"But, why?"

Mirio could feel his fist shaking at the sudden news that had been dropped on them this morning. They had a meeting in an hour with the boss of some Yakuza family that Mirio had never even heard of before. Not that he had heard of the Shei Hassakai either. He didn't understand.

"According to his police contact, last night the Amagi group was attempting to settle this investigation without the police, and as a result, their old boss died." Sir pinched the bridge of his nose, his glasses being held delicately in one hand. "I wouldn't put this as much higher than an act of revenge for their old boss."

"Okay, I get that much." If someone hurt his grandma, Mirio was pretty sure he'd punch them. Hard. Hero License or no. "But, if the police know where he is, and he apparently talks to them, why are they still out there? The Yakuza are criminals, right?"

Sir gave a short laugh and placed his glasses down on the table, letting out a long sigh before he met Mirio's gaze. "You're not the first person to ask that question, and you won't be the last. To be honest, I've asked that question more than a few times myself. Some say that these are protected groups, a bit like keeping a tiger in the zoo. Others call the Yakuza a necessary evil."

"How?" How could crime be necessary? Kidnapping, selling drugs, racketeering, and so much more, none of that was necessary.

"No matter how perfect the society, there will still be those that commit crime for one reason or another. Some laws even force people to commit crimes. Prostitution, drugs, gambling, fighting, and other crimes like that are less dangerous if they're organized."

"I guess." Mirio furrowed his brow and crossed his arms. "But it just doesn't make sense to me."

"Another way to think of it is that they act as a deterrent of sorts."

"Against what?"

Sir held up two fingers. "One, potential villains may be more inclined to join a Yakuza group if they know they're safer, though I'm not convinced of that reason myself, as it just sounds like turning the Yakuza groups into potential villain groups."

"Which is why we're investigating the Shei Hassakai."

"Correct. The second reason is one I believe actually has credibility." Sir sat back in his chair and glanced up at the ceiling. "They prevent foreign groups from moving in. Foreign groups that might not be as respectful to Japanese citizens and society, particularly Russian and Chinese Mafia. If we were to clean up the Yakuza here, then we would be opening up a new market for organized crime, unless the other nations also cleaned up their groups."

Mirio held his tongue for a moment. That did make sense, but it didn't feel like it was the only option, nor did it feel like it was the best. Sure, he understood that the police were stretched thin, and heroes couldn't help so long as the Yakuza weren't using their quirks to harm people, but just because it made sense didn't mean he had to like it.

It went against his sense of justice.

"Sir!" Bubble Girl bounced into their office and made the mistake of looking both nervous and deadly serious. She was probably going to be in trouble later if she didn't crack a joke. "They're here."

"I see. Mirio," Sir placed his glasses back on and adjusted them a bit, "please go talk to the boss for a moment. I'd like to remind Bubble Girl about our office policies for a moment."

"Ehh? Right now?" Bubble girl shrieked. "Of all the days for Centipede to be out!"

Mirio patted the blue girl on the shoulder and gave a light laugh. "You'll be fine, you should be used to it by now."

Bubble girl just whined.

Mirio walked out into the reception area just as the Yakuza were arriving. There were three in total, and all looked like they were far too young to actually be Yakuza. The shorter of the two men could easily cosplay as a high schooler or even a middle schooler, if it wasn't for the orange stubble on his cheeks. The red-haired girl looked like she had never worn a suit before, and that she had had her youth robbed from her.

Then there was the taller of the two, dressed in a well-fitted suit that Sir Nighteye would be proud of. He cut an impressive figure. Or at least, he would have if it wasn't for the fact that he was younger than Mirio. Was this actually a Yakuza boss? He just didn't have that kind of feeling. Then again, Sir did just say that their old boss had been killed.

"Oh, hey." The taller of the two raised a hand towards him and even offered a light smile that died after a moment. "I'm Izuku, I'm here to talk to Sir Nighteye."

"Right, I'm Lemillion, his sidekick. He'll be ready to talk to you in just a moment." Mirio stood with his back straight and kept his eyes on the two criminals. He probably shouldn't tell them that right now Sir was giving a lecture to Bubble Girl on why she should at least try to be funny.

The smaller one checked his watch. "Well, we are early."

"Sorry about that Sho," Izuku scratched the back of his head and sighed.

"You're the boss, you shouldn't have to apologize." Sho commented. "Besides, I'm more than a little impatient myself over this."

Izuku stepped forward and extended a hand towards Mirio. "Nice to meet you, Lemillion. You wouldn't happen to have been in the sports festival this year?"

Mirio nodded. "I was, did you watch?"

"Of course! My friend Katsuki got in as a first year!"

Ehh?

"You have friends at U.A?" Mirio asked, feeling a slight headache growing in his mind. He didn't want to think about any of his classmates being involved with the Yakuza.

"A few, actually." Izuku gave a sigh and retracted his hand once it became apparent that Mirio wasn't going to shake it. This was someone that was a borderline villain, he wasn't going to become friends with them. "You know, in a different world, I'd probably be calling you senpai right about now."

"What does that mean?" Mirio asked.

"Well, you see, I tried to become a hero, failed the entrance exam and now here I am, a Yakuza boss."

Mirio felt his mouth drop. "How does that happen?"

"Easy," Izuku shrugged, "my quirk brings tattoos to life, and it's really hard to beat a robot with a press-on All Might Tattoo. And because it's illegal for a minor to get tattoos, I really had no option if I wanted to actually use my quirk."

"Oh." Mirio felt his shoulders slump a bit. "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it, Mr. Hero." Izuku gave a light laugh. "I've come to accept it as the blessing it was."

Mr. Hero?

"But you're a criminal now; how could anyone that wants to be a hero be okay with becoming a criminal?" Mirio took a step forward. Why did it feel like he needed to understand this man? Why did that feel so important?

"You got me there," Izuku scratched the back of his head, "but, when I found out who my grandmother was, I just kind of eased into it. Besides, I don't think it's such a bad thing to live life how you want, is it?"

"You kidnap—"

"Boss does not kidnap!" The woman stomped forward, moving at a speed that had Mirio on edge. He hadn't even heard her walk towards him. "Izuku saved me from that! Izuku is nice! So take it back."

"Eva." Izuku placed a hand on the short woman's shoulders. The act looked more like a hunter preparing his hound to hunt, though in this case, perhaps a tiger would be more appropriate. "It's alright, he didn't know."

Eva huffed. "He should."

"Mirio." A dazed Bubble Girl walked out of Sir Nighteye's office. "He's ready for him."

He half expected more of a fuss about their boss going in alone, but a simple word from Izuku was more than enough for Eva and Sho to stay back and wait.

"Hello Izuku," Sir said in a firm voice, already standing at his desk. "Thank you for coming here today."

"Thank you for seeing me on such short notice." Izuku's tone was slightly jolly as he walked in. "I imagine as All Might's sidekick you must be pretty busy."

"Even if I were not, I'd struggle for free time running my own agency." Sir watched Izuku carefully as the Yakuza boss sat down in the empty seat. "Would you mind if my sidekick watches our conversation?"

"Fine with me," Izuku placed his elbows onto the desk and closed his eyes, "but I'd prefer if we got down to business."

Sir nodded and took his own seat. "Now then, what information do you have on the Shei Hassakai?"

Izuku reached into his jacket and pulled out a neatly folded envelope that he placed down on the table. "This is the evidence we gathered. They are producing trigger, and in addition, Kai, their acting boss, is making a quirk-erasing drug."

Sir gave the slightest hint of surprise. "I see." He reached for the envelope, but Izuku pulled it back slightly. "You want something in exchange?"

"I'm sure you know what my price is."

"We can't."

"Isn't about can't."

Sir's brow furrowed, and he folded his hands in front of him. "We can't let you kill Overhaul."

"Is that what you call him?" Izuku gave a dark, humorless laugh and pulled the evidence back towards him. "Look, one way or another, I'm going to find him, and I'm going to make him wish he was dead. It's just a matter of how soon we remove him as a threat."

"It always amazes me how simple you all make changing the future." Sir hummed.

Izuku's face lit up for a moment. "That's right, your quirk lets you see the future! I remember reading about that."

"Indeed it is."

"So, if you can see the future, why haven't you found where the Shei Hassakai's base is?"

It was like watching a wolf corner a bear, Izuku pressing every advantage he had while Sir just wanted to move forward. Only, Izuku was winning.

Sir was on the back foot.

"My quirk lets me see someone's future. I don't use it on fellow heroes unless absolutely necessary for fear of seeing a death I can't prevent."

"I'm not a hero." Izuku leaned forward, ready to pounce. "Let's make a deal. You can look into my future, and in exchange, you'll tell me where their base is the day after the raid."

"What happened to revenge?"

Izuku just shrugged.

Sir paused for a moment and then nodded. "I don't trust you, and I'm certain there's more to this than you're letting on, but I agree to those terms."

"Great, so how does this work?"

"Give me your hand."

Izuku extended his hand slowly, an unsettling smile spreading across his face.

Sir took his hand and met Izuku's gaze without flinching.

"What?" Sir removed his hand and looked at Izuku in shock. "How?"

Izuku sat back in his chair, a cold, confident smile on his face. "I guess you'll just have to find out. Did you get the information you needed?"

"Yes, yes, I did." Sir adjusted his suit and coughed. "Thank you for that. I know their exact location now."

"Great." Izuku hummed and stood, placing his fingers on the evidence and sliding it towards Sir.

Sir looked at the envelope for a moment, then looked back at Izuku. "You might want to reconsider not being a hero."

Izuku just shrugged. "I am what I am."

"You certainly are," Sir hummed, hand covering his mouth to suppress a smile.

Mirio blinked.

What the fuck just happened?

Izuku paused at the door and extended a hand towards Mirio. "It was nice meeting you Mr. Hero, I hope to see you again soon."

This time, Mirio took that hand.

AN: Forty chapters, damn son.