I've already got the next chapter of this story written up but haven't been able to get past anything else. So I'm posting this in the hopes that any interest and possible comments or critiques will help me get the rest of the story out of the water.

Also, this is a cannon divergence (of course). Everything in Seasons 1 and 2 happened here just like in cannon. But after the kids move into the dorm rooms, things begin to diverge. Not sure of an exact moment because I'm impulsive- we'll figure that out further down along the line, possibly.

Please enjoy~

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One Simple Variation in Routine Leads to a Terrifying Encounter

Normally, it was his and Satou's job to buy the groceries for the rest of Class 1-A. Sometimes Kirishima, Midoriya, or Kouda joined them; even less times Bakugou forced his way into their trip to ensure the quality of what they bought. On rare occasions, Uraraka, Ashido, and Tsuyu also came along- and distracted them by convincing them to go to local thrift shops aside from just getting groceries. But those were once in a month, maybe even once every two months, occurrences. The only two that consistently went out on Sundays to get the groceries necessary to keep 1-A running aside from the cafeteria food offered by U.A. were Shouji and Satou.

They would go early on Sunday mornings to have a fresh pantry stocked up by night time. The supermarkets they went to usually depended on just what their classmates asked for and the time they spent out varied- once again, depending on what they needed to buy. Before they had instilled some rather harsh rules on what their classmates could ask them to buy and what was now forbidden to ask for, he and Satou had wound up spending a whole Sunday hunting down an incredibly specific assortment of chocolates Ashido had just needed. After that, they had instilled a rule of 'Only ask for what a regular supermarket chain will have'.

Today, there had been a rather noticeable variation to this Sunday routine. Shouji had made the trip to the store alone. Satou had come down with a rather harsh cold and was going to try to rest the whole weekend to be ready for school by Monday.

Because one of the two students that made the trip to get groceries had gotten sick, the rest of 1-A had decided to take some pity on Shouji and had asked him to buy a rather small amount of food for them. He was grateful for this, for he knew that he alone would not be able to carry everything that was usually asked of he and Satou. And he also knew that this wasn't the end of the world for his classmates- U.A. offered food for all students, most just chose to sustain themselves for breakfast, dinner, and snacks with their preferred foods. This week would be different. But it wouldn't be impossible to get through.

As he walked with a rather large amount of bags in multiple hands, Shouji couldn't help but smile at the memory of his classmates. Uraraka, Iida, and Izuku had thought they had been sneaky in asking everyone to only list two food items so he wouldn't have to carry too much. Unfortunately for their wishes of not being noticed, they had been rather loud about spreading the message.

Successful or not in maintaining any semblance of secrecy, he still appreciated the gesture.

The smile dampened though as streetlights began to turn on around him.

Night had just set and he was still on the streets. The moon was full and the stars were shining rather brightly, even with the dark clouds creeping in the sky.

Unfortunately, he had taken a long time leaving school grounds because he had wound up having a small discussion with the Head of Security, Dagger, over the fact that the permit he had to leave the school had been issued to two people rather than just one. Eventually Shouji had been able to convince the man to let him go because, come on, he knew that Shouji was one of the most straight-laced students around, but it had been rather late into the afternoon when he was finally able to arrive at the supermarket.

Considering how it was quiet and peaceful... Shouji wasn't really feeling all that worried about being out so late. Sure, when he got back to U.A.'s main gates, he'd be getting an earful from Dagger, but it wasn't like he'd get punished. It had been the man's fault that he had left so late; so the student's late return could only fall on the hands of the Head of Security.

It was nice to exist in such a calm moment in time.

He really did think that all of his classmates were amazing and amusing in their own rights. But they were loud. And Shouji, although the oldest of three children, had grown up accustomed to peace and quiet. Seeing how he didn't get much of that on a regular basis anymore because of his classmates, he rejoiced whenever he found himself in a situation that allowed him to hear his own thoughts without explosions breaking out in the background.

With a small sigh, Shouji shook his head.

His classmates were truly unique. But, hey, that was one of the reasons he liked them so-

A sudden scream broke him out of his reverie.

Immediately, the teen created another appendage and morphed the tip into an ear, eager to find where the sound had come from. For a couple of heart pounding seconds, he heard nothing. Then, louder than before and much more high pitched, another scream broke through the quiet night.

Without a second thought, he dropped all of the groceries he had been carrying onto the sidewalk and ran in the direction he had heard the screams coming from. As he did so, he returned his arms to their regular state, although he kept the extra ear formed to be able to catch any other scream and better orient himself.

After three more consecutive screams, Shouji found himself entering a darkened alleyway. The buildings around him were brand new, but uninhabited. This was a recent construction project that had only just been completed. There was no one on either side of him- a perfect place for a criminal to assault some unfortunate passerby without having to worry about getting caught.

He couldn't make out the people before him too clearly. But it was very obvious who was getting attacked and who was doing the attacking. There was a silhouette of a paralyzed body on the ground. Above this, there was another silhouette, with a long scarf-looking garment billowing from what Shouji guessed must have been the person's neck.

Shouji was not able to make out many details aside from that from where he stood. But as he got closer to the scene, walking slower to not be seen, he caught sight of a detail that had him almost immediately begin to freak out internally.

The sword's blade was going to be plunged straight into the still body on the ground.

He didn't have enough time to deal with the situation in a well-thought out manner; his body screamed. No, the blade was about to be brought down onto a human being and Shouji, even though he knew little more than nothing about this situation, knew enough to be sure that he needed to stop it if he didn't want to witness a murder. His mind supplied him two probable paths he could take as he pumped his legs and forced himself to move faster than he ever had before.

He could hurl himself onto the attacker, tackling the person down and hope that the sword never touched the person below. If he did that, he ran the risk of the sword still hitting the person, although with less force.

The weapon had hit the highest point of its arch into the air- he needed to move.

Shouji didn't allow himself to think a second longer.

When they had been caught in that horrible situation in the training camp, where Tokoyami had lost control and Shouji had been powerless, he had thought too much. Since then, he had promised himself that he would not allow himself to freeze up because of his mind. No, he had told himself that the next time he felt like he needed to do something, he would do whatever he needed to do to not have any regrets after everything was finished.

It was a shitty plan, he knew... But it was the best way to make sure the person getting attacked wouldn't get wounded.

He forced his body to move before his brain could make him worry any further.

"Stop!" He shouted, earning a surprised sound from both bodies in front of him.

When he was only a handful of feet away from the two, Shouji threw himself in the path of the sword. It was brought down with impressive strength and had been aimed directly into the throat of the person below. But Shouji forced all of his hands to grab onto the blade, inadvertently biting his bottom lip as the blade met his skin and immediately began to cut through it.

Luckily for him, six hands, albeit terribly gnarled by the blade, had been enough to fully intercept the sword.

Unfortunately for him, this left him at the mercy of the attacker.

"Hn... What are you doing?"

The voice chilled him to his very core.

At the same time that it sounded absolutely disinterested and somewhat disconnected, there was a twinge of curiosity that Shouji didn't like.

The hero in training winced and forced himself to look forward- to try and identify the attacker that stood before him. And as soon as he was able to really look at them, his blood ran cold, eyes going wide.

Hero Killer Stain stood before him, shoulders hunched, with an annoyed frown playing on his lipless mouth.

There were no words Shouji could say. There weren't even that many thoughts running through his mind. All that he could properly think about was how he had been stupid enough to throw himself into a fight against one of the most lethal villains in the world... One he had been aware as to having escaped prison some weeks ago, but had never even begun to contemplate about possibly meeting.

No words came out of his mouth.

There was a groan from the ground but Shouji could not stop from staring at the glaring eyes of the heartless serial killer.

The frown on nonexistent lips became an impatient sneer, "I asked you a question, kid. What do you think you're doing sticking your nose where it has no business being in?"

The pain that was sprouting from all of his hands was easy to forget when those heartless brown eyes continued to glare at him- continued to pierce his very soul.

He was like a fly caught in a spider's web. Stupid and blindsided- just like a fly... he had been a fool. He had been a fool that hadn't thought nearly enough because thinking too much had caused huge issues when his friend had needed him most... and now not thinking enough was going to get him killed.

The villain's voice had now taken on an irritated edge. Maybe he really did want to hear Shouji's explanation... Maybe he'd allow the teenager to say some final words before he rid the world of him as he planned with the person incapacitated on the ground.

Struggling to swallow his own saliva, the six armed teen forced his jaw to work and his tongue to make out proper sounds. "I... I couldn't let you hurt them."

The skin on the killer's face seemed to be pulled tight; it was inhuman to see him frowning... But it became monstrous to witness the skin tighten further when the corners of his lips turned up into a sickening smirk. All the while, the killer's head shifted ever so slightly his left- a cock of intrigue.

"Oh? And why is that?"

He needed to think.

The Hero Killer was best known for his close range fighting style and the brutality of his skills. Along with that, a single taste of a person's blood allowed him to paralyze them for minutes on end... Blood which Shouji had shed when he stopped the blade from killing the person below him.

They would both become two more victims to Stain's insane ideologies if he didn't do something.

From the lack of words coming from below him, Shouji could guess that the person Stain had been attacking was completely knocked out. They weren't just paralyzed, they were totally incapacitated and unable to aid in battle. Possibly the wounds they had suffered were enough to leave them in a state of shock.

He needed to keep Stain talking. He needed the killer to remain distracted as he tried to think up of a possible solution for the predicament he had gotten himself into.

"Because..." Shouji blinked, then grunted, "I'm not about to let someone die on my watch."

It had been the first thing to come to his mind as an answer. It was the most genuine answer he could have given... Shouji would have chided himself for sounding absolutely ridiculous if not for the fact that he needed to concentrate his brain power on getting him out of the situation his lack of thinking had landed him in.

The smirk wasn't dissipating, he noted in rising horror. If anything, it was becoming a completely amused smile.

"Where's your hero license? I wasn't aware they were handing them out to such young prospects."

He was still holding onto the sword. Stain jabbed it towards the right forcefully, causing Shouji to grunt in pain. But he dug his heels into the ground and tensed his body, refusing to stand down.

If he was able to pull the sword away from Stain, the man wouldn't have easy access to his blood. After that, he may be able to pick up the person on the ground and make a run for it... No, that would never work. Stain was undoubtedly fast. Unless he somehow distracted the man, he would never get far.

"I-I'm not a pro..." Shouji managed to gasp out. Then he grit his teeth and stopped himself from shouting out at the sudden shock of pain that shot through him when the blade was pushed deeper into his hands. Blood was trickling down his palms, trailing down his forearms, only to accumulate on the ground below him. "I couldn't..." He swallowed down a wince, "I couldn't just let someone get attacked and not do anything."

The sick smile broadened. He was now able to see Stain's flat, bright white, teeth.

The sight horrified Shouji as much as the sight of bloodied fangs would have. It wasn't the sight itself that terrified him- it was the person that was creating it; the meaning behind such a look.

The villain was toying with him. He was amused that someone so young had been foolish enough to jump into danger impulsively. Shouji couldn't see any possible way to escape with his life if he tried to save the victim.

But he also refused to leave this person at the whim of this killer. He couldn't because that wasn't what a hero would do.

"Now this..." The killer's sword lost some of the weight pushing it deeper into Shouji's hands, leaving the teen surprised. What strange new tactic was this man employing now? "This is what a true hero does. Throws himself into danger, without a care about probable danger, just in the possibility they can give some semblance of aid. This woman wanted to capture me for some selfish revenge- she isn't a hero at all!"

Before he could try and even begin to understand what was happening, the blade was getting pulled away from his hands. Shouji's eyes widened, fearful, as he noticed that his blood was right there, at easy access, for Stain to use.

He needed to do something!

… But... What?

Keep him talking.

If he was occupied, then Shouji might have more time to think of a way to escape with the incapacitated person. For a second, his brain thought about the possibility of this actually being a pro-hero that had tried to capture Stain and return him to prison; and then his intelligence snarked for a moment about how dumb she had been to try this alone. But then his brain was back in the moment, trying to think up of some way to keep the villain focused on him.

There was currently a lump in his throat that didn't allow him to swallow properly. His mouth quickly dried and any noise he tried to make died within his throat.

His mind was a blank.

"All Might himself would be proud of this, I'm sure." Stain took one step back, voice seemingly adopting a humored tone. "It's good to see that someone is trying to be an actual hero in this day and age."

Shouji's body coiled up tighter than it ever had before, preparing itself for the next blow.

It never came; Stain sheathed his sword.

The Hero Killer coughed into his hand, groaned as he hunched over himself for a few seconds, and finally straightened up with a pleased smile stretching the edges of his mouth.

Sirens began to sound in the distance.

"When she wakes up, tell her you saved her by being a real hero. She, just like the rest of those fakers, could learn a thing or two from you."

Shouji could not believe what he was seeing... Was Stain the Hero Killer really just... Walking away from him?

He was frozen in place and could not ask his body to move. An icy chill had come over his whole body and refused to leave him- he couldn't move, no matter how much he really wanted to. All he could do was stare after the retreating form of the killer. His heart pounding, his hands bleeding, and with sweat drenching his whole body... Shouji Mezou could do nothing more than watch as the villain walked away, figure dissolving into the darkness of the night.

He didn't even notice when it began to rain. He did not even notice when the water that fell over him mixed with the blood seeping from his palms, then cascaded down his fingers before eventually dribbling away.

It seems that there is still some hope in this world.

That six-armed kid was stupid, but he had heart.

Just like the pesky green haired idiot that landed me in prison.

Don't know if I should be more worried about this kid. The green haired one was the catalyst for an incarceration I'm not looking to repeat. Think I'll watch my back and stay low for the next week or so- if history wants to repeat itself, I'm gonna make it work hard. I'm not about to go back to that hell-hole after only just two weeks of freedom.

Still... the kid was interesting.

Swear I've seen him somewhere before, just like with the other punk.

Maybe I'll look them up while I fly under the radar. Should keep me busy and not too antsy over needing to continue my purge.

Back to business:

Ricochet- Survived.

*Maybe this brash American will think twice now over trying to hunt down her old friend's killer.

*Only reason I spared her was because I got distracted by the six armed kid. He tried to save her; it wouldn't do to disillusion someone so young if they may actually become a worthy hero. No, I allowed her to live to give that kid some hope.

Passione- Dead.

*Body should be found in a day or two- depending on how strict the warehouse is on keeping some standard of clean or if someone sets out to look for him. Could be longer under abnormal circumstances.

*Damn Italians.

Silver Tongue- Incapacitated. Alive.

*Won't be able to charm anyone without that tongue anymore.

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Please review and tell me what you think about it!