The crunch of broken glass beneath his boots is irksome to say the least. If it weren't already busted, the villain would have surely destroyed the useless containment tube himself; he's tired of its prolonged existence of worthlessness. Shigaraki scopes out the scene left behind by his pet project, finding severed wires dangling from the shattered glass cylinder's electrical lid. He wants to grab the throat of the man standing beside him but settles for scratching his own neck. Unfortunately, he knows he still needs the doctor. Garaki surveys the escaped Nomu tank with an equally frustrated frown.
A scientist as mad as ever, a curled lip bristles the man's bushy mustache. A second later and he turns to address Shigaraki, clearing his throat. "It seems that we've developed another 'High End' Nomu", that's his most simple analysis of the containment breach. A more thoroughly in depth review is one that he'll save for when he speaks with his Sensei.
"This is all your fault", Shigaraki snaps at the doctor and reminds the man that both villains are a force to be reckoned with. Shigaraki takes some smug satisfaction in scaring the portly scientist into taking a staggered step back. "If only you were capable of doing your job properly, then this wouldn't keep happening", he thrusts a threatening finger at Garaki nonetheless to make good on the fear factor of his anger.
Garaki further fumbles with his footing, simultaneously having trouble with his articulation of words. Eventually, he does think of a good defense. He gestures around the room to redirect Shigaraki's attention to the other lab experiments, "But Master desired that the Nomu have more developed minds after the USJ–"
"I don't care what Sensei wants!", Shigaraki's sudden shout somehow startles himself as much as it does Garaki. There's a pause of self shock from Shigaraki when he listens to what he just said. His underling stares, equally baffled, mouth agape. When Shigaraki recovers, it's with a grin just short of being feral, "I wanted this – Katana Man is mine!"
Garaki nearly chokes on the dryness of swallowing nothing. "Fret not", but he recovers as well as he pulls out an electronic pad. "I'm able to monitor Katana Man's brainwaves like any other Nomu", the device is already displaying a readout to prove his promise is one that he can make good on, "We'll find the causation for the breach of containment."
Shigaraki grinds his teeth together, letting out a cross between something of a growl and a hum. He takes a moment to decide whether that satisfies him or not before he settles on a sigh. The villain crosses his arms in front of his chest, "I can't have my pets running away from home, doctor…"
Garaki shares the sentiment of a sigh, nodding along. "We'll learn to leash them better then", a couple of taps on his tablet pulls up brainwave readings for him to present in the meantime, "It seems something is driving a stimulation of pursuit of unfinished business with Katana Man."
"Unfinished business?", Shigaraki furrows his brows as he mulls over the meaning of that explanation. When he recalls what he saw in the Yakuza tunnels, his anger returns full swing as he shouts, "You don't mean that chainsaw brat is still alive?!"
Garaki flinches, startled. He's back to stammering and fumbling as he tries to find more elaborative readings, "I'm not sure–"
But Shigaraki snatches the pad away from the scientist to see for himself. "I had one pet taken away from me by him – I'll be damned that I lose another", he's careful not to destroy the tablet by keeping his pinky raised but it's an impulse to dust something when he thinks about having his stuff stolen. He tells himself Katana Man is way better than some dumb dog, he never even wanted that mutt anyways, but there's still the principle of it.
Garaki clears his throat, pulling Shigaraki from his thoughts. "But isn't this a good thing then? Katana Man is seeking to kill your competition", the doctor hopes he's making a good case as he holds out a hand to retrieve his device.
"I'd like the liberty of destroying that brat myself", Shigaraki sneers. "But yes…", before simmering down and returning the pad to its rightful owner, "I'll have front row seats to watch it at the very least."
"I'll summon Kurogiri then", the scientist immediately prepares an email to send out. "Does that mean we'll be postponing our raid on U.A's summer camp?", but not without checking for any conflictions with their current plans.
"On the contrary, I'd like to let the chainsaw brat know his friends will be dying with him", Shigaraki gestures for his underling to carry on before turning his back to take his leave, "We proceed as planned."
No amount of daunting worry can prepare you for how appalling that anticipated circumstance actually is.
Detective Tsukauchi's shoe outsoles sink into the tatami mat, each footfall leaving an indention on the rice straw material. The length of his tan overcoat drags behind him, treading the path that he's walked like a hero's cape. What had been born and crafted from an architect's plan was fashioned by familiarity of one's home, the clay walls decorated by cozy comfort of mounted family photos; Tsukauchi's rectangular eyes roam the adorned pictures, leveling on the kid that resides within each one. The detective pauses so that he doesn't overlook the old images, searching them for anything useful to his investigation.
Smiling alongside the child in every one of the pictures is the mother, a greenette who passed on her genetics to her son. The bright boy beams with wide emerald orbs, child-like innocence radiating through the gaps in his smile where baby teeth fell out. Detective Tsukauchi notes the absence of the adolescent's father, skimming the other hung photos for the missing man. When confirming only the mother is present, he turns to face the woman who's been lingering a few paces behind him since he arrived. She's slimmer in the photos, having gained pounds and put on weight over the years.
"The boy's father?", Tsukauchi prompts the woman to answer a multitude of unspoken questions. He holds the inquiries on the tip of his tongue should she not pick up on his implicative request to elaborate as much as she can though.
"Oh..", she seems hesitant to respond at first. There's a distant look in her eyes that darts to the floor. She's wringing her hands together, a nervous tick. But the woman does eventually raise her head to remeet his gaze. She begins speaking apprehensively, "That would be Hisashi. He's currently working abroad, so he's hardly ever around" The statement is true. The detective can tell thanks to his quirk, an ability that allows him to distinguish lies from the truth. So he evaluates the woman's reluctance for embarrassment rather than secretism like he initially believed.
Tsukauchi hums as he contemplates the father's relationship without prying any further into what is clearly a personal matter. There's already a number of theories running through the detective's head based on past job experience and his deductive reasoning. This could very well be a case of parental abduction depending on if there is any custodial interference. Tsukauchi purses his lips together as he considers his phrasing should he share with the mother his hypothesis. Then he decides against saying anything at all until he's finished performing a more thorough analytic search of the household.
"Where is your son's room?", Tsukauchi turns so that his gaze sweeps over the living room. A stack of manga and a reading lamp rests on an endtable beside the couch, indicating towards the direction of a hallway based on its positioning. There's a bathroom doorway in between that's well within view, also perfectly placed should a bedroom be nearby.
"Ah!", the mother turns to face that same direction as if to confirm the detective's speculative thoughts, "It's right through here" She brushes past Tsukauchi, moving at a brisk pace to lead him down the hallway. The thin padding on the bottom of her slippers leave a trail of footprints for him to follow closely behind.
When they reach the bedroom at the end of the hall, the entrance is closed. An All Might themed nameplate is mounted to the wood door. Tsukauchi can't contain an asymmetric smile, agreeing with the boy's taste palate for heroes. 'Izuku Midoriya' is etched into the decorative placard. He suddenly loses his smile, remembering the active case that he's working.
When the detective turns the knob, he half expects the door to be locked. Instead, it clicks open and pushes inward easily with loose hinges. Tsukauchi falters upon entry to the boy's bedroom anyways. It's what is on the other side of the door that in all his years as a detective he could have never predicted.
Even with the stylistic nameplate to clue him in, Tsukauchi would have never believed in all his years such a shrine could exist. Action figures line shelves and bookcases containing manga and DVDs like any other boy's room. Posterboards adorn the walls and bedsheets are themed like any kid's nightset. It's just what all these decorative pieces have in common that stands out. They all have to do with All Might. Even the boy's desk chair and alarm clock have the hero's grin plastered onto them.
Tsukauchi realizes he's been staring slackjawed at the hero fan's tribute and quickly closes his mouth before the boy's mother can see his reaction. He had the same expression when he first saw Sasaki's office that he scolds himself for not being able to school it better. Then again, he would have never imagined that somebody else could ever dare to challenge All Might's sidekick as the number one hero fanatic. Regardless, Tsukauchi is certain Toshinori would get a kick out of it if he were to see it for himself.
"He seems well provided for – very much loved – I doubt he ran away", Tsukauchi spares a thoughtful glance back towards the boy's mother. She's still ever so obviously anxious but he's grateful that the hysterical panic he heard over the phone has dwindled. It doesn't hurt to apply a little assurement now and then though.
"That's why I'm so worried", she brings her hands together as though she's about to pray. He wouldn't be surprised if she does ask God to return her son; she likely already has. "It's not like him not to return home at this hour without so much as a phone call or a text or–", she catches herself before she can get too carried away. The woman bows and apologizes.
He's about to tell her it's fine, maybe even suggest that she brew some coffee or prepare tea. Except, it's at that moment the front door creaks open. And Izuku Midoriya walks in. He relaxes, thinking the mother will do the same now that she sees her son has returned safely. It's something he plans on chalking up as a false alarm. Until, he sees the boy's busted and bruised face.
"Izuku! What happened?!", she's at her kid's side in an instant. He could've sworn she told him her quirk is attracting small objects and not superspeed.
"I, uh… I tripped..", he tries and fails to hide his injuries as she coddles him. Tsukauchi doesn't need a lie detection quirk to know that's a bullshit excuse and neither does the boy's mother.
"I was so worried", she brings him into a hug and decides to ultimately let the lie go for now, "I thought something had happened to you and I called the police…"
Izuku's eyes nearly pop out of their sockets, broadening so big that he somehow only now is able to see the detective lingering over them. "Am I in trouble?", the boy's meek whisper would make Tsukauchi laugh under ordinary circumstances but he reminds himself that he must remain professional.
"No", the detective glances between the two before offering them both a soft smile, "Just make sure not to worry your mother anymore."
Izuku nods, agreeing. Though he's not entirely off the hook just yet. There's still the question as to what happened to bust up his face and make him come home so late. The answer would be Kacchan and his cronies. Except, Izuku leaves that part of the story out. He tells a simple tale about how some kids from his school, unnamed, were bullying another kid; so he did the naturally heroic thing and stepped in.
"Oh, Izuku, please don't go accepting every challenge someone gives you just because you want to protect someone", Inko holds him close as she asks him to make a promise he won't be able to keep, "When you have to fight somebody stronger than you, who's going to protect YOU?"
Izuku holds a hand over his chest, the beating of his heart landing in the palm of his hand. He can feel Pochita with him as he reflects on his journey to this point. Despite ridicule and loss, they always have eachother. Izuku takes a swig from his water bottle. He'd like to think Hawks is with him now but the guy has been running him down lately, even if it was what he'd asked for the man to do. Their training is showing results though. Izuku clenches the hand hovering over his heart, grabbing the tail of Pochita. He can tell that he's gotten stronger, strengthening the quirk he was blessed with.
"Izuku", he lifts his head when he hears Hawks reentering the room. The hero has a grave expression, which isn't all that natural on his face.
"Break time can't be over already", the boy feigns looking at a watch on his wrist that isn't there before using it to wipe sweat from his forehead, "I basically just sat down!"
Hawks shakes his head, dismissing the joke. Now the boy knows something is definitely wrong. The hero would usually laugh at something like that. "This monster thing you told me about… I think you're going to have to face it sooner rather than later", Hawks pulls his cellphone out from his coat pocket to pull up a live video of Katana Man wreaking havoc in the city.
Izuku shoots up from his seat. "What?!", he takes the phone from his mentor to see the video more clearly. The byline reads that the monster has been calling for someone named 'Chainsaw Man', deeming every other hero who attempted to stop it a 'fake'.
"It's calling you out specifically", Hawks hesitates before adding, "Makima knows… She saw the news first and decided it was an opportunity to let you shine in the eye of the public."
Izuku hands the phone back before he gets so angry that he'll crush it otherwise. "She ordered you and other heroes to stand down then", he already knows the answer before Hawks can nod.
"Sorry, kid, you're on your own for this one…" Hawks shares sympathy before resteeling himself and giving his protege a light bump on the chest with his fist, "But hey! This is what you've been training for! Go out there and put it all to good use – make me proud."
Izuku sighs, stepping forward to deliver for that tall order. He fails to tell Hawks the hero's apology should be directed at his mom and not himself. Here he goes accepting a challenge and breaking a promise. The boy shrugs. Well, whatever, at least he can count on Pochita to back him up at the very least.
Izuku grabs the starter string attached to his sternum as he heads out for battle.
