Never let it be said that Nemuri Kayama didn't love to make an entrance.

The second she stepped foot into Takesushi, almost every head did a double take, and she basked in the attention. Admittedly, it was probably because she was half carrying, half choke-holding a bandage-clad Shouta at the time, but hey, whatever works.

Behind her, Hizashi slipped past the duo, giving a finger gun salute to the greeter. The girl barely bats an eye at them, matching Hizashi's grin with cheer.

"Good evening Yamada. Table for three?"

She gestures into the restaurant, and Hizashi, rather mockingly gestures for the two of them to go forward, and Nemuri glances down at her mummified captive.

"All right, we're here, you can let me go" Shouta mutters. "I'm hardly going to jump out a window."

Hizashi grins and pats his friend on the head.

"With you Shouta, that's a perfectly believable outcome."

From what little they can see of his face, they're pretty sure the man is scowling, and his eyes flicker to the door. Nemuri shakes him slightly.

"Don't even try it Shouta" she warns. "We haven't had a night out in months, and I want sushi."

"How did he talk you into this?" Shouta mutters, and Nemuri grins.

"Easy. Hizashi promised to cover the drink bill.

Shouta rolls his eyes, but halts most of his struggling now that he's in the building. To be fair, most of his argument had been superficial, Nemuri's gotten good at telling when the underground hero is genuinely not up for company and when it's just out of habit. His biggest issue with coming to Takesushi had been it's proximity to UA – he considers it bad form to be caught drinking anywhere his students might see. Especially when you're still visibly recovering from a near fatal villain attack.

But Hizashi had been hounding him to come here for weeks now, and Nemuri, always happy to socialise, especially on someone else's funds, hadn't taken much convincing as backup. Honestly, it's also a little bit of a punishment for Shouta after the USJ incident – the stupid workaholic gave them all heart attacks when he vanished from the hospital to teach class of all things.

And if he's well enough to teach, he's well enough to go out for a meal in a busy restaurant.

They settle into a table in the corner, which result's in Shouta finally loosing some of the tension in his shoulders. With a wall to his back and allies on both sides, the injured man might actually have a decent night – honestly, Nemuri doesn't know how the underground hero hasn't dropped dead from the sheer stress of living yet.

She's mentally wondering if Aizawa even remembers how to relax when a young teenager with a mess of brown hair reaches their table.

"Yamada" he greets with a smile. "Good evening! Did you have a good day?"

Hizashi grins at the teenager.

"Yo, Tsuna. Gotten promoted to front of house today?"

'Tsuna' blushes. "Ah, Gokudera's been a little...pent up today. Tsuyoshi asked me to switch. Would you like your usual?"

Hizashi shakes his head, and gestures to his two companions.

"We're celebrating my buddy's status from 'life-threatening' to 'stable'" he says, stabbing his elbow into Shouta's side just a tad fiercer than he probably should. "Whatever Yamamoto recommends – let's go omakase."

Their young waiter smiles and nods, before his eyes glance over at Aizawa, and frowns slightly, taking in the mummified body.

"I'm sorry...Have I met you before?"

"He's got one of those faces" Hizashi pipes up, grin threatening to split his face in half. Understandable considering most of Aizawa's face is hidden by medical gauze. The teen looks confused, but shakes his head, clearly choosing not to pursue it.

When he leaves, drinks order in hand, Nemuri leans over the table with a smirk.

"Okay Mr 'Usual'" she says. "Who's who? Introduce us to your new family."

Hizashi rolls his eyes. "Hah Hah.

However, he quickly learns round and nods towards the kitchen. "Well, Fuuta's probably upstairs, he's too young to really help out in the restaurant, but Yamamoto and his kid, Takeshi are in the kitchen with their resident hothead, Gokudera" he says. "That's the one Shouta had a run in with."

From her seat, Nemuri can't really see into the kitchen, other than the odd tuft of head, but nods anyway. "The hothead's usually a waiter? Interesting choice."

"He's a delight" Hizashi snickers. "Seriously, you should see him whenever Tsuna's in his immediate vicinity, his personality does a complete 180. It's hilarious. The way Tsuyoshi understands it, I think Tsuna saved his life or something and he went all medieval samurai over it."

He then points over to the girls near the entrance.

"Chrome is usually on the take out counter. Apparently she was briefly tutored by someone with a head for figures? She's happiest there anyway, and Kyoko is our charming greeter, chosen for the role because there's is literally nothing that will surprise her, though she sometimes works as a waitress whenever her brother isn't around...ah!"

He cocks a finger over at a teen heading out of the kitchen with plates, heading for tables near front of the restaurant.

"That's her brother, Ryohei. He's the oldest and probably does the most shifts here since he's graduated already. Wants to be a boxer and from what Yamamoto tells me, might actually make his debut next year. To be honest, he kind of reminds me of-"

"Yagi!"

Both men blink at her in confusion.

"Well, no. I was gonna say the redhead in Shouta's class, though now that you mention it-"

He trails off when he realises Nemuri isn't talking to him, but looking across the restaurant, half standing from her seat and waving at a tall, blond man standing in the take out line. At the sound of his name, the older hero whips his head around, before smiling and giving a short wave in their direction.

That's not enough for Nemuri though, who quickly changes her wave to her 'come hither' gesture, mindless of Hizashi's 'really Nemuri?' She has a brand, so so sue her.

The man looks a tad nervous, but heads over anyway.

"Good evening" he greets. "I heard you speaking about going out, but didn't realise it would be here."

Nemuri jerks a thumb Hizashi's way. "Well, this lug's been rhapsodising about the place for weeks, and I've never been disappointed by the take out. Figured we'd celebrate Shouta's near death spectacle with the full experience."

"It was not a spectacle" Shouta mutters, and his dinner mates snicker. Nemuri knows they've succeeded in the breaking the ice when she spots Yagi's lip quirk in a guilty smile.

Hizashi grins and leans on the table. "Want to join us?"

"Oh no, I wouldn't want to intrude-" the man begins, but Nemuri waves him off.

"Don't be silly, the more the merrier right? Sit, sit. Unless you've got somewhere to be?"

The man hesitates for a brief moment, before his shoulders relax and a sheepish smile creeps onto his face.

"Well, I admit I don't really have plans" he says, before frowning over at Aizawa. "But, my boy, are you sure you're recovered enough to-"

"Yes" Hizashi and Nemuri both snap, while Aizawa gives a little huff of amusement.

"You sneak out of hospital one time..."

At that moment, Tsuna appears with their drink orders, and gave Yagi a double take.

"Ah, good evening sir" he stutters. "Will you be joining this table?"

"We ordered omakase" Hizashi offers.

Yagi however, shakes his head.

"Oh no, I ordered take out. If you could just ask Miss Chrome to send it here. I have some...medical restrictions, so I'm afraid I have to be more particular with my options."

Tsuna nods, though he does seem to be looking at Yagi with some concern. The older hero just requests water for his beverage, and the boy darts off.

"We could have just let Yamamoto know your restrictions for his choices" Hizashi adds once the boy is clear, but Yagi just waves his hands in dismissal.

"I appreciate the thought, but there's no reason for you to hold back because of me. There are more than enough options here for me to enjoy."

"So how are you taking to being a teacher?" Nemuri asks, pouring a glass for herself. She's got a tab to fill, and a personal best to beat. "It's been a sharp learning curve, especially with all the chaos."

Yagi gives a sad laugh. "Yes, I must admit I wasn't quite as prepared as I'd hoped to be. And it's been harder than expected to work around my time limit."

At that he glances in Aizawa's direction with an apologetic look. Aizawa avoids the expression by awkwardly grabbing his glass and looking out the window.

"Oh look, food's on the way" Hizashi blurts out, looking over at the kitchen. "Followed by a perfect change of subject."

Both Tsuna and the adult Yamamoto are heading to the table, each carrying trays. Tsuna looks far too nervous as he sets his own out, and Nemuri grins as she spots one of her personal favourites in the first course. Yamamoto then moves forward to set his own plates down.

"Evening Yamada. I'm guessing this is the friend you've been telling me about."

Hizashi grins and gestures towards Aizawa, whose rolling his eyes but otherwise watching the man with civility.

"Yup. This is Aizawa Shouta, best friend since high school" he says. "Please excuse the bandages, he has no concept of self restraint."

"I don't need to here that from you" Aizawa mutters, then glances at Yamamoto and greets him with a nod.

"Thank you for putting up with this idiot" he says. "How have you settled in Musutafu?"

Yamamoto grins. "It's been an adjustment, but so far it's been mostly positive."

He then looks over at Yagi, and starts placing down his plates.

"Now these are your take out. Along with a few dishes from Hizashi's order that should be fine for you."

Yagi's eyes widen as he takes in the spread, and both Hizashi and Nemuri grin.

"Let me know if these are suitable" Yamamoto says, stepping back. "Given the circumstances, I can replace or substitute if need be."

"No, this is...perfect" Toshinori replies, half frowning in suspicion. "I know I ordered some of this for take out, but how did you the rest would be fine?"

"Chrome" Yamamoto admits, glancing over at the girl working the take out counter. "She's seen you come in a few times and spotted a pattern."

Toshinori smiles.

"Well give her my thanks. And yours as well."

Yamamoto grins. "I wouldn't be much of a chef if I couldn't work around health restrictions. Please enjoy."

The man heads back for the kitchen, while Tsuna smiles and gives them a short bow.

"Let me know if there's anything I can do for you!"

As he walks over to see to another table, Nemuri shakes her head.

"Well I've got a new bet for the staff room pool" she says with a grin. "How long Yamamoto Tsuyoshi stays on the market. Just how is that, still available?"

"The whole, widow-with-seven-kids might have something to do with it Nemuri" Hizashi warns, eyes narrow. "Don't start meddling, I am not getting barred from the best sushi in town because you wanted some live entertainment."

"Oh don't tell me you're not curious" Nemuri laughs. "He's a cook, he's a family man, he's not half bad on the eyes, and apparently he's exceptionally observant. I know at least three woman and two men that would lock that down in a heartbeat."

She snaps her fingers with a grin before grabbing her chopsticks and digging in. Hizashi scowls at her, but Shouta elbows him, and he lets it go, lifting a plate closer to grab the sushi.

Normally, Nemuri would have considered joking about it a little longer, but honestly, the food deserves her full attention. Sushi has never been her favourite, but Tsuyoshi's work is making her seriously reconsider her stance.

Judging from the half smile on Shouta's face, she's not the only one either. Yagi's also making very agreeable noises next to her.

"Better than some take out alone huh?" Nemuri asks, and Yagi nods.

"It is getting hard to find food I can digest that still has any variety of flavour" he admits. "This is a welcome treat."

Hizashi grins, and bumps Aizawa's shoulder.

"That's two thumbs up, how about you Shouta. Glad I dragged you out?"

"You'd already force fed me sushi more than once Hizashi" he says, glancing over. "You already knew I liked it."

"Well, yeah" Hizashi admits. "But the food's just half of it. What about the ambience? The staff? Yamamoto himself?"

Aizawa huffs. "All things considered, the restaurant is acceptable."

Hizashi just throws up his hands.

"You know what? I'll take it. Just eat your sushi."

Over the next hour, Tsuna brings them over several more plates, and considerably more alcohol, so by the end of the meal, Nemuri is slightly red in the face and very grateful she's not working tomorrow. Hizashi is giggling slightly, and she gets immense pleasure in remembering he is. Judging from the way Aizawa is shaking his head and Yagi is wincing, they know too.

"Hizashi, for the sake of your remaining brain cells and the headache you're going to have tomorrow, I'm cutting you off" Aizawa warns. "Nemuri, that goes for you too."

"Awww" she whines. "But Hizashi promised."

"And I once promised you when we were green eyed graduates, that neither Hizashi or I would ever let you get so drunk you couldn't get home under your own power."

The woman frowns.

"I was a naive little girl back then. And I can hold my liquor."

Hizashi snickers. "That would be more believable if you weren't eating with the two guys who spent most of their early twenties keeping your hair out of the toilet you were throwing up in."

"Hey!" Nemuri squawks and points at him accusingly. "I did it just as much for you Mr. Cockatoo!"

Yagi watches the fight with bemusement, while Aizawa chooses to tune it out and people watch in the restaurant. The young Tsuna has been darting around with the nervous air of someone new to his job, while the older Ryohei has been masking his experience with spectacular enthusiasm. Gokudera's cussed more than once during the evening, though he's been silent for a while, most likely on dishwashing duty with Chrome - who retired from the take out booth when it closed – while both Yamamoto's have been hidden most of the night, only popping out when there's a significantly large order coming out, or when Yamamoto is greeting a regular customer. Kyoko is still at the front, though she's been clearing tables as the restaurant gets quieter, and as such has to rush back to the front when the door opens.

"Good evening!" he hears her call. "Welcome to...oh no..."

He barely hears her, but the four men walking into the building have her backing off, and his shoulders tense.

"Hizashi" Shouta snapped, cutting off his bickering friends. "Trouble."

He nodded towards the door, and as one Nemuri, Hizashi and Yagi glanced over. Four men had strode in, bypassing the greeter and heading straight for the chef in the kitchen. Before they could reach the counter, the silver haired Gokudera had stormed out of the kitchen stood in their way with a glare.

"How many times do I have to beat your asses before you get a clue?"

"Cut the attitude kid" said the first man, tall and imposing. "You think we're just going to stand by and let you run us out of business?"

"Isn't that Misaki Gaoh?" Nemuri whispers. "The owner of Sushero?"

Shouta nods. "And if I'm not mistaken, the gentleman in the back is Ren Suguromu, he owns Sushi-No-Go."

"How do you know that?" Yamada asks. "You haven't set foot in a restaurant that didn't deliver without force."

The man scowls. "When I was here investigating, the children mentioned getting into trouble with the local sushi restaurants. I made a point to look into it. The two of them have been making trouble for this place with regular complaints to the local police, but nothing's stuck. Everything Yamamoto's doing is above board."

Apparently they'd gotten tired of going through official channels, and judging from what Gokudera was snapping, their complaints had gotten physical.

"If you're so upset about it, how about your stop whining at us and fix up your own joints" Gokudera growls, rubbing his fists together – Nemuri winces when she notices they're already bruised, no wonder he was relegated to the back tonight.

"Someone here is misusing their quirk!" Gaoh snapped.

Gokudera rolls his eyes.

"For the last time, you brain dead morons, nobody in this restaurant is using a quirk."

Gaoh just matches him scowl for scowl, but Suguromo pushes him aside for his own two cents.

"Sushi-No-Go has been an icon of this district for over a decade. Your little pop up store's barely been here 3 months but you've already seduced half our customers. Nobody does that without help."

"Perhaps you should spend less time complaining to us and more time working on your people skills" Gokudera hisses. "Not your fault Yamamoto's better than you."

"It's not success if it's illegal!"

That makes Gokudera burst into laughter, and suddenly, there's a fluffy brown waiter standing in front of him.

"Please, we don't want any trouble" Tsuna insists. "All we've done is open up a sushi restaurant. Nobody used fl-ah, quirks to help, we're just popular. That's not a crime!"

"That doesn't mean you're not criminals" Gaoh snaps, and one of the heavier built men flanking them smirks.

"A man who knows his way around a blade, with a literal pack of teens, three of which immediately head for violence and another missing an eye? You're all running from something you little brats."

Tsuna flinches, and Gokudera bristles like a wet cat.

"Don't you dare disrespect the Te-"

"Our past is none of your business!" Tsuna yells, and everyone jerks back in surprise. He's such a meek little thing, Nemuri didn't think he was capable of it. Hizashi's openly gaping.

"Whatever you think we've done, it's got nothing to do with this restaurant. You don't get to whine about losing customers just because you've got more competition. We are allowed to be here. We have earned the right to be here."

"Oh shit" Hizashi mutters. "That's not going to help."

For a moment, Nemuri thinks he's talking about the outburst, which makes no sense – but then realises Tsuna's eyes have changed. The brown has melted into a vibrant orange, most likely some kind of quirk effect.

Suguromo and Gaoh's eyes widen.

"How dare you!" Suguromo yells, back-pedalling. "You're using it right now."

The final man, whose been silent so far, slides forward and lunges for Tsuna, who gives a high squeal and falls into Gokudera, whose reaching for something in a back pocket. Before he reaches it however, something crashes in the kitchen, and everyone freezes as Yamamoto Tsuyoshi storms out, his son tailing behind. The younger immediately goes to Tsuna and Gokudera's side, while Tsuyoshi only has eyes for the men.

"Let me make this perfectly clear" he warns. "Nobody is doing anything illegal in this restaurant. But touch any one of my kids and that is going to change very quickly.

Hizashi suddenly notices that the chef is still carrying a knife in his other hand and quickly stands.

"Okay as fun as this is, I think it's time we stepped in. Yagi, please sit. Shouta, give me your scarf."

Aizawa, already half out of his seat, gives him a glare while Yagi looks torn. But he's long past his limit, and they all know it, and Shouta really shouldn't be doing any additional work if he can avoid it.

Nemuri grins and starts unbuttoning her top.

"Ooh, dinner and a show, you do know how to treat a girl."

She slides out of her seat. The second 'bodyguard' is trying to flank the chef, but Nemuri reaches him first, and her quirk immediately has him dropping to the ground. The other finds himself getting yanked back, wrapped in the capture tape held in Hizashi's hands.

"Now what do we have here" Nemuri chuckles, walking towards the group.

Their backup gone, both restaurant owners pale and step back, while Yamamoto eyes up Hizashi – whose blushing a little at the stare – and Nemuri rounds on the instigators.

"Are you intentionally trying to cause an incident at this fine establishment in order to close it?" she asks. "Because that's very not allowed."

"...Midnight?" Gaoh gasps, head swinging. "But who is?"

"YO!" Hizashi offers. "I don't have my speaker, so for the sake of everyone's eardrums, lets keep this civil shall we?"

"What the fuck?" Gokudera mutters, still hidden by Yamamoto.

"Why are you eating here?" Suguromo asks faintly.

"...Because we were hungry and need to eat like normal people?" Hizashi replies.

"But why were you eating here?"

Hizashi rolls his eyes.

"Miss Midnight" Gaoh pleads. "Sushero has always offered it's entire menu to official heroes for free. Why would you waste your hard earned money here?"

"And Sushi No Go has been in this area since UA was first founded" Suguromo added. "Its reputation is impeccable."

Nemuri rolls her eyes. "Please, that place is so stuffy even Endeavour wouldn't set foot in it. And Sushero only offers a free meal if you come in costume and allow guests to approach you, which frankly is the last thing I want when I'm off duty. I can eat wherever I want."

That seems to break something in both of the men, as they just stare at here with dull eyes.

"Now how about the two of you clear off while we process your men."

"There's no need for that" Yamamoto pipes up. "So long as they leave and don't come back I wont press charges. This time."

Nemuri and Hizashi grin.

"Not a bad offer" Nemuri finishes, watching as her victim groans and struggles back to his feet. "Take it or leave it."

The men glance at each other, and head off. Nemuri's however, shakes his head as if trying to clear the doziness, then moves for Tsuna again.

Nemuri scowls and steps forward, but before she can deal with him more permanently, capture tape flies over and sends the man flying to the ground again. Hizashi immediately rounds on the captor.

"Shouta!"

Aizawa shrugs, still sitting at the table.

"What? I carry spares, and I barely moved."

After the excitement, most of the remaining customers decided to clear out, but the heroes hang back, and watch Hizashi try to apologise while Yamamoto brings over the cheque – the boys in the kitchen cleaning up while Kyoko and Chrome sweep up the front.

"Sorry I didn't tell you I was Present Mic" Hizashi offers, rubbing the back of his head. Tsuyoshi just shrugs.

"I already knew."

"It's just we kind of got off on the wrong foot and-wait-"

Hizashi falters. "You knew?"

"Tsuna figured it out the third time you came in" Yamamoto admits. "And even if he hadn't, I would have guessed after you started coming in with that disaster of a ponytail during the day."

The voice hero flushes in embarrassment, and Nemuri stifles a snicker.

"He has a point. That was not much of a disguise."

Shouta's openly grinning too, and Hizashi's probably grateful he's at least spared All Might's mockery. Yagi had decided to head out once the chaos had died down and give his own report on what happened to the local police station – just in case the men tried to put their own spin on events. Probably for the best given that both Nemuri and Hizashi are off duty and slightly drunk, and Aizawa looks like he should still be in hospital.

"It's not like it mattered" Yamamoto continues. "Despite what those idiots think, we're not criminals-"

In the front, Kyoko suffers a short coughing fit that ends with a high squeak.

"-And we've done nothing to warrant hero intervention" Yamamoto finishes.

"Anyone with eyes can see that" Hizashi chuckles.

"Especially when they're here every week" Shouta mutters under his breath.

"Well, that was an informative and entertaining night" Nemuri announces, walking out the door into the evening light. "Dinner, drinks, conflict, and finally getting to meet your food-crush, Hizashi."

"Oh, hah hah" Hizashi mocks, adjusting his glasses and half stumbling after her. He avoids falling thanks to Shouta yanking him back at the last minute.

She grins and waves goodbye as she heads down the street. As much as she complained, Aizawa made good on his promise to keep her sober enough to walk home, and he'll make sure Yamada does too. They'll have to do this again sometime, though hopefully without angry business owners showing up.

Most likely Yamamoto's competitors will continue to cause havoc, but there's no doubt in her mind he'll manage to fight them off, even without the aid of well fed heroes.

Nemuri can already tell why Takesushi is so successful, and it's not because of quirk misuse. Frankly, it's ridiculous that the other restaurants haven't figured it out.

Sushero trades on being near the superhero school – it's hideously over-priced and over-marketed. It mostly attracts families with young kids and hero-chasers. And Sushi-no-Go prides itself on tradition, but hasn't kept up with the times. There isn't a single student at the school that would set foot in it without a parent, because they won't be welcome, and there's no creativity. It's the kind of place where you need to dress up – not great for people looking for a bite after work.

Takesushi has good food, reasonably priced and without any kitchy marketing to put people off. But it's also friendly towards the younger clientele in the neighbourhood – most of the staff are young teenagers themselves. It's a perfect setup – the only suspicious part is how perfect, but every success story starts out that way, it's certainly not evidence of illegal activity.

Although...that Tsuna did activate his quirk, whatever it was. She couldn't see what it did – maybe it was just a physical alteration – but she doubts Gaoh and Suguromo will let it go that easily.

Maybe she'll show up tomorrow and give Yamamoto a number to a lawyer. Just in case.

Ugh...why is this developing a plot?...