Neito Monoma grew up idolizing villains.

His father raised him on old-fashioned TV shows and movies with awesome and overpowered antagonists. At five years old, Neito would hum Darth Vader's theme song until his father groaned and begged for mercy. "But Darth Vader is the coolest!" Neito cried.

Dad smiled. "You like villains? You don't like heroes?"

Neito pouted. "Villains have cooler costumes and give the best monologues. Heroes are lame. Only Batman has a decent costume. But the Joker is still cooler than him."

"That's right." His father chuckled and ruffled his hair. "Batman isn't so bad, but villains are naturally superior."

"I'm going to be the greatest villain when I grow up," Neito said.

Dad's eyes sparkled. "What a lovely dream," he said.

Neito had the feeling that he'd passed a test. This feeling was confirmed when his father brought him a new tricycle. Having a rich father was the best.


On Neito's seventh birthday, his father considered him old enough to let him in on a huge secret: Dad was a real villain. Not just any villain, but the greatest villain in the world. Neito was thrilled. Now he had a perfect backstory. He'd start out with a huge advantage for his dream of becoming number one villain.

Dad took him downstairs to his very cool mad scientist laboratory, to run some tests looking for his quirk. Neito had been disappointed at remaining quirkless thus far, but Dad said that he'd been a late bloomer and Neito might have his ability. The power to steal other quirks was the ultimate weapon for a villain. Neito jiggled with excitement as his father led a Nomu forward and instructed him to hold out his hand.

The Nomu's hand felt dry like a mummy. Neito felt something. A hotness running from his palm to his chest.

Dad ordered the Nomu to use its bendable fingers quirk, and it did. Frowning, Dad said, "Maybe you haven't developed your quirk yet."

"No, I did. Watch." Neito bent his fingers backward. "I can copy the quirk of anyone I touch!"

Dad rubbed his son's head. "My, my, my. What a lovely gift. You'll be a great asset to my organization."

Was that a tinge of concern or envy in his voice? Neito hoped so. He needed to become stronger than his dad. Even at seven years old, Neito had realized that only one person could become number one villain.


When Neito turned nine, his father came back from his fight with All Might in pieces. Neito worked tirelessly, duplicating regeneration powers in a desperate attempt to save a man already declared medically dead. He vowed that one day, he'd have his revenge on All Might for hurting his beloved father like this.

Even though Neito felt very relieved when his father woke up, he couldn't help feeling like this was a sign. It might be time for All for One to retire. If Dad couldn't keep up with the heroes, then he should let some new blood step in.


Dad sent Neito to U.A. to serve as his spy. Neito felt pleased that his capabilities had been acknowledged with such an important mission. He hid the true power of his quirk and pretended to have a weaker temporary copying ability. All for One arranged for Neito to be in Class 1-B and his other spy to be in 1-A so that at least one of them would be in the same class as All Might's successor. To Neito's profound disappointment, it wasn't him. How was he supposed to form at proper rivalry with Izuku Midoriya if they weren't even in the same class? At this rate, it looked like the explosion boy would become Izuku's rival. That was unacceptable. Neito went out of his way to taunt Izuku and all of Class 1-A. But the green-haired boy only shrugged off his insults.

While training at U.A., Neito had plenty of chances to copy everyone's quirks. The only hard part was remembering not to use an ability he wasn't supposed to have at the moment and pretending to lose fights. To Neito's frustration, he couldn't copy One for All. He would have liked to prove himself stronger than his dad.


Neito waited. He bided his time. It frustrated him, how his father insisted on keeping him safe and never let him fight adult heroes. He'd come to realize the spy mission had been an excuse to keep him away from the action. Tomura Shigaraki had been recruited to be the vanguard of the League of Villains instead. All for One promised that someday, after he successfully subdued Tomura's will and claimed his body, Neito would become his right-hand man instead of Tomura. But Neito didn't settle for second best to anyone.

Although frustrating, it proved useful that his father left him largely to his own devices. Neito formed his own bonds among the U.A. students. It would be such great fun when the heroes found out that he'd been an enemy all along—just the type of plot twist he'd enjoyed as a child. He always liked stories where the heroes and villains had a deeply complicated personal rivalry, and he was determined to write his own story to his liking, even if he had to fake caring about his classmates.

More importantly, he would use these young heroes to defeat his father. Then there would be the perfect power vacuum for Neito to step in and claim his rightful place as head of the underworld.


After Aoyama was unmasked as the spy in Class 1-A, Neito smiled. He felt pleased both because his cover was more secure and his father's plans had been thwarted.

When Aizawa asked Neito to copy Kurogiri's quirk in order to trap All for One, it was all he could do not to cackle in glee. His father had never let him near that quirk—proof that he recognized his son as a threat. Neito pretended it was much more difficult to master the ability than it actually was. Teleportation would be a fine tool to add to his arsenal.

Neito did not truly expect the heroes' plan to succeed. His father was too strong. But it was a good opportunity, better than any he'd seen so far. At the very least, the heroes ought to be able to weaken All for One. Then Neito would swoop in and defeat him later. It wouldn't be satisfying if anyone else dealt the finishing blow. Nor did Neito intend to let his father be dragged off to that hellhole Tartarus again. After all, he still loved his dad. Neito would lovingly look after his father, just as soon as he'd forced the older villain into retirement.


Neito let his father believe that Aoyama hadn't yet been unmasked. He waited for the heroes' signal. Then he teleported all the heroes to All for One's location.

As he briefly locked eyes with his father, Neito mouthed, "There can only be one."

All for One's eyes widened with amusement. "Very true," he said, not looking at his son, as if he was talking to someone else.

Then the current greatest villain launched his counter-attack.


OMAKE TIME!

Omake: All for One is too Crazy to Taste His Own Medicine

Neito: There can only be one greatest villain.

All for One: Finally, a family member who gets me!

Neito: I won't let Tartarus have you, Dad. I'll lock you up myself.

All for One: (Sobbing) A family member who loves me back! I feel so proud! Ten out of ten monologue!


Author's Note: Happy Birthday Neito! Because of his quirk, he was the logical next pick for my tradition of gifting All for One as a dad.

All for One isn't bothered by Neito's betrayal because he doesn't take it seriously. It's adorable. The kid reminds All for One of himself at that age. But the baby villain is way too overconfident if he thinks that's all it takes to defeat the Symbol of Evil. Into the vault he goes.