It took longer than expected for the DNA results to come back. They'd sent it off to the police and for some reason they took their sweet time. Tsunagu tried to stay calm, to keep his cool and understand that they had lives and other jobs to do. But he wanted to find Pulse yesterday. He'd disappeared off the map. No more children had been taken, but none of them had been found.
More importantly, Pulse was targeting Tsunagu's family. Tsunagu wasn't about to accept that kind of behaviour off of anyone, let alone a villain. He tried to be patient but with each passing day he grew more and more frustrated. He was so grateful when Flashback finally came in with a file.
"We got the results on the DNA." Flashback said, Fallacy trailing behind.
"It doesn't seem right to me." Fallacy frowned. "It's setting of my Quirk."
"Why?" Tsunagu asked.
"This guy… He doesn't seem to fit with what we had in mind, you know?" Flashback said. "We thought he'd be organised, intelligent, financially stable. This guy, he's a low life. He's got a rap sheet a mile long and not much else."
"Tell me." Tsunagu said, pacing the length of his office.
"Miyoshi Kohaku, 26. He's been done for robbery, assault, GBH, breaking and entering, theft and most frequently, solicitation."
"Solicitation?"
"27 counts." Fallacy shrugged. "Whoever this guy is he's got friends in high places. I have no idea how he's not in prison."
"His Quirk is called Incubus. He can control people he sleeps with, and he emits some kind of lure to entice people to sleep with him."
"Ug, that sounds dodgy."
"Apparently it only works if someone is genuinely attracted to him." Flashback shrugged.
"We need to arrest him. We can't underestimate him. Pulse is smart enough to make up a fake identity. We can't rule out that Miyoshi is Pulse." Tsunagu said.
"We have his address." Flashback said.
"Then let's go." Tsunagu said.
"Jeans, you can't go into the field. You haven't been cleared." Fallacy said.
"I'm just going with you to interview a suspect. I won't be doing anything active." Tsunagu countered.
"I swear to god, Hakamta, if you start shit, I will kick you in the bollocks." Fallacy said.
"I won't." Hakamata said. Fallacy narrowed her eyes but nodded.
It took a couple of hours for Tsunagu to arrange for a police escort but before lunch on the Saturday Tsunagu, Flashback and Fallacy were on the way to Miyoshi's apartment. Tsunagu seethed silently as they drove, his knee bounced up and down with anxiety.
They needed answers. They needed to find Pulse. They needed to end this.
The police were instructed to go in hard, to not give Miyoshi a chance to escape. The police were armed, clothed in bullet proof vests. Flashback and Fallacy went in with them whilst Tsunagu was forced to wait outside.
The area in which Miyoshi's apartment was located, was not that far from the warehouse they'd investigated the week before. It was as equally run down and the strong scent of weed filled the air. The apartment building was tall, with greyish brown brickwork and a fire escape painted black to hide the orange rust.
"Miyoshi Kohaku? This is the police. Open up." One office called, knocking on the door. Fallacy and Flashback waited either side of the door, posed ready to attack.
"He's inside, I can hear him moving." Fallacy said. The officer nodded.
"Miyoshi Kohaku, we know you're in there." The officer shouted again before turning back to the two sidekicks and the other police officers. "We breach on three." The other's nodded. "1…2…3."
The lead officer kicked the door, knocking it off it's hinges with one strong movement. The two sidekicks followed the officer into the room, fanning out across the apartment, searching for the man in question.
"Clear." One officer shouted from the bedroom.
"Clear." Fallacy called from the bathroom.
Flashback headed towards the kitchen, growling to himself when he saw the open door.
"He's on the move, down the fire escape." He yelled, leaping across the kitchen, rushing outside and down the fire escape. Junichi caught glimpses of Miyoshi as he rounded the winding metal. His communication device barked orders in his ears, the officers trying to strategies.
Tsunagu watched as Miyoshi ran down the escape from the ground below. He narrowed his green eyes tensing his muscles, ready to intervene. Flashback followed after him, jumping down as many step as he could, having to grab on the railing as to not accidentally fling himself over the edge.
Other officers followed Flashback, but they were several flights behind. As soon as Miyoshi put a foot on the ground Tsunagu reacted. He tensed his muscles before extending his arm towards the man, strands of denim tore themselves from his hero costume.
The threads covered distance quickly, wrapping around Miyoshi, cocooning him in thick layers of fabric. He tripped over, his body slamming into the floor without his arms to catch him, his head smacked against the tarmac.
Flashback was on him within seconds, hauling him to his feet. He looked up, making eye contact with Tsunagu, nodding in thanks. Fallacy and several other officers ran back down from the entrance, intending to cut Miyoshi off, but slowing when they saw the sight in front of them. As an officer began to read Miyoshi his rights, Fallacy stalked over.
"Hakamata! What did I say about not getting involved?" Fallacy snapped.
"I didn't move from this spot." Hakamata shrugged.
"Just because you're technically not lying doesn't mean I won't hurt you." Fallacy said, Tsunagu smirked, hiding it underneath the neck of his hero costume.
"I didn't move." He said. Fallacy shook her head.
"I'm watching you." She said.
"Best Jeanist-san." One of the officers called. "We're taking him to the station, you're wanting to interview him, right?"
"Yes, we'll follow you there." Tsunagu said with a nod.
Fallacy and Tsunagu got into Flashback's car, the sidekick driving them to the nearest Police Station., following the cruiser with Miyoshi inside. Flashback shook his head, as if trying to clear it as he drove.
"You okay?" Tsunagu asked,
"I… I don't think I should be in the interrogation room." Flashback said, clearing his throat. "Miyoshi's Quirk…"
"Seriously?" Fallacy laughed. "You thirsty whore."
"Shut up." Junichi grumbled, a pink blush colouring his cheeks. "He's pretty, alright?"
"You don't have to be in the room." Tsunagu said. "Are you okay being in there, Fal?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'll stick to manly men and pretty women." Fallacy snorted. "Pretty boys don't do it for me."
"I doubt he'll be all that pretty for long, I think he broke his nose when he fell." Tsunagu said.
"All the same." Junichi said. "I'd rather not jeopardise the interview because of his Quirk."
"That's fine Flash." Tsunagu said.
When they got into the police station they were approached immediately approached by the Chief of Police.
"Best Jeanist. Do you want to tell me why you requested and armed raid to arrest a prostitute?" the Chief growled, his ears back.
"He is linked the villain Pulse and the disappearance of around 20 children. I didn't want to risk him escaping." Tsunagu replied. The Chief's ears twitched, the only indication he was surprised.
"I'd like to observe." Chief said. "Behind the glass."
"Very well." Tsunagu said. "You can wait with Flashback. Fallacy and I would like to go in and talk to him."
"He's in interview room 3." Chief said. Tsunagu nodded.
Miyoshi tapped rhythmically against the table, handcuffs jingling with each movement. His hair was bleached a streaky blonde, his brown eyes were bloodshot, and he occasionally scratched at his elbow. Objectively, he would have been a handsome man, had his circumstance been kind. But the skin around his mouth was tinted red and raw, indicating he was a little too fond of solvents and he looked as though he hadn't showered since his last client.
"Really Jun, this guy?" Fallacy asked.
"It's been a while, alright?" Flashback said.
"We should go out, all of us at Genius, get drunk, get laid." Fallacy said.
"When all of this Pulse shit is done, we can go out." Tsunagu said. "Somewhere Katsuki and Ezume can come. They're part of the team too."
"True, but anywhere they can come we can't get drunk or get laid." Fallacy pouted.
"Go somewhere after." Tsunagu said, watching Miyoshi.
"I'm waiting in here." Miyoshi shouted, slamming his hands against the table.
"He seems annoyed." Fallacy said.
"I would be too, if I'd broken my nose." Flashback said.
"Yeah well, he shouldn't have run." Tsunagu shrugged. "He wouldn't have got hurt." Fallacy handed him Pulse's file, it wasn't everything but it had a decent amount of information in it.
"You going in?" Flashback asked.
"Yep. Let's see what this bastard has to hide."
Tsunagu and Fallacy walked inside the interrogation room. Miyoshi leant back in his chair, his arms spreading as wide as his legs.
"Finally." He smirked. "Best Jeanist, no one has seen from you in a hot minute. I'm honoured."
"I wish I could say the same." Tsunagu said, sitting down opposite him. Fallacy copied the action.
"So rude." Miyoshi snorted. "Is it pleasurable? Being that far up your own arse? I could show you a good time, Baby."
"We're here to talk to you about some missing children." Tsunagu said, pulling out the printed copy of the picture Pulse had sent Katsuki.
"Oh honey, I don't deal with kids. They don't do it for me." Miyoshi said. "You two, on the other hand, well, we could have plenty of fun together?"
"Not going to work, Miyoshi." Fallacy said. "We've got a little thing call standards. We haven't even put suppressants on you yet, realise that you're not a threat to us."
"Who said anything about threats, Babydoll?" Miyoshi said. "Safe, sane and consensual, that's my motto."
"Is it really consensual if you use your Quirk?" Fallacy said.
"It only amplifies what's there, Sweetheart. Like you said, it clearly doesn't work on you two." Miyoshi snapped.
"Enough." Tsunagu said.
"Why am I here? You gonna charge me again for solicitation? A slap on the wrist and a fine?"
"These kids, you know them?"
"No."
"You didn't look." Tsunagu said, tapping the image.
"I don't need to. I don't know any kids." Miyoshi said.
"Cut the bullshit." Fallacy snapped.
"Your DNA was found in their last known location." Tsunagu said. "All over a picture of one of my sidekicks, who's 16, by the way." He pulled out a picture of Katsuki. "You might want to start recognising them, you're looking at accessory to the kidnap of over 20 kids. It'll be a little more than a slap on the wrist and a fine, more like prison time. Lots of prison time. Do you know what happens to people who hurt kids in prison?"
"What? Hey man, no." Miyoshi said. "I ain't ever hurt no kids."
"Really? What's your DNA doing there then? On a picture of my boy?" Tsunagu said.
"Look man, a guy grabs me out of nowhere, pulls me through a mirror or some shit. With this little kid, right?" Miyoshi said.
"What did he want with you?"
"Nothing to do with the kids. I swear." Miyoshi said. "He gave me a picture of your boy, I didn't know how old he was. Paid me three times my hourly rate to wank off on it. It was a strange request but… I didn't know where I was, and he said he'd take me home once I'd done it."
"And you didn't hesitate?"
"It was a lot of money. I wasn't gonna turn it down. Especially for that. Most people, they want to do a lot more than that. This guy didn't even watch. I came on the picture and he let me go home." Miyoshi said. "I see now that he's set me up."
"This guy, what was he called?"
"I don't know. He just told me to call him Pulse."
"And you didn't question him?" Fallacy asked.
"Listen Lady. The people who come to me, they aren't exactly proud of it." Miyoshi said, leaning forwards. "I'm lucky if the give me any name at all. Pulse was the best I was going to get. Believe it or not "All Might" and "Endeavour" are frequent customers."
"Do you know anything about him?" Tsunagu asked.
"No. I swear. I didn't ever talk to him that much. I just did what he wanted. I only ever saw the one kid."
"One kid?" Tsunagu asked. "They have a name?"
"If they did, I don't know it." Miyoshi said. "I don't know anything."
"What about their Quirk?"
"I don't kn— Hang on, maybe I do." Miyoshi said. "The teleportation, or whatever through the mirror. I think that was the kid's Quirk. Little boy looked a little green afterwards. Pulse told him to lie down."
"Ueno Seiichi." Fallacy said quietly. "Sounds like him."
"Yeah." Tsunagu nodded, pulling a picture of Ueno from the file. "Look like this?"
"Yeah, that's him. Pulse called him "Little Soldier." And then he took the kid upstairs." Miyoshi said. "I did what he wanted, and he got the kid back down. Dropped me off back at my apartment, like nothing ever happened."
"Fuck." Tsunagu muttered. "We're done for now." He said sanding up.
"Wait. What are you gonna do to me? I wasn't involved with those kids." Miyoshi said, looking between Fallacy and Tsunagu as they prepared to leave.
"You're still being arrested on a solicitation charge." Tsunagu said.
"Not my first time." Miyoshi shrugged.
"I'm sure it won't be your last." Fallacy snorted.
"Well be in touch." Tsunagu said.
"Bring the pretty one in next time. We'd have more fun." Miyoshi said, leaning back in his chair as the two heroes left.
"You hear that Flash?" Fallacy said after the door clicked shut. "He thinks you're pretty."
"Someone was bound to eventually." Flashback snorted. "It's a shame it had to be a low-life villain."
"We've got nothing." Tsunagu said quietly. "We've got fucking nothing." Hu slammed the palm as he hand against the pane of glass, making Flashback, Fallacy and Miyoshi jump.
"Tsunagu…" Flashback started. "Don't lose hope."
"Jun' I was sure we'd got him. I was sure the DNA would lead us to Pulse, but now. Again he's five steps ahead of us. Taunting us. He wanted us to find the DNA, test it. He's wasting our time and he's playing with us."
"Tsun, look at it this way though. Since he's started trying to wind us up he hasn't gone after anymore kids. He's giving us a chance to find him." Fallacy said.
"What use is a chance when we can't find him? The parents of the kids are hysterical, on my back about getting their kids back. Pulse is going after the Bakugou family, stressing all of them out, and now he'd leading us on a wild goose chase." Tsunagu snapped.
"We just have to keep trying." Flashback said. "He'll trip up eventually. All villains do."
"I don't need eventually. I need now." Tsunagu scowled. "We need another approach, and fast."
Katsuki walked into pure chaos that Sunday morning. The fashion employees were running around like headless chickens and Katsuki recognised the model, Velcro, stood a little way off looking at her navy-blue painted nails. She was leant against the wall, her antlers resting against the brick work.
Flashback, Sleuth and Spectre were at their desks working through casefiles. Katsuki went straight to his desk, putting his gym bag down. Flashback looked up as he did so.
"Good morning Kouhai."
"Flashback." Katsuki nodded. "Is there a photoshoot?"
"Yeah, the second part of the Autumn line. It's a little late, but with everything Tsunagu has been through, I don't think anyone will mind that much."
"People love the brand; they'll buy his things." Katsuki said.
"Most definitely." Flashback said. "Jeans is in a bad mood, by the way. Well, he's stressed."
"Why?"
"I don't know. The DNA from the warehouse was a bust. Led us to some random guy, who knew nothing. But I don't see why he'd still be this upset about it. It was days ago. He hasn't come out of his office since I got here at 8." Flashback shrugged. "He's been pacing for hours and he's on his phone a lot."
"Damn." Katsuki shook his head. He turned on his computer. There was a new plant on his desk. Like an aloe vera but spikey. His fingers brushed against the leaves. The spikes weren't sharp. More like bumps. "Thim' leave this?"
"Hm? Yeah. He said you stole your last plant."
"In my defence I didn't know I'd be coming back. I wanted to take it with me." Katsuki laughed. "Hoshi got spiked by the cactus though, she batted at it with her paw. Let out the cutest little meow."
"Cute." Flashback laughed. "Anything new with you?"
"Not really?"
"It was your boyfriend's birthday, right? The redhead?"
"Yeah, Jeanist say?"
"Yeah he was talking about it." Flashback nodded. "It was his birthday the other day too."
"Wait it was? Why didn't he tell me?"
"Didn't tell anyone." Flashback shrugged. "I only know because of how long I've known him."
"What the hell?" Katsuki said, glancing back to his office.
"He made Ezume swear to keep it a secret."
"Now I feel guilty for not getting him anything." Katsuki frowned.
"He's not that big on gifts to be honest. I think he felt happy enough that you told him your hero name. That was a few days after." Flashback said. "I think that was the best gift you could have given him."
"Oh." Katsuki frowned. "Wait… So when I… When we found out about the Commission…"
"Two days after his birthday, it was on the fifth." Flashback said.
"Shit." Katsuki frowned.
"Kid, he doesn't blame you or anything." Flashback said. "He doesn't give a shit about his birthday. Especially when it comes to you, he doesn't care about anything else when it comes to you."
"Yeah, I know." Katsuki snorted.
"How's school anyway?"
"Fine. Working hard." Katsuki shrugged.
"Good."
"Hey, you've had fight deaf before, right?"
"Deaf, blind, mute." Flashback said. "And different combinations. Why?"
"I've started training without my hearing aids, with Present Mic-sensei, I was just wondering how you went about it."
"It took a lot of work." Flashback said. "I had to train to fight blind mostly, that was a bigger issue. To me, anyway. But they often come together. We can run through a couple of exercises if you want, I'll show you what I do."
"That'd be great. Mic said I need to increase my observational skills. Become more aware using my other senses."
"That's pretty much what I do." Flashback shrugged.
Katsuki opened his mouth to reply, however before he could speak a large bang made everyone jump. Katsuki turned to Hakamata's office just in time to see the lever arch folder hit the floor. Hakamata was walking away, sitting at his desk, burying his head in his hands.
"Did he just throw a fucking folder at the glass?" Sleuth asked.
"Cashmere's not in there is he?" Katsuki added.
"No. Ezume has him." Spectre said. "Thankfully."
"Who pissed in his coffee?" Sleuth asked,
"I don't know, but I don't particularly want to go in there and find out." Flashback said.
"Yeah, me neither." Spectre shook his head.
"Cowards." Katsuki said, getting to his feet. "The lot of you."
"Bitch, I don't want to lose my head." Sleuth snapped. "I'm already in trouble for glitter bombing him on Thursday."
Katsuki flipped them off, heading towards the office. He knocked on the glass before going inside, not waiting for the answer. Tsunagu didn't look up when he came in. Katsuki picked up the file by the glass wall, putting it on his desk.
"Go away." Tsunagu said.
"Hey, I'm already pissed at you for not telling me about your birthday. I'm not going to let you push me away again." Katsuki said. "The fuck is your problem?"
"My model cancelled. Sick. I've rung every modelling agency I've got contracts with and no one has a model available." Tsunagu sighed, still not looking up.
"Velcro's here."
"Male model, Katsuki." Tsunagu said. "Velcro can wear the female line, but our main target audience is men between 16-45. I need to advertise those clothes. I need a male model. I'm gonna have to ask Flash or Zipper if they'd be willing to do it, they don't have experience but..."
"Erm hello, I'm right here, you idiot." Katsuki said. Tsunagu finally looked up.
"What?"
"I have modelling experience, you know that. Technically I'm only contracted with Neutron Star, but my parents wouldn't have an issue with me signing a new contract. My Mom has been pushing for me to go back into modelling for a while. I can fill in for you."
Tsunagu got to his feet, his eyes lighting up.
"You would? You'd really do it?"
"Sure. It's only a one-time thing, right?" Katsuki shrugged. "I can do it. It's just some pictures."
"Yes. Just some photos. 20 outfits." Tsunagu said. "I know it's a lot but…"
"It's fine." Katsuki said, "They're waiting for us?"
"Yes."
"Get me a contract then. Let's go." Katsuki said.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you."
"Consider it your birthday present, asshole." Katsuki rolled his eyes.
Tsunagu went to the filing cabinet behind his desk, rummaging through the draws until finding a folder labelled "Modelling Contracts". He pulled one out and handed it to Katsuki. The teen scanned it over before signing it. There was nothing particularly eye-opening, just a standard form.
"This will be good for your image." Tsunagu said . "It'll firmly associate your image with mine, more permanently than anything so far."
"Awesome." Kasuki said.
"You want crediting as Ground Zero or Bakugou Katsuki?"
"Bakugou. All of my work in fashion is under the Bakugou name." Katsuki said. "My Mom would freak out otherwise."
"Fair." Tsunagu said.
They left the office, walking towards the fashion department. Sleuth, Spectre and Flashback turned back to their work, pretending that they weren't watching the conversation through the window. Tsunagu hit Sleuth on the back of the head with a manila folder as he passed.
"Ow, you bastard." Sleuth grumbled. "Next time it'll be fucking glue and feathers."
Once they got to the fashion department, Buttons, Zipper and Ezume practically jumped them. Velcro and the photographer followed behind. Piles of clothes ordained every desk and white sheets with large lights had been set up.
"Lin called in sick." Tsunagu said. "Katsuki is taking his place." He turned to the photographer. "He has experience, just tell him what you want him to do." The photographer nodded. "That going to be a problem Velcro?"
"As long as he doesn't have a temper like his mother's." Velcro said.
"Oh no, mine is much worse." Katsuki said.
"Brilliant."
"Zipper, Ezume, you help Katsuki, Buttons, you help Velcro. Got it?" Hakamata said.
"Yes, Best Jeanist." The group chorused.
"Come on, Bakugou-kun." Zipper said. "We'll get you looking all pretty."
"You saying I'm not pretty already, Asshole?" Katsuki said.
"Not with those frown lines." Zipper smirked.
"Oh you're lucky you're a civilian." Katsuki shook his head, following the man towards a changing room.
Ezume picked out the first set of clothes and followed them. Zipper restyled his hair, shaving the shorter parts, making his undercut more pronounced. He put a bit of gel in Katsuki's hair, making it lie a little flatter, giving it a wet look.
It took a little while for the Finance Manager to find a skin tone match for Katsuki's foundation, but he did so eventually. His makeup was simple, done to accentuate his features. His eyes were rimmed in kohl and red dusted over his eyelids to bring out his eyes.
He was dressed in a pair of dark blue skinny jeans, a white shirt and a black leather jacket. When he went out to the photography area. Velcro was stood waiting for him. Her big fluffy ears twitched forwards in greeting.
The photographer ran the pair of them through a number of poses, together and separate. Getting at least fifty images of each outfit before dismissing them to change. They got through ten outfits before they broke for lunch.
Afterwards Zipper redid Katsuki's makeup, going for a darker more heavy look as they started to wear the suits. There were simple black and white suits as well as more extravagant sequin covered works of art that would put Aoyama to shame. Velcro accompanied each suit with an equally bedazzled dress, jewellery covered her fuzzy antlers.
It was tedious and boring. Katsuki couldn't imagine how anyone could do it full time, but he spent a large portion of his day as a model. He did it for Tsunagu and that was it. When it was all over Flashback approached him.
"Hey man, you still want to train?" he asked. Velcro began to gather her things up getting ready to leave. "I get it if you're too tired or something."
"Yeah, just let me change."
"Hakamata." Velcro called. "Can I keep this?" She gestured to the leather jacket she had worn throughout the shoot. Jeanist looked up from where he was looking at the pictures on the computer with the photographer.
"Yeah sure." Hakamata said. "Katsuki if there's anything you want, you can have it."
"I think I'll take the jacket too." Katsuki said.
"Nice." Tsunagu said, "I think they're going to sell well."
Katsuki nodded.
After he had changed into his gym clothes, Katsuki and Flashback headed towards the training room. Katsuki followed like a little lost dog until the two of them stood in the centre of the room. Flashback got a blindfold out of his pocket.
"Put this on."
"If my hearing I need to work without not my sight."
"I know that, smart arse." Flashback said. "Present Mic has more experience with fighting deaf than I do. I only loose my hearing temporarily with my Quirk. He doesn't have his. I just need to wait it out. He'll give you the best advice when learning to cope without your hearing. Learning to increase your observations will help you."
"So what are we doing?"
"We're going to work on sensory deprivation." Flashback said, "I'm going to blindfold you, we'll work up to taking your hearing aids out at the same time maybe in a week or two. But for now, I'm going to take your sight."
"How's that going to help?"
"Present Mic is teaching you how to hear with your eyes, I'm going to teach you to see with touch."
"Oh?" Katsuki said, taking the blindfold, tying it around his eyes.
"We're going to walk around. You hold on to me, tell me when you think we should turn. You know this room, I won't let you walk into the wall."
"How is that going to help?"
"Trust your other senses. Without your hearing aids you won't be able to hear, obviously, but if you're not facing the right way you won't be able to see a hit coming, either." A sharp pain bloomed in his stomach, making Katsuki groan and curl over.
"What the hell?" He growled out.
"The moment before I hit you, there would have been small fluctuations in the air, movements in the wind. You should have been able to block or flinch. At least that's how I do it. When you can't hear, people will try to avoid your line of sight. You've got to be able to sense when someone comes for you."
Katsuki felt it this time, the woosh of air as Flashback's fist came swinging towards him, the rustle of fabric as he moved. Katsuki brought his arm up, meeting Flashback's fist halfway.
"Good." Flashback said. "You are a quick study." He laughed.
"I don't know about that." Katsuki replied.
"Come on, let's walk. Hawks might be able to tell you more about sensing vibrations and shit like that, his wings are better equipped with it, he's not in today though. But for now, let's walk."
The two of them walked around the training room for a while. It was difficult at first, Katsuki guessing where the walls were. Every time he was too far off Flashback took his hand and made him walk forwards until he touched to wall. When he'd began to adjust to being blindfolded Flashback began trying to hit him and trip him.
He got used to the sensation his Senpai had been trying to explain. He'd felt it the day before at the remedial classes, where Hitoshi had led him through the maze. The phantom feeling of being to close to something, the ghost of a touch seconds before it came. He became hyperaware of every sound, every little movement Flashback would make.
When they finally stopped in the centre once more Katsuki felt Flashback get close to his face. Instead of reaching up to stop his, Katsuki kicked him soundly in the shin.
"Ow you prick, I'm taking the blindfold off."
"I assumed as much." Katsuki drawled.
"You're a bastard, you know that right?"
"Yep." Katsuki smirked, blinking rapidly as he tried to get used to being able to see again.
"You learn so fast." Flashback shook his head.
"I have to." Katsuki said. "I'm losing my place on top."
"I'm sure you're not."
"I am. It's getting harder and harder to win. I don't have my license. It won't be long before one of them beats me."
"If you keep training, you'll maintain your position." Flashback said. "You've been through a lot, a lot more than anyone else in your class. Maybe your grades are struggling a little. Maybe one on one combat is getting a bit difficult against people who had more time to train. But you can always train more. You can't fake your experiences, and the ones you have had will definitely make you a better hero."
"You think?"
"Mhm. You've learnt how to deal with a lot of stress. Believe me, that never stops, not in this business. You'll get your License by Christmas; you'll start here as a proper sidekick. You'll get plenty of opportunities to prove yourself." Flashback said. "We all believe in you."
"Thank you." Katsuki said.
"Go change Katsuki. Jeanist will probably want to leave soon." Flashback said. "It's getting late."
Katsuki nodded. He didn't bother with showering, it wasn't like he had done much exercise, just walking around. He changed into his work clothes, jeans and a white shirt. Before going to meet Tsunagu in his office.
The hero was the one taking Katsuki back to U.A. As such, he'd stayed later in the evening. It was 6PM when Jeanist was ready to leave. Transcript arrived to cover the night shift, Fallacy set to join him later. The fashion employees had long since gone home, as had Thimble.
The office was mostly dark.
"Ready to go?" Tsunagu asked.
"Yeah." Katsuki said simply.
"Just let me find Cash." Tsunagu smiled, looking for the cat. He called his name and the sphynx came running, tail in the air. Tsunagu scooped up Cashmere and he, along with Katsuki, went towards the car.
Tsunagu put Cashmere in the carry cage in the back, petting him before locking it up. Katsuki got into the passenger side, glancing to the back seat as Tsunagu got in.
"Who's the present for?" He asked, eluding to the little wrapped package in the backseat.
"Kirishima." Tsunagu replied.
"For his birthday?"
"Yeah." Tsunagu said.
"You didn't have to." Katsuki said.
"It didn't cost anything." Tsunagu shrugged. "You said he liked sharks. It's a shirt, for the back room, left over stock. I used my Quirk to resize it so it would fit him. It's just got a cartoon shark on it. I thought he'd like it."
"He'll love it." Katsuki replied before adding after a moment of silence. "Why didn't you tell me it was your birthday?"
"Oh it's all a big fuss over nothing. I don't care about it. Just a year older." Tsunagu shrugged. "I find that a lot of people all of sudden give a shit on that day, and then forget you exist on another. I have no interest in fake people."
"Preach." Katsuki snorted.
"You got hurt too?"
"There's a reason Izuku is the only person I talk to from Middle School."
"I get that." Tsunagu said. "But anyway, you were going through shit and I wasn't suddenly just going to go, by the way, it's my birthday on Monday."
"Well next year we're celebrating." Katsuki said. "Even if it's just you and me."
"Alright kid. Alright."
When Katsuki got back to the dorms, he was starving and as such, in a bad mood. The Bakusquad was assembled in the Common room. Denki had attached his console to the main TV: Jirou, Mina and Denki were playing, Sero and Eijirou were eating stir-fry. Katsuki threw Tsunagu's gift at his boyfriend.
"Babe!" Eijirou stood, putting his food down on the table and practically ran up to meet him. He wrapped his arms around him, hugging him tightly, kissing his cheek. "Damn you're fucking hot with the makeup."
"Oh, I forgot I was wearing any." Katsuki laughed.
"How the fuck do you forget you're wearing that much makeup?" Sero asked.
"I wasn't really thinking about it. Work put it on me."
"Hero work means makeup now?" Denki asked. They'd paused their game.
"Yeah Blasty, I knew you wore eyeliner, but that's pretty heavy for you." Mina said.
"Leave him alone." Eijirou said. "You're just jealous he's beautiful."
"Thanks Eiji." Katsuki said, kissing his cheek. "I was doing a photo shoot for Hakamata. His model didn't turn up, so I stepped in."
"You're telling me my super-hot, sexy boyfriend is a hero, a model and the drummer in the band?" Eijirou said.
"You heard about that, hah?"
"You bet I did." Eijirou said. "There's stir-fry in the kitchen for you. Hanta made it."
"Thanks Sero." Katsuki called.
"Yo man, can you call me Hanta? You call everyone else in the Bakusquad by their given names, except Kyouka, but you call her Jack. I feel like you don't give a shit about me."
"Shit, sorry. I love you all, Hanta, I didn't realise." Katsuki stammered.
"I assumed you didn't mean anything by it. That's why I asked. No point worrying about it if you were." Hanta shrugged.
"Yeah I didn't. I'm sorry. Thanks for the food."
"No problem man." Hanta said.
"I fed Hoshi." Eijirou said.
"You seem to do that more than I do nowadays." Katsuki laughed.
"I don't mind. I like doing things for her. She makes that little noise when you give her food."
"She does." Katsuki laughed. "Let me get my food and I'll come sit with you."
Eijirou took a step back, letting Katsuki go and reheat the stir-fry. They sat on the sofa, cuddling whilst they ate.
"Mina, the fuck are you losing for?" Katsuki asked.
"Your cat is biting my fingers." Mina replied. That was when he saw Hoshi, sat on Mina's lap.
"Oh fair." Katsuki snorted. Eijirou picked up the parcel from where it had fallen onto the couch.
"What is this?"
"A late birthday present from Tsunagu." Katsuki said.
"Wait? Best Jeanist got me a birthday present?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"I don't know, he likes you?" Katsuki shrugged, eating his food.
Eijirou tore the paper away from the parcel, bursting out in laughter when he saw the shirt. It was white with a cartoon blue shark on it. He had big white eyes and a crooked smile. Eijirou held it up.
"I love this." Eijirou said. "I'm going to wear this all of the time."
"Good." Katsuki said. "Underneath this?" he asked, pulling at the fabric of the hoodie his parents had gotten him.
"Yeah, it'll be a physical representation of me. Badass on the outside, chibi shark on the inside."
"You're an idiot." Katsuki laughed, leaning against Eijirou.
"Well yeah, but you knew that already."
Thanks to those of you who said you'd fight the rude Guest. It's appreciated. Tell me what you think.
