Disclaimer: The intellectual property rights to Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 belong to Atlus and its respective creative directors, as does the My Hero Academia series, with Kohei Horikoshi.

Author's Notes: There was a late addition to the last chapter! Apologies for the kerfuffle! If you go back right to the end of Chapter VIII, you'll be able to catch a fun extra scene with Momo, Jiro and Mina. Be sure to double back if you've missed it!

0.0

"I can tell you all now that his hearing is perfectly fine."

Seated upright on his hospital bed, Arisato Minato winced, then stared pointedly at the man rifling through his medical records. A cushion was flung at him, one which he instinctively tried to block with his bandaged right arm. He could only manage a twitch of his finger, which was why he got a face full of cushion.

"I would like to be transferred to another ward, please," Minato said, blinking.

"I knew it!" Yu hissed through clenched teeth, "I knew you could hear us this whole time!"

His fellow patient was in a similar position. Seated to his right, Yu was bandaged heavily from the neck up, and had been put in a neck brace, restricting her movement. A medical patch covered her left eye, and it left the other free to glare at him.

She had spent the last day or so in a dead sleep; it was possible that the combination of her accumulated stress and exhaustion, and having her body subjected to the potent after-effects of Dia contributed to that. There was something to be said about her resilience to bounce back so quickly. However, it meant that the peace he had once enjoyed was now a distant memory…

Itsuka got in between them, a fruit knife held threateningly in one hand, and in the other, a half-peeled apple. "Are we seriously starting this again?!"

"I didn't start anything."

Yu eyed her youngest charge coolly, huffing, "You've changed, Itsuka. Whatever happened to that sweet girl who first showed up at our agency? All you do is yell at us now."

"With a knife," Minato added.

With a shuddering breath, the only healthy member of their agency returned to her seat. "I don't know why I even bother." Itsuka continued muttering lowly as she resumed her apple-peeling duties.

Kayama, having been a silent bystander since the start of his examination, started to clap. "Isn't this a textbook example of a dysfunctional relationship?" She sat on his bed and regarded the doctor. "Miura-sensei, could you continue with your diagnosis? I'm afraid I can't stay long. You see, my errant student has left me in a burdensome position of having to deal with the repercussions of his actions."

Minato feigned a weak groan and mumbled, "Migraine…"

Leaning fully into his pillow and away from his homeroom teacher, his attempt to adjust his hospital bed back to its horizontal position was foiled when Kayama squeezed his hand, the good one, in her vice-like grip.

"Y-You're hurting me."

"None of that now, slave." Kayama levelled a look at him before smiling daintily at the doctor. "If you don't mind, sensei."

"Spleesh," he heard Yu mutter. "And you call us dysfunctional."

"Yes, well…" Miura, a portly and affable man who was getting on in years, cleared his throat. "As I was saying, aside from his temporary hearing loss, Arisato-san is also suffering from severe Quirk exhaustion. One, which we believe, is tied to his migraine attacks."

"Is that true, Arisato-kun?" Kayama asked.

"It comes and goes."

"As for his right arm, the damage done to the muscle tissue and bone is… extensive. Our tests revealed that his nerve endings were completely destroyed. It was beyond saving. Given the severity, we would have proceeded with amputation—"

"W-Wait!" Itsuka stood up hastily, the apple and fruit knife forgotten. "There's no way that—"

In the middle of it all, Minato noticed how Yu straightened in her seat, her jaw set, as she stared dead ahead; it was as if she was trying to bore a hole into the opposite wall with her gaze.

"Kendo," Kayama said, silencing her.

His underclassman stilled.

"I apologise. The fault lies with me." The doctor held his hands up. "I was perhaps a bit misleading, but please allow me to finish. As I've said, we would have proceeded with amputation, had Arisato-san not made it known to the team that he also has a regeneration Quirk.

"To give a little background, we've performed several biopsies during which Arisato-san attempted to heal his arm in a controlled setting. It is a Quirk that can be a double-edged sword. Our tests have revealed that overusing it is not only detrimental, but will likely have an irreversible impact on his health. There is a very technical aspect as to the nature of his regeneration, but to put it simply, what Arisato-san is doing is appropriating his stamina to forcibly jump-start the body's natural healing process."

"How does that really work, Minato?" Yu asked suddenly. She turned to him, saying, "Because it sounds like he's saying that you're somehow killing yourself by using your Quirk. You are, aren't you? That's why you burned your arm off with that attack."

"I may have… overextended myself," Minato said, grimacing. "But that's just how my powers are right now. I'm sorry that I made you worry. I'll manage myself better in the future." He tugged the bandage back and allowed the others to see the unblemished skin beneath it. "It's healed. I just can't move it that well yet."

Miura sighed heavily, but a satisfied smile did grace his lips. "I concur. There has been a tremendous improvement in his condition. Arisato-san will recover fully, granted that he gets adequate rest."

Itsuka was the first to react. "Well, that was a roller coaster ride of emotions. But I'm glad you're going to be alright, senpai." She turned to Yu, hesitant. "Right, Yu?"

There was an inscrutable look that briefly came over the woman's features before she nodded. "It's Minato," Yu said, grinning tightly. "You gotta learn to expect the unexpected with him."

That gave him pause.

Sadly, Minato didn't have time to contemplate it because his homeroom teacher, in a rare moment of brevity, stood up from his bed and bowed to Miura. "It is only thanks to the efforts of you and your team, Miura-sensei. On behalf of UA, we appreciate everything that you've done for our student. You have our sincerest gratitude."

Miura returned the bow, and offered a deeper one to the rest of the room. "I would be remiss if I didn't give my thanks to the three of you as well. Your actions saved a lot of lives in Odaiba yesterday. Were it not for you, our doors would have welcomed more dead amongst the casualties. Instead, you've given us the opportunity to treat them for the better. For that, we thank you, dear heroes."

The sincerity in the man's eyes was unmistakable.

"You are too kind, Miura-sensei," Minato said.

Itsuka had her head bowed. "We only did what we could."

"The two of you should be proud of yourselves," Kayama said. "You displayed maturity beyond your years, and performed above and beyond—despite insurmountable odds. There are many out there who owe you their lives."

Itsuka looked up and shared a small smile with him, her blue eyes misty with unshed tears. A pillow was tossed in her lap, courtesy of Yu, which she slowly embraced. "Ugh, sorry," she said, sniffing. "Roller coasters…"

Yu gamely shuffled herself over to the foot of the bed to rub Itsuka's back. "You don't have to keep it in, Minato," she told him. "What are you? A robot?"

Minato rolled his eyes at her.

Miura chuckled. "You have such remarkable students, Midnight. I feel assured knowing that our future is in safe hands."

"I can't take any of the credit, Miura-sensei. They came like that." Kayama then levelled a sympathetic look at Minato and Yu. "Unfortunately, it's time I burst your bubble. I've been told that Takeyama-san and yourself will continue to be under observation here for the next few days. The boring part comes after. The three of you will have to attend UA's internal review, as well as external ones—PSC, NPA, and other 'acronymed' entities that I can't bear to mention."

Yu groaned and flopped back down on her bed. She slung an arm over her eyes. "Would it work if I said that I have amnesia on account of having my head knocked around by a giant bigger than me?"

Itsuka scowled. "Don't joke about that when you're wearing… that ." She motioned to Yu's neck brace.

Yu fiddled with it and laughed weakly. "I'm sorry, sweetie. Bad joke. But I'm fine—perfectly fine. Ain't that right, doc?"

"Yes, she is," Miura conceded. "Takeyama-san is incredibly fortunate. At best, she has a minor concussion, in addition to the light scarring she's sustained to her left cornea. Both will heal fairly quickly." The doctor rubbed his chin, appearing pensive. "We can't quite explain it. Her CT scan showed that there was evidence of intracranial trauma, but miraculously, her injuries seemed to have healed on its own."

"Oh," Minato said. "That was me."

He could hear a pin drop in the ensuing silence.

"You're able to heal others?" Miura asked. "I assumed when you said that you could heal yourself, it was a self-regeneration Quirk."

Minato shrugged.

"Absolutely remarkable…"

Kayama blinked, and said, "Yes. Aren't you just full of surprises today, Arisato-kun? Your Quirk is obviously something we need to discuss with you in further detail. Once you've been dischar—"

As it was, the door to their ward slid open, revealing Nejire as her costumed alter ego.

"Arisato~~" she cheered lowly, perhaps mindful of the fact that she was in a hospital. "Everyone in class got together and made you this! It's our traditional 'Get Well Now Now Now!' gift basket!"

She held up an amateurish-looking gift basket, complete with a lop-sided bow. It contained a literal hodgepodge of sweets and chocolate, and nothing else.

The moment Nejire stepped in, she must have sensed the awkwardness in the room. Of course, it didn't mean that she cared. "Ehhh~~ The old hag is here. And Itsuka-chan!" Her elation dimmed when she looked behind her, towards the open doorway, in apparent confusion. "Momo-chi? Where are you? I need to introduce you to your rival!"

Minato got his first look at his underclassman when she peeked her head through the doorway, her face red in embarrassment. "R-R-Rival?! Nejire-senpai! Please stop saying such embarrassing things! People may get the wrong idea!"

Nejire quirked her head to one side. "Why are you hiding?"

"I-I'm not."

Peer-pressured into submission, the rest of Momo's frame finally came into view.

Much like his class representative, Momo had brought him a gift—hers being a teddy bear. It had the same scarf she had made for him wrapped around its neck, as well as a 'Get Well Soon' balloon tied around its body. Momo had even made him a replacement bokken; the weapon was cradled between the bear's stubby arms and feet.

"Momo-chi!" Nejire dragged her forward and held out her hand at Itsuka. "From today onwards, Itsuka-chan will be your rival!"

"Nejire-senpai!"

Itsuka looked around. "What… even is happening?"

"I don't know," Yu said, phone in hand as she pointed it around the room. "But it's amazing."

"This is some serious nightmare fuel," Itsuka muttered.

Undeterred, Nejire clapped her hands excitedly. "Ne, since Arisato and I are the only ones in our class that have UA underclassmen interning in the same agency, it makes sense for the two of you to engage in some healthy competition, don't you think?" She turned to Minato, leaning over his bed to stare into his face. "Don't you think so~~?"

Minato feigned a groan.

"Migraine…"

He tried to pull his blanket over his head, but was stopped short when Kayama tugged it back.

"Now, now, Arisato-kun," Kayama said, her smile growing impish. "Quite the harem you've got here. Why don't you be a good little host and play nice? Miura-sensei and I will see ourselves out. Unless, of course…" She wiggled her delicate eyebrows suggestively.

Minato glared at her. "How is someone like you even allowed to teach?"

0.0

The abandoned bar was dark, empty. Shigaraki Tomura sat alone at the counter. The only thing to keep him company was the harsh glare of the television screen situated above him; it was a news broadcast about the recent Mass Trigger Incident at Odaiba. He mashed a finger down on the TV remote as the broadcast gave way to something else.

"Trigger…"

An aerial shot of the waterfront district was shown, highlighting the damages sustained to the area. The rampage wrought by the 'forced-villians' was significant, as was the loss of life.

"Trigger…"

On-scene correspondents were interviewing eye-witnesses. The portraits they painted were grim, the ordeal made personal, as survivors recounted their experiences as the disaster unfolded.

"Trigger…"

Newscasters detailed the profiles of the Pro Heroes involved in the incident. They created mock timelines and poured over the Pro Heroes' actions or lack thereof with a blow-by-blow account.

"Trigger…"

There were more talking heads; this time discussing the incident that had occurred two weeks back, during the Mass Trigger Incident at UA's Sports Festival.

Cocking his arm back, Tomura heaved the TV remote at the television.

"Why is it always about some fucking useless NPC on Trigger killing fucking NPCs?!"

The monitor at the end of the counter switched on by itself, revealing a static black wallpaper. The disembodied voice of his master, tinny and garbled, came through the speakers, "This is the age of the modern news cycle, Tomura. Infamy is only relevant if it's current."

Tomura leaned his head sideways to stare at the monitor. "Then lend me some toys, sensei… All these Trigger incidents are annoying to watch. I'll be sure to leave a mark ugly enough that the entire country won't soon forget."

"Oh? What is it that you intend to do?"

Languidly, Tomura lolled his head forward and reached for the crumpled newspaper clipping on the counter. Deft fingers teased it open before he held it out in front of the monitor. It was an article about their altercation with All Might during the USJ Incident. There was a picture; a stock photo of All Might beaming brightly into the camera.

"The boy," Tomura said. "I'll destroy the Midoriya boy. I'll destroy All Might. I'll destroy 'em all." He started laughing. "I'll make sure they'll never know what it means to be safe again."

"There is plenty to admire about your spirit," All For One said. "But your approach must be more… feasible . Another direct attack against UA will be nigh impossible given the circumstances. You are bereft of allies, Tomura."

"So? Get Kurogiri to find more of 'em. There's plenty of NPCs out—"

"Allies, Tomura—worthy ones to stand at your side; not mere cannon fodder. I've already instructed Kurogiri to contact someone who may be suited to the task. Kurogiri expects our guest to arrive by the evening. He's an interesting one. Calls himself the Hero Killer—Stain."

Tomura crushed the newspaper clipping into a ball and flicked it away. "Feh, shit-stain more like… What's the point anyway? The Nomus are plenty strong. Just give me an army of 'em and I'll be set."

"Those creatures are simple beings. They cannot think; they have no free will."

Tomura spun in his seat, turning his back to the monitor. A sneer came over his lips. "You could just hack them; put in a GameShark cartridge," he muttered. "Ain't the doctor some kinda super-genius-hackerman?"

"Ujiko is a brilliant man. He does not take failure lightly. In fact, this Trigger epidemic has inspired him. I dare say the next iteration of Nomus will be a considerable upgrade over its predecessors."

"Great… Give me ten of 'em."

All For One was quiet. "Meet with Stain, Tomura. No matter the outcome of your meeting, I will do my utmost to lend you my aid." With little fanfare, the link was shut down, and the monitor turned dormant.

Alone once more, Tomura stared up at the ceiling.

"Fuck." He reached under his shirt and scratched his stomach. "I'm hungry…"

0.0

"The police have taken Kugutsu into custody alive, young master."

Chisaki Kai closed his eyes and tried not to imagine it. It was hard not to, however; the man standing before him wouldn't stop talking.

The human mouth contained hundreds of different strains of bacteria, but the actual bacteria present could number in the millions, billions even. The longer one talked, the greater the microscopic droplets of saliva that propagated in the air. Once airborne, the bacteria present could survive for hours.

That was why he wore a mask. That was why everyone in his organisation wore a mask. They weren't allowed to remove it within the compound, much less in his presence; he refused to breathe in the same air as them.

"Hachisuka has failed," Nemoto continued. "I suspect that her identity has been compromised. I have taken the appropriate measures to distance ourselves from her activities. A bounty has been placed on her—"

Sitting forward in his seat, Kai leaned his elbows on his knees and levelled a baleful glare at his subordinate. He directed it at the others standing before him in his office—the masked members of the Teppōdama Hassaishū. His most trusted lieutenants, Kurono and Irinaka, were flanked on either side of him.

Despite the elongated plague doctor mask that covered the lower half of his face, Kai's voice rang out clearly, "Do you speak for me, Nemoto?" His tone was flat.

Nemoto ducked his gaze towards the floor. "I would never presume to, young master."

As the lingering silence persisted, Kai could see Nemoto's breath quicken. "Yet, you behave otherwise," he said finally. "Who gave you instructions to act without my approval? I did not ask for her to be removed."

"She may have been compromised, young master. We cannot allow her to be taken into custody—not when she's seen your face. I was only ever thinking of the safety of our clan. A single misstep could derail the success of your vision."

"I never said that the girl has outlived her purpose; she remains our most valuable asset in propagating this Trigger epidemic."

Rappa Kendo, a large and imposing man, sauntered to the edge of his desk and leaned against it. He wore a mask that was not dissimilar to the rest of the Teppōdama Hassaishū, albeit his only extended to the crown of his head. It allowed his long orange hair to reach down to his shoulders. His hand, wrapped in a modified knuckle-duster that extended to his forearm, mimed a yapping mouth.

"Not that I care, but why the fuck are you getting your panties in a twist, 'Overhole'? Is this really why you called us all here? To bitch about this shit-for-brains putting a hit on your precious pre-teen?"

"You will hold your tongue, Rappa," Irinaka growled. "Or risk losing it."

Rappa stepped forward, spreading his arms wide. "About time you did something about it, Irina—"

"Stop."

It spoke to the measure of his strength that everyone in the room stilled; he could even sense a few holding their breaths. Kai stood up.

"Do you know why we started mass-producing Trigger?" he asked Rappa.

"Money?"

"In part. There is a greater objective at play here; one that will help eradicate the plague that has consumed our world."

Rappa snorted. "Right… Having a Quirk is a disease. Mighty hypocritical if you ask me when you're lording over all of us with that Quirk of yours, Overhaul. It kinda begs the question why we're even peddling this shit in the first place. Aren't you just making the world more, uh…" the man paused, flaring his nostrils through his mask, "more… diseased ?"

"Haven't you heard of a vaccine before?" Kurono asked flatly.

"What?! Course I heard of it! That shit makes kids dumb! It poisons their brains!"

"A vaccine, Rappa, carries an agent," Kai said, ignoring his outburst. "It stimulates the body's immune system to recognise it as a threat to be eliminated. Once it does, anything that vaguely resembles that agent will be destroyed. Do you see the parallel now? The Trigger is our agent, and the public, our immune system. That is why we need this Trigger epidemic to reach its tipping point; to aggravate a sickness that is as commonplace as a fever into a flesh-eating virus. Only then will the vaccine truly take effect."

He pulled a small vial from his jacket and held it out between his fingers. "We've only taken a small step to realise our vision. I've gone to great lengths to produce just a single drop of this—an elixir capable of eliminating the genetic mutation inside our DNA. As public sentiment shifts against the grain, that is when we introduce our silver bullet."

Kurono tapped the side of his head. "While the rest of the sheeple are stuck thinking on their next move, Boss is playing three-dimensional shogi, and is already holding their king in check."

"I am under no illusion as to the enormity of our undertaking," Kai continued, depositing his life's work back into his pocket. "But great deeds are rarely simple. To begin anew, we must first destroy the decaying foundations of our society and build new ones—better ones."

Rappa was quiet. "You'd do all of that just so you could restore your clan to its former glory?" He folded his arms and scoffed. "You're a fucking loony. I can't believe I actually stood there and listened to all that crap."

Kai quirked his head to one side. "You're right," he said. "Talk is cheap."

Quick as a whip, Kai turned on his heel and thrust his hand out at Nemoto's neck. His wrath channelled through his body, the warmth leaving him momentarily, as it flowed into his target. The effects were instantaneous. Time seemingly froze around him. In one moment, Nemoto's entire being violently exploded in a gush of blood and sinew, and the next, Nemoto was whole again.

Nemoto let out a sharp breath and sank to his hands and knees, shivering madly.

Kai stared down at him. "I do not wish to defile the sterility of my office with your remains. Were it not for that fact alone, you would have truly been nothing more than a stain on the ground. Do not try my patience, Nemoto."

"Y-Young… master…"

"Get up. I've seen a child fare better than you." When Nemoto remained kneeled, he motioned to Irinaka to step in. "Take him away. Make sure that he is adequately punished, Irinaka."

His underling bowed lowly. "We will proceed with yubitsume, master."

"Don't stop at one. Shorten all the fingers on his left hand."

Irinaka nodded. "Should I return with the offerings?"

"What use would I have with severed fingers?" Kai asked. "You may allow him to keep it. It will serve as a reminder that he is not above reproach—no matter his contributions to the clan."

"Understood."

"Soramitsu," Kai called out.

Soramitsu Tabe, a frail man with hunched shoulders, stepped forward. He wore a dirty burlap sack for a mask, secured firmly by a grimy rope fastened around his neck. Through the frayed and uneven holes in his mask, Soramitsu's eyes were haggard and red-rimmed.

"Y-Yes, O-Overhaul-sama?"

"See to it that you personally dispose of Hachisuka Kuin. We cannot allow the Shie Hassaikai to be seen as weak by rescinding her bounty. If that girl is half as smart as she acts, then she will have gone underground the moment Nemoto placed that bounty on her head. Root her out."

Soramitsu's eyes widened. When he spoke, his words were slurred, as if he was salivating too much, "D-Do I… S-Should I…"

There wasn't a need for Soramitsu to finish his sentence for Kai to infer his request. The man was a deviant amongst deviants. If there ever was a proponent for the adverse effects of the Quirk mutation on the human psyche, then Soramitsu would be propped up as a prime example.

The man craved flesh.

"Do as you wish, Soramitsu."

0.0

It was honestly disconcerting. Somewhere behind her, beyond the four walls of the dingy bathroom she was currently occupying, Hachisuka Kuin heard her own voice drone loudly:

"Kuin, I'm bored…"

Catching herself in the mirror, Kuin patted down her newly-coloured hair with a towel. Black suited her well enough, less than her natural colour, but those were the breaks when one was trying to lay low. Gingerly, she traced the fresh cuts on her arms and cheek. The wounds were shallow, but had been enough to draw blood.

She had her lovely housemate to thank for those.

Turning, Kuin caught a glimpse of herself through the open door, spread eagle on the bed. She fired back at the imposter, "What do you think, psycho? I'll try to style it differently from now on. It won't fool everyone, but it's the best I can do for now."

Toga manoeuvred herself to lie on her stomach, propping up her hands to support her chin. "I like this one better." She tangled her fringe with her forefinger, adding, "It's a shame you had'ta dye it."

"What happens if you were to take my blood now? Would you still look the same?"

Toga shrugged. "I'unno. I usually take a lot at once or just a bit. No one's ever let me take their blood from them twice."

"I didn't let you do anything. You came at me with a knife last night," Kuin cut in. "But for the sake of finding out…" She stepped out of the bathroom and into her room proper. "I'll let you have a few drops of my blood—just enough to test it."

Hope kindled in that all-too-familiar eye. Toga hastily got up on the bed, leaning forward on her knees. She looked giddy, feverish, when she said, "There's no one else in this world that gets me like you do, Kuin! You really are my friend!"

A part of Kuin did genuinely pity the girl. "No worries," she said, masking a sad smile.

Toga's childlike disposition wasn't an act; neither were those moments when she seemed more even-keeled. Her mental state made it impossible for Kuin to read her, much less manipulate. It was a dangerous tightrope to cross, considering Toga's sadistic tendencies. In the end, Kuin settled for what the girl had proposed when they first met.

A friendship.

It worked out. She knew there was no going back to her previous life—that of Hachisuka Kuin, full-time student and part-time villain. It was time for her to commit, and she needed allies who could watch her back.

Life was funny that way…

When Toga produced a penknife from her skirt pocket, Kuin quickly shot her down. "Put that away. I'm not letting you cut me again."

Toga pouted but acquiesced.

Silently, Kuin directed one of her bees to pierce the back of her hand with its modified stinger. She pinched the skin together and allowed the blood to pool before holding it out to the girl.

Toga seemed unsure at first, but almost reverently, she took Kuin's hand in hers and dipped her head down to lap up the blood. Her disguise melted away in a wash of grey goo. It just as quickly re-solidified, and a carbon copy of the old Kuin sat in front of her—without the black hair and wounds that dotted her arms and cheek.

"Ah, so it doesn't work like that. I wonder what the trigger point is," Kuin wondered aloud. "Still, you have a really cool Quirk, Himiko."

Toga was preening under her praise. "Yeah! Yours is… Uh, I mean, most bugs are gross, but at least bees are cute. It's so awesome that they all live in your eye though." The girl used her fingers to pry her own swollen eye open, revealing the empty socket within. "Mine's empty though, right?"

"Yeah…" Kuin said. "Can you even see out of that eye?"

"Nahhh, not really. It's pretty freaky seeing the world with only one eye." Toga held a hand out, right where her blind spot was. "It must be hard not to bump into things."

"Not to mention the depth perception." Giran showed up at the door to her bedroom, dressed simply in a matching pair of shirt and slacks. He was holding his phone in one hand, texting. "Aren't you two a matching pair now?" he continued. "And to think you were going at it like cats and dogs last night. Heh… Puberty must be awful for girls your age, huh?"

Toga huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "We're sixteen!"

"Statement still stands."

Kuin was nonplussed. "What did you find out?"

Giran cocked an eyebrow, grinning. "I heard a few things about you here and there. The Shie Hassaikai put a pretty bounty on your head—more than enough to tempt me honestly. Although, they're offering less for information."

That explained why her texts to Nemoto went unanswered—she had been cut off. It wasn't entirely expected, but it still stung. They paid her well for her work, and the loss of funds would be a big concern down the line, less so the bounty on her head. Their influence only extended as far as Kanto. It wouldn't be an issue if she skipped out and moved to another region.

Kuin shook her head. "My money's still good here, Giran."

"It is… Hard to be relevant in my line of work if people don't trust you with their lives. Here's a kicker though: Slugger's alive and talking; they actually remanded him in a mental institution. Got this tip-off from an associate of mine inside the NPA. He was kind enough to send me pictures too." He tossed her his phone. "Say hello to Female A."

On it was a video still of her from the day before, captured during the altercation in the alley. Her sunglasses and black bomber jacket did help to hide her features and her figure, but it was her—clear as day. There were more as she scrolled through the phone; blurry security-camera footage, most likely from previous Trigger-related incidents. There wasn't much to go on, but they seemed to have matched her build and the profile of her face.

"So much you could do with technology these days," Giran said.

Toga giggled weakly and rubbed the back of her head. "That's how they got me too, I think."

Even though Kuin was already expecting this news, it did little to stop the unease churning in her stomach. Exhaling, she forced herself to remain calm and handed the phone back to Giran. "How much do they know?"

"They have a picture of you; that's enough. Right now, I'm guessing they're canvassing schools and universities within Tokyo. You have a few days tops, especially if you end up missing school. It won't be long before they find out who you are and show up at your doorstep. It might even give your parents a very pleasant surprise."

"She'll live," Kuin mumbled. She bit her bottom lip. "I need to leave Tokyo immediately. Could you make arrangements, Giran?"

"What?!" Toga half-yelled. "You're gonna leave already? But we only just became friends!"

She smiled tightly at her doppelgänger. "Then, come with me, Himiko. We're pretty much in the same boat. This way we can watch each other's backs."

Toga's single eye widened and her mouth froze to form an 'O'. It looked for a moment that she was about to agree, but like a switch, she blinked then tilted her head to one side. "I came to Tokyo to meet Stain though. Giran promised me that he'd let me meet him."

"I said I'd try," Giran said. "I never promised you anything, girlie."

"The Hero Killer?" Kuin asked, aghast. "Why?"

"Yup!" Toga crowed. "He's my idol! I wanna kill him and wear his skin!"

Kuin suppressed a shudder. "Well, you know what they say about not meeting your idols, right? It's true," she muttered lowly. "I can tell you honestly that you're just going to be disappointed. Trust me, I've met him once."

Toga gasped and grabbed her by her arms. Her expression morphed into one of pure elation. It was weird, to say the least, having your own face do that so close to you. "Really?! Is he as dreamy up close?! Tell me! Tell me!"

Giran clapped his hands, forcibly drawing their attention back to him. "Oi, kids! Ease up! I don't have time for crazy right now, so I'll level with you, Kuin. You don't have a lot of options left. The police are on your tail, the yakuzas want your head, and I seriously don't think you can afford my services for much longer."

Kuin narrowed her eyes. "What are you getting at?"

Giran smiled. "It just so happens that a certain benefactor of mine is putting together a group of… like-minded individuals. I'm wondering if you'd be interested in joining?"

0.0

"…and that's about it." Standing, Kaneko reached around his neck and kneaded the muscles lightly. "Anyway, sorry for coming so late in the day. Like I said, it's been an absolute madhouse back at HQ because of what happened to Hanakawa and her team."

Now cleared of the need for a protective neck brace, Takeyama Yu sat on the foot of her bed, her legs dangling loosely over the edge. She frowned to herself, silently mulling it over. As more information regarding the Mass Trigger Incident in Odaiba trickled in from both visitors and the news alike, Yu would readily admit that things had taken a turn—not necessarily for the better.

"I'm not entirely sure how to take this."

"Isn't this what you wanted?" Kaneko asked. "You've been griping at me for weeks about wanting to get on the case."

"Yeah, and they're using me to get to Minato." Yu scowled. "You said it yourself. They want him because of his Quirk."

"I didn't say that in so many words." Kaneko pinched the bridge of his nose. "And you're saying that as if it's a bad thing—it's not. People are scared. They saw a Pro Hero get turned into a mindless villain by a bee; a bee of all things!" He shook his head. "We just caught a huge break in this case, Takeyama. It's uncharted waters from here, and when smart villains get desperate, they get crazy. What if they changed tack and started actively targeting Pro Heroes instead of civilians? What if they get someone strong—someone like you with your Quirk and your training? Imagine if you hadn't been there to stop Slugger, think of—"

"Alright, stop!" Yu held up a hand. She sighed deeply. "I get it. Just… stop doing the 'scary think of the consequences' cop, okay? Look, as much as I'd like to be involved in the investigation, it's not purely my decision to make now. I'll put it to Minato. Whatever he decides, I'll support him."

"Decide what?"

Of course, Minato chose that time to announce his presence, standing at the doorway to their ward.

Kaneko looked between the two of them. "Well, I'll leave you two to it then, Takeyama. I can't stay for much longer anyway; gotta head back to HQ and knuckle down. Here's hoping I see you soon." With that, the feline sent a casual salute behind his back, not before clapping Minato on his shoulder on the way out. "Take care of her for me, will you?"

"Thanks for the fruit basket!" she shouted at his retreating back.

Minato walked over and took a seat on her bed. "Anything I should know?"

"A few things, yeah. Thanks for earlier by the way—for letting me have the room." Yu stared at the empty doorway, noticing the lack of a third body. "Where's Itsuka?"

"It's almost eight. UA has a curfew," he told her. "Besides, she couldn't wait to get away."

Bless Itsuka's sweet, sweet heart.

Given the state of their agency, with two of its only members sidelined, Itsuka's work internship had been officially cut short by UA. Despite that, her cute intern had seen to it to spend every waking minute by their side today. Of course, they learned quickly not to let her within reach of the fruit knife…

"What did you crazy kids end up doing?" she asked.

Minato shrugged. "We had dinner at the cafeteria, then I walked her to the entrance. Vlad King-sensei came by to pick her up." He glanced down at her food tray. "You barely touched your food."

"I wasn't in the mood. Just wanted to nibble."

Huh…

For once, they actually had a moment alone to themselves. The whole day, they had been inundated with visitors, staff and medical examinations—all conspiring to prevent her from having a word with Minato in private. This was what she had been waiting for.

So why…

Why for the love of God was it so hard to speak now?!

Yu snapped her fingers. "By the way, how's your arm? Is it all—"

Minato held his right hand up and clenched his fingers into a tight fist. He rotated his wrist and cracked it at the joint for good measure. "You're stalling and making small talk. This must be important."

Yu couldn't help it. She laughed. "Minato… Isn't it weird that we've only known each other for like what? A month? Slightly more than that? And you only started working at the agency last week."

"Why is that weird?"

"Because… Because I've had friendships that's lasted years, decades even, but I can't remember trusting anyone more than I trust you—not even any of my ex-boyfriends," Yu added, snorting derisively. "That's a bad comparison, but you get what I mean."

"I guess," Minato said. "But it's two different things; trusting someone with your life and trusting them with your heart." He shrugged his shoulders. "There's plenty that I trust with the first, but only one that I trust with the second."

There it was again…

That look.

"I'm not sure if you know this, but there are times when you get this little," she motioned to her eye, the one not covered by the medical patch, "look in your eyes. Not always. Sometimes, I catch you smiling to yourself, but when you tend to get lost in that head of yours, your eyes get a bit… haunted. Does it have anything to do with this mysterious love interest that's wormed her way into your heart?"

He seemed surprised. "Really?" he asked, ignoring her question completely.

"We've spent most of our time in the last month together, Minato. Just the two of us," she told him. "Yes, really. It's something I'm noticing more and more."

"I've been having trouble adjusting to the new schedule," he said. "Maybe I was just tired."

Yu thinned her lips. "Please don't insult me like that. I'm not an idiot. In fact, there's a few things about you that don't add up, and it has everything to do with your past—because that's the only thing you're withholding. Don't think I didn't notice that you didn't answer my question, Minato."

He was quiet, but didn't tear his gaze away from hers.

"I can see that it's hard for you to share those details of your life, and I won't ever press you for it— too much ," she admitted with a sigh. "But I do want to know more about you because it seems like whatever happened in your past is a big part of who you are as a person. If you need time, then I'll wait. I'll wait for however long it takes until you're ready. I just need you to know that I care about you— a lot ." Yu reached out and placed a hand over his, squeezing it. "I know it goes without saying, but… Thank you, Minato."

Something burned in her eyes and she tried, in vain, to blink it away. Of course, hospitals were notoriously stuffy at night, and she had allergies, very bad ones. It explained why her throat was so tight when she tried to speak:

"T-Thank you for saving my life, Minato."

Yu tugged at his hand and motioned him into a hug. He silently reciprocated and allowed her to bury her face into his shoulder. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice muffled. "I have really bad allergies."

"Of course you do," he said softly.

"I'm allergic to hospitals."

She could sense him rolling his eyes when he spoke, "Then, let's go up to the roof and get some fresh air. It should be easy to sneak past the nurses' station at this hour."

"Stop being so cool about it, Minato." Sniffling, Yu pushed him away and dabbed at her eyes, being extra careful around the medical patch. "And don't get hurt doing stupid things again, even if you have a stupidly powerful Quirk— especially because you have a stupidly powerful Quirk…"

"I won't." He sighed. "That reminds me; how's your eye? I did what I could after the fight, but I was exhausted. It shouldn't be a problem to heal it now if you're uncomfortable."

Yu waved him away. "No, worry about yourself, dummy. Didn't Miura-sensei tell you not to overstress your Quirk?"

This time she could actually see him roll his eyes. "I'm feeling better now. Just let me see."

He reached forward, his right hand disappearing into her blind spot. Yu felt his fingers brush away her hair, to try and undo the medical patch over her left eye, and something within her just… snapped.

A wide and empty grin.
A sad and mocking sneer.

Rough hands pulling her hair tight and yanking her forward.

Yu flinched and smacked his hand away, perhaps more forcefully than she intended. She stared at him, mortified. Her mouth quivered as she struggled to find the words.

She was breathing heavily. In fact, that was all she could hear; the sounds of her own ragged breaths. Yu was only partly aware that Minato was still trying to calm her down. Although this time, he made sure to keep his hands in full view.

"Yu… Yu, it's okay. Look at me."

Minato sounded distant despite being right in front of her.

Fuck.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

"I… I'm so sorry." Her voice had never sounded quite so small and shaky to her ears. "I-I didn't mean to do that."

Minato smiled lightly, although she could see how pained it was. "I know you didn't. It's okay. Let's get out of here. We can go up to the—"

The shrill blare of emergency sirens resounded in the distance, cutting him off. They held each other's gaze in that moment, and Yu saw his pained smile wither away—he looked resigned. Like a switch, she shot to her feet and marched for the windows, flinging them open. The sirens were near deafening at this point.

Yu spied a broadcast tower on top of a nearby building.

"That's the Public Warning System," she said, her features grim. "Hosu's under attack."

Minor Arcana: Pentacles (V)

Side Note(s): Big ups to NonBenevolentPotato for his help with this chapter!

This chapter was given to all y'all as a gift to commemorate the release of Pokemon SwSh! If anyone here is playing, come hit me up separately! I would love to crush your hopes and destroy you!

Extra (A): And so, Ujiko Daruma visits an old patient…

Ujiko Daruma straightened himself, setting his stethoscope aside, and looked at the scarred and hideous visage of his master. Had he blinked, he could have imagined staring into light-coloured eyes and strong, masculine features. Even in the dark, the room scarcely illuminated by the glare of a monitor, he could feel a cold, piercing gaze wash over him.

Despite himself, Daruma had to fight back a shiver before it eventually passed.

"With each passing day," he said. "I fear what I might find when I enter this room, Shigaraki-sensei. Will I be greeting the man I admire most? Or will it simply be his remains?"

All For One chuckled, low and raspy. "You exaggerate, good doctor."

"It is justified. There is some cause for concern that a man who is supposedly immortal may, in fact, pass on before me. I will have to start you on a new regimen of antibiotics and—"

"Spare me the details," All For One said. "That's not the reason why I called for you."

He frowned. "I could never understand why you would put your health second to the whims of your wayward student."

All For One leaned back into his seat, stroking a hand on his chin. "In all my years walking this earth, I've learned that there is only one constant in this world, Daruma. It's death. You can hope to delay it, but you cannot stop what is essentially inevitable. There has only been one instance which I've seen death be defied so blatantly. It is perhaps fitting that the man who did it shared my blood."

"One For All," Daruma said softly.

"The only real means to fight death is to create a legacy. That is why I must nurture young Tomura—to allow him to reach his full potential. His age makes him short-sighted and feckless; only experience and time can curb his proclivities and temper his conviction. I ask that you do the same. Lend him your aid."

Daruma adjusted his goggles and coughed into his hand. "If that is truly what you wish, then I will comply, but know that I still judge him unworthy of your legacy. Perhaps one day he may come good and prove me wrong, but until that day arrives, I will only act if it's at your behest."

"A compromise then."

"Yes," Daruma said. "I could use some field data on the new prototypes. I am willing to offer him six of my children. They may be prototypes, but all are fully operational and have been outfitted with my latest creation. I consider them to be at least on par with the Mid-End Nomu that was sent to destroy All Might, albeit none were designed to counter the Symbol of Peace so perfectly like that one was."

"Trigger must be a remarkable compound then," All For One said. "I wonder what kind of effect it would have on someone like me."

"I would not recommend it, Shigaraki-sensei. Not yet, at least. I have yet to discern the impact it may have on your body, much less your mind. In fact, I am running low on test subjects as it is."

All For One waved him away. "There are but a few suitable candidates, especially given your extensive requirements. Kurogiri has brought two to my attention recently. I've asked him to investigate them further, seeing how these two are especially high-risk targets. I may even be tempted to take one for myself." He pressed a button at his side and spoke aloud, "Bring up the files Kurogiri sent this morning."

The computer complied with his request with a ding, and a text-to-speech software read the profiles in a pleasant but synthetic female voice for the benefit of his master.

Daruma didn't need to listen.

On the screen, side by side, were two photographs.

One was a woman with long green hair and large yellow eyes. She was in costume; a ridiculous yellow eyesore of an outfit with matching cat paws. He knew who she was. The Pro Hero: Ragdoll. She had an exceptionally unique Quirk; one that allowed her to observe and monitor individuals around her, as well as discern their weaknesses.

She wouldn't do much for him as a test-subject. Her potential was painfully lacking in that regard.

The other was far more interesting.

It was a blue-haired boy wearing the colours of UA…

Extra (B): And so, Kendo Itsuka's teenage romantic comedy takes an unexpected turn…

Kendo Itsuka saw herself as an approachable and easy-going person.

That was one of the reasons why she could make friends with pretty much anyone. Back in school, she counted both seniors and students from other departments in that circle of friends. She was well-regarded because of it; which was why her classmates had made her the class representative.

The role was one she took pride in.

She wasn't the strongest in her class, nor was she the smartest, but the vote had been near unanimous—with the sole exception of her vote for Shoda. Itsuka never saw it as a popularity contest. Instead, she took it as a measure of the faith her fellow trainees had in her ability to lead. That was something that she was unfortunately doing at the moment; leading someone—one Yaoyorozu Momo.

In an effort to escape the nightmare of being incessantly needled by both Yu and Midnight-sensei, she had volunteered to get tea for everyone. Strangely, her newly-proclaimed rival decided to tag along and help her.

Halfway to the vending machine at the end of the hallway, Yaoyorozu decided to talk about the elephant they left behind in the room.

"I must apologise for Nejire-senpai's behaviour. She doesn't mean anything bad by it. She's just… She can be a little eccentric."

"Oh, you don't have to apologise," Itsuka said. "I've met her once, so I know how she gets. Honestly, I think we got off on the wrong foot." She smiled lightly, then bowed. "Kendo Itsuka, from 1-B. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Yaoyorozu's smile was bright as she returned the bow. "My name is Yaoyorozu Momo, from Class 1-A. The pleasure is mine, Kendo-san. I hope we can get along."

When they reached the vending machine, the kind that dispensed the drinks in those small disposable cups, Itsuka grabbed a handful of coins from her coin purse and methodically went about ordering tea for the visitors. A brief back-and-forth ensued when Yaoyorozu offered to pay, but the girl was ultimately overruled when Itsuka told her that it was Yu's treat.

Ever the eager beaver, Yaoyorozu surreptitiously produced a small tray and pulled it from the exposed slit in her costume that ran from her neck and down past her navel. She didn't seem embarrassed at all baring her skin so brazenly; not that the girl had anything to be ashamed of.

It did make her a bit envious…

"So," Itsuka said, placing a steaming cup down on the tray. "I heard from Minato-senpai that you're interning with a 'Top Ten' Pro Hero. What's that like?"

"Ryukyu-sama is amazing," Yaoyorozu gushed. "She has an agency with a dozen sidekicks under her charge, and she still finds time to mentor a junior intern like me. I mostly had to shadow Nejire-senpai's day-to-day this whole week to get acclimated to their schedule. It was daunting, but everything that I've experienced so far has been nothing short of eye-opening."

"Mine was… similar? Mount Lady was busy, but she did what she could when she could. I tagged along with Minato-senpai pretty much the whole time. I can't say I learned a whole lot about the life of a sidekick, but I did learn quite a bit from sparring with him."

Momo's eyes sparkled with delight. "It was the same for me! He's a quick study, isn't he? We've been sparring partners for almost two months now and I still find something new to learn each time."

"Then I guess you got used to getting your butt handed to you too. I lost more times than I can count, but I made him work for his wins." Itsuka swiped the tip of her nose with a thumb. "Got four myself…"

"You actually won?" Yaoyorozu was blinking—a lot. "How?"

She grinned. "You have to gas him out. He'll try to make excuses about wanting to grab a drink or even play dead to catch his breath, but you can't let up and give him a break. My dad's a karate instructor; he did that a lot to me when I was growing up."

"It sounds a bit underhanded…"

Itsuka shrugged, saying, "A win is a win. My dad always says that a villain won't ever be kind enough to give you time to collect yourself, so use whatever advantage you have to end a fight decisively."

Yaoyorozu was nodding to herself. "That's a very astute observation."

"Plus, I've seen the things he could do with his Quirk. Trust me. The only way you could ever hope to beat him is to be underhanded."

Yaoyorozu put a finger to her chin, drawing her eyes up at the ceiling in thought. "Personally, I've only ever seen him use it once—when he had a remedial session with our class. He transformed his bokken into this sword made out of fire. It was… quite a sight to behold," she said, shuddering. "Although, I have seen the videos that went viral online."

"Oh, was it that one UwUTuber eating at a ramen bar?" Itsuka asked. "Yeah, the guy caught a bit of the action when Minato-senpai turned his weapon into this warhammer and spammed lightning all over the place. He called it 'Meow-nyaa' or something." Itsuka grimaced, scrunching her nose at the memory. "Senpai is great and all, but he's still got a bit of middle-school syndrome in him."

"Ah," Yaoyorozu muttered, sighing. "Like with his hero name."

They both hung their heads down, dejected.

Placing the final cup of tea on the tray, Itsuka motioned silently as they made their way back to the ward. "Still, if only you could have seen the power behind that last attack of his. It was… otherworldly. He's like a mini-All Might in the making." She shook her head. "UA is just insane. I heard Nejire-senpai was one of the 'Big Three' in school? Is she anywhere as strong as him?"

"I've never seen Nejire-senpai fight with her Quirk, at least not in a life-or-death situation. Our patrols in Ueno are generally quiet," Yaoyorozu explained. "The only reason why we got approval from Ryukyu-sama to come to Hosu was because senpai arranged a community outreach with the terminally-ill patients in this hospital. She does it quite often—letting others fly with her."

"She has a good heart, huh?" Itsuka asked.

Yaoyorozu's smile was soft and wistful. "Nejire-senpai and Ryukyu-sama are alike in many ways. I can't help but look up to both of them. I only hope that I can measure up to their expectations of me."

As Itsuka slid open the door to their ward, they were simultaneously greeted by a cue of raucous laughter and Nejire's cutesy whine.

"Arisato~~!" Nejire pouted heatedly. "Come! On!"

The older girl had taken to the air, and she was hovering in place above Minato's bed, her hands locked around his uninjured wrist. Minato had purposely laid himself flat out, intent on becoming a dead-weight. Still, Nejire was persistent enough to tug him to the edge of his bed, where half of his upper-body was dangling over a precarious drop.

"I can…! Show you the world!" Nejire said, grunting with each tug of his arm. "Its shining…! Shimmering…! Splendour!"

Itsuka turned to her new friend, her features dearth. "What was that you were saying before?"

"Awawawa! Nejire-senpai! Please let Minato-senpai go!"

IX Extra (C): And so, Usagiyama Rumi tries to find her way in this city…

"Mirko-san," the Public Safety Commission stooge said. "I would appreciate it if we could get back to the matter at hand?"

Usagiyama Rumi scowled and leaned over the side of her lounge chair. The bespectacled man in the black suit was blocking her view of the television. It was the much vaunted pay-per-view event of the year; the Honour Fighting Championships Grand Prix. It marked the return of her long-time favourite—Mikhail 'Bro Cop'.

Like hell, she was going to miss a second of it.

Rumi slammed her utensils down on her plate of blue flower tofu with black truffle-infused wild carrots, and glared at him. "If you don't get outta the way, I'm gonna stomp your face."

He was nonplussed. "That specially-prepared vegan meal that you ordered from room service, it cost four-thousand yen, inclusive of consumption tax."

"Right leg, hospital!" Rumi growled, then pointed at her limited edition 'Bro Cop' t-shirt. "Left leg, cemetery!"

"Yes, yes… Very catchy," the man said, looking down at his tablet. "This pay-per-view event you're watching, it's one-time payment of six-thousand yen." He looked around. "And this 'Superior Twin' room that you strong-armed my most recent predecessor to book for you—a four-star hotel no less, right in the heart of Hosu—costs more than twenty-thousand yen per night."

Languidly, Rumi took a sip of her beer.

He motioned to the minibar. "I checked that too. Adding up all the alcoholic beverages and snacks that you've consumed… that totals to almost eight-thousand yen."

"Grrrgh… Just say what you have to say already!" Rumi snapped. "I don't have all night!"

The man sighed. "Mirko-san, as your new liaison, it is important that we be able to develop an amicable working relationship. You've gone through dozens of liaisons in the last four years. By my count, I am number eighty-seven. All this while, the PSC have been more than lenient with your… vagabond-styled approach to hero work, even to the extent of stepping in to manage the affairs of your one-woman agency."

"I thought we had an understanding," Rumi said. "I do what I want, when I want. In return, I'll play nice when you guys call me up for placements."

"Don't you yearn for something more, Mirko-san?"

Rumi pulled her ears down under her chin. "Ughhh… What more do you people want from me? I'm here in Tokyo, aren't I?! Because of your stupid Trigger Special Task Force bullcrap!"

"You're too narrow-minded," he said. "I can help you further your career; to help you be more visible in the public eye. Do what you've always done throughout your career—be loud, be aggressive, win. Your brand is unique and plays well to a demographic that we've consistently failed to engage; one that calls out for strong female Pro Heroes. With a bit more nuance out in the field and a better control of your… excesses," he held his hands out to the room, "the PSC will surely back you to break into the 'Top Ten' ranking this year."

Rumi stilled. "What…?"

He smiled knowingly. "For four years, you've been at it, not once were you ever able to break that glass ceiling; the closest you ever got was 'No. 12', am I right? It's a shame. You've done a lot of good work this year, but that journeyman tag will keep hounding you because you're playing the whole game wrong. I can help you with that, Mirko-san. Of course, a favour given is a favour owed. It's not quite quid pro quo. That's become such an ugly word lately that—"

Rumi bit the inside of her cheek and clenched her fists. When she spoke, her jaw was tight:

"Get out."

"Excuse me?"

"I said: Get. The. Fuck. Out."

The man adjusted his spectacles and frowned. "I will not. As a representative of the PSC, I have every right to be in this hotel room. We paid for your accommodations, on top of everything else you've put on credit. You will not force me out of this room, Mirko."

Rumi stared at him flatly, then shrugged. "Fine." She pulled off her limited edition 'Bro-Cop' t-shirt over her shoulders, revealing the modest sports bra beneath, and walked over to the wardrobe.

"W-What are you doing?!"

Her fingers lingered on the drawstring of her sweatpants. She turned to him. "I'm changing into my costume. If I catch you peeking, I'll gouge your eyes out. Trust me on that."

The man slapped his hand forcefully over his eyes. "U-Use the bathroom! This is highly inappropriate!"

Her costume was easy to slip into; what was the point of wearing a leotard if it wasn't? As Rumi tacked on the accessorial pieces of her costume, she started dumping her belongings into her carry-on luggage and duffel bag.

"Are you done?! I can hear you walking around the room!"

She was, but it was funnier to watch him squirm. Rumi grinned despite herself. "Are you a gambling man?" she asked. "Care to stake your eyes on that bet? Besides, it's not like I didn't tell you to get out. You had your warning."

"I'm not an idiot!" he hissed. "You only want me out of this room so you could watch your stupid fight!"

With the last of her belongings packed, Rumi threw one last longing look at 'Bro Cop' and pulled her luggage and bag to the door. She sighed.

"Listen… Whatever underhanded shit your superiors put you up to try and mess with me, tell them to do it on their own time. A lackey like you ain't smart enough to pull any of this off. So all this shit about the room and the food and drinks, tell those dipshits that they can shove it up their asses—unless they like that, then tell them to shove it down their throats."

"You can't leave this investigation!" the man yelled. "This goes as high up as the Prime Minister's Office! I could—"

"The only reason why I agreed to come to Tokyo and help with this Trigger nonsense was as a favour to Mera. I gave my word to that zombie, and I won't renege on it. So, if I hear some other weird shit being said, I'll know that it came from you…"

Rumi threw the door open with a 'slam'. The man, still blindfolding himself, cried out in surprise and crumpled to the floor. When he stared up at her, she bared her teeth at him and smiled.

"Then, I'll come find you. Get it?"

He nodded shakily.

"That's a good, wittle wabbit…" Rumi mocked. She smiled again, this time a more congenial one, and left the room with her luggage in tow. Once she made it to the elevator lobby and checked that the coast was clear, Rumi, with a smile still frozen on her face, proceeded to slam her forehead into a wall.

Oh, God.

Where the fuck was she supposed to sleep now?

For the last few years, she had gotten accustomed to living in the lap of luxury that came with the financial backing of the Public Safety Commission. Being able to charge even the most trivial of expenses as her per diem allowance meant that she had been superfluous with her own money—she had spent it mostly on ludicrously expensive booze…

The idiocy of her youth hit her like a bag of bricks; she thwacked her head harder into the wall. As the elevator chimed, signalling its arrival, Rumi tried to recall who she knew that lived in the city—and who she could potentially mooch off of.

Mera came to mind immediately. After all, it was because of him that she was even in Tokyo in the first place. He had been her very first Public Safety Commission liaison when she started her career, and went the distance for more than a year; it was only after Mera left that the revolving door of stooges began. Unfortunately, the man just welcomed a baby into his life, and she would much rather live on the streets than get near that hot mess.

The only other person was…

Rumi blinked. "Huh, didn't she get her ass beat or something?" she asked herself, sighing. "I really should get out there and make more friends…"