Tomura Shigaraki didn't need to turn around from his monitor to know that All for One was standing right behind him. Even if he hadn't seen the light from the hallway dim as the large man entered the doorway, he would've known. Something about the air felt colder. Something about the mere feel of his personal space had been violated in a way that suggested his little sanctuary had become anything but. The breath upon Tomura's neck was just an exclamation point to the sentences he already knew were coming.

"…you said your little grotesque art installation had been moved," All for One began, his voice carrying a stern edge. "And yet, it's all over the news. Explain yourself."

"…I did move it," Tomura tried, not taking his eyes off the webpage in front of him. "They found it anyway. No big deal. It actually might make our job easier."

"Is that so?" All for One asked as he straightened himself up. He rested a heavy hand on the back of Tomura's computer chair, pulling downward slightly to unbalance his disciple. "Do go on."

Tomura rebalanced himself, doing his best to keep his eyes glued to the screen. He could vaguely see his master's reflection in the glass, though he couldn't make out the larger man's expression.

"Once the Nue are implicated in the attacks on civilians and Sir Nighteye… the Shie Hassaikai will double down on their hatred for their rival clan," Tomura explained. "And given that the Shie Hassaikai are on the move today and headed to the Nue-owned cannery according to our mole… that might come out sooner than expected."

"Hm," All for One considered. "Contact him. Make sure that his orders are made perfectly clear before they arrive at the cannery. If your actions cost him ground tonight… then your privileges with additional Quirks may need some adjustment."

Tomura shivered at the thought.

"…I'll get in touch and tell him to keep a closer eye on things tonight. Just trust that our inside man knows what he's doing…"

Mirio hadn't said much on the way to The Glistening Pearl, his mind instead occupied with his own plan running parallel to that of the Shie Hassaikai. Overhaul hadn't been much for conversation either- he had remained busy with his phone for most of the journey. Even through the bird-beaked mask, Mirio could tell that he didn't like the texts he had been receiving. Just before entering the club, Overhaul finally stopped and let out a subtle curse.

"…something wrong?" Mirio asked.

"…we've got another person coming with us," Overhaul seethed. "One you haven't met yet. He's insisting that he follow us inside at the cannery, supposedly on orders from Arowana. I don't believe it."

"You don't?" Mirio replied as he followed the other man into the club. Given the afternoon hours, the large building was quiet on the inside and largely unguarded. "Why's that?"

"Because Arowana would agree that the fewer people involved, the more secure the operation," Overhaul explained as he pocketed his phone. "And now, suddenly, our driver wants to do more than just drive. I've been saying for ages that someone here is meddling in Shie Hassaikai affairs and pulling strings behind the scenes, but no one listens to me."

Mirio acted before he could think to stop himself, reaching out and grabbing Overhaul's shoulder. He was met with a predictable whirl and glare, along with Overhaul raising his hand. Mirio didn't react as something beneath the other man's glove squirmed. Instead, he held his gaze firmly upon Overhaul's eyes, and spoke in a low voice.

"…I listen to you… and stop with that reaction already. If you think there's a rat, and you don't think it's me… then why not take advantage of how new I am to the organization? Tell me who you suspect, and I'll try to get close to them. I can pretend to sympathize with someone if they're plotting against us, and I'll relay whatever I find to you. I want you to trust me and gain some favor among the Shie Hassaikai. What better way than exposing a mole?"

Overhaul slowly lowered his hand, seeming to consider the notion. After a moment, he brought both hands up to straighten his fluffy collar, trying to appear as though he hadn't lost his composure yet again.

"…an interesting proposal. Continue getting close to Dabi, Dreamgirl, and our driver tonight. Start there. Tell me of anything suspicious you notice."

"You got it," Mirio reassured. "And you tell me of anything bothering you, alright? It seems like we'll be working together a lot. It'd be best if we get along."

"…fine," Overhaul agreed as he turned around once again and led the way through the kitchens. "Now, keep your mouth shut during this meeting unless you're addressed directly. We don't need any complications."

"Got it," Mirio replied as the continued toward the private room on the other side of the kitchens. "Anything I should know about this driver before we meet, though?"

Overhaul briefly looked over his shoulder as he stuffed his hands into his pockets.

"…he goes by the name Mr. Compress… and no one's quite sure where he came from. He just showed up one day, offering to help move some resources for the Shie Hassaikai that he shouldn't have known about to begin with…"

Katsuki could feel the stupid question coming. It was like having a sixth sense- one capable of detecting bullshit. He was quite sure that spending so much time with Izuku had helped the ability grow and evolve in its sensitivity, gaining the capability to sense incoming frustration from great distances. In Katsuki's mind, it was almost like a second Quirk. He had hope that Tsuyu would prove to be one of his less annoying classmates, and yet, he couldn't help but assume that she would abuse their time alone in the hall to ask questions after Amaya had called him out.

Personal questions.

"So…" Tsuyu began.

"Look, I'm not interested," Katsuki said immediately as he looked over at the wall on the opposite side of him from Tsuyu. "Summer was mostly fine, it doesn't matter where Deku and I went the other day at the mall, and I'm sticking around with you people for now. Drop it, alright?"

"…I was just going to ask if you liked pepperoni," Tsuyu said in a sullen voice. "Because I ordered one, along with the two plain…"

Katsuki stopped walking, leaving Tsuyu to take a few more steps past him before she turned to regard him with a curious look. Though he could usually meander his way through social situations guilt free regardless of what he said, her raised brow only caused him to feel like that much more like an asshole. Katsuki closed his eyes and let out a low growl, clenching his fists. He was very much aware that he must have looked like a child on the verge of throwing a temper tantrum, and yet, there was little he could do to stop his physical reaction.

"I'm… sorry," Katsuki forced through clenched teeth. "I've got a lot on my mind alright?"

"I know," Tsuyu reassured. "I think we all know, even if we have no idea what it is. I told you a few minutes ago that I'd be willing to roll with it as long as you didn't go too far. We all have our moments, Bakugo."

"Yeah?" Katsuki asked as he opened his eyes and began to walk again, taking the lead and keeping his eyes forward. "When the hell are yours? You seem way too friendly to ever lash out."

"I don't lash out," Tsuyu explained. "I get… curious, to a fault. If I think something is off or interesting, I can become obsessive about it. It's one of my less endearing traits…"

Great, just what I need, Katsuki thought to himself.

"Better than some others," he grumbled instead. "At least you're showing restraint right now. Keep that up, because I'm not in the mood for a Q&A session."

"I can tell," Tsuyu reassured. "As long as you're okay at the moment, I can keep it in and get my answers later, when you want to talk."

"Good luck waiting that out," Katsuki replied as he made his way up to the door between the two hallways and across from the bathrooms. With perhaps a bit too much force, he pounded on the blue steel three times. "Hey! Anyone in there!?"

"That's Iida and Honenuki's room," Tsuyu explained. "They're probably both still out."

The two teens waited for a minute before Katsuki turned to the side and began marching down the hall once again.

"Fuck 'em. Next."

Tsuyu couldn't help but raise a brow, somewhat entertained by the declaration.

"I wouldn't go that far, but sure, they don't seem to be home. Is something going on with Honenuki…?"

"Dunno. We only just met," Katsuki reminded with a shrug.

"True, but he didn't come out with us the other night, either," Tsuyu pointed out. "Maybe I'm overthinking it."

"You're definitely overthinking it. He probably just legitimately had other shit to take care of," Katsuki said as he made his way up to the next door and knocked a bit less forcefully. "This Aki's room?"

Tsuyu nodded, moving to stand at his side.

"Aki and Mineta," she said with a bit of annoyance in her voice. "I'm honestly kinda hoping this one's empty…"

"What? Why?" Katsuki asked.

"Mineta's a bit…" Tsuyu started, only for the door to open.

There in the doorway was the grape-headed boy who stood only up to about Tsuyu's chest, which he stared at immediately upon catching sight of her. Tsuyu immediately folded her arms in front of the lily pad logo upon her pale blue t-shirt, doing her best to cover herself from her classmate's lascivious glances as she looked away. Minoru was shirtless, a few wiry hairs protruding from the center of his chest. For reasons that neither Katsuki nor Tsuyu wanted to consider, he was stripped down to a pair of tartan boxer shorts and seemed totally unashamed to answer the door in such a state.

"Oh, hey," the diminutive boy said. "What's going on?"

Katsuki took a second to follow Minoru's eyes, noting that he was tracing the curves of Tsuyu's hips before fixating on her bare upper thighs beneath her black short shorts. Tsuyu looked uncomfortable as she began to turn away from the door, only to think better of it and awkwardly settle for standing sideways to try to minimize Minoru's view of her. It was at that point that Katsuki slapped his hand upon the side of the doorframe and leaned forward toward the shorter boy, catching Minoru's attention with the sudden noise and narrowing his eyes.

"Nothing," Katsuki said threateningly. "Have you seen Aki?"

"Huh?" Minoru asked, blinking a few times as though he had just woken up while he moved his eyes upward to meet Katsuki's. "Oh, nah. I just got here a few minutes ago. I've been busy hanging up some posters. No idea where he is. Why?"

"…he owes me some cash," Katsuki lied. "Forget it."

"Uh… sure," Minoru replied. "Hey, while you're here, could you hang up a few posters real quick? I don't feel like climbing on furniture to get it done."

Katsuki could already feel his blood beginning to boil as he imagined just what sort of posters Minoru might be hanging. He spared a quick glance at Tsuyu, who was keeping her eyes down the hall and away from the shorter boy. Upon looking back at Minoru, Katsuki found him staring at her once again.

"Fine," Katsuki decided as his lip twitched in annoyance. "Hey, go see if Jiro's in. I'll deal with this."

Tsuyu blinked in surprise as she looked back over at Katsuki, her shoulders relaxing a bit.

"Sure. Thanks, Bakugo. I'll see you around, Mineta."

Katsuki moved to block Minoru's view as Tsuyu retreated down the hall, pulling out her phone as she went. The smaller hero in training pulled a face before turning and walking back into his room.

"Yeah, I hope so. Girl's got some thick thighs and a pretty nice rack, am I right?"

Katsuki didn't answer as his own phone vibrated. He pulled the device out of his pocket to find a message from a number he hadn't bothered to add to his contacts.

Seriously, thank you. He creeps me out, and I'm not the only one. Some of the things he's said in the group chat are really uncomfortable…

It was a situation Katsuki wasn't used to dealing with, and yet, he knew exactly what to say as he fired back a text of his own.

I'll deal with him. He won't be giving you any more shit this year.

Katsuki sucked in a breath through his nose as he stuffed his phone back into his pocket. Suddenly, he had an idea for exactly how to vent the frustration and tension that had been building since he had been caught in traffic.

"…uh, Bakugo? You comin'?" Minoru called from inside of the room.

Katsuki whirled and stepped into the dorm, slamming the door behind himself as he fixed Minoru with a piercing glare.

"Alright, jackass. Listen up, because I'm only going to tell you this once."

Author's Note:

Bakugo hasn't really had much of a chance to go off in this story yet.

That's about to change.

-RD