Months. Koya Oogami massaged his temples, feeling the ache of a headache that had been brewing for weeks. Months of favors he would struggle to repay, of calls to contacts who'd rather not hear from him, of following leads that ended in dead ends. And then there was the donation to the U.A. alumni foundation, a sum large enough that his accountant had personally called to ask if he'd lost his mind.
All that effort for fifteen minutes. With three teenagers.
Sitting in the elegant but impersonal waiting room of Japan's most prestigious hero academy, he reviewed his notes on the tablet for the tenth time. Everything about U.A. screamed efficiency and power.
But it was worth it. It had to be.
The story was no longer the Mt. Lady dating scandal. That had been the spark, the anomaly that had put him on the right track after years of mediocre reports about small-time villains and pre-packaged hero debuts. The real story, the one that gnawed at the back of his brain, was the boy. Izuku Midoriya. The common denominator, the constant variable in an impossible equation.
First, Mt. Lady's almost supernatural improvement. From a competent but limited hero to a top-tier fighter who now wielded her power in ways no one thought possible. And now, this. A complete unknown, a girl named Ibara Shiozaki, had not only passed the country's most competitive exam but had taken first place with a display of power that had left analysts speechless.
This wasn't a story about a teenage romance or a stroke of luck. It was a story about a method. A secret worth billions. And he was going to rip it out by the roots.
The door to the room opened with a soft hiss. Nemuri Kayama, the hero Midnight, appeared in the doorway. Her smile was kind, but it didn't reach her sharp eyes. Those eyes evaluated him, measured him, and, Oogami was sure, had already dismissed him.
"Oogami-san. A pleasure to finally have you with us." Her voice was soft, almost honeyed. "Principal Nezu was very... intrigued by your persistent request."
Oogami jumped to his feet, forcing his own professional smile, the one he used with executives and politicians. "Thank you for having me, Midnight-san. I truly appreciate the opportunity."
"Oh, it wasn't easy to get," she continued, entering the room and closing the door behind her. The sound of the latch was subtle, but definitive. "The principal doesn't usually grant interviews of this type. He considers the press can be a... distraction for the training of our youth."
"I perfectly understand your concerns. My intention is purely to celebrate the success of these incredible candidates. It's a positive story." He lied without blinking.
"I see." Midnight stopped in front of him. "You have five minutes with each of the top three candidates from the exam. Questions must focus strictly on their performance, their strategies during the test, and their aspirations as future heroes. Nothing about their personal lives, their relationships, or anything else not directly related to the exam. Is that clear?"
The way she said "Is that clear?" was not a question. It was an order wrapped in politeness. A welcome that sounded exactly like a warning.
"Crystal clear, Midnight-san."
"Excellent." Her smile tightened a millimeter. "The first student will arrive shortly. Enjoy your time."
She turned and left as silently as she had arrived. Oogami was alone again, his pulse beating a little faster. This was going to be harder than he thought. U.A. was on guard.
The door opened again. Shoto Todoroki entered the room. He sat in the chair opposite Oogami, and the temperature of the place seemed to drop a couple of degrees.
"Todoroki-san, thank you for your time. I'm Koya Oogami." Oogami extended a hand, but Todoroki simply looked at him, making no move to accept it. Oogami awkwardly withdrew his hand and turned on his recorder. "Congratulations on your third-place finish. A truly impressive performance."
Todoroki nodded once, a minimal head movement.
"Your ice control is certainly worthy of your father, Endeavor. The scale of your attacks was something never before seen in an aspirant," Oogami tried, looking for an entry point.
Todoroki's heterochromatic eyes, one gray and one turquoise, locked onto him. "I'm not here to talk about my father."
"Alright," Oogami cleared his throat, readjusting his strategy on the fly. "Let's talk about the exam then. Your initial strategy was overwhelming. You froze dozens of robots in seconds. Was that something you planned beforehand?"
"It was the most efficient solution."
"Efficient? That's a modest way of putting it." Oogami forced a laugh that sounded hollow. "I noticed you only used your right side. Is there a strategic reason for not using your fire?"
"It wasn't necessary."
Another wall. Each question was met with a short, precise answer completely devoid of emotion or useful information. It was useless, each answer was a barrier.
"I understand. Let's talk about your classmates then," Oogami tried, changing tactics. "Candidate Shiozaki, for example. Her display of power was a surprise to everyone. Did you have any interaction with her during the exam? Did you observe her technique?"
"I was focused on my own exam."
"And what about Melissa Shield? Her rescue strategy and leadership were much talked about. A very brave act."
"It was the right decision."
Oogami was starting to feel a drop of sweat on the back of his neck. This kid was a fortress. He decided he had nothing to lose.
"I've heard U.A. has been implementing new mentorship programs this year," he said, his tone as casual as he could make it. "They've even brought in external consultants. Perhaps you worked with one of them?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Todoroki finally said. His voice was flat, inflectionless.
And that was it. Oogami asked a couple more questions about the exam, receiving the same monosyllabic replies. When the five minutes of torture ended, he felt relieved. Todoroki stood up, nodded once more, and left, leaving the room several degrees colder.
Next to enter was Melissa Shield. The door opened and with it came an energy that lit up the room. She wore her U.A. uniform with pride, and her right arm, though healed, was still wrapped in a light brace.
"Oogami-san! A pleasure to meet you!" she said, her voice warm and full of enthusiasm. She sat down and extended her hand, and her grip was firm and confident.
The change was so drastic that Oogami took a second to recover. "Shield-san! The pleasure is mine. Congratulations on your incredible second-place finish!" His own tone warmed in response.
"Thank you so much! I still can't believe it," she laughed.
"Your rescue act was, in my opinion, the most heroic moment of the entire day. Saving another aspirant at the cost of your own safety... that's a true hero. How did you manage to stay calm under such pressure?"
Melissa's smile was professional and charismatic. "Well, I had an excellent mentor who always taught me that a cool head saves many more lives than a strong punch. Sometimes, the best strategy is to step back and protect others."
"Very wise advice," Oogami nodded. "Speaking of advice and mentorship... I've heard U.A. has hired some new and very promising 'performance consultants' this year. Did you get a chance to work with any of them? Perhaps a young man with green hair named Izuku Midoriya?"
Melissa's smile didn't falter for an instant. If the question surprised her, she didn't show it at all. Her blue eyes sparkled with genuine enthusiasm.
"Oh, yes! I met Midoriya-kun briefly before the exam! He's an absolute genius of support technology!" Her voice rose slightly in pitch, as if she were talking about her favorite subject in the world. "We had a fascinating conversation about polymer alloys and the efficiency of lithium batteries for hero suits. Do you know the performance difference between a capacitor and a solid-state battery in high-discharge applications? It's incredible! He gave me a couple of ideas for my next project that could revolutionize energy management."
She paused, almost breathless, her face lit up with excitement.
Oogami blinked. She had deflected him. She had deflected him with the skill of a seasoned politician, launching a smoke screen of technical jargon and nerd enthusiasm.
"Sounds... fascinating," Oogami managed to say, feeling like he was losing control of the interview. "So, your interaction was purely about support equipment?"
"Mostly! Though he's also a very encouraging person. He has this way of making you believe you can achieve anything. He's a great friend." She smiled, a sincere and disarming smile.
A great friend. Oogami realized he wasn't going to get anything from her. She was a wall of charm and perfect PR answers. He tried a couple more questions about the exam, and she answered them with detail and charisma, painting a picture of hard work and dedication, never mentioning specific outside help.
When her time was up, Melissa said goodbye with the same energy with which she had entered, leaving Oogami overwhelmed by her torrent of positivity.
Finally, the door opened for the third time. Ibara Shiozaki entered. She moved with a serene, almost ethereal calm that contrasted sharply with Melissa's energy. Her long green hair, with the appearance of vines, swayed gently with each step. She sat down, clasped her hands in her lap, and bowed her head with a respect that unsettled him. She was the main target. The anomaly.
"Shiozaki-san," Oogami began, lowering his own voice, trying to match her tranquil tone. "Thank you for coming. Your performance was, without exaggeration, a miracle. To go from being just a candidate to dominating the entire battlefield... it's extraordinary."
Ibara's smile was kind and perfectly serene. "I appreciate your kind words. But it was not a miracle, sir. It was a blessing."
"A blessing," Oogami repeated. "Could you explain?"
"All the strength and guidance one needs comes from above," she replied with a soft, melodic voice. "I was blessed with a Quirk, and it is my sacred duty to cultivate it to the fullest of my abilities to serve others. Effort and prayer are my only true mentors."
She was using her piety as a shield. And it was a damn good shield.
"I understand. A very admirable perspective," Oogami said, trying not to sound condescending. He knew he had to be careful. "But even the most devout sometimes need an earthly guide. A teacher to show them the way. Did you have any special mentor who helped you unlock that potential?"
"Every person we meet on our path is a teacher, if we are willing to learn the lesson they offer," she replied with the same imperturbable calm.
Oogami felt the first real pang of frustration.
"Certainly," he conceded, forcing patience. "But I've heard rumors of a new mentorship program that is about to become official. What can you tell me about it?"
Ibara's expression did not change. Her serenity was absolute, imperturbable.
"I have been blessed with the opportunity to meet many dedicated souls here at U.A. Every encounter is a life lesson. The only thing I can tell you is that I met a boy whose soul is very passionate about heroism." She paused, as if choosing her words with utmost care. "His faith in the potential of others is a true inspiration to all of us. He taught me that true strength lies not only in defense, but in the will to actively protect others. He is a good friend."
She was protecting him. Perfectly. Framing him as an "inspiring friend" with a "faith" that motivated her. She used almost religious language to describe him, elevating him to a figure of spiritual inspiration rather than a practical coach.
"So your friend's influence was more... spiritual?" Oogami pressed, feeling like he was trying to catch smoke with his hands.
"All influence that brings us closer to being better people is, in essence, spiritual," she replied, her serene smile firmly in place.
Every question Oogami asked her was deflected with a pious reflection that revealed absolutely nothing. When his time ended, Ibara said goodbye with the same polite reverence with which she had entered, leaving Oogami completely exhausted.
The interviews were over. He was alone again in the waiting room, his digital recorder full of fifteen minutes of completely useless audio. He felt frustrated. Defeated. They had completely blocked him.
The door opened and Nemuri entered to escort him out. The triumphant smile on her face did nothing to improve his mood.
"I hope you got everything you needed, Oogami-san," she said. "Our students are very... discreet. It's a quality we value greatly here at U.A. They learn more than how to throw punches."
She was rubbing salt in the wound, and they both knew it.
"They were very... inspiring," Oogami forced himself to say, maintaining his own professional mask. The taste of defeat was bitter in his mouth. "Thank you for the opportunity, Midnight-san."
"Anytime," she replied, knowing perfectly well there wouldn't be a next time.
As he walked down U.A.'s long, immaculate corridors toward the exit, escorted by the hero, his frustration began to cool, to harden, transforming into a new, cold determination.
They're lying. All of them. Hiding something. The blonde is too smart, the plant girl is too serene, and Todoroki is a wall of ice.
If I can't get the story through the students, who are loyal and protected by the fortress that is U.A... I'll have to go back to the original source. To the first data point. To the first anomaly.
He reached his car, parked outside the academy's imposing gates. He said goodbye to Midnight with a nod and got into the driver's seat. He took out his phone and looked for a contact in his agenda, one he didn't use often. He made the call.
"Hello. It's me."
He waited for the surprised greeting from the other side to end.
"Yes, it's been a while. Listen, I need you to get me something. It's important."
He paused, his gaze fixed on the U.A. logo shining in the distance.
"I want Mt. Lady's complete public appearance schedule for the next month. Every interview, every mall opening, every autograph signing, every scheduled patrol you can find in public records. Everything."
He heard the question from the other side.
"No, that's not enough. I also want a full report on her agency's structure. Who handles her finances? How have her revenues changed in the last six months? Review her expenses, her investments, her sponsorship contracts. I want to know where every yen goes."
The person on the other side must have expressed doubts, because Oogami's face hardened.
"I don't care what it costs. Charge it to my expense account. Yes. It's time to apply a little pressure to the weakest link."
He hung up the call. The hunt had changed targets. It was no longer about ambushing teenagers in school hallways. It was about a financial investigation, about finding cracks in the armor of a professional hero.
And the hunt was returning, directly and relentlessly, to Yu Takeyama. Oogami smiled to himself, a joyless gesture. He knew she was no longer the impulsive hero she once was. He knew she had become stronger, smarter. But everyone had a pressure point. And he was an expert at finding them and pressing until something broke.