My Hero Academia: Nightmare Mode

The streets of Musutafu were eerily quiet, the only sounds being the distant hum of streetlights and the soft whistle of the wind. Kikidori stood in the middle of an abandoned warehouse district, his mismatched eyes locked onto Hiroki. The new member of the League of Villains had a twisted grin on his face, his confidence radiating as he stared down the student.

"You're strong, Kikidori," Hiroki said, his voice a mixture of amusement and menace. "But I wonder… how strong is your mind?"

Kikidori remained silent, his sharp canines glinting under the faint moonlight as his gaze never wavered. He had heard of Hiroki's quirk, Mental Reversal, and he knew better than to fall for any tricks.

"Let's see who breaks first," Hiroki taunted, lunging forward with blinding speed.

Kikidori's eyes glowed faintly as he activated his quirk, *Nightmare*. Shadows writhed around him, their smoky tendrils lashing out toward Hiroki. For a moment, Hiroki faltered, his grin replaced with a flicker of fear as the shadows grew closer.

But Hiroki was no amateur. He quickly snapped his fingers, activating his quirk. The air around Kikidori seemed to ripple, a strange pressure descending over him. Kikidori's movements slowed as his mind began to feel foggy, like a thousand voices whispering conflicting thoughts all at once.

"No…" Kikidori muttered, realizing what was happening. He pushed his quirk harder, sending another wave of shadows at Hiroki. But it was too late.

Hiroki smirked as his quirk fully took hold. "Gotcha."

Kikidori staggered, clutching his head as the world seemed to spin. His mismatched eyes dimmed for a moment, and when they reopened, there was a cold, malicious glint in them.

"Perfect," Hiroki said, stepping closer to the now-rogue Kikidori.

The dimly lit bar was filled with murmurs as the League of Villains gathered around Hiroki and Kikidori. Toga's golden eyes lit up when she saw Kikidori, and she immediately ran to his side, throwing her arms around him.

"Kikidori! You're finally here with us!" she squealed, her usual twisted enthusiasm evident.

But Kikidori didn't respond with his usual quiet reluctance. Instead, he smirked, his sharp canines showing. "I guess I am."

The room fell silent. Even Dabi, who was leaning casually against the bar, raised an eyebrow. "What did you do to him?" he asked Hiroki, his voice low and suspicious.

Hiroki crossed his arms, clearly proud of himself. "I used my quirk. His mind's been flipped. He's one of us now."

Twice clapped his hands together, his split personality showing. "Great! A new recruit! No, wait! This is bad!"

Shigaraki, sitting at the head of the bar, tapped his fingers against the counter, his disintegrating touch leaving faint scorch marks. "If he's really on our side now, he'll be a valuable weapon. His quirk…" His red eyes gleamed. "It's perfect for us."

Toga, still clinging to Kikidori, smiled up at him. "I told you we'd make a great team," she said sweetly.

Kikidori looked down at her, his smirk softening ever so slightly. "I suppose you were right."

At UA the news of Kikidori's defection spread quickly through the school. Aizawa stood at the front of Class 1-A, his expression grimmer than usual. The students sat in stunned silence, the weight of the situation sinking in.

"He's been compromised," Aizawa said flatly. "Hiroki's quirk has turned Kikidori against us. He's with the League now."

Mina slammed her hands on her desk, her face pale. "No! That can't be true! He wouldn't—"

"It's not his fault," Aizawa interrupted. "But until we can undo the effects of Hiroki's quirk, Kikidori is dangerous. More dangerous than most of the League combined."

Bakugo scowled, his hands sparking. "You're saying we just let him run loose with those villains?"

"No," Aizawa said. "We're putting together a team. Pro heroes, teachers, and a select few students. This is a retrieval mission. We're bringing Kikidori back."

The class erupted in a mixture of emotions—fear, determination, and disbelief. Midoriya clenched his fists, his green eyes filled with resolve. "We'll save him," he said firmly.

At the Hideout Kikidori stood by the window, looking out at the city below. His mind felt clearer than it ever had before, the lines between right and wrong blurred into insignificance. He didn't feel like a hero anymore.

Toga approached him, her usual grin plastered on her face. "You're going to love it here," she said, leaning against his arm. "No rules, no pretending to be someone you're not."

Kikidori glanced at her, a shadow of doubt flickering across his face. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

"For now," he said quietly, "I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be."

End of Chapter 23