Ch: 4 Mary Jane's last dance

(Shinso's pov)

After our laugh things seemed to ease up between me and the greenette detective, guess all we needed to break the ice was my car radio being stolen but It did make the rest of the day more enjoyable aa the Commission sent out a new replacement car. Conversation was easy from favorite hero's we had when younger to interesting cases we've both had in our careers, it seemed as if nothing was off the table save for things that were too personal. Midoriya in my opinion was obviously highly intelligent if anxious, always stuttering unless it pertained to a case. It was fascinating how he could change between the two, it certainly made the trip to the nightclub 'Cerezos' more entertaining.

It was Midoriya that suggested we go to the club, in his reasoning it was a simple ten to twenty minute walk from the apartment to Cerezos which would appeal to Mineta since he'd be able to walk his intended victims straight to his loft most of who he reasoned, would already be buzzed or tipsy. Making it easier for Mineta to simply use the cover of walking them home, after all there were plenty of apartment complexes near Cerezos, no one would question him. He called it sound logic. I call it good guessing.

The club itself acted as the bottom floor for a large apartment complex, with a dark modern theme and style. It felt odd to me seeing it closed as when we arrived staff were still preparing for the night's event which according to the sign was a purple haze special in honor of Mineta's death. Midoriya felt it was confirmation that Mineta frequented the club, I just thought it was a cheap gimmick. The manager quickly approached us asking usual questions of why we were there informing us that the club was closed and to return later. Midoriya then simply informed the man that we were here helping the police look into the death of Mineta and we were requesting to use their surveillance footage, which the manager agreed too. Midoriya then followed the manager believing it wouldn't take him long to find the evidence needed for a facial recognition. I nodded and began to follow until I paused.

At the bar with his pompadour hair and excessively long and pointy chin was my old classmate Agoyamato, cleaning the bar top. I informed Midoriya of this and he suggested we go over and greet the man after all. 'The tapes will only confirm what we know.'

Agoyamato noticed our approach and shot up an excited smile on his face. Yet to my curiosity Midoriya simply kept his stare even at my old classmate, I ignored the thought and walked forward taking Agoyamato's extended hand shaking it. "Hey it's been a while."

He smiled, giving me a firm handshake. "Shinso it's good to see ya, how's hero life treating you?" He then turned to Midoriya who simply stared as if lost in thought. "Your friend?"

Midoriya turned red in embarrassment before bowing "M-Midoriya Izuku its a pleasure to meet you."

I laughed a bit at the Greenette's antics before answering. "Hero work keeps me busy, but it's worth it.

"Yea I meant to congratulate you when you finally transferred courses but you know how crazy things got." Agoyamato began wiping down cups. "So can I get you two anything to drink? Purple hazes half off."

Before I could decline Midoriya spoke up. "Did Mineta come here often?"

Agoyamato blinked in surprise. "Uh yea, how did you know?"

Midoriya simply looked behind the bar pointing at the box. "The color of grapes you're using for your special tonight, both the same distinctive color purple that he was known for. The fact that you've also been faking your smile after a moment of panic at seeing Shinso tells me that you felt we were here in regards to the murder. An excellent deduction on your part I must add."

I saw Agoyamato's fingers flinch on the cup before he sighed. "Yea he did. Almost every night, the manager insisted we give him a hero discount on all food and drinks."

Midoriya nodded. "Excellent, then I assume he came here the night he was killed?" I had my eyes on Agoyamato now, Midoriya wouldn't be asking these things if it wasn't important I thought. No this had to be going somewhere, my old classmate began to shift a bit.

"Yea he said he wanted to celebrate some big event, anniversary I think."

Midoriya nodded along. "Was he popular here? Well liked?"

"I guess. I didn't get many complaints although I'm pretty new here." He was rubbing the back of his neck scratching it. "The old bartender apparently quit a while back."

"Why?" I asked.

He shrugged. "I'm not to sure. Management never said, apparently she just up and left few weeks back. It upset some of the others but you know." He shrugged again. "I guess it happens."

"Indeed, but I'm sure you and the other servers had your own ideas on what happened."

Agoyamato scratched the back of his head before looking around. "I…I really shouldn't talk about this, the manager would get pissed and I really need this job."

I looked at my old classmate. "It'll be completely confidential." At which Midoriya nodded in agreement.

At that he sighed. "The other guys think Togeike left because of Mineta."

At the name I felt a nagging feeling in my mind as if I heard the name before but couldn't recall where. Midoriya motioned for him to continue.

"Well, apparently when he first showed up they got into a huge argument and some serious accusations were getting thrown around. After that she left, although I saw her every now and then around the club…after that though. We started selling a lot of Mary Janes to women."

Midoriya's eyebrow raised in recognition. "They ever say for who?" At which point Agoyamato just glanced at the purple band on his arm.

"We tried talking to management about it maybe make report but…he made business good you know? Plus it…it wasn't like anyone came out saying he was doing anything."

"Then he started taking women home." I said, at which Agoyamato nodded. "Then came rumors." Another nod.

Midoriya then nodded. "I have a clearer picture now. Thank you, I suggest finding a new venue for work." Midoriya then turned to me and motioned that we leave. As we left I turned to him and asked what exactly a Mary Jane was. To which he explained. "It is in reference to 'last dance with Mary Jane' although how that occurred is beyond me. Most clubs use it as a subtle way for women when out to ask for help from a possible harasser. First you point to the person in question and say they wish to dance with Mary Jane. The management is then informed and the person in question removed. However here it seemed it never happened after all Mineta was a hero making him a local celebrity attracting business and such and I'd imagine the Commission wouldn't take kindly to one of theirs being booted from a club due to harassment.

Once we exited he looked at me and spoke. "More importantly however, you recognized the name he said."

"I think so. Don't know from where though."

He nodded pulling out his phone and made a quick online search. "I think I know." He then showed me his phone and the face and article that appeared instantly brought the memory back to my mind. "Chikuchi Togeike, recognize her?"

I nodded taking the phone. The article in question was her obituary. A slit wrist in a tub. Home. "Yea we…we were in the same class in U.A, I think she dropped out after I made it into the Heroics department though. Don't remember why though."

All the while Midoriya nodded taking in all that I told him. "Related to the accusations the recently unemployed Togeike shouted at Mineta I'd wager. Which if what we know of Mineta is true must relate to his disgusting acts. I believe that she might have been the first victim. She must have dropped out shortly after the incident, but unable to cope took matters into her own hands." He then took the phone back dialing a number as I started at him numb. "The deduction proves correct once more, now to end the game." He put the phone to his ear. "Lieutenant Nagakura, we have a suspect, I'm sending you the information now."