"…motives are currently unknown. Although many are speculating they're connected to the so-called league of villains who attacked UA High last month…"

CLICK!

"…the number of injuries continues to rise. However, thanks to the rabbit hero Mirko, who police believe was the villain's target, casualties in Corusco have been minimal…"

CLICK!

"…Akito Inumuta, Corusco chief of police, has promised a complete investigation…"

CLICK!

"…the hero killer Stain – Chizome Akaguro – was apprehended last evening by Endeavor. When pressed for comment, Endeavor…"

CLICK!

"…believed by many heroes, including All Might, as the late Isshin Matoi's killer, the villain known as Couturier managed to evade capture by both the rabbit hero Mirko and the former vanguard of the Tempest Storm Agency, Monsoon. Sources also confirm the presence of Isshin Matoi's daughter, Ryuko Matoi, yet authorities refuse to confirm nor deny…"

CLICK!

An older-looking gentleman, gruff and possessing a sense of well-deserved arrogance, tapped two fingers against the keyboard. With the slightest hint of static, the various network feeds faded into darkness, leaving only the humming from machinery and equipment nobody other than himself could comprehend filling the silence. A silence he found both assuring and comforting. One which granted a measure of importance as he addressed the man sitting just out of arm's range. A figure dwarfing his own diminutive height and whose presence could only be compared to a veritable force of nature.

"Perhaps events didn't unfold as fully anticipated," unable to observe reports and news anchors announce yesterday's events yet quite capable of hearing the nervousness clinging to their voices, the looming figure smiled. A mouthful of predatory and gleaming teeth made all the more frightening by the tubes sticking out of his cheeks, neck and throat, "Yet it was still a resounding success."

"Success? More like a disaster."

Contrary to his master's cheerful disposition, Kyudai Garaki drowned his frustrations with veiled contempt.

"I'd already written the three Nomu you lent to Shigaraki as complete losses. A combination of his childish infatuation and Endeavor's presence in Hosu assured the likelihood of their survival, let alone recovery, was zero," looking no younger than sixty-five, bald and with a bushy mustache which only drew attention to his goggles and hunched appearance when in proximity to the only person he respected, the scientist known by the pseudonym Daruma Ujiko throw his hands into the artificial darkness of his personal laboratory, "But for Nui to misplace a near high-end after promising – promising – to bring it back unharmed!? Ugh! Five months of hard work down the drain! Although the data collected is useful, this is quite a setback."

"We should have expected as much from this country's number five hero – Mirko the Rabbit."

The man known only by his Quirk considered the information with an absence of attachment similar to that of a child observing an insect missing a wing, "While her Quirk isn't strong on its own, through experience and rigorous training she's managed to make something of it. It's actually rather impressive," unable to observe the world and in constant numb pain thanks to his wounds, he rubbed his chin, fingers grazing the lowermost tendrils of scarred tissue, "Yet despite her misguided arrogance and bravado, we both know Rumi Usagiyama was not the primary reason Nui found herself forced to pull back."

Kyudai Garaki removed his goggles and cleaned them on the hem of his coat.

"Mon-Mignon Prêt-à-Porter," the amoral scientist repeated the foreign phrase with a measure of reverence as information scrolled on the screens in front of them, "To believe she'd be forced into using something like that. Hmm, she must have been truly desperate. Perhaps last night wasn't a total failure after all."

A wide, perhaps overly friendly smile greeted the doctor's admittance.

"Sometimes one forgets Nui is only a single piece on the table. Granted, her abilities are useful. Our pawns would not be so well-positioned if she hadn't already cleared the table for us. Yet one person, no matter their strength or cunning, hero and villain alike, can be defeated by superior numbers," the deceptively disabled mastermind raised his hand, calloused fingers pointing at three images despite being unable to actually see them, "Monsoon…Ryuko…Mirko…" eyes missing, ears destroyed and nose but a stump, all buried beneath long-healed scarred tissue impossible to reverse with Super Regeneration, All For One raised a question he'd been wondering for some time, "Remind me – what did she pick as her hero name again?"

There was a moment of honest silence as Kyudai Garaki accessed the backdoor he'd installed into the hero database, "Senketsu, I believe."

Upon hearing such an audacious moniker, the most dangerous villain in the country even after getting his head crushed by All Might genuinely laughed, "Did she now?"

As he laughed, data packets transferred from multiple servers across the country, hidden in abandoned warehouses and factories purchased under shell companies and charities. All owned by other shell companies. All based overseas. Kyudai Garaki tapped several keys. And upon the final ten-digit code, gigabytes of data – video recordings, information gathered through low-access security companies, surveillance tapes, reports pilfered from police and heroes by inside sources, moles and blackmailed persons – streamed through redundant cables into his laboratory. And another stroke opened them despite his master being unable to see their glory with his own eyes.

Not after All Might's deplorable and heinous behavior.

"There's something else. Something Madam Kiryuin won't appreciate," invoking her name immediately drew his master's full and undivided attention, "It occurred following Ryuko's rather ingenious application of her Quirk. Prior to regeneration and for a few minutes afterwards, Nui underwent what I can only conclude was a psychotic break. Increased aggression and anger…loss of objective reasoning…temporary, of course, but I'm hesitant to presume it won't happen again. Under other circumstances," his goggles glowed opaquely from the light radiating off the computer, "It might be wise to reassign her until I'm capable of determining what, if anything, caused her to momentarily disobey your orders."

It was a question.

And yet not a question.

"You have a point. That is rather concerning," and when deafening silence reached what little remained of his ears, All For One leaned backwards and folded calloused fingers across his chest, "I'll speak with Nui about this. And impress that until I'm completely satisfied she's capable of understanding orders, further interactions with Ryuko are forbidden without my explicit approval," the machines keeping him alive, barely at that, continued pumping fluids, medicine and liquids through holes into his body, "I'm certain she'll find my decision unfair, but she's left me little choice. If she cannot be trusted to follow orders, she cannot be trusted to act under her own recognizance."

"That might be a tad too harsh."

As someone who refused to discard anything and everything unless, and with no exception, it no longer served a use to his master, Kyudai Garaki wasn't quite prepared to determine Nui a failure from a single mistake, "As things stand, the League of Villains lacks manpower. If the heroes were to track down Shigaraki, she would be the only one standing between him and Tartarus. Is that not why you ordered her to watch over Tomura? A completely loyal bodyguard beholden to nobody other than yourself."

All For One pondered his comrade's words, "Until Tomura Shigaraki is capable of spreading his wings and soaring under his own power, he requires assistance. Someone capable of protecting him from the cruelties of society."

Scarred tissue twitched as the ancient villain leaned on his knuckles, "Her ability to blend into society without being seen has proven quite invaluable. Dare I say, helpful," one of the tubes feeding fluids into his damaged body shifted, "However, sometimes being seen is useful. By striking into the heart of Corusco, attacking the number five hero and escaping into the night, she has demonstrated the League of Villains isn't to be underestimated. The villain who murdered Professor Isshin Matoi appears only to escape," a dark chuckle followed a slight cough, "Perhaps she went overboard, but in conjunction with how quickly the Hero Killer's ideology is spreading over the internet, I do believe Tomura Shigaraki should expect many villains eager to join his burgeoning organization."

The villain paused, his smile fading.

"Still – " and an almost concerned tone entered his voice, " – it's somewhat concerning Mirko managed to retain some memory of Nui's appearance. This could be troubling."

A mocking scoff prefaced Kyudai Garaki standing up and stroking his chin.

"We always knew Perceptional Manipulation wasn't foolproof," walking around his heavily injured master, he adjusted the fluids and regenerative medicines, "Yet I'm not particularly worried. If the hero organization weren't capable of determining Nui's identity from Ryuko's perfect recollection, it's unlikely Rumi Usgiyama's incomplete recollection of 'light-colored eyes and youngish face' will prove any more useful."

"Is that so?"

A voice broke through the silence.

A distinctively feminine and sensuous voice.

"How long were you listening?" his heart angrily pounded while the possibility someone managed to infiltrate his laboratory, bypassing the heavy defenses and coming within a hair's breadth of his master became something less dangerous but quite a bit more irritating, Kyudai Garaki swiveled towards the computer and the single 'audio-only' connection.

"Long enough."

Ragyo Kiryuin was not a short-tempered woman. In her line of business, cutthroat and ruthless despite public relations and appearances, one couldn't afford letting personal feelings and emotions cloud their judgment, "That's why I'm waiting for someone to explain why Nui returned in such terrible condition," which is why during those extremely rare moments when she did let some of her anger slip through the cracks, it was all the more intimidating, "Otherwise I'll be forced to address my complaints…personally."

There was no mistaking the threat clinging to those innocuous words.

"Now see – "

Yet it wasn't nearly enough to prevent All For One from interrupting his friend's valiant attempt at defending his honor, "Are you upset?"

"Upset? Not at all. Merely…displeased," her tone, sharp as a sword, hardened so gradually it was impossible to determine when she stabbed you in the stomach. Silhouetted against the rising sun beginning to peak over Corusco Ward's horizon, alone for the moment while secretaries and managers worked triple-time to reschedule clients and meetings that had been planned weeks in advance, Ragyo allowed the blatant falsehood to percolate across the secured connection before continuing with the same breath, "You might not care, which is a shame, but as High-Order Tailor, Nui's skills are invaluable. Her absence, even for a few days, will be noticed. How do you intend to rectify that? For your sake, it better be good."

All For One smiled.

"Souichiro was correct."

Three words.

Only three words.

Maroon eyes snapped to the cheap disposable phone. Manicured fingers relaxed, allowing the phone to slip into a more comfortable grip. And Ragyo Kiryuin smiled, "I'm listening…"