"This is the place, right? Aldera Middle School?"

"Yeah." Akira wanted to say more, but as expected, his throat felt tight. It looked like a normal middle school; a plain tan building covered in windows, with students milling around even though school had been over for a while. He tried to find whatever sign, whatever clue that would tell him what, exactly, was going on with Izuku.

When he first met the middle school student, Akira had known instinctively that he would become one of his confidants. Call it fate, call it circumstance, call it two child correctional officers in an imaginary jail that fused parts of his soul together, but Akira had just known. Like his soul had left his body to latch onto Izuku and claim him, similar to his other confidants, but it never felt exactly the same.

Only… Izuku didn't like him very much.

Understandable, even if his heart broke a little from being unable to befriend part of his soul. Akira had a reputation and it wasn't impossible that Sojiro warned him before Akira arrived. He resigned himself to waiting to start Izuku's confidant—according to Caroline and Justine, he required Level 3 Kindness, Level 3 Knowledge, and Level 2 Charm, which honestly seemed excessive. But the benefits…

Oh, Akira regretted not grinding his skill immediately once he figured out what Izuku needed.

His quirk had never felt more powerful; he never before felt so secure in his own skin. The whispers of 'demon' no longer bothered him (or rather, bothered him as much) ever since he started training with Izuku, his Charity, his kind and giving and hero friend. His quirk finally felt like an extension of himself as he ricocheted through shadows and Shadows in the depths of Mementos, the only true place to see what his quirk could do. (He lamented the fact that Izuku likely would never enter Mementoes like most of his other confidants; think of the quirk training they could do with actual enemies!)

That is why he bended so quickly to Alibaba's demands.

Figure out the identity of the main tormentor of Izuku Midoriya, and I will assist you with Medjed. Fail, and your identities will be released to the police.

"Shit, man, I don't know." Ryuji rubbed the back of his head. "This place looks like an normal middle school to me. You sure these are the ones hurting the little dude?"

"I'm sure of it," Morgana replied. The not-feline was peeking out of Akira's bag as usual, standing on his shoulder to see the world properly. "I can sense a palace nearby."

"What?"

"No!"

"Not the little dude!"

"No, it's not Midoriya. It's someone else."

Akira frowned. "And that someone else is probably Izuku's tormentor."

Makoto frowned. "We shouldn't leap to conclusions."

"It's not a leap. We haven't met a single Palace Ruler that hasn't abused someone at some point." Kamoshida, Madarame, Kaneshiro… "If there's a Palace here, I guarantee that they're the one responsible."

"Well, it's not like we know about any other Palaces, right?" Ann asked. "It can't hurt to investigate."

They took it to a vote and determined that they would at least investigate. "Then, I suppose we much determine who the Palace Ruler is," Yusuke said. "They would have to see themselves as ruling over this place, correct?"

"That's right. Think it's another shitty teacher like Kamoshida?"

"We can't overlook the possibility, but it's possible it could be a member of the administration, or even the principal themselves. Anyone is a suspect."

"And we're left in the dark since we know nothing about this school."

The sharp pop of explosions drew Akira's attention to the front gates. A trio of boys were leaving, the blond in the center letting off a series of familiar explosions from his hands. Akira glared. "That's him."

"What?"

"The day I convinced Izuku to become my friend, he was being chased by someone. He never told me who, but there were similar-sounding explosions nearby, and Izuku flinched every time he heard one."

"Yeah, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's… what? Bullying Izuku? What reason would anyone have to bully him?"

"Do people need reasons?" Ryuji scoffed. "People are shit, especially to whoever sticks out the most. I would know."

Makoto winced at his reaction to her words. It made sense. Ryuji was bullied more than they all were, since he is Quirkless. "Still, we should look into other options—Skull!"

Ryuji had had enough and ran off to another group of middle schoolers. Makoto made to go after him, but Akira held her back. "Let him speak."

The Phantom Thieves watched as Ryuji chatted up the group—jocks, it seemed—before gesturing towards the blond. The jocks faces twisted into a scowl and one ranted for a few minutes before realizing where he was and flushed. Ryuji thanked them and returned. "Try Katsuki Bakugou."

"That's the kid?"

"Yeah. Apparently, since he has a big-shot quirk, the teachers let him get away with anything he wants. They suck up to him because they think he's going to be a hero."

Ryuji sounded so bitter. Akira placed his hand on his shoulder. "Thanks, man."

He smiled. Much better. "You're welcome, dude."

They tried the name Katsuki Bakugou.

It was a match.

Ann covered her mouth. "He's so young… to think his world is already so distorted."

"It is unsettling. But, it is our sacred duty to cleanse such hearts. Do we have the location?"

"It's gotta be the school, ain't it?"

"It fits."

"W-Wait, guys! Should we be doing this? I mean, shouldn't we be focusing on stopping Medjed first?"

"You do have a point, Lady Ann, but it doesn't hurt to investigate. After all, it's not like this Palace will have a time limit."

"Besides, did you see that little shit? Walking around like this place is his damn playground or something…"

"Beginning navigation…"

"Holy crap, that worked!?"

"Damn it, Skull!"

So focused with their find, Akira was the only one to noticed Izuku, who had spotted them outside his school and was approaching. Almost upon them, in fact.

"Shit," Akira cursed as the now group of seven slipped into the Metaverse.