While Izuku Midoriya and the others were reacting to the news of Shigaraki in that video—some relieved, some excited, some openly awestruck—the man at the center of it all was in a surprisingly good mood.
In fact, he was in such a good mood that he even found himself faintly missing the taste of the tea he had been served at the police station earlier.
It couldn't be helped.
Today had gone extremely well for him.
Not only had he discovered a traitor, but he had also successfully planted a few poisoned thoughts in Kamui Woods' mind, one of the new generation's rising heroes. A seed had been planted. A tiny crack had opened inside the hero system itself.
And that alone was enough to brighten his mood.
Two pieces of good news in one day.
How could he not be pleased?
Of course—
if he hadn't also been dragged off to school, his mood would probably have been even better.
Unfortunately, the moment he walked out of the police station after finishing his statement, Himiko Toga—who had completed hers earlier—grabbed him and began hauling him straight toward Kanzaki Middle School.
He had wanted to refuse.
Classes were boring.
Painfully boring.
A complete waste of life, really.
But the terms she offered were too attractive to reject.
Himiko had promised to cover his meals for an entire month.
And faced with that kind of offer, Shigaraki found himself unable to say no.
…
Kanzaki Middle School was part of a larger combined institution that included both middle school and high school divisions, collectively known as Kanzaki Academy.
It had an enormous student population and an impressive reputation.
Among the countless schools in N City, it was considered one of the most desirable institutions for ordinary people—especially for those who had no intention of becoming Pro Heroes.
For many wealthy and influential families, Kanzaki Academy was less a school and more an investment.
Their children were sent there not just for education, but to build connections.
To make friends.
To create networks.
The kind of network that would still matter years later, once they graduated and entered society.
In a place like this, classmates often became business partners, political allies, or future connections.
Strictly speaking, someone with Shigaraki's background should never have had any chance of attending a private school like this.
The problem was—
while he might have been poor, his teacher was not lacking in ability.
All For One had simply shoved him in anyway.
Brute-forced the paperwork.
Manufactured the identity.
Opened the door.
Naturally, his teacher's effort in doing all that wasn't just for Shigaraki's sake. There were definitely other intentions mixed in.
But none of that mattered.
As far as Shigaraki was concerned, once the result had been achieved, the process was irrelevant.
That was all there was to it.
…
At the front gate of Kanzaki Middle School—
Shigaraki looked sideways at the girl stuck to his arm and sighed with visible helplessness.
"I'm telling you, Himiko…"
"We're already here."
He lifted their joined hands slightly.
"Even if I wanted to regret this now, it would be too late."
He gave her a long, flat look.
"So shouldn't you let go already?"
Honestly, he was beginning to wonder what exactly she thought of his character.
Was his credibility really that bad?
Or—
was she just using the excuse that he might run away halfway through to shamelessly take advantage of the situation?
At that thought, Shigaraki glanced downward.
Himiko was pressed so close against him that she was practically glued to his side.
And after observing that for a second, he felt that he had probably discovered the truth.
Still, he had no intention of exposing her little lie.
Why would he?
It wasn't like he was losing anything here.
If anything, he had quite enjoyed the walk over.
Himiko puffed her cheeks out slightly, looking deeply unconvinced.
"But what if I let go," she said, "and the second I do, you run away?"
Her tone was full of grievance.
"I know you have a history of skipping school, Tenko."
She clearly had no intention of releasing him so easily.
In fact, if she hadn't been worried that being too enthusiastic might scare him off, she probably would have wrapped herself around him like an octopus by now.
It couldn't be helped.
Shigaraki had raised her affection level far too quickly.
After all, between last night's rescue, today's shared trip to the police station, the fact that they went to the same school, and the feeling that both of them were hiding something…
A lot had piled up all at once.
And thanks to those neatly layered factors, Himiko's opinion of him had risen to an almost absurd degree.
Add in the yandere tendencies hidden beneath her cheerful exterior—
and her current behavior suddenly seemed very understandable.
Of course, Shigaraki had no idea just how much her opinion of him had already risen.
So when he heard her stubborn complaint, he only looked more exasperated.
"Ahem."
He straightened slightly, then answered in the most serious tone he could manage.
"Am I really that kind of person?"
He paused, then added with complete sincerity:
"And even if you don't trust me, the least you could do is trust the appeal of your cooking."
The moment he said that, his expression became unexpectedly firm.
"Since I already promised that I'd properly go to school with you today, I'll keep my word."
That answer made Himiko cover her mouth and laugh.
"Hehe…"
"Well, that's true."
Her eyes curved into cheerful crescents.
"You really are a huge glutton, Tenko."
Then, in a softer voice, she added:
"But to think I actually lost to food…"
She sighed dramatically.
"How frustrating."
She said it like she was upset.
But in the end, she still obediently loosened her grip on him.
Because she had already gotten the answer she wanted.
For now, that was enough.
Of course, Himiko was still Himiko.
Even while "letting go," she quietly played a tiny trick.
She stopped pressing her whole body against him like before…
…but she didn't release his hand.
Not at all.
Their fingers remained linked.
And Shigaraki, naturally, noticed the little move immediately.
He just pretended not to.
After all, being liked by a pretty, cute girl like Himiko Toga was, if he was being honest with himself, a rather satisfying feeling.
So he let it slide.
For the moment, at least.
And so, still hand in hand, the two of them passed through the gates of Kanzaki Academy together.
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