"Save the daydreaming for when you're asleep."
Although Bakugo Katsuki was undeniably curious about the thing Shigaraki Tomura mentioned—the thing supposedly capable of helping him surpass All Might—the moment he realized Shigaraki was genuinely trying to recruit him, he decisively rejected the offer.
After all—
He was someone who intended to become a hero.
How could he possibly betray that dream and become an "enemy" just because of a few words from a villain?
Besides—
Who in their right mind would trust a villain's promises?
Seeing the obvious disgust on Bakugo's face, Shigaraki naturally understood what he was thinking.
"Well, looks like persuasion through benefits won't work."
Shigaraki shrugged indifferently, not seeming particularly angry.
After all, he had never truly expected a few casual words to completely change Bakugo's mind and make him willingly throw himself into villainy.
In fact—
If Bakugo had actually agreed so easily, Shigaraki would have started suspecting him instead.
Who knew what tricks the brat might be planning?
Besides, recruiting Bakugo had only ever been a small experiment from the very beginning.
Shigaraki simply wanted to see whether he could drag one of the original story's important supporting characters over to his side and use him as a nail driven into the future hero camp.
Whether the attempt succeeded or failed was not especially important.
After all, it was merely an experiment.
It would not affect his true objective of infiltrating U.A. under the identity of Shimura Tenko.
Still—
Even though Shigaraki had expected Bakugo to refuse, he was nevertheless annoyed.
Because he hated being rejected.
And since gentle persuasion and promises of benefits clearly were not enough—
Then he would simply recruit Bakugo another way.
Thinking this, Shigaraki slowly raised his head and met Bakugo's gaze.
"Well then…"
"Looks like I'll have to use force."
The moment those words fell, an intense sense of danger instantly exploded inside Bakugo.
Unfortunately—
Before he could react—
THUD!
A heavy foot slammed his head straight into the ground.
Not only that—
The foot even ground hard against his skull twice.
Damn it!
So fast!
He didn't even give me time to think!
Enduring the sharp pain surging through his head, Bakugo braced both arms against the ground and forced himself upward, trying to throw off the foot pinning him down.
And surprisingly—
He succeeded.
But not because of his own strength.
Rather—
Because Shigaraki voluntarily lifted his foot.
The instant Shigaraki noticed Bakugo resisting, he casually stepped back before immediately driving a vicious kick straight into Bakugo's abdomen.
BOOM!
Bakugo was launched several meters away like a ragdoll.
After finally stopping his tumble, Bakugo painfully struggled back to his feet, dry-heaving twice before turning toward Shigaraki with difficulty.
Meanwhile, Shigaraki leisurely walked toward him.
Smiling pleasantly as he spoke.
"Really not reconsidering?"
"Even for the sake of your own life?"
Although his voice sounded extremely gentle, Bakugo could clearly feel the murderous intent hidden underneath it.
One wrong answer—
And this bastard would absolutely kill him.
"Not reconsidering!"
Bakugo's expression shifted slightly under that suffocating killing intent.
Yet in the end—
He still refused.
Because he did not want to abandon his dream of becoming a hero.
And he wanted even less to become the kind of villain hunted by heroes.
Besides—
Things had not reached the final stage yet.
How could he surrender so easily?
"Oh?"
"Is that so?"
Shigaraki raised an eyebrow before casually gesturing toward one of the nearby villain grunts.
The grunt leader froze briefly before immediately handing something over.
Shigaraki accepted it casually.
Then—
Click.
He chambered a round.
And pointed it directly at Bakugo.
Smiling playfully, he asked again,
"Really not reconsidering?"
The instant Bakugo saw the object in Shigaraki's hand, his pupils shrank violently.
Without hesitation—
He immediately raised both hands in surrender.
Because the thing Shigaraki pointed at him—
Was a handgun.
…
Staring at the pitch-black muzzle aimed directly at his head, Bakugo's expression turned bitter.
He genuinely had not expected Shigaraki to be this shameless.
The guy already possessed terrifying combat strength—
Yet he still used weapons.
And not just any weapon—
A freaking gun.
How ridiculously underhanded was that?!
Bakugo cursed furiously in his heart, but there was absolutely nothing he could do.
In the end, he could only reluctantly squat down with both hands over his head.
Because he had absolutely no confidence his body could react faster than a bullet.
Especially at this distance.
Even if his reaction speed somehow surpassed the firing speed of the gun, it still would not matter.
The distance between them was simply too short.
The instant Shigaraki pulled the trigger—
There would be no dodging it.
And charging forward while fully aware he would die?
Bakugo was not stupid enough to do that.
However—
Even though he was not suicidal—
He also absolutely could not bring himself to surrender and join Shigaraki.
Which left him in an utterly miserable position.
Meanwhile, beside him, Shigaraki spoke again.
"So?"
"Can we have a proper discussion now?"
Hearing that, Bakugo's mouth twitched violently.
He desperately wanted to tell Shigaraki to stop dreaming and give up already.
Unfortunately—
The handgun pointed squarely at his face brutally killed every brave word before it could leave his mouth.
After a brief moment of thought, Bakugo slowly asked,
"You really want me as your subordinate?"
Of course, he was not actually planning to surrender.
He was simply trying to buy time while thinking of a way out.
Even a single instant where the gun was not pointed at him would be enough.
Because with that thing aimed at his head—
He could not think calmly at all.
Hearing the question, Shigaraki raised his brows slightly.
"Oh?"
"Now you're finally willing to communicate?"
"Looks like compared to fists, an actual murder weapon really is more persuasive."
Shigaraki sighed emotionally before smiling again.
"Of course I want you."
"Otherwise, why would I waste so much effort talking nicely to you?"
"As long as you join us, the待遇 can be negotiated."
"So?"
"What's your answer?"
"Sorry."
"I don't think we're the same kind of people."
Bakugo answered coldly.
"My answer is still—"
"I refuse."
Because he had realized something.
Shigaraki had never lowered his guard for even a second.
That handgun remained aimed directly at him the entire time.
Since he could not think of a way to escape anyway—
Then he might as well stop wasting effort trying.
"Refusing again, huh?"
Shigaraki shrugged casually.
Then slowly raised the handgun higher.
The muzzle pointed directly at Bakugo's forehead.
"Then die."
In an instant—
An overwhelming sense of danger exploded inside Bakugo's mind.
And under that terror, the words escaped his mouth before he could stop them.
"I DON'T WANT THAT EITHER!"
Shigaraki's lips twitched slightly.
This brat was way too unreasonable, wasn't he?
He refused to submit.
But also refused to die.
Where exactly in this world did such convenient options exist?
After a long silence, Shigaraki sighed helplessly.
"Kid…"
"You refuse to submit…"
"But you also don't want to die…"
"That really puts me in a difficult position."
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