NO POV

Midoriya and Todoroki didn't stop running until they made it back to the city. Waiting for them in an alley was Iida along with Oni. When Iida saw the two of them he quickly ran over to them.

Iida: Do you have any idea how long you two have been gone? Where were you?

Midoriya: The Phantom Troupe, they discovered us.

Iida paled as Oni decided to join in on the conversation.

Oni: What happened?

Todoroki: They took us back to their lair where they asked us questions. Apparently they're after you for what you did to Stain.

Oni: Interesting.

Iida: Wait, how did you escape?

Midoriya: They left one guy behind to watch us and we were able to out run him.

Oni: Tell me two things, where exactly is their hideout and what do they look like?

Todoroki: Their base is an old abandoned building on the outskirts of the city. They were all wearing disguises so we couldn't see them.

Oni: That will do.

Oni started to walk away.

Midoriya: Wait, what are you planning?

Oni: Going after the boss of course.

Midoriya quickly got in front of him.

Midoriya: Wait hold on! The boss was able to stand up against Endeavor and Hawks, you may have taken down Stain but are you sure you can go up against him?

Oni: Listen kid, I have spent most of my life hunting down these bastards. I have made more progress tonight then I have in these past few years.

Midoriya: Still, you go in there now and it will be suicide.

Oni: You think I would just waltz on in there? I have been planning this for years and I know what to do. Listen, it would be best for you three to leave now. Or if you really wanted to, stay here and help me. So, what will it be?

Midoriya, Todoroki, and Iida all remained silent, thinking of their answers.

By now the sun was rising, the rest of the spiders have returned to the hideout along with Ryu. And to their utter surprise, Kurou had let the kids escape. Miwa took this chance to mock him.

Miwa: Wow Kurou, you couldn't even watch two high schoolers.

Kurou: SHUT UP! Those kids were crafty, I'll give them that. They definitely belong in UA.

Mayu: Unfortunately it now looks like we have to track them down.

Ryu: There will be none of that.

Kairi: Wait, are you saying we shouldn't chase them down?

Ryu: That is what I'm saying. Our mission is done, we can all go home now.

Dmitri: We're down? You sure we should just let these two kids roam free?

Sora: And what about the man who killed Stain? Shouldn't we hunt them down?

Goro: I agree with them, there are too many loose ends for us to ignore.

Ryu: And if we stay longer more of us will perish.

The spiders were confused by his statement.

Ryu: As you all remember, a few days ago I pursued a girl by the name of Neo Nostrode. This particular girl had a quirk that allowed her to predict people's fortunes, which I then later obtained. So tell me, who wants to know their fortune.

One by one, each member received a poem telling their fortune. They each them took time to read and figure them out.

Goro: Dammit, I can never understand this poem crap.

Dmitri: Same here, the only part I can understand is where more of us will die.

Satsuki: I think I know who it will be.

Kurou: How can you be sure?

Satsuki: First it talks about the harvest moon which is in September, the wine moon in August, and the lovers moon is June. These numbers correlate with 6, 8, and 9. So it could either be me, Miwa, or Kurou.

Both Miwa and Kurou gasped.

Kurou: Wait so you're saying I will die!?

Ryu: That could be it, or we could think about this another way. For example Sora here was born on September 22nd, same time around of the harvest moon. And Mayu here is the only one here with a June birthday. That means we have five possible candidates.

Aoi: In other words this is how our numbers will be halved.

Everyone turned to Aoi, who was sitting in a windowsill all by himself.

Aoi: We all received in our fortunes that half of the spiders will be killed. With Stain gone, that leaves five more available spots.

Elizabeth: Wait hold on there is still one thing I don't understand. What is this talk about scarlet eyes?

Dmitri: Probably means that a person with scarlet covered eyes will be the ones to kill us.

Kurou: Or it could be about someone from our past who had scarlet eyes.

Mayu: And what's this about them being bloody?

As the troupe discussed this; Ryu, Sora, Goro, Kairi, and Emi all looked at each other as if they knew about something.

Ryu: To summarize this all up, if we leave now we can evade the chain user next week. This means that one of us won't die.

Miwa: Wait hold on, there's still one thing I wonder. What is Aoi's fortune?

Aoi: Why the sudden interest in me?

Goro walked over to Aoi.

Goro: Come on Aoi, hand it over.

Aoi hesitated at first but then handed it over. Goro returned to the others as they all read it. Goro then started to walk over to Goro with killer intent.

Goro: Aoi....

Ryu quickly got between the two.

Ryu: Goro you know the rules, there is a much simpler solution to this.

Ryu walked over to Aoi and held out his hand, which Aoi grabbed.

Ryu: Do you have any sort of connection with the chain user?

Aoi: I do not.

Ryu let go of his hand and walked back.

Ryu: He is telling the truth.

Kairi: I still wonder about his second poem. It says that if he leaves he'll die and if we go home now some of us won't come back.

Elizabeth: In other words, some of our fortunes say that if we leave we'll die but if we stay we'll die.

Sora: Looks like no matter what we do some of us can't escape the shadow of death.

Aoi: Then the only other option is to go after the chain user ourselves. He won't be able to stop all of us and I bet he's with those UA students.

Emi: He has a point, we never did finish interrogating them.

Ryu: Very well then, it looks like we're going after the chain user after all. We can start by finding the students. But first, we must hide our hideout better.

Everyone started to get ready as Aoi just sat there.

Aoi(thought): Good I managed to keep them all here, now I can continue with the rest of the plan.

Back in the hotel room, the three boys were still with Oni.

Oni: Listen up, I'm about to do something incredibly dangerous that could get you all killed. And you choose to stick with me.

Todoroki: We don't really have a choice now, since they know who we are.

Oni: Very well then, me along with Midoriya and Todoroki will stay here. Iida, you go back to their hideout.

Iida: Wait hold on you want me to go back there along?

Oni: The troupe knows who Midoriya and Todoroki are, they'll be safer here with me. Plus, I have a friend on the outskirts wait to receive orders from me.

Iida hated the fact that he had to go alone, but he had no other option.

Iida: Alright fine, I'll do it.

Oni: Good, then lets go fight the Phantom Troupe.