Epilogue: Tea and coffee.

(Shinso's pov - en route to Commission tower)

I remain convinced that every moment with Bakugo is a punishment for some unknown sin of a past life. How an unearthly combination of ego, arrogance, and temper can exist in this mortal realm remains a mystery to me. God bless Uraraka and Kirishima for being able to put up with the blonde bomber for longer than five minutes, because I have no idea how they do so. It feels like the feeling is mutual with Momo and Tsuyu, for whatever reasons they have for disliking him. Still, him being quiet is new for me. Although fuming might be more accurate, as small crackles of light and smoke burst from his wrists. I try suppressing the small laugh that threatens to leave when the image of a blonde spiky cartoon bomb with a lit fuse pops forth in my mind. I can't suppress it well enough, and I feel the red dagger glare of his eyes on me. "Something funny, eye bags?"

I rolled my eyes, don't think he's forgiven me for brainwashing him during our sports festival match. "Remembered a funny joke is all Bakugo." I glared back at him, our eyes meeting.

He scoffed, looking away, and I smirked. Momo speaks up then. "So Bakugo did you respond to t-" she was cut off by a scoff.

"Course I did dumbass. Was wondering why you three extras didn't." He looked at us as he drove. "So how did you fuckers do it?"

"We have names. *kero*"

"Ask me if I give a shit frog legs. I'll ask again. How the fuck did three extras like you figure out what Compress was doing? Actually weren't you all supposed to be looking for that crazy bitch inventor? So what the fuck were you three doing chasing Compress?"

"Our job Katsuki, we were investigating Hatsume's kidnapping and it led to Compress and the league." Momo responded.

"You should have called it in to let actual heroes handle it."

"Excuse me? Last I checked we all graduated in the same hero school and got licensed before you did ,jackass." I snapped back.

He just laughed. "Right like frog legs over there could handle the league or ponytail over here that freezes whenever shit gets real or you the one trick pony. You're all lucky to be good enough to be rescue heroes, let alone actual ones." I felt my anger rise with each word, as Momo looked away hurt and Tsuyu gave a soft croak. "Hell you all needed the police to rescue your stupid asses."

"I remember when you needed us to rescue you, or did you conveniently forget that Bakugo." I spat back.

At that, he went silent and the car was filled with a suffocating blanket of tension. I stared out the window in hope of a distraction.

After a while the car stopped in front of the Commission Tower. Before we made our way out, however, Bakugo called out. "Answer my question first."

"We told you Bakugo we just followed a l- '' Momo was cut off once more.

"Bullshit, I've been hunting his ass for ages and nothing I found pointed to this, so how'd you do it?"

"We had help from a detective." Tsuyu answered.

"Tsk, knew none of you were smart enough to figure it out."

"What does that make you?" I responded and with that we stepped out leaving Bakugo behind alone in the car. The next few moments passed in an anxious blur as we made our way to the briefing room. We entered an elevator and Momo pressed the button for the twentieth floor. It was then that I found my voice again after swallowing my hesitation. "I don't think we should mention Midoriya to the Commission."

"Why? If it wasn't for him we'd never have found Hatsume. *Kero*"

"I agree, regardless of his desire to become a hero or not, he deserves credit for his help."

"Can you really imagine Endeavor letting him get any credit for his help? He's more likely to try and burn Midoriya alive than thank him."

Momo shook her head at me. "You're being ridiculous, Shinso. Endeavor is the current top hero regardless of his temper; he wouldn't just hurt him."

I turned to them. "Look I just don't think it's a good idea alright? This whole thing is probably gonna be buried anyway so why bother."

"Shinso do you know something? *kero*." She tilted her head at me as Momo stared at me, both of them demanding answers.

What could I tell them? That Midoriya was quirkless and I was slightly worried about how the Commission would react to his involvement? How would they respond? "I…I can't tell you."

"Shinso, whatever it is, I assure you it's not that bad."

"Look just…just trust me please, I'm telling you it's for the best if Midoriya doesn't get mentioned. I can't tell you why but just know that I'm talking from experience OK? Please."

They looked at each other for a moment, both uncomfortable, before they agreed. The elevator dinged the end of our journey, at which point we went towards the debriefing room. A secretary I hadn't ever seen before greeted us, and announced us via intercom. After a moment we were allowed in. Various men in sharp suits and a few of the top heroes awaited us, after which came the usual affair of questions and recounting of events. Thankfully Momo and Tsuyu kept quiet regarding Midoriya's involvement as asked. I could feel their discomfort though, even if masked as nerves due to the debrief. After thirty minutes of this, it was decided that we'd be given credit for an expertly planned strike on the league with aid from local law enforcement. Just as I thanked my lucky stars, one of the suits took out a manila folder. "Before we conclude today's meeting, I had a question in reference to the incident with the villains Muscular and Spinner." Shit. I swallowed my nerves as he continued. "Agents reported a green haired civilian was on site and even helped you when fighting the villains. Now I hope I don't need to remind you Shinso, but the Commission cannot be seen endorsing or aiding in such vigilante behavior. Furthermore, what I find interesting is that the subject in question was one Midoriya Izuku." Fuck. He leaned forward, fingers interlocked on the desk. "Can you explain in detail why you let a quirkless civilian fight known villains, and why he was involved to begin with."

My mouth dried up, I heard Momo take a surprised breath before I spoke. "He was hired by the Hatsume family after being recommended by Lieutenant Nagakura to help find their daughter sir. Our paths crossed due to the both of us having the same goal."

At that Endeavor slammed a palm on the desk, causing me to wince. "Damn it boy! Do you know the embarrassment that would befall this organization if it came out that we were helped by some quirkless citizen!"

Tsuyu then spoke. "He helped us and prevented our servers from being hacked sir. *Kero"

Endeavor glared at her. "You will speak when spoken to, girl." I watched her shrink after that as he turned his gaze to me. "Our job is to ensure the public's safety is upheld. If for a single second it looks like we can't then the whole thing falls apart!"

One of the suits raised a hand. "I'm sure his involvement was minimal." All eyes turned to us three. "Wasn't it?"

I held in a breath as I nodded.

"Good, then the matter is settled then. You three are dismissed." We bowed and turned to leave rushing to the elevator. Once inside I pressed for the lobby and Momo pressed the emergency stop.

"You knew."

"Yeah."

"How long? *kero*"

"I assume he's been quirkless his whole life, but hey you never know."

"That's not what I meant. *kero*"

I sighed. "He told me during the Mineta case. Honestly this was a better reaction from the higher ups than I expected."

Momo was silent for a moment. "Is that why you didn't want us to mention him?"

I nodded. "You didn't see how they reacted last time. How…pissed they were." I rubbed the back of my neck. "Also I wasn't sure how you two would react if you found out." After that we stood in awkward silence as I reached for the emergency stop to get the elevator going once more.

"You know." I looked over at Tsuyu. "I'm actually kinda more impressed by him now. *Kero.*"

"What do you mean?"

"This whole time I figured he just had an intelligence quirk but knowing he doesn't have one kinda makes it seem cooler. *kero*" she shrugged. "Or manly if you ask Kirishima."

I chuckled a bit at that. "That's what I thought too when he told me."

Momo then looks up. "We could invite him out to celebrate. We all did save the Commission after all."

Tsuy looks over and nods. "Yeah, plus we do owe him for distracting Compress."

"There's a cafe nearby we can meet there in a few hours if that's alright with the both of you." Momo added as the elevator opened and we stepped out.

"Nekoya?" She nodded, to which I pulled out my phone. "I'll see if I can give him a call and let him know."

(Midoriya's pov - Nekoya cafe)

I resist the urge to check my phone once more, I already know what it will tell me. Yet I can't help the nerves in the bubble inside me. I feel my leg jump under the table as I wait for Shinso and the others to arrive, perhaps it's my fault for arriving so early. Or maybe I went to the wrong cafe. I take a deep breath as I let the atmosphere of the cafe envelope me, closing my eyes as the smells and sounds flow around me. I can detect barley sugar and molasses being burned in the kitchen, and my mind races with the possibilities of what it might be leading to. A busboy answers a phone whispering that he'll be off soon, from his inflection I deduce he's in a nervous rush unsure of what to do, a date perhaps? I open my eyes and see him reach in his pocket and pull out a slip of paper. Ah a movie, how lovely.

I look at the entrance once more, I see a businessman leaving with a younger woman. I see her reluctant discomfort, the difference in age, then I notice their closed earlobes and hair color. Father and daughter. My nerves continue to rise until as the father opens the door I see Shinso enter, to which I let out a relieved breath. It wasn't a joke then. I wave over at him and notice his dress. Similar to mine in its simplicity. I'm thankful I'm not overdressed now, I stand and offer my hand. "It's a pleasure to see you again Shinso, especially when not work related."

He smiles genuinely at me and shakes my hand."Well with how everything turned out, why not celebrate a bit right?" He sits down next to me and begins to look over the menu. We chat for a bit, he informs me that the debrief went well but apologizes that my quirk status was brought up. Not unexpected but disappointing nevertheless. It's then that Miss Yaoyorozu arrives, instantly making me feel underdressed. She smiles at us and, unsure of how to respond, I smile back and offer to pull out her seat for her, which she accepts. She informs us that Tsuyu will be arriving later due to watching her siblings.

Conversation is light, flowing easily and constant until Tsuyu arrives, at which point we greet her and begin to order drinks and food. I'm not surprised at their orders if I'm being honest. "We should have a toast. *kero*"

Miss Yaoyorozu nods, raising her cup of tea. "To a successful mission."

"Cheers." Drinks and cups clink. I notice a dark look on Yaoyorozu's face. "Something wrong Miss Yaoyorozu?"

She laughed a bit. "Considering we were all held hostage I think Momo is fine. Just feeling a bit guilty is all."

I raised an eyebrow at that. Thankfully Shinso spoke and answered for her. "We tried to get credit for you but…they wouldn't have it. Sorry about that."

"It's so unfair to you, I mean if it weren't for you who knows what would have happened. *Kero*"

I blinked in surprise before laughing. Earning a confused look from them. "Am I missing something?" Shinso asked.

"No, no it's just I'm flattered you all worried about that, but honestly it's for the best that my name doesn't get out."

"How can you say that?"

"Well it's quite easy. In my line of work the less known I am the better. After all, if any criminal could look me up and see who I was, it'd make being a detective all the more difficult."

"I…huh. Hadn't thought about it that way."

"I suppose it makes sense, after all you aren't ranked like we are." Momo said while taking a sip of tea.

"So how did you become a detective? Is it like becoming a police officer? *kero*"

I shook my head. "I'm not actually part of the police, I'm a consultant officially. So if they have a case they need help with, if I get hired I do what I can to help, same with private citizens." I took a sip of my soda. "It's fun to meet lots of people and can help with some interesting cases."

"I still find it difficult to understand how exactly you manage to make such complex theories while working off of such minor details" Yaoyorozu said while sipping her tea.

"Well that's not entirely accurate, it is often the small details that are the most important." I answer while looking up distracted by a painting. "After all, how many criminals have been arrested over the centuries due to a single fingerprint or stray bit of DNA?" I then grabbed my soda and swirled it in hand before taking a drink.

"Yes but it seems like you can instinctively tell everything about a person from the smallest of details, their past, thoughts, all of it. How do you do it?"

"I simply take all the information at hand and use it to make a theory that suits all of it." I placed the can down, unable to fight my leg from bouncing. "Anyone can do so."

"I highly doubt that." She said with a soft smile.

"With practice of course." I chuckled.

"That's true for everything. *kero*" Asui chimed in, setting her drink down. "But I bet you know more about us than we think."

"I don't doubt that either, I mean how else did you know I'd mind control Muscular in the alleyway hm?"

"I remembered watching you during the sports festival a few years back and while they never said what your quirk was, I had a theory."

"Which proved right as always but how?"

"I must admit I'm curious as well." Momo replies.

Tsuyu nodded. "Can you tell us please? *kero*"

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "I mean…I remember seeing you talking to Bakugou and he yelled back and suddenly just walked out of the match. So clearly whatever you did is response based or else you would have done it from the start. Furthermore, it had to involve taking control over a person's will since Bakugo would never willingly just give up like that. Not much to really say."

"Hmm, then how about something more challenging, what can you deduce about me? After all, we barely know each other, so it should be a bit more fair in regards to past knowledge."

"Oh I don't think I should. I mean what I do isn't all that interesting."

"I insist." Momo said.

Shinso laughed. "The lady insists Midoriya, it's rude to disappoint one."

I sighed. "I suppose so." I then turned my chair to face her as I rested my chin on my palm. I eyed over her taking in every detail I could. I notice her dark eyes, pale skin and dark hair all reminiscent of classic Japanese beauty. More importantly I notice her eyes looking away, embarrassment? No insecurity I think. I opt to ignore it for now. I see how she sits, back straight shoulders back head still, hands folded in front of her. "How long did you take etiquette classes for?"

At that she smiled. "Whatever gave you that idea?"

"Your posture, it indicates many hours spent balancing books, how you fold your hands on the table as a proper lady would. One doesn't naturally act or pose in such a way, it has to be trained."

She nodded, smiling a bit. "I started young. Six if I recall."

I nodded, continuing to eye her. As she spoke her hand moved revealing her fingertips to me. Calloused by years of playing a string instrument. "Was it violin or cello that you played?"

"Violin."

"Did you also practice singing?"

"Sadly, my voice wasn't meant for it." She answered while laughing a bit.

Tsuyu then spoke. "I didn't know you could play Momo, why'd you never mention it?"

Turning red she cleared her throat. "Well it just never came up."

"Maybe you and Jirou can play a song together during the next reunion." Shinso chuckled while taking a sip of his coffee.

I smiled, turning away from her and they chatted with me over various topics after that. And as the hours pass by I wonder if we'll do this again.