Standing at the glass entrance of the Pro Hero Museum, the thick heat of the morning was evaporating as clouds darkened ominously in the sky. An older woman waved at them from inside, quickly unlocking the doors.

"Come in," her voice was clipped as she waited for them to enter. Locking everything back up, she motioned for them to follow her as she marched through the giant lobby.

Looking around curiously, Katsuki noticed the ticket counter near the front, his jaw went slack, elbowing Shouto he pointed to the cost for admission. "Fuckers," he whispered low.

"Shhh," Shouto furrowed his brows and focused back on the woman walking ahead of them.

As they passed behind the ticket counter, there was a mural painted across an arched opening that led into a darkened room. The painting portrayed a collage of various heroes, along with recognizable landmarks in the city. Katsuki cringed to find his own face in several places, usually twisted in what appeared to be a snarling laugh. He spotted Shouto too. They'd gotten his eyes just right, he decided, ice and fire blasting from him at some unknown villain. Glancing through the archway, Katsuki stopped short. "What the fuck?" He walked into the dimly lit area. The room was massive, high windows letting in natural light but it was still too dark to see all the way to the far end. Lining the walls were huge posters of every hero. From the corner of his eye, he saw Deku jumping out towards him. Stumbling back, he froze, Izuku didn't move. Squinting at the figure he realized it was a mannequin in his suit. Letting out a nervous laugh, he realized his own suit was in the next case. He heard the woman's clicking heels slow and then move back towards him.

"Don't like seeing your picture?"

"My picture?" He looked back at her. She pointed to his picture prominently displayed among the others.

"They're quite popular, everyone loves taking photos with them."

Scanning the posters, he saw the one of Deku, DECEASED, was written in bold red letters across the bottom. Continuing into the room he saw all of their friends, one after the other. He noticed Mirai Sasaki in the far corner, barely visible, DECEASED also written in bold letters. They'd put up everyone, including those that had been killed. Glaring at her, he clenched his jaw, "dead and alive?" His voice tight as he spied Midnight's poster.

"We needed to honor everyone."

"Kind of depressing," Shouto stood next to the woman.

"Depressing?" She flicked him an irritated look. "It's a tribute, I'd think your fellow heroes would agree."

"How is it not depressing?" He leaned on the archway, "no new heroes are being trained, which means slowly the word deceased will appear on every poster, until-"

"We're all fucking dead," stalking past them, Katsuki clicked his tongue trying to calm the rage burning through his body. He shook his wrists feeling the heavy bracelets, a couple of well-placed explosions and those fucking posters would go up in flames. He felt an icy hand on his arm.

"Don't," Shouto shot him a worried look.

"This way, my office is back here," the woman snapped as she continued past them to the far end of the lobby stopping at a door marked employees only.

"I won't but I fucking want to," Bakugou seethed. "All of them think they're doing something so grand." He looked back into the room, "if they don't want us, then leave us the fuck alone." The woman cleared her throat impatiently.

"Come on, let's get this over with," Shouto whispered. Putting a hand on his back, he pressed into him firmly, this time warming his hand. Bakugou grunted and followed the woman to her office. Sitting at her desk, she waited until they'd settled in the chairs across from her.

"So, you have a question about items that were acquired by the museum?"

"We do, I have two lists from credible sources but one list appears to be missing eight items. We're trying to figure out if the museum ever received them."

"Let me take a look," the woman held out her hand as Shouto pulled out the list they had marked up. Setting her glasses on her nose, she peered at the sheet. "Just these eight were missing?"

"Yes, that's correct," Shouto waited as she finished studying the items.

"As I recall those were in bad shape, we had an expert managing the trades and appraising the items. He deemed them of poor quality, so we never purchased them."

"Thank you," Shouto reached out, taking the paper back. "Do you have any idea who contributed those items?"

"I do, it was the Assistant to the Defense Minister, Uchiyama Nana. I believe she found them as part of a storage cleanup program at the Ministry compound. She donated them to the museum."

"When was that?" Shouto pulled out his notebook.

"Let me look," clicking on her computer, she read through a spreadsheet. "I see that they were logged in about three months ago."

"Are they still here?"

"I don't think so, but we can look, everything is packed in the back area." Standing, she led them from her sparse office down a dimly lit hallway.

"Kind of a rundown museum," Katsuki noted the stains on the ceiling.

The woman cast him a cold look, "for our first year we are giving all proceeds to the Pro Hero stipend." She looked up at the stains, "nothing left to maintain our building."

Shouto gave him a hard look. "Don't feel fucking bad about that," Katsuki muttered under his breath as he followed behind them. She unlocked a door and propped it open with a chair.

"This is our storeroom of items not on display." Stepping into the room she looked around at the stacks of boxes shoved into every available space. "When we receive any items, we put them in here until they can be identified and inspected. Our consultant hasn't been in recently so we have quite a few pieces right now."

"Is that Shingo Kaneko?"

"Yes, do you know him?"

"We talked to him yesterday." Shouto looked around, noticing some of the boxes had writing scribbled on the side, others were blank. "Some of these don't have anything written on them?"

"We only have volunteers right now and slim staffed at that," she glanced at Katsuki again. "Here, while you're looking for those pieces," she pulled a container of pens off a desk in the corner. "If you recognize something, would you label it for me?" She handed Shouto the pen. "It would help us out a lot." Walking out the door she disappeared, her heels echoing on the hard tile.

Walking to a stack of boxes, Shouto pulled one off the top. Katsuki glared at him. "You're not really gonna do that are you?" He pointed to the pen.

"Why not? She's letting us dig through their stuff."

"So, what! She has to, it's an investigation." Giving him a fiery stare, Katsuki shook his head, "I'm not doing that." Walking over to a box, he flipped off the top. "Oh shit, look," he held up two very old and worn white gloves, "aren't these Tsuyu's?"

"Yeah, they look like they're pretty beat."

"They are and also not one of the missing items," throwing them back in, Katsuki closed the box and shoved it to one side.

"Is that one labeled?" Shouto held out the pen. Red eyes stared at him ominously. Holding up his hand, he chuckled, "fine, you win." He slid the pen back into the holder.

"There, it feels better, huh?" Katsuki snorted, "no way I'm labeling shit."

Shouto rolled his eyes. "Why don't you look at the boxes with writing and I'll go through these?"

"Nah, you take the labeled ones, I wanna see how much of this stuff I can figure out." He flipped the next lid off and stared down at a pink piece of metal. "What the fuck is this?" Pulling out the bent bar, he turned it over in his hands.

Walking through the camp again Kiri's jaw clenched, clouds had rolled in thick and heavy, a steady drizzle filling the air.

"This sucks," Ochako stared at people without tarps, cardboard already wilting under the first of the storm.

"They've got nowhere else to go? Really?" Kiri let out a strangled sigh. Ahead a family was trying to pin their tarp to a broken street sign, a young boy balanced precariously on his father's shoulders, his small arms reaching without any luck.

"Can I help?" Ochako squinted through the foggy wetness. The man ignored her, trying to push his son up higher. Looking around she pointed to the boy's legs, "Kiri, grab his feet, quick." Waiting until he did what she asked, she touched the boy. The boy's eyes grew round as his body began to float upwards.

"What!?" His father let out a cry letting go but the large red-head held tight following the boy with his arms as he drifted up. Seeing that he was near the top, the father jumped excitedly pointing to the pole. "Clip it baby, clip it!" His son looked worriedly down.

"Not gonna let you go kid, Red Riot here." Kiri smiled up at him.

Smashing his lips together, the boy pulled the rope that he held tightly in his hand to the metal clips holding the street sign in place. Pushing the rope into the metal bracers, he dropped the excess down to his father. "How do I get down?" His thin voice was shaking.

"Got him?"

"Bet I do," Kiri winked at her.

Reaching up she closed her fingers. The boy plummeted straight down into his arms. Laughing, Kiri swung him around, his face broke out into a wide grin.

"Th-thank you," the father stammered as the boy wiggled down and ran to his dad.

"Did you see that!?" He turned, staring at the two people smiling at him. "Who are you?"

Glancing around nervously, the father patted his head. "They're special sweetie, let's leave it at that, go in and help your mom." He shoved him away towards the now tarped shelter, he lowered his voice. "You shouldn't do that here."

"I'm thinking no one's paying attention to my quirk here," Ochako laughed quietly. "We're just glad to help." The man stepped behind his small home and waved at them. She glanced at Kiri before following him to the sheltered spot.

"They're watching all the time," he pretended to scratch his head while pointing at the remains of a building across the street.

"What do you mean?" Turning Ochako tried to see through the thick clouds now descending on the camp.

"They came in a few months ago and put those in," he casually pointed again. "See the camera blinking? That broken window, second one on the left, always watching us."

"Shit," Kiri breathed, the man was right, a rapidly blinking red light was visible in the window. "Who's watching?"

"The people."

"The people?" Kiri echoed back confused.

"There's these people that come and haul the others off."

Ochako gave the man a long look as she scooted close to Kiri and nudged him. "Who gets hauled off?"

"The others, not here," he motioned to the main camp. "Mainly the outcasts, the ones that don't stay with the group. The real homeless."

"Homeless, homeless?" Kiri blinked trying to understand what he was saying.

"When the ward was destroyed there were people, like us, no family, no help, our jobs and way of life destroyed. We came to live here and get back on our feet. The government helps us and we'll be able to leave soon." He leaned forward, his voice getting quieter, "but there were a lot of people that had nothing to begin with and now they've fallen even further down. No one helps them. They live on the outskirts, but they're vulnerable." A loud banging noise from inside the tent caught his attention. Shooting around to the tarp door, he paused and waved at them, "thanks." He ducked inside.

"What the hell was that?" Kiri wiped the rain from his face. He adjusted the bag of pictures he'd put under his coat to keep dry.

"I don't know but," Ochako pulled out her phone and discreetly took a picture of the camera, "I wanna know who's watching this place."

"Maybe the police? Making sure no one's getting hurt?"

"Maybe?" Ochako looked around the camp. "If there's cameras here though, why can't we see the footage to look for Suguta?"

"That's a good idea."

"It is, that's why it doesn't make sense."

"You know," Eijirou peered down the now wet street, "we've stuck only to the main camp area today, he said there were outskirts. Maybe we try going to that area."

"I'll text Momo, maybe that's where she and Kaminari are today."

Ochako - Where are you?

Momo - Nowhere.

A photo came through on her phone of a deserted street lined with broken buildings.

Ochako - Anyone in nowhere?

Momo - Yes, but they run away the minute we get close.

"Sounds like they're not having much luck, but this does look like the outskirts." She held up the picture Momo had sent.

"Where is that?"

Opening their location finder, she spun around looking at the building behind them. "That way," she stepped back into the main thoroughfare, "guessing we have to go around this block?" She saw another set of street lights skewed sideways further down the row, piles of debris scattered across the street. "I think this way. I'll let them know we're heading over."

"We should also keep an eye out for cameras," Kiri pulled his hood up against the rain that was now coming down harder.

"Good idea, see what area they cover."

"Hello?" Bending down outside a small tarped structure, Denki hunched over trying to block the rain from his face. "Anyone home?" There was a scraping noise and then silence. He looked up at Momo.

"At least they're not running away." She whispered. He shrugged as she motioned for him to continue.

"Just here to ask if you've seen someone." He heard a smothered cough. Sighing, he pulled out the new picture of Suguta and slid it under the makeshift door. "We're looking for this woman, her name's Suguta Ren. She disappeared and her family reported her missing." Waiting a few minutes, he finally stood and turned away. The door shifted, turning back he saw a man with a scraggly beard peeking out, the picture in his hand.

"She's got a family?" His voice was rough and raspy.

Squatting down Denki smiled at him, "yeah, they're really worried about her too. She was having memory problems when she disappeared."

"That's Candy."

"Candy?" Denki jerked his head around looking at Momo, who bent down next to him.

"A person named Candy?" She clarified.

"Yeah, Boots found her at the train station wandering around, takes care of her now."

"Boots?"

"On account of his red boots," he laughed which turned into a sharp cough, wheezing he drew in a breath. "The rain," he pointed to the sky, "messes with my lungs."

"Shouldn't you go to a hospital?"

The man snickered, "so they can kill me?"

"Uh," Momo exchanged glances with Denki. "Usually they help you."

Shaking his head, "not my kind." Reaching out of his structure, he pointed to an opposite alleyway. "Boots and Candy usually stay a couple streets over that way."

"And you're sure this is Candy?" Denki tapped the photo.

The man studied the picture. "Yep, but her scarf is green, this one's red and she usually wears a brown beanie, but I've seen her hair before," he smiled at the photo. "She's really forgetful, gets lost all the time."

"How long have you known Candy?"

Counting on his fingers, the man bobbed his head. "Been two visits since she came and they come weekly, so 'bout two weeks."

"Two visits?"

The man pulled back into his structure, "the night raids, come and grab us."

"Wait? What?" Momo tried to keep the disbelief out of her voice. His eyes darted away as he pushed the picture back out to Denki.

"If she's got family get her outta here before something happens to her," he mumbled softly. "I like Candy, she's nice, but you can tell she don't belong here." Closing his door, they could hear him move into the back of his shelter.

Folding the soggy picture Denki stood up. "I bet that's her, two weeks?"

"It's the right time frame."

"Hey!" Ochako's voice reverberated down the alley. Turning they both waved, walking back the street.

"We found her," Denki rushed out.

"Hold on there Lightning Bolt," Momo put her hand on his shoulder. "We got a possible identification on her," she corrected him.

"Her name's Candy," Denki continued excitedly, "hangs out with someone named Boots, this guy says she's been here about two weeks."

"Are you kidding?" Eijirou laughed, "that's great!"

"Wait, if she's really Suguta, then who checked into the hotel?" Ochako stared at the group. A bigger smile crossed Kiri's face.

"Monoma's chasing a ghost," he practically giggled. "Where is she?"

"This way." Denki ran to the alley across the street, "follow me."

"That's it?"

"Yep, no more boxes," Shouto blew out an exasperated breath. "None of these."

"Fuck," Katsuki stared at the mess of boxes on the ground. "By the way," he looked up at him, seeing his dirt-streaked cheek he smiled.

"What?" Shouto peered at his twinkling eyes. "Do I have something on me?" He wiped the wrong cheek.

Grabbing his shoulders, he grinned. "Hold still, you're a mess," he pulled a tissue from a box on the desk and wiped his cheek, kissing him gently.

"Really? Or was that just an excuse to kiss me?"

Tossing the tissue in the trash, he wiped his hands. "No evidence now."

"What were you going to say?"

"Oh, yeah. What if we visited all the heroes that owned the items on our list? Maybe talk to them about the stuff that's missing. Bet they could give us some insight, at least information." Katsuki bent over brushing off his pants.

"You gotta be kidding?" Shouto laughed.

Popping his head up, he cocked a brow at him. "What? What's with that reaction?"

"Well, first off, you do know that they don't all live here anymore, right? Hell, we'd be all over the place trying to find them."

"Alright," he threw his hands up, "we could call them."

"And what the hell are they going to tell us?"

"I don't know, that's why we ask," crossing his arms, he frowned. "What's with you? I thought we were trying to get facts?"

"Facts that matter," Shouto quipped sarcastically, putting the lids on the boxes. "I mean we're looking for Orca's tie. What's he gonna say that will help us find it or how to determine it's a forgery? It's a pink tie that looks strangely like a tongue." Laughing he picked up a box and slid it back into place. "A tie is a tie."

"What the fuck?" Katsuki felt a surge of anger whip through him. "Are you making fun of me? I'm fucking serious, don't brush me off like that! Fuck, I hate it when you do that shit." Kicking at one of the boxes, he scowled at him. "And what's wrong with asking him about the tie? Maybe there's something different about it, hell, I don't know."

Picking up another box, Shouto gave him a tight smile. "We have to focus on the important things right now, like finding these damn pieces." He gestured to the mess on the floor, "help me clean this up."

Grabbing the box from his hands, Katsuki slammed it on top of the stack. "Fuck you," he muttered. "Make me feel like a fucking idiot kid sometimes."

Shouto picked up another box but Katsuki yanked it out of his hands. Leveling a cool look on the fiery blonde, he put his hands on his hips. "You don't want help?" His temper was clearly brewing.

"No."

Watching him, Shouto finally let out a long breath. "Okay," he acquiesced, "you want to get on the phone and call, go ahead, but you're only going to find out his tie is exactly that, a tie." Katsuki pushed the last box into place forcefully, ignoring him. "Will that make you happy?" He could see he was shutting down on him. "Are you listening?"

"Fucking heard you the first time, let's go. If you haven't noticed, I hate this place." Wrenching open the door, Katsuki stormed down the hall, waiting impatiently as Shouto said goodbye to the woman.

"She said the doors are open, so we can just go out." He trotted to catch up with Katsuki, slamming into his back as he stopped short.

"Fuck, this place is open?"

"Yeah," looking at his watch, "it's two."

Turning around, he went back to the lady's office, shoving his head into the door. "Hey," he barked. Jumping in her chair, the woman yelped loudly.

"What on earth are you doing young man!?"

"I need a back way outta here."

"What's wrong with the-" she paused seeing the look on his face and pursed her lips. "Of course." Hopping up, she took them to the end of the hall. "There's an emergency exit around the corner."

"Do you need to turn off the alarm?"

"Nope," she smiled sarcastically, "one of the many things that will be fixed next year. We lock it at night. The lot is guarded, I'll call the security officer and let him know you're leaving."

"Thanks," Katsuki mumbled as he pushed open the door, a heavy drizzle hit him in the face. Pulling on his coat, he yanked up the hood. Watching as Shouto put on his own coat, they both stepped out into the wet weather.

"Are you hungry?" Shouto's stomach growled as he went down the steps.

"Yeah, but I gotta do something first, can you make an appointment with Uchiyama?"

Shouto stopped on the bottom step and turned to look up at him. "Really? You're that angry at me?" Katsuki trotted down the stairs past him without turning around, his fists clenched at his side. "You really are that angry," he couldn't believe it.

"I am."

"Sorry, not every idea you have is a good one. Am I going to get your wrath every time I point that out?"

"Text me when you get time with Uchiyama." Pulling the car fob from his pocket, he tossed it to him.

"Where are you going?"

"None of your fucking business," shooting across the lot, Katsuki waved at the guard as he turned towards the train station.

"Shit," Shouto tugged the hood of his jacket closed. "Stupid blonde," he closed his eyes. Being with Katsuki all these years he knew better, but he'd been so mellow lately, he'd forgotten. Sometimes he was like a damn firecracker, you never knew when he was gonna blow. Heading back to the car, he called the defense ministry offices and after talking to four people he thought he'd managed to leave a message for Uchiyama's office. "Damn it!" He hit the steering wheel with his fist. Looking in the rearview mirror, he started the car and pulled out into the flow of traffic.

Pounding his fists together, Katsuki shook out his shoulders and cracked his neck.

"Where's your little sidekick, Kirishima?" Vlad stood on the opposite side of the ring adjusting his gloves, he eyed him. Although Bakugou was younger than him, by at least fourteen years, Vlad was the better boxer. He'd not lost to him or his friend yet.

"I'm alone today."

"Are you sure about this?" Vlad teased, he could tell he was angry.

"Do I look like I'm leaving?" Katsuki scowled, he was ready to pound something and Vlad was always a good target.

"You look a little too emotional to be a decent sparring partner," he grinned goading him further.

"Emotional?" Katsuki grabbed his mouth guard, "fuck, is this a boxing gym or a therapist's office?"

Laughing, Vlad stepped to the center of the ring, "come on then, get your therapy, Dynamite."

"Crap," Kiri stood in the middle of the street, rain dripping down his body. Rivulets of water had slid into his slicker and soaked his clothes.

"We've gone down every alley and no one has seen Candy or Boots," Denki pouted, he'd been so excited, he was sure they were going to find her.

"Well, a lot of people have hunkered down because of the rain, no one wants to talk to us in this damn weather." Momo slicked back her bangs which hung dripping in her face. "I think we should come back tomorrow if the weather lets up."

"Shit," Kiri kicked at a rock.

"Me too," Ochako patted his back, "Me too."

"Why don't we go get some hot food and tea," Denki shivered under his jacket. "We can come up with a plan for tomorrow." Kiri nodded, his eyes downcast.

"Let's go, better than standing here and getting wet," pulling her hood over her head farther Momo led them out of the camp to the nearest ramen shop.

Stopping before he went in, Denki gave Kiri a wink, "Don't worry, we'll get Neito, we're Pro Heroes after all." He smiled at his friend.

Following him inside the warm restaurant, Kiri shoved his hands into his raincoat. "Don't feel like a hero right now man."

"Excuse me? Lida? Lida Tenya?"

Tenya looked up from his desk as a woman poked her head into the outer doors. Putting down his pen he smiled. "Hi, um, sorry, I'm not sure we've met."

"I'm one of the receptionists that handles incoming calls, you're new with Uchiyama Nana, right?"

"Yes, I just transferred here a few weeks ago." He motioned for her to come into the waiting area.

"Welcome aboard, I stopped by since no one has logged in to get messages and I was worried."

"Logged in to what?"

"The Assistant Defense Minister likes everything digitized, so all phone messages are entered into her main system. Isn't Matsuno here?"

"No, she left for lunch about an hour ago. She'll be back soon."

"Okay," coming around her desk she pointed to an icon that looked like a U. "Click on that and pull up your messages, unless you want to wait for her?"

"No, I can take a look at them and do my best." Tenya laughed at himself, "still learning everything."

"You'll be fine, I think there were only a few." Turning she headed back to the doorway. "Nice to meet you, Lida Tenya." She darted out into the hallway.

"Oh wait, I didn't get-" he realized she was gone. "I didn't get your name," he finished under his breath. "Damn," this place was so big he felt like he was meeting at least ten new people each day. Matsuno was the only person he'd been seeing on a daily basis. Even Uchiyama just got back from being out of town for the past few days. Clicking on the icon, he pulled up four messages and read through them. One was from a familiar name. Grabbing his cell phone, he called his friend.

"Todoroki here."

"You sound so professional, I'm impressed."

"Hey Lida," Shouto smiled. "I answered without looking at the caller."

"Lida? C'mon, I thought we were friends." Tenya sat back enjoying hearing his friend's voice.

"Right, sorry Tenya," he chuckled. Sitting in the cafe across from the station, Shouto had been waiting for Kat. After typing in what they'd found at the museum into the system, there'd still been no response from him. He'd decided to take a break and grab some decent coffee. "What's up?"

"I saw you left a message for Uchiyama."

"I did, how'd you know?"

"I was transferred to her office."

"What? Wow! That was fast, you're moving up quick." Shouto laughed, he knew Tenya would do well in the government offices, he had the perfect personality and work ethic to muddle through that kind of job. "Good for you," he paused to sip his coffee. "I'm actually working on a case with Bakugou and we were given your boss's name around some pieces given to the new museum."

"Bakugou? You're working together again?"

"Yeah, a bunch of us are working as criminal investigators, believe it or not with Aizawa Shouta." He chuckled at the strangled sound that came from Tenya. "Like a blast from the past, too bad you're not there, you and Momo could head up our squad."

"What! I've gotta come over there and see everyone!" He reveled in the thought of all of them together again. "So, what can I do for you?"

"We're following up on some counterfeit Pro Hero stuff, just tying up loose ends. I doubt your boss will know much, sounds like she found some artifacts over at the ministry in some cleanup project and gave them to the museum. According to the curator they were in bad shape, we're hoping to find them and see for ourselves if possible."

"Oh, sure, that sounds pretty easy," Tenya looked at his watch. "Hey, not sure what you're up to right now but why don't you and Bakugou come over? I'll get you on her schedule, then we can get drinks afterward." Looking outside the window, he saw that the light drizzle from earlier had turned into a hard downpour.

"That sounds great, Tenya. I'll tell Katsuki to meet up with us when he finishes. I'm free right now so I can head over."

"See you soon, Shouto." Hanging up his phone Tenya entered the message happily, he hadn't seen any of the group since the get together for Midoriya. Even then, Todoroki and Bakugou had disappeared and he'd not been able to talk with them. Scanning the remaining messages, he heard the door open, Matsuno came in pulling back her long black hair.

"UGH! I hate rain," she shrugged out of her coat.

"Well, it's supposed to rain all weekend, so you better stay inside," Tenya teased.

"You're in a good mood."

"I am, a couple of my friends are heading over."

"Oh, nice, anyone I know?"

"Yes, Bakugou and Todoroki, they're former-"

Blushing a deep red, Matsuno held up her hand, "I know who they are Lida," she looked around the office. "They're coming here?" She self-consciously touched her now frazzled hair.

"They are and you look fine." Casting him a quick look, she huffed and walked to her office. Jumping up, Tenya followed her. "How'd you get wet anyhow?" He leaned on her doorway, eyes twinkling. "I thought you and your boyfriend were meeting in the cafeteria?"

Snapping her head up, Matsuno glared at him. "He's not my boyfriend!"

"Oh sorry, when he came by earlier, I got the impression he likes you."

"Did you?" Her eyes lit up. "Really? I - I think he does but I'm just not sure."

"Oh yeah," Tenya remembered the puppy dog look on the man's face that had stopped by earlier. "He definitely likes you."

"I hope so," she blushed a fiery red. "I met Hidi when they were upgrading the electric in Uchiyama's office." Matsuno let out a sigh. "I like him too but we're still just friends." She pulled out a brush and ran it gently through her wet hair. "He wanted to take me to a new place that opened up nearby. It was a really good bbq restaurant, we should go there sometime."

"One of my favorite foods, you're on. And about my friends, any chance they could see Uchiyama?"

"It's possible, what's the business again?" She put away her brush and focused on work.

"She donated some items to the museum and they're missing now. Something like that, they want to take a look at them. I guess it's a counterfeit case that they're investigating."

"Hmmm, Pro Hero equipment?"

"Yeah, Todoroki mentioned there was a clean up here and some of the items were found."

"A clean up here?" Matsuno frowned. "No, there were never any Pro Hero pieces stored here, maybe downtown?"

"I guess?" Tenya shrugged, "you'd know better than me."

"Hang on, I have to update Uchiyama on a few things, let me see if I can get them at least five minutes with her." She blushed again, sighing.

"What's that for?"

"I was hoping to know what they needed so I could talk to them," she admitted, grabbing her notebook. "I've never met a real Pro Hero."

"Uh, what about me?" Tenya scowled, adjusting his glasses.

Laughing playfully Matsuno knocked on Uchiyama's office door. "Like I said," she winked, opening the door. "I've never met a real Pro Hero."

Sparks flew off the side panel of the car as Akio held the grinder steady. His phone vibrated in his pocket. "Fuck," flipping off the machine, he set it down on the ground and pulled out his cell phone. Glaring at the name, he stalked to his office and shut the door. "Why are you calling?"

"I need a favor."

"You?" Akio laughed, "you're the one giving favors honey, not the other way around."

"Get your boss to shut down this investigation."

"First off, I don't work for anyone. Second, what investigation?"

"The one that had two criminal investigators in my office ten minutes ago."

"Who was in your office?"

"Todoroki and Bakugou." Nana tapped their business cards on her desk.

"Damn, they're fucking popping up in a lot of wrong places lately."

"So, you'll do something?"

"What did they talk to you about?" Akio sat on his desk, he already knew, fucking counterfeit shit. He glared out his office window at the kid taping up an old Chevrolet for a new paint job.

"The eight items that are missing off the list." Covering her eyes, Nana's stomach dropped, how had this turned into such a disaster? She loved her son but this last blunder was costing her in ways she'd never dreamed.

"How'd they know eight were missing?"

"They had the real list!" She sniped back.

"Fuck? No way, no one's got that fucking list."

"Someone does."

"Fucking Kaneko, no way he gave them that list. He likes his precious head too much." Akio chewed his nail, Kaneko had called yesterday talking about the damn list as well. Maybe he'd snitched? Akio pinched the bridge of his nose, did he have to kill everyone?

"How about that bitch?" Nana could hear him breathing heavily.

"What about her?" Akio's voice grew cold.

"She has access to the system, doesn't she?"

"Shut up," Akio snarled. "What did you tell them?"

"Well, I made up some bullshit story about finding the stuff at the central office, if anyone looks into it deep enough though, they'll know I'm lying."

"That sounds like your problem."

"Look," Nana's voice steeled. "I've provided everything your boss asked for and more," she paused. "I know you work for Nakama." Her heart hammered, she'd wondered if she had guessed right.

"Do I?"

Another irritating chuckle echoed over the phone. He would never say anything, she knew that by now. Shifting in her chair, she wondered if she should just go talk to her boss. Would he understand or throw her in jail? "Maybe I'll go have a chat with my boss, Kezu Kioku, the Defense Minister," she hissed slowly, fear exploded through her body at her boldness. He was quiet, she heard the crinkle of a cigarette pack, then the soft flick of flint igniting and the sound of burning paper. He exhaled heavily.

"You think he's gonna bail you outta your shit?" Akio flicked the first bit of ash off the tip.

"It would be better than everything I'm trying to hide here, when's this all going to be over? I can only keep that area shut down for so long. The Minister has started asking to see the space."

Inhaling another long drag from his cigarette, Akio frowned, she was too flighty. He didn't need her digging into shit with anyone else. "If you tell anyone about this, you know I'll kill your son, right?" Uchiyama moaned. Letting out a raspy laugh, his black eyes followed the young man checking the tape around the rear of the car. "I got my eyes on him now, wouldn't take much at all, then I could just sit and watch the life ebb from his eyes." He closed one eye as smoke curled from his cigarette into his face. "Unless you gonna decide to be a good girl."

"Yes - Yes! I will, please, don't kill him." She slumped on her desk. "I'll keep my mouth shut, just get this over with, please! Haven't you finished yet?"

"Not your fucking business, when we're done, you'll be the last to know," Akio snorted at his own joke. "Oh shit, you reminded me," holding his cigarette in his lips, he pulled out a small notepad. Bracing it on the desk he flipped to the last sheet. "We need some more stuff, the same order as last time. Put it down in the office where you normally drop everything."

"Yeah, yeah, okay. I have the last text you sent, I'll get this pulled together. Is tomorrow okay?"

"That works and thanks honey, you're a real fucking sweetheart." Hanging up Aiko inhaled another long drag as he slid his notebook back in his pocket. Putting out the cigarette he walked back into the auto shop. "Hey Uchiyama Sawa!" The young man looked up from checking the large Bel Air.

"Yeah boss?"

"When you're done taping that off, help me finish grinding down this fender." He slapped the kid on the back. "You're doing a good job Sawa, you're a lucky son of a bitch that your mom loves you so much, you know that?" Walking away, he picked up the grinder, feeling eyes on his back, he peered over his shoulder. Sawa turned quickly, focusing on his taping job. Flipping on the switch, Akio pulled down his goggles and began working on smoothing the metal.

Tenya leaned on the bar swirling his gin and tonic. "It's not a bad job, still getting used to all the diplomatic stuff."

"Sounds annoying," Katsuki swigged his beer. He'd met them over at the ministry offices to talk with Uchiyama Nana, as he and Shouto had thought, she'd known very little. The items had been found in a cleanup, dumped in her lap and she'd thought the museum would be the best place for them. After that she had no idea, she'd assumed that the museum still had them.

"It can be a lot of drudgery but being involved in such high-level decisions is very exciting," Tenya pushed his glasses up on his nose. "I miss my work as a Pro Hero, I won't lie, but I transferred to Uchiyama to try to get closer to Kezu, the Defense Minister," he twisted the bottom of his drink along the bar. "If there is some way that I can make any changes to the government's stance on the Pro Hero ban, I'd like to try."

"The more people we can get on our side, the more chance we have of getting reinstated," Shouto mused. "My dad was trying to get me to take a position there, I think for the same reason."

"Your dad's doing great though," Tenya tipped his head. "He's practically doing better than when he was a hero," he teased.

"Is he?" Shouto leveled his gaze on his friend. Tenya's smile faded.

"Just because someone looks like their successful, doesn't make them fucking happy Four Eyes." Katsuki scowled, waving down the bartender he ordered another beer. "Last one and then I have to head out."

"Oh? Where are you going?" As Shouto turned, the light above the bar shone on his cheek, he noticed the red mark. "What's that?" He touched his face.

Flinching, Katsuki's cheeks went red, "my therapist worked me over a little too much."

"Your therapist?" Shouto let out a loud bark of laughter.

"Are you going to counseling Bakugou?" Tenya's brows shot up, "that's excellent, good for you. I think anger management is a wise course of action." Glaring at him, Katsuki drank the last of his beer.

"I think he was kidding Tenya." Shouto smiled, casting another quick look at Kat.

"Oh, sorry, but," he shrugged, "perhaps something to think about?"

"I'm going," Katsuki threw some money on the bar and drank down his beer. Looking at Shouto for an extra moment, he nodded. "See you later." Before anyone could respond he grabbed his coat and walked out into the rain, pulling the hood up over his blonde spikes. Jogging down the wet sidewalk, he made it to the rail station and jumped on the train that would take him to Kaneko's neighborhood. Checking his watch, it was just after six, he clicked his tongue. He'd wanted to get there earlier. Leaning back in his seat he relaxed, letting the rumbling car jostle his body.

In the past he would've just ditched drinks and not even cared. He chewed his lip, maybe it was the look in Shouto's eyes earlier when they'd met up at Uchiyama's office. The apology reflected in his expression had made him feel like an ass. They were both right in their own way, it just burned when he didn't take him seriously, especially since he was one of the few people who ever did, besides Deku. Katsuki clenched his fists as his chest constricted painfully. Damn, he really wanted Shouto's approval and he'd been hurt deeper than he'd realized by him today. The train slowed at his stop. Stepping onto the platform he moved through the afterwork crowds clogging the station. Making his way up the stairs he tried to stay out of the fray by cutting back through the main part of the block to the residential district until he found Kaneko's neighborhood. Pausing, he surveyed the empty street before crossing to the opposite side keeping his eyes fixed on the house that they'd visited the day before. There was a light still on in the main part of the office, he breathed a sigh of relief, he might still be there. Finding a home that was completely dark, he stepped under the eave trying to get partial cover from the downpour. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he hunched over waiting for Kaneko, his mind was still spinning around his feelings from earlier. "Great," he kicked at the stone walk, now all he had was time to think about everything.