"How many more pages do we have to read?" Ochaco groaned, dropping her head onto the pages of her textbook, filled with woe.
"Fifteen. The rest of the chapter they covered in class, then the one for homework tonight," Mina answered as she let her head fall, too.
Momo leaned back in her chair, lacing her fingers behind her head, and gave a breathy sigh. She wouldn't say that she had underestimated how much class work would need to be caught up on after missing an entire day of classes, plus the night's homework, but she had underestimated how tedious it would be catching up. A servant entered the dining room and left off a plate of melon pans for them, leaving as quietly as they came.
The police station visit had gone as well as could be expected. The police took their statements, asked where they thought they had been and for any other information that might be useful in leading them to the clan members. The officer who'd worked with them had admitted they knew about Danchou — he was on their radar, though they didn't know his true identity. He dealt with with illegal gambling, loan sharking, and parlors. Kidnapping children was not Danchou's MO; kids weren't his business. He'd said so himself, after all.
The officer had also admitted, however, that even though Danchou was a known criminal and he'd killed one of his subordinates right in front of them, he was a low priority. "We can't worry about some Yakuza Mahjong lounge when we still have villains attacking people on their morning commutes," had been his words. "Especially when you just said yourselves, he's not interested in kidnapping and trafficking minors. Sounds like he can take the trash out himself."
Overall, however, although the trip had gone well, it felt like they had wasted the entire day. They didn't know where in the city they'd been taken, they didn't know the names of anyone involved besides Jiro, Goro, and Danchou, and those alone led nowhere. So they three had been stuck at the police station most of the day, and by the time they got through traffic to return to school, it had nearly been time to go home. There had been enough time for Aizawa to give them the list of work for them to do that night. And what a list it was.
"What's the next chapter?" Ochaco asked.
"Blood borne pathogens and common blood quirks," Momo answered, leaning her chin into her palm.
At least their hero studies were interesting.
"Hey, Momo?" Mina said, closing her book and glancing at the open doors to the dining room. Momo and Ochaco followed her gaze. The hallway seemed empty. "What is Yakuza exactly?"
"Uh—" She wasn't sure how to answer. Momo hesitated some more before rising to her feet and crossing to the doors. She peeked out left and right, then slid the doors shut quietly. "They're a crime syndicate. Launder money, run prostitution rings, traffic drugs and weapons."
"That sounds terrible — why aren't the police more worried about tracking them down then?"
"They're not completely illegitimate organizations," Momo explained. "They have helped communities in times of need — like after the big earthquake a few years ago. The Yakuza clans helped with disaster relief, one family even provided a helicopter for use. Usually they're faster and more efficient than the police. And, typically, if you stay out of their way, then you have nothing to worry about."
"Can you imagine what would have happened if Danchou wasn't against trafficking kids?" Ochaco breathed.
They lapsed into a prolonged silence until Mina spoke; "What do you think he did to get where he is?"
"I don't think that's a question you really want the answer to," Momo said, but the other girls were already going, their volume dropping to confiding whispers.
How many people do you think he's killed?
Probably too many to bother keeping count.
He took their fingers like it was nothing.
It was nothing for a man like him.
Do you think he has a quirk?
Oh my gosh, he has to. What do you think it would be?
Something super powerful. Maybe that's why his subordinates feared him so much. Maybe he keeps them in line with his quirk.
He must be well-connected, and insanely smart. He figured out where all of us live and left all our bags off at the right houses.
Momo closed her eyes, trying to shut out their questions. Instead the thick sound of a screwdriver being plunged into a man's head echoed in her ears. The image of Danchou leaned forward from the darkness of her shut eyes, face hidden except for the neon orange glow of the tip of his cigarette. He blew a smoke ring, and the smell of it flooded her senses. Her eyes opened. She shuddered.