Toga was excited. A restless, almost childlike excitement, but one that carried a dangerous gleam in her golden eyes. Recently, Rin's plans for her had been simple: make the name Red Queen known. And for that, any means were valid—as long as she didn't die in the process. That detail was important because Rin had made it clear that if she got involved in something truly dangerous, she was to return to him immediately.
Simple. Direct. Objective.
And Toga didn't mind. She enjoyed following his plans because she always ended up having fun in the process.
Lately, she had been keeping herself busy with various interesting activities. Killing here and there—nothing out of the ordinary for her. Besides that, she had been taking on some jobs for a villain broker, some guy named Giran. The name didn't matter much to her. People like him came and went, and she saw no need to remember irrelevant details.
What really mattered was the sensation. The metallic scent of blood, the adrenaline coursing through her body as her heart pounded faster. But lately… something had been bothering her.
As she sharpened her knife with rhythmic movements, she murmured to herself:
"Ah… Rin-kun was right. I need more combat technique. I've been too stagnant."
She paused, watching the silver blade reflect her own eyes.
'Mmmm... I need a teacher. But who?'
She pursed her lips into a small pout, thoughtful.
Her mind drifted back to her weakness. She was agile and fast, her abilities were almost supernatural. However, there was no technique in her movements. Not even a refined instinct. Just improvisation. She had always done only what felt right in the moment, relying on her killer intuition. But after a few tougher fights, she realized the problem.
Now, she carried wounds to remind her of it. Small cuts, bruises, scars that, though not serious, were a silent reminder that she needed to improve.
She let out a heavy sigh, pausing the sharpening of her blade. With an automatic motion, she sheathed the knife, her fingers lightly playing with the handle.
And then, something in the environment shifted.
A sound.
Toc.
The dry sound of a stone falling echoed through the area.
Toga's eyes immediately narrowed. Her body reacted before her mind even processed the threat. In an instant, she drew her knife and hid behind the wall, her heart beating a little faster.
She remained there, motionless, waiting.
Silence.
Her ears were sharp, trying to catch any other noise, any movement. Her breathing grew lighter, more controlled. A small smile began to form on her lips.
'Someone came to play with me?' she thought, excited.
Tap! Tap!
Footsteps approached.
Toga's heart raced in anticipation. A smile formed on her lips, a wild gleam took over her golden eyes. As soon as the steps came close enough, she leaped.
Her knife sliced through the air like a silver flash, moving toward its target with deadly precision. However, something gleamed in the dark—but it wasn't her blade.
Ding!
Sparks lit up the surroundings for a brief instant as two blades clashed. The impact reverberated through the metal, sending a strange vibration through Toga's fingers. She narrowed her eyes, forcing her vision to adjust to the dim light. That's when she saw it.
The face of the figure before her was peculiar. Flat, somewhat triangular, lacking a nose. He wore a red band-like mask over his eyes, partially hiding his expression. His long black hair fell messily, as if he had never bothered to fix it. His eyes were small and red, with barely visible irises.
He didn't hesitate.
Before Toga could understand what had happened, the world around her spun.
"Huh?" That was all she could say before feeling the impact.
BAAM!
Her body crashed onto the ground hard, but… not as hard as it should have. The blow was softened. Her instincts told her the man had held back.
He realized her age.
"A child?" The man's voice echoed in the dark alley, laced with strangeness and perhaps a hint of curiosity. "What are you doing here?"
Toga blinked a few times, trying to process what had just happened. Then, with a small grumble, she began massaging her sore hip.
"Oww..." she murmured, without losing the excitement in her voice. "I'm here to rest after killing some guys I was asked to."
The man remained motionless for a moment, his piercing gaze analyzing each of her words. Then, with a more serious tone, he asked:
"Killing whoever you're told to? Are you an assassin?"
The question sounded like a judgment. As if he were trying to measure her worth.
But Toga only tilted her head to the side, her eyes filled with confusion, as if she didn't understand what he meant.
"Huh? I'm not an assassin," she replied naturally. "I'm a cleaner."
Silence hung between them.
She continued without hesitation.
"I'm cleaning the world of people who harm society. The person I love, Slur, is cursed by the false faces he sees every day. I want him to live in a way where he doesn't have to see those faces every time he walks down the street or with every sunrise."
Her voice was serene, yet carried an unwavering fervor.
"I will change the world for him. And he will change the world for me."
Her eyes met Stain's.
She tilted her head slightly, her expression serious but still carrying that peculiar glimmer.
"Can you understand that?"
The alley fell silent.
The cold wind blew, lightly swaying the loose strands of Stain's hair. His gaze never left Toga's.
Stain remained silent for a moment, observing Toga with an almost analytical intensity. His stare, sharp as a freshly honed blade, seemed to pierce through every word she had spoken, as if he were trying to see beyond the surface, beyond the dried blood on her clothes and the carefree smile she so often wore.
Then, with a grave yet curious tone, he asked:
"Do you truly desire this? Are you determined to follow this path?"
The question carried a hidden weight. To someone like Stain, true determination was not something trivial. He had seen countless villains and heroes, people who claimed to fight for something, but who, deep down, were merely puppets of their own selfish interests.
But this girl? Did she truly possess an unshakable will?
He wanted to know.
Toga, however, did not hesitate.
Her eyes shone with a rare fire, something Stain hadn't seen in a long time. A flame of conviction that couldn't be fabricated, that only arose in those who truly believed in their words.
"I am." Her voice came out firm, almost cutting. "I will give everything for the person who accepted me as I am. For the way society itself rejected me."
There was no lie there. No hesitation. Only pure determination.
Stain narrowed his eyes, absorbing those words. He had met many who spoke of revolution, change, destruction. But few had a clear vision of what they wanted. Toga didn't seem driven just by a desire for chaos or blood. She wasn't a common assassin, aimless or purposeless.
She knew what she wanted.
And for a moment, he saw something in her that he recognized deeply: the same indomitable will that he himself carried.
Then, he smiled.
"Heh."
It was a rare smile. Small, but full of meaning.
Maybe, without realizing it, he had found someone who shared an incredible determination.
He crossed his arms, his posture relaxing slightly.
"Ah..." he murmured to himself. "I never thought of this before, but..."
His smile grew a little wider, an unusual gleam appearing in his eyes.
"It seems I've found a successor for my will and my desire."
Toga blinked, surprised.
"Huh?"
Her tone was one of pure confusion, but Stain just kept staring at her, evaluating her once more.
The night around them seemed colder, the wind denser. Perhaps, fate had just drawn a new path for both of them.
=========================
Toga became Stain's apprentice. After so long relying only on her instincts, she finally had a teacher to hone her combat skills. The training was intense and relentless, but she liked it. She enjoyed the pain in her muscles after hours of repetition, the adrenaline of each fight, and the metallic sound of blades clashing.
Under Stain's tutelage, Toga learned to fight with more precision, becoming extremely skilled with knives. Every strike began to have a purpose, each movement was made with intent. But it wasn't just the training that occupied her nights. She also helped Stain with his "purification" missions, eliminating those he considered false heroes.
The first time was unforgettable.
They were in a dark alley, the smell of dampness hanging in the air. The hero, a tall man in a blue and silver uniform, stopped when he saw them approaching. His eyes narrowed as he tried to process the scene.
"The Hero Killer and... that girl from the incident?" He frowned, suspicion growing on his face.
Before he could say anything else, Toga lunged at him. Her daggers glinted under the weak light of the nearest streetlamp as they sliced through the air toward their target.
The hero reacted quickly, activating his Quirk. Two energy discs materialized around his hands, creating a spinning barrier. Toga's blades ricocheted off, bouncing away without causing damage.
But for Toga, this was just an opening.
Her body spun with feline agility, and in an instant, her leg arced perfectly. The impact of the kick hit the hero's chin, snapping his head back. Dazed, he staggered, creating an opening for the next blow.
Without hesitation, Toga pulled another dagger and aimed it directly at the hero's neck.
"STOP!"
Stain's voice cut through the air like a sharp blade.
In an almost involuntary reflex, Toga jumped backward, distancing herself. Her confused gaze fell upon her mentor.
"This was inefficient," Stain stated coldly. "You attacked unnecessarily at the start. You could have thrown the daggers before exposing yourself to direct combat."
Toga blinked a few times, processing the words.
"Ah, I understand." Her mind quickly absorbed the criticism as her fingers closed around the blades attached to the pouch on her leg. "So I need more efficiency... I'll use speed and agility."
She crouched slightly, preparing herself. Her gaze became wild, like that of a predator hunting its prey. But this time, she didn't let any murderous intent slip through.
The hero, still trying to regain his balance, swallowed hard upon seeing the change in the girl's posture. Something about her seemed different now... sharper, more calculated.
Then, in an instant, she vanished.
"What?!" The hero's eyes widened.
His body stiffened as he felt something cold and sharp against his skin.
The energy discs around his hands shattered. A moment later, fine, deep cuts appeared on his palms and wrists, blood trickling down in small crimson streams.
"What the hell..." He tried to move, but his body was slow, fear consuming him.
High above, Toga reappeared, perched against the wall of the alley. The smile on her lips was pure ecstasy.
She propelled herself forward again, becoming a fast blur before the hero could react.
Stain, watching the scene, let out a subtle smile.
She was learning.
The hero barely had time to react before a sharp, searing pain coursed through his arms. His body instinctively tensed, and his wide eyes tried, in vain, to track Toga's movements. But it was useless—she moved too fast, like a hungry shadow stalking its prey in the darkness.
His hands trembled, covered in deep cuts that tore into his skin like tiny sharp claws. Blood flowed in crimson streams, staining the dirty, damp ground of the alley. His breath became erratic, and the metallic scent of his own blood filled his nostrils. He tried to focus, gather strength to fight back, but his body refused to obey.
"I... need... to escape..." The thought echoed in his mind like a desperate alarm, but his legs felt heavy, stuck to the ground, which now seemed treacherously far away.
Then Toga reappeared.
Hanging from the wall like a wild beast, her flexible body balanced with unnerving ease. She wasn't panting, didn't seem the least bit worried. On the contrary—the smile on her lips was sharp and wild, her eyes glowing with pure excitement.
She wasn't just fighting.
She was having fun.
"You're trembling!" Toga hummed, tilting her head from side to side playfully, like a cat that had just trapped a helpless mouse between its claws.
The hero gritted his teeth, forcing his hands to rise to activate his Quirk again. Two faint discs of energy tried to form around his trembling fingers, but the pain and blood loss were taking their toll. His vision began to blur, and the discs flickered unstably before disappearing completely.
That's when a new movement cut through the air.
Stain advanced.
Unlike Toga's frantic speed, his steps were controlled, his gestures precise, like a surgeon about to operate. His blade slid through the space between him and the hero with terrifying dexterity, striking a specific point on the opponent's shoulder.
The hero gasped as he felt a wave of numbness spread through his body. His muscles tensed and then became completely still. His breath quickened in panic, and he realized, terrified, that he could no longer move.
"It's over."
Stain's voice was cold and definitive. He didn't need to repeat himself.
Toga blinked, surprised, then puffed out her cheeks in a clear sign of disappointment, like a child upset that someone had ended her game too soon.
"Ahhh, but I was having fun," she mumbled, spinning one of her daggers between her fingers with skill.
Stain stared at her, his harsh eyes piercing hers like invisible blades.
"His time hasn't come yet." His voice sounded like an unquestionable command. "If you want to be effective, learn to end the fight with the least amount of effort. Don't play with your prey—eliminate it when necessary."
Toga tilted her head to the side, processing the words. Her eyes glimmered for a moment, as if a thought crossed her mind. Then, as if nothing had happened, she just shrugged and smiled.
"Okay, okay, sensei~!"
The hero fell to his knees, his body trembling as he struggled to breathe. His chest rose and fell in irregular spasms, and his mouth opened, trying to form words. But before he could say anything, Stain had already turned to leave.
Toga looked at the defeated man, her head tilted slightly, as if admiring an unfinished piece of art. Then, she gave her victim one last mischievous glance.
"Maybe next time you'll have better luck, Mr. Hero~" she said in a sing-song tone before skipping after Stain.
Her light and carefree footsteps echoed in the dark alley until both figures disappeared completely into the city's gloom.
That night, Toga learned more than just technique.
She understood the true meaning of the word efficiency.
=========================
The cold night wind blew over the rooftops of the buildings, ruffling Stain's messy hair and Toga's blonde, disheveled strands. The city lights flickered below them, creating a vibrant scene, almost indifferent to the presence of the two.
However, their eyes were fixed on the enormous screen that dominated the facade of a building ahead. The glow from the screen reflected in Stain's red pupils as he watched the news scroll, displaying headlines of crimes, corruption, and scandals involving professional heroes.
He furrowed his brow.
"Why are we here?" Stain asked, his tone laden with distrust as he kept his eyes on the screen, still unable to understand the purpose of this wait.
Toga, beside him, smiled widely, her eyes shining with unsettling enthusiasm. She placed her hands behind her back and swayed her body slightly forward and backward, as if holding a secret she could barely wait to reveal.
"Because now..."
Before Stain could question her again, the screen suddenly flickered, interrupting the normal programming. The previous images disappeared, replaced by a white background. In the center of the screen, a huge black X suddenly appeared, sharp and imposing.
The air seemed to grow heavier.
The deep, electronically distorted voice of an unknown narrator echoed through the surroundings, amplified by the screen's sound system.
"Hello, ladies and gentlemen. We are beginning the Birth of X."
Toga's eyes widened with pure ecstasy. Her already wide smile twisted into something even more insane, almost feverish. Her fingers trembled with excitement as she watched the scene before her.
Stain kept his serious expression, analyzing the situation, feeling that this was more than just an announcement. There was something profound, an impending change about to happen.
Toga giggled softly, her laugh becoming a small, offbeat melody before turning to her master, her eyes shining with intense madness.
"To witness the birth of the greatest revolutionary in the world." She declared, her voice filled with almost devout admiration.
On the screen, the transmission continued, a figure appeared as that name echoed through the city—No, the entire country.
"Nice to meet you all, I am Slur, or X."
The game had begun.