The villains Twice and Mr. Compress had gotten acquainted with one another after joining The League Of Villains. Through their mutual associate, Kurogiri. The barkeep had sat them down with a shot of whiskey each to speak about a private matter. It turns out that who they had originally believed to be leading the villain organization wasn't actually in charge. Even Tomura Shigaraki answers to a Sensei. A television monitor was placed on the bar counter, and from it the voice of the league's true leader spoke.
"For your upcoming assignment, I personally have a separate mission for you two to conduct.", the deep foreboding tone left no room for questioning or refusal. Each villain downed their shot of whiskey right then and there, prompting Kurogiri to refill their glasses. "You will not just be capturing and retrieving Katsuki Bakugo from U.A, but another prospectively transferable student. The reason for this silent meet, is that he is already assumed to have joined our ranks.", Kurogiri showed them a photo of Akatani Mikumo for elaboration, "And it must be done just as subtly as this arrangement."
A plan had been made that night. Twice would plant the idea in Mikumo's girlfriend's head that it'd be a good idea to team bond by getting everyone a makeover. That's how Twice would have the opportunity to measure Mikumo, granting him the ability to make a clone with his quirk. "You will replace him with the copy so that the other members of the group remain none the wiser. It goes without saying that Tomura in particular does not know of this 'side quest' as he would call it.", and then the plan would be enacted with only Twice and Compress knowing of All For One's hidden intent.
Which members were aware of Bakugo's capture was also kept to a minimum in order to avoid suspicion of an ulterior motive. Dabi being the most detrimental. All For One was fully aware of the burn victim's family history and took advantage of it as a way to gain his silence too. Dabi's fixation on his brother at the summer camp as a motivation to participate would blind him to looking closer or seeing a problem with keeping the plan a secret from his friends. Since All For One was also well aware of Mikumo's past with Bakugo as Izuku Midoriya and how that would negatively affect his scheme, he had to take such a precaution. It wouldn't be until after Mikumo is already on site that he should learn of the mission.
The strategy worked in All For One's favor, gaining his new experimental protege with his current one being none the wiser. The clone of The Tokyo Ghoul was fed a lie that he is the original so that he wouldn't act any differently from his real self either. He would go along with them once he saw his childhood friend was caught unharmed and suspect nothing. And with everyone else in the league preoccupied either searching for Bakugo or combating the heroes stationed at the camp, they would suspect nothing either.
Twice climbs up a hill with the clone he created of The Tokyo Ghoul, each of them heading for the rendezvous point. Kurogiri provided coordinates and a compass for them to find where the warpgate exit would be. The time frame from arrival to departure was deemed also detrimental in the makings of the plan, adding haste to the flow of action leaving no room for error. So once the two arrive at their predetermined destination, they find Mr. Compress already there. The villain leans on his cane, having waited patiently, only twirling it from its propped position to standing once he notices them.
"It's about time.", Compress presents the two marbles in his hand for Twice's sake before placing them back in his pocket, "And here I was beginning to think that I must do everything myself." Each of the conspiring villains held up their ends of the plan, success but assured. Now it's just a matter of carrying out the final act for a proper conclusion.
"Shut up! We're early!", Twice shouts back incredulously as though he's offended before doing a double take and apologizing, "I can't believe we got here late! Sorry, pal!" Regardless of which outburst he feels more sincere about, he winds up pausing afterwards when actually taking in his surroundings and asks, "Where's everyone else?"
"You might've had it right the first time. Are we early?", Akatani's clone speaks up when he realizes he has no conception of time. Under his mask, his face scrunches up in confusion. He has no recollection of how he winded up with Twice in the woods. The last thing he remembers is adamantly refusing to join them in the raid. A problem with the clones Twice makes is that they all share memories with the host up to the point of creation, making any brief period in between null and void.
Compress slides back the sleeve covering his wrist to check his watch, "We're right on time." And as though on cue, the undergrowth behind him begins rustling. The leaves shake and twigs snap, making way for whoever's coming through. Akatani's clone tenses in anticipation, sharing the same ghoulish instinct as his host. Twice cocks his head to the side, expecting a bunny rabbit or something as equally cute from nature. Compress pivots, facing the same direction the others are looking with a feeling that's in between those two.
Nobody expects Spinner and Magne, the Stain fanatic and Himiko's 'big sis', to be the ones who come running out from the weeds. Especially for both of them to be covered in so much blood, panting frantically. Magne's sunglasses are missing, probably broken in whatever skirmish that she found herself in. Spinner's magenta hair is messied and his already tattered clothes are even more torn. The two sporting their disheveled appearances stagger over to their comrades.
"Those hero kids are crazy!", Spinner gasps in between huge intakes of air. He sounds as traumatized as he looks. The massive makeshift weapon he had been carrying back when they arrived is noticeably missing.
"They got Mustard.. The kid won't be making it back with us..", Magne reports the loss of a comrade with a shake of her head. The downtrodden demeanor meshed with Spinner's look makes for a colorfully imaginative turn of events. How they were beaten and why the mustard gas evaporated so quickly during their attack crosses everyone's mind with different ideas or reimaginings.
Practically a perfect replica of Akatani, the clone's recalled friends still missing from the rendezvous point after receiving this news causes him to worry. "Where's Dabi and Himiko?", he asks.
"Playing hooky?", Twice gives an unhelpful suggestion that earns a glare from the Tokyo Ghoul's copy. Sensing the clone's hostility, Twice holds up his hands in mock surrender before trying again, "Or they could just be dead, ya know?", though that one's probably worse.
"If they're not here soon, I'm afraid we'll have to leave without them.", but Compress is quick to redirect the ghoul copy's glare. Even Spinner and Magne are taken back by the villain's careless comment. "Everyone knew the risks involved when they joined.", it doesn't help that he does a poor job of defending himself.
"We can't just abandon our partners!", Spinner argues with the other villain through bared teeth. Akatani's clone's mask shares a striking resemblance.
"I agree!", Twice raises his hand courageously. Before immediately swinging it down and frantically shaking his head. "I disagree!", he adamantly goes back on his word as always.
Magne facepalms, "I should have just gotten a regular job..", regretting her decision of joining the chaotic club.
As equally annoyed, Akatani's clone starts to head for the woods. Twice notices first and calls after him, "Hey! Where are you going?!"
"We shouldn't wander from here at this time.", Compress turns to see the sudden cause of commotion and forms a pit in his stomach at the thought of their plan falling apart when they've already come so far being so close to success.
The clone of Akatani doesn't bother stopping, nor does he even spare a glance back. "Go ahead and leave without us if you want, but I'm not abandoning Himiko or Dabi.", his resolve is loud and clear with his only response of acknowledgement. Just like his host, he has a one track mind.
"Stain was right about you..", Spinner whispers to himself with admiration twinkling in his eyes. Hastily, he hurries after Akatani's clone with an almost desperate urge to tag along, "Wait! I'll help!"
But before they venture off, they're fortunate enough that Dabi and Himiko find them first. Though the two are in extremely bad shape. "Himiko!", Akatani's clone rushes to take what his mind tells him is his girlfriend from Dabi's arms. The blonde girl is unconscious, body limp. Dabi looks like he went through hell and back to carry her, collapsing in Spinner's arms.
"I've got you!", Spinner holds Dabi upright as blood soaks into his torn fabric. The villain's burns have increased and spread, dried purple skin remelted and red muscle tissue exposed.
Akatani's clone pulls his mask off, pulling Himiko closer. "Hey.. Hey.. You gotta wake up.", he pleadingly stares at her closed eyelids with the hope that they'll open.
"Hey, they're okay!", Twice remains obliviously ignorant with a childlike innocent happy reaction as opposed to Compress and Magne's quiet and reserved grim responses. That is, until somebody else comes crashing through the undergrowth. The white lens of Twice's mask widen when he sees none other than Eraserlead leap out from the bushes, "Oh shit!"
Though the underground hero does give pause when he sees what looks like Akatani without his mask on. Seeing the boy's actual face is different from combating the Tokyo Ghoul when wearing his guise. Suddenly, the harsh reality of the situation hits Aizawa and stops him in his tracks.
"We have to go. NOW.", Compress urges everyone to retreat through Kurogiri's portal while the hero is distracted. Twice doesn't think twice, fleeing with a girlish scream into the warpgate. Magne runs in right behind him, minus the yelling.
As Spinner drags Dabi and Akatani's clone carries Himiko, the ghoul's copy meets Aizawa's gaze. They each share a sad exchange through their stare. Then Akatani's clone bids the hero farewell with these parting words, "Don't come for me."