warp them to. It was optimal for the attack since it left them and the nomu free space to view everything. Itaru flipped the page and stared at the list of names. The 3 Pros that would be there at the USJ. If everything went to plan, Kyomu would take care of Thirteen and Loud Cloud early on in the attack, leaving the nomu to focus on All Might before he'd rejoin them at the fountain to aid the creature. Giran had managed to find them plenty of extra hands that would keep the students occupied. Just some low-level villains that the students wouldn't die to, rather than anyone absolutely life-threatening.
Itaru may hate the system Hero Society built, but he wasn't going to risk the lives of any potential Heroes before they had a chance to show what they could really do.
He suddenly closed the book.
"You're right, Kyo-san. I am just getting into my head. This is what we've been waiting for, and now that we're finally in a good place to do so, we should strike while the iron is hot. Besides, I want to make Sensei proud tomorrow!" Itaru looked up to his guardian, smiling. It wasn't rare to see the kid smile, but it reminded Kyomu of just how old he truly was. "I should finish making sure things are prepared." He stood from his chair, picking up the notebook from the countertop. "I'll be in my room until dinner."
Kyomu's eyes followed his charge as he left the way he came. The door shut behind him with a click.
Perhaps tomorrow may go according to plan.