We were inside the USJ facility.
A massive, dome-shaped building made up of various zones, each one designed to replicate a different kind of disaster scenario. There was a central plaza at the entrance and six distinct zones branching out from it: the ruins zone, landslide zone, mountain zone, conflagration zone, shipwreck zone, and windstorm zone.
Thirteen stood in front of us, dressed in her bulky space suit and already diving into her lecture.
Her voice, muffled slightly by her helmet, was calm and steady. She explained how the true role of a hero wasn't just about defeating villains—it was about saving lives. She emphasized the importance of control and responsibility, reminding us that even the most benevolent abilities could cause harm if misused.
It was a good message. Especially for some of the more combat-focused students in the class.
Still, I could barely focus.
Because now was the moment of truth.
There was always a chance the League of Villains wouldn't show up. Maybe this would just be normal rescue training and I'd leave here a little more trained, but no more notable. That'd be disappointing, but not a complete loss. There'd be other chances to improve my image.
But my worries were unnecessary.
A sudden flicker of the lights drew our attention
A subtle surge buzzed through the facility's lighting system, dimming everything by a few notches. It wasn't enough to blind us, but it did have the effect of making everyone slightly uncomfortable.
Then it happened.
A swirling purple portal began to form at the fountain in the central plaza. At first, it was just a shimmer. Then a swirl. Then a ripple of energy that grew wider and wider. The surface of the portal rippled outward as a pale hand emerged from it, followed by the man himself.
Tomura Shigaraki.
Clad in a dark black bodysuit and caked in grime from not knowing what a shower is, his most striking feature was the mess of white hands latched across his body like grotesque accessories. They were his family's hands.
Dozens of villains followed. Third-rate thugs with mismatched gear, half-assed costumes, and masks. A true crowd of bottom-feeders.
And then came the Nomu.
A beast of muscle and rage. Its very presence seemed to weigh the air down.
Aizawa's demeanor shifted instantly. "Everyone, group together and stay put!" he commanded, pulling up his goggles and readying his capture weapon. "Thirteen, protect the students!"
A moment later, the portal shrank and twisted, reshaping itself until a misty figure stood in its place. Glowing yellow eyes blinked from within the fog. Kurogiri.
"All Might…" Tomura rasped from behind the fingers, voice low and scratchy. His nails scratched irritably at his neck. "Where is he? The Symbol of Peace. We went through the trouble of bringing this whole crowd. Maybe he'll come out if we kill a few of his students."
Panic rippled through our ranks. The other students realized this was serious.
They were asking Thirteen questions. How did they breach the school's defenses? What was their plan? Todoroki speculated that this was a coordinated attack, exploiting the USJ's isolation from the main campus.
Aizawa's voice cut through the chaos. "Thirteen, evacuate the students. Kaminari, use your Quirk to try contacting the school."
Then he did what no one expected.
He leapt.
Right off the platform. Right into the crowd of villains, alone.
He didn't hesitate. Capture scarf whipping through the air, eyes glowing red with his Quirk, Eraserhead moved like a phantom through the first wave. He didn't miss a beat—blocking, tripping, disabling. Villains dropped one after another. It was incredible.
But I knew it wouldn't last.
The Nomu hadn't moved yet. And once it did, Aizawa wouldn't be enough.
Mina tugged at my arm, snapping me back to reality. The class was moving toward the exits.
"Kyūta, let's go!"
I followed her lead, hurrying to catch up with the rest of the group. Just as we caught up to the others near the exit, Kurogiri warped into view, blocking our only way out.
He started speaking again, giving us a proper introduction this time. "We are the League of Villains," he said. "It may be presumptuous of us, but we have invited ourselves into the home of the heroes."
I stopped listening; I didn't care for what he had to say.
My heart was racing, and my hands were shaking. But I knew this wasn't fear; it was anticipation. This is my biggest chance.
Come on.
Any second now.
Bakugo and Kirishima charged forward without hesitation. Kirishima swung with a hardened arm, Bakugo ignited an explosive blast, but neither of their attacks landed. Kurogiri phased through both their attacks with ease, then expanded outward into a massive cloud of mist, engulfing us all.
I narrowed my eyes, watching carefully.
As the fog thickened, I noticed Mina just a few steps too close to the center.
I'm not sure why, but I'd prefer she wasn't one of the ones who would get ambushed by villains.
I lunged forward and grabbed her wrist, yanking her back with me. She stumbled into me with a surprised gasp, but I kept my grip tight, dragging us both past the outer edge of the cloud.
Mina clung to my arm for a moment, wide-eyed, before steadying herself with a slow inhale.
I scanned the area and did a quick headcount. Five others remained at the entrance: Jiro, Shoji, Sato, Iida, and Sero.
Good.
This group works for what I want.