"So you're serious? This isn't a joke? You actually want us to work with the Yakuza?" Dabi said with a sneer, leveling lazy blue eyes on Shigaraki.

The room was nearly bare, with only a few pieces of broken down furniture scattered around the room. Dabi had dropped onto the empty bed frame as soon as he walked in, leaving Spinner and Twice to take the ratty old couch. Toga and Deku perched themselves on the window ledge, their feet dangling. Kurogiri was out working on something else and Compress was still recovering.

They had all listened as Shigaraki had debated with Toga and Twice, the rest of them carefully watching to make sure nothing escalated into a fight. Just below the window was Magne's magnet. Toga and Deku had been carrying it with them, feeling particularly attached to it ever since Big Sis Mag had been killed.

Shigaraki gave Dabi a deadly grin. "For the time being, yes. Up until they no longer serve their purpose."

"Yeah? What purpose is that?"

"They are hiding something," Shigaraki said, leaning against one of the nearby walls. "They are hiding how they are making those temporary quirk erasing bullets and how they plan to make the permanent ones. I want answers. That's why I'm sending Toga and Deku to work with them."

That caught everyone's attention. Even Dabi froze, one brow cocked up in question.

"You want to send the quirkless kid and the psychopath into the Yakuza den?" Spinner asked.

"It makes the most sense. They wanted Kurogiri or Dabi, but I refused. With Deku, there's no chance of them erasing his quirk. And between Toga's spy skills and Deku's brain, they'll be able to figure out what the hell the Yakuza is hiding. And then, once we have our answers, we get our revenge."

Toga leaned into Deku's side, glaring slightly at Shigaraki. "What are we supposed to tell them about Deku-kun's quirk? They'll ask."

"Figure it out. They're expecting you both in the morning. Try not to piss them off right away."

With that, Shigaraki left. The others trickled out after, either going back to the hideout or going off to wherever they stayed when they weren't with the League. Spinner scooped up Magne' magnet, taking it with him so that the two teens wouldn't have to carry it with them when they went to see the Yakuza. Toga and Deku were left behind, leaning against each other and absorbing the news.

"I don't like this," Toga whispered.

"Me either. I don't think Shigaraki is thinking far enough ahead. "

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, what if things go sideways? The Yakuza would have information on you and me. If they get arrested, they could tell the heroes about us."

Toga nodded along with his words. "That wouldn't be too big of a deal for me, since the heroes already know my name and have a little bit of an idea about my quirk. I'm more worried about you. If they find out who you are, it could be bad."

"I'll just have to keep my mask on around the Yakuza and lie to them about having a quirk. You'll be good to keep up the lie, right?"

Toga snorted before flashing her fangs in an impish smile. "Of course I can. Who do you think I am?"

"Right, I forgot I was speaking to a master of espionage," Deku said with a slight laugh, bumping his shoulder against her's. Toga let slip a high giggle as she ducked her head. "Are you going to be okay with this though? I mean, with seeing Overhaul again?"

She shrugged, furrowing her brows. "I should be okay. It's just been hard lately, you know? I'm not getting enough blood in my diet, human or animal, and it's making me fuzzy. I'm scared I'll say something mean to Overhaul and get us in trouble. I really really don't want Shiggy mad at us."

"I'll cover for you if we get in trouble."

"Don't do that! Shiggy is already crabby and he might be really mean to you! You heard what the doctor was saying. Shiggy and his Sensei and the doctor have talked before about using Quirkless people in their experiments. I don't want Shiggy to use you for it."

Deku gave her a small smile. "I've dealt with bullies before. Shigaraki isn't much different."

"I don't like that you think that," Toga said with a pout. "The point of you coming and joining us was so you'd be happy and safe."

"I'm happy when I'm with you. I mean, you were my first real friend since I was little. You're my best friend, really. As long as you're here, I'll put up with Shigaraki and his tantrums."

With a tiny squeal, Toga hugged Deku tightly. "You're my best friend too, Deku-kun! I'll make sure Shiggy doesn't do anything to you, okay? I'll be extra careful, I promise! And… and if Shiggy tries anything, I'll cut him! Not in a good way either. I'll make him regret ever hurting you. I'd do it to anyone that tried to take you from me, got it?"

"Thanks, Toga," Deku said, hugging her back. As they let go, he stepped down off the window sill. "Come on. Let's go find something to eat. Maybe we can find some raw meat or pig's blood or something to help you feel better. Then, we can find somewhere to sleep for the night. We don't want to be tired when we show up to woo the Yakuza tomorrow. Got to make a good impression."

Toga nodded and jumped down from the window sill and the pair slipped out into the dusk, no one batting an eye at a pair of teens giggling and joking around: just being children.

--

"So these quirk erasing bullets," Shinsou started, looking over the file that Aizawa had casually slipped him at the start of their meeting. "They basically do what your quirk does? Just temporarily take away people's quirks?"

"Correct. I've been helping with looking into the distribution of these bullets. I don't particularly want to bring you on this case but we need all the help we can get, especially yours. If we manage to get hold of anyone involved in the creation or distribution of these bullets, we would need you to help with interrogations. Your quirk would work well for that."

"As long as I don't get hit with one of those bullets."

"Don't get shot and we won't have any problems."

Shinsou snorted at that, closing the file. "Fair enough. And no leads yet?"

"Only thing we have is a possible Yakuza connection, but we are still unsure. I've been working with Nighteye's agency and I heard he is bringing in Fatgum's agency as well. I'm planning a stake out in a couple of nights and I want you to come. Think you can handle going to class the next day?"

Shinsou shrugged. "I barely sleep as it is so it shouldn't be an issue."

"Good. And I don't need to remind you that you can't tell anyone about this, right?"

"I'm not an idiot."

"Keep telling yourself that, kid."

Shinsou leaned back in his seat and ran a hand through his unruly hair. "What other cases are you working on? Anything you think I can help with?"

"I'm not working on much else," Aizawa said with a frown. "I limit myself to about one case at a time. When I have the time, I patrol and deal with smaller crime at night. Only other active case I have open is the League of Villains but basically every hero is working that. Everyone is keeping their eyes and ears open."

Shinsou found himself shivering slightly thinking about the LOV. He'd faced them twice now, same as the rest of his class. The first time was back at the USJ, when he barely had any training or skills. He had his quirk, but he hadn't had the hand-to-hand combat that he had now, which had left him mostly useless. Shinsou had been teleported away to the shipwreck zone, along with Tsu and Mineta. He had managed to brainwash one of the villains into attacking a few of the other villains, but as soon as the brainwashed villain got injured, it snapped him out of it. Tsu had then grabbed both him and Mineta and jumped to shore, giving them a chance to run back to the main square. The remaining villains from the shipwreck zone had tried to follow, but were caught up in Mineta's hair-ball-things, the shorter teen throwing them as he ran. After that event, Mineta had transferred schools, saying he didn't trust UA anymore.

And then, there was the summer camp incident. Shinsou had had his one-on-one training with Aizawa by then, meaning he could take care of himself. Shigaraki had put out a hit on both him and Bakugou, having seen the two of them at the USJ and the Sports Festival. He'd thought that the two of them would make good villains and instructed the attacking villains to kidnap them both. He had been deep in the forest with Todoroki when he got word the villains were after him. The pair immediately began trying to get back when they ran into Tokoyami and Bakugou. Moonfish, a particularly bloodthirsty villain, was chasing them, trying to catch Bakugou. The stress of it all had triggered Dark Shadow to go into a rage, so Bakugou was not only trying to keep Moonfish back, but also try to light off an explosion bright enough to tame Dark Shadow. Todoroki jumped in quickly, lighting a fire on his arm and forcing Dark Shadow to retreat into Tokoyami. Shinsou managed to get Moonfish to reply to him and put the villain under his brainwashing, telling him to sit down and not move. From there, the four boys hurried back to the campsite and managed to keep themselves from being captured. As soon as they entered the classroom where their other classmates were hiding, Vlad King guarding them all, Kirishima burst into tears and hugged Bakugou, earning himself a growl. Todoroki had refused to leave Shinsou's side, boldly stating that if a villain managed to get in, he would set them on fire. The rest of the students tried to dissuade him, saying that he would end up burning Shinsou as well if he wasn't careful.

"I can protect myself, you know," Shinsou had grumbled.

Todoroki frowned. " I know that. But you don't have your capture scarf and the other villains might not be as dumb as Moonfish, so they might not respond to you. That means you don't have any sort of ranged attack. With me here, we can be a team. I can be the long distance fighter and you can be the close-quarters one."

Shinsou's heart stuttered, realizing that Todoroki hadn't been looking down on him when trying to protect him; he'd just been trying to be a good friend. He gave Todoroki a small smile.

"Well, I guess I'd rather get lit on fire by you than get kidnapped."

"Stop encouraging him!" Bakugou had snarled.

Sitting in the classroom, thinking of the LOV while Aizawa rifled through his things to find the file on the LOV, Shinsou hoped that he wouldn't have to see those particular villains any time soon.

"The League has been laying low recently, but there has been word that they are trying to recruit fresh blood. So far, they haven't made much progress, but I have heard the name 'Deku' thrown around a bit, so I am assuming that he is a new League member."

Shinsou cocked his head. "Deku? What kind of name is that?"

"No clue. And no one has been able to get a read on his quirk and we still haven't got a description of him. Only thing we've been able to get out of the criminals who will talk about him is that Deku is 'creepy' and 'not to be messed with.' Not sure what he's done to put them all on edge but if you see him, just turn and run the other way, got it?" Aizawa said, raising a brow and fixing Shinsou with a stern look. When the teen nodded, Aizawa continued. "Good. And don't tell your classmates about him either. At least not yet. We still aren't positive he is an actual League member and we have no idea what his quirk is. Until we have some solid information, we aren't telling your classmates anything. It would just make them more stressed than they already are."

"But it's okay to stress me out?" Shinsou joked.

"I trust your mental capacities to not let the stress get to you."

"Aw, you really do like me."

"Don't push it, brat."