The moment Masata spoke those grave words, the smile vanished from Recovery Girl's face.
"Momo, Ochaco," Masata said calmly, turning toward the two girls. "You should go home and rest first. I'll stay in the infirmary tonight to monitor my condition. We'll meet again tomorrow morning."
He knew very well that what came next was not something many people should be present for.
"Eh? We're leaving already?" Ochaco blurted out immediately, clearly stunned. "Masata, aren't you coming home with us?"
Yaoyorozu Momo, who shared the same instincts as Masata, could tell at a glance that he didn't want them involved in whatever was about to be discussed. Though curiosity flickered in her eyes, she trusted that Masata was acting in their best interest.
"Alright, Ochaco," Momo said gently, taking her hand. "Let's head back first. After all that training earlier, you should rest properly, or you'll oversleep again tomorrow."
After spending so much time together, Ochaco had grown used to listening to Momo. With her reassurance, the two girls soon left the infirmary.
Only Masata and Recovery Girl remained.
"Alright," Recovery Girl said, her tone serious now. "Tell me exactly what happened tonight."
Masata scratched his head awkwardly. "Recovery Girl… it'd be better if you called All Might first. Otherwise, I'll just have to explain everything twice."
Recovery Girl paused, realizing she'd been too hasty. She quickly pulled a phone from her white coat and dialed a familiar number—one that might very well wake someone from their sleep.
The call connected almost immediately.
After hearing her explanation, All Might clearly grasped the gravity of the situation. He gave a brief response and hung up, saying he'd arrive as soon as possible.
The infirmary fell silent once more.
Recovery Girl stared ahead, clearly contemplating the impact of what Masata had hinted at. Masata, on the other hand, had no idea what kind of small talk one made with an elderly doctor in a situation like this.
After an unknown amount of time passed, footsteps echoed from outside the door, breaking the silence.
"Igarashi boy! Are you alright?!"
All Might burst in, his first concern immediately focused on Masata.
"Don't worry, All Might," Masata said with a grin. "It was just some trauma. I've already been treated."
As he spoke, Masata flexed his biceps exaggeratedly, trying to show that he was perfectly fine.
"That's good…" All Might exhaled in relief. Then his expression hardened.
"Now—tell us about the villain you encountered tonight."
He clearly had no interest in small talk.
"It went like this," Masata began.
He briefly recounted the strange occurrences of the past few days—the repeated coincidences, the subtle guidance in his thoughts, and how those hints eventually led him to a place called Shenmu Hospital.
"Not long after I arrived there, Nomu appeared," Masata continued, seeing no doubt on their faces.
"But this Nomu was completely different from the one at USJ. The difference was like comparing a baby to a fully grown adult."
"Although it was physically strong, it didn't have that rapid regeneration Quirk. I don't know if it possessed other abilities, but in the end, I dealt with it easily."
Masata paused briefly before continuing.
"After that… he appeared."
"He was wearing a black suit, with a steel mask covering his head. Honestly, it felt like facing a king of darkness. His presence alone crushed me—I saw death the moment he arrived."
Even recalling it now made Masata feel a chill crawl up his spine.
"Then he asked me if I wanted to join him. If I refused, I would die. He also said the reason he invited me was simply to disgust you."
All Might's expression darkened instantly. In his heart, he had already identified the man. Only one person would take pleasure in tormenting him like that.
"I tried to stall him, said a few meaningless things. But that man is completely self-centered. He lost patience and attacked."
"And—he has the ability to steal other people's Quirks."
Steam erupted violently.
All Might's thin frame instantly expanded into his muscular form, his hair rising as fury radiated from him.
"So it really is you…" he growled.
"ALL FOR ONE!!!"
His fists clenched so tightly they trembled.
"…If only I had finished you off five years ago…" All Might muttered, guilt and anger flooding his voice.
"Of course," Masata said calmly, "if I'm sitting here now, then my Quirk wasn't taken."
"?!"
All Might froze in shock.
He knew Masata was strong—exceptional even among students—but against that man? Survival alone seemed impossible.
"Well… you could call it a miracle," Masata said. "I was completely overwhelmed by his attack. But when he tried to take my Quirk, something inside me broke through—and I escaped."
"…!!!"
Please explain things more clearly!
That kind of shock was terrible for the heart!
All Might coughed violently, a mouthful of blood spilling out as his body reverted to its thin form.
"In short," Masata continued, "my Quirk evolved at that moment. Something I don't fully understand yet. Maybe it was triggered by the Quirk-stealing attempt itself."
"My body suddenly gained the ability to freely transform into magma."
"After that, I used the magma I created as cover, opened an underground path, and escaped. Then I came straight here."
"All things considered… he probably didn't chase me because too much time passed."
When Masata finished, both All Might and Recovery Girl felt their hearts pound with lingering fear. The story sounded simple when told aloud—but a single mistake would have meant death.
"Oh—one more thing," Masata added. "He said he hates you deeply. But his body seems to be in poor condition. According to him, he doesn't want to face you yet."
All Might's expression grew even heavier.
"And most importantly," Masata said quietly,
"Tomura Shigaraki—the leader of the criminals who attacked U.A. at USJ—is his student."
All Might's pupils shrank instantly.