Mirio followed Overhaul deeper into the underground complex, remaining silent as they went. Though he had no idea where they were going, he had a feeling that simply turning and leaving would be a bad move. Whether or not it would be worse than remaining in the Shie Hassaikai base remained to be seen… though Mirio wasn't particularly a fan of that option, either.

"So… congratulations," Mirio offered, though Overhaul didn't turn around to receive the praise. "On your promotion, and whatever happens from here."

Overhaul didn't respond, simply continuing down the tunnel in silence. Mirio continued to follow and cleared his throat.

"You know, it's probably a good thing I came back, all in all. Even if you don't like All Might, without me showing up, you would probably st-"

"I owe you nothing," Overhaul snapped as he stopped abruptly in the middle of a tunnel and turned to face Mirio. "I do not trust you, I do not trust All Might… I do not trust heroes. Even if you're committed to the Shie Hassaikai, which is a notion I do not believe at all, your past is still a black mark on your record. You will never be one of us, no matter how much Dabi or his spoiled princess might say that you are."

"And what about when Arowana says it?" Mirio asked, deciding to press his luck. "Will you listen then?"

The almost inhuman noise that Overhaul made in reply told Mirio everything he needed to know. Overhaul's immediate turn and quickening pace only reinforced the notion.

"Hey, I'm just saying," Mirio began as he continued his pursuit. "I tried talking to you at the entrance. I tried being nice, doing things your way, and you just outright refused to negotiate or bend at all. Maybe that's why it's taken you so long to start climbing the ranks. Why are you so stubbornly loyal a-"

"Because I have nothing else!" Overhaul exploded as he turned around and seized Mirio by the throat. The silken glove failed to hide the bubbling flesh behind it, and Mirio stopped talking immediately at the odd, threatening sensation. "The Shie Hassaikai is my home, and they were the only ones to take me in after I was cast out by everyone else! Japan is…"

Mirio watched as Overhaul trailed off and looked down to the stone floor. The hand around Mirio's neck didn't move, and if anything, the writhing beneath the glove became more unpredictable and violent.

"…look at it," Overhaul seethed, meeting Mirio's gaze once again. "What even needs to be said? Villains, rival gangs, corruption, nepotism fueling the economy and the so-called hero world… Arowana has- had a plan to change all of that. A solution to the growing problems of society. Now, though, making an ally of All Might? What did you say to him? What did you do?"

"Nothing!" Mirio insisted. "This wasn't my idea! I was asked to find intel on All Might, my opinion on what to do with it was never asked. I went as far as pulling medical records for the cause, but I didn't expect this to go like it did! Do you really think he'd be listening to some outsider who just pissed all of you off by botching a mission? I was supposed to be in exile for some undetermined amount of time, Overhaul. I don't have any special access to Arowana, and he has less reason to trust me than you do. This is all him."

"I refuse to believe that," Overhaul grumbled as he released his grip on Mirio's throat. "If it isn't you, it's… someone is pulling strings behind the scenes. Playing the organization for reasons I don't understand. What good could All Might possibly do for us?"

"He could help with the Nue," Mirio tried. "I mean, you guys haven't been successful in taking them down thus far."

"Neither have the supposed heroes," Overhaul reminded as he brushed his hand off on his shirt in disgust. "It isn't that easy. We were making progress, gaining ground… on our way to making a comeback to the public eye as something new and improved. If word gets out that we're working with All Might, any and all good will we've built will diminish."

Mirio stared for a moment, unable to follow the logic.

"…good will with who? Allying with the number one hero in Japan, beloved by the public and with the most civilian rescues on record can only improve your image and reputation in terms of the country as a whole. What allies are you trying to impress by remaining completely isolated?"

"That is none of your business," Overhaul replied. "There are people we've met and spoken to about the future of Japan that aren't going to like this. Why would the grandmaster…"

Mirio said nothing, instead choosing to let his comrade stew in anger and confusion as he turned and began to walk once again.

"…no, I mustn't question is judgment. He's planning something new. He has to be. Something I don't yet understand, but he's never been wrong…"

"Hey, there's nothing wrong with questioning," Mirio reassured as he once again moved to follow along. "Finding answers for your doubts will either strengthen your resolve or tell you that your faith was misplaced and it's time to move on. Either way, questioning leads to personal improvement if you embrace it. Maybe your blind loyalty is part of why it took this long for you to get promoted. Arowana seems to favor the ones who push limits and play their own game…"

"Do not speak as if you understand his methods," Overhaul warned as he took a sharp corner and continued down another, darker tunnel.

"I don't, I'm just spitballing," Mirio admitted. "But still… what you've been doing so far hasn't really worked out, has it? Maybe it's time to start making changes. Do some reflection, and let people help you. Nobody can do everything on their own, and that includes serving the organization effectively. I mean, I'd be willing to get to know you better and help you along if you'll let me. Arowana did say we'd be working together."

"A prospect I loathe," Overhaul said, more to himself than Mirio as the pair arrived at a wooden door at the end of a seemingly random tunnel. "Are you going to continue following me? I've had quite enough of you for today, and I have to pack."

"Pack…?"

"This is where the common grunts of the Hassaikai stay," Overhaul explained. "If I am to relocate due to my impending promotion, I would like to be ready. This place… is not exactly pleasant."

"Then let me help," Mirio offered. "Twice as fast with two people."

"I do not have many possessions," Overhaul tried.

"Then it won't take long, and the excuse of needing time to pack falls apart," Mirio said confidently. "Why do you want to get rid of me so badly? Just say it. I won't be offended… and I don't believe it's just because I'm a former hero. What's your problem with me?"

Overhaul muttered something to himself within his mask, though the words were totally unintelligible to Mirio. Afterward, he let out a sigh, the noise turning into a sort of hiss through the vents on the sides of his mask.

"…if I let you come and 'help', will you stop with your incessant questions?"

"Sure," Mirio agreed. "I can do that."

"Then let us make this quick," Overhaul instructed as he pushed open the door and stepped inside. "Speak to no one."

Mirio gave the other man a nod as they stepped inside of the unremarkable door far beneath the earth. Larger than even the main hall, the apparent barracks was made up of a small, narrow hallway just beyond the door that led to an absolutely cavernous chamber larger than the entrance hall of the base. The setup was somewhat similar, in some ways- long tables, a bar off in a corner, low music playing through a hidden speaker system, and hanging lights. In others, the space was far different- the walls of the chamber were lined with countless doors broken up only by a hallway at the far end that seemed to open into another massive cavern. Oddly enough for any other day, the space was entirely devoid of life… though the sight merely spurred Mirio to start talking once again.

"…so, why are we on lockdown, exactly…?"

"What happened to not asking questions?" Overhaul asked rhetorically. "And there is no 'we' in this."

"Are you seriously going to act like this from here on out?" Mirio spat. "And yes, that was another question. Deal with it. Arowana wants me here, whether you like it or not. If you're going to stick with the idea of never questioning him, then you should be answering me. If you're going to start having some agency, then keep quiet. I get what I want either way. Your choice."

Mirio had to wait until they made it halfway across the chamber before Overhaul made a decision.

"…the Nue leader was spotted a few streets over," Overhaul said cautiously. "He is almost never seen in public, and the few times he has been… it has ended in disaster."

"What?" Mirio asked, taken aback. "So… our number one enemy is out in the open, totally vulnerable, and we're just choosing to hide? Shouldn't the Hassaikai mobilize and try to intercept him? Especially if he's close to here, on our turf, this whole rivalry could be ended! We should mobilize, not hide!"

"…you think capturing or killing the Nue leader alone would be the end of it?" Overhaul asked as he stopped before one of the many doors. "You naïve fool. Even if we could somehow handle him, little would change. There are others who would take his place and use his downfall as an excuse to grow more violent. Making a move now would be a mistake… especially considering he seemed to be heading toward the Red Light District."

"…the Pearl?" Mirio asked as Overhaul opened the door and went inside what seemed to be his room. "Dabi and Rizumu could be in danger. Have they been warned?"

"I do not know, but most likely, yes," Overhaul answered.

Mirio held back from mentioning that neither of the two would be at the establishment as he stepped into Overhaul's room. After all- the man didn't need to know about Dabi's 'incident'… and it was likely better for everyone if their whereabouts remained unknown while All Might was with them.

"Great. I'll… check in with them in a bit," Mirio let on as he looked around the space. "Nothing in writing, just over the phone. This place looks… not nearly as bad as I was expecting, given you said it was unpleasant living down here…"

The living space wasn't far removed from a U.A. dormitory in size, though it paled in comparison to most when it came to decoration. A few movie posters of clashing genres were the only personal effects added to the space, save for a vase filled with flowers on a small table in the middle of the room near the couch. Otherwise, the space was mostly bare or filled with items purely functional- a lamp, coffee pot, clothing neatly organized within an open closet. Though the spartan feeling of the room did seem to fit Overhaul, it wasn't at all what Mirio would have guessed for the man's living space.

"It's… hot," was all that Overhaul said as he moved toward the closet and began taking down clothing from the hangers. The room was a bit warm for being so far underground, though the temperature was nothing egregious. "And I dislike being this far away from the surface. I also dislike the people here…"

"That part I can understand, sure," Mirio agreed as he eyed up a poster for a movie he had never heard of, its title in a foreign language. "Big fan of obscure cinema?"

"We are not friends," Overhaul stated plainly as he rolled a suitcase out from the bottom of the closet.

"Fine, fine," Mirio said with a sigh. "One more question, then, and I'll shut up. Promise."

"I sincerely doubt that, but I cannot stop you short of physically throwing you out of the room, and you're bigger than me," Overhaul lamented.

"…you said Arowana had a plan," Mirio said carefully. "A plan to put a stop to everything wrong with society, and that's why you follow him. What did you mean by that?"

Overhaul paused midway through taking down another shirt, as though hesitating.

"…it's not for me to say," was all he offered in response. "All you need to know is that the plan seems to have changed… and I don't think either of us will like the new direction."

Mirio felt a chill run down his spine, though he did his best not to show it.

Author's Note:

Next time- back to U.A. for one final thing before classes begin…

-RD