"Madarame Katsuo. That will be your name for the entirety of this operation. You best get accustomed to it."

"...Yes, Saitō-sama."

A week prior, he was alerted to the mission he would be undertaking. It was terrifying to think that the success of it hinged on him being the perfect spy. There were countless questions and comments in the days following. Mostly, they were criticisms about the director's choice of who was carrying it out, about whether it was a good idea to send a kid out on such a critical operation...

Katsuo couldn't blame anyone, though. It was an incredible risk, sending someone as young as him on such a long-term mission - one meant to topple the hero world as they knew it.

But if Katsuo knew anything about Enigma's leader, it was that Saitō Daisuke was no fool. For all his doubts, he trusted that the older man was making the right choice in choosing him. At least, he hoped so.

"You understand how vital you are in this, don't you, Katsuo?" Daisuke's voice was as cool and steady as ever, never betraying any other emotion. And yet there was still the sense that beneath his words lay a threat.

"Of course, Saitō-sama." Katsuo fought the urge to swallow the lump in his throat. He could rattle off the reasons he was chosen by heart: he was the youngest person in the organization by far, being only fifteen years old, and U.A.'s faculty would suspect a new first-year far less than a new staff member; his Quirk was powerful when utilized correctly, sneaky enough for surprise attacks; his memory was remarkably sharp, making him ideal for getting as much information on U.A. as possible...

"Good." Daisuke smiled, though it did not quite reach the man's eyes as he handed a folder to the newly named boy. "This outlines your mission in full detail. Read it and memorize it, because you won't be able to see it again once you're at U.A."

"Saitō-sama..." Was this really it? Was his entire mission really contained in only a single folder thinner than his fingernail? What about this task was he not being told...?

"What is it, Katsuo?" Daisuke paused in the doorway, his slender hand resting lightly on the doorframe. He didn't bother turning back. He rarely did so when Katsuo called out to him like this, questioning and wanting answers, too young to understand the things going on right under his nose.

Katsuo hesitated, his grip on the folder tightening ever so slightly. But for whatever reason, he couldn't bring himself to voice his doubts, especially not to the man who took him in when there was no one else to.

"Aren't there easier ways to take down the heroes? Or even just better people to assign to this mission?" It wasn't the question he wanted to ask, but it was more innocuous than the others. It didn't question Daisuke's motives as directly, at least.

Daisuke's hand dropped, coming to rest at his side. "Of course there are. But...the thing is, the easier way — the more obvious person to choose, in this case — isn't always the best one. You understand that, don't you, Katsuo?"

"...Y-yes, Saitō-sama."

The best way...

Was he really the best way to ensure this mission was successful...? He had a hard time believing that, and he knew that everyone else did, too.

He just hoped that this mission would be as in and out as it could get. He couldn't afford to get attached to anyone, not when they were on such opposite sides.

Hopefully, he wouldn't make such a mess of things...