In a darkened room somewhere in Japan, dozens of monitors cast a flickering glow, illuminating the area with an eerie light.

  Plop.

  Plop.

  Two foul-smelling puddles of sludge spttered onto the ground, each depositing a battered figure—Tomura Shigaraki and Kurogiri.

  "I hought this new Quirk would first be used to save you two."

  A tall, shadowy figure turned in his swivel chair, his gaze settling on the scorched, beaten form of Tomura. His voice was low and rasping, ced with disdain.

  He surveyed Tomura's injuries, taking note of the bed burns c his body.

  "Electric burns?"

  "ly."

  A man in a b coat stepped forward from the shadows, his gsses glinting ominously as he examiomura with a detached, ical air. "It's more likely he was hit by a high-voltage electric discharge. Fortunately, his bat suit absorbed some of the damage. He'll live."

  "Electricity..." The shadowy figure paused, p. "There are no pro heroes with lightning-type Quirks that e to mind."

  He turned his gaze tiri, who seemed weakened but intact, his misty form swirling slowly.

  "Tell me what happened."

  Kurogiri, casting a brief g Tomura being taken away by the dave a respectful nod. He began reting the events at U.A., detailing the chaos, the ued resistance, and the near-fatal enter with the students.

  ---

  Meanwhile, back at U.A. High School, the situation was still in flux.

  Midnight's ued request had left Kaminari at a bit of a loss. After some iation, he'd finally agreed to join her for the occasional m jog. In truth, he didn't want to. He'd been using those early m hours in Omiya Park to test and refine his Quirk abilities away fr eyes.

  But Midnight had assured him her time was limited, that she could only run for about thirty minutes each day, and often not every day. She'd o leave by 5:30 to fulfill her own obligations. Given her uanding, Kaminari had relutly accepted.

  Fifteen minutes after Midnight and the students had left, a swarm of police cars surrouhe facility, fshing lights refleg off the walls of the building. And, as expected, a crowd of reporters had followed close behind, their cameras and microphones ready for a. They were like sharks sting blood ier.

  But today, the police weren't in a cooperative mood. They established a perimeter around U.A. and ftly refused to let any of the repet closer.

  "We're issuing a strict warning," a police officer annouo the gathered media. "Any attempts to bypass the perimeter will result in your immediate removal and possible charges. sider yourselves warned!"

  The reporters, surprisingly, plied without much resistance. In fact, they looked positively thrilled.

  An atta U.A. High School by vilins, during a student training session no less? This was headline news. The reporters could already imagiomorrow's papers flying off the shelves, and the bonuses waiting for them as a reward.

  They were tent to wait. Ohe polid heroes emerged, they'd pounce, snapping photos and shouting questions. Getting even the briefest quotes or shots of the teachers or police officers would be enough to write their initial stories. They could fill iails ter.

  Ihe gates of U.A., police officers aeachers were w in tao round up the defeated vilins, who were now being led out in handcuffs toward waiting police vans. The sight of the shackled vilins beio the voy sent a ripple of excitement through the reporters, who began snapping photos in a frenzy.

  Fsh. Fsh.

  The gate of U.A. lit up uhe barrage of camera fshes, capturing the vilins' defiant or downcast expressions as they were marched away. The newer police officers found themselves squinting uhe bright lights, not yet aced to the blinding gre of the press.

  Meanwhile, oher side of the facility, Principal Nezu and the teachers were overseeing the students as they boarded the buses. Reporters weren't allowed on this side, thanks to the police blog all access points.

  "Sixteeeeeen, een…" Detective Naomasa Tsukauchi muttered to himself, ting the students as they exited the building.

  "Looks like everyone's ated for, except for Midoriya, who's being treated for his leg injuries," he firmed, sighing in relief. He and Officer Sansa Tamakawa, the cat-headed officer, exged a gnce, each clearly relieved. If there had been even one casualty, they'd be fag an unimaginable level of scrutiny and pressure.

  "Let's allow the kids to head back," Detective Tsukauchi decided, waving his subordinates back. "They've been through enough for today. We'll question them aime if necessary."

  Officer Sansa nodded, watg the students with a somber expression. "Hero society almost made a grave mistake today."

  Nearby, Ashido, Uraraka, and the irls clustered together, asking after Aizawa-sensei and Thirteen. When they learned both teachers would make a full recovery despite their injuries, a collective sigh of relief spread through the group. Both Aizawa and Thirteen had risked everything to protect them, and the students felt a renewed sense of gratitude toward their teachers.

  Just as they lined up to board the buses, Principal Nezu emerged with Midnight and the Sniper hero beside him. Detective Tsukauchi quickly approached them.

  "Principal, as a precaution, we'd like permission to search every er of the school."

  Nezu nodded without hesitation. "Of course. Though some teachers may voice s, I believe your presence here is important. And searg is what you officers do best, after all."

  Detective Tsukauchi smiled, appreciative of Nezu's cooperatiouro Officer Sansa. "Arrange a full search of the campus, immediately."

  By the time Kaminari and the others finally returo U.A., the sky was awash with the colors of su, casting a beautiful e glow over the campus.

  Despite the breathtaking view, most students were simply exhausted. Having faced life-ah situations, all they wanted was to go home, find some peace, and recover. Even Kaminari, who usually had training pns or study sessions with Momo after school, was too draio think about anything else.

  Dragging himself through his front door, Kaminari barely had time to call out before he found himself ed in a tight hug from his mom, who had rushed over from the living room. His dad followed closely behind, visibly shaken.

  "My baby, are you okay?" his mother cried, looking him over frantically. "Are you hurt anywhere? Let me see!"