"So, I heard from my boyfriend via text that you made him the happiest man on earth today by giving him a personalized autograph with a short message above it. You're a good man, Yamada-san. Thank you for making him so much happier than I've seen him in months, sir." My eyes widen as I look over at Manami, who had the same exact look on her face, before looking back at him.
"Wait, Daisuke-san is your boyfriend? Small world...then again, he never told me who his boyfriend was, but still...so you're his boyfriend, huh? You've got yourself a good man. He's very cool. I heard from him that his mother's not supportive of the LGBTQ community, though." He nods sadly.
"It's not just his mother...his father is so much worse. He's one of those super religious assholes who will hold up a picket sign saying, "Fags will burn in Hell' while bashing on the gay community harshly. In fact, he's done that in the past before with the infamous Westboro Baptist Church in North America...but, thankfully, he doesn't know about me and him dating, and I really hope he doesn't ever find out, honestly. He once told his own son when he was just ten, that if he ever found out that he turns out gay, he'll happily kill him and proudly serve his life sentence. That's why we try to avoid him as much as we possibly can."
"Why haven't you gotten a restraining order against him yet? Or at least tell the police about him?" Manami asks, clearly seething in hatred for this evil man that Daisuke has to call his father.
"Because he's...one of the more respected Police officers in the city. Though everyone knows that he's more feared than respected, due to having connections with one of the higher-up drug dealers that the police have been trying to find, but has never found the guy because he's good at covering his tracks, though I'm willing to bet that's because of Daisuke's father."
"And the police force doesn't know this?!" She growls through her teeth.
"No, I don't think they do." I think for a moment.
"Do you know anything about this drug dealer? Like what he looks like, for example?"
"I don't, but I think Daisuke-kun does, since he tagged along with his father and mother quite often when he was about thirteen while they were buying something from him...however, I'm not quite sure if he'd want to dig up those memories unless you're the one who is asking, Yamada-san. He really admires you...you've been his idol since he first heard about your debut as a pro-hero and as a DJ for the Put Your Hands Up Friday night radio show. After all, he's got a voice quirk, too, though it's very different from yours...instead of being a super-sonic soundwave that damages hearing to the point of bleeding from the ears or going deaf completely, he can use his voice to completely restore a completely deaf person's hearing by just humming into the ears directly. He's actually done it for many people who can't afford hearing aids or surgery to repair a defect they might've been born with or something like that." I lift my eyebrows, amazed that Daisuke didn't tell me this himself. But I kind of understood why he didn't, especially since we were trying to leave when we first met him and ran out of time to talk more to him. I look at Manami, who was probably thinking what I was already going to try to plan out with her and her brothers' help. She nods at me, telling me that she was wanting to help. I then look back at Kaito, who was just now pulling up to Manami's apartment complex.
"How would you feel about us two and another pro-hero called Eraserhead attempting, and hopefully succeeding, to get your boyfriend's father stripped of his title and thrown in jail alongside this drug dealer of his? We'll really need you and Daisuke-san to cooperate with us willingly if we really go through with it, that is." I ask him. He snaps his head over quickly to look at us both in shock.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, Kaito-san, we're completely serious about this. What kind of pro-heroes would we be if we didn't try to get these horrible people off the street and into prison? Now, are you in or do you really want to keep living in complete fear of Daisuke's shitty excuse of what he calls parents?" Manami asks him in a serious tone. He goes quiet for a moment while looking down in deep thought.
"...I'm in. let me talk to Daisuke-kun tonight. Can I have one of you two give me a phone number to reach you if or when I have Daisuke convinced about this whole thing?"
"You got your phone with you?" Manami asks him before I had a chance to.
"Yes, here you go." he pulls out his phone from the center console before pulling up his contacts and tapping 'add new contact'. She types in 'Manami A.', then her phone number beneath it before handing his phone back to him and handing her phone over to him to do the same.
"Thank you, both of you. I feel like once this is all over, both me and Daisuke-kun could finally live a happy life, one without any fear. I might even finally ask him to marry me once this whole thing blows over. I've already gotten the ring to propose with, too." He admits with a relieved sigh as he hands Manami her phone back. She suddenly squeaks happily.
"Can I see it?! Please?" She asks giddily. Kaito laughs and nods before shuffling through it to pull out a small, square box and opening the box to reveal a simple golden ring with a few musical notes engraved into the outside of it, and Daisuke's name on the inside in a nice, cursive font, followed by a message that read, 'I love you, forever and always.' in the same font.
"I really think the musical notes are a really nice touch, Kaito-san." I say, smiling at him.
"I'm glad you think so...he's really into music and it reminds me of his quirk, so I thought that it'd be perfect to get that done for him...do you need help getting to the door, Manami-san? I saw how you looked to be in a bunch of pain, Yamada-san. You don't mind me helping her, do you?"
"Not at all, Kaito-san." I reply as I get out of the car after grabbing the crutches and walk around it to wait for them at the door to her apartment. I watch as he helps her by gently grabbing her outstretched hand and patiently waiting for her to place her feet on the sidewalk before allowing her to wrap an arm around his shoulders and slowly standing her up, then walking her towards me. I grab the spare key she told me about years ago from above the doorframe and unlock her door before opening it and allowing him to walk her inside and carefully helping her sit down on the couch in the living room. He smiles at her, then looks at me before asking me, "Do you need me for anything else, Yamada-san?" I laugh softly.
"No, but we both appreciate the ride to her apartment and for helping her inside when I couldn't do it, so thank you for that." I reply to him, smiling widely.
"It's the least I can do, since you're going to be helping me take the first step towards being freed from the grasp of some truly horrible people. So, if anything, I should be the one thanking you both...and this Eraserhead person, of course."
"I'll relay the message to him when I discuss this whole ordeal with him and Manami later, or maybe you could tell him yourself if and when you meet him. Alright, I'll let you get back to the agency, but please let Manami know what Daisuke-san says as soon as you can, alright?" He nods and bows slightly to me.
"I will, Yamada-san. Thank you, again." He says as he stands up straight. I place a hand on his shoulder and squeeze it slightly in a comforting manner, smiling at him.
"Call me Hizashi. I insist. Yamada-san is just way too formal for me...stay safe while driving back to the agency." He smiles.
"I'll try to remember that. I'll be in touch, so I'll talk to you or Manami-san either tonight or tomorrow morning. See you around." He turns around and walks towards the car while waving at me without turning his body to face me. I watch as he drives away before walking into Manami's apartment and closing the door behind me, setting the crutches against the wall.
