It had already been a few days since Dabi and Yuka left the theater. Their first few days of freedom had been... interesting to say the least. Now that they were finally on their own, they could let loose without worrying about hiding from the others. They spent most of their time wrapped up in each other's arms. There was just this undeniable pull between them, and Yuka was more than willing to lose herself in Dabi's arms. Being with him was a relief from the pain of her past, and it seemed as though Dabi shared that sentiment. From what she had seen up until now, it seemed as though Dabi also shared in the relief that she felt when they were together. They both carried ghosts from their pasts, but being in each other's company made those burdens a little easier to bear.
Not all was perfect, of course. Most of their quality time happened in the evenings. During the day, Dabi was hardly ever at his place. He would often disappear in the early hours of the day, presumably to check in on old contacts and to scope out new talent for the League. They had a mission, after all. Yuka, admittedly, found herself lacking in contacts after leaving the Shie Hassaikai. She had been flying solo up until she joined up with the League. Giran was one of the few links she had to her old life. The rest presumed her dead alongside her father, an issue that put her in a bit of a tight spot now that they were on the hunt for new blood. But she held out hope that she would find someone worthy regardless of her circumstances.
After spending a few days searching for recruits, Yuka was woken up one morning by the buzzing of her cell phone on the nightstand. Groggily, she fumbled for the device, squinting at the screen only to see Giran's name flashing on it. Perplexed, she answered the call, pressing the phone to her ear.
"Giran..." she answered in a tired voice.
"Morning, sleepyhead," he replied in an amused tone. "I need your help with something. Think you can meet me in a few hours so we can discuss the details?"
Yuka sat up in the bed, listening to his proposition. She rubbed one of her eyes tiredly, pondering to herself what had prompted him to ask her for help.
"Sure," she replied. "I can come and-"
"Mmmmh, who are you talking to, babe?"
Yuka was startled by the sound of Dabi's voice coming from the other side of the bed. She hadn't expected him to be there since he was usually gone by this hour. For some unknown reason, he had decided to sleep in this morning, and had rolled over to see what she was doing.
"Umm..." Yuka stammered, caught off guard by Dabi's question.
Giran's laughter echoed through the phone. "I see you have company," he remarked with amusement.
Yuka felt her cheeks flush crimson. Before she could gather her thoughts, Dabi leaned over her shoulder to nuzzle her neck.
"Come back to bed, sweetheart..." he responded sleepily, his lips brushing against her ear.
Another chuckle from Giran made Yuka let out an exasperated sigh, closing her eyes for a moment to collect herself.
"For fuck's sake..." she sighed in annoyance. "Just... give me a second, Dabi!"
Giran's laughter rang through the phone again. "Since you've got Dabi with you, why don't you both come down and lend me a hand? I could use an extra pair of hands dealing with this situation I've found myself in."
Yuka shot Dabi a frustrated glance, silently cursing his timing. "Fine! Just give us the location."
As expected, Giran gave her directions to a nearby bar where he wanted them to meet in a couple of hours. After exchanging a few more words with Giran, Yuka hung up and placed her phone back on the nightstand. She turned to find Dabi still drapped across her back with a mischievous grin plastered across his face.
"You're really insufferable, you know that right?" she chided, arching an eyebrow in mock disapproval.
"Aww come on, don't be like that," he crooned, nuzzling into the curve of her neck for another kiss. "If you really found me so unbearable, you wouldn't have agreed to stay at my place..."
His lips trailed gently along her neck as he pulled her back into bed with him.
"I'm surprised you're still here," Yuka remarked after a moment. "You're usually out the door by now."
Dabi froze, averting his gaze.
"I figured it'd be nice to sleep in for once..." he admitted, a hint of embarrassment coloring his tone.
Yuka observed his reaction with a puzzled expression. It was rare to see him flustered like this. What could possibly be bothering him? Then, it dawned on her. Could it be that he stayed in just to spend time with her? Come to think of it, he had been increasingly more affectionate with her in the past few days. Yuka hadn't really noticed until now. She lowered her gaze to him, attempting to catch his eye, and noticed a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks. A smirk played at her lips as she gently traced her fingers along his jawline. She then lifted his face up towards her, coaxing him to meet her gaze.
"You really are quite cute when you're blushing," she teased.
The color on his cheeks deepened, though he tried his best to seem unbothered by her comment.
"Tch... You don't know what you're talking about..." he grumbled, looking away.
Yuka tightened her grip around his face, forcing him to meet her eyes.
"Oh, I think I know exactly what I'm talking about..." she answered him in a sultry tone.
With a deft movement, she rolled him onto his back, straddling him. His expression shifted, and his hands moved instinctively to her waist.
"Oh really?" he inquired, a hint of curiosity in his voice. "Do tell then..."
She curled her lips into a crooked smile, trailing her hands over his chest, feeling the texture of the scarred skin beneath her fingertips.
"Don't think I haven't noticed you growing soft on me, Dabi," she purred, her eyes and fingers tracing a path down his sternum. "Admit it: you actually like having me around..."
His expression registered annoyance at her first comment, but quickly transformed into a smirk at her second remark.
"Only because you enjoy it just as much, sweetheart..." he growled, his hands slipping underneath the tank top she wore to bed.
Yuka's smile faded slightly at his comment. She wanted to deny it, but deep down, she knew what he said was the truth. She did enjoy being in Dabi's company. As much as he annoyed her at times, she found comfort in his presence, which was something she hadn't experienced in a long time. However, she wasn't ready to admit to herself that she was growing attached to him. Instead, she leaned down to kiss him, wrapping her arms around him as she pressed her chest to his. She felt his strong arms encircle her, drawing her closer as he melted into her kiss.
"We should be getting ready..." Yuka interjected between their kisses.
"Five more minutes..." Dabi demanded, greedily tightening his grip on her, unwilling to let her slip away.
"Knowing you, you'd take a lot more than five minutes..." she teased, lips still brushing against his.
He snickered through their intertwined lips. "Damn right, I would..."
She sighed against his mouth, awfully tempted to let Dabi have his way with her. After a few more seconds of deep, passionate kissing, she finally mustered the strength to break away, pushing him back against the bed and ending their kiss abruptly which left her slightly out of breath.
"Come on, we need to get ready if we're going to meet with Giran," she said to him in a more serious tone.
"Ugh... Fine," Dabi grumbled discontentedly. "But don't think you'll be safe from me indefinitely..."
Yuka rolled her eyes at him as she climbed out of bed and headed for the living room. After entering the bathroom and locking the door for some uninterrupted shower time, she pondered what kind of trouble Giran could be in to require their assistance. Finishing her shower, she caught the scent of cooked food wafting through the apartment. Wrapping herself in a towel, she stepped out to find Dabi hard at work preparing breakfast for the two of them. Yuka watched him silently from the living room while he was finishing up in the kitchen, her shoulder leaning against the wall.
"I had no idea you knew how to cook," she remarked, crossing her arms as she observed him from the living room.
Dabi let out a slight chuckle at her comment. "What can I say? I'm just full of surprises..."
While he finished preparing their meal, Yuka slipped back into the bedroom to get dressed. When she returned, Dabi had plated their food and was bringing it into the living room. Sitting across from him on the sofa, Yuka marveled at the spread before her.
"Wow, you really went all out," Yuka said in astonishment, eyeing the full plate in her hands.
"Figured you'd need your strength for whatever Giran has in store for you..." Dabi replied.
Yuka looked up to see him actively avoiding her gaze once again. She then lowered her eyes to her plate and quietly began to eat the breakfast Dabi had prepared. He was a surprisingly good cook, all things considered, even though he probably didn't have many occasions to cook for other people. Silence fell upon them as they ate. Their relationship had been mostly physical in nature up until now. Now... Yuka didn't quite know where they stood anymore. While they were undoubtedly more than just colleagues, labeling Dabi as a "friend" seemed inaccurate considering all they had been through together. She wasn't about to start labeling him as her "fuck buddy" either, not when things had progressed beyond their initial agreement of wanting no strings attached. Although she had briefly entertained the idea of discussing their situation with Dabi, she didn't feel like it was the right time to so. Besides, what would she say to him, exactly? It wasn't like she wanted things to progress further with him, and she suspected he felt the same way. They were villains after all. They both accepted the fact that romance was completely off the table for them. It just wouldn't be reasonable for them to entertain the idea of having a more serious relationship. With this in mind, Yuka set aside her concerns and redirected her focus to whatever Giran had planned for them.
Once they had finished eating breakfast, Dabi headed for a shower while Yuka was finishing her preparations. She stuffed a few essentials into a bag, most notably her mask and a few medicinal capsules, but decided to leave her sword behind this time. Carrying a sword around in broad daylight wasn't exactly subtle. Although it pained her to part with it, she trusted it would be safe in Dabi's apartment while she assisted Giran. Once she had gathered all of her things, Yuka stepped out of the room just as Dabi was exiting the bathroom. She waited for him to finish dressing before they left the apartment together to meet with Giran.
Dabi and Yuka arrived at the bar early in the day as instructed by Giran. The place was relatively quiet, with only a handful patrons and the staff preparing for the evening rush. Giran was already seated in a booth at the far end of the bar, casually smoking a cigarette as he waited. As the two villains entered, he gestured for them to join him. The two of them made their way towards the booth, taking place in front of him as they sat next to each other. Yuka was feeling a bit self-conscious, knowing Giran likely understood why Dabi was there with her. Though Giran had invited him, it was clear he wouldn't have done so had she not been with Dabi in the first place.
"So, what is it that you wanted to discuss?" she asked him point-blank, wanting to cut straight to the chase and avoid any embarrassing questions.
Giran took a drag from his cigarette, exhaling a cloud of smoke before turning to address them.
"Seems one of my latest shipments has gone missing," he began. "The supplier, despite being paid upfront, decided to sell his goods to someone else. He's gone underground, but I've got a lead on him. He's planning on hitting up a local nightclub tonight. That's where you come in..."
Yuka felt a knot forming in her stomach, sensing where this was headed.
"Turns out this guy's quite the ladies' man," Giran continued "And since you two just so happened to be in area, I thought you could help me straighten things out with him."
"Absolutely not," Yuka cut in abruptly.
She stared at Giran with a serious look in her eye, arms folded defiantly across her chest. People had wanted to use her looks before, back when she was still running with the Yakuza. The women there were treated like nothing more than mere ornaments, god only to be flaunted by their male counterparts. It was a life her father had shielded her from, and one that she learned to despise with every fiber of her being.
"Come on, Yuka," Giran groused. "I'm not asking you to sleep with him. Just lure him out of the club. I'll have a hotel room ready for us. All you have to do is get him there. Dabi and I will handle the rest..."
Yuka scoffed, turning her gaze. Dabi, unusually quiet, kept glancing between Yuka and Giran repeatedly, sensing her discomfort. He knew she was conflicted; Giran had been a crucial ally, instrumental even when it came to her joining the League of Villains. He had come through for her on more than one occasion. Despite her disdain for his plan, she felt indebted to him. So, as much as it pained her, she begrudgingly turned towards him and said:
"Are you sure this will work? I'm not exactly the most seductive woman in the world..."
Giran's previously disappointed look turned to satisfaction as he sensed her tentative acceptance. "I'm sure Dabi would disagree with that," he quipped slyly.
Dabi snorted at Giran's comment, shooting Yuka a smirk. She could feel her cheeks burning up from the embarrassment, but tried to maintain her composure nonetheless.
"Ahem... So, once I get him to the hotel room, what are you going to do?" she asked.
"It's like I said," Giran continued. "This supplier sold my shipment to another client. I need to know who got my goods. Since he's dodging me, it's unlikely he'll cough up willingly. That's where Dabi comes in."
"Heh... You want me to make him squirm, huh?" Dabi asked, a sadistic twinkle in his turquoise eyes.
"It's what you do best, isn't it?" Giran replied with a slight chuckle. "I figured this kind of work would suit you best."
Dabi's smirk grew even wider. As they were all discussing the final details of their arrangement, Yuka couldn't help but dread what was going to unfold come nightfall, and as expected, the day flew by a lot quicker than she would have liked…
As night descended, Giran invited Dabi and Yuka to meet him at the hotel where the interrogation would take place. After checking in at the front desk, he went up to his room and waited for the other two to arrive. It wasn't long before they joined him, Yuka appearing notably unenthused by the night's proceedings.
"Good, you're here," he greeted them, extending a piece of clothing to Yuka. "Here, take this."
Unfolding it revealed a long, black dress with delicate spaghetti straps and a V shaped neckline.
"This wasn't part of the deal, Giran..." Yuka objected severely, scowling at Giran.
"Come now, Yuka," Giran answered. "You've got to look the part if you want to be convincing."
She continued to glower at him angrily. She then watched as he produced a pair of sleek black high heels and handed them over to her. Yuka wanked them out of his hand aggressively and stormed off into the bathroom to change. All the while, Dabi was snickering to himself.
The dress was, to put it lightly, quite revealing. It hugged her body tightly, with slits along the skirt to accentuate her legs and a neckline that plunged deeper than she'd prefer. As she wrestled into the outfit, she realized just how tight it clinged to her body which only served to fuel her rage even further. When she turned towards the mirror to review her outfit, she realized just how visible her tattoos were. Suppressing the urge to scream, she took a few deep breaths to calm herself down. She reminded herself that she was only doing this to repay her debt to Giran. Once the ordeal was done, she could just forget the whole thing ever happened.
Emerging from the bathroom, she couldn't ignore the stunned expressions on the men's faces. Dabi's gaze lingered appreciatively, much to her annoyance. He seemed to be particularly enjoying himself, barely showing any restraint as he ogled her accentuated curves. Already, Yuka was regretting agreeing to Giran's plan, but she knew that things would only get worse from here on out.
"Alright, I'm changed... Now what?" she grumbled, crossing her arms in an attempt to hide herself from their gawking gazes.
"Now, you go meet with your Prince Charming," Giran quipped mockingly, handing her a keycard. "This unlocks the room. The club's just across the street. Once you're inside, look for a man with a scar on the left side of his face. Should be easy enough to find. Then, do what you can to lure him to the hotel. We'll be waiting for you here."
She sighed loudly as she accepted the keycard, glancing down at her outfit. No pockets. With a reluctant grimace, she tucked the card into her cleavage, shooting a glare at Dabi, who smirked in response. Her dark eyes shot daggers at him, which only served to amuse him even further.
"You should dress like this more often," he teased, shamelessly eyeing her.
"In your dreams, dumbass," Yuka shot back, before turning towards Giran. "I'll fetch your guy, Giran. But if things go south, I'll find you and end you myself."
Giran chuckled. "Relax, he's probably half-drunk already. You'll have him here in no time."
"We'll see about that..."
Yuka headed towards the nightclub across the street. As she approached, she couldn't help but feel the weight of people's gazes on her. Being so exposed was uncomfortable; she preferred blending into the background with unassuming clothes. Standing out made her self-conscious. She'd never been proud of her body, especially considering how it had been objectified in the past. This kind of work reminded her of the Yakuza's expectations, the life her father had saved her from. Despite her gender, he had believed in her capabilities. This didn't stop his colleagues from dismissing her all throughout her childhood, however. It was only once she'd reached adulthood that she was able to prove that not only was she just as capable as her male peers, but in fact, she was even more skilled and talented. It was a journey marked by hardship, leaving scars that still lingered, and it shaped the way she viewed herself, which was why she felt so uncomfortable wearing something this revealing.
Nonetheless, she had agreed to help and she wasn't the kind to go back on her word. If the guy she was looking for was as easy to ensnare as Giran said, then the whole ordeal would be over and done with in a heartbeat. Yet, Yuka harbored doubts; things rarely went as smoothly as expected. Nevertheless, dwelling on the negative wouldn't aid her cause. Plus, it wouldn't help if she looked like she was having a bad time. She needed to look interested if she wanted to attract her mark.
Yuka breezed into the nightclub without a hitch, her attire undoubtedly catching the bouncers' attention. Once inside, she could hear the throbbing tempo of the music blaring through the speakers. A large crowd swayed in sync with the beat as the DJ was busy mixing his music behind his booth. Yuka tried not to roll her eyes at every male patron staring at her while she made her way through the crowd. Since Giran had mentioned that the guy she was looking for would probably be drinking, she made her way towards the bar.
Sure enough, she immediately spotted a man sitting on his own, a large scar barring the left side of his face. He was older than her, and judging by the color of his cheeks, it seemed he was already a few drinks deep. Yuka took a moment to steel herself, closing her eyes briefly before adopting a new persona. Like a flip of a switch, her whole body language changed. She fixed her gaze on the man, her eyes veiled beneath heavy lashes.
He immediately felt her dark irises upon him and turned to meet her gaze as she moved gracefully through the crowd. She maintained eye contact, her focus unwavering. Moments later, she subtly broke away from the crowd, prompting him to adjust his tie, a hint of shyness flickering across his features. As she drew nearer, he nervously glanced back at her, taking a sip of his drink before offering a crooked smile.
"Hey there," he slurred, his breath smelling heavily of alcohol. "What's a beautiful girl like you doing all on your own?"
He suddenly leaned in closer, and it took every ounce of willpower for her not to recoil in disgust. She forced a smile instead.
"Just waiting for someone interesting to come along," she answered coyly, giving him a once-over. "You seem like an interesting guy, though."
She batted her eyelashes at him before turning to the barman to order a drink. It only occurred to her now that she had left her wallet back at the hotel room, leaving her with nothing to pay for her drink. Fortunately, the man she had engaged with was more than willing to cover her tab.
"So, tell me," she began, raising an eyebrow with feigned curiosity. "What does a big guy like you do for a living?"
He seemed to get flustered at her question, as if struggling to concoct a convincing story to cover up what he did for a living.
"Umm I-... I work as a coordinator at the docks," he stammered out.
The attempt was less than subtle, but Yuka flashed a look of pretend astonishment, pretending like she hadn't noticed the deception.
"Woow! That explains why you're in such good shape!" she exclaimed, leaning in to lightly squeeze his arm before pulling back. While not scrawny by any means, the guy wasn't exactly athlete material by any stretch of the imagination.
"Huh you too," he remarked, his gaze lingering on her tattoos before trailing off. "Those are some sick tattoos you've got there. Kind of reminds me of..."
He suddenly stopped talking, as if realizing he was about to say something he shouldn't. He looked back at her, laughing nervously before taking a long swig from his drink. Yuka was curious to know who she reminded him of, so she gently pressed herself against him, her arm brushing up against his.
"Remind you of what?" she inquired, her voice soft and coaxing. "Come on, you can tell me. I promise not to tell..."
She let out a soft giggle, inwardly cringing at her own performance. This was demeaning. She hated every part of it. Fortunately, it wasn't all for nothing...
"Well..." he continued to hesitate. "I recently had a few clients that were sporting similar ink. Don't tell anyone, okay? I recently struck a deal with some folks from the Yakuza..."
Yuka immediately tensed up at his revelation. Encountering someone with ties to the Yakuza was the last thing she anticipated. Of course, it was possible he could have been lying to try and impress her, but alcohol had a tendency to make people more honest, which worried her. Despite her growing anxiety, she masked her surprise with a practiced smile.
"Are you serious? I thought the Yakuza had gone extinct!" she exclaimed, her voice hushed with excitement.
"I thought so too," he continued in a low voice. "But it seems they've been operating in the shadows since All For One's imprisonment, gearing up for something big..." He shot her a furtive glance before chuckling nervously "That's just what I've heard, though!"
The information he was feeding her was only making her more and more on edge. It took everything she had not to break character despite her mounting anxiety. She knew she had to remain calm in order to succeed in in the mission.
"That's so cool!" she enthused, injecting a hint of flirtatiousness into her tone. "You know, I kind of have a thing for bad boys if I'm perfectly honest..."
She tried her best to look as alluring as possible, feeling ridiculous for portraying such an obvious caricature of seduction. Thankfully, her performance seemed to work like a charm judging by the man's reaction.
"Oh yeah? Well, y'know..." He leaned in real close. "I've also worked with the elusive League of Villains..."
This guy was even more dumb than he looked. By this point, the barman had brought her cocktail over and Yuka had started quietly sipping her drink while he prattled on. He started going on about his work with the League, remaining as vague as he could and not giving out any names. It exasperated her to think that he was unwittingly confiding in a member of the League, though Yuka wasn't privy to share that information with him just yet. She continued entertaining him until she finished her drink. Once her drink was drained, she seized the opportunity to invite him back to "her room" at the nearby hotel. In his inebriated state, he readily accepted the invitation, oblivious to the true identity of his companion.
As they made their way towards the hotel, Giran's supplier kept persistently attempting to make unwanted advances towards her, his hands reaching for her butt or trying to snake its way around her waist. She deftly evaded his touch every single time, all the while maintaining the façade of compliance. However, the discomfort escalated once they entered the elevator. As the elevator ascended, the man's drunken boldness surged, and he suddenly lunged at her, forcing her against the wall as he pressed sloppy kisses to her lips. It took every ounce of self-control she had not to push him off her and tackle him to the ground, even though every fiber of her being screamed for her to resist. She needed to keep the ruse going at least until they got to the hotel room, but it was almost too much to bear. The stench of alcohol on his breath, his sweaty palms grasping at her body, his eager tongue demanding entrance to her mouth… By some miracle, the door to the elevator finally opened with a soothing ding, announcing her salvation as she slipped out of his slimy grasp. With quivering lips, she maintained a strained smile and invited him to follow her to the room. As she walked ahead of him, she could feel his gaze lecherously trailing her, making her sick to her stomach. She could see the door to the room up ahead. Only a few more steps and she would be rid of him. Once she stopped at the door, she felt his hands upon her once again, trying to invasively insinuate their way inside her dress through the slits in her skirt. Quickly, she took the keycard out of her cleavage, prompting an insidious laugh from her odious companion as she struggled to get the door open.
After a brief struggle with the lock, Yuka managed to slide the keycard in, and with a soft click, the door swung open. She then turned towards the man behind her, seizing him by the collar as she pulled him into the room. He stumbled forward into the dark space, disoriented as he couldn't see Yuka anymore. In a swift motion, she kicked his legs out from under him before slamming him hard against the ground. The man yelped as his large frame hit the floor, and before he could recover, she descended upon him once more, her arms coiling tightly around his neck while she pinned him down with practiced efficiency.
"H-Hey what gives?!" he protested loudly, his voice strained as Yuka's arms tightened around his neck.
The lights suddenly flickered on, revealing Dabi standing near the door, while Giran sat calmly in one of the armchairs in the corner of the room. With a knowing smile, Giran strolled over to the struggling supplier caught in Yuka's grasp. With her barely leaving him enough room to breathe, his complexion shifted to a shade of purple under Yuka's unrelenting hold.
"That's enough, Yuka," Giran said gently, his tone firm but understanding. "You can let go of him now."
Reluctantly, Yuka released her grip, slamming the man's head down on the ground as she stood up. Dabi could see that her display of violence was not just for show. She looked angry, upset even, and he could also see that she was shaking. He gave her a concerned look, but Yuka kept staring at the sorry excuse of a man splayed out in front of her. Seeing as they still had a job to do, Dabi decided that now wouldn't be the best time to question her about her current mental state.
"What the fuck?!" the man shouted after getting up from the floor. "Giran?! Y... You're behind this?"
"It's good to see you again, Ryousuke," Giran said calmly. "Now, about that shipment..."
The supplier began to panic. "L-Look man! I-I... don't have it anymore! Something happened to the shipment! It was out of my control! S-Someone stole it!"
"And by someone you mean you, I presume?" Giran interjected, his voice carrying a hint of accusation.
"W-What?! N-No! I mean..." the supplier stuttered, his eyes darting nervously around the room.
"He sold your shipment to the Yakuza," Yuka stated matter-of-factly, her voice returning to its usual icy tone. "Isn't that what you told me?" she stated as she looked down at the distressed smuggler.
"N-No I-..." he stammered. "That's not-"
With a deliberate step forward, she pressed the heel of her shoe into his shoulder blade, forcing him down to the floor once more.
"Don't LIE!" she bellowed, her voice carrying an air of authority. "Tell them what you told me, or I'll drive this heel so deep into your spine you won't be able to move for the rest of your life!"
"ALRIGHT I'LL TALK!" the man shrieked, tears rushing down his face as his head drifted towards Giran. "I sold your shipment to the Shie Hassaikai! They're the ones who have it now!"
Yuka suddenly froze in stunned silence. While he had mentioned the Yakuza earlier, hearing he had dealings with the Hassaikai was a whole other story. She staggered backward, her shoes nearly causing her to lose her balance. Dabi swiftly stepped forward to catch her, his concern for her growing even more evident.
"What do you mean you sold the shipment to the Shie Hassaikai?" Dabi's voice was firm as he questioned the whimpering man.
"I-I-...!" The man stuttered, glancing up at Giran before continuing. "They came to me with a last minute offer. Said they were going to pay double what Giran was offering. They promised future business and... and protection in case..."
"In case we came after you..." Yuka interjected, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Y-Yes..." Ryousuke admitted pathetically.
"Seems like the Hassaikai had other plans regarding your protection..." Dabi noted dryly.
"It wasn't supposed to go down this way!" Ryousuke yelled.
Giran let out a long sigh, stepping closer to Ryousuke as he reached into his jacket.
"You've really put me in a difficult spot here, Ryousuke," Giran's exasperated tone filled the room as he addressed the trembling man. From the depths of his coat, he produced a revolver and leveled it at Ryousuke's head. "Where's my money, Ryousuke?" His voice remained eerily calm.
"I-I don't have the money, Giran!" Ryousuke's frantic response echoed in the tense silence.
Giran's grip on the revolver tightened, the metallic click of the hammer being cocked punctuating the air. "I won't repeat myself again, Ryousuke. Where is the money?"
"WAIT!" Ryousuke's voice cracked with desperation. "I s-swear... I-I don't have any money... B-but th-there's a warehouse not too far from here. I-I'll give you the key a-and you can take whatever's inside! Just please let me go!"
Giran stood frozen like a statue, his expression unreadable as he held the man in suspense. After a drawn-out moment, he finally relented, his shoulders sagging with a heavy sigh.
"You have no idea how disappointing this is to me..." His words hung heavy in the air as he exhaled. "Luckily for you, this is the last time you'll ever disappoint me."
"W... Wait... WAIT-!"
The sharp crack of a gunshot shattered the tense silence, jolting Yuka back to reality. She stared down at at the lifeless form of the man she had previously brought into the room. She then watched as Giran calmly holstered his gun, his expression betraying no emotion as he turned to face them.
"Dabi," he called out to him calmly. "Clean this mess up will you..."
They both understood the implicit instructions, and Dabi reluctantly stepped forward to carry out the task. As he began to set the room ablaze, Giran casually made his way towards the door, lighting a cigarette before exiting. Yuka watched in silence as Dabi's flames consumed Ryousuke, his flesh tearing away while the room slowly filled with smoke.. She felt strangely detached from the scene, her emotions numbed by the unfolding chaos. As the stench of burning flesh filled her lungs, she started to cough, prompting her to exit the room herself. She swiftly joined Giran in the hallway, pulling the fire alarm as they left. Moments later, Dabi emerged from the room once the room had been sufficiently incinerated.