Chapter 10
A swirling mass of purple mist erupted into the dimly lit bar, crackling with energy before spitting out two figures. Izuku Midoriya stumbled forward, his body giving out the moment his feet hit the cold, hard floor. His knees buckled, and he collapsed onto his hands, breath ragged and uneven. Every muscle burned, screaming in protest, his vision swimming with exhaustion.
Behind him, the last wisps of Kurogiri's portal dissipated into the smoky air. The warp villain stepped through smoothly, his glowing yellow eyes flickering as he glanced down at the crumpled boy at his feet.
"You pushed yourself too far," Kurogiri observed, his tone as unreadable as ever.
The only response from Izuku was a shallow, shuddering breath. His body refused to move.
A low, guttural growl rumbled from the corner of the room. Izuku's blurry vision caught the massive, hunched form of a Nomu, crouching just behind the bar's counter. Its beady, lifeless eyes twitched in his direction, its grotesque muscles rippling even while still.
Across the room, Shigaraki sat slouched on a stool, idly scratching at his neck. His red eyes flicked over Izuku briefly before shifting to Kurogiri.
"Kurogiri," he muttered, his voice laced with irritation. "Why wasn't I teleported to the USJ like we planned? I was supposed to be there with the Nomu to deal with All Might."
Kurogiri's mist shifted slightly, his tone remaining calm. "Because your target wasn't present. There was no need to teleport you in."
Shigaraki clicked his tongue in frustration, his nails digging deeper into his neck. "Tch. So the information was wrong." His fingers scratched harder, red eyes darkening with irritation. "All Might wasn't even there. The whole mission was a bust."
His hand twitched, fingers curling slightly as if resisting the urge to lash out. "We wasted time, resources, and for what? A bunch of brats?" His gaze flickered to Izuku, still sprawled on the floor. "And look at him—he's supposed to be useful, right? Right now, he's just dead weight."
Izuku wanted to snap back, wanted to move—to prove Shigaraki wrong. But his body betrayed him. His breathing remained shallow, his limbs heavy. He could only stare at the floor, sweat dripping from his face as his vision blurred again.
Darkness crept at the edges of his consciousness. He had made it through the portal. But as the world around him faded, one thought lingered.
Am I really still so useless?
---
UA High - Class 1A Homeroom
A door slid open with a hiss.
Aizawa Shouta walked in, his arm immobilized in a sling and cast, his other hand gripping a crutch to support himself. The room was filled with students, all talking over one another, their voices overlapping with questions and concern.
"Mister Aizawa, what are you doing here?" spoke Ochaco Uraraka, wide-eyed at her homeroom teacher's battered state.
Tenya Iida adjusted his glasses, standing at attention. "Sensei, we are relieved to see you are in stable condition!"
Aizawa merely waved off their concern. "My well-being is irrelevant. What matters is that your fight isn't over yet."
The students stiffened at his words, worry flashing across their faces. "The UA Sports Festival is about to begin."
Silence hung for a moment before excitement rippled through the class, their previous anxiety giving way to eager anticipation.
But before the murmurs could swell, Aizawa continued. "Before we move on, I have an announcement." He exhaled sharply, irritation creeping into his tone. "This usually doesn't happen, but the principal has approved it… We'll be having a new transfer student."
That caught everyone's attention. A transfer student? This late in the year?
"He's from America, though originally from Japan. He's recently moved back." Aizawa's tired gaze scanned the class, already looking slightly annoyed. "Everyone, meet your new classmate—Akatani Yamikumo."
---
League of Villains' Hideout
"What kind of name is that?" Shigaraki scoffed, lazily slumping against the bar. His red eyes narrowed in suspicion before flicking toward Izuku. "And why are you still here? You failed your mission. You should be discarded with the other trash."
A few seats down, Izuku sat hunched over a laptop, his fingers resting on the keys. But the screen wasn't on. If one looked closer, lines of code flickered across his irises.
He had activated his third Quirk.
---
Quirk Name: Technopathy
Type: Emitter
Description: Technopathy allows the user to control and manipulate technology through physical contact. By touching an electronic device, Izuku can instantly interface with its systems, hack into its controls, and even reprogram its functions in real-time. As long as he maintains contact, he has complete command over anything with a circuit.
Capabilities:
Direct System Control: Can override and manipulate any electronic device.
Instant Data Absorption: Downloads and processes digital information at incredible speeds.
Manual Hacking: Can bypass security, disable surveillance, and even hijack tech-based Quirks.
Tech Augmentation: Enhances or modifies machines on the spot.
Electromagnetic Sensitivity: Can sense and locate hidden electronics nearby.
Limitations & Weaknesses:
Requires Physical Contact: Must touch a device to activate the Quirk.
No Wireless Control: Cannot remotely hack—losing contact means losing control.
Processing Strain: Absorbing too much data can cause mental overload.
Limited to Electronics: Cannot affect purely mechanical devices.
Countermeasures Exist: EMP blasts and high-level cybersecurity can block or resist his abilities.
---
Taking his hands off the keyboard, Izuku shut the laptop with a quiet click and turned in his seat.
"Why does the name I chose even matter?" Izuku's voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. "It's not like you're the one using it." His green eyes flickered to the Nomu crouched in the corner. "You're just pissed that All Might showed up after we left and you didn't get to test out your 'new toy.'"
Shigaraki's nails dragged harshly across his skin. "If you had stayed longer, me and Nomu could have killed All Might by now." His voice was sharp, impatient.
Izuku scoffed. "How were we supposed to know he was going to show up then?" His frustration bled into his words.
Shigaraki's scratching grew harsher. "You were given those Quirks for a reason, and you still couldn't use them properly. All you're doing is messing around on the internet."
Izuku took a deep breath before exhaling. "I'm not trying to argue with a man-child, but if you must know—I'm ensuring our information isn't wrong next time." His expression darkened slightly. "Because next time, you'll be getting it from me. I'm going to infiltrate UA."
Shigaraki's mouth opened, ready to retort—
But the TV flickered to life.
A distorted voice crackled through the static. "Clever boy. But do tell me—how do you plan on getting in? The entrance exam is long over."
Izuku swallowed, clearing his dry throat. "I can't connect to UA's grid from here, so I thought—why not do it the ethical way?" A small smirk played on his lips. "Sorta."
He leaned forward slightly. "Most schools accept transfer students. Why wouldn't UA?"
A pause.
"I've already sent a transfer request. But I won't be going in as myself." His eyes gleamed.
"I'll be Akatani Yamikumo—a boy originally from Japan, raised in America, and now moving back due to 'family issues.'"
Kurogiri hummed, cleaning behind the bar. "Not a bad plan, Midoriya. But what makes you think they'll accept it?"
Izuku grinned. "Because I'm counting on UA's principal-Nezu being a wildcard."