A/N: It's been a while, huh. This chapter took a bit to get down, even if some parts I've wanted to write since I sat down and actually determined how this story will play out. And to give you a great way to help me write faster, I recently opened a ko-fi account. Check my profile for details.

Also, I want to thank all of you for helping this story reach 500,000 total views. I never thought I would ever reach a number like that, yet here we are.

Chapter 22

Aizawa held back a soft smirk as Class 1-A went quiet. He knew they were all anxious to hear the results of their final exam. While the students were aware of their results on the practical exam, the written test they'd taken in the days before were finally graded. He walked slowly across the front of the room, letting the tension hang and grow with each step. Once the pro reached the podium at the front of the room, he turned and scanned the alert faces of his students.

"Ah, well your exam results are finally in," he began, setting a stack of papers down. They were blank sheets, a mere prop to express just how serious the test his class had taken was. "Before I announce your results, I should let you know about the training camp this summer. I cannot say where exactly it is, but do know that you will be spending most of your time in the outdoors, working on your quirks in a controlled environment with pro heroes watching over you. Your parents should be receiving a letter in the next few days telling them when and what you will need."

There was a momentary rumble of whispers, excited and hopeful, but Aizawa killed the noise with a glare.

"Please be aware that those of you who failed the exam will be staying behind to attend make up classes while the others are away. And I should mention that the Principal will be instructing these classes." Aizawa paused, watching impassively as haunted looks came over Ashido and Kaminari. He heard that they had failed the practical, yet Nedzu had insisted on ignorance when questioned about why they performed so poorly. For some odd reason, Aizawa found, the footage had been corrupted "Unfortunately, two of you failed the final exam. Ashido, Kaminari, your inability to overcome Principal Nedzu's trap is disappointing. I imagine you two are aware of how…poorly you did on the written exam." He paused, watching the two try their hardest to sink into their desks. I guess I should let them know before Ashido melts hers. Replacing it will come out of my paycheck.

"I was lying. You both get to go to the training camp with the rest of your class."

Kaminari and Ashido broke down into tears as their fellow classmates patted them on the back.

"While I still have some of your attention," Aizawa cut in, silencing the room, "Do be aware that any and all supplies you fail to bring with you to the training camp will not be provided. In a few short years, you will all be licensed professional heroes and you will have heavy expectations placed upon you. Responsibility is a key element of being a successful hero."

Shigaraki tugged at the lip of his hoodie with a few fingers, working it so it covered his hair. It would be simple if he could use all five, but his disintegration quirk had been added to several watch lists.

At least they don't have my face, he thought, a sickly laugh pooling in his belly. He scanned the bustling crowd at the shopping mall. While attacking the place would amuse him, it was more likely to backfire than achieve the goals of the League of Villains.

Sensei will be proud, knowing I can get in and out of a place like this without getting caught.

He wasn't sure why he had come to the mall. The excuse he had given was that he needed to get out of the hideout, though there were better places to go.

Ones where I can use my quirk with abandon. Yet, here he was among the dumb, smiling sheep that worshiped the ground All Might walked on. It sickened him, knowing he was around so many who praised that hypocrite. He wondered how they'd react if they knew how weak, how fake their Symbol of Peace truly was.

As he started across the main area, he spotted a familiar bush of green hair. Anger, hatred, rage seared through him at the sight and his fingertips itched to wrap around the boy's neck, to destroy his neck and leave him dead among all of these simple civilians.

Oh, it would be so easy! All he had to do was sneak up and tightly wrap his hand around the green head's neck. Nice and tight, with all five pads pressed into his neck. Maybe right on his windpipe, or aside so it lasted longer. He could even attack the spinal cord, dropping the boy like a marionette and destroying his hopes to become a hero.

Yet, faces vaguely familiar to Shigaraki surrounded the boy. Some he knew from the failed attack – Oh, did Sensei punish me for that – while others had moments of…notoriety during the Sports Festival. Even so, it would be stupid and foolish to attack now. As powerful and fast working as his quirk was, it would quickly become futile against over a dozen hero students. Especially, if one of them were smart and called in the police. Instead, he would have to be smart, to engage his targets with precision and ensure he wasn't caught.

Let Sensei worry. I'll show him why I am the one who will succeed him. The one to see his vision come true!

Shigaraki made his way towards a shoe store, head lowered and hands tucked away. He watched the children – they were no heroes, even if they foolishly thought of themselves so – and smirked, as they broke apart into groups of two and three. The blond Sensei had taken an interest in had gone off with a group of three following him. His eyes tracked them towards an escalator for a few seconds before returning to the boy that had drawn his attention months ago. He was alone, head turned up so his green hair was just visible as it spilled over his ears and neck.

A perfect scenario, Shigaraki grinned. I only need to sneak up and catch him off-guard. Shouldn't be difficult with so many NPCs around.

It was more almost hilarious how simple it was to approach the boy without being noticed. There was a moment where Shigaraki was tempted to quickly sneak up and wrap his hand around the boy's throat and press all five fingers nice and tight along the length, with four fingers on the front, along with the boy's windpipe, and the thumb in the back near his spinal cord. It would've taken a few heartbeats for the boy to receive a fatal wound.

Instead, Shigaraki hung back nearly five meters and said, "Hey, ain't you one of those U.A. kids? How about a signature?"

He was tempted to laugh at how surprised the boy was, especially when an arm was thrown over his shoulders. "Oh shit, you're that kid who said he's gonna succeed All Might, aren't ya?"

I'm gonna have to gurgle mouthwash when I get back to the bar.

"Yeah, that's me," the boy said a nervous smile on his face. "I, uh, didn't think something like this would happen so soon."

"Can't blame ya," Shigaraki said. "You know, I'm pretty sure you were mixed up with that Hero Killer business over in Hosu, weren't you…" The boy nodded, frowning. Oh? Have you figured me out already? Well as they say…in for a penny, in for a pound. He tried to speak, but Shigaraki continued. "Its ssooooo cool, seeing you again like this. It's almost like fate, or destiny ya know…

"Though," the villain said, grinning as the boy made connections in his mind. He wrapped four fingers around the boy's neck. "The last time you saw me was at the invasion, wasn't it? Let's get something to drink, Midoriya Izuku."

"What do you want," Midoriya hissed out, careful to keep his neck from tapping that final finger, only a few hair widths away from touching him.

"That's a mean thing to say to an old friend who just wants to chat," Shigaraki said, louder than his previous words. He then whispered in a harsh hiss, "Calm down. We don't want someone thinking something's off here. You do anything strange, anything that draws unwarranted attention and well… The moment that happens, my final finger comes down. Layer by layer, you'll disintegrate until my quirk reaches your throat and then it's game over for you."

"If you do that, a pro hero will certainly catch you," Midoriya said.

"Perhaps," Shigaraki admitted. "But look around. Even if one of them were to use their quirk as a weapon, they wouldn't. They've all accepted the rules of society, that nobody would do such a thing. And because of that, well, I could kill 20 or even 30 before I would be stopped."

"What do you want?" Midoriya asked and Shigaraki grinned.

Level two, start!

"Let's sit down first."

They made their way through the crowd to the nearest place to sit. Shigaraki kept a firm grip on Midoriya, though not firm enough to kill. "Ya know," he started, looking about the crowd, "While I might hate everything, it's nothing compared to the Hero Killer right now."

"I thought he was one of yours," Midoriya said, almost confused.

"Bah, that's society talking, not me. I didn't want that freak to join us, yet he's all anyone wants to talk about. It was us who attacked U.A., who released the Noumus." Shigaraki paused, scowling. "Yet it's that fucking bastard who gets the fame. Why? Why does nobody look to me?

"And then, for all of his posturing and puffing, he gets destroyed by the same thing he's trying to tear down. What I'm working to tear down. I'm curious, Midoriya. What's so different about him?"

"Different?" Midoriya said, a whisper to himself. He paused, the fingers on the hand further away from Shigaraki drumming. "Well, with you and your Alliance, I neither understand nor accept you. But with the Hero Killer…I can't accept him, but I do understand him."

Shigaraki frowned, but let the boy continue. "For both of us, everything spawns from All Might and who he is as a hero. I, well, I wish to fill his role in society, to uphold peace for all. But the Hero Killer…he saw what he perceived as corruption in hero society. He became a villain not because he was born evil, but because he thought that evil necessary to improve society. His methods are wrong, but he held to an ideal. And I cannot help but respect that."

A moment passed in silence and then Shigaraki burst laughing. How couldn't I see it? Everything…everything returns to one, doesn't it?

"So that's why…" the villain started, grinning. "Why I hate the Hero Killer, why I cannot stand your stupid face. It's all about All Might. It's why everyone here smiling and happy." He sneered, tightening his grip on Midoriya's neck. "They smile because he does, as if nothing wrong will happen. As if he can SAVE EVERYONE." He paused, taking in a deep breath. "Thank you, Midoriya, for making the path clear. Now, how should you die?"

"What the fuck are you doing here, shitstain?" a crude voice asked. Shigaraki turned, just releasing his grip on Midoriya's neck so the boy could suck in a great gulp of air. Bakugou Katsuki, the next hero-child Shigaraki was going to track down, had appeared before him. "I didn't think you villains were retarded enough to make an appearance in a place like here?"

Shit! He caught me off-guard. Well, I could try and finish Midoriya off, but Bakugou is fast enough to blast me before the other boy can die. "I was just about to leave."

"Bullshit," Bakugou said. He then smirked, a vicious look fitting for a villain. "You know what, I'll be merciful just this once. Leave without killing anyone and I might just…forget I saw you here. Right, Deku?" The boy nodded.

"Fine, fine," Shigaraki said, releasing his grip entirely and standing. He started away and then turned back, frowning. "Why're you letting me go?"

Bakugou looked over his shoulder, sneering. "Next time we meet, villain, I'm going to kill you." It wasn't a taunt or a boast. The boy meant his words.

Shigaraki grinned, turning away to leave the mall. No wonder Sensei is so interested in Bakugou. That fire, the violence! He will make a great villain, once he turns.

I will see those two soon. Sooner than they think…