Thrift Is a Virtue, a Fine Quality

So, are you planning to have me do something?

Shigaraki was indeed drawn to Uraraka Shige's words... and he is indeed easily manipulated now...

But this is only relative.

After all, Shigaraki isn't stupid; on the contrary, his character is quite intelligent. It's just that he still has significant psychological flaws and hasn't truly matured yet...

Moreover, Uraraka Shige's behavior was so obvious that it was immediately apparent...

Therefore, in this situation, if Shigaraki were to completely disregard everything and foolishly proceed according to Uraraka Shige's plan...

That's ridiculous... Don't ask me what I mean by ridiculous, just use your imagination...

So, although he didn't know exactly what Uraraka Shige's true intentions were, Shigaraki, who could at least tell that Uraraka Shige had some plans, said the words above.

In a tone that sounded somewhat dismissive.

Uraraka Shige was also somewhat surprised that Shigaraki would say such a thing.

Of course! His surprise wasn't because he doubted Shigaraki's intelligence... but rather because Shigaraki's emotional intelligence and mental state... from some perspectives, they were truly touching... at least that's how Shigaraki is now, and his future state as he grows up is another matter entirely, it's practically like a completely different person.

However, even if he was surprised, it didn't mean that Uraraka Shige or stand there dumbfounded... After all, it was just surprise, not astonishment, and it wasn't like he suddenly started thinking about something. No matter how you look at it, it shouldn't be enough to make him suddenly stand there dumbfounded.

"Hmm... what I mean is, how about we Nomu capture that brat? Anyway, it looks like that brat has been through a tough fight and probably doesn't have the strength to resist anymore. If we can catch it off guard... this Nomu can fly... the chances of success should be pretty high, right?"

So, after Uraraka Shige uttered those words with a slightly disdainful tone, Shigaraki used those words as his own reply.

Then Shigaraki looked at Uraraka Shige with a very bored expression, like someone who had been playing a game for a long time and was getting tired and even a little irritable.

Shigaraki said:

Why? What's the reason?

Because Shigaraki was facing Uraraka Shige at that moment, even though Shigaraki's face was covered by that severed hand, Uraraka Shige could still easily discern Shigaraki's expression... through the eye peeking out from between the severed fingers.

Then Uraraka Shige had a slight idea of what effect his words had had on Shigaraki, and how he should use words to achieve his goal.

This is what he said:

"... If I had to give a reason... fate? destiny? Or something else? After all, you are that person's disciple, inheriting that person's 'spirit' and 'thoughts.' And that brat, if nothing unexpected happens, should be All Might's disciple, the 'Symbol of Justice,' inheriting All Might's 'spirit' and 'thoughts'... hmm... maybe also 'Quirk' and 'beliefs.'"

"Although I don't know much, this seems like a great opportunity, right? If we can successfully catch that brat and bring him to your teacher, your teacher should be very happy... You probably want to do something for your teacher, right? Why don't you give it a try?"

"Even if we fail, the price we pay is just one 'Nomu'... and it's an injured 'Nomu' that isn't particularly strong."

Uraraka Shige's words undoubtedly worked... but considering how much effort Uraraka Shige put in, perhaps we should add a 'finally'?

In short, after Uraraka Shige speaking those last words, Shigaraki's face turned completely gloomy.

Then Shigaraki stopped looking at Uraraka Shige and turned to walk towards the Kurogiri.

"Kurogiri, open the door! I don't want to stay in this boring place anymore. I want to go back."

The Kurogiri neither asked nor said anything more, and silently opened the portal.

Without hesitation, Shigaraki walked into the portal, his figure gradually swallowed up by the portal made of black smoke, disappearing little by little from sight.

Uraraka Shige's actions and plans have failed...

Did it fail?

No, not at all.

Just before the last glimpse of Shigaraki's clothes was about to be swallowed up by the black smoke that formed the portal, another sentence was thrown out by Shigaraki through the portal that was about to close.

Or rather, a command...

"Nomu, go do it. Kurogiri, you and Uraraka Shige stay here, I'm going to rest."

"Ughhh~~"

Nomu responded with a sound that was hard to decipher—whether it was a chirp or a roar—and then flapped its wings and flew toward Midoriya.

Kurogiri stood still, silently closing the portal. She glanced at Midoriya and the others before turning her gaze to Uraraka Shige.

'You seem to have some plans...'

They seemed to have some doubts about something.

Fortunately, this suspicion wasn't too serious. At least the Kurogiri wouldn't keep it hidden in her heart, silently observing and making preparations in secret... Instead, she directly asked Uraraka Shige about it.

"Uraraka Shige... what exactly is your purpose?"

Even so... Although the Kurogiri asked the question, it still startled Uraraka Shige Kurogiri. He immediately became nervous and began to reflect on whether he had revealed anything or acted too hastily, thus giving himself away.

However, Uraraka Shige quickly denied these points and then realized what the Kurogiri really wanted to ask.

So he replied:

"My purpose? I've always felt that the value of a 'Hero Killer' shouldn't stop there... so I wanted to test it out... to verify it... I wanted... more..."

Meanwhile, on the other side, the 'Nomu' successfully grabbed Midoriya and carried him into the air with flapping wings... Then, because he was already injured, blood dripped from the air and landed on the face of a female 'hero' who was escorting Stain and was almost pressed against him.

Then the smell of blood roused Stain his dazed state, briefly bringing him back to his senses. Upon discovering the existence of the 'Nomu,' his inner 'New Year' ignited rapidly, leading him to finally declare his existence to this world, to this 'heroic' society, and to confirm his 'belief' and 'persistence.'

Meanwhile, on the water tower, Uraraka Shige smiled upon seeing this, then pushed off with both hands, activating his 'Quirk' to fly down the water tower. When Kurogiri asked him what he was going to do, he said the following:

"Well, 'Hero Killer' has already proven his worth, hasn't he? So what I need to do is simple, right? Of course, I need to squeeze every last drop of 'value' out of him... After all, thrift is a good quality... We can't let it (value) go to waste..."