After Accelerator and the others left the hospital room, just as described in the "story," All Might and Naomasa Tsukauchi, representing the police, also arrived. They received the signal tracker detailing the enemy's movements from Yaoyorozu Momo's hands.
On the evening when the heroes were about to take action, U.A. High School chose this deliberate moment to hold a press conference, aiming to divert the enemy's attention and to provide an explanation to the public.
Seated at the center of the podium were the homeroom teachers of classes A and B, with U.A. High School's Principal Nezu anchoring the event.
Even Aizawa Shouta, who usually doesn't sweat the small stuff, was now dressed very formally in a black suit, his normally unkempt hair neatly combed.
Once the media journalists had set up their equipment and eagerly taken their seats, the press conference officially began.
"Eraserhead, you mentioned the safety of the students, but it seems you encouraged them to fight during the incident, right?" asked a reporter, who clearly had an agenda, judging by his tone.
"Please tell us, what was your intention?" he continued, scrutinizing every move of Eraserhead, ready to spin any slight gesture into a story of guilt or panic for the next day's headlines.
Aizawa Shouta, who usually takes a laid-back approach compared to other teachers, handled the pressure-filled situation with ease. As a stealth hero who operated in the shadows to maintain order before becoming a teacher, Aizawa was not well-known to the public but was recognized within the industry as one of the top professional heroes, just below the very best.
How could Aizawa, who is good at observing others, fail to detect the hidden sinister intentions of this reporter. The media, understanding everything, would not simply give up on their plans to increase viewers' desire to watch.
Leaning slightly forward, with impeccable manners that even the elite couldn't fault, he explained through the microphone with a clear conscience and natural politeness. His tone lacked the usual casualness he had with students, as if a nameless force was brewing within him.
"Since we didn't have precise information on the enemy at the time, I made such a decision to prevent the worst-case scenario from happening," he explained.
The reporter, relentless, continued to press on. "What do you mean by the worst-case scenario? With twenty-seven students injured and two kidnapped by the enemy, isn't that bad enough?!" he emphasized, raising his voice for the live broadcast.
Facing the fierce Nomu, Aizawa Shouta showed no fear, let alone facing a reporter's questions.
"As an active professional hero, the 'worst-case scenario' I envisioned was the students being harmed for no reason because they hesitated to take effective action," he replied, his demeanor unchanged.
Principal Nezu also spoke up, "Most of the students were injured due to a poison gas attack. At the time, our teachers were able to determine that the enemy's 'Quirk' had released a type of knockout gas."
"However, thanks to the active and swift actions of students Kendou and TetsuTetsu, and most crucially, Accelerator, who dispersed the toxic smoke, all the injured were out of life-threatening danger."
"We're also actively providing psychological therapy for our students, and so far, no one has suffered severe psychological harm."
A reporter, microphone in hand and dissatisfaction written all over his face, objected again.
"Are you suggesting this is a silver lining in a tragedy?"
Principal Nezu stood his ground firmly.
"I believe the worst thing is for the future to be violated."
Hearing Principal Nezu's words, the reporter's lips curled into a slight smile, which he quickly concealed.
Adopting a righteous stance, as if speaking for the victims' families, he asked pointedly.
"Do you maintain this stance even for the abducted students Bakugo and Midoriya, as well as their families?"
"Both entered U.A. High School with excellent grades and performed well at the Sports Festival, with Bakugo even securing third place. Additionally, Bakugo has the experience of resisting a formidable enemy alone during the sludge incident in middle school."
The reporter seemed to be praising Midoriya and Bakugo, but in reality, he was laying the groundwork for the upcoming criticism of U.A. High School.
Unscrupulous media will try to make individuals or organizations slip up in public to get what they want.
"Their experiences reflect a resilient hero quality."
"However, their issues are equally evident."
"Bakugo's naturally aggressive behavior and mental instability were on display during the Sports Festival, while Midoriya has shown signs of inferiority and timidity since middle school and even before."
"If the enemy targeted them for these reasons, and if they were to be swayed by the enemy's sweet talk, even if just one of them, please tell us the concrete basis for your assertion that both students still have a future!"
The maliciously charged words were an attempt to pressure the school into making a rash statement.
Aizawa Shouta stood up silently, and the reporter thought smugly to himself.
[That Eraserhead is part of the stealth hero group, and those heroes hate us media. I'll see how long you can endure this deliberate provocation!]
Aizawa bowed sincerely yet swiftly, admitting fault.
"The rough behavior of Bakugo Katsuki is due to my inadequate guidance as an educator."
"I also bear some responsibility for the issues Midoriya faces."
"However, Bakugo's actions have always been driven by a struggle to pursue the [ideal of strength] in his heart, striving harder than anyone for the [top hero]."
"Midoriya, on the other hand, has shown robust simplicity, intelligence, and an innate sense of justice from the beginning of his enrollment."
"If the enemy sees their behavior as an [opportunity], then I think they (the enemy) are being too superficial."
Meanwhile, hidden near the target location, Accelerator and Shokuhou Misaki were also watching the live broadcast.
Accelerator sneered.
"Aizawa-sensei and the principal sure know how to talk. They trust Bakugo Katsuki, aside from the utterly improbable Midoriya Izuku?"
"Well, it's not like it's any of my concern."
Shokuhou Misaki hugged him from behind, deliberately pressing her ample softness against his head as she gently said.
"If you weren't concerned, you wouldn't be quietly paying attention to this situation, would you?"
"Staying fully alert for the enemy's next move is the right thing to do, isn't it?"
Accelerator unexpectedly ducked out from the embrace of the blonde girl's delicate hands.
Of course, the price was the weight of something soft pressing on his head.
"Accelerator, you're quite bold☆"
"I don't dislike it, you know☆"
After a cold snort, Accelerator turned his head away. Learning from the experience, he stood up and moved to a safe distance before continuing.
"Hmph, for a genius like me, multitasking is just the basics."
"The press conference at school is just a side note, even in a situation like this, I can multitask while staying fully alert to the enemy."
"And aren't you also not letting me relax for a moment? Is it fun to keep pestering me like this?!"
Shokuhou Misaki kept a playful smile as she looked at him and spoke in a gentle voice.
"Of course, it's fun, that's why I'm so addicted to it☆"
"Tch, let's focus on defeating the enemy in front of us."
"And the group around you, they can be trusted, right?"
Accelerator changed the subject, having once again learned the hard way that arguing with a woman is foolish.
He was referring to the covert professional heroes from Ketsubutsu and those dispatched by the Shokuhou family stationed outside the temporary base.
Shokuhou, who could see through people's hearts, understood that her beloved was not only shyly changing the subject but was also genuinely concerned for her.
So, the blonde girl's face showed a reassuring smile as she spoke softly.
"If the forces here can't be trusted to protect my safety, then I guess only you, Accelerator, coming to protect me personally would put me at ease☆"
The base here is established at the central point intersecting the two hidden locations of the "League of Villains," meaning the time it takes to reach either side from here is the same.
This is convenient in case of an emergency, allowing Accelerator to reach the scene in the shortest possible time to respond.
To protect the Queen of Ketsubutsu and ensure the effectiveness of her abilities, Ketsubutsu Academy has stationed all its forces here, except for the principal couple and a few professional hero teachers who will join the frontline battle. Shokuhou's subordinates and the faction led by ally Maiya Tsumori are also on high alert here.
The prestigious Shokuhou family has almost sent all their elite covert professional heroes to their daughter's side.
These great forces, never before united, have come together solely to protect the "Queen Bee."
Even if All Might or Accelerator were to slip up, Shokuhou Misaki would step in, and on the other side, the top heroes of the Shokuhou family, capable of amplifying their daughter's abilities, would also be ready to act.
In fact, Shokuhou Misaki had already learned from the "story" about the "League of Villains'" mastermind behind the scenes, the emperor "AFO" who once established a long era of darkness in another world with his Quirk.
And such information, Accelerator naturally knew through Shokuhou.
At that time, facing Shokuhou Misaki, who was concerned about his safety, Accelerator confidently told her.
"Can take away someone else's Quirk and give it to oneself or another person?"
"It might sound fun," someone said, not forgetting to flash an eager smile as he tapped his head lightly with his finger and continued, "My power isn't something that can be taken away so easily."
"The reason I'm called Accelerator is precisely because my ability is vector manipulation."
"There are indeed those who can defeat me."
"But certainly not by some lowlife like the dark 'AFO.'"
As Accelerator spoke these words, he also reminded himself not to repeat past mistakes and walk down old paths. Although there were many more things to protect now, he would not lose to anyone until he faced that man again.
Just then, the door to the room where the two were alone was opened somewhat roughly.
It was Maiya Tsumori, Shokuhou's ally from Ketsubutsu, a tall and slender girl with an impressive chest and fluffy tea-colored hair.
Perhaps still remembering the humiliation of being completely defeated by Accelerator at the Sports Festival, Maiya, now no longer an enemy, still wore an unhappy expression when facing him.
After all, it was the first time 'Atomic Decay' had been thoroughly defeated by someone.
Of course, the importance of the current mission meant Maiya Tsumori, almost suppressing her strong desire to win, did not issue a challenge to Accelerator again.
But that didn't stop the girl from complaining.
"Hey, what's going on with you two?"
"Hasn't the operation already started? Can't you take it a bit more seriously and show some enthusiasm?"
Accelerator wasn't one to be happy when asked in such a manner.
He simply looked at Maiya Tsumori calmly, without saying a word.
"You... you jerk! Just to be clear, we're not enemies right now!"
"You agree, right... Misaki?"
Maiya Tsumori might have an arrogant personality, but the once brash girl now had a deep psychological shadow cast over her by someone's previous lesson.
Even she didn't realize her own retreat, after all, she was just a girl who had lost her parents and hadn't been well-guided despite her powerful abilities.
Shokuhou couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of her ally's amusing demeanor.
After all, it was she who had instigated 'Atomic Decay' to challenge the great villain during the Sports Festival.
But obviously, the dual-line operation by Shokuhou Misaki had no chance of failure.
[This is Shokuhou Misaki's victory☆]
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