Seeing his childhood friend pleading like this, Bakugo Katsuki decided to listen for now.
Mizukawa Ran noticed Bakugo's expression softening and continued:
"Kacchan, do you remember Yuu-chan, who used to play with us?"
He felt the name was familiar but couldn't recall it immediately.
Seeing Bakugo's confused expression, Ran explained:
"Her full name should be Maeda Yuu back then."
With Ran's reminder, Bakugo finally remembered the name.
He frowned slightly, unsure of what Mizukawa Ran wanted to say, and asked tentatively:
"The girl who transferred away in fifth grade?"
"I remember, back then she seemed to have a good relationship with you."
"But, what's the point of bringing up this irrelevant name now?"
Mizukawa Ran noticed that her childhood friend's patience was almost at its limit, so she quickly added.
"What if I told you that our former classmate Maeda Yu, after transferring schools, seems to have changed her name and joined the League of Villains?"
When Bakugo heard the words League of Villains, veins started to bulge on his forehead.
It was clear that he still couldn't get over his performance during the USJ incident.
Although he had a strong sense of pride and a fiery temper, his thinking was very detailed.
He seemed on the verge of exploding, but in reality, he had already grasped the most important information from Mizukawa Ran's words.
Their former elementary school classmate "Maeda Yu" had changed her name and joined the League of Villains.
Even though a long time had passed since the incident, Bakugo still remembered most of the information left by someone when the **League of Villains** was subdued.
One of the female officers was named Yamada Yu.
Suddenly, everything made sense.
The remaining question was simple.
Bakugo Katsuki suppressed his temper and cautiously asked his long-time childhood friend.
"Ran."
"Tell me the truth, you wouldn't be..."
Logically speaking, the enemy's plan during the USJ incident and their knowledge of everyone's Quirks, this information could only be obtained by someone inside U.A. High School.
If we exclude the possibility of a special Quirk, then it must be an insider.
At this moment, Bakugo Katsuki's mind was working at high efficiency, and he clearly understood the seriousness of the issue.
He would make a decision based on his childhood friend's answer.
Mizukawa Ran, with an innocent and fearful expression, explained.
"Kacchan!!! Believe me! I... didn't!!!"
In fact, Ran was also very scared inside, and this appearance was not an act.
She prided herself on being smart and knew that every move she made now would affect her future, so she had to be extremely cautious.
"I feel very sorry for what happened to you during the USJ incident!"
"At that time... I didn't know Maeda Yu had joined the League of Villains."
"One day she suddenly called me to catch up, we were good friends after all."
"We were all just starting high school, so naturally, we talked about our courses."
"But Kacchan, think about it, I'm in Class B and you're in Class A."
"Our courses are quite different, right? I only told her about Class B's schedule!"
"Believe me!"
This scene had played out in Mizukawa Ran's mind dozens of times. Although she was nervous and scared, it was bearable compared to the fear of the unknown.
Even the amount of truth in this lie was carefully considered by her.
First, before planning the attack on USJ, it was indeed Yamada Yu who called her.
Second, she really didn't know that Maeda Yuu would join the League of Villains.
Lastly, Ran really wanted Kacchan to believe her.
Mizukawa Ran understood that this was her best chance to leave the League of Villains since their chances of winning had greatly decreased, and the risks had increased too early.
Besides the real evil attitude of the League of Villains, which disregarded life, Ran was more afraid of the great demon king Accelerator.
She was always afraid that the world's suppression would take away everything she had done.
She absolutely didn't want to become the failed girl she was in the past.
She had a look and figure she couldn't have imagined before, and more importantly, the love of the person she cared about.
Even if it meant being despicable, as long as she could achieve her goal, the result would be perfect.
So it was better to betray the League of Villains early to gain the favor of Kacchan, the second male lead in the original story, whom she loved deeply.
To protect herself.
Ran's little plan was quite clever.
Knowing Kacchan's personality and their nearly ten-year bond, she understood that Bakugo Katsuki, who was sometimes very protective, would cover for her.
The core reason Mizukawa Ran dared to take such action was because she remembered an interview with the original author in a magazine.
Mental Quirk users cannot use their Quirk to "interrogate" criminals.
This was the final safeguard.
It was one of the world's most important "settings," which in the real world would become a rule that couldn't be easily changed.
Although Bakugo had some doubts about his childhood friend's words, he still trusted Mizukawa Ran more.
Besides their ten-year bond, Bakugo saw Mizukawa Ran's admission to U.A. High School as an invisible proof, the best proof of aspiring to be a professional hero.
Over the years, Mizukawa Ran was at most a somewhat cowardly but relatively outstanding girl compared to others.
If it was about bullying, Bakugo wouldn't be surprised if Mizukawa Ran was involved, but if it was about overthrowing society and killing All Might, such a crazy plan, Bakugo didn't think his childhood friend had the brains for it.
This was a blind spot in his thinking formed by those close to him. (PS: Mizukawa Ran's actions didn't have much deep meaning behind them, she didn't even consider the detailed consequences)
It was very likely that she was used by the cunning **League of Villains**, such thoughts flashed through his mind, but that didn't mean Bakugo completely trusted Mizukawa Ran's words.
After achieving the initial desired effect, Mizukawa Ran sped up the pace, not wanting to give Bakugo too much time to think.
"The League of Villains somehow got the news about our forest training camp and planned to attack everyone."
"Kacchan, you have to protect everyone!"
"Especially me!"
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