Chapter 003 (Hope and Despair)

The night sky stretched out like a sea of shimmering stars, twinkling over the sprawling Yukimura Estate. Nezu's small frame cut a sharp silhouette against the grand entrance as he left, his paws carrying him into the cool evening air. The event had proven to be far more insightful than he initially anticipated as one conversation clung to him like the cool evening air.

Aoi Yukimura's words still echoing in his mind, stirring something deep within the ever-calculating Principal. 

"A Symbol of Peace... not just for Japan, but for the world," she had said. A dream as bold as it was naïve, but the fire in her eyes—well, that was something.

Aoi Yukimura's words lingered in his mind, filling him with a rare sense of optimism. In her, Nezu saw a spirit unbroken by the ugliness of the world. She was a beacon, and in her ambition, he glimpsed something he hadn't seen in a long time—hope.

Sliding into the back of his sleek, understated car, Nezu wasted no time. His paws moved deftly, tapping the screen of his phone with precision. The number he dialed was one he could reach even in his sleep, maybe even in a coma.

The phone barely rang before a familiar voice answered, deep and full of that unyielding energy.

"Nezu? What brings you to call at this hour, my dear friend?"

"All Might," Nezu began, his voice as calm and measured as always. "I've just come from an event at Yukimura Estates. I think... I may have found someone. Someone who could change everything."

The line went silent for a beat. All Might wasn't one to be easily surprised, but when Nezu spoke like this, even he knew to listen.

"For you to say that," All Might finally responded, his tone laced with curiosity, "who could you possibly mean?"

"A young lady by the name of Aoi Yukimura," Nezu replied, leaning back into the plush seat. "Her dream is unlike any I've encountered. She wants to be the Symbol of Peace—not just for Japan, but for the world. And, All Might, her determination... it rivals even yours in your prime."

There was a low whistle from All Might's end. "The world, huh? That's no small feat. You really think she has what it takes?"

Nezu nodded, though All Might couldn't see it. "I believe she could be a candidate for One for All. Her heart is pure, her vision grand, and her strength of spirit undeniable. But more than that, she reminds me of something we often forget—hope. She believes in a future where peace is possible on a global scale."

All Might exhaled, the weight of Nezu's words sinking in. "Hope... something the world could use more of these days, huh? If she's the real deal, I'd like to meet her."

"You'll meet her soon enough," Nezu assured him. 

The call ended quietly, the weight of unspoken things hanging in the air. Nezu leaned back, his mind racing. Aoi Yukimura could be the key to a new era of peace, but there were always shadows lurking, waiting to snuff out even the brightest flames.

Meanwhile, beneath Japan's surface—

In a hidden lair where light never dared venture, another conversation was unfolding. The air was thick with the hum of dark technology, cold monitors casting eerie, shifting shadows across the walls. In the center of the room sat All For One, his presence looming like a specter of despair. His presence loomed, suffocating, a force that dominated the room.

The soft hum of machinery filled the room as Doctor Kyudai Garaki, also known as Ujiko, stood before a set of glowing monitors. The glow of the monitors reflected off his glasses, giving his expression a monstrous, inhuman quality.

"Master," he rasped, his voice like nails scraping on steel, "everything is progressing exactly as planned. Both Tomura and Vortex are prepared for the next phase."

All For One remained still, his voice a low, menacing rumble. "Where are they now?"

Ujiko's grin widened. "Tomura is... in the basement. He's testing his decay quirk on a C-ranked hero we captured last week. The screams, Master... the sound of flesh crumbling—it's quite beautiful. He's making excellent progress."

"Good. And Vortex?"

Ujiko hesitated, his grin faltering for just a moment. "Vortex is... indulging in his vices. He's with two women, taken from the city outskirts. That lust of his... It's become almost insatiable, but it drives him. His hunger for power, control—it's all tied together."

All For One's lips curled slightly in amusement, though his eyes remained cold, dead. "His lust will be useful. It's that same hunger that will push him to destroy everything in his path. But make sure he remains focused, Doctor. We cannot afford him losing control."

Ujiko nodded eagerly. "Of course, Master. I will reign him in when needed."

"Then it's time to send them out. What is the plan?"

Ujiko's eyes gleamed with excitement. "We will send Tomura to the Maldives. A busy tourist destination, full of unsuspecting fools. His task will be to sow chaos, to unleash his destructive power. It will test his control over the decay. We'll also send two of the lesser villains to gauge his leadership."

All For One's lips barely moved, but his approval was clear. "And Vortex?"

"Fiji," the Doctor continued, practically salivating at the prospect. "A politically unstable island, ripe for manipulation. Vortex's Gravity Distortion quirk will allow him to bend the government to his will, crush those in power. His ambition, his thirst for control, will be tested there."

All For One considered this, his sharp mind turning the pieces over in the grand game he'd been playing for decades. "Good. Tomura's hatred and Vortex's greed must be honed. But we cannot let them lose control... they must remain useful to me."

"All preparations regarding Vortex's new identity are complete, yes? Nezu hasn't caught wind of anything, has he? After all, this involves his prized ex-student."

"Everything is in place, Master. When the time is right, we'll strike. The psychological damage alone could cripple Nezu, and if we play our cards right... it might just kill him. With Vortex and Tomura in the mix, both Nezu and All Might are on borrowed time. We just need the perfect moment to eliminate them."

All For One's voice, a low, dark rumble, carried a thread of amusement. "Yes... with that defanged body All Might is no doubt scouring the earth for his successor, the next One For All wielder. We'll deal with that pest before it grows its wings. Make sure both Tomura and Vortex are ready."

Ujiko's grin returned, twisted with excitement. "Of course, Master. I'll begin the final preparations immediately. Both of them will be briefed within the week. Their missions will trigger the next phase of our plan."

"And how is the Nomu project going? How long before we have that army"

Ujiko's eyes flickered toward another set of monitors, the flickering light casting grotesque shadows across his face. "Master on that front we're progressing, though test subject 43 was... a failure. But give me another 15 months, and I will deliver an unstoppable army at your command."

All For One's presence seemed to thicken, though he remained eerily still. "Continue your work, Doctor. We have waited long enough. When the time comes, nothing—nothing—will stand in our way and that useless All Might will be set as a symbol of downfall for all those who oppose."

With a gleeful smirk, Ujiko turned back to his work, leaving the chamber's heavy atmosphere intact. As the shadows crept further into the dark recesses of the lair; All For One's lips curled into a faint, sinister smile—barely noticeable, yet heavy with the promise of impending chaos.