The moment I pushed through the double doors of the rehabilitation wing, the clamor hit me like a wave. Shigaraki's classroom—Room 1V—buzzed with an edge that wasn't the usual controlled chaos I allowed. This was different.

Shigaraki stood in the center, surrounded by sneering trainees whose eyes glimmered with false superiority. He held his ground, though I could see the slight quiver in his clenched fists. Midnight stood at the front, trying—and failing—to keep the scene from devolving into chaos.

"Midoriya?" she said, surprise coloring her voice as I strode in. She was probably used to me crashing in unexpectedly, but this time my expression was sharp enough to silence her before she could question me further.

I didn't answer her. Instead, I walked up to the group and flicked a stack of cash at Midnight's feet. The room went silent, stunned into disbelief as the crisp bills fluttered down like falling leaves.

"Compensation for the mess I'm about to make," I said, my voice cold and detached.

The shocked silence quickly broke into murmurs, but one voice cut through the chatter with a smirk that made my blood boil. "Look at this," said one of the taller trainees, eyes gleaming with mockery. "The great 'hero-in-training' needs to come defend the villain wannabe. Pathetic. Just like you, Midoriya a quirkless mut. A big dreamer with nothing to back it up."

I saw red.

Before anyone could react, I closed the distance between us. My fist connected with his face in a blur, the crunch of his nose breaking silencing the room for a second time. He staggered back, eyes wide with shock and pain as blood trickled down his chin.

"HAH useless.... are you calling this useless?" I spat, my voice low and venomous. "I could hit ya.... who said I can't destroy you?"

The room was a cacophony of gasps now. Midnight's eyes widened, her body tensing as she prepared to intervene, but I wasn't done.

"You lot talk about strength, about who's worthy of being a hero or a villain," I continued, glaring around the room. "But if you're the kind who needs to bully someone, then you're nothing but cowards."

Midnight finally stepped forward, a flash of controlled anger in her eyes. "Midoriya, this is out of line—"

"I know what's out of line," I cut her off, a sharp grin pulling at my lips as I glanced at her and the cash at her feet. "Don't worry, I've already paid my fine and I am willing to pay more to break everything down... and I am not joking here."

Shigaraki's eyes met mine, something like gratitude flickering there for a brief moment. I turned back to the room, the silence pressing down like a weight as I forced myself to breathe, to pull back the storm inside me.

"Class dismissed," Midnight said tightly, waving her hand to the rest of the trainees who moved as if the room had just become radioactive, eyes darting anywhere but at me or Shigaraki.

I let out a long exhale as the room emptied, the tension lingering like smoke. Midnight's eyes narrowed as she looked between the bloodied trainee and me.

"This isn't over, Nezu will hear from this," she said, but her tone carried a different note—something between disapproval and acknowledgment.

"Good," I replied, turning to leave as Shigaraki's eyes followed me. "Because neither am I, I just started and your rat satan is buyable. You think this would be possible without my money? Who do you think has the upper hand in this building?"

And with that, she left.