The next day arrived quietly.
After what happened the previous night, combined with Himiko's unusually firm insistence, Toga Usha had finally been forced to back down.
She agreed to stop interfering in Himiko's relationship with Shigaraki.
Not only that, she even loosened some of the restrictions she normally placed on her daughter.
Under pressure from Shigaraki, she had also reluctantly promised to speak with her husband about the matter.
After all, with her secrets now in his hands, she no longer had much room to refuse.
Because of that, when Shigaraki arrived at the Toga residence the following day, she didn't stop him.
She didn't question him.
She didn't even look at him.
It was as though his existence had simply become something she chose to ignore.
Shigaraki found that outcome fairly satisfying.
At the very least, it meant he wouldn't have to waste time dealing with pointless arguments every single visit.
Troublesome people were best handled once and permanently.
Inside the room, Himiko was already waiting for him.
The moment she saw him, her usual bright smile appeared.
But unlike before, it no longer felt completely artificial.
There was warmth in it now.
Relief too.
"…You came."
Her voice sounded lighter than usual.
Freer.
Shigaraki noticed the difference immediately.
Good.
That meant yesterday hadn't been a waste of effort.
"Yeah," he replied casually as he stepped inside.
"Let's go."
No unnecessary explanations.
No awkward hesitation.
Just a simple statement, as natural as breathing.
Himiko blinked.
"Go where?"
"Anywhere." He shrugged. "Didn't you say you wanted to go out?"
For a second, she stared at him silently.
Then her smile deepened slightly.
A genuine one this time.
"…Yeah."
Just as the two of them were about to leave, Shigaraki's phone suddenly vibrated.
The sharp ringtone broke the atmosphere instantly.
He glanced down at the screen.
Akaya Kaiun.
His disciple.
Shigaraki raised an eyebrow before answering.
"Yeah?"
"What happened?"
The moment the call connected, he noticed something unusual.
Akaya's voice sounded tense.
Far more serious than normal.
"…Master."
"There's something you need to see."
Half an hour earlier, Akaya Kaiun had been sitting at her desk studying.
Textbooks covered the table in front of her, neatly organized.
Even after beginning Shigaraki's training, she still maintained her old habit of studying obsessively every morning.
But lately, she had also started leaving the television on in the background.
Because recently, the news had frequently mentioned incidents connected to her master.
And naturally, she paid attention to anything related to him.
Today, however, the broadcasts were different.
There was no mention of Shigaraki at all.
Instead, every channel was focused on another story.
"Dangerous Villain Escapes Custody."
The moment those words appeared on-screen, Akaya froze.
Her pen stopped moving.
Slowly, she lifted her head toward the television.
And then she saw him.
A towering man with one ruined eye and a jagged scar stretching across his face.
Even through the screen, his expression radiated violence.
Cruelty.
Bloodlust.
The instant Akaya recognized him, her pupils shrank.
Crack.
The plastic pen in her hand snapped from the pressure of her grip.
Because she knew exactly who this person was.
The Muscle Bloodfiend.
A monster infamous even among villains.
Nobody cared about his real name anymore.
Because his identity no longer mattered.
Only his nature did.
A murderer who enjoyed violence for its own sake.
Someone who treated the suffering of others as entertainment.
His Quirk, Muscle Augmentation, allowed him to massively strengthen and expand his muscle fibers, granting overwhelming physical power.
Strength.
Speed.
Durability.
Explosive combat ability.
It was a simple Quirk, but terrifyingly effective.
And in the hands of someone like him, it became a disaster.
Because unlike heroes, he possessed no restraint whatsoever.
No morality.
No hesitation.
Only the urge to destroy.
Akaya's breathing gradually became heavier.
This wasn't some ordinary criminal.
Two Pro Heroes had died capturing him.
A married couple.
They had intercepted him while he was attempting another murder.
They fought him.
Defeated him.
Captured him successfully.
And then died from their injuries afterward.
Leaving behind a child.
Akaya still remembered hearing that story years ago.
Back then, she had quietly hoped the child would not be consumed by hatred.
That they wouldn't come to resent heroes or society because of what happened.
But now?
That hope felt naïve.
Because the monster responsible for everything was alive again.
Free.
Walking the streets.
How could that child possibly not hate?
How could anyone accept something like that?
Her fingers tightened slowly.
The broken pen slipped from her hand onto the desk.
Anger and helplessness twisted together inside her chest.
Why did heroes die protecting people while monsters like him continued living?
Why did the world work like this?
But Akaya understood one thing clearly.
She couldn't stop him herself.
Not yet.
She lacked the strength.
And she definitely lacked the power to change a broken society.
So if she couldn't handle it…
then there was only one person she could think of who could.
Someone who operated outside the rules.
Someone who didn't hesitate.
Someone strong enough.
She grabbed her phone.
And called him.
Back in the present, Shigaraki lowered the phone slowly after listening to everything.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Interested.
Dangerous.
"Muscle Bloodfiend…"
He repeated the name quietly.
Then the smile widened slightly.
"…Sounds entertaining."
Beside him, Himiko tilted her head curiously.
"What happened?"
Shigaraki glanced at her briefly.
Then answered without hesitation.
"Change of plans."
His voice remained calm.
But something dark stirred beneath it.
"We're going hunting."
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