Chapter Fifty-Five

I was confronted with a Villain in my own home, and I had no idea what to do. Attack? Run? My mother was right there, looking at me in concern. Priority one, protect her, I thought, shifting to a martial mindset. "Oh, um, sure. Let's head to my room," I directed, trying not to sound more off-balance than I would if a teacher suddenly showed up. Kurogiri nodded and stood, thanking my mother for the tea she'd made, and followed me upstairs.

I didn't like turning my back on him, but doing so let me break an iron coin off my necklace, hiding it in my hand, and getting ready. I opened the door to my room, showed him in, and closed it behind myself. "You have ten seconds to tell me what you want before I kill you, and if you try to gate me and it'll be the last thing you do," I informed him coldly, bringing OfA up, and mentally preparing a railgun electrical formation.

"I did not lie. My employer is indeed offering an educational opportunity," the Villain stated, seemingly unconcerned.

I scoffed, "After I blew off his fucking hand? I very much doubt Shigaraki wants to help me."

"My previous charge is not the one making this offer," Kurogiri stated mildly. "It is my true employer that is extending this rare opportunity."

"The fan of Dumas' works?" I questioned, careful, ready to lash out the second I saw a hint of dark mist forming a portal. Kurogiri merely looked at me, glowing eyes squinting in confusion. "Alexander Dumas, the guy who wrote the Three Musketeers? You know, whose catchphrase was All for One, and One for All?"

That got a reaction from the Villain. "So you are aware. Then we may dispense with obfuscations. Yes, my master sees great potential in you, Denki Kaminari. Potential that would be wasted were you to merely be a hero, as your forebears were. If the previous holders were unable to defeat him, even All Might failing in his task, do you truly think you could?"

... what.

"My dad's an electrician, as was my grandfather, and my mother's family works in healthcare," I replied, confused, though with a glimmer of understanding. "My aunt's a Hero, but I don't think she ever went after All-for-One, since she's, you know, still alive."

Kurogiri gave me a flat look, or as much as he could with just a pair of glowing yellow eyes in a bank of purple fog. "Do not think us fools, young man. Your Quirk has rapidly grown in power, and you have exhibited sudden bursts of inexplicable physical strength. This is a pattern my master knows well."

I'm sorry Deku, I thought, throwing the kid under the bus as I argued, "What about Midoriya? The other kid that fought that Nomu with me? He's way stronger, and said he just got his Quirk one day. I mean, late awakenings happen, but at fifteen? Come on!"

"You know the method by which the power is passed on," Kurogiri remarked, and I winced, realizing that, if I'd only heard of AfO, I shouldn't know the inner mechanics of OfA's power. Shit, I'm panicking, I realized, as he continued, "Though your sacrificing of your classmate suggests you may have more in common with my coworkers than you think."

"So, what, does he want me to do an internship?" I questioned incredulously. "Spend a week, like I did with Hawks, learning how to be a criminal mastermind like he is?"

The Villain nodded. "I am glad you understand. Are you available next week?"

"I was joking!" I shot back disbelievingly.

"My master is a man with many friends. Several of which are in the Hero community," the gate-maker revealed. "We would not ask you to throw away all of the hard work you have done, getting into UA as you have. We only offer additional... opportunities."

"And if I say no?" I demanded. "What happens to my family then?"

The Villain was silent, which was a message unto itself, before he finally said, "Nothing."

Then why did you pause? I wanted to ask, but held my tongue. My instinctual response was to tell him to fuck off. That if AfO wanted me to listen to him, he shouldn't've tried to kill me and my entire fucking class. But I could already see the excuse. 'That wasn't AfO, that was Shigaraki,' he'd claim, and the fact that AfO wasn't going after me for blowing off his protégé's hand was evidence of his displeasure with the handsy asshole. But, getting too deep into my own head, with my suppositions, was something that Mina had noted I had a tendency to do, so I asked, "Like nothing happened at the USJ?"

Kurogiri shifted uncomfortably. "I advised against that action, but at the time Shagaraki held my master's favor. That is no longer the case," he stated, confirming what I suspected.

"And the attack on Hosu?" I pressed, as it was a giant hole in the 'but it wasn't us' argument. "What was the point of that?"

"Information gathering," the Villain replied simply. "You will note that there were no fatalities. With the resources the League possesses, that was not an accident."

I stared at the mist-man. "Wait, really?" I replied, incredulous. He nodded. I still wanted to tell him to stuff it, but I also knew that outright spurning dangerous people was not something done lightly. Thankfully, he'd given me an out. "I'll... I'll have to check that."

Kurogiri nodded. "Of course. Thank you for your consideration." He reached inside a pocket, and I tensed, but he only pulled off a business card, placing it on my desk. "We will be in touch," he promised, a swirling portal of dark purple mist slowly spreading behind him, but only there. The Villain turned and walked out, disappearing into the gate, which evaporated behind him.

I waited several moments, before slowly dropping OfA, letting out a long, low, "Fuuuuuuuuck."

What the fuck did I do with this? I wondered. Turn him down? Take him up on his offer? Take him up on his offer while really working to take him down? I... I didn't know what to do. I glanced at the card. I knew at least four different ways to slip a listening device in something that size, and, while incredibly powerful, one didn't rule the entire underworld through the strength of one's Quirk alone.

Walking out of the room, I headed downstairs and towards the front door, needing some air, Mom asking, "Oh, did your teacher already leave?"

I hesitated. Should I tell her? I wanted to, but I wondered how much of that was me, and how much of that was Denki's memories. He would tell her in an instant, but, while I had his memories, I wasn't him. But, from those memories, I knew what would happen if I did. She'd tell dad, and he'd tell someone else, or she'd tell someone else, and it would all spiral out of control.

Kurogiri had said that nothing would happen to them if I'd turned him down, but All-for-One had remained secret for a reason, and I very much doubted he'd like me threatening that. Kurogiri's image hadn't even been spread, nor had Shigaraki's, despite UA having footage of both of their faces, so, for whatever reason, that was being kept secret as well. Was it something the government was doing for their own reasons, or was it something that one of AfO's 'friends' in government doing for him?

At the very least, I knew UA wasn't compromised. If it had been, Shigaraki wouldn't have needed to break in to grab the class schedules so he could set up the USJ attack.

But I couldn't tell my parents.

"He's got a Warp Quirk," I told her, not actually lying. "He's already left."

She smiled, "Oh. And the thing he was talking about?"

"You know the summer camp in the last week of our vacation?" I questioned, and she nodded. "Something like that," I informed her, which wasn't technically a lie either, though I had to look away as I did so.

"And you're thinking of saying no?" she asked, and I glanced back at her. "Denki, I'm your mother. I can tell when something's worrying you. My little Den-den's been growing up lately, being all responsible, but that hasn't changed."

Shit, I thought, trying to come up a way to explain it without explaining it. "This wouldn't be a thing, like the summer camp, that everyone can do. It'd be just me."

"And you're worried what your friends will think?" she asked, and, I mean, yes, so I nodded. "Just tell them now, before you make your decision. If they're really your friends, I'm sure they'll understand."

I blinked, was it really that easy? I laughed, doubling back to hug the woman, "I'll do just that. Thanks."

"You're welcome," she replied, hugging me back tightly. "Now go call Mina."

"I will," I promised, "Be back later."

Walking out the door, I waited until I was several blocks away, and away from, hopefully, any surveillance, before dialing my girlfriend's number.

"Hey Sparky, what's up?" she said as she picked up the call.

"Don't freak out," I started, before realizing that was the worst thing to say, but kept going, "And I'm safe, but you know the mist Villain from the USJ attack? He came to my house."

"What?" Mina gasped. "Are you okay? Wait, you said you were. Duh, Mina! What'd he want?"

I looked around, but no one was watching me. "I've been invited to a Supervillain summer camp, apparently. By his boss. Not the disintegration guy, but the guy in charge of him."

"And you're thinking of going," my lover added to my statement. "Oh Sparky no. That's a terrible idea!"

"I haven't said yes," I replied, a little petulantly. "But, I mean, if I could gather intel-"

"Sparky, I love you, but you totes aren't a spy," she informed me kindly. "You couldn't even lie to me, when you probably should've. The first time you see someone innocent hurt in front of you, you'll try to save them. And I love you for it."

Hesitating, I finally stated, "I mean, I might be able to do nothing," but even I could hear the lack of conviction in my words. "Okay, fine, but... what should I do? Call them up and tell them 'Thanks for the offer, but I'm good'?"

"Oh, yeah. They'd probably get kinda salty. And are, um, Villains," she replied, just as stumped as I was. "Maybe call Mr. Aizawa?" she proposed, unsure, and I hesitated. "No, really, call him," she insisted, gaining confidence. "You didn't do anything wrong, and handling stuff like this is, like, his job."

"Okay, I will," I agreed, still off balance. I'd gotten so used to following canon that I hadn't seen this coming at all. I guess it was better to find this out now, then in the middle of a fight. So, small favors.

Mina could probably hear that in my voice, as she asked, "Sparky, are you sure you're okay?"

"I am. I'm just, he was in my house, Mina," I stressed. "My mom served him tea. Fighting them at UA was, well, fighting them at UA. And the Internships were in other cities. This is... different."

The girl laughed, but it was from stress, not humor. "I got ya. If someone showed up here, I'd be shook too. I, how's your mom?" she asked.

"Fine. She's fine," I quickly reassured her. "Kurogiri was alone, and his Quirk is a Warp one. Besides, if they want to recruit me, hurting my family would do the exact opposite," I argued. "I mean, you could maybe do a 'do what I want or I'll hurt them more' thing, but that's really short term, and this guy's literally centuries old."

"Oh, yeah. Okay," she sighed, sounding just as shaken as I was. "Call me when you're done with Mr. Aizawa?"

"I will," I promised. "Thanks."

"No prob," she replied, and I could practically hear her smile. "Love you."

"Love you too," I replied, and she hung up, so I dialed our teacher's number, which I saved when I saw it on our syllabus. "Eraserhead?" I asked.

"Who is this?" the man sleepily replied. "And make it quick."

"It's Kaminari. And you know the Villain from the USJ attack? The mist one? He was just at my house, but he left. And I need some advice."

"... Come to UA. Now," he ordered, hanging up.

Pulling my phone back, I looked at it disbelievingly. Putting it away, I leapt up with a touch of OfA, electric legs hooking into the power lines I landed on, turning towards the train station, and speeding off.

I guess I'm going back to school.

Nezu leaned back in his seat, his mind already working to try to examine this new information from every angle. "Well, that's quite the tale."

Having finished a most enlightening explanation, the yellow haired boy scowled. "I'm not making it up. He really showed up at my house! Hell, you can call my mom if you want confirmation. I can go get the business card he left behind, but I thought it was best not to touch it."

"Smart," Mr. Aizawa grunted, ever the cautious one. Then again, given his history, such caution had served him well. "We'll send someone to take it."

"My apologies, Mr. Kaminari," the small principal said, bobbing his head, still considering what he'd heard. "I did not mean to insinuate any untruth, only that you attract the most unlikely of circumstances. Speaking of which, again, thank you for your warning about young Mr. Ida."

The electric teen blinked, looking away. "I, you're welcome. It just made sense," he muttered, and Nezu had to keep his own smile from growing. The boy's actions continued to be incredibly suspect, but his intentions appeared, if not pure, then at least generally positive. In truth, the diminutive administrator had not seen the situation with Ingenium's younger brother spiraling out of control as it had, and neither had Aizawa. It was only once Mr. Kaminari had laid out his arguments that Eraserhead had brought it to him, and he'd realized the danger presented.

Nezu might be a genius, but he possessed no super-speed Quirks, nor any that allowed him to read minds, and as such could only consider the information he had seen. With new information, came new insights, and new understandings. And, as such, the mammal was quick to adapt to his changing understanding of the world.

Just as he understood, that, in some respects, that the boy in front of him was lying.

Oh, he didn't know what the boy was lying about; there was a great deal of difference between detecting a falsehood and understanding the truth, but Nezu understood the tendency to seek refuge in subterfuge when placed in danger.

It was how he'd escaped, after all.

A lesser mammal would be upset that they were being lied to, but Nezu looked past that, to the facts of the situation. Somehow, Mr. Kaminari had known Stain's strategy, but had set things in motion to not only protect his classmates, but put the Hero Killer in a prime position to be caught or killed. The principal was sure that, without that warning, they would have lost another hero student, and this one would not have been to a transfer.

In truth, the chimera had thought the boy to possibly have a source in the League of Villains, as that would explain a great deal. In time, he had plans to try to utilize the boy's connections, when he had become more acclimatized to the idea of being a hero.

However, with this offer, the principal had apparently been wrong.

It was possible the boy was lying outright, he was certainly avoiding saying something, and his recollection of how the Villain had revealed his employers name by pretending to already know it rang particularly hollow. However, from talking with All Might, Nezu knew the boy to be correct in his identification of the self-named 'All-for-One', an almost hilariously hubristic moniker. The reality of the man, however, was nothing to joke about.

"So, should I say yes?" the boy asked into the silence, as the principal put his thoughts in order.

" No, you shouldn't," Mr. Aizawa replied immediately, scowling. "Undercover work is not to be taken lightly, and you aren't ready. Not by a long shot. You'll be caught. And you'll be killed."

Nezu bared his fangs, in what humans called a smile. "I wouldn't go that far, Eraserhead. This is a wonderful opportunity, and should be carefully considered before being squandered." The disheveled man glared his way, and the mammal laughed, "Oh ho ho, how very intimidating. But I believe we should ask an expert, though he is running late, as usual."

As if summoned by his words, the sound of pounding footsteps thundered down the hall, and the door slammed open, as the one who did so shouted, "I am here! At this emergency meeting!"

"We were just talking about you," the chimera smiled, "Tea?"

Toshinori stepped inside, looked around the room, and, seeing it was only the three of them, dropped his enhanced form. "Sure, but what's up, Nezu?"

The principal waited until the Symbol of Peace went to take a sip before blandly commenting, "All-for-One has offered young Kaminari an internship of his own." The ensuing spit-take was very likely more enjoyable than it really should be, but given what he often wanted to do, this was an acceptable substitute.

"He- keh-What?" the man sputtered, flashing into his enhanced form once more, looking to the other blond, who sheepishly nodded. "Please tell me you said no, my boy!"

Kaminari winced. "I said to give me some time to check his claims. And Kurogiri wasn't lying, there were no fatalities in the Hosu incident."

"But not for lack of trying," Nezu noted. "Were it not for Mr. Ida's quick thinking, an employee of Mr. One would have killed a hero personally. He did tear out the man's throat, but a medical Support Item, as well as the toughness from the man's own Quirk, kept him alive long enough to receive healing."

"But he said his master was trying to avoid casualties," the teen argued. "And that if they wanted to kill people, people would've died."

"That's the way All-for-One works," All Might stated, shifting back to his weakened state. "He says things that make you question yourself. Things that seem correct. Things you can check, in the moment, which only seem to make him right. But he's lying, and if you believe him, you will be playing right into his hands. The only time he tells the truth, is when the truth is worse."

Denki blinked, a look of introspection coming across his features, "So, a sophist, but a skilled one. Shit. And it was working. Yeah, Mina's right, I'm not good at this."

"And what else did Ms. Ashido say?" Nezu inquired. The two students were obviously mates, though they had done their best to follow the school's rules, so it was no business of his.

"That I should call Aizawa," he shrugged, nodding towards the man.

The man in question snorted. "Smart girl."

"I must advise you, in the strongest possible terms, do not believe a single thing that man says," All Might insisted. "They seem simple, and straightforward, but doing what he wants will only result in pain and suffering, and not just your own."

"Ah," Nezu remarked. "In that case, the optimal course of action is obvious. You must not accept this man's offer."

"Um, should I call him and say so?" Kaminari asked. "Because that seems like a bad idea."

"Oh, it would be downright suicidal," the chimera agreed genially.

The teen frowned. "But he said I wouldn't be hurt if I said... no, he said my family wouldn't be hurt if I said no."

"Did he say so himself?" Toshinori pressed, and Denki shook his head. "Then that is how he would hide his lie. He'd say it wasn't him, but one of his 'overeager subordinates' that tortured and killed them, possibly leaving them injured enough so that you'd find them right before they died."

Unbidden, the boy began to spark, singeing the chair slightly, eyes wide. "But, I never, holy shit did he do that to you? That wasn't in..."

The skeletal man sighed, shaking his head. "Not to me, but my mentor. While leaving a note at her child's school, to show All-for-One could do the same to the boy, if he wanted. And then that vile excuse for a man had the gall to express 'sorrow for her loss', like it wasn't on his orders, like he hadn't done the same thing countless times before."

From Toshinori's tense body language, fingers bunching up too-large pants, it was quite a traumatic memory he was experiencing, and, while Nezu had never had a family of his own in the biological sense, he could still understand the man's emotions.

They never did find the body of the Villain that had tortured and raped several of his students, the man believing that his connection to the Diet would protect him. Bragged about it even. It was those same governmental connections that had caused the authorities to search so strenuously for him, but, given the number of animals Nezu had fed the various portions of his body to, they never would.

Kaminari got his Quirk under control, and sighed. "Okay, yeah, fuck that guy. Um, should I try and get close to him to kill him?"

The principal decided to nip that thought in the bud. "While I appreciate the initiative, Mr. One is apparently a combatant of the highest caliber, given his continued survival. If, once you graduate, you wish to eliminate this threat, I will, hypothetically, assist you. Of course killing is not the answer, as I am required to state by law. No, your best course of action is to delay as best you can. Do not reach out to him, and, if contacted, press for more time. This man has been around for a while, and should allow you to come to your own conclusions."

"You'd be surprised how impatient he can be," All Might disagreed, though he still backed up the chimera as he added, "but Principal Nezu is right, Young Kaminari. Delay him as long as you can. We'll take care of things."

Rather than be comforted, though the boy was even more on edge. "And the summer camp? I remember the last time we went out for a training exercise."

Aizawa exchanged a glance with the principal, who nodded. "We've contracted several Pros. You won't see them, but they'll be guarding the area," the formerly underground hero stated calmly. "If the League comes, they'll face a much stiffer resistance than they expect."

Denki frowned. "I, I hope that's enough. So, just delay? I can do that. Is there anything else?"

Nezu shook his head. "Nope! Thank you for coming to us with this, Mr. Kaminari. It was the right thing to do! Now go home and rest up. You've got a big day tomorrow!"

"Will do. Thanks," the student replied, with a stressed smile, standing up, nodding to them, and walking away.

Once he was well out of earshot, the chimera clapped his adorable paws together. "Well then, that's certainly something. Thoughts?"

"He's lying," Aizawa immediately stated.

"Eraserhead, how could you say that!?" Toshinori shot back, stopped when Nezu shook his head.

"He most certainly is lying," the principal noted, "but I don't think about anything important. He certainly knows more than he is telling, but, then again, so do we."

All Might frowned, "I'm just concerned over how willing he is to kill."

"You did just describe someone that, in most societies, would have surely committed crimes worthy of death," Nezu noted, never having understood the human reticence to eliminate evil. Ironically, those who had the least problem with killing were often those who were in most need of it. "I will point out his dealing of those involved in the USJ was uniformly nonlethal. With the exception of this 'Nomu', who was seconds away from killing Mr. Aizawa. Not that he succeeded, of course."

"Still," the Symbol of Peace frowned, but didn't say any more.

"What I want to know is, why him?" Eraserhead asked. "Why not Midoriya, or Todoroki, or Bakugo?"

Pressing his paws together, Nezu hmmmm'd. "I have some theories," he admitted. "It might be a combination of factors. His attitude," he said, nodding to Toshinori. "His power, as displayed in his placement in the sports festival, and his lack of formal support. I believe it would be most enjoyable to see Endeavor's reaction if the League approached his child, especially with their actions in Hosu. Tell me, All Might, is Mr. One a fan of interlocking plans?"

The emaciated man snorted, which broke off into sickly coughs. "You could say that," he finally choked out. "We thought we'd understood his plans, only to find out it was a small part of a larger scheme. We'd think we'd found a weakness, but it was always a trap, one way or another. It was only by trying something truly heroic that we caught him off guard. 'So stupid that even I almost didn't expect it', was what he'd said, trying to pretend he was still in control. But he wasn't. I'd thought I'd finally killed him. I should be happy I hadn't taken a life, but, with the people he's surely hurt since then? People I couldn't save? The thought brings me no joy."

"We'll handle him together," the chimera promised, for reasons of his own. Animals could not inherit Quirks naturally, after all. "Now, what I said to Mr. Kaminari applies to us as well. We all have a big day tomorrow, and if I don't get enough sleep, I shed, and no one wants that. I'll see you both tomorrow!"

Aizawa nodded, standing, the principal having used the S word in front of the perpetually tired man, and he swiftly left. Toshinori stood as well, hesitating. "You said you had your theories. Was there anything else?"

"There was," Nezu nodded. "But until I have more evidence, it will remain a theory."

"All right then, keep your secrets," the emaciated man mused, getting a surprised laugh from the mammal of indeterminate origin. "But All-for-One is not to be underestimated," he insisted. The principal nodded in agreement, and All Might left, closing the door behind him.

Left with only his thoughts, the diminutive administrator considered the problem. Things were moving faster than he would have liked, with actors he did not think would involve themselves in his domain doing so. But he would adapt, and plan, and strike when need be, in order to protect his students.

And he was left with his theory, and one with only the barest of bases. While Denki Kaminari's power was ostensibly Electrification, he'd quickly displayed traits of his father's Electrobody Quirk. It could have been a hybrid Quirk, as the boy's father was able generate a charge, though nothing on his son's level.

And then the boy had developed All Might's Quirk.

It was subtle, and easily overlooked, but Midoriya literally glowed when he used One-for-All. At a lesser amount, there was a lesser glow, but it was still distinct. And Kaminari, when he'd discovered the 'strength enhancing' aspect of what he claimed to be Electrobody, had glowed as well. It could be blamed on his electricity but the glow he created when directing that power created harsh shadows on the part not electrified, with a similar phenomenon occurring when he turned used Electrification.

But when the only thing that changed was his strength and toughness?

No shadows.

It was subtle, and someone not of his intellectual ability would overlook it, but the difference was starkly distinctive. And, if Mr. One had noticed it as well, that would very easily explain the offer of employment.

After all, permanent power copiers were rare in the extreme.

AN: As always, the next three chapters are up on !