Nightmare

4

"Hey, you!" a blonde boy with spiky hair called out, his voice dripping with irritation as he stormed toward Mark.

Mark stopped mid-step, turning to face the boy with a raised eyebrow. It was his last day at Alderia, the job completed, and he’d planned to leave quietly. But this kid’s attitude piqued his curiosity.

"Do I know you?" Mark asked, his tone calm but his eyes sharp, sizing up the boy.

"You don’t need to," the boy snapped, his crimson eyes narrowing. "What I want to know is why someone quirkless like you is even thinking about joining U.A.!"

Mark sighed. News always traveled fast among these types. "So, you’ve heard. Can’t say I’m surprised." He crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "Can’t tell you my reasons, though. They’re none of your concern."

Bakugou scoffed, taking a threatening step forward. "Tch. Like you’d even pass. What’s the point? You’ll just embarrass yourself. Quirkless losers can’t cut it as heroes."

"Who said it was my plan to be a hero?" Mark replied coolly. "That title doesn’t interest me. In fact, I owe my current situation to one of your so-called ‘heroes.’ If we’re done here, I’m leaving. Do have a very safe day."

Mark turned on his heel, fully intending to walk away, but the sound of a sudden explosion stopped him in his tracks.

"Uh, f*ck me," Mark muttered under his breath, turning back around.

"I wasn’t done!" the boy barked, flames flickering in his palms. "I, Bakugou Katsuki, will—"

Bakugou’s declaration was cut short as Mark leaped into action. In a single fluid motion, Mark spun midair and delivered a devastating kick that sent Bakugou crashing into a nearby wall. The impact cracked the tiles, sending a cloud of powdered debris into the air.

"Better," Mark said, brushing off his hands as if he’d just swatted a fly. His voice was calm, almost bored. "Have a nice day."

He turned toward the exit, knowing full well that the school would likely expel him for this. Not that it mattered—he wasn’t planning to stick around anyway.

With one final glance at the crumpled Bakugou, Mark pushed open the door and stepped outside, leaving the chaos behind him without a second thought.

"Good riddance," he muttered as he walked away.

----

Nezu stared at the screen, his paw hovering over the keyboard. No matter how many databases he accessed or how many search parameters he adjusted, the same result taunted him: No results found. It was as if the boy in question didn’t exist.

This was unlike anything Nezu had encountered before. As U.A.’s principal and a certified genius, his investigative prowess had unraveled countless mysteries. Yet now, he was confronted by a ghost.

The task had been handed to him by none other than Yagi Toshinori, better known as All Might. Yagi’s humiliation at the hands—or rather, foot—of the boy still lingered, the force of the kick making even the Symbol of Peace question whether the attacker possessed a quirk. But the search for a quirk registry turned up nothing. No match. No trace.

Frustrated but determined, Nezu widened his search parameters, diving into the murky depths of the criminal underworld. That’s when he found it—a name whispered in fear among mercenaries, warlords, and rogue military factions.

The Wraith.

Nezu's blood ran cold as he read the fragmented reports. The Wraith was said to be a ghost in human form, a lone operative who left no survivors and no evidence. According to one harrowing account, he had single-handedly wiped out a heavily fortified forward operating base, eliminating fifty trained personnel and destroying the facility in under twelve minutes.