AN: Hey, everyone! Nice to see I'm still doing this, even though I still have writer's burnout. So sorry that this chapter's a little late and shorter than expected.

There is some good news, though. We finally have more fan art at last! Done by the talented KrazyKamikaze44 (who's also an avid fan of the fic). And it's of Liana this time (DeviantArt, Hero Academia DxD OC: Liana Kozuki).

By the way, regarding the new Midoriya home, I want to clear up a couple of things regarding it. First off the location; you know that area where we could see some homes and/or apartments in front of the main building sometimes? That's where the home is at. I've also read some people say they hope Nezu has the two hero course classes live there eventually. While I like the idea, I haven't decided if I'll use it yet.

Anyway, I think it's time to start the chapter. I hope you all enjoy it!

"Here we are," Izuku said, looking up at Ryukyu's agency, a billboard advertising Ryukyu's clothing line on display.

Izuku could hear Ddraig shudder in a mix of worry and fear when they arrived. He was tempted to say something to calm the dragon down, but decided against it since he might make things worse.

"You doing okay, Yukimura?" Milia asked.

"I'm fine," Fuyuko answered. Izuku and Milia weren't sure they believe her or not.

"Let's head in," Izuku suggested, leading the way as the three walked into the hero office. The inside was predominantly red with a Chinese feel, with columns decorated with golden Chinese dragons and statues of guardian lions.

The receptionist looked up and flashed a smile with far too many sharp teeth.

"The U.A. kids, right? She's in the middle of an important call, once she's done she'll see you. In the meantime just wait right there."

The receptionist pointed to a waiting room.

"Thank you." The three quickly shuffled over to the room and waited.

"Wow! It's the first years!" A cheerful voice called out. A girl a little older than them with long flowing periwinkle hair, wearing a skintight, royal blue and pale mint green costume, appeared in front of them. "I saw both of you at the Sports Festival! I saw what you did!"

She appeared next to Milia, and pulled her arm up, closely inspected her hand. "How does your Quirk work? Do you have to file your nails? You're kinda like that wolverine guy! You have great skin. What kind of moisturizer do you use?"

"Umm…"

She quickly turned around and focused on Izuku. "Why did you pick Ryukyu specifically? Are you a big ugly lizard or a cute little lizard? Hey, you are kinda cute. Do you eat crickets like a lizard? Oh wow, that'd be weird. No judgment, tho. Why were you late?"

"Uhh…"

The blue-haired girl then turned to Fuyuko. "Who're you? Are you a new sidekick? Why's your hand cold? I really like your eyes!"

"Er…"

"Nejire-chan, enough," a blond woman dressed in a red qipao, with a large claw-shaped ornament in her hair, lightly scolded the girl.

"Oh, alright, Ryukyu." The girl, Nejire-chan, took a few steps back.

"Sorry about her," Ryukyu smiled, revealing sharp, pointed teeth. "Nejire can get pretty excited. Though I am curious," she glanced at Fuyuko. "Who is she?"

Fuyuko looked away as Izuku answered. "This is Yukimura Fuyuko. We met her on our way here at the Kachirho Bridge."

"She… tried to jump off, but we saved her," Milia added. "We couldn't leave her, so we brought her here."

Ryukyu blinked in surprise as Nejire began asking questions again. She had several herself. What could've driven this girl to attempt suicide?

"Midoriya, Takamaki, go get changed into your hero costumes. Nejire, do you mind showing them around and introducing them to everyone?"

"No problem!" Nejire replied. "C'mon you two! Changing rooms are this way!" With that, she quit literally dragged Izuku and Milia away. Fuyuko was tempted to follow, but Ryukyu gently placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her.

"Can we talk?" The 9th ranked hero asked. Fuyuko weakly nodded.

Ryukyu led the girl to her office but stopped short of the door when she noticed that Fuyuko's anxiety seemed to get worse. "It's okay. Just take a deep breath," Fuyuko did so, "now exhale, slowly," Fuyuko exhaled as instructed. "Feel better?"

"…A little."

Ryukyu smiled regardless. "Is it okay if I ask a few questions, Yukimura?"

Fuyuko nodded.

"Where do you live?"

"An apartment here in Shinjuku."

"Where's your family?"

"Long gone."

"What school do you attend? I'm guessing by the uniform you go to Shujin Academy?"

"Yeah," Fuyuko confirmed. "But I wish I didn't. Truth is, I hate that school, one person in particular. Our school's volleyball coach, Uchishiba."

Ryukyu noticed how much hate was in Fuyuko's voice when she said the man's name.

"People think that we're dating… that I've even slept with him… but that's completely wrong," Fuyuko muttered out. "After I started attending that goddamned school last year, all kinds of rumors about me started spreading, like how I sleep with my teachers to get good grades. When Uchishiba told me he could stop those rumors, I was happy. I thought I finally found someone who cared for me. But I was wrong. At first, he simply asked me to hang out with him, like at a park, or pick me up from my apartment. I didn't think much of it at first, but it wasn't long before I saw Uchishiba's true colors."

Fuyuko began to shiver in disgust. "He made me his personal 'maid'. He groped me, had me do stupid stuff that you'd see in a nightclub, carry his stuff around… you get the idea."

Ryukyu did, and her normal calm expression showed a clear rage. "Did you report his… advances to the principal?"

"I tried, but the principal brushed me off, and threatened to suspend me if I tried to 'slander' Uchishiba's name again," tears started to build up in Fuyuko's eyes. "All that fat bastard cares about is the school's reputation, so he won't help. When I tried to get help from my classmates, they either didn't believe me or kept quiet, either saying they needed to focus on their studies or because Uchishiba threatened them. And this morning… Uchishiba, he… he told me to go over to his place today… You know what that means…"

Fuyuko shuttered at just the idea of becoming so intimate with the perverted man. "I just… couldn't handle it anymore! I thought if I just up and died, I could finally get away from that demon! Maybe even get the police to investigate that worthless excuse of a school! What else was I supposed to do!?" Fuyuko pleaded, her emotions spilling forth.

Gently, Ryukyu wrapped her arms around the teen. "It's okay. You can stay here for as long as you need to, Fuyuko," Ryukyu reassured. "And I promise, I'll do what I can to make sure Uchishiba get's punished for this."

Fuyuko smiled, tears streaming down her face as she embraced the hero. "Thank you."

Bakugo silently fumed as sat in his seat on the train. He should've been at Best Jeanist's agency. Instead, he was heading for a completely different city with some no-name agency. And worst of all…

Bakugo turned to glare at his quote-unquote companion for the week, Monoma, who returned with his usual arrogant smug grin.

"[Attention, we are arriving at Yokohama Station.]"

At the announcement of the intercom, Bakugo and Monoma readied to leave the train. "I can't help but find the humor in this," Monoma said as the two got off the train. "Someone from the illustrious Class 1-A isn't interning with a hero? Maybe they're not as grand as they believe?"

"Huh? That's funny coming from a guy who didn't receive any offers and is also not interning with a hero!" Bakugo growled back, the two not noticing someone was pushing their way through the crowd to meet them.

"Excuse me?"

"And yet out of everyone who did receive offers, you received the least," Monoma said with his usual smug grin, appearing to be on the verge of a breakdown.

"SHUT THE HELL UP BEFORE I DESTROY YOU, YOU CONDESCENDING BASTARD!"

"Uh, excuse me?"

"WHAT!?" Bakugo exclaimed, causing the guy who was trying to interrupt to jump back.

He seemed to be around the same age as them, a few years older at least. He had light gray hair, pale skin, and is of average height with a slim build. His eyes had two colors, being purple on the top half of his iris and yellow along the bottom curve of his pupil. His hair is short and swept forward in loose spikes with a lock left long on the right side of his face, with a prominent black streak. His attire consisted of a white button-up with the sleeves pushed to his elbows, a loose black tie, black pants, black fingerless gloves, suspenders, and a long black belt that resembled a tail.

"Uh, I'm Nakajima Atsushi," the guy muttered as he slowly recomposed himself. "I'm with the Armed Detective Agency. I came to pick you two up."

Bakugo knew him for barely a minute, but he could already tell that this guy was just like Deku.

"Ah, hello good sir," Monoma greeted, immediately trying to suck up Atsushi.

"There's no reason to call me 'sir'," Atsushi said. "I only joined the Armed Detective Agency recently. Anyway, follow me."

"Of course," Monoma smiled, following Atsushi as Bakugo grumbled behind them. "I cannot wait to outshine this Pomeranian during our internship."

"Go to hell, Copycat!"

'Will someone please explain to me how these two are hero students?' Atsushi silent asked, totally baffled.

It didn't take long for Atsushi to lead Bakugo and Monoma to the office of the ADA. It was a reddish-brown brick building, the Agency office situated on the fourth floor.

For the most part, it looked like a regular office, complete with several desks covered in field, bookshelf's, a little lounge, and even several plants for decoration. Though, one thing did stand out. "The hell?" Bakugo blinked, surprised at all the broken windows and bullet holes in the walls, and how nonchalant everyone seemed to be at cleaning it all up, except for one guy wearing a stereotypical detective outfit, with a brown hat and a matching shawl over his shoulders, who was sitting on a desk drinking soda.

"What happened here?" Monoma asked.

"Oh, the Port Mafia attempted to do a raid yesterday," Atsushi answered.

"What." The blondes both flatly said.

"Yeah," Atsushi nodded sheepishly. "Apparently, it happens sometimes."

"Back already, Atsushi," a young woman said upon noticing their presence. She had black hair in a bob cut, with a golden butterfly hairpin. She wore a white blouse and plain black skirt. The look in her eyes was attentive, but Bakugo could tell that something in them was sadistic.

"Y-Yes, Dr. Yosono," Atsushi replied.

"Sorry about making you do it. Normally Kunikida is the one who shows any hero interns we take the ropes, but he's currently apologizing to our neighbors for the recent ruckus," Yosono said. "Haruno, could you tell the president the two U.A. students are here."

"Right away," a woman with brown hair and red-rimmed glasses replied as she entered a small hallway. A couple of seconds later, she returned. "Monoma, the president wishes to speak to you first."

Monoma gave Bakugo his typical arrogant smirk as he entered the hallway, Bakugo grinding his teeth in anger. Before he could explode, though, Yosono walked up to him.

"You got time on your hands?"

"Yeah. So?" Bakugo asked. He got his answer when Yosono handed him a broom.

"Then start earning your keep."

Reluctantly, Bakugo took part in cleaning the office. 'Why the hell did I listen to that black-winged bastard?'

After a few minutes, Monoma walked back out, though his usual smug grin was gone. Bakugo would've laughed at the change in deposition if Haruno didn't call for him.

"The president would like to speak to you now, Bakugo."

Bakugo huffed in response and headed for the back to the president's office.

As soon as the aid let him in she closed the door. Sitting at the desk was a tall man with a stern expression on his face. His hair was long and silver, ending just above his shoulder, his eyes were metallic blue and there appear to be wrinkles under them. He wore a green yukata under a black haori with golden borders with a zigzag pattern, and zori sandals with white tabi socks.

He was reading a report. A report with Bakugo's name and face on it. "Bakugo Katsuki," he read aloud. "Age,16. Birthdate, April 20th. Quirk called Explosion, where you sweat and ignite a nitroglycerin-like substance from your palms. Before U.A. you attended Aldera Junior High, along with Midoriya Izuku, who you've known since before primary school, Milia Takamaki, and Shiozaki Ibara. In the U.A. Entrance Exam, you scored 2nd in the written exam and 5th in the practical. During the Sports Festival, you made it to the third event before being eliminated by your own actions."

That reminder caused Bakugo to growl like a dog in anger. "Why the hell does any of that matter!?" Bakugo demanded.

"We would be a poor excuse of a detective agency if we didn't investigate any potential new members, temporary or not," the president replied. "My name is Fukuzawa Yukichi, and while I may not be a hero, you will be under my care for the week. As such I'm obligated to help you improve both in skill, and as a person. Of course, I didn't need to investigate your past to know what kind of person you are. I can tell from a glance: An egotistical little boy who spent his entire life getting everything that he wanted."

That struck a nerve. Teeth grinding together in anger, Bakugo stomped forward. "That's not true! You don't know a damn thing about me, old man!"

*Swosh!*

In less than a second, Bakugo felt something sharp pressed against his neck. He quickly realized it was a katana, drawn by the president. Bakugo's eyes widened in shock, both at the fact a katana was at his throat, and how fast the president moved. 'I didn't even see the fucker move!'

"Which brings us to arguably your biggest flaw: your belief that you're the strongest. It's true you're incredibly skilled, possibly good enough to become a sidekick, but the moment you believe someone is looking down on you, you react violently. And while you are driven to prove yourself as the strongest, it's just as much as your biggest weakness as it is your greatest strength. You focus so much on being the strongest that you overlook everything and everyone around you. Put simply, you're a mad dog who can focus only on one thing."

Fukuzawa pulled the blade back, causing Bakugo to stumbled forward. "If you can't even get control of your anger and can't keep your pride in check, then you'll never become a hero," he added as he sheathed the katana.

Bakugo turned to glare at the president hatefully.

"'If your enemy is choleric, seek to anger him,'*" the president continued. "It's a tried and true tactic on the battlefield, deception wins as many wars as superior strength and numbers do."

"Sounds like a damn coward's trick to me," Bakugo huffed.

"Is it a coward's trick if it lets a general spare his men's lives from being obliterated?"

"I just need to be better than the villains, my Quirk is already great," Bakugo rebuked.

"Maybe," the president said. "But there will come times where your Quirk won't be enough," the president sat back down at his desk. "Like what happened a moment ago. Had I been a villain, you would've been dead long before you could use your Quirk."

Bakugo gnashed his teeth in anger, knowing that the silver-haired man was right. This will be a long week.

Tenya marched down Hosu City streets in his hero costume, the Normal Hero Manuel in front of him. Manual was a man wearing a blue and white skintight long sleeve shirt that tucked into his large yellow gloves and his dark gray pants. In addition to this, he wore both white boots and a helmet with a fish-like fin and visor design on it.

"Normally, we're mostly just waiting for calls from clients, but recently, you know, Hosu's been kind of hectic," Manuel smiled as he showed Tenya around the area.

"And these street patrols help suppress crime while also reassuring the public…" Tenya deduced.

"That's right, it helps ease everyone, even if just a little bit," Manuel smiled as he waved at a few kids waving at him. After a few seconds of silence, Manuel chuckled. "But man, to think that Ingenium's little brother actually decided to intern at my agency, I'm so lucky! I'm sure you had so many better offers from other heroes, but I'm more than glad that you decided to come to my agency," the Pro said cheerfully.

Tenya walked silently as he went deep within his thoughts. Based on everything he knew, it was likely Stain was still somewhere within Hosu. After he had nearly killed his brother, Tenya had been filled with nothing but a silent rage. But then, Yuuto opened up to him, while Ibara and Rosalba managed to help Tensei heal. While there was hope Tensei could walk again one day, his heroic career was over. Apparently, the Hero Killer had split the engines in Tensei's arms, making it impossible for him to use his Quirk again.

Tenya squeezed his fist. He had come here to kill Stain and to avenge his brother. But now he was beginning to have second thoughts. He wasn't even able to focus on his schoolwork. And he was conflicted on whether he should report to the police and heroes that Yuuto killed someone. A detestable person from what he described, but still.

This may be a long week. And if he were to stumble upon Stain… he just hoped he could keep his anger in check.

The moment Momo and Tsubasa stepped into the Fat Gum agency, they were assaulted by the smell of food cooking, specifically something being fried in oil. "That smells good," Tsubasa said.

"Yes," Momo agreed.

"Ah, you must be Yaoyorozu and Yura!" A giant yellow and white matryoshka doll said as it entered the room, several sticks of what looked to be dango in his hand. Behind him was a guy a little older than them peeking around the corner in a blue, gold, and white costume. He ducked away when he realized they saw him.

"Don't mind Tamaki, here. He's just shy," the man replied. "I'm Toyomitsu Taishiro, by the way, otherwise known as the BMI Hero: Fat Gum," with that he offered them dango sticks.

The girls graciously took the offered treats and bowed.

"I'm Yaoyorozu Momo, the Everything Hero: Creati."

"And I'm Yura Tsubasa, the Absorption Hero: Osmosia."

"Welcome to the Fat Gum Agency. I was happy to see that there was a fatty to help out in U.A. this year."

Momo's smile cracked, "F-fat?"

"I didn't mean it like that! I meant you also use fats. Fatty! It's what I call people like us."

"He means that your Quirk uses your fat cells like his Quirk does…" Tamaki quietly explained, from the doorway, only his hooded head visible, dark blue hair jutting out.

"And you are?" Tsubasa asked.

Tamaki seemed to sulk even further. 'No matter how much I pretend they're potatoes, I can't look them in the eye. Girls are scary…'

"Enough with your shy act, Tamaki," Fat Gum lightly reprimanded. "He's Amajiki Tamaki, a student at U.A. like you, only a third year."

Momo and Tsubasa both did a double-take. 'He's our senpai?'

"Like I said, Tamaki's shy. He'll warm up to you two eventually," Fat Gum reassured. "But for now, I want to see you two out in the field and get you acquainted with the city," he informed, quickly downing the remaining dango, "that means you too Suneater, you haven't been here since your second year, and there are some new food stalls I want you to try for your Quirk. Oh, yeah, Creati, Osmosia, if either you get hungry just grab something from a stall and tell them to put it on my tab."

They simply nodded as the hero headed out the door, Suneater hurrying after him with a soft greeting tossed their way.

"Oh, cool!" Setsuna giggled as she and Liana arrived at the Black Knight agency.

"Lia, Tokage, over here!" Liana's half-sister, Cynthia, greeted them. Her hero costume was a full-body suit that looked similar to a scuba diving suit and scale-like body armor placed around her shoulder blades, her chest, and knees and elbows, which showed off her curves, especially around her hips and legs. The suit's base coloring was black while the scale-like armor was red. There was also a tank on her back, with tubing leading from her shoulders to her palms.

"Fenette-senpai," Setsuna greeted.

"Please, call me Cynthia," she replied as she led the two into the agency.

They were soon greeted by the heroes in charge of the agency: Guren and Zero.

Guren was a woman with spiky red hair, and wearing a red motorcycle suit that was skintight, with silvery protective padding on her shins, shoulders, wrists, and sides, and how the suit was zipped up the entire length of her front, from her crotch to her neck.

Zero's body was draped in a black cape with spikes along the shoulders and back. It clung around a dark purple suit with golden outlines and a white cravat. He also wore a pair of black gloves. But his most startling feature was his mask. He wore a black spiked mask; the top spikes gave it the impression as though it were a type of crown, with a round indigo sphere for the face. All in all, his costume somewhat looked more fitting for a villain than a hero. Likely why Zero was voted number 1 among heroes who look like villains.

"Mother, father," Liana greeted.

"Lia, there's no need to be so formal," Guren said, ruffling Liana's hair.

"Mother…" Liana pouted.

Cynthia and Setsuna giggled at the sight. "That's enough Kallen," Zero lightly repined. "Girls, this way," the masked hero led through the agency.

Setsuna looked around the shared office of Zero and Guren, taking it all in. Liana was unfazed, due to seeing it thousands of times before. As Setsuna looked, something on the desk caught her attention. It was several files, reports, and photos. One file was titled 'HPSC Investigation'. "What's all this?"

"Oh, just a side project me and Guren have been working on," Zero replied, putting the various files away. "Now then, let's get started. Tokage, what does being a hero entail?" Liana's father asked.

"Stopping crime, right?"

"Yeah, but there's a bit more," Guren nodded. "Pro Heroes are, technically speaking, government employees. With the abilities that we have, we're a bit different from ordinary workers."

"When a crime occurs, the police contact the heroes. Their requests come in all at once and are filtered out by a district. More often than not they focus on rescue operations and assisting with arrests. Once everything is done, we file reports on our services," Zero added. "Surprisingly, being a pro involves a hell of a lot of paperwork."

"Which you always dump on ME!" A voice yelled out from outside.

"Shut up, Tamaki!" Guren yelled back while Cynthia giggled.

"Aren't heroes allowed to do more than that, though?" Itsuka asked, trailing behind the hero she was interning with, in her hero costume. "Like the teachers at U.A.? Or how Present Mic does that radio show?"

"They are," Sanada Akihiko, better known as the Boxing Hero: Thunder Fist, answered. He had short silver hair, gray eyes, and two white band-aids on his face (one above his left eye, the other on his right cheek), and stubble. On the left side of his head, there was a cross-shaped scar. His hero costume, if it could be called that, was a pair of worn brown pants (with the left thigh bandaged while the right had several tears), reddish-brown mixed-martial-arts gloves, and a matching cape. He also had a large knife holstered by a brown belt. Akihiko also wasn't wearing a shirt, exposing three scars on his chest, and a few scars on his arms.

"There was a great deal of controversy surrounding that topic when the occupation was first being established. However, heroes proved to be more popular than expected and the public came to demand it." Akihiko added. "But enough with that," he stretched a little before facing his intern. "Time to start training."

"Huh?"

"Heroes are constantly practicing their abilities in order to keep sharp, even while on patrol. Show me what you can do, Battle Fist. Try to keep up," before Itsuka could question exactly what he was talking about, Thunder First dashed off.

Eyes widening, Itsuka ran after her mentor.

Mizu let out a sigh, leaning back in her chair as she went over the piles of paperwork she was given. "I need a break."

Getting up, Mizu left the faculty office and made her way to the teacher's lounge. Once there she prepped a packet of cup ramen and some green tea. As the noodles heated up, Mizu glanced outside at the sunset, the sky a beautiful orange color.

As she looked out the window, Mizu began to wonder how Ochako and the other students were doing. But her mind couldn't help but wonder about another subject. 'Stain… what are you up to right now?'

Stain looked around, taking careful note of his surroundings and exit while keeping an eye on the two men that had 'invited' him and the woman to have a talk. These three, the one with the hands all over his body, the humanlike black smoke cloud behind the counter, and the large blond man with a fake eye, were clearly villains of some sort. He recognized the blond as Imasuji Gouto, alias Muscular, a notorious A-Rank villain who's killed dozens of people, including several fake heroes. While Muscular was far too bloodthirsty to see his ideals, he supposed the other two, along with the woman, Lailah, might be useful in his crusade.

"I see, so you're the ones who attacked U.A.," he mused. "And you want me to join your group."

"Yeah. Come on, you've got so much more experience as a villain," pleaded Shigaraki with a rather monotone voice. Stain could pick up a hint of sarcasm in it, too.

"What are you after?"

"For now? I just want to kill All Might. I want to break everything I don't like. Damn kids like those… everything. Especially the dragon brat," Shigaraki growled, holding a photo of someone Stain recognized as the boy who had won the Sports Festival. But that was secondary to what he had just said.

Stain narrowed his eyes, "I was foolish to be interested. You're the type of person I hate the most." Both Kurogiri and Shigaraki looked at Stain in confusion while Stain continued on, "You want me to go along with your childish tantrum? What meaning is there to killing without conviction?"

Kurogiri looked at the scene in worry, as they had brought Stain here on a spur to help Shigaraki grow. But with how the situation was going, he couldn't help but voice his concern. "Master, should I step in?"

["Let it happen,"] the Master replied. ["It's possible this is the only way he'll learn anything. He needs to think about the ways he must grow. How he can mature! Only then will he reach his potential. And Muscular?"] the blond villain looked to the tv. ["Be sure not to get involved. This is Tomura's fight, not yours."]

Muscular let out an annoyed groan. "Fine…"

Stain narrowed his eyes at the television screen behind the man-child. "Who are you supposed to be?"

["Oh, I'm just an observer for Tomura. Pay me no mind."] He chuckled.

Stain didn't know why, but he could sense how dangerous this man was just from the voice alone. Regardless, he decided to act. In an instant, Stain already threw two knives, wounding Kurogiri on the arm and drawing blood. Then, with a burst of speed, Stain stabbed Shigaraki in the shoulder, toppling him over. Before Kurogiri could even attempt to do anything, he felt his body suddenly seize up, unable to move. Kurogiri looked around as best as he could to see what could've frozen him but was unable to ascertain just what it was. He did notice that the knife that Stain and nicked him with was right next to Stain.

"So, you want me to be a part of your crumbling little league," hissed the Hero Killer. "But you won't accomplish anything if you don't have conviction and desire. Without those, you'll always be an aimless weakling. Achieving nothing. That's how you got here."

"Owww… that hurts, you jerk," Shigaraki growled. "Kurogiri, take this guy back."

Kurogiri struggled to move. "I'm sorry. I can't move. It must be the Hero Killer's Quirk at work."

Shigaraki peers over to the other end of the bar. "And what's your excuse, Muscular?"

"You heard the boss. He told me not to interfere," the blond villain answered. "Believe me, I really want to get involved, but even I know better than to disobey him."

"And you, Lailah?" Shigaraki spat at the spider-woman, who watched with glee.

"I haven't officially joined," Lailah pointed out. "That, and sometimes it's more fun to watch."

"The word 'hero' has lost all meaning in this society. The world is overrun by fakes and criminals like you who chase petty dreams. They must all be purged!" Stain brought the blade closer to Shigaraki's neck, its edge near the severed hand on the decaying villain's face.

Without hesitation Shigaraki grabs the knife by its blade, the teeth cutting into his palm. "What do you think you're doing? If you touch this palm…" The blade had then cracked under Shigaraki's hold, the sound reverberating off of the bar's walls. "I'll kill you."

For a brief moment, fear appeared in the Hero Killer's eyes.

"You sure talk a lot, Hero Killer. Conviction?" Shigaraki continued, the metallic blade starting to rust. "Maybe I don't have anything as loaded as that." With the blade so rusted, Shigaraki was easily able to crush it into dust. "If I had to choose a desire, though… Yeah, it'd be killing All Might. If this world wants to worship trash like him, I'll destroy their beloved Symbol of Peace and then crush them while they're in shock."

Stain managed to jump back before Shigaraki could get a grip on him. The leader of the League of Villains stood, his shirt briefly sticking to the floor because of the bloody puddle that had formed underneath him.

"Damn you! The last of my injuries was finally about to finish healing, and you go and stab me," Shigaraki hissed as he started to scratched at his neck, blood dripped from his wound and down his arm. "We don't have a healer in our party, you know. I'm going to make you pay for this!"

"So, that's who you are…" Stain replied as he sheathed his other knife.

"Huh?"

"We may differ on what we want in the end, but how we get there is the same. The destruction of this world we live in now," Stain said, somehow finding common ground with the villain.

"Stop messing around. Go home and die. I'm the kind of person you hate the most, right?"

"I was testing your true motives. People show their true colors when they are on the verge of death. It's different with you, but there's a warped sprout of conviction living inside you. How will you bud? It might not be too late to wait until after I've seen that to dispose of you…" Stain replied, outstretching his arms.

"You think you could get rid of me?" Shigaraki questioned in a mocking tone.

Kurogiri was finally able to move, his body relaxing as whatever spell held him had finally broken away. "I'm free."

"Kurogiri, I don't want someone as crazy as this guy to be a party member."

"Please reconsider," Kurogiri said, trying to reason with Shigaraki. "This man will be a great asset if he joins us. I'd say this was a success." No one else made a move to agree.

"My business here is done. Now, return me to Hosu City," the Hero Killer then licked his lips with an unspoken thirst for blood. "There are still several false heroes I must attend to there."

"It feels a little strange not having them here," Yuuto noted.

"Yes," Rias sighed. "Oh, it's going to be a long week without Izuku and the others."

"Oh, cheer up, princess."

"Yeah," Rias muttered before she quickly glared at Gran Torino. "And why the hell are you still here?! I thought you were gonna leave when Izuku and the others went for their internships?"

"I figured I stick around a little longer, give that dunderhead Toshinori some actual tips on teaching," the old pro answered, eating some sweets.

"…Those are my sweets," Koneko pouted.

"Not anymore."

Rias let out a loud groan in frustration. 'This old man is really getting on my nerves. I wonder if Izuku would be angry if I vaporize him?'

"Hey, Rias," Xenovia spoke up. "Does Gran Torino know…?"

Rias filled in the last unsaid words.

About them being devils.

"I haven't asked," she whispered, hopeful that Gran Torino was too busy eating Koneko's sweets to notice. "Just continue as normal for now."

"Hey, what're you two talking about?" Gran Torino asked.

"Oh, nothing," Rias quickly replied. "Just wondering what my club activity report should be about."

"Club activity report?" Xenovia asked.

"It's something of a requirement I need to do every once in a while," Rias answered.

"Why not something about devils?" Gran Torino suggested.

"D-devils?" Rias stuttered.

"Yeah," Gran Torino ate another of Koneko's sweets. "You're an occult research club, ain't ya? So do some actual research on the stuff instead of lazing about here."

Rias stared at the old pro slack-jawed. 'I can't tell if he knows about us or not!' She screamed internally.

"What's with that look? You better stop before your face freezes, turning you into an ugly hag early," Gran Torino teased, which got a small chuckle out of Yuuto.

'I am SO glad Kudelia isn't here to see this,' Rias winced inwardly. She then imagined a nightmarish scenario in which Kudelia and Gran Torino met and became fast friends.

It turned out Hadou Nejire was also a student at U.A., a third-year and one of the 'Big Three'. Izuku had heard of them: the most promising students at U.A., said to be comparable to some pros. He also had no idea how this girl could function.

"This is where you'll be staying, Milia. It is okay for me to call you Milia, right? Your room is right next to mine, while Fuyuko's is across the hall, and Izuku's is further down. Isn't that great? We should totally morse code across the walls! Wait. Do you even know the morse code? I should teach you! A is-"

"Senpai, please stop!" Milia begged.

"Is she always like this?" Izuku asked.

"No. Sometimes she's worse," Ryukyu's eyes showed sympathy for the poor kids, likely having dealt with her fair share of Nejire ever since the girl began interning with her.

"Wait, now that Milia, Izuku, and Fuyuko are here we can totally have sleepovers without adult supervision! We're gonna watch movies, eat popcorn, gossip about guys, experiment-"

"I've never been to one," Fuyuko admitted.

"Neither have I," Milia added.

"Same here," Izuku sheepishly said.

Nejire gasped so hard, Izuku was scared she would explode like a big balloon. She did three loops in the air to calm herself down and declared that the four of them would make up for all the years of sleepovers they missed. Fortunately, they were saved by the Dragoon Heroine.

"Anyway… Midoriya, Takamaki, we will need to determine your skill levels, then we'll go patrolling tomorrow."

"Why tomorrow?" Nejire asked, sounding a little disappointed.

"I need to start investigating Fuyuko's school," Ryukyu answered.

[So far she hasn't noticed me.] Ddraig nervously chuckled. [Maybe we got lucky and she has no idea who we are.]

Izuku sweat-dropped at Ddraig's irrational fear of Ryukyu's mom. There's no way she could be that bad, could she?

AN:

And done! A little later than I would've liked, but it should be fine. Not much happened in this chapter, just seeing everyone starting their internships and all that. Not sure when the next chapter will be posted, but I promise I'll get it done.

*Variant of a quote from "The Art of War", which Fukuzawa has read, as he admitted in Chapter 30/Episode 21.

Well, I say that's enough for now. See you next time. Until then, stay safe, stay healthy, and be anti-racist. Go beyond, PLUS ULTRA!