Chapter Text
The sports festival is only a few days away and with it, the entirety of UA is unable to close their eyes in anticipation.
Buzzing from excitement, many of the first-year students cannot wait for next day to continue training and others already think of the different ways they can now use their quirks, thanks to the new teacher.
Sitting in his room, even at midnight Midoriya is still diligently writing down more ideas and theories as to gain better control of One for All.
Before, it was only a question of how to prevent his strikes from crushing his own bones, but now he has a much more specific – and hopefully helpful – way to solve that issue.
Spreading this ‘energy’, he first only concentrated in his fist, or fingers, throughout his entire body was an excellent, but simple idea.
How didn’t he or All Might think of that?
But no matter. At least he knows now and can spend the last few days working on it, even if he may have to sacrifice a bit of sleep.
Though why does he suddenly feel so tired?
His writing has already started becoming illegible and he almost didn’t even notice his pen falling from his hand, as his eyelids slowly begin to grow heavy, just like his body has.
Unable to even question his current situation Midoriya’s already blurry vision started growing darker, before he eventually slumped forward, laying on his desk in seemingly peaceful, quiet slumber.
***
Just as with Izuku, most of the other first year students also decided to forgo a few hours of sleep in exchange for more preparation time, especially with the worry of possibly being transferred, even if not all believed in such a harsh punishment for simple failure.
And while many could continue their relentless and tiring preparations, some specific individuals would also be unable to stay awake and drifted off into a calm and relaxing rest.
One of them being a young blond boy.
Bakugou is also unable to sleep, but not necessarily because of training.
Bakugou could not would not rest until he finally understood.
He was angry. He was almost always angry, but this time it was worse because it felt weird being this irritated.
He wanted his grenades back, he worked hard on designing them and they were an essential part of his hero costume and how he would later use it, so how could he not be allowed to test and train with them?
Being threatened with expulsion didn’t make him feel any better, not to mention his entire talk with the Redhead. He knows what ‘being a hero’ means…
Deku; that one made him mad too.
How come he could just suddenly develop a quirk, one so much like that of their idol and get into his school?
He destroyed every expectation, broke out of the role he was supposed to play and Bakugou didn’t like that thought, though he didn’t know exactly why just yet.
So why couldn’t he just be angry, why did it have to feel wrong?
Deku deserved that attack and he just used the equipment they allowed him in the first place. So why does being mad at the Matchstick for reprimanding him, leave such a bad taste in his mouth?
But before Bakugou could come to a conclusion, his eyes also slowly started to close and he fell backwards onto the bed he was sitting on.
Even with no reason to train, the teaching staff at UA didn’t have much better luck at a long sleep, as the responsibility of preparing for the Sports festival and any possible incidents that may occur, was their burden to bear.
Not to mention their new resident teaching assistant, bringing many more concerns to think on, along with the ever-present threat of villains aiming for their school, students, teachers and previously mentioned young man.
One specific mouse like gentlemen would have it the worse.
Not only does he carry the responsibility to overlook and approve all arrangements suggested, while the threat of possible villain attacks looms ever present, but he also has to work unable to get his new and intriguing student off his mind to the dismay of a certain redhead.
While overlooking the many documents that have continued to pile on his desk, Nedzu also begins to feel that unfamiliar calm wash over him.
Suspicious of this sudden change in his bodies condition and unnatural seeming tiredness, the rat uses his last strength to tighten the hold on the pen in his quickly loosening grip and writes a few scribbly notes on the closes paper he could reach.
Leaving the message, he hopes someone will find before his possible demise, or kidnapping, the principle drifts off into a serene sleep.
Simultaneously – just as with the students – many other teachers, a certain detective, as well as the feathery third ranking hero Japan’s, all fall into a strange sudden slumber.
The last to be hit by the unnatural tiredness are three individuals that would someday in the future meet and some maybe even form a bond they could not have expected beforehand.
Toga, a young blond girl – around the same age as the students from before – is already resting peacefully in a small abandoned hut she found to be perfect for a temporary hideout.
For once she does not feel hungry going to bed, having gotten a strangely filling and especially delicious cup of blood just recently.
And though being full does cause most of the comfort, the lingering thought that she for once did not have to fight, or hurt for it, made her stomach feel just a bit warmer.
***
Stumbling down a set of stairs in the middle of the night is Shigaraki Tomura, having played videogames just until a few minutes ago, to finally get his mind to stop spiraling, as it has done the last few days.
Who was that Cale guy and how in the world could that cheater get multiple strong quirks without his Master’s help? Was there someone else like Master? Was there someone that could hinder his plans?
And how was he even still sane? There’s no way there was someone better at this than they were, right?
Finally, thinking he has distracted himself enough, the young man decides to get himself a last glass of water before going to sleep.
As he passes the couch, Shigaraki can see his loyal helper and walking black fog sleeping on it, before his body suddenly begins to feel weak.
“What the-“ Shigaraki lets out in a low breath, as he suddenly falls forward.
Saving himself from facepainting down on the hard ground, the boy grasps hold of the couch’s ledge, before slowly lowering himself to the ground on his now shaking legs.
“KUROGIRI! Kurogiri, wake up! Something- going- I don’t… Help.”
He starts out screaming, but as his body continues to relax against his will, his voice also slowly starts to trail off. Only able to plead for help in his last, quiet breath, Shigaraki also falls asleep with an unnatural calm overcoming his body.
Kurogiri did not wake up through it all, nor did he even hear the young man’s panic.
One by one, many very different individuals slowly start to wake up, in what at first seems to be some kind of black void, though as they stand up it, looks much more like a very dark colored theatre of sorts.
The first one to regain enough of his senses to start inspecting the scene and their current situation is the rat.
Though Nedzu is glad he has not found himself dead, or on the brink of death just yet, his calculative mind does not allow him to remain in blissful relief for long, as he quickly sees the situation as not much better.
First inspecting himself, Nedzu only feels a slight headache and a strange numbing of his senses, as if he was not actually touching anything and simply floating in an empty space.
While concerning in its own right, he deems himself stable enough to observe the surroundings and his situation more thoroughly.
Looking around, the rat immediately recognizes many – if not all – faces of the people laying, seemingly asleep and mostly unharmed, surrounding him.
Just as he did, some have even already started waking and standing up in confusion and/or panic.
One of these people just happen to be Shota Aizawa, who instead of questioning his employer – as he likes to do so often – quickly moves to the few unconscious students some feet away from them.
As the underground hero checks the breathing and pulse of the children, Nedzu continues to observe in silence for only a moment longer, before deeming them to be in good hands and turning around to explore further.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
The moment he turned away, a familiar harsh voice followed.
“Principle Nedzu, if you are awake and aware enough, come help me with the children!”
Aizawa has an even larger scowl than usual on his face, as he glares at the rat.
“That is, unless you can explain what this is and what your involvement in it is. Because whatever this is, it’s too far!”
“Shouta you can be assured, that I have no paws in this whatsoever and I was certainly not trying to abandon my dear colleague, or students, I simply believed them to be in responsible hands with you.”
“How could you tell they were fine from all the way back there? You didn’t even take one step closer!”
Though the raised voice is unpleasant, Nedzu does understand the hero’s worry and that it is most likely caused through the slowly rising panic.
Even Pros can’t keep their calm entirely in such a sudden and unfamiliar situation, especially if not just civilians, but children they are responsible for are involved.
“But they are fine, are they not? I highly doubt we would converse like this if they weren’t.”
Aizawa’s face scrunches up a bit more at the rat’s correct assessment. They are trained to remain calm and level headed in such situations, but he can never get used to his level of control Nedzu possesses over his own emotions.
He knows, though the principle may be a bit reckless at times, he would never cause something of this extent. But his overly relaxed behavior always does make the hero worry sometimes if he actually even cares about the others’ well-being.
“And as you are on it already, would you be so willing to also go and check the adults in the room just in case?”
“And what will you do then?” While speaking, Aizawa slowly stands up again from crouching at a student’s side.
“I will explore and see if I can figure out what situation we have actually found ourselves in and hopefully a way to get out.”
Without waiting for another response Nedzu turns around once again and begins to walk off, passing a few familiar faces twitching, seemingly about to wake up.
Just as when they first reawakened, the environment looks awfully dark; unnaturally so.
Most of Nedzu’s acquaintances, as well as him before coming to, lay on a relatively large free space with a strangely soft floor.
Though it is almost completely black, for some reason one knows exactly where everything stands, or sits, even with the only visible color at the moment being silver-whiteish decorative lines covering the floor and walls.
Walking further forward a few rows of seats become visible, similar to those in a cinema, or a theatre, as well as a few smaller and bigger tables before them. Just as with the rest of this large room, the furniture also seems to be made of the same black material, as the floor and walls.
But looking closer at the corners of the objects, Nedzu can see a somewhat faint smoke-, or ash-like substance rising from them before disappearing into nothingness, as if they are not actual solid structures.
Checking the floor shortly after, Nedzu realizes it to be the same, though one can’t feel this substance even while walking on it.
Nedzu can hear some faint speaking coming from behind him. More people must have woken up, though he tunes them out for now to fully concentrate on his goal.
Could this be the work of that villain group from USJ? The ‘League of Villains’, was it?
The teachers present back then reported one of the villains having a teleportation quirk, but seeing as All Might is still alive it doesn’t make sense.
It was made clear that they wanted All Might dead and though they might not know his civilian form, why would they target him then when everyone else seems so clearly connected to UA, or hero society?
Not to mention the fact that something like this seems clearly out of their league, as they not only kidnapped so many prominent figures with their teleportation quirk, but obviously somehow induced unconsciousness beforehand.
They would need to know where all of them live, break in without anyone noticing, somehow spike their food, the air, or something else and then kidnap them all in such quick succession that no one would wake up before the last one arrived.
So clearly, it’s not them, but who then?
Is it All for one? But the assumption was that this group is connected to him.
Is there potentially another villain even more powerful than AfO still in hiding?
It’s truly a terrifying thought, but it needs to be considered.
At that though Nedzu suddenly remembered Cale Henituse, but before he can come to any conclusion, or even worry about his absence, a shout echoes from behind him once again, though this time filled with more panic.
Though Nedzu momentarily debates ignoring it as he did the other shouts and conversations, he decides that if there is in fact a new, more dangerous development, he should see it for himself just in case.
Returning, Nedzu sees now almost all awake, while some seem more composed than others, no one appears to be in danger, or injured.
Looking around more, Nedzu then sees the children in a small pile, surrounded by Eraser Head, Hawks, Present Mike and Midnight, while their resident school counselor Hound Dog, detective Tsukauchi, Recovery Girl and Toshinori explore the area.
Thankfully not too many of their students were taken here, those that were being Izuku Midoriya, Katsuki Bakugou, Tenya Ida, Shoto Todoroki, as well as Ochaco Uraraka, Eijiro Kirishima, Mina Ashido and Hitoshi Shinsou, who’s surprisingly falling out of the pattern created.
The terrified scream must have come from one of the children, who Hizashi is currently trying to comfort as best as he can.
Walking closer, Nedzu is quickly stopped by All Might, who is currently not in his hero form and staying away from the children in an attempt to prevent possible questions.
First, he recounts to Nedzu the things that have transpired while he was away, such as how everyone woke up, the confusion and panic that followed and the most concerning discovery of them all.
“Nedzu, we can’t use our quirks.”
Ah, that must have been the actual cause of the panicked screech, though that’s anything but relieving.
“Mhh, my quirk obviously is still very much intact and looking around, Hound Dog seems to be the same. So, either it acts similar to Eraser’s quirk, unable to influence mutations and is simply active throughout the room, or our captor does not want to affect us specifically.”
Though the situation is concerning, Nedzu has a faint intrigued smile on his face, disturbing Toshinori just a bit.
“Do you know anything Nedzu?”
“I can assure you, just as I have Aizawa, that I have no involvement in this. Though I can already suspect that this entire room is either influenced by a quirk, or maybe even made by another one apart from the quirk blocker.”
While speaking Nedzu continues to look around the room and realizes for the first time what seems to be one of the chairs standing half way through the wall on his left.
And as All Might does not respond immediately, Nedzu slowly makes his way towards said wall, leaving him standing alone to ponder his worries.
Stopping before the strangely placed seat, Nedzu contemplates touching it, something he has refrained from doing up until now out of concern, even if he has been walking the ground the entire time.
The wall feels normal in a way, just as the floor does and though the seat seems to be made of the same material, it feels as if it's made of a soft fabric.
Could this space simply be covered in whatever this black substance is?
Is it potentially the cause of their quirks being disabled? Though that still wouldn’t explain this chair.
Though before Nedzu could ponder any longer on its placement, he suddenly felt a gently breeze beginning to flow from him towards the tables he inspected earlier, as well as what he has only now noticed must be some form of stage.
Shocked shouts and worried questions quickly follow from all directions, though what caught Nedzu’s attention instead were the small black partials rising from the room and furniture, being taken by the wind that is slowly growing slightly more ravages.
“Fascinating.”
It’s fascinating indeed, but also very much still concerning and so Nedzu slowly starts walking back, towards the other heroes, who have already formed a bigger defensive circle around the students.
“Nedzu…”
Now standing beside Aizawa once again, the rat can hear the hero’s uncertain and worried voice even with its low volume and the raging wind.
All the air is gathering itself on the stage and as more and more of the dark substance accumulates, something like a black cloud, or maybe cocoon forms in its center.
“WELCOME!”
A loud and somewhat shrill voice suddenly echoes across the room, as the unidentifiable black mass quickly forms into what at least possesses the silhouette of a human being, even though it does not look like one, as it practically explodes into existence.
“Welcome, welcome my dear Guests~!”
It doesn’t get any quieter as it continues in that overly joyous voice. Strangely enough Nedzu feels like he is hearing another copy of that exact voice and phrase following just behind the current one and looking to his side Nedzu sees that Inui also must have caught it.
Looking more closely at the being, it looks as if it is nothing but a silhouette; a shadow of a person.
Though is seems to be made up of actual mass, the substance it’s composed off must simply absorb any light that touches it instead of reflecting and making the shapes more visible.
The few discernable details would be the bright and almost cartoonish, glowing white, or maybe silver eyes, its small stature, as well as the fact it seems to be wearing something akin to a jester’s outfit.
“Who are you?! What is this and what do you want with us?”
The first to speak is once again Eraser Head.
Most would be afraid when spoken too so aggressively by the hero, or at least have some form of reaction, but the being before them does not visibly react, outside of the response that quickly follows.
“Don’t worry, you have nothing to fear from me here! I mean ABSOLUTELY no harm.”
Their pronunciation while talking is pretty exaggerated and over the top, as they spin around and pose dramatically while floating a few feet off of the ground, still on stage.
“Answer the questions!”
Hawks is next to speak up. Nedzu is sure All Might would have already confronted the entity if he wasn’t in his civilian form at the moment, as Nedzu can practically feel the Pro’s glare from behind him.
“Yes, yes, of course! MY apologies~.”
“You all can refer to me as Nox and the reason for your visit to my humble domain is information AND entertainment!”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
This time it’s Midnight, who’s usual laid back and playful demeanor is nowhere to be found. And as she talks Nedzu can hear quiet whispers starting in the back among the children.
“For that, why don’t I explain to you where you are exactly.”
“This beautiful place is part of my quirk! It’s somewhat of a subspace if you will. A place that does not exists as you know it.”
“AND it lets me gather people here and share SPECIFIC information with them.”
Before anyone else could steal the spotlight once again, Nedzu decides to take charge of the conversation.
“Quite interesting. So is the blocking of our quirks also part of yours?”
Though the bit about sharing information is certainly intriguing to Nedzu, it is also something they seem to be willing to share on their own, so answering the other questions is of more importance at the moment.
“Ah, yes! This is ALL my quirk, so I can control almost anything in here. Though before you fear for your wellbeing, in exchange I cannot harm anyone while they are in this space.”
While all of the things granted to them with this quirk seem much too powerful, this draw back, if it is in fact true, does explain some aspects.
“And how did you get us here exactly, if I may ask? Even if your claim of harmlessness is true, this is still kidnapping and there will be consequences if we are not returned in time.”
Thanks to their cheerful and unbothered demeanor, as well as seemingly openness to reveal information regarding the current situation, the atmosphere has thankfully lightened slightly.
“There’s no need to worry about that either, as everything happening in this space is completely separate from the outside world! You are not actually here. HERE are only your minds, or souls if you will~.”
“Honestly, I don’t know either what exactly it is, but your bodies are completely unharmed, laying asleep in the place wherever you were before waking up here. AND time moves MUCH slower in here than outside! So even if you stayed here for days, at most a few hours would pass in the ‘real world’.”
Well, that is concerning.
Not only could this person still detain them here for weeks on end and basically keep their bodies in a permanent comatose state, but this would also prevent backup from arriving, or even trying to find a way to them, as they wouldn’t be documented as missing.
Not to mention that a scenario such as this is also perfect for psychological torture.
This time Nedzu pauses for just a moment, trying to recollect his thoughts and thankfully their kidnapper, as well as his fellow heroes seem to understand and remain quiet.
“You said you could not harm us here, but was this just in a physical sense, as our bodies aren’t present, or can you do something involving our mind – or ‘souls’ as you put it – instead?”
“Do NOT take this the wrong way, but in a way yes.”
Quickly many gasps and quiet mumbling began, though before anyone could actually confront the entity, they continued.
“I CAN influence your memories slightly, but only any and all memories newly obtained in this place!”
“As mentioned before, my quirk also involves information exchange and as such I can only ever influence what information from my quirk that you can take with you.”
“Meaning I could make you all simply wake up at your home as if nothing happened by erasing all memories you’ve obtained here until now, or erase certain details that are revealed here and should not be kept.”
“And can you do more than just erase memories, like for example edit them, or create false ones?”
Nedzu still cannot trust everything this person is so willingly sharing, but even if it is a lie, it is always better than silence, as you can at least extract specific information out of lies.
“Nope! All I can do is either let you keep the memories, or erase them.”
“I could also of course erase certain facts that were only learned here instead of a whole memory, ‘scene’. In those cases, the memories involving this specific information simply appear fuzzy, or related words are blocked out.”
“Then, what kind of information would you say ‘should not be kept’? Why give us the chance to learn, but then take it away again?”
“Oh, that wasn’t about me! I could erase information YOU don’t want to be revealed to certain people. Though to make it simpler, let me just explain more about the specifics of my quirk!”
“No wait! What do you mean information we want to keep hidden? Will you share our private information here, is that the goal?”
This time it is Ryo Inui that speaks up.
Their resident therapist has been mostly quiet until now, but it makes sense for him to speak up now of all times, after all privacy has always been very important to him because of his job.
Nedzu couldn’t even get anything about his favorite student out of the man, unless he was specifically allowed by the red head to share it, as he did with his ‘Record’ quirk.
Though, of course Nedzu would love more information on the young man, Inui is generally very strong willed and adamant about his client’s privacy, which Nedzu does respect very much in its own right.
“Not necessarily, but I will come to it when I explain more, so please.”
Inui hesitates for a moment before eventually relenting and letting the jester talk.
“Okay, then now a few more facts about this space first!”
“As I explained before, I cannot harm anyone here and you all can’t harm each other either. Of course there is your quirks being inactive, but if you would like to test it, as soon as someone tries to touch another while having malicious intent, this person will simply pass through the other, as if they are not physically there.”
“I like to call it ‘Ghost jail’!”
Just then more shouts and gasps come from the very back, where the mumbling has become awfully loud.
Young Bakugou seems to have taken them up on the offer of testing it out and is now struggling in this new ‘Ghost jail’. As the blond young man stands in the small crowed slightly transparent, chuckles can be heard coming not only from the other students, but also their way too friendly kidnapper on stage.
Though they should remain focused in such a situation, it is good they have managed to calm down a bit and not fall into panic.
Of course, Eraser is still immediately there to check up on the kid, even if he does not seem to appreciate the help.
“How long will this last exactly?”
“Do not worry, it only stays for a few minutes and will just reappear when the person tries to harm another once again.”
“Anyways, then let’s get back to the explanation!”
“Now the interesting part! The information and why you are here exactly!”
“It better be good.”
Hawks is one of the only people still mostly tense and his tone of voice very much reflects this.
“It doesn’t matter how ‘good’ it is!”
“It should NOT have to involve kidnapping children, whatever it is.”
And of course there is Aizawa, as well as his companion Hizashi Yamada. It is good to know how much his teachers care for their students, though unlike them Nedzu is quite intrigued already.
“Yes, yes, of course! I just thought they should also deserve an explanation.”
They quickly dismiss the Pros’ words and continue, and unfortunately Nedzu can’t really tell if it is part of their tactic to lower everyone’s guards by making it seem this unimportant, or if they truly do not comprehend what they have done
“Basically, I have brought you all here, to find our more about your resident teaching assistant; Cale Henituse!”
Everyone in the room seems shocked by the declaration, but worst of all it hits those intimately aware of Henituse’s situation; specifically Nedzu, who’s mind quickly begins spiraling with unanswered questions.
Do they know something? How would they have gathered this information? Is there something leaking from the school, or staff?
Was it the children? No, if they are here as well, this needs to be information they are unaware of.
What could this person know that they don’t? Were they involved with Henituse once in the past? Do they have connections to All for One? But if they were, why would they apparently ‘share information’ with them?
If they aren’t involved with the man personally, how would they even know of his existence in the first place?
As Nedzu almost seems trapped in his own speculations, everyone around him is not doing much better.
Mumbling can be heard from the students’ direction, with sentences like ‘Why Cale-sensei?’; ‘Has he gotten himself involved with Villains?’; ‘What could be so interesting about the Matchstick, that we get kidnapped for it?’, are audible through the chaos.
All the while most Adults in the room, seem to be in a similar situation as Nedzu himself, until a somewhat rough, but firm voice suddenly pulls them out of their mental turmoil.
It’s Inui, who stepped forward before even Nedzu could.
“And what does that mean exactly?”
“Well, my quirk allows me to show a person’s experiences in a sort of ‘Tv format’, as you could have maybe guessed by the style of my realm!”
“Meaning, I will show you Cale Henituse’s time from when he first arrived at your school up until now, along with his inner monologue and times you were not around, so you can find out more about what he's been up to!”
“It’s pretty much as if he was the main character of his own show, if you will.”
“What?!”
This time it is more than just Inui reacting.
Some with astonishment, some with shock, some with fear and some with simple confusion, though Hound dog is the only one with clear anger in his voice.
“You cannot just share someone’s personal information with what are practically strangers, not to mention diving into HIS MIND and even invading his private thoughts. That is completely unacceptable and I will NOT be involved in this!”
It is very rare for the Pro hero to lose his temper, or get loud, as he is usually a very soft spoken and friendly soul even in serious, or tense situations, but forcibly invading a coworker’s and even patient’s mind – if really possible – is something Nezu could have already predicted he’d react like this to.
Though Nedzu does agree that this kind of practice would be highly unethical, especially if thoughts that were never meant to reach other’s ears could be revealed like this, but he cannot help feel like this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn more about the closed off student of his.
What concerns Nedzu more, is that in this room are many people that don’t know all the details regarding the case, or also simply the fact that All Might’s identity would surely be revealed-
Ah, that’s what they meant with erasing memories with information ‘we’ don’t want to get out.
At least they have thought this far, and it is good to know they did not get information from their school, not just their quirk, though one aspect still remains concerning.
Before ‘Nox’ could speak again, Nedzu does so instead.
“An interesting quirk really, but why Cale Henituse of all people? How do you know of him?”
“Principle Nedzu this is really not the time to-“
Inui stops his protest after seeing Nedzu meet his gaze with that usual uncomfortable calm and let’s Nox speak.
“I mentioned that before too, it’s for ENTERTAIMENT~! Mine specifically.”
“I simply like to see people’s reactions to secrets of other’s being revealed and such!”
“I don’t really know much about the man myself. I can’t exactly choose the person I get information on.”
“Every month I just get a few people with ‘big secrets and a very rough run down on who they are and the people involved with them are, and I choose him because the description was very confusing and unusual.”
“That’s disgusting.”
This time it is Aizawa speaking and many nod in agreement.
“Maybe a bit, BUT it’s not like I’m the only person getting something out of this! You all will get information and secrets that you could have never found out on your own.”
“That’s because we are not TRYING to dissect the man! He does not deserve that. No one does.”
“Well, it does not really matter honestly, because you will stay here and watch as long as I want you to and I want you to!”
“And it’s not like I WANT to make you uncomfortable or something, but I can only find out more about that guy if you stay here as well.”
“You-“
But before Aizawa could even finish the sentence Nox suddenly disappears, the particles he was made up of simply falling loosely to the ground as if they were never alive in the first place.
Though the moment they touch the infinitely black floor, it almost looks like it glows and for a short flash no one can see anything.
Opening their eyes shortly after everyone can see the darkness from the room slowly vanishing into thin air, as it seemingly flakes off before disappearing completely and leaving a mostly normal ground and walls.
As expected, it does look like some kind of theater, just with a few couches and tables as well and of course the stage and giant TV.
What surprises Nedzu more than all that, is that the strange wall he was inspecting just before does not reveal another wall, but just more open space of the theatre, though before he can make any more speculations
Their kidnapper’s voice echoes through the room as if coming from speakers.
“Ah- forgot to mention, you also got a few more people here!”
“Though there’s no need to worry, after all remember that you can’t harm each other and information you don’t want to share I can erase later!”
“ALSO, if you need, or want anything like food – you don’t really need it, I just mean for the taste – just call me~!”
At that, many more faces than just Nedzu’s quickly turned towards the direction of the almost entirely vanished wall.
On the other side they can quickly see three more individuals with the same shocked faces as their own and for just a moment silence overtakes the room before it is quickly broken.
“The villains from USJ!”
One of the students was the first to speak, or rather shout, quickly getting everyone to come back to their senses.
Immediately the Hero’s readjust their positions, to act as a barrier between the villains and students, though no one attacks just yet, though many first look over to the principal, though he does not speak immediately either.
The heroes can see the blue haired young man – Shigaraki, if Nedzu remembers the report correctly – hide behind the villain with the Teleportation quirk, shouting while pointing at them from behind the other.
“Don’t come near us you hero scum! We have NOTHING to do with this.”
“Tomura Shigaraki, could you please calm yourself.”
As the villains talk, Nedzu sees the situation as save enough for now, to avert his eyes from the criminals and instead focus on the young blond girl a few feet away from the other two.
She doesn’t seem to be associated with them, but looking closer and thinking over it a moment longer he suddenly remembers a relatively recent report regarding a young teen, who ran away from home after attacking a classmate.
According to the report, she has an intense craving for blood – specifically human – because of her quirk and she has been marked as dangerous and potentially violent, as some other incident of seemingly random civilian attacks have been linked back to her.
Himiko Toga was the name.
Usually, Nedzu wouldn’t bother with small-time criminals as these, with his much more entertaining and important matters at UA, but as she was roughly the age of his second years at the time, there were some investigations going on.
It wasn’t much, but the students were asked if they knew the girl and about any information they might have on her, that could help the police investigation.
At the moment she seems pretty calm and non-aggressive unlike the two from ‘the league of villains’, though in actuality, the younger man seems to be the only one in real distress, similar to the heroes and students behind and beside Nedzu, though more childish in his demeanor.
The young man was still shouting, though Nedzu drowned it out, as it didn’t seem to contain any actually useful information. Though seeing that nothing is changing regarding their situation, he has decided to finally step in.
“I think by now we have all gathered that your group is not involved in this. And I do not know how much you have been informed on, but it seems we won’t be able to harm each other here, so why don’t you stop shouting, so we can discuss this in a more civil manner?”
The Rat’s calm demeanor seems to have surprised Shigaraki quite a bit, as a did cease his screams for but a moment.
Looking at Nedzu with suspicious confusion, the teleportation quirk user interjects with a calm and respectful tone.
“This is the principal of UA-high, Nedzu, who you have been informed on before.”
“Wha- Yea, of course. I knew that!”
This Shigaraki does appear to be a superior to the other man in their organization, but he certainly doesn’t act as such.
He seems really unprofessional and now Nedzu is beginning to suspect their theory that this group is involved with AfO might be wrong after all, though right now is not the time for that.
“Thank you. At the moment neither of us are in a position superior to the other and simply stuck in the same unfortunate predicament. So how about we remain civil with each other for the moment.”
“Principal Nedzu! You can not seriously be negotiating with the villains right now? These people were willing to harm, or even kill children for their goal.”
Nedzu can see that many more want to speak up as well, especially a certain blond student in the back, though for now Aizawa is the only one to actually voice his disagreement, as the young Bakugou is being restrained by Hizashi, presumably to prevent him from charging at the villains.
Though before Nedzu can respond, the shouting from before starts again.
“I didn’t ‘actively’ go for the children! They just were some annoying background Npcs in the way. It’s not our fault All Might doesn’t seem to appear anywhere anymore outside of your stupid school!”
Many outraged shouts quickly follow, though as Nedzu raises his paw, they quickly die down.
“I do not think that this is the place this should be discussed, though I would appreciate you refraining from insulting my staff and students.”
Before the young man can retaliate again, the other speaks once more.
“Tomura Shigaraki, I do agree with him. We are in no position to refuse cooperation.”
For a moment silence overcomes the room, before the young man finally agrees, though not without some attitude.
“Fine.”
Just then Nox’ voice suddenly echoes through the room again.
“Great, great! I am so glad you all could settle this quickly, so let us FINALLY begin!”
“Please find a seat you’d like and settle down for the show. And once again, if there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to call me!”