The portal’s hum still vibrated through your bones when your feet hit the stone platform.

Dank walls enclosed the room—etched veins of rust snaking across metal plates. You felt Spinner’s grasp on your wrist like an anchor.

Bakugo glared at Dabi’s silent presence—embers flickering in his grin as Dabi’s grip loosened just enough for Bakugo to snarl.

Tomura Shigaraki drifted forward, footsteps measured. He passed over each student—hair length, eye expression, posture.

He paused at a girl with trembling hands. “Nervous?” His voice was soft, but it bit like acid.

She flinched.

He moved on.

Then in front of Bakugo, he leaned in close enough for smoke to curl around two noses. “Anger is explosive… but controlled, it’s power.” He straightened.

You, next in line—your heart drowned in adrenaline. He looked right at you: quiet, unreadable.

His smile was almost fond. “Silence… speaks loudest.” He nodded at Spinner, and Spinner clicked his jaw, holding you tighter.

The line behind you shifted. With perfect cruelty, Tomura fixed his gaze on each one. “You’re… interesting.”