The air around U.A. was thick with anticipation as reporters swarmed like vultures, eager to capture the next big headline.
"On the Internet, they say the kidnapped students were All Might's apprentice, Kitagawa Akira, and Bakugo from the sludge villain incident! If we can get anything juicy, it'll be front-page material!" a female reporter exclaimed, practically bouncing on her heels with excitement.
The photographer beside her smirked. "Nothing like a scandal to boost ratings, huh?"
Their enthusiasm for the story wasn't just professional; it was morbid. Deep down, they secretly hoped for more chaos, believing that a bigger mess would mean better headlines.
As time ticked by, the gate of U.A. saw a slow trickle of students and staff arriving. The reporters wasted no time.
The moment they spotted someone, they pounced. Microphones thrust forward, cameras flashing, and questions spilling out like a tidal wave.
"Excuse me! Can you comment on the rumors about yesterday's kidnapping?"
Most students bolted the other way, too overwhelmed to respond.
Soon, Aizawa Shouta appeared, his usual exhausted expression intact as he approached the school gates. The reporters swarmed, encircling him.
"Mr. Aizawa, is it true that two students were kidnapped by a wanted criminal?"
Aizawa paused, his face impassive. "I'm sorry, but I'm not aware of any such incident."
"But rumors claim Kitagawa Akira, All Might's apprentice, and Bakugo were the targets. Can you confirm this?"
"Like I said, I don't know. If you have questions for All Might, ask him directly. However, he's not here today. Now, please stop disrupting the school's operations."
He strode off briskly, leaving the reporters frustrated and desperate for another lead.
More students began to arrive, and the reporters switched tactics. Spotting Midoriya Izuku, they rushed over.
"Excuse me! Can you comment on the incident involving Kitagawa Akira and Bakugo Katsuki?"
Midoriya's eyes widened, but he quickly muttered, "Sorry, I'm in a rush," and darted past them into the safety of the campus.
Others, like Uraraka Ochaco, weren't as lucky.
"Miss, can you confirm if the kidnapped students were really All Might's apprentice and Bakugo?" a reporter asked, shoving a microphone under her nose.
"I… I don't know much about it," Ochaco stammered, clearly uncomfortable.
"But isn't it true that All Might has a close connection with one of the students? Does that influence his teaching?"
"I don't think so—" Ochaco began, but before she could finish, a loud voice interrupted.
"Kitagawa Akira and Bakugo Katsuki are here!"
The reporters turned as one, spotting Akira and Bakugo walking towards the gates.
In an instant, they descended upon them.
"Akira, is it true that you were kidnapped yesterday? How did you escape?"
"Can you confirm your connection to All Might?"
Akira's expression was unreadable as he muttered, "Guess."
The reporters froze, thrown off by the curt response.
"Come on! Just give us a comment. When did you become All Might's apprentice?"
"Guess," Akira repeated, brushing past them with a slight scowl.
Bakugo, visibly irritated, didn't even bother to respond, his explosive personality simmering just beneath the surface.
Once inside, the two headed to their classroom, where their classmates were abuzz with curiosity.
---
Inside Class 1-A
Aizawa stood at the podium, arms crossed, as the chatter died down.
"You've probably heard the rumors circulating online," he began.
"Sensei, are the rumors true?" Momo asked, raising her hand.
"Yes," Aizawa confirmed, his tone calm. "A wanted criminal with a Quirk capable of teleportation managed to abduct Akira and Bakugo. However, they used their wits to evade the villains until we could rescue them."
The class erupted in murmurs, glancing between Akira and Bakugo.
"But, Sensei," Iida interjected, standing stiffly. "If such an incident occurred, why was it leaked online? Shouldn't this be classified?"
Aizawa's eyes narrowed slightly, but his expression remained neutral. "We'll address that another time. For now, focus on today's lesson."
Momo, still curious, whispered to Ochaco, "No wonder there were so many reporters outside this morning."
---
The day wore on, but Akira couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Not by the reporters or his classmates, but by something—or someone—lurking beyond the shadows.
Little did he know, the League of Villains had begun to take notice of him.
And they were watching.