Rising Smoke || A Radioactive Biohazard

Chapter 6: USJ! A Hostage or a Mission?

After collecting so many low level criminals with the help of Kurogiri, the mission was now being discussed.  Hōshasei tried his best and Shigaraki was mildly impressed with the fourteen that he gathered on his own; especially since it was on such short notice because it was the next day. The warehouse was filled with about 60 villains or so- not like anyone bothered counting. They were talking over the basics of the mission: go in, cause a disturbance, cut off communication to the campus and then fight the students in groups. 

Now Hōsha didn't know they were going to attack UA High School for Heroics. If he did, he probably would've backed out. Then again, he doesn't know much about villains besides them stealing or hurting others. He also can't back out, since he knew Shigaraki could kill him if he wanted. There was also earning trust and favor as well as the fact Hōsha did want a change in the world. He nervously followed behind his leader towards the portal Kurogiri made; this was it, this was what he had to do to prove himself. Shigaraki glances at the mint haired teen before muttering some words to him.

"I don't expect you to attack them, but if they attack you then you know what you have to do."

Hōsha lets out a shaky sigh as he steps through the portal after Tomura and glances around the USJ before spotting the students up the stairs near the entrance. Was it too late to turn around? Oh how he wished he just claimed he was sick today. Thankfully it seemed Shigaraki understands that Hōsha was too new to actually want to cause harm; so he decided that perhaps it was best if his new ally watched how things were done around here. The rest of the villains that were apart of this mission came through the portal as well, most of them grinning at the fact they would be able to get in a nice fight and thinking it'll be easy. Hōsha couldn't help but stare at the students that were also staring back though a little confused. That confusion quickly washed into fear and realization as one of the adults quickly moved a hand in front of them; the moment that the adult put on the goggles is when everyone got serious. 

Kurogiri spoke quietly and quickly to Shigaraki to inform him that there was Pro-Hero Eraserhead and Pro-Hero Thirteen. He then hummed in faint curiosity. "Perplexing. According to the schedule we retrieved from the UA teacher curriculum, All Might should be here as well and yet, I do not see him."

Shigaraki watched from the fountain and a slight distance. However, he became upset and irritated- scratching at his neck as he peered through the hand that covered his face. He was not happy with the information Kurogiri told him.

"Where is he? I went through all this trouble to gather so many friends who were so eager to meet The Symbol of Peace. I don't want to have lied to them. " 

Shigaraki stared down the future heroes, his resolve came quick as his eyes looked crazed.

"Maybe if I kill a few kids, he'll come out of hiding."

The villains were distributed throughout the USJ except for Shigaraki, twelve villains and Hōsha.  Eraserhead quickly went down towards the fountain to fight them, the other pro-hero left to help the students evacuate. Kurogiri blocked their path and after a few words had swiftly scattered them throughout the facility. The villains that were left to fight Eraserhead were quickly loosing, two being knocked out while the others complained about their quirk not working. Hearing those words made Hōsha's eyes widen, he could cancel out quirks? Oh how hope began to bloom in his chest, the flame became brighter. Tomura saw this and glared at him; this made Hōsha curl up into himself a bit. He was a villain now, he shouldn't be hoping anymore..

Hōsha took notice of the way the pro-hero fought and listened when Tomura spoke out loud. It seemed like Tomura found him 'cool' in a sense, though for what reasons Hōsha was unsure of. 

"You know, you have to pay attention now. You must see what is expected of you after all." Shigaraki spoke to the younger, sparing a glance at him.

"Right...I'll do my best." Hōsha muttered quietly as he frowned. He felt sick, he felt wrong. He felt vile. Though this is what a villain does right? He would have to push this feeling down and accept what he is.

Eraserhead was quickly winning against these lower level felons, however a quick glance back up the stairs and anyone could see that the pro-hero was out. They were wounded significantly, the back of their suit had all but been torn.

While this whole ordeal was going on, another person emerged from a portal beside Shigaraki...except this wasn't a person- more like a mutated huge bulk of muscle and a bird? Hōsha could only stare at it as it walked forwards, a deep sense of dread settling in his gut. What..exactly was that?? Shigaraki glanced over at Hōsha and gave a motion of him to get back otherwise he'd get hurt. Now the only reason Tomura did this was because he didn't want a valuable pawn to get hurt, he knew what he was risking, but Hōsha didn't. Besides, Tomura needed him. With Hōsha by his side, it looked like he actively brought a civilian hostage since the poor kid looked nervous and overall scared. While Shigaraki was upset with the fact Hōsha didn't want to hurt anyone and currently looked like he wanted to go home, he was also mutely accepting of it and used it to his advantage. 

"Hōshasei, I know you don't mind if I use you as a hostage. Right?"

Before Hōsha could even answer him, Shigaraki had moved and placed a hand around his neck with his pinkie extended. The mint-haired boy sharply inhaled as his eyes widened, his mind remembering what happened to the one man in the alley a few days ago. His mouth was dry and he didn't dare speak. His eyes found Eraserhead's body, which had frozen at seeing a 'hostage' in the leader's hands. 

"That's right...I'm not afraid to kill one of my own. It's hard to see, especially since you were jumping around. Your hair, it's your tell. It drops when you stop using your quirk. You're having to blink more often now. Careful, Eraserhead. Don't push yourself too hard now, you might just fall apart. Wouldn't that be a shame.." 

Eraserhead frowns as he stared at Shigaraki, who's grip tightened around the smaller's neck. He had to get the hostage out of this, it was smart for the villain to bring a civilian into this mess. It gave an upper hand to their schemes. 

"I just thought to let you know, I'm not the final boss..."

"Nomu. Get him."

The Nomu let out a wretched screech as it charged at Eraserhead. Though as Shigaraki watched his nomu fight Eraserhead, a curly green-haired individual watched them instead. He, like the others, thought it was a real hostage situation in front of their eyes. The 'hostage' in question did look frightened- downright terrified and overall just was frozen stiff. Anyone in their right mind would assume that, yes, he didn't want to be there. Though they would be half right. 

Shigaraki was relatively close to the water, so it shouldn't surprise him when the little audience he had there moved. Well, one did anyway. Shooting from the water with a fist closed, the green curly-haired boy went to punch Shigaraki and grab the hostage away from him. The boy punched the air a few inches from the villain. It was a dangerous act, but successful. Tomura went flying and Hōsha was pulled away from the force of the punch. The boy pulled Hōshasei back towards the water near his other classmates in order to protect him. However, the next words that was said changed everything about this situation. 

"Shigaraki! Are you okay?!"