It had been four months since the attack on the USJ. Four months since Katsuki had been forced to confront what was the worst realisation of his life..

There, standing beside a Nomu in front of one of Kurogiri's portals, ordering attacks despite the fact the fucker with a bunch of hands along his body didn't seem to be too pleased about that, was Deku, making a clear and bold entrance on the villain scene.

Alongside a shit ton of minor villains, Deku had decimated what was supposed to be a training experience for class 1-A. They'd made eye contact a few times from afar, and each time Izuku would taunt him with a sickening sort of smirk.

And ever since then, he hadn't heard nor seen him aside from on various wanted posters despite the fact that all of the other villains that had been present that day had been popping up a lot more, even Shigaraki. He was rumored to be ruthless, a conniving, intelligent mastermind who worked from the shadows.

And today, he'd been one of the few people chosen to go on a mission to scout him out, as someone had tipped them off a lead as to where he might be.

Yet, he'd been separated from his group, which consisted of Kirishima, Todoroki, Jirou, Hawks, Midnight, Eraserhead and Endeavour, scouting the slums of some city suburbs wearily, his shoulders tense with a familiar scowl on his face.

It was quiet, too quiet. He heard Todoroki on their group's shared microphones ask a question, but could pay it no mind as he saw a hint of movement in the shadows. Could it be?..