"Does the name Izuku Midoriya mean anything to either of you?", Aizawa stares down at the two boys seated on the most comfortable couch within U.A's teacher lounge. He figured the setting would be much more relaxing than Nezu's office and as such would make them more inclined to answer his questions.
"No.", he was just hoping for a better answer from Todoroki. One not so curt, at the very least.
"Who?", and Shinso's response happens to somehow be even worse.
Aizawa refrains from slapping a hand against his face, instead opting for a glance towards Tsukauchi. The detective indicates that neither of them are lying, assuming that's the reason for the side eye. "Okay. Let's try that again.", the teacher sighs in frustration before attempting a different approach, "How do you two boys know Akatani Mikumo?"
Shinso and Todoroki exchange a look between themselves, nondiscreetly. A moment of silence passes before they face their teacher and the detective again.
"Why are you asking?", Shinso asks with what sounds like a hint of suspicion. Aizawa likes to believe he knows the boy well enough from their training that he recognizes the tone as inquisitive instead though.
"Is Mikumo in some kind of trouble?", Todoroki on the other hand is much more readable as concerned despite his usually stoic demeanor.
"Unfortunately, we can't disclose any information at this time.", Tsukauchi chimes in from the sides to plug any potential leaks in the investigation that Aizawa could cause.
Taking that as an indication to treat his students as a little more than children, Aizawa sighs once more before basically begging, "Please, answer the question."
"We first met in a coffee shop that he works at.", Todoroki's heteromorphic eyes settle on Aizawa's gaze as he tries to gauge his teacher just as much as he's being studied.
"Anteiku. I'm familiar with the place.", Aizawa nods along but can't hide the disappointment in his tone. He was hoping that this would be a lead to some place else.
"Then he introduced me to Shinso.", Todoroki passing the torch to the other boy does rekindle some of the underground hero's hope though.
"I knew Mikumo for longer.", especially when Shinso says that. Aizawa eagerly listens for the boy's backstory. When Shinso blushes in embarrassment, he isn't expecting the explanation he gets, "We met at a quirk support group."
Only after Aizawa mulls the answer over does he realize, "That makes sense." Shinso and Midoriya were both contemptuous of their own quirks. Regardless, he's relieved to discover something new that may help him and Tsukauchi find Midoriya. He asks, "Do you know if he still attends any of the meetings?"
"We haven't seen him lately.", Todoroki shakes his head as he answers for both himself and Shinso. His head then hangs somberly until he raises it again to ask, "Is he okay?"
Wanting to provide some form of comfort for his student, Aizawa assures him, "That's what we wish to know too."
"Could you provide us with an address to that support group?", Tsukauchi reinserts himself to get things back on track and away from emotional vulnerability though. In his hands are a pad and pencil to write things down. Aizawa isn't sure how he didn't notice the detective was taking notes until now.
"Sure. It might be worth checking still.", Shinso goes along with Tsukauchi's request while Todoroki seemingly stares off into space.
Not wanting either of his students to be left to their own musings about the matter, Aizawa clears his throat to ask, "Is there anything else you might be able to tell us about him?"
"He has a younger sister named Eri.", but Shinso is still the only one to continue providing any intel. Though the info does hold its fair share of surprises, "He said she's in America with her father right now."
"I see.", Aizawa and Tsukauchi share a quick glance that's easily missed by the boys. Midoriya had lied about Eri's caretaker to Shinso considering Aizawa is currently her guardian and he's far from America.
"Anything else?", Tsukauchi continues prying for more information as he notes the potential relevance.
"No.", but Todoroki finally speaks up to shut them down, "That's all we know."
Aizawa knows Tsukauchi will want to keep applying pressure, but he gives in before the detective can. "Okay then.", it's a judgment call only he can make considering they're his students, "If there's anything else, you know to grab me after class. Before or during if it can't wait." He gestures for them to leave, "Thank you for your time. You're dismissed."
"Yes, sensei. See you at the summer camp.", Todoroki is the first to stand. He gives a short bow before going, Shinso following shortly after him.
"Seems Midoriya keeps his friends at an arm's width.", Tsukauchi finishes writing his final takeaways before closing his notepad and turning towards Aizawa.
But Aizawa is much too consumed by his thoughts to return the gesture, "If he even considers them his friends at all."
The mystery of who Izuku Midoriya is himself is just as elusive as the people that he acquaints himself with. His strange girlfriend who's also an enigma. His childhood friend who is no longer in contact. Shinso and Todoroki. The Yakuza and Eri. And.. that mask shop owner. Aizawa turns to face Tsukauchi, coming up with yet another potential lead based on his pure hunches.
Uta stands in the center of his store, gawping at the group of customers that currently occupy the space. Quite frankly, he hadn't encountered such an oddball group since the Yakuza, and they paled in comparison to this whacky bunch. All he can manage to get out of his mouth is an uttered under the breath, "What the fuck.. ?"
Standing beside him, Akatani Mikumo is well within earshot to hear it. And he has no qualms about agreeing with the mask maker, "I know, right?"
One of the bunch that's been brought in is currently looking over a hockey mask, "Hey! This one's pretty good!" He grins while weighing it in his hand, "I think I'll take it." He's a large muscular blonde with a missing eyeball, but yet somehow still doesn't manage to stick out from the crowd as the strangest.
Not when a man in a black and gray skin tight bodysuit agrees that it's, "Not bad.", before immediately going back on his own word, "It's horrendous! Too generic!"
"Do you have any gas masks?", there's also a boy in a school uniform. He looks younger than even Akatani and Himiko, the age of which one can turn to villainy bewildering.
Uta points in a general direction while giving better verbal directions, "Third shelf to your right." But his focus is still on the two that he knows the best. He turns back towards Akatani and Himiko, "When I said bring your friends, I wasn't expecting.."
Disinterested in their conversation or shopping for a disguise, Dabi rolls his eyes before interrupting to ask, "Is it okay if I smoke in here?"
Uta spares a quick glance towards Dabi, "I'd rather you not.", before brushing him off.
Dabi shrugs, "I'd rather wait outside anyways.", heading for the exit, "Let me know when you're all finished shopping for Halloween."
"No fun!", Himiko pouts as she watches him leave.
"Yeah! Party pooper!", the man wearing a bodysuit agrees before going back on his word for a second time, "This place stinks! I wanna leave too!" The extreme bipolarism earns a few looks.
One of the judgementals is a villain covered in scales, "I'm going to stick with my Stain apparel, if you all don't mind." He's one of the few to already be wearing an outfit.
"You mean Stain cosplay?", Himiko teases him a little about the obviously inspired costume.
"It's not cosplay!", but he's obviously touchy about the look.
"Pretty. So pretty.", another suited individual mutters to himself in a corner. He fidgets and twitches as he repeats himself, "No, no. Can't. No." It's as though the leather harness and straightjacket he's got on is barely enough to restrain whatever psychotic urges he's holding back.
"So uncivilized.", a man with a top hat dismisses the odd character before lifting up a mask of his selection. It fits perfectly over his face, "I've taken a liking to this one. Rather fitting to my theme, is it not?"
"Meh.", the bipolar villain both disagrees and agrees, "Dashing!"
"You're all crazy. I'm joining Dabi outside.", another of the large group shakes their head in disapproval before also leaving.
Much to Himiko's disavail, "Oh, come on, Mag! Don't spoil the fun!"
"This isn't exactly my definition of 'fun' either, Himiko. We're not here to make friends.", Akatani crosses his arms as he watches the crowd carefully. Tomura and Kurogiri increased the number of members in such a short span of time. Now it's more enemies that'll have to die.
"But we're a team! We've gotta bond a LITTLE!", Himiko grabs onto Akatani's arm so she can jerk and shake him per her usual exaggeration. It was her idea to go out as a group that he doesn't know whether or not she's caught on to the fact that the league are still enemies, "And what better way than to go mask shopping!"
"Flesh. Flesh. Pretty flesh.", the reclusive villain in a leather straightjacket brings his knees to his chest as he continues muttering to himself.
What he's saying doesn't go unheard by Himiko, "See? You two sound like you'd get along."
But when Akatani looks at the man, he sees the worst side of himself that he'd never want to associate with. He sees someone who's truly villainous and lost to the hunger of evil. He's not even sure if what sounds like a fellow cannibal is capable of functioning with the group. To lose oneself to the craze and never return. To lose all sense of self and be driven out of your mind. What he sees is what he himself could have become. What he could still become. He hates it. He hates them. Just like all the other villains.
"Hell no.", Akatani's eyes burn as they glare at the cannibal.
Sensing the boy's hostility and noticing the emergence of his Kakugan, Uta tries redirecting the focus and attention back to himself. "This isn't going to be a repeat of the Yakuza is it?", he recalls the last time things went awry and wishes to avoid another situation like that.
Akatani gives a noncommitted shrug in response. It's difficult to know whether he's joking or not when he says, "Don't tempt me."
As if the ghoul needs any more reasons to get riled up, the leader of the league enters the shop to join them. He's currently got a hand attached to his face, red eyes peering out between the finger gaps. His gaze is just as angry as Akatani's as he barks a question, "What the hell's taking so long in here?"
Himiko, undeterred by the harsh tone, makes a cheerful suggestion. "Handsy! You should get a new mask too!", her nickname for him earns a glare.
"Don't touch father!", Tomura protectively places his own hand over the one covering his face.
"Father.. ?", Akatani doesn't miss the odd affection in Tomura's tone as opposed to the usual disdain he hears.
Neither does Uta, "This group is sounding more freakish by the second.", who's clearly had enough of the bunch.
Ignoring everyone's remarks, Tomura fixates himself solely on Akatani. He approaches the boy, stopping short by just a few feet to stand over him. "You. Ghoul. I want to speak with you.", he tries giving an order.
"That makes one of us.", but Akatani isn't the least bit intimidated.
Overhearing the interaction, the burly blonde member of the league excitedly turns to face them. "Ghoul? No way. You're just a kid?", he grins ear to ear in amusement over their standoff while also fantasizing the future, "Man, that makes me excited to see what you'll do when you're my age!" Akatani's just further irritated when the muscular villain adds, "Big fan."
"I wonder what Stain saw in you.", the Stain cosplayer with a reptilliation mutation quirk also takes an interest in Akatani upon discovering his identity as the Tokyo Ghoul.
Akatani sighs. He'd rather deal with Tomura individually than have to handle the whole group of villains. Besides, Sensei restricts him from eliminating Tomura that he may as well play along for the time being anyways. "Suddenly, getting out of here doesn't seem like such a bad idea.", he agrees to speak with Tomura privately for his sanity's sake.
"You can use the back office.", Uta helpfully gestures with his single hand towards the private area.
To which Akatani gives a grateful nod in return, "Thanks, Uta."
Tomura follows Akatani into the back room when he shuts the door so they can be alone and unheard. Akatani turns on the villain leader and asks, "So.. What is it?"
"What did Sensei want to speak with you in private about?", Tomura scratches under his chin down to his neck as he gets straight to the point.
Akatani raises a brow, wondering why Tomura cares to know. "That kinda defeats the purpose of a private conversation, doesn't it?", he's not even sure if All For One wants his protege to know about their meeting anyways.
"You work for ME, brat. Just tell me!", but Tomura quickly loses his patience.
Knowing Tomura has a tendency to lash out when losing his temper and that he can't fight back, Akatani decides to just lie. "He was interested in my reputation and wanted to know my reasons for joining.", he shrugs it off as no big deal so the questioning can end, "Nothing special."
"Nobody other than me ever caught his special interest before.", but Tomura isn't quite convinced, "While your ranking on the scoreboard is impressive, I'm not convinced that you're more than an NPC just yet."
Akatani rolls his eyes while thinking of the other people they recruited, "Compared to the group that you put together here, I'd beg to differ."
Clearly not expecting that sassy response, Tomura can't help but smirk beneath the hand covering his mouth. "Maybe.", though he'd never admit to finding the snarky comment amusing.
A brief moment of silence passes between the two, Akatani expecting to be asked another question. When nothing comes, he takes the opportunity for himself, "Can I ask YOU something now?"
Tomura's smile quickly drops. "Depends.", but he can't help but be the least bit curious.
"When you attacked U.A. Who was your target?", Akatani eyes the villain as he searches for motive and reason other than causing havoc. He's not sure what it is that he'll find the longer that he stares.
"That wretched excuse for a hero, All Might, of course. Why?", Tomura dismisses the question as though the answer is obvious though.
Akatani thinks of Aizawa covered in bandages. He remembers Todoroki is part of that class. "So everyone else was just collateral damage?", he holds a grudge that only reignites tenfold the more he thinks of how Eri could have also potentially been dragged into the conflict.
"NPCs always are.", Tomura scoffs without any consideration that collateral damage is wrong. But he does find himself more intrigued by the ghoul, "Why are you so interested?"
Akatani finds Tomura's eyes, green meeting red. "Because not everyone is an NPC.", he hopes his words resonate as he tries to speak in a language the villain will understand, "You might have strength, but there's always someone with higher stats."
"Like yourself?", Tomura narrows his gaze. He's taking it as a threat.
"Maybe.", which Akatani doesn't mind. Though he did originally mean All For One in regards to himself, hoping to reach Tomura through relatability for whatever reason. He shakes it off and regards it as just trying to know his enemy better, "What's your quirk, by the way?"
Tomura doesn't respond at first. He takes a second to huff in laughter before grabbing a stray mask with four fingers. When the fifth joins the other digits, the mask starts to crumble. "Would you really like to compare?", Tomura holds his stare with Akatani as his quirk decays the face covering until there's nothing left.
Akatani would be lying if he said he wasn't impressed, but he doesn't show it. "You know you're gonna have to pay for that, right?", he instead points to the pile of dust with a deadpan expression.
Tomura tsks before facing away and placing his hand on the door handle to leave. "Let me know when you're ready for Kurogiri to warp us out of here.", he gives one last parting sentence of acknowledgement before exiting.