The first time Shigaraki sees she, the screen Sensei used to communicate with is on and she is busy behind the bar counter slicing celery stick into three inch pieces. She reminds him of a celery stalk cut in half; she appears to be a young woman, but she looks oddly shrunken, like a wool sweater washed in hot water. Shigaraki points to her with an accusing finger.

"Who is she ?"

Kurogiri turns around to bid Shigaraki a good morning even though it is nearly noon he is in the middle of stacking scotch glasses on the lowest shelves behind the bar. The heaviest of cups were always set on the bottom to prevent their weight from throwing the shelf off balance and sending the whole structure crashing to the ground; Kurogiri is thoughtful that way.

"Shigaraki Tomura?"

The woman puts down her knife next to the cutting board and wipes her hands off on the skirt of her apron. Shigaraki's senses are on alert as she steps around the counter and ends up just a few feet in front of him. With a bow of her head and a smile, she holds out her hand to him; he can smell peanut butter and a more subtle hint of sugar cookies. It's heavenly.

"Hello, it's wonderful to finally meet you."

Shigaraki doesn't move to take the hand. What does she mean by 'finally'? He definitely has never heard a thing about her, whoever she thinks she is. And 'wonderful'? Is that supposed to be her idea of a joke?

"Yeah, who the hell are you?"

"Tomura, where are your manners? There's no need to be so abrupt."

A voice comes from the screen, or more accurately, the speakers attached to said screen. Despite Shigaraki's foul mood, he cannot help the feeling of calm that manages to ease his tension at hearing Sensei's voice through a monitor, even if it is in the form of a reprimand.

"Sensei, I think Tomura would rather speak to you than me at this time."

Shigaraki bristled; who was she to talk about him that way, as if he isn't even there? He's not some brat and she couldn't have been much older than him, if she was at al

"Yes, go on Ane."

Ane? As in sister? Shigaraki watches the woman's retreating back, dark hair plaited in a neat braid and swinging over her shoulder. Is she related to Sensei?

Ane obediently returns to her post and continues making the snacks, but not before sending another welcoming little smile back to Shigaraki; he scowls and turns back to the monitor.

"Who is she Sensei?"

"Ane is...my assistant." Sensei paused only for a second, but it's a second Shigaraki doesn't fail to pick up on. "And as of today, she will spend some of her time as yours; Kurogiri will be seeing to other tasks and I don't wish for you to be neglected while he is busying himself with my requests."

Shigaraki looks over to Kurogiri curiously, but his attention is on Ane as she asks him to hand her a plate from the top of the shelf. Kurogiri does not seem off put by Ane at all; in fact, he is quietly speaking with her in an almost conspiratorial way. Shigaraki realizes they must already know each other.

"Sensei, who is that woman though? Where did she even come from?" Shigaraki inquires with only halfhearted petulance, but the real question is communicated clearly enough through his tone; can she be trusted?

"Ane," Sensei speaks with a touch of paternal severity and Shigaraki knows he does not approve of how Shigaraki is addressing the woman. This irritates him even more. "Has been serving me for quite some time now; I was very fortunate to come across her in her time of need."

"Oh no Sensei, if anyone is fortunate-"

"Please Ane, I speak not to flatter you, but to settle Tomura's mind. Not that I don't enjoy giving credit where credit is due."

Ane's cheeks flush with pleasure; she gives the screen a bashful smile, but remains silent as she arranges the pieces of celery on the china plate.

"As I was saying, Ane will be making herself useful in your endeavours. Trust me when I say you have nothing to concern yourself over Tomura; you will find Ane accommodating and efficient."

"Sensei, how long is 'quite some time'?"

"Correct me if I'm wrong Ane; has it been three years?"

"Four Sensei, and it will be five this summer." Ane smiled as though nothing in the world gave her more joy than the reality behind her statement.

Shigaraki frowned at her, a silent remark that she shouldn't be so pleased with herself, before turning back to the screen. "How come I've never heard anything about it?"

"It was not necessary for you to know." Sensei's tone implied that should be all the explanation his protege was warranted. "I've noticed that recently you've been taking steps to make a name for yourself; I couldn't help keep in mind the potential strain a young man in your position may find himself with. It was my opinion that now would be the best time to make introductions, coupled with the fact I will taking time from Kurogiri's schedule for my own plans."

"Well this won't last long." Shigaraki said dully. "If she knew anything, she would have known better than to try and shake my hand. Either she's forgetful or she's that stupid."

"If you had allowed Ane to go on with her introduction, you would have been informed that such a thing is of no concern to her."

Shigaraki crossed his arms. "What's that mean?"

"Ane's Quirk allows damage to her skin to be healed instantaneously; sadly, she does still feel pain."

"Sensei, may I add something?" Ane spoke up.

"Of course."

"Tomura, you have nothing to worry about as far as injuring me goes; I've become able to adapt to my Quirk well, since most pain usually lasts for a few seconds or so depending on the contact made with my body."

Shigaraki gave her a once over. "So, I can't kill you?"

"Oh you could, just not with your Quirk specifically. I'm not as skilled in combat as your or Kurogiri." Ane explained. "In addition, if anyone wanted to kill me, they would be better off using a poison or hanging or-"

"Yeah, I think I get it. What's your point?"

"Tomura Shigaraki, I would think you would be able to see the benefits of having someone nearly immune to your Quirk in your service."

Kurogiri's quiet voice somehow became the loudest sound in the bar; Shigaraki shot him a nasty glare.

"I understand that, but I still don't see why it's necessary to have her here. I don't need a babysitter."

"Ane is your assistant, at least part time. Her job is to aid you and see to your well being." Sensei told him. "Tomura, I hope you'll be sure to pay Ane the same amount of respect you would myself or Kurogiri."

"Kurogiri is useful. What the hell can she even do, aside from that halfassed regeneration Quirk?"

Ane was keeping out of the conversation since Shigaraki had silenced her; she had since unscrewed a jar of peanut butter and was spreading the smooth paste onto the hollowed out sides of each stick of celery.

"I hope you don't mind, but Kurogiri had mentioned to me you haven't had anything to eat today." Ane said as she began to open a canister of raisins; she put five or four on each celery.

Shigaraki narrowed his eyes, head tilted to the side to watch; the snack looked familiar, but he could not recall Kurogiri making anything like it in the past. Most of the dishes Kurogiri made were meals of rice with some sort of meat or vegetable. The past few years Shigaraki had opted to see to his own diet for the most part. It featured primarily instant meals and processed snack items purchased at convenience stores where he knew the security cameras were easy to avoid or busted.

"All done!" Ane said as she placed the last raisin on the last celery stalk; before Shigaraki could say anything, she had carried over the plate, holding it out with a wordless smile.

"I'm not hungry."

Ane opened her mouth to speak, but Sensei was quicker on the draw.

"Tomura, you will not be ungrateful. All I ask is for you to maintain your health and well being, but as someone who must remain in the shadows, I can't be there to personally see to it. That is where Ane comes in."

Shigaraki refrained from rolling his eyes, even though it was highly unlikely Sensei wasn't able to see him do it. It displeased him to have a stranger come into the bar and he be expected to tolerate her presence.

The simple fact remained, Ane was a stranger and one that apparently both Sensei and Kurogiri already knew. If it wasn't enough for his routine to be thrown off, it was twice as vexing to be out of the loop.

Still, if Sensei didn't bother to mention Ane in the past, there had to be a good reason. Everything he did had some underlying motive, ones that Shigaraki was not always aware of, but a motive nonetheless.

Shigaraki had to admit, he wasn't completely adverse to the idea of having someone he could boss around a little and tell to make him food and clean up after him. Maybe Sensei had the right idea after all; Shigaraki usually preferred the convenience of premade food, but that wasn't to say he disliked meals that were made from scratch and fresh ingredients. Shigaraki just couldn't be bothered with it.

Ane was still holding out the plate to him; the celery was neatly cut and there wasn't too much peanut butter to cause a mess while he ate. The raisins were placed in single file formation, just like ants walking in a straight line. Nice touch.

"If you don't like these, I can make you something else to tide you over until dinner."

Shigaraki picked up one of the stalks and bit into it halfway; the resounding crunch was oddly satisfying.

"These are fine."

"Would you like to sit here and eat?"

"Hm. She can stay as long as she doesn't get in my way."

Shigaraki took the plate from her grip and made himself comfortable at the bar; he could hear Sensei sigh, long winded and obviously exasperated, but Shigaraki didn't see the big deal. He wanted Ane to know that just because she was in good with Sensei, it didn't mean she had any authority over him.

"Sensei, it's fine." Ane was speaking directly to the monitor now. "I did just show up out of the blue. Either way, I'm happy to help see he's tended to while preoccupied with his responsibilities."

Shigaraki shoved another celery piece into his mouth and grumbled to himself; why the hell did she keep talking like he wasn't in the room? Was she trying to piss him off? Or maybe she thought addressing him directly would make him angry. Or she was just dumb.

"If you have any concerns Ane, let me know and I will make contact as soon as it's convenient."

"It's really no trouble. I know doing this will put your mind at ease Sensei..." Ane's face glowed as she tucked a loose piece of hair behind her ear.

"My dear, you are as faithful as the day is long. I thank you for your cooperation."

Shigaraki looked at her from the gap of his 'father's' fingers and chewed thoughtfully; he didn't know what was up with this scenario that made his stomach twist up. Then again, Kurogiri wasn't lying when he had mentioned to Ane that he was going on an empty stomach; it was probably just that. The snacks were tasty. He was actually looking forward to dinner.

But something still felt so off, something Shigaraki couldn't put his finger on. Ane in particular looked completely out of place. She could have been a fresh out of college elementary school teacher or a newly wed housewife in her knitted cardigan and ironed apron.

Or someone's mother.