After reading the information and getting a new chair I spent the rest of the day working on the puzzle, I had a renewed sense of determination to have it done soon. I gained an extra twelve seconds for my efforts, Kirishima didn't wake up for the rest of the day...I checked his pulse but he was still alive so I brushed it off. I looked at Kirishima in the chains and thought to myself, "I can't keep him here forever… I needed to set this up fast. I walked up to him, his hands and legs were tied up and there was something in his pants pocket, I used telekinesis to bring it to me and it was a phone. Now I had a way to bring Bakugo to me, but I needed to get into it. "Sir, perhaps Hatsu could assist you with that." Yamiaka suggested to me. She was a scientist, and had that giant robot so it was fair of me to assume she knew a thing or two about electronics, perhaps she could assist me with this. I teleported back to the spire, surprisingly everyone was in the conference room. "Hatsu." I called out to her, she looked up in her chair "wha- Oh hey boss." She said sleepily as she shook her head as if to wake herself. "I need assistance with a passcode." I informed as I walked to her. "Got anything for that?" Hatsu thought for a second, before she said. "Yeah, back in my quarters. It'll read for finger marks. Know what passcode type it is?" I checked and it was that swipe type passcode, the one you'd make your passcode be a "z" if you were lazy. "Swipe." I responded. She seemed to know what I was talking about and said "Okay, I'll be back." As she walked towards the door. "Seishika told us about your...aspirations." Uta revealed. "I must say if you can pull it off, you'll have single handedly won this for us." There were murmurs of agreement. "How did your search go?" I asked the group. "We only found dirt on one of the targets we had…" Kojin said, sadness coated his voice. "It's not much, but it's a start!". I looked at Ugoka, he seemed bothered. I was about to ask him what was bothering him but I was stopped by Fukisha. "Hey, don't sweat it." He said cheerfully. "Even if this doesn't pan out, Kyokia's plans bound to work! I mean, really everything we're doing is kind of a plan b, seeing as his plan is definitely a slam dunk!" Everyone in the room, and I mean everyone looked at me, even the saddened Ugoka did. There was a glimmer of hope in some of their eyes. "Yeah, Kyo's got this." Senboza said, he surprised me seeing as he agreed with his father. "Right Kyo?". "Of course I do." I said with feigned confidence, "When this is over, we're all gonna be free to start new lives!" The ace's nodded and cheered amongst each other, now I had even more pressure on me to get this done. "Kyo...May I talk to you in my room for a second…" Omiora asked me. I looked at her somewhat surprised, it was a strange request. "Um, yes." I responded. We walked to her room and once we were both in she closed her door. "What's wrong with Ugoka?" I asked, rather concerned. "I'll explain in a second." she responded somberly. She then walked over beside her bed and picked up a brown bag. "Never seen that before." I said as I looked at it in her hand. "I know, I've been very careful to hide it." She replied. She then handed it to me and said "Open it."
I opened the bag and in it resided a Tengu Noh mask, The Tengu were thought to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune, this Noh mask was made of actual Hinoki cypress and was obviously rather old. "This mask was a family heirloom." Omiora blurted out. "An old thing, It represented my families unbreakable bond to support each other." She gave a somber look before saying. "...My family all turned against me, even if it was for my own good in their minds. Before I went into hiding I was able to take this with me. None of my family are worthy of this anymore, but you…" I knew where this was going and raised my hands in an opposing gesture. "Omiora, I couldn't possibly-" "Kyokia you've started an entire resistance because of your family!" Omiora interrupted. "If anyone here should have this is you!" I looked at it, still doubtful, but she was rather passionate about it... "Will you at least keep it in your lab?" She asked me as I looked down at the tengu mask again. "It will be safe there, and I want you to have it in the case something happens to me." I looked up at her immediately. "Omiora come on." "Kyo this entire cause isn't safe." She reasoned. "And besides...this new hero gives me a bad feeling." That was the first I'd heard of any new hero. "Who are they?" I asked her. Her expression soured for a moment, but quickly turned to sadness "The reason Ugoka's so upset. We didn't get the dirt on those politicians because a hero stopped us, he goes by the name of Iris." I looked at her and motioned my hand. "Go on.". "His quirk, it makes those affected...see things...not think clearly." that sounded like a rather scary quirk. "We attacked him, but he was fast...very fast. He was able to defend from us and due to his quirk we had to retreat." This hero sounded like bad news. "But his hatred of Ugoka…" Omiora stated. "It's going to hurt someone close to him." I was a bit confused. "Why does he hate Ugoka?" I asked her. "Ugoka...killed someone by accident on his gang's last robbery." She said. "That someone happened to be this heroes mother, and it's the reason Ugoka so strongly refuses to kill...he promised me and himself he would never take another life undeserving of it." This was troubling, this hero could really be a pain...and not just to Ugoka. "What's their name?" I asked Omiora. "His hero name is Iris, I don't know his actual name." She said somberly.
Omiora looked at me and said. "But don't think I didn't notice your body language back there. I know you're troubled." Hell even now she looked out for me. "Things are going fine." I lied. "At least they will be.". "Just watch how far you push yourself." Omiora cautioned. "Don't let this break you, we're here if you need us...I'm here.". She was becoming like a mother figure more and more everyday, and honestly though I had been away from them for a while...these people were starting to become like family...I wouldn't let my family down again. My attention was brought to the door once there was a knock on it. "Boss?" Hatsu said. "I got that gadget." Omiora handed me the satchel and mouthed the word "please?" I nodded as I held the satchel and Omiora gave me a thankful look before opening the door. Hatsu walked in "Okay, gimme that phone!" She said enthusiastically. I handed her the phone and she put the gadget over it, it was about the size of an old school telephone and a scan went over the phone. "Hmm," Hatsu started. "Looks like it's a V and then a Z… So start on the top right, bottom middle, Top right-" "I understand." I interrupted her, I attempted to not make it sound rude. She handed it to me and said "Good luck, don't go hurting yourself!" She said with a laugh as she left the room. "I'm going back to the lab now, I have plans to make." I said, I looked at the satchel in my hands and said. "And...thanks. For trusting me with this." "We all trust you Kyo." Omiora said. "When you have those stims ready, we'll all finally have a chance to right our wrongs." God, her too… I simply smiled and left for my room, I held the satchel...I was ready to break again...but this time due to anger. They were all depending on me to get them their freedom, and every minute that passed by made me want to simply give up...but I reminded myself that I couldn't, I made a promise. I knew I was going to brea- no...burst soon but I waited until I got to the lab, then no one but Yamiaka would see it...The last thing LOGIC needed was to see their leader crying. I grabbed a radio so I could contact the others from the lab if need be and held it in until I arrived there. I collapsed on the floor once I did, there wasn't really any crying...just frustration. "Damn it!" I shouted as I hit the ground. "I can't fail them now! I won't let them give up hope!" I paused for a second, regaining my composure. "...No matter what it takes.". "...Wow." A voice said. I looked up to see Kirishima awake, now I was stressed, pissed and embarrassed. Great.
"Of course." I let out a scoff as I got up. "Of course you'd be awake to see that.". "What was that all about?" He asked sarcastically. "Oh you know, just LOGIC telling me how great my plan is and how it's gonna save them all." I said as I walked to the chair I brought with me earlier. Kirishima didn't really say anything to that, but he did speak up when he saw what I carried with me. "Hey! My phone!" he yelled at me. I looked at his phone in my hand and said. "Yeah, your phone. Gonna use it to lure Bakugo.". Kirishima gave me a look and said "Man what is it with you villains and Bakugo?". The league did kidnap Bakugo after all, so I understood the logic behind his comment, but it was still flawed. "Not after him per say." I informed him "I'm after something Izuku likely told him.". "You're banking your plan on a possibility?" Kirishima asked harshly. "Not at all!." I responded. "If he doesn't know he'll have Izuku tell him.". Kirishima stared me down for a moment, before I looked down at his phone. "I'll need to find a location to meet up with him." I said, I then looked up at him. "Unfortunately for you, you'll be my hostage.". "Well your hostage is hungry." Kirishima snapped back. I raised an eyebrow at this, but I supposed it wouldn't hurt to feed him, he wouldn't be here very long. I picked up the radio, it was set to all the ace's. "Seishika I need a location to do a trade off, secluded but available." I then added. "And someone get me some food, please.". Seishika then replied and gave me the coordinates to where I had to go, promising he'd simply teleport me there. Yamiaka appeared and I looked at him in an unspoken question and he nodded his head as he disappeared. I didn't really want to remember the coordinates at the moment. "Damn this place is bright." Kirishima complained. "Yeah, yeah it is." I said as I walked to the rubik's cube and started to work on the puzzle again. "Where even are we?" Kirishima asked. I didn't really have any answers to that, there weren't any doors or windows so I assumed there wasn't an outside. "Don't worry about it, I don't." I replied, earning me a disapproving grunt. "So what's your plan then? For all of this?" Kirishima asked me, presumably to pass the time. "Well I can't tell you that seeing as I plan to release you once the trade occurs." I replied. "A villain who keeps their word?" Kirishima said with a raised eyebrow. "Uncommon...Well at least you keep your promises.". I shivered at his words, the pressure somewhat returning. "Not all villains are the way the stereotype is portrayed." I replied as I continued at the puzzle. "And I'm fighting for the ones who aren't.". "And hurting Midoriya in the process." Kirishima reminded me. "Good of one over the good of many?" I asked him. "How unmanly of you." I chastised him, knowing that was his soft spot. "It's unmanly to hurt your friends knowingly." He retorted. "We had this conversation." I exhaled as I looked back at him. "...yeah, we did." He said deflated. It looked like he wanted to say something but was holding back, so I turned back to the puzzle. "Sir, foods here." Uta said over the radio. "It's waiting in your room." "Ah, deliveries here." I said looking at Kirishima, I then started to teleport to my room.
Once I got there I found the food sitting in front of my door, it was a sandwich on a plate, nothing special. I picked it up and started to teleport as I balanced the plate between my forearm and shoulder with assistance from my quirk. I appeared back and heard a "how do you teleport?" from Kirishima. "This place is weird." I said "And quirk generated.". Kirishima looked at the sandwich and said. "Well there's the food...but how am I supposed to eat it?" He asked as he looked at the rope and chains that bound his hands. "Why not just break the rope with your quirk?" I asked sarcastically. "Tried that, didn't work." He replied. "Some real strong rope you got here." "Real strong quirks we got here." I replied, picking up on his suspicion. I used my quirk to levitate the sandwich in front of him and placed the plate on the desk as I went to continue working. "Where's yours?" Kirishima asked me. "What?" I asked back. "You're not eating?" he asked, at this point I think he was just trying to distract me, however I was fine with that honestly. "You're eating it." I said as I turned back to the cube, much to his surprise. "Rationing was one of the first things I told them to organize.". "Man what kind of villain are you?" Kirishima asked me while he shook his head. "I mean, you're treating me like a house guest! Not a hostage!". I looked at the chair I placed him in, the food I was giving him and said "Maybe I am, but despite being labeled a villain...I don't need to be evil." I explained to him. "I most certainly don't have to forget how I was raised.". "Your Mom raised you well I guess…" Kirishima said, I visibly shook at the mention of her. "...sorry." Kirishima said, I was surprised he apologized, but I got over both effects quickly. "...lets share this then." Kirishima suggested, which surprised me once again. "What?" I asked him, not looking away from the rubix cube. "Well it would be unmanly to eat all your food." Kirishima replied. I was tired and had no energy to argue against it, so I ripped the sandwich in half. "Wow I suck at this." I muttered as I floated my half of the sandwich to me. "What?" Kirishima asked me. "Having hostages and all that...usually hostage takers intimidate their hostages, but here I am dining with you." I rolled my eyes at myself. "Maybe you're not cut out to be a villain." Kirishima said to me. "...Neither are they…" I muttered sadly, this seemed to shut him up. We ate in silence for a while as I worked, but eventually Kirishima said. "I heard what you said back there." Between bites. I gave him a confused look as I chewed. "When I fell to the ground...I wasn't quite passed out." The realization hit me like a truck.
"...Oh…" was all I said, now turning back to the cube to avoid looking at him. "Even after that fight… You looked out for my well being, not to mention future opponents wellbeing!" Kirishima said. "The news painted you to be so...evil, on a revenge filled conquest for power...but you don't really seem like that…". I didn't respond and just continued to eat and work. "You're more like what Midoriya said you were...which we should've seen coming honestly, he knows you." I coughed on my food at the mention of his name. I turned slightly, giving him a side glance and asked "...What did he say?" after I stopped coughing. "He said you were likely confused...or stuck." Kirishima relayed "That you weren't out for revenge, not anymore at least… So tell me… In your words, why are you doing this?". I stared at him for a few moments, but It was clear he wouldn't give up the topic. "I made these people a promise." I said as I turned back to the cube. "And yes, that promise was made in an angered state but it was a promise nonetheless...I have to give it my all.". "But if you could…" Kirishima started. "What would you do if you had no obligations to anyone?". There was a very long silence as I completely stopped working on the cube. "...I'd turn myself in to the police, heroes...whatever." I finally confessed after about ten seconds. "I don't want all of this...I'm tired of this fighting...I just want it to stop.". Kirishima didn't say anything, I had the feeling he was giving me a sympathetic look or something similar but I couldn't bring myself to look at him during this topic. "But no matter what I become in the process." I continued, in both talking and working. "Whether it be a jaded monster, or a shell...They will have a second chance.". "Midoriya was right." Kirishima said bluntly, yet somberly. "You don't need to be arrested, you need to be saved…". I was taken aback by this comment, so much that I couldn't say anything. "Your silence proves it." Kirishima said. "But don't get me wrong, if we end up fighting again, I'll totally do everything I can to kick your ass." He said to me. "It was personal between you and Midoriya, but now It's personal between us...seeing as you kidnapped me." "That's your choice." I started. "Speaking of kidnapping you, I have a call to make." I made my way to his phone on the desk, Kirishima was finished eating so I didn't have to hold up a sandwich anymore. "Even if Bakugo know's, he'll never tell you." Kirishima said with a matter-of-fact tone. "Just repeat after me." Yamiaka said as he appeared, I decided to listen. "You'd be surprised by what he'd do to keep you alive." I gave him a questioning look, he knew I wouldn't kill him and so did Kirishima for that matter. Yamiaka said "Kojin, Kyo... Kojin." Now I had no reservations about killing a clone. "You'd be surprised by what he'd do to keep you alive." I responded to Kirishima. "Oh please, you made it painfully obvious that you don't kill." Kirishima challenged. "To all of Japan, and me.". "I got desperate!" I said with an exaggerated shrug. "And I have someone who can make clones, and I'll gladly kill a clone.". "And what about my quirk?" Kirishima asked me. "Anything you throw at me I'll simply turn myself rock solid.". "A knife will do." I responded as I looked at his phone. "And I've injected you with a stim that temporarily disables your quirk. "No you didn't!" Kirishima shot back. "They don't know that…" I replied with a grin as my eyes met his, I planned to call Bakugo but I didn't want Kirishima to say anything. "Now, I need some duct tape…" I thought aloud.