Chapter 23 - Intermission
Somewhere on the outskirts of Musutafu, in an old and abandoned warehouse, Tomura Shigaraki was sitting on a crate, and watching an old TV that was set up on a desk. The TV was tuned in to the Sports Festival, and it was the moment when Cain Shemesh defeated Katsuki Bakugo to win the extreme calvary battle. As Cain reveled his victory, Shigaraki was watching intently and studying him, as he was hoping to find some new recruits to the cause of villainy. And maybe, just maybe, this Cain kid could take Joshua's place!
The other villains were there as well, except for Twice, who was sent out on a scouting mission. Dabi, Spinner, Mr. Compress, and Himiko Toga were all paying attention to the TV as well, though Toga was playing with her knives, and Mr. Compress was looking at one of the small light blue colored orbs that he could create with his quirk.
As they were all watching the TV, Twice came into the abandoned warehouse, through an opened garage door. He was a somewhat muscular man who wore a black and grey colored jumpsuit, along with a black and grey colored mask that had two large white eyes, and orange circular gauntlets on his wrists.
"Shigaraki, I'm back!" Twice called out, before calling out in another voice, "Returned from enacting another fiendish deed!"
"Hey, Jin!" Toga greeted him, a somewhat freakish grin on her face. "How'd the scouting mission go?"
"It went good!" Twice replied, before saying in another voice, "Of course it went good; what is she asking that question for?"
"I hope you have a good excuse for interrupting my watching of the Sports Festival." said Shigaraki, his voice sickly sounding as he got up from the crate. "What news do you bring us?"
"The heroes aren't really doing anything since the Sports Festival is happening, but they really beefed up security for the event!" Twice spoke, before saying in another voice, "With boys and girls coming in from around the world, the need for security is extremely important for the heroes."
"Is that all?" Dabi asked.
"No, I have more news!" Twice announced triumphantly, before saying in a somewhat paranoid tone, "There's someone here to see you…"
"What?!" Shigaraki snarled, as he put his hand-mask on his face. "How did he find our hideout?!"
"He wanted to meet you, so I…" Twice hesitated, before replying in a victorious tone of voice, "I brought him here to speak with you, Shigaraki!"
Shigaraki let out annoyed groan of rage; Twice did this once with bringing a villain named Kai Chisaki, also known as Overhaul, and it didn't turn out well either, as their meeting resulted in a confrontation. Not wanting to make the same mistake again, Shigaraki blatantly told him not to bring anyone else to their hideout! But it looks like Twice's split personality was the one that was listening to that warning, because he went and did it again!
"I told you before not to bring anyone here!" said Shigaraki, his tone angered, as he began to rapidly scratch his neck with both hands. "I swear, Twice, you're going to get-"
"Easy, Shigaraki." said Mr. Compress, his tone calm. "Yes, we weren't able to reach an agreement with Overhaul, but whoever's out there might end up being different. I suggest we give Twice a second chance…"
Shigaraki stopped scratching his neck, and paused to think of what 'All for One' would have him do in this situation. He then let out a breath of annoyance, and decided to comply.
"Bring them in." Shigaraki spoke, his tone mildly annoyed.
Twice left the abandoned warehouse and, after a few seconds, returned with the people he brought. There were five of them, with two of the strange people leading the pack.
The first person, who looked to be the leader, wore dark clothing: a black hoodie with the hood up, black cargo pants, black fingerless gloves, and black sneakers with black laces. But what really caught the attention of all who saw him was his mask: a yellow tactical mask with black straps, and it had two large, hollow, black colored eyes, and a large, creepy, cartoony smile painted on it, complete with teeth and gums!
The second person who stood beside him, and acted like his bodyguard, was equally strange looking. He had orange hair that was somewhat long, pale skin, grey eyes, and a violent smile on his face. He wore a black jacket, a black shirt, black pants with black suspenders, and black boots. He also had a pair of white earbuds in his ears, and he was bobbing his head slowly, as he was listening to some form of music.
The three others that followed behind him were dressed the same as the bodyguard: black jackets, black shirts, black pants with black suspenders, and black boots. However, they looked different from their leader: one was larger in build, and had the white and brown furred face and jowls of a bulldog. Another had black colored hair and darker skin, while the last was shorter, younger, and had brown colored hair, fair skin, and green eyes.
"Greetings." said the smiley-faced man, his tone polite. "In the spirit of honor and camaraderie, I would like to extend a 'thank you' for inviting myself and my colleagues to your center of operations."
"Cut the politeness crap." Shigaraki replied, his tone annoyed. "What have you brought those people with you for? To attack us and try to take over?"
"What, my associates here?" asked the smiley-faced man. "No no no; I just brought them along to make sure everything goes smoothly. They are also my bodyguards, and they make sure nothing bad happens to me."
Shigaraki seem to ease his tension a little, and then asked, "Might I ask who you are?"
"Of course you may. Obviously, I know who you are; you are the great 'Tomura Shigaraki', apprentice to 'One For All' and future Symbol of Chaos. As for who myself, you may call me 'The Architect'. My orange haired friend here is 'Alec', and these are his associates. Say 'hello' to Shigaraki, Alec."
Alec wasn't responding, so the smiley-faced man, the Architect, patted Alec on the shoulder to get his attention. He then pulled out one of his white earbuds, and classical music was heard coming from it.
"What?" Alec asked, his accent British, and his tone mildly annoyed.
"Say hello to Shigaraki, Alec." The Architect replied.
"Oy." Alec replied, looking at Shigaraki, before putting his earbud back in his ear.
"You have to excuse him; he's not really one when it comes to saying hello." The Architect continued. "As for what he's listening to, he has a bad case of tinnitus, meaning that the ringing in his ears doesn't stop. He love to listen to classical music: Mozart, Bach, Tchaikovsky. But take that music away from him, and let the ringing fill his ears, he can get really violent."
Shigaraki let out a small sneer and asked, "The Architect? What type of name is that?"
"What's to laugh about?" The Architect asked. "Tell me, what do architects do?"
"They plan out buildings, deal with contracts, and they build or tear down buildings." Shigaraki replied, his tone condescending.
"No, you see, architects build 'over' things." The Architect replied, his tone darkening. "As in, we take what can't be accomplished, and we accomplish it."
Instantly, Shigaraki felt threatened, as the Architect and his minions stood there. Wanting to make the first move, Shigaraki quickly and suddenly sprang for the neck of the Architect and grabbed hold of him! However, as quick as he did that, Alec was grabbing ahold of his wrist with one hand, and the Architect's neck wasn't decaying!
"What?" Shigaraki asked, his tone confused. "What?!"
"I make it a habit to find out about those who I make deals with." The Architect replied, as he slipped out of Shigaraki's grip. "And I'm well aware of your quirk; you destroy anything you touch. Alec here has a quirk that allows him to cancel out other people's quirks, kind of like the 'Erasure' quirk that the hero 'Eraser Head' has. But he must touch the individual to do that, and only when he lets go of the person, do the effects wear off. And I'm a forgiving person, I'll admit that, but when people try to cross me twice, I going take action to make sure they never forget, so don't do that again."
Alec let go of Shigaraki's wrist, and he backed to his original spot. The other villains, who were about charge into the fray, moved back to their original positions as well. Shigaraki then began scratching his neck again with one hand, while keeping his sights focused on the Architect and his team of cronies.
"So, now to business." said the Architect. "I am a villain who hails from America, and I've heard tales about how the students of 'Justice High' are here in Japan. I have no need for the students, except for one, who has shown great interest to me."
"And that is?" Shigaraki asked.
"The one that calls himself 'Fearless'." The Architect replied. "We are… similar, in many ways. For one, we share the same problem when it comes to quirks, as we both don't have one."
"You're quirkless as well?"
"Yes. And like Fearless, I am good with tactics, and can hold my own against those with a quirk. It's almost as if we are connected, him and I, that we are to share a fate that intertwines with each other. He is my nemesis, and to him it will be the same, yet he does not know it. But, we will meet, after he wins the Sports Festival. And when we do meet, we'll play a game."
"A game? What kind of game?"
"A game, yes! A game with three levels! Three levels to see how far Fearless will keep to his name!"
"And what kind of levels will he be facing?" Shigaraki asked, now more confused than threatened.
"Quality of mercy, Quality of deliverance, and Quality of sacrifice." The Architect replied. "Already the wheels will be set in motion, waiting for the right moments to strike. For you see, as the Architect, I will be pulling the strings that will lead Fearless to his demise."
"And what role do we play in this… game, that you are setting up?"
"The roles you play are your usual parts, but I require resources from you in order to do what needs to be done. In exchange for your resources, I will give you my assistance, as in, freeing your teacher."
Shigaraki's eyes widened a little, and if he didn't have the hand over his face, they would've seen him smiling villainously. This new 'acquaintance' needed supplies, and in exchange, he would bring back All for One to him. He knew it couldn't be done, as All for One was locked up tight in Tartarus Prison, but it would give him an excuse to kill this person, who was trying to make himself known.
"Deal." Shigaraki replied, extending his hand for him to shake.
"Hold it." said the Architect, tapping Alec on the shoulder.
Alec came forward and placed his hand on Shigaraki's arm, cancelling his 'decay' quirk. Once that was accomplished, the Architect took Shigaraki's hand and they shook, like two businessmen who had just made an important deal.
"You better hold up your end of the bargain, or there will be hell to pay." Shigaraki snarled, his grip tightening.
"Oh don't worry, I'll keep my end of the bargain." The Architect replied, as he let go of Shigaraki's hand. "Now, care if our associates join you in watching the end of the Sports Festival? I sure would like to see Fearless win."
"Why yes, of course…" Shigaraki spoke, his tone feigning politeness. "Anything for our new allies…"
Shigaraki then went back to where the TV was set up, while the Architect followed him. Meanwhile, Alec and the rest of the minions began making themselves comfortable in the abandoned warehouse, all the while maintaining a distance away from the other villains. But for some interesting reason, Toga seemed to catch the eye of Alec, who decided that he was going to try and get closer to her.
The Architect pulled up a crate and sat beside Shigaraki, the two of them watching as the TV came back onto the Sports Festival. On the TV, they were preparing for the final event of the U.A World Sports Festival…