Misogi found out about about what happened after his passing out from checking the news.
On one hand, Midoriya-kun was a reckless idiot. Throwing himself at the villain that killed him once again to save his lifelong bully, does he have a death wish?
On the other, it's Midoriya-kun. This was 100% in character for him. And since he wants to be a hero, he would be doing it again and again and again.
Misogi wasn't heartless. Sure, sometimes he exhibit some rather sociopathic tendencies, but who doesn't after years of being beaten down by everyone you care for? It's only logical to bottle it up so it doesn't affect you in day to day life, and sometimes that involves muting your genuine emotions and putting on a friendly act. Again, it's only logical! If a three trillion year-old being was putting on airs, he could justify it too!
(He was suspicious of how far Anshin'in's 'caring' act was going when it came to Midoriya, but he didn't want to be the guy who pointed it out.)
But, the mask can't prevent his sympathy for fellow losers. And he'd gotten… genuinely attached to Midoriya, especially after that… very… relatable outburst of his. So sometimes, around him, the mask would slip slightly.
If he was being honest, he had a soft spot for people who were close to him. Minuses especially.
It was a weakness, but deep down, he was… a bit disturbed at the implications of what would happen if he corrected it.
After all, Misogi wasn't heartless.
It may be a bit late in the day. Midoriya-kun would probably be… exhausted. But… Misogi could at least try to call.
He didn't want to put it off any longer, it would just hurt more if he did.
"Kumagawa-kun? It's… like, nine, I was about to get ready for bed, what's up?"
「Wait, you go to sleep at nine? How? Never mind, actually, do you have enough energy to meet me real quick? I'll come closer to you, just give me a location where absolutely no one goes.」
"I mean… I do, but, why right now? Why not, like, tomorrow, during school?"
「Need to talk about something that I'd be… let's just say uncomfortable talking about at school. It's… somewhat urgent?」
"In that case… uh, you know the trash beach?"
「Perfect. Meet you there.」
「Hey, Midoriya-kun. Can we talk about today?」 He was sitting on a discarded fridge.
"Oh, that? Um, you don't need to talk about that, I got an explanation already, I'm so sorry that I caused you to awa-"
「In an empty classroom, right? Sorry, that's… to put it bluntly, bullshit. I'm… acquainted with the resident of it, and they owed me a favor, so they tried to cover for me, but they didn't exactly consult me first.」
Midoriya-kun looked confused. "But… huh?"
Time to rip the band-aid off.
「Midoriya-kun, I'm a vigilante. I tampered with my official documentation so no one would suspect my identity. I lead you on.」 He sighed. 「I understand if you'd rather not associate with me anymore. Sorry.」
Kumagawa-kun was a vigilante.
Honestly? That wasn't… very surprising. He knew too much about underground heroes. Too much to not have… a modicum of personal experience.
He… was actually fine with vigilantism. He didn't want the crime on his record, no! But… it was a necessary presence. Limelight heroes were a vast majority of the heroes in Japan. There weren't enough underground heroes to cover where most crime happens: the less… opulent parts of town. And limelight heroes… besides All Might! And, well, a few others. They didn't usually… well, let's just say they value the spectacle. Which was fine! He had personal issues with the more capitalistic side of heroism, but he saw why it needed to exist right now! If heroism didn't pay, there wouldn't be as many heroes. True altruists like All Might were… rarer than he'd like to believe. Most of them went underground, anyways. That's where vigilantism shined: cleaning up the unseen messes! Alongside underground heroes, of course. He was initially… not super fond of vigilantism, to put it mildly. Then, well, he came across the semi-declassification for the Naruhata Lockdown incident, and well, that put him down a… rather interesting rabbit hole.
Kumagawa-kun knew the… non-human being?
Weird, but Kumagawa-kun was… strange. Knowing Anshin'in-san, he's got strange acquaintances. It… didn't really bother him.
Kumagawa-kun had a quirk, and lied about his quirklessness.
That… admittedly hurt. He was… really happy to find out he wasn't alone in his… weakness. But… he had a reason. And… Izuku was… going to be in a similar position in regards to him and Katsuki soon, if his training with All Might went well. And… he was planning to lie about it manifesting late. So… it's not like he had a moral high ground in that.
"I… don't really mind, Kumagawa-kun. I'm kinda sad that I'm alone in my quirklessness. But, again, I'm not just friends with you because you're quirkless. So… start over?" He stuck out his hand.
Kumagawa stared at him for a brief moment.
「…You… You're too forgiving, Midoriya-kun. Someone… well, I guess I'll be the one taking advantage of it right now, but… sure. I don't really think someone like me deserves it… but that doesn't mean I'm not happy with it.」 He shook it.
"I'd still like details, um, if you don't mind. I'm getting a new notebook since… you know… but… I'd like to make the first entry yours! If you um… don't mind."
「Midoriya-kun, I owe you details, I don't mind.」
They talked for a few minutes after, about unrelated topics. Then, Kumagawa-kun went home, and so did he.
Tonight would be a somewhat special night for the young vigilantes.
Misogi knocked on the penthouse door.
…
…
「KOICHI YOU ASSHOLE I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE!」
"Misogi? Kami, gimme a minute, I'm cleaning! Would it kill you to warn a guy next time you decide to pop over?"
The door opened thirty seconds later, a plain-looking twenty-four year-old on the other side of it.
"Hey, Misogi. Hey, Himiko. Long time no see! How long has it been, four months, give or take?"
This was Haimawari Koichi, ex-vigilante. The Crawler. The Nice Guy of Naruhata. The reason the Vigilante Protocol Reform Act passed. His friend and mentor.
「Sounds about right. Speaking of pop, how's she holding up?」
It was a bit awkward, appearing in the middle of a locked-down Naruhata that year and eight months ago.
"She's fine. She's got a new sponsorship deal, actually! Thanks for healing her eye, again."
He could say he made the best out of the situation, however.
「You say that every time we meet.」 He turned to Anshin'in and Mei. 「Anshin'in, Mei-chan, this is Haimawari Koichi. Mei-chan, you may know him better as The Crawler. Koichi, this is Ajimu Najimi and Hatsume Mei, or Undefined and Kurokami respectively out in the field. You know Mei as Mother.」
"Your gear dealer?" Koichi looked at him funny.
「Why not? The more the merrier, right? Can you… you know… do what you did with Himi?」 He asked.
Koichi smiled. "Sure, I'll show them the ropes. Same time for the next two weeks, right?"
「Mei-chan, does that work for you?」 He asked.
"Smiley-kun, do I look like I have a social life? I brought the dye and the costume and also babies! I wanna go field-test!"
That was a yes, but… 「Mei, persona. You got it, Koichi, thanks for the help.」
"Don't mention it! Let me get my hoodie and gear. I'll be out in a minute."
It was eleven o'clock in the evening, two-three-zero-zero. Minus, Carmilla, Undefined, Kurokami, The Crawler, and a miffed Pop Step were currently cleaning a litter-filled alley.
"Minus, tell me when you come back next time! Let me prepare, at least."
"If it makes you feel any better, Pop, he didn't tell me either, just knocked on my door expecting me to answer unprepared."
「Cut me some slack! My friend found out I was a vigilante, so I had to come here from an impromptu meeting at Dagobah Beach, it's not my fault!」
"Yeah, yeah, it's never your fault, kid."
「Exactly!」
One alleyway down, fourteen to go.
It was midnight, and Pop Step was teaching Kurokami how to properly scale a wall, while Crawler was doing practice sparring with Undefined.
"Almost… got it! I'm up, Minus-kun! I did it!"
「Congrats, Kurokami. Now do it again, faster.」
"Aww, you're no fun. Alright, down I go!" Kurokami started scaling down.
"Damn, Minus, this girl is agile!"
「Having fun, Cruller Man?」
"Oh screw off, Screwboy, I'm just getting warmed up!"
It was one o'clock in the morning, and they retired for the night. Minus was ready to go longer, but Crawler and Pop had actual lives, so it was unfair to keep them any longer.
It was seven in the morning, and Misogi was walking to school with Midoriya-kun, who had a shiny new notebook and an eager writing hand.
"What's your persona? In the field, that is."
「Minus.」
"Stylized? Or just the word?"
「Just the word.」
"Mi… nus… Okay, when did you start being a vigilante?"
「… I want to say a year and eight months ago?」
"One year… eight months. Huh. Okay, describe your costume and support gear."
「It's mostly black. Black domino mask and bandana to mask my identity. A custom gakuran for fighting, black with gold buttons and grey inside lining. Black sneakers.」
"Values… stealth… Right, describe your quirk?"
「I have the ability to spawn screws that I can shoot on vectors, manipulate length and sharpness, and use as weapons. There's more to it, but I don't use that part unless it's an emergency, so I'd rather not have that information lying around unencrypted.」
"Screws… year and eight months… where- WAIT-"
「Yes?」
"Oh my god you were one of the Naruhata Vigilantes! Screwboy! You helped take down Number 6! Do you know The Crawler?!"
He sighed. Of course he knew that nickname. Of course he was a fan of The Crawler. Altruism is a magnetic force, apparently. Both of them were practically All Might superfans, they'd probably get along swimmingly. 「…Yes, Koichi is a friend of mine.」
"OHMYGO-"
Misogi sat at his computer, virtually mapping out his current topic of interest.
「…Another at 34.683280, 137.726815. One at 34.685868, 137.725500. 34.712763, 137.718717. What am I missing?」
The door creaked open. He quickly hid his masterpiece.
"Micchan, are you trying to draw a transmutation circle around Musutafu?" Himi asked.
「…No?」He lied.
"You definitely are, don't try to alt-tab. I saw those map lines. You only do that as a last resort. Micchan, what's wrong?" She prodded.
He sighed.「Nothing's wrong. It's just… the trigger distribution seems erratic. I can't pinpoint it. It's unorganized.」
Himi looked contemplative for a brief moment. A serious look crossed her eyes.
"What about resale?"
「Pardon?」
"Resale. You think that the yakuza are out here in Musutafu, but let's say… they aren't! Or something. That means it's a free-for-all in Musutafu with trigger sale. Individual people or small-fry gangs buying from the Shie Hassaikai and reselling it to make money, you know?"
He considered Himi's words.
「It would explain the mess of this map… but, you remember the two dealers I caught on our lucrative night? They seemed to directly answer to Overhaul. Either that, or they were in the Yakuza themselves with Overhaul as their larger-scale boss.」
"Hmm… Ooh! I know! Sort the trigger deals before and after that night."
Misogi filtered the metadata from the police files he copied over after getting restless last night. Sure enough, the ones before that night were much more organized compared to the ones after.
She continued. "Micchan, I think you took out the local branch leaders, or something. Unless they suddenly decided to go full guerrilla for distribution for the lols. Right now, it looks like… a power vacuum. It looks like the aftermath of a power vacuum. See all those small clusters? That's people trying to gain clout in the trigger scene without the reach of the yakuza."
He looked at the map again.
Shit.
「We need to go talk to Giran tonight. I refuse to be blindsided by a vengeful Overhaul.」
A/N: College is hard! Sorry for the delay! It will only get harder, so expect more delays. More of Misogi's backstory! I just got caught up in Vigilantes, it's great.