**Chapter 24: The Calm Before the Storm**
Law sat in the classroom, his golden eyes fixed on the card in his hand. The name "Malouin" stared back at him, the date of the tournament now only three days away. He twirled the card between his fingers, his mind racing with thoughts of what was to come. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on his chest, but his expression remained calm, almost indifferent. He couldn't afford to show weakness, not now.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed Mineta leaning over, his small frame barely reaching the edge of Law's desk. "Hey, what's that?" Mineta asked, his voice tinged with curiosity as he tried to get a better look at the card.
Law's fingers tightened around the card, and he quickly slipped it into his pocket. "Just a business card," he replied, his tone casual but firm. "Someone gave it to me recently. Nothing important."
Mineta raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, but before he could press further, the door to the classroom slid open. Aizawa-sensei walked in, his usual tired expression in place, but there was a subtle tension in his posture that didn't go unnoticed by Law. The room fell silent as Aizawa addressed the class.
"We'll be conducting rescue training today," Aizawa announced, his voice low but commanding. "The location will be the Unforeseen Simulation Joint, or USJ for short. It's a specialized facility designed to simulate various disaster scenarios. This will be a valuable opportunity for you to hone your rescue skills in a controlled environment."
The class erupted into excited chatter, the prospect of leaving the academy grounds for training clearly thrilling them. Kirishima pumped his fist in the air, his sharp teeth gleaming as he grinned. "This is gonna be awesome! It's like a field trip!"
"Yeah, but don't get too comfortable," Aizawa interjected, his tone sharp enough to cut through the enthusiasm. "This isn't a vacation. You're here to learn, not to have fun. Stay focused."
Law's eyes flickered as he processed Aizawa's words. The mention of the USJ sent a chill down his spine, but he quickly masked his reaction. *If I try to warn them now, I'll only draw suspicion to myself,* he thought, his mind racing. *I need to play this carefully.*
As the students began to change into their hero costumes, Law found himself seated next to Kaminari on the bus. The electric-quirk user glanced at Law's hat, which he had placed on his lap, and tilted his head. "Hey, isn't that hat part of your hero costume? Why aren't you wearing it?"
Law glanced down at the hat, his fingers brushing against the brim. "No, it's just a personal favorite," he replied, his voice calm. "I lost the original, so now I need to find a replacement."
Kaminari chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Man, my knowledge of fashion is pretty limited. I wouldn't even know where to start with something like that."
From the seat behind them, Mina Ashido leaned forward, her pink hair bouncing as she grinned. "You don't need fashion expertise, Kaminari," she said, her voice teasing. "I know exactly who can help Law with that."
Both Law and Kaminari turned to look at her, their expressions curious. "Who?" Kaminari asked.
Mina's grin widened as she pointed a finger toward the front of the bus, where Yaoyorozu sat next to Jiro, the two of them engaged in a quiet conversation, seemingly unaware of the others. "Yaoyorozu, of course!" Mina exclaimed. "She can create anything with her quirk. She'll definitely be able to make a perfect replica of your hat, Law."
Kaminari's eyes lit up, and he slapped his forehead. "Of course! Why didn't I think of that?"
Law ran a hand through his hair, a faint hint of embarrassment flickering across his face before he quickly composed himself. "It's a bit awkward to ask her for something like that," he admitted, his tone measured.
Mina, however, wasn't about to let him off the hook. She leaned even further forward, her enthusiasm practically radiating off her. "Oh, come on, Law! This is your chance! Look at her—she's totally in her element right now. She's happy, she's focused, and she's not going to say no. Just go for it!"
Law sighed, his usual calm demeanor slipping slightly as he muttered, "Maybe this isn't the best time…"
But Mina wasn't having it. She let out an exaggerated gasp, drawing the attention of several other students. "Leave it to your big sister, Mina!" she declared, her voice loud enough to carry through the bus. "I'll handle this for you!"
Before Law could protest further, Mina gave him a firm push toward Yaoyorozu's seat. Law stumbled slightly, catching himself just before he collided with Yaoyorozu. She turned to look at him, her dark eyes curious but kind. "Is something wrong, Law?" she asked, her voice gentle.
Law straightened, his expression neutral once more, though there was a faint hint of discomfort in his posture. "It's… a bit embarrassing to bring this up directly," he admitted.
Yaoyorozu glanced past him, her eyes briefly meeting Mina's, who was grinning like a Cheshire cat. Then she looked back at Law, her expression softening. "I think I understand," she said, a small smile playing on her lips. "This is a love confession, isn't it?"
Law's eyes widened slightly, and he quickly shook his head. "Wait what? That's not it at all," he said, his voice firm but not unkind.
Yaoyorozu tilted her head, her smile fading into a look of mild confusion. "Then what is it?"
Law opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, the lights inside the USJ flickered and then went out entirely. The bus was plunged into darkness for a brief moment before the lights came back on. The sudden shift in atmosphere was palpable, and the students exchanged uneasy glances.
Law's eyes narrowed as he turned his gaze toward the center of the USJ. His voice was low, almost a whisper, as he muttered, "It's already begun."
The students and teachers alike were on edge, their earlier excitement replaced by a growing sense of unease. Aizawa's eyes scanned the area, his body tense as he prepared for whatever was coming. The pro hero Thirteen, who had been guiding them through the facility, stepped forward, their voice calm but urgent. "Everyone, stay close. Something's not right."
Before anyone could react, a dark portal began to form in the center of the USJ. The air grew heavy, and a thick, black mist spilled out, spreading across the ground. From within the portal, dozens of villains emerged, their eyes gleaming with malice.
At first, some of the students laughed nervously, trying to convince themselves that this was just part of the training. "Is this some kind of simulation?" Kirishima asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Man, U.A. really goes all out with this stuff!"
But Aizawa's sharp voice cut through the tension. "Stay back!" he barked, his capture weapon already unraveling as he stepped forward. "These are real villains! This is not a drill!"
The reality of the situation hit the students like a ton of bricks. Their expressions shifted from confusion to fear as they realized the gravity of what was happening. Law's mind raced as he recalled the events of the USJ incident from the manga. *Eraserhead is going to take the brunt of the attack,* he thought, his eyes narrowing. *But if I intervene, it could change the course of the story entirely. I can't afford to make a mistake here.*
As the villains spread out, the black mist coalesced into a humanoid figure, and from within it, Shigaraki Tomura emerged. His pale blue hair was disheveled, and his red eyes gleamed with a manic intensity. He scanned the group of students before speaking, his voice dripping with malice.
"Well, well… where is he?" Shigaraki muttered, his fingers twitching as he scratched at his neck. "Where is All Might?"
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