Blossoms of the Dark

CLXXIX Selene: Pawn

The impending meeting with Daruma-san was the entire reason I got involved in this mess.

Now that Gigantomachia has acknowledged Shigaraki, this is the last task to finish.

Shigaraki heads inside the conference room, leaving me to reflect on the past in the private waiting area.

_________________________________________________________

Shortly after Re-Destro conceded and the League of Villains reconvened, black sludge spilled from our mouths. We were transported to Jaku Hospital: Daruma-san's legal cover to hide his covert activities. By pulling some strings and silencing some mouths, the entire medical staff was assigned to heal us quickly. Especially me.

What I had told Shouto was a half-truth. Yes, I was to perform in front of my to be in-laws; no, that was not the main reason for my arthritic flares. Hanada-sama had simply told me to be present by evening, and I was cutting it close with my injuries. The doctors tended to my feet, while the nurses attended to the lacerations. Little by little, scar tissue covered the wounds. They injected me with a solution to provide a temporary burst of strength and sent me on my way.

The next night, while Shouto was asleep, I had to return to Deika City. It was a rendezvous point - simply a place to get in the van and drive in the secrecy of the dark. The actual congregation happened somewhere else.

My comrades, Re-Destro, the politician, an ice-ability boy, and an eccentric, software genius were inside. Everyone cleaned up well. The purpose of this midnight meeting was to announce an alliance between the League of Villains and the Meta Liberation Army: the Paranormal Liberation Front. Everyone sitting in the van would be a pivotal figure in this new organization. However, I was given a choice.

Re-Destro gave me two options: the first, I remain in the dark and conduct my activities as a spy; the second, I expose myself as the hidden ace-up-the-sleeve to invoke fear and order. By the cadence of his voice, it was obvious that he wanted me to choose the second. Shigaraki, from the corner of my eye, frowned at the same suggestion.

If I accepted Re-Destro's offer, then he would have been granted some measure of control over the League. Taking advantage of my young age and disability, he would prepare to seize ownership of the Liberation Front. After all, no man worth his pride could accept complete defeat. Sucking up to Shigaraki was a farce. However, if I chose Shigaraki's preference, he would likely continue issuing new commands for me to follow while withholding important information. I believed he still held a grudge for when I kept One for All a secret.

In both cases, two powerful men would suppress me.

And I had endured enough suppression for a lifetime.

So I did what I knew best: negotiate.

"I have been serving as a spy for the League since its initiation. Revealing my identity poses a threat both to the Front and me. The fact that the Army successfully did so makes it all the more apparent. Yet I cannot sit idly by after having to have engaged in battle myself. The deaths of your priestess compatriot and her followers have made it so.

"So here's my proposition: no one outside this van learns about my name and face. In exchange, I continue reporting the heroes' movements ...," I glanced at Shigaraki, "and I organize a partnership between the Detnerat Company and the Hanada Group of Companies," I looked at Re-Destro.

Both conflicting parties should have been appeased, and I should have avoided turning from an ace to a pawn.

To my surprise, Shigaraki chuckled hoarsely. He opened his palm. "Pay up, guys. You lost the bet."