"Hitoshi Shinso, UA student from the Hero Course," Shinso answered stiffly. He was almost tempted to use his Quirk on Nighteye when the man replied, but he withheld it. He really didn't want to be called a villain this early in the morning.

"Katsuki Bakugo, UA student from the Hero Course as well."

Nighteye's eyes narrow ever so slightly, and he could almost hear Mirio hissing something about cracking a joke behind them. But he resolutely met the man's eyes, hoping against hope that he isn't put into that tickling machine. That looked horrendous.

Bakugo had his own brand of stubbornness as well, and there was a long staring contest before Nighteye said,

"And why are the both of you here?"

"For the Work Studies, sir," they answer in unison. Nighteye looked a bit rattled but he moved back and asked another question,

"And why do you think I should take the both of you in? I have enough of interns running about and enough sidekicks which get this agency running perfectly well. How would this agency benefit from the both of you?"

Bakugo might have cooled down slightly, but his temper reared its ugly head at these words.

"Well, I don't know Sir," he said drawling the last word out, "Maybe because you specifically asked for the both of us, charmed by our gorgeous talents and experiences, no doubt."

Shinso bit on his lip to stifle his laughter. Nighteye's eyes narrow further, as if he cannot believe that a school student had spoken back to him in this way. However, Bakugo wasn't done.

"We have come here for gaining experience to be a pro hero, and I definitely wasn't told that this was gonna turn out to be a job interview instead of an educational tour. While I totally understand the prospect of honing our skills for future job interviews, it's not like we haven't noticed the disappointed look which you throw at Tintin and me. I do realise that we are here for you to observe and I believe that it is a good enough reason already. We are submitting to being your test subjects."

/Deku would have been proud of him, but most unfortunately he wasn't there to watch this exchange/

Nighteye's undreadable almost looked comical, and Bakugo's smirk at his achievement wasn't helping matters either. Shinso wouldn't be surprised if they got kicked out right then and there. Even if he, himself hadn't done anything.

After what felt like ages, Nighteye spoke.

"You certainly have a sharp tongue, but I wonder about your skills. If they are really as sharp as the tongue, then stamp this acceptance form yourself. I won't make any move to attack, just grab the stamp from my hand and stamp it yourself."

Immediately Shinso felt a sense of foreboding. This task definitely wasn't as simple as it sounded. And by the narrowing of Bakugo's eyes, he knew it as well. However all thoughts fled when Nighteye directly addressed him.

"You have a gift at silence, I will grant that. However, silence alone won't get you through this. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

Shinso stiffened as he tried to form a coherent response.

What came out was,

"I believe that your opinion on us is biased, especially your opinion on Bakugo is coloured by the shining image of All Might and the radiant light of Mirio Togata."

Nighteye looked affronted, but he didn't respond, probably recognising the danger of Shinso using his Quirk on him if he did. Which made grim satisfaction and a dull upset start a civil war in him, but he ignored it. Giving into his emotions wouldn't be the best way to get through this.

Nighteye raised his hand in a dismissive gesture, speaking directly to Mirio,

"Mirio, take these two out of the office along with you."

"Yes, sir."

Izuku's eyes widened as he finally found Kurogiri's research file after hours of searching. It was yellowed, a little over fifteen years old judging from the date. He felt a cold dread descend in his stomach as he absorbed the information.

Apparently Kurogiri's base Quirk came from a former hero-in-training named Oboro Shirakumo. Izuku remembers his name from his obssesive watching of old Sports Festival videos. Kurogiri wasn't a man, anymore, he was just way more intelligent than an average Nomu. The thought made him feel sick for he had walked past the Nomu manufacturing hall many times and he had sometimes heard the agonized screams of the tortured, gritting his teeth against the nausea and tears.

However, he also recalled Kurogiri's odd tics, like his overwhelming knowledge of Eraserhead and Present Mic and the inner workings of UA. Or the random comments he made at times. He felt a really tiny spark of hope in his chest, as he tried to think how to reboot him and override the brainwashing. It could be done in theory, but he needed a lot of preparation to do that. And perhaps some help from Eraserhead and Present Mic.

However, the thought made him stop dead for a few moments. Kurogiri had led his life in this way for as long as he remembered. Would it really be good to force back the old memories in him, make him undergo an old trauma and agonize over old hurt while simultaneously supporting the entire League? That didn't sit right with him.

As he sat conflicted, the subject of his thoughts spoke up,

"Six hours are almost up, and the Doctor seems to be waking up."

Izuku snapped out of his thought and looked at him, seemingly remembering the time limit he had set.

"Yeah, yeah, of course, transport all these back, I have found all that I needed to."

Kurogiri nodded and rose, collecting the papers back and disappearing to replace them.

He reappeared by Izuku's side again, who let himself he transported to the alley he had called Kurogiri from.

Just as he was turning to leave, he stopped and turned around again. Kurogiri was watching him, like a mother would watch her child go to school.

"Say, Kurogiri, if offered the chance, would you like to remember what you were before Tomura and me?"

Kurogiri gave him a long look before saying,

"That would be nice, but even if I don't, taking care of you Problem Children is enough."

Izuku smiled and waved, disappearing before Kurogiri could ask him why.

His mind was set. Now he needed a suitable computer and Eraserhead, because Present Mic was near impossible to confront in an abandoned alley.