Prodigies - My Hero Academia

All a Part of the Plan

Sun peaking over the horizon, bringing upon a new day. Shigaraki stacks playing cards into a pyramid on the bar counter while Kurogiri restocks the back shelves with liquor. A tablet faces him, the screen currently idle. 

League members were called to action in the early morning to carry out the next phase of the plan. Exhausted and irritated faces are scattered amongst the lobby bar, seated at tables or propped against the wall. They distract themselves with odds and ends instead of talking. Sharpening weapons, watching the flat screen, or feeding their addictions. 

Completing the next level of cards, "The Master is good. He rebuilt an army in record time.", Shigaraki beams. 

"It's worth having a team on standby." Kurogiri responds.

Standing from his stool, Shigaraki places both hands on the counter to bask at his finished pyramid with absolute glee in his tone, "The board is set with my pawns and their prey. Finally, the real game begins."

Twice hops on the stool next to his boss, "Neat!"

Plucking the Queen of Spades card out of the pyramid, "And the President?"

A man in a lab coat struts down the hall, turning the corner to pass off a single vial to a young nurse. Staff are completely unaware that the doctor is Compress, acting accordingly for Enoshima's physical before her flight to Los Angeles. He urged that they needed to perform blood work and luckily there were no questions asked. 

"Blood collected.", Kurogiri answers, "All Commission chairs are flying to the states as we speak."

Looking up from sharpening his knife, "Won't this draw more attention to us?", Spinner questions.

Shigaraki grins, "Not if we don't get caught."

Spinner sheaths his weapon and leans back in his seat, "I don't see how this'll work, but sure."

Dabi's gaze shifts from Twice to Shigaraki, silently finishing his cigarette and dropping the bud on the floor. A ping on the tablet catches everyone's attention. 

Kurogiri moves to look at the notification, "Toga and Compress hit the checkpoint.", he informs, "Shigaraki."

"Warp them."

Spinner scoffs, crossing his arms. 

Kurogiri complies, "The President will be making an entrance in three minutes."

"Dabi, get covered. You're up." Shigaraki orders.

"Go, Dabi!" Twice cheers. 

***

Flipping through the pages of a novel, Shoto sits in his bedroom. The home is quiet apart from his sniffling and occasional coughs. Early summer fluctuations in temperature cause him to feel a bit under the weather every year without fail. Doctors consider his condition no serious threat. If anything, the symptoms he faces are closer to allergies. The sickness typically subsides within a week.

After knocking, Feyumi slides open the door with bowl of cold soba, "Shoto?"

He looks up from his text, turning to face her. Glossy eyes miserable and fatigued, he acknowledges her presence with a short nod. 

"How are you feeling?" 

His throat aches, voice husky and low, "Better, thank you."

Lowering herself to his level, "Do you need anything?", she sets down the bowl before him.

"No-", he relaxes his shoulders, "- how are you?"

Caught off-guard by his consideration, "I'm.. well."