~O~

To the onlookers — those students who weren't aware of the traitor hunting exercise, Team Green was using this case as an opportunity to take some rest and take it easy.

To the teachers — those who knew what was happening and knew well what their students are capable off, Team Green was planning something big that was well hidden from them.

Which one was true? Well, the answer was pretty simple...

The four students entered their dormitories, taking off their shoes and putting on their own slippers before they walked up to the couches in the common area. They slouched and met the comforting material of the couches beneath them.

Team Green was taking it easy.

"Not to be that guy but shouldn't we be investigating?" A certain redhead questioned. Now he may have followed his teammates all the way here to rest and kill the time but he didn't know why.

Aoyama asked with a smile, his face rested in his palms, "Don't you understand, mon ami?"

Kirishima was hesitant to reply because goddammit, even Aoyama knows...

"Um... N-No?"

Midoriya, who was sitting on the opposite couch, huffed, "Kacchan, if you will please..."

"Don't order me around, asshole." The blonde's usual anger and frustration seemed to be faux as he raised his hand, prepared an AP shot right above Kirishima's head and released the concentrated explosion.

On instinct, the redhead ducked as the shot went straight and destroyed the security camera that was fixated on the side of the common area. The remains of the device fell down to the floor with smoke rising that soon dissipated.

"What the—?!"

"You see, Kirishima," Midoriya began with a tone so very nonchalant and a sharp smile, "The core of this hunt is; watch who you trust. Now, that applies to our teachers as well. So we can't have them knowing what we're upto now, can we?"

Kirishima nodded. Of course he knew that much but was it really necessary to absolutely destroy a security camera like that?

"Secondly, as to why we're here and not investigating... Well, it's upto you if you want to trust my next words or not. After all, the traitor can be any of us."

The moment those words left the green haired boy's mouth, Kirishima almost shuddered but was quick to tense up his sturdy shoulders.

He got that they were supposed to keep an eye out for everyone. But to him, to Kirishima who valued each of these people so greatly that the idea of anyone of them ever backstabbing him or this faculty just... It was too difficult for him to imagine. Of course, this was just an exercise. They've had plenty of training exercises where some of his classmates would play the villains but still being given a choice to trust Midoriya out of all people was quite settling considering his teammates were acting so serious on this one.

Why were his teammates acting so serious though?

Midoriya continued, "According to the report, the traitor's presence was first noticed at one in the morning. That means he was, indeed, seen by someone. Then the malfunction was launched at three. A two hours gap to launch a simple file with UA's connection? And to Nezu's computer of all things? Almost makes me laugh."

"Then it's..." The redhead trailed off.

"A trap meant to busy us." The green haired boy claimed, "The first case basically conveys that the traitor is a small time villain hacker with low quality devices trying his luck in bringing down UA. Which is all false of course. The traitor is no small time villain hacker. Nope... They're much greater than that. Every traitor is dangerous in ways your everyday villains could never even think of. This one... They've got a pretty twisty scheme they're going to lay out in the span of next week."

"Then shouldn't we find them and stop them before they can cause any harm?" Kirishima asked, standing up from his place.

Midoriya's nonchalant smile didn't waver, Aoyama's posture was still calm and carefree and Bakugou was sitting on the other end of the couch, scrolling through his phone, completely unfazed by their conversation.

"How do you plan to find someone who's not even hiding, Shitty Hair?"

In that moment, Kirishima was certain his friends were really smart and he was really dumb because he had no idea what the ash blonde really meant.

On one hand, the traitor was obviously hiding. And on the other, they weren't.

The traitor was hiding themselves from the eyes of those working on the case. The traitor was seen at one in the morning.

There was a malfunction launched into Nezu's computer. The staff realized that at seven.

The traitor was not even hiding. The staff was being interrogated. All the other teams were busy.

It all clicked.

Kirishima spoke, "So, the traitor is... A student?"

"Oui, but don't let your guard down. In any case, that could just be what the traitor wants us to think. Rats don't sparkle, mon ami." Aoyama flipped his hair.

Midoriya hummed, "Our first suspect would be the one who reported seeing the traitor. A person who Mr. Aizawa and this report very skillfully dodged the identity of."

Kirishima pondered, "But doesn't that make Mr. Aizawa and the traitor... Accomplices?"

"They've been fucking accomplices from the very start, idiot. Didn't he say the script was already given to the chosen traitor?" Bakugou added.

"Yeah but that's just to set up the exercise, isn't it?" The redhead asked.

"Kirishima," Midoriya said, "When there's a rat to be caught, nothing can be overlooked... But if you want to take it as 'just training' then think of it as a cheat code. Mr. Aizawa knows who the traitor is; and we know that."

Kirishima placed a finger to his chin,

"So, we know who to interrogate in case things go south."

"Yup! That's it." Midoriya exclaimed, clapping his gloved hands together.

"So... What do we do now?"

"We investigate." Aoyama chirped.

"But you just said—!"

The blonde boy explained, "We'll be seen playing the part the traitor set for us. But we'll not really be investigating. All we have to do is goof around the school with serious thinking faces and voila~! The traitor thinks he's fooled us and then he won't be taking extra precautions! Quel idiot!"

"Moreover, we would have one less rivaling team to be worried of since we destroyed the security camera." The green haired boy added.

The fact clicked in Kirishima's head, "... Team Yellow will think one of us is the traitor!"

"And they'll fucking lose," Bakugou added, "Now get off your asses and get to work before the extras catch up on us!"

~O~

Aizawa exited the staff room with a huff after the interrogation session from Team Blue. It didn't last for long but certainly got a few suspicions chalked up at the teaching staff.

As the underground pro hero turned to the corner while going over the files given to him for the hunt, he was met with a familiar voice,

"Any progress?"

Aizawa looked beside him to see the principal standing with his back against the wall, a cup of tea in hand.

"No. Not yet." Aizawa's reply came monotonous.

Nezu hummed, "Why I was certain that this might've gotten a reaction out of them by now. Figures they are better trained for this than what I imagined."

"Or maybe the kids really are innocent?"

"Of course, I never said otherwise. I just... Don't want anything bad to happen again." Nezu stated, "Plus, you can't say this is not a good way to train their minds in the way! I've always found it fascinating how humans fail to use their heads in these matters..."

"Of course, you do."

There was a pause before the principal asked,

"How's our faux traitor coming along?"

"Better than expected. He's currently taking his classes."

Nezu chuckled, "Well, let's see if your students can at least figure out who that is, huh, Aizawa?"

Aizawa only gave a nod as he walked away.

~O~

"Hey, by the way, Aoyama?"

"Hm?"

"How come you are so proficient with solving these mystery cases, bro?"

"Oh that? I've been reading criminal mysteries with Midoriya recently."

Kirishima thought; oh mystery novels, huh? Guess I should read some of them too.

"That's really manly. Which ones have you read?"

"The ones mon ami got from police force's detective division!"

So, not mystery novels. Actual cases...

They've been reading actual criminal cases.

Damn, manly.