It was at the end of class when the students were supposed to go home that the general studies students came to gawk at them.

"They're trying to scout us out. We're the ones who made it through a villain attack after all." Bakugo didn't care if they were blocking the way. "Out of my way, extras. Gawking at us won't do you any good."

A purple headed kid made his way through the crowd of general studies student to face down Bakugo. "I came to look at the famous class A, but you all seem pretty arrogant. Are all the hero class students like this?"

Toru had been sitting at her desk just watching this exchange. Mineta was right behind Bakugo. Pretty much. You got the worst face of hero society right in front of you, kid.

"Seeing something like this makes me disillusioned." The purple headed kid continued. "There are quite a few people who enrolled in general studies because they didn't make the hero course. Did you know that? The school has left those in general studies a chance. Depending on the results we have in the sports festival they'll consider our transfer into the hero studies course."

This didn't seem surprising to Toru at all. I've seen a general studies student make it into the hero studies program for the sports festivals in their second year a few times in the last 10 years. Based on the UA programs she had watched they had evidence to support their claim.

She wondered if the students they had taken the place of had been booted from the hero course, dropped willingly, or died. There had been a few times the news ran a story during the sports festival about hero students dying during internships. It was their 'in Memory of' section She assumed that was how Kurogiri's body had died too. It was messed up that the school kept sending students on internships when they kept dying, but a lot of the things in this school seemed messed up.

If you can get booted from the hero course though I need to work a little harder. I don't want to be the one who gets the boot after all! Just being invisible would suit the general studies program just fine. I don't need them sniping me. Maybe she should make sure she passed at least the first event in the sports festival. Usually, all hero students passed whatever race or obstacle course the heroes threw at them.

"Scouting out the hero course? I came with the intention of telling you if you relax too much, you'll get your feet swiped from under you. I came with a declaration of war," the purple haired kid finally said.

Toru then heard yelling from the crowd, saying they were from class B and that they also wanted to declare war. She couldn't see the person very well though.

Eventually the people dissipated after Bakugo yelled at them.

Once Toru got home, she immediately went upstairs to her computer to start up one of the massively popular MMO of this time. This one was a classic fantasy world inspired by something called 'dungeons and dragons.' Toru didn't know much about the game nor did she care about it. The only reason she played it was because it was an easy and untraceable way of getting into contact with Shigaraki.

Shigaraki wasn't online. He was the only person on her friends list, because he was the only person, she needed to talk to there. Still, she sent him a message for him to see once he was online.

"Have our teleport stone pick me up so I can check on you." She tried typing in mostly code. It meant she wanted Kurogiri to visit her.

She waited for a few hours after that, and eventually a familiar purple portal formed in her room.

"You're lucky Shigaraki plays video games even when healing from gun wounds." Kurogiri scolded, unable to shake his head.

Toru stepped into the portal and after a second or two she was in the league of villains current base, a seedy bar in the Kamino ward. It was night now but there were no windows, the bar was a basement only location.

It was fancy but relatively empty. Shigaraki was laying on a nice plush bar seat, moaning in pain, likely from the injuries Snipe had inflicted on him.

Kurogiri was cleaning sets of glassware.

"I was surprised to hear your message." Kurogiri admitted. "I didn't think we would be seeing you so soon after USJ. Do you have new information for us?"

"Owww…." Shigaraki just moaned in the background.

Toru shook her head. "Besides some small information on Endeavor's quirk I've got nothing new. I just thought it was a good idea to check up on you after USJ."

Kurogiri sighed. "I appreciate the thought, but you must know that's a risky maneuver, Toru." Kurogiri reminded, "Now that you're studying to be a hero you can't visit us whenever like you did before. You have to be extra careful."

He's right. Tools don't think. I probably shouldn't have come. It had been a mistake on her part, she was used to checking in with them regularly when she went about to gather rumors and investigate things. She had thought something similar could still be maintained when going to UA. "I apologize greatly for my mistake. I will try to check in only via All for One and that weird MMO Shigaraki told me to play." She bowed.

Shigaraki glared at her. "It's not weird! Fantasy Star Amazonia is the greatest game of our time-"

Kurogiri glared at him. "That game is a tool for secret coded communication, Shigaraki." He reminded.

Shigaraki huffed. Probably in a bad mood from his game being bad mouthed, he shifted his attention fully to Toru. .. "You supplied us faulty information, Toru. All Might wasn't there immediately. The reason we failed was because of you. If he had been there to start with the other pros wouldn't have come." He was scratching his neck again and glaring.

Toru knew if she walked a little closer, she might risk being destroyed. "It was my mistake. I thought All Might would be there immediately too. We all did. But once I arrived Eraserhead mumbled that All Might had been busy with hero work and would thus be late."

"Of course, he would." Shigaraki rolled his eyes. "If anyone was ruining my plans it would be All Might too distracted by being famous to come fight me." He sounded frustrated but at least his anger was off of Toru. He was scratching furiously. "If only you had a communication quirk instead of an invisibility type one…Then you could have immediately told us All Might would have been late and we wouldn't have needed to come." Shigaraki was blaming most everything.

"She needs the invisibility though to sneak around." Kurogiri pointed out.

"I don't care! I got bullets in my legs, Kurogiri! I can't walk right now. How is she supposed to make it up to me now, huh?" Shigaraki was still mad, yelling at most everyone.

"You can use me as a walking stick while you're here if it makes you feel any better." Toru offered.

Shigaraki's eyes looked murderous.

Kurogiri elected to ignore his tantrum. "So what was the information you found out about Endeavor's quirk?"

"It's prone to overheating him from use. I learned it from his son, Todoroki, today." Toru offered up the information easily.

Kurogiri nodded as Shigaraki continued to scream in the background.

"And how is school treating you? Are the heroes as frustrating to deal with as expected?" Kurogiri asked casually like a parent to their child.

"It's hard being around them. Their decisions are illogical, stupid, risky and frustrating. And a lot of them are the worst people in the world." Toru admitted.

Shigaraki let out a loud scream again. "Pay attention to me! I need to continue yelling at Toru so she knows part of our defeat is her fault!"

Kurogiri sighed just about tired of this.

"Shigaraki. It does no good to shift the blame." Kurogiri scolded.

Shigaraki glared. "I'm not shifting the blame. The deck was stacked against us because of Toru's poor reporting-"

"It was not." Kurogiri turned to directly face Shigaraki, to stare at him with his icy unblinking eyes, "Tomura Shigaraki, All for One expected you to lose from the beginning. So, there is no need for this tantrum. Even if All Might was there to begin with you were intended to lose. Toru was there to watch you lose after all and report it."

Shigaraki's eyes widened. The screaming finally ended.

Toru crossed her arms. "I wasn't aware we were allowed to tell him that, Kurogiri."

Shigaraki managed to pull himself up to sit up now. He glared at Toru since the fact that he was set up was now confirmed. He reached forward with his hand briefly, but Toru quickly jumped away before Shigaraki could cause her to decay.

"So, you two were just watching me and laughing? Huh? What kind of game is that where it always ends in a bad end?" Shigaraki started scratching his neck.

Kurogiri sighed knowing Toru was glaring at him now too.

"As Shigaraki's caretaker it's my job to figure out what's good for him. And he should know that the purpose of that mission was not to defeat All Might but to teach him a lesson in planning an attack." Kurogiri said.

Shigaraki scratched harder.

"All for One did not do this to harass you. He did this to teach his successor how to plan more successfully." Kurogiri tried to explain.

Shigaraki was having none of it. "I was set up? Hahahahaha…" He started laughing. He swung his legs over the sofa despite how painful they were. He glared at Toru. "Did you find it fun that your job was to watch me fail instead of doing the actual hard work of fighting All Might?"

"I don't believe in fun. I've never experienced such a thing." Toru said coldly.

Shigaraki's eyes glinted. "You're lying! Humans don't have no emotion. You must feel fun whenever you see me kill or see a body drop to the floor. You must feel life whenever you run from an enemy and throw a projectile!"

Toru shook her head although all Shigaraki heard was cold silence.

"Or maybe you find it fun to watch me fail over and over again or when I lose it." Shigaraki's hands were shaking. "Maybe you find the hero course fun. Maybe you think you have a special role. Maybe you think this is proof that Master cares for you more than me."

Ah. His tantrum is all rooted in his jealousy for me. He can't face the fact that Master pays attention to multiple people. Toru couldn't understand why Shigaraki needed to be special and the only one Master used. He knew that Master saw him as his successor not her. Was he afraid of losing that position?

All for One didn't care about her. She was a tool. Shigaraki was the next in a legacy. Their treatment was different and there was nothing to be jealous about even if Toru had been set up to spy on Shigaraki.

"Do you think you're All for One's daughter or something? Do you think you'll have a family every time you watch me fail?" Shigaraki held onto the hand on his face who he called father. "Well news flash! I'm All for One's successor, not you! He trusts me more than someone he would throw into that trashy hero school." Shigaraki growled.

Toru remained calm. She had faced many of Shigaraki's tantrums. None of the words hurt her because she knew she'd never be anything. "There is nothing to worry about. I am only a tool. You are the successor. I do not yearn for a family because I've never experienced such a thing. I don't even know what that's like or what I'd need to want."

Shigaraki blinked and briefly touched a hand on his arm. Toru wasn't sure who's hand it was but it looked smaller than the others so it must have been a child's hand. "You're…. lucky then." He said in barely a whisper.

Toru had assumed his anger had run cold, but his voice raised again.

"What will you do if something happens to, Master? If he's the only thing you have? Will you betray me?" Shigaraki asked.

Something grew cold in Toru's blood. The idea that something would happen to All for One was something she didn't want to imagine. No, she couldn't even consider it. "I am Master's tool, if he so wishes me to remain I will work for you. If he has tasked me with dying by his side though I intend too. Whatever my Master commands I will do."

Shigaraki looked like he was about to laugh at Toru and mock her cold outlook, but she turned her head to Kurogiri.

"Did you really think it was helpful to tell him?" She put her arms on her side dropping back into her 'Toru' more bubbly voice.

"I exist as Shigaraki's caretaker so I assume the best course of action is the one that enters my mind." Kurogiri did not seem to feel guilty.

"Can you even think? Or are the things entering your mind Master's commands?" Toru asked.

Kurogiri's eyes narrowed, and he gestured to a door behind the counter. It was the back room he gestured to, the one where supplies were exchanged, and secret dealings were made. "So, you are aware of what I am." His voice didn't sound angry.

Shigaraki had paused his tantrum trapped in the terrors of his past as he talked to his hands. He wasn't listening but he didn't look interested or surprised in anyway.

"I would like it if you would talk to me then." Kurogiri requested. He pressed a button under the counter and the secret door opened. Toru followed him in.

Shigaraki did not make any attempt to follow them.

Either he doesn't care, or he can't walk because of the bullet wounds. She decided.

Kurogiri locked the door behind him so that he and Toru could talk in peace. His eyes looked like they were smiling.

He doesn't seem upset that I hinted about his identity as a Nomu. It sounded like a secret but not a huge one. After all the only consequence that would happen if this secret got out was that the league has the capacity to make high end Nomu who could talk and think. Kurogiri seems to already know of his identity and doesn't seem antagonistic about me knowing it. Toru observed.

Kurogiri sat down on a sofa professionally crossing a leg over his knee. He kept on looking like he was smiling as he gestured for Toru to sit down in front of him. "I'm glad you know, to be honest. It isn't something that you can say casually in a conversation that you aren't a human being, but I wanted you to know for a while."

"Why?" Toru asked. He shouldn't have memories of his past so his history at UA shouldn't help my job.

"I wanted to discuss my past with you. After all, you and I are remarkably similar." Kurogiri confessed.

Toru could feel herself become confused. "Similar? Sorry, I lost you. Are you trying to say something like that I'm a Nomu too?"

It wasn't completely impossible. If high end Nomus could think for themselves and talk, she could imagine herself being one. It would explain her loyalty. It wasn't out of the question.

Kurogiri laughed. "Goodness no! When I met you, you were only a little girl. You grew I believe. High end Nomu's like myself wouldn't grow to that extent because we were created from corpses."

"Oh." Toru replied back. I suppose that makes sense.

"I mean the fact that we are both tools. I am a tool created to aid Shigaraki and transport people. And you are a tool for All for One to spy on others. We are not allowed our own goals or ideas. We are just tools for our Master." Kurogiri explained.

Toru just blinked. That is true. But I'm not sure why that makes him relate to me.

"Yeah, so? Are you implying that's a bad thing or something? Do we even need to talk to others like us?" Toru asked.

Kurogiri shook his mist head. He looked almost frustrated for a moment. He sighed, as if trying to collect his thoughts. He reached forward and picked up a bottle of what looked like perfume. "You ordered this. Before I forget. To suppress any scent to deal with Hound Dog."

"Thank you." Toru replied, already done with this conversation.

Kurogiri frowned. He finally figured out what to say though "Perhaps you would better understand how I feel if I answered your original question. I do think for myself. The thoughts I have are not directly connected to All for One."

That should have been obvious to me as soon as you said something illogical like that we are similar. Toru thought. If he wanted to relate to someone and talk about their feelings, she was not the one to approach.

"I assume the Doctor who created me wanted something that could make decisions on the fly and think strategically. I assume that's why I am allowed to think and feel despite being a Nomu. My primary objectives are given to me by All for One, but the rest of my thoughts are essentially filler and left up to me." Kurogiri explained.

Toru listened. I've only met the Doctor a few times, but he seems to be a greedy and selfish man. Its possible he let Kurogiri think for himself instead of repeating all of All for One's thoughts out of laziness.

The Doctor Kurogiri was talking about had to be the man who created the Nomus for All for One. He was All for One's ally and a valuable asset to his efforts, but someone he didn't fully trust. He had Toru spy on him more than a few times to ensure that the Doctor didn't have his own plans and ideas.

"I don't think being a tool is a bad thing. I did not mean to offend your way of life, if I did. Being a tool is how you and I find our existence. It is the reason why we exist." Kurogiri explained.

"Then why did you think it was important to find companionship and talk to someone 'like you'?" Toru air quoted.

Kurogiri's eyes drooped as if he was sad. "I had assumed you were the one who wanted companionship, Toru. I am an adult man (I assume). You however are a child, and after spending so much time watching over Shigaraki I would have assumed even you needed to feel like you weren't alone. That is why I wanted to talk."

Toru resisted the urge to laugh. I shouldn't mock him. This is probably his previous self-trying to push into his morals. He was a hero in training after all. That was weird to think about.

"You've read me wrong then. I don't need companionship from anyone. I do not require friendship to complete my tasks. I can fake it well enough with the heroes, but I do not need empathy or sympathy." Toru replied extremely coldly.

Kurogiri didn't look insulted by her words. Instead his eyes grew as if he was pitying her. "How sad."

"What is sad?" Toru asked.

"I am not human, but yet I am more human than you. I experience more human emotions." Kurogiri realized.

"There is no need to pity me. You can't miss what you've never had." Toru replied.

"Even I understand the warmth of humans though." Kurogiri pointed out. "And I was born in a tube in a lab."

"You're probably being influenced though by your previous life." Toru pointed out the obvious. "So that's why you think things like companionship and sympathy are important."

Kurogiri was silent at the mention of his previous life.

He should be taken in for a check up soon anyway, so it won't hurt for me to ask…Toru thought. "Do…Do you remember anything about your previous life before you were a Nomu?" Maybe Kurogiri would let his guard down and tell her why he had helped the heroes now that he was trying to get her 'companionship'.

Kurogiri looked surprised that she was taking an interest. "You mean like my family?"

"Yes." Toru answered.

"I do not." Kurogiri replied again. "If you are interested in hearing stories about family, I would suggest not asking Shigaraki. As you know it's a touchy subject. All for One I believe had a family once though-"

"I'm not interested in family." Toru shot down the idea. "I just wanted to hear if you remembered your previous life."

"Ah." Kurogiri realized. "Well then…No." He thought for another minute. "Well, that's not exactly true. I get some feeling like I should remember some things when I look at them. Like a feeling of nostalgia for things I never experienced in this life. Like when I see a nice fluffy cloud in the sky, or a cat on the street. Simple things. It's quite odd but nothing to worry about."

"It sounds difficult. Being controlled by feelings that aren't really your own." Toru was trying to piece together what kind of person previous Kurogiri was.

"It isn't. It's really only a feeling. I barely ever think about the corpse I inhabit." Kurogiri was quiet after a moment. "Why? Do you know about who I am?"

"No." Toru replied calmly, the perfect liar. If he didn't know there was no reason to remind him that he was a UA student. There's no reason to dig up anymore. But it is a problem that he seems to want to know.

Kurogiri looked disappointed for a moment but it quickly went away. "Do not worry." He noticed Toru had seen the worry. "Any feelings of longing or disappointment are usually suppressed. I believe it's part of my programming when they created me. Although I was a little curious about the person I was it's nothing more than a passing curiosity. It won't control me. And the only reason I'm curious is because the only thing I knew was that he likely enjoyed time with cats. But that is nothing big."

Any moment of being human sounded big to her. She made a mental note to tell All for One that, even if Kurogiri didn't think it was a big deal.

Kurogiri likely knew that was what she was thinking. "Ah…I suppose this is why Shigaraki has difficulty with you. Because you are only loyal to one Master and the knowledge that you will rat him out if he does anything out of line is terrifying to him. You are a quite and effective security camera."

I suppose I didn't hide the fact that I was going to tell on him well enough. "Why thank you!" Toru replied in a bubbly voice, deciding to take that as a compliment.

"It's interesting though that I can't hate you." Kurogiri paused, "Perhaps it's because we live a similar life. Perhaps it's the fact that All for One's little security camera is just a young girl. Perhaps it's that if the roles were reversed, I'd do the same. After all if you held notions that I suspected were out of line I'd tell All for One too. So please report on me all you like." Kurogiri told her.

She gripped her hand on the perfume bottle. "I will."

Although for a normal conversation things would have ended on a sour note, Kurogiri was still more than happy to teleport her back to her room.

They truly did not converse like normal people.

Shinso will eventually be more prominent in this fic. In the future chapters I'm going to focus more on the training people went through for the sports festival, stuff that doesn't follow anime/manga canon.

Also unrelated question, should I recap/include filler episodes and the movies into this story? The first movie really only has Toru playing essentially UNO in a hotel room with Mina and Tsuyu so it didn't seem particularly important to the plot. But if people really really want an uno scene...