The Trail of the Hero Killer

The U.A. Sports Festival was in full swing, and the excitement in the air was infectious. The Cavalry Battle was about to begin, and everyone was focused on Midoriya, who held the million-point headband. Teams were already forming strategies to take him down, and I stood watching, arms crossed, observing the tension between the students.

'This should be interesting,' I thought, watching Bakugo giving orders to his teammates. Everyone was gunning for the top spot, and Midoriya had unknowingly made himself the biggest target.

But just as the event was about to start, my phone buzzed. I pulled it out and glanced at the screen. It was Naomasa.

'Of course,' I thought with a sigh, stepping away from the crowd. "Yeah?" I answered, already knowing something was up.

"Shiro," Naomasa's voice came through, sounding tense. "We've got a lead on the Hero Killer. He's been spotted in Hosu."

I felt a knot of frustration tighten in my chest. 'Stain,' I thought. Why now, of all times? I had been looking forward to watching the students, especially to see how Midoriya and Bakugo would handle the pressure, but this… this couldn't wait.

"Where do you need me?" I asked, already making my way toward the exit of the stadium.

"We're mobilizing a team at the Hosu Police Station. Can you pick me up on the way?"

I sighed, casting one last glance at the arena. 'Figures.' "I'm on my way."

---

The drive to the police station was quiet, save for the hum of the engine and the distant chatter of the police radio. I pulled up outside the station, and Naomasa was waiting by the entrance. He got into the car, his usual calm demeanor in place, but I could see the tension in his eyes.

"This Hero Killer is starting to make a name for himself," he said as we drove toward Hosu. "He's taken down two more pro heroes today, and we've got reports he's still in the area."

I kept my eyes on the road, but my mind was elsewhere. Stain. His ideology, his twisted sense of justice—it made him dangerous, not just physically but mentally. His actions had a way of destabilizing things, causing fear among heroes, and that made him more than just another villain to take down.

"We've been tracking his movements," Naomasa continued, "but he's slippery. He's been using the alleys to move through the city undetected."

I nodded, taking a turn toward the city center. "He's good at staying out of sight. But we'll find him."

---

Hosu was already on edge by the time we arrived. The streets were quieter than usual, with pro heroes and police stationed at nearly every corner. The citizens seemed to sense something was wrong, even if they didn't know exactly what.

We pulled up to the police station, where a command center had been set up. Inside, officers and heroes were gathered around a large map of the city, marking sightings and potential locations where Stain could be hiding.

One of the lead officers stepped forward as Naomasa and I approached. "We've had multiple sightings of the Hero Killer," he said, pointing to several spots on the map. "He was last seen here, near Hosu Station, about an hour ago. We've got teams sweeping the area, but so far, no luck."

I stared at the map, feeling the weight of the situation. Stain's presence lingered, even without him being physically there. He thrived in this kind of chaos, moving through the city's underbelly like a ghost, leaving a trail of blood and fear behind him.

"He's careful," I said quietly, studying the locations. "He's not staying in one place for long. He's moving, keeping ahead of us."

Naomasa nodded. "But he can't keep running forever."

---

We began our search in the northern district of Hosu, moving through the narrow, winding alleys where Stain was last spotted. I kept my senses sharp, expanding my awareness to pick up any trace of his presence, while making shure not to hurt anyone.

The deeper we went, the more I could feel it—the faint, oppressive aura that Stain left in his wake. It was like a shadow, lingering in the corners, watching, waiting.

"He's close," I muttered, more to myself than anyone else.

Naomasa glanced at me, but he knew better than to question my instincts. We continued moving, following the trail of fear and blood that Stain had left behind. Every so often, we would find signs of his presence—an injured hero, slumped against a wall, or the dark smear of blood across the pavement. Each clue pointed us further into the labyrinth of the city's backstreets.

"False heroes must perish."

The words were scrawled in blood on a brick wall, a message left behind by Stain. I felt Naomasa tense beside me, his hand instinctively going to his Pistol.

"He's not just killing heroes," Naomasa said quietly. "He's making a statement."

"That's what makes him dangerous," I replied. "He's not just a villain. He's trying to change the system."

We kept moving, the trail growing colder with each passing block. But I could still feel Stain's presence, faint but unmistakable. He was close, lurking just beyond our reach.

---

After several hours of searching, we reached a dead end—literally. The alley we were in led to a blocked-off construction site, with debris and rubble piled high against the walls. I scanned the area, searching for any sign that Stain had passed through here.

"This is the last known location," Naomasa said, checking his notes. "But it looks like he's moved on."

I closed my eyes, focusing my senses. The air was heavy with the scent of blood, but Stain's presence was faint, like he had been here hours ago.

"He's gone," I said, opening my eyes. "But not for long."

Naomasa sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We'll have to keep searching. He can't stay hidden forever."

Stain was more than just a killer—he was a symbol of something deeper, something that was beginning to stir in the world of heroes. His actions were a catalyst, and the longer he stayed free, the more chaos he would cause.

But we would find him. It was only a matter of time.

---

The day dragged on, with no further sightings of Stain. We checked every lead, questioned every witness, but each time we arrived, we were just a little too late. Stain was always one step ahead, slipping through the cracks of the city like a ghost.

As night began to fall, Naomasa and I regrouped at the police station, exhausted but determined. The search would continue through the night, but I knew we wouldn't catch him today. Stain was too good at hiding, too skilled at evading capture.

But I wasn't discouraged. I knew his patterns now, knew how he moved. It was only a matter of time before we cornered him, and when we did, I would be ready.

"We'll get him," Naomasa said, as if reading my thoughts.

I nodded, though my thoughts were already ahead, planning our next move. Stain was dangerous, but he wasn't invincible. And when the time came, I would make sure he paid for the lives he'd taken.

---

Back at U.A., the Sports Festival would be wrapping up soon. I had missed all of it, but that didn't bother me. There would be other chances to see the students in action. For now, my focus was on Stain.