**Chapter 26: Shadows in the Night**

The dim glow of my phone's screen illuminated the darkness of my room, casting an eerie light on the anxious expression that had taken up residence on my face. I paced back and forth, my eyes fixed on the screen as I waited for responses from Bakugo and the others. The air was thick with tension, and I could feel the weight of the cryptic message bearing down on me. As I waited, my mind began to wander back to the events of the day. Bakugo's gentle tone had been a pleasant surprise, and for a moment, I had felt like we were actually connecting. But now, with the threat of the League of Villains looming over us, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were all just pawns in a much larger game. The silence was oppressive, and I found myself checking my phone every few seconds, willing it to buzz with a response. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, my phone vibrated in my hand. I glanced down to see Bakugo's response: "What's going on?" I quickly typed out a reply, trying to keep my words concise and calm. "Just got a message from an unknown number. 'You're not as safe as you think.' I think we need to talk about this in person." The responses started rolling in, one by one. Ochaco's message was laced with concern: "Do you think it's a prank? We should tell Aizawa sensei!" Midoriya's response was more measured: "Let's meet up and discuss. I'm on my way to your room." Kirishima's message was characteristically blunt: "I'm bringing snacks. Don't worry, we've got your back." As I read through the messages, a sense of relief washed over me. We were in this together, and we would face whatever threats came our way as a team. I smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards my friends. I made my way to the designated meeting spot, a quiet corner of the dorm's common room. The others were already there, their faces lit up by the soft glow of the lamps. Bakugo was leaning against a wall, his arms crossed over his chest, while Midoriya and Ochaco sat on a nearby couch. Kirishima was pacing back and forth, a bag of snacks slung over his shoulder. As I approached, they all turned to face me, their expressions serious. "So, what do we know?" Midoriya asked, his eyes fixed on me. I shook my head. "Not much. Just that the message was on a piece of paper on my desk. It was scrawled in messy handwriting. No signature or anything." Bakugo snorted. "Sounds like a coward to me. Who tries to intimidate someone with a note?" But I wasn't so sure. The message had felt...personal. Like someone was trying to get inside my head. I shivered, despite the warmth of the room. As we discussed the message and our next move, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched. I kept glancing over my shoulder, expecting to see someone lurking in the shadows. But every time, there was no one there. It wasn't until Kirishima mentioned that he had seen someone suspicious lurking around the dorm's perimeter earlier that night that I realized we might not be as alone as we thought. My heart skipped a beat as I turned to him. "What did you see?" Kirishima's expression turned grim. "I was out for a walk, and I saw someone hiding behind one of the trees. They were wearing a hoodie, so I couldn't see their face. But they looked...off." The room fell silent, the only sound the soft hum of the lamps. We all knew what this meant. The League of Villains was closer than we thought, and they were playing a game of cat and mouse with us. As we continued to discuss our plan of action, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. We were in this together, but I couldn't shake the feeling that we were walking into a trap. And then, just as we were about to come up with a plan, a loud noise echoed through the common room, making us all jump. It was a door slamming shut, and it was coming from the hallway outside. My heart racing, I turned to the others. "I think we're not alone."