Chapter Text
“Is it just me or is this week filled with terrible ideas?” Uraraka asked, rubbing her temples. “I’m not saying that your ideas are bad – and the last one was mostly mine – but…”
“They’re a little unconventional,” Momo finished for her.
Deku smiled sheepishly at them. “Well, we aren’t going to get anywhere or anything done just sitting around waiting for something to happen.” He held up the folder that Shigaraki had given her two days prior, but her eyes skittered away from it. While he and Momo had spent countless hours pouring over the documents and taking notes of their own, she had admittedly holed herself up. Thankfully, no one had questioned her about it. “We have more intel than before, but there are still gaps in the information.”
“What sort of information?” Uraraka asked, an uncomfortable feeling settling in her gut.
“I’ll know when we get there,” was all Deku said before pushing open the door and stepping into the Eight Precepts Company building. Uraraka looked at Momo before throwing up her hands in a shrug and following him inside.
The last time she had walked into a building owned by Chisaki Kai, she had nearly been killed by him and then faked her death. Two years had passed since then, but she highly doubted he would be pleased to see her, even if she was now on the other side. The main difference was, of course, the context. When they had crossed paths back in that drug warehouse, it had been as the Port Mafia and the Yakuza.
Now they were on legal sides: the Armed Detective Agency and the Eight Precepts.
There was some irony in that, but Uraraka couldn’t quite pick it out.
Deku had the sort of brightness about him that instantly grabbed people’s attention and made them like him. He used that full force in his cases when people proved stubborn. When he smiled, he looked so sweet and innocent that it was hard not to want to help him. Even Uraraka had fallen victim to his charm when they first met. She hadn’t wanted to like him – she hadn’t wanted anything to do with the ADA – and yet she somehow found herself standing at the office door anyway after he offered her a place.
The moment he leaned onto the counter of the front desk and flashed a smile, the receptionist responded immediately, sitting upright and politely asking, “Can I help you?”
He didn’t even have to say a word for Uraraka to know that he had the poor woman in the bag. The greatest thing about this trick of his was that it wasn’t a trick at all. His kindness and bright spirit were absolutely genuine. He meant that smile with everything in him.
Deku’s smile broadened. “I’m hoping you can!” He fished his wallet out of his pocket to grab an ADA business card and slid it across the counter. “I know he’s a busy man, but I was hoping that I could speak with Chisaki Kai.”
The woman’s smile faltered. “I’m afraid he doesn’t take any walk-ins, but I could give you the number to his aide.”
“Yes, Kurono Hari – I haven’t been able to get in touch with him either.” Deku didn’t falter. Uraraka tried not to flinch at the thought of Deku simply calling up a man she knew was the Yakuza boss’ second-in-command, but she could just see him being forward like that. He didn’t have qualms about rattling some cages. “I can understand why they wouldn’t want to speak with a small-time private detective agency, but you see… We’re actually working in conjunction with the police and the Special Abilities Division.”
As soon as he dropped those names, the receptionist’s demeanor changed. She might have simply been a secretary, but everyone knew the Special Abilities Division. Todoroki Enji made his presence known. It was why Todoroki often went by his first name when they were on cases.
“O-oh, well, then maybe…”
“I wanted to speak with him first before they did so he’s not caught off,” Deku continued. “I know how much work he’s done for the community and his research on abilities, so I don’t want him to get mixed up in something.”
It wasn’t often that Deku lied. He was honest to a fault. It was what made him both the perfect and worst person to head a case. However, he was known to bend the truth if it meant getting somewhere, and they all knew that this was a very dicey game. They couldn’t bulldoze their way in, hence why Todoroki was back at the office. Uraraka might have used force back in the day, but Sensei had also taught her the art of subtlety. It went a long way, and this required a very delicate touch.
“I could send you up to his floor,” the receptionist said hesitantly.
“That would be lovely!” Deku said brightly, popping upright. “If he’s too busy or not in, I’ll leave a message with his secretary. It’s just very urgent that we see him. Special Divisions could be in here any day…”
“O-of course!” The receptionist chewed on her lip and then smiled nervously. “It’s the twenty-second floor. I’ll key the code in for you when you arrive.”
Deku placed a hand over his heart. “Thank you so much!”
With that, they made their way to the elevators, only the sound of their shoes clapping on the pristine marble floor echoing through the expansive lobby. It was beautiful. Even Uraraka was somewhat overwhelmed by the decor, although it reminded her slightly of the Port Mafia’s main building. Everything had been so grand there, but it was lighter in here, natural light used to brighten the place. The tinted bulletproof glass covering the Port Mafia’s headquarters had darkened everything.
As they waited for the elevator, Uraraka nudged Deku’s shoulder. “You played that poor girl.”
Deku gave her an aghast look. “I did nothing of the sort!”
“How could she say no?” Uraraka sighed.
“Very easily,” Deku sighed. “I was certain she’d turn us down right away.”
“Turn down that smile?” Uraraka teased. “I think not.”
The elevator doors opened, and she slipped inside first. Deku and Momo followed, the former frowning in thought as he wondered over his accidental manipulation. She leaned against the back wall, arms folded across her chest, and swept her gaze around the small, enclosed space. Elevators hindered her ability in only that there was a limit to what she could use it on. At least they didn’t have to worry about falling. When her eyes fell on the security camera, she smiled and looked away.
If Chisaki had been alerted to visitors, he’d most definitely be looking at the footage now.
When they reached the twenty-second floor, they had to wait for the code from the receptionist desk. There was a ping and the light turned green, then the doors opened. Everything was absolutely immaculate, nothing out of place. She was intrigued by the traditional Japanese style that decorated this floor, different from the modern take that the rest of the building used. Chisaki was clearly a man that cared about appearances and was very particular about what he liked and wanted. Admittedly, it gave off an aura of power that would’ve intimidated the average person.
Unfortunately for him, they were not ordinary people, not even Deku who didn’t have an ability. She had destroyed city blocks in a matter of minutes, decimated half a city when she was a mere child. This was nothing.
Don’t get cocky, she could hear Shigaraki warning her.
Deku moved to try to same trick again with Chisaki’s secretary, smiling and leaning against her desk and starting with, “Hi, we’re here to see–”
“No need to play games,” a voice cut in.
Uraraka’s eyes snapped to a man walking toward them, stiffening when she recognized the man that had almost killed her two years ago. It almost looked as if Chisaki hadn’t changed since then. The only difference was the scar above his left eye. Had he acquired that in the warehouse explosion? The moment his eyes landed on her, they went cold, but she didn’t say anything or move. She doubted he would try to kill her here. This was a legitimate place of business. He couldn’t taint that.
Although there was no doubt that Deku could sense the chilliness in the air, his smile never dropped. “Mr. Chisaki, I was hoping you were in today.”
“My office,” Chisaki said sharply. “Now.”
None of them argued, shuffling into the office as directed. Uraraka could sense Momo’s nervousness, watching her shift uncomfortably from the corners of her eyes. Out of everyone, her ability was the closest to Chisaki’s. She could resurrect whatever he disassembled. It was only part of the reason why she had come with him. The main reason was that, aside from Deku, only she could understand the documents that Shigaraki had provided. In the end, even he had deferred to her.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Chisaki demanded, “What are you doing here?”
Deku didn’t blink. “We had a few questions–”
“Not you.” Chisaki turned, his calculated gaze settling on Uraraka again. “What are you doing here with them?”
“Official Armed Detective Agency business,” Uraraka quipped.
Chisaki’s eyes narrowed. “No, you’re Port Mafia.”
Uraraka shrugged. “Change of heart. I’ve got you to thank for helping me with that.”
“She’s with us now,” Deku added. He said it with so much certainty that Uraraka’s heart skipped a beat. Even after her conversation with Todoroki, she was still wary over how the others felt about her, but Deku didn’t hesitate. For him, he didn’t need any reassurances. He knew what was in her heart and didn’t question it.
However, Chisaki was not nearly as forgiving or understanding as Deku, proven when he snorted derisively and said, “You’re a fool if you believe that. No one leaves the Port Mafia short of dying.”
A smile touched Uraraka’s lips. “I did die in that warehouse explosion.”
“Let’s cut the small talk,” Chisaki said, crossing the room to step around his desk. “You mentioned working with the Special Abilities Division, hence why that idiot sent you upstairs, but we both know that’s not true.”
“I could’ve mentioned the illegal drugs instead,” Deku pointed out.
Chisaki sat down in what looked like the world’s most comfortable office chair and leaned back. “Eight Precepts doesn’t deal with illegal drugs. We don’t have to, seeing as how we’re government-backed. Our research, while highly experimental, is all perfectly legal.”
“I’m sure much of your research is,” Deku responded brightly, “but I’m curious if the government is aware of the serum that the Port Mafia stole from you recently.”
Chisaki stared back at him, completely blank-faced. He had one hell of a poker face; that was for sure. As expected from a man who ran both the Yakuza and the CEO of one of the top pharma companies in the country. On the other side of the room, Momo shifted uncomfortably, unused to being directly involved in an investigation, much less an interrogation. Uraraka folded her arms across her chest and leaned against the wall, careful to make sure she had a good vantage point of both Overhaul and the door.
Undeterred, Deku opened up the folder in his hand and laid down a picture of the pharmaceutical delivery truck that had been stolen the day Shigaraki tricked her with Toga. “You don’t recognize this vehicle?”
“Should I?”
“It made an undocumented stop at one of your warehouses for a pick-up,” Deku explained, laying down the paper that depicted the truck’s route. “A pick-up that wasn’t listed on the truck’s manifesto, so the police didn’t realize that anything was stolen.” He leaned forward on the table, ignoring the way Chisaki’s eyes flickered to his hand in disgust. “That doesn’t sound very legal to me.”
Letting out a sigh, Chisaki waved a dismissive hand. “Did you miss the part where I said our work is highly experimental? Some of what we work on is strictly classified by the government. We can’t go through the usual channels to deliver our goods, as per their orders.”
“So you’re not denying that this truck was transporting something of yours.”
Chisaki smiled coldly. “I can neither confirm nor deny that.”
“You see, I thought you’d say that,” Deku said, “so we looked into your research ourselves.”
The smile fell from Chisaki’s face. “What?”
“It was very fascinating,” Momo piped up despite her nerves. His eyes shot to her, even sharper than before, but she only hesitated for a moment and dropped her eyes to the papers in her hands before continuing. “Your research on abilities is unparalleled. I’ve never seen so much before. While it’s been highly debated since abilities first surfaced, you were able to successfully prove a link between abilities and genetics. That’s quite a find, one that would very likely earn you a Nobel Prize and renown in the scientific community.”
Deku tilted his head curiously. “Now, why would you hide such an amazing find like that?”
Before Chisaki could explain himself or argue back, Momo continued, her eyes still locked on the documents. “However, I also noticed some...inconsistencies – gaps in the research. It seems some of the information has been redacted but rather cleverly so. I didn't catch it until the third reread.” She flipped to the next paper. “There are a few mentions of a Variable E, but it appears as if information was deliberately left out. I was, however, able to determine that the Variable refers to a person , not an ingredient.”
It took everything in Uraraka not to shiver. Sensei had said that the Yakuza’s research on abilities was born from the barest scraps of information that survived her own experimentation. She’d thought it was all destroyed, but they had managed to dig some up that the Port Mafia could not. Once upon a time, she had been the Variable that scientists poked and prodded. To think that there was another person in the same shoes made her sick to her stomach.
Then again, it made sense. In order to study and run tests on abilities, they would require people with said abilities.
“Inconsistencies. Perhaps the research you found was tampered with.” A muscle in Chisaki's jaw flexed as he clenched it. The fact that he didn’t bring up the possibility that they were using humans for their experiments was telling enough, and Uraraka fought the urge to destroy his chair out from underneath him. “Where did you get this information?”
“Well, from you, actually – these are your documents,” Deku piped up, pointing a finger at Chisaki. He raised one sculpted, unimpressed eyebrow. “I'm not here to tell you how to run your business – you're clearly doing an excellent job on your own – but you might want to consider cleaning up a bit.”
“A leak,” Chisaki said flatly. He glanced at Uraraka. “The Port Mafia?”
Uraraka shrugged despite the tension coiling in her gut. “Who's to say?”
Chisaki turned back to Deku, an open look of disdain on his face. “The high and mighty Armed Detective Agency is actually working with the Port Mafia, the filth of Musutafu?” He shook his head. “Have you considered the fact that you're working with falsified evidence? Their leader has been trying to corner the market on abilities in this city for decades and ruin Eight Precepts' reputation.” Uraraka coughed, but he ignored her. “I wouldn't put it past him or his pet Shigaraki to use their enemy to get rid of us.”
At the mention of Shigaraki, Uraraka's stomach lurched. Sensei's pet? Was that how the Yakuza saw him? She supposed he was the most well-known Executive in the Port Mafia along with being Sensei's protege. Everyone more or less knew that he would be the next to take over as boss. Also, in the time that Uraraka had escaped from them, he had gone on a rampage against the Yakuza. He wasn’t on their good list.
“I certainly considered that option,” Deku replied, nodding in concession. “It would be an excellent move. They want the Yakuza out of the city but haven't been able to accomplish it through their usual means, so they're trying other options. I can't deny that you're probably right.”
“So if you knew they're using you, then why are you here insulting me?” Chisaki questioned.
“Because I think they're right in that you're also a legitimate threat,” Deku answered, honest to a fault. “I believe you are conducting a legitimate business and doing the research that the government is funding you for. Research on abilities is incredibly valuable and rare. To have a potential serum that might strengthen abilities? The money, the power, the temptation .”
On a typical day, Deku stuttered over giving his tea order. He got lost on the trains. He worked on so many cases at once that he fell asleep at his desk. He often lost track of time, the date, whatever knowledge he considered worthless except for what was about a case. He apologized for things that weren't his fault, blushed when pretty women spoke to him, and went on long mumbling rants when his mind was too crowded to think silently.
But when he confronted a suspect, he was razor-sharp, intense, and ready to argue someone into confessing. He was relentless . It was such a dramatic change that she was still caught off guard to this day.
In another world, Deku would have been an absolutely terrifying Port Mafia Executive.
“You should be questioning the Special Abilities Division then, not me,” Chisaki told them, laying a gloved hand on the edge of his desk. “They’re the ones so keen on our research pushing us for more.” He drummed his fingers along the dark wood, a knowing gleam in his golden eyes. “Chief Todoroki Enji is particularly interested. One would think that has a personal stake in the genetics of abilities.”
It was a very good thing they had decided against bringing Todoroki to this meeting. Given what he had told her about his history, family lineage, and his father, Chisaki’s comment would’ve definitely provoked Todoroki into reacting very poorly. Even the bright look on Deku’s face flickered, his fingers twitching before he stretched them out and continued to stare Chisaki down. Kind and sweet as he was, Deku did not take insults concerning his friends lightly. She’d seen him go off on someone before in defense of a friend.
“I’m sure they are,” Deku said, a little tenser than before. “A serum that could boost abilities would be dangerous in the wrong hands.” That bright look began to fall from his face. “But that’s not what the Port Mafia took when they hijacked that truck, is it?”
Momo cleared her throat. “The gaps of information in your documents. You were definitely working on what you promised the government, but it’s clear you were looking into something else. If you could boost abilities, then there’s a possibility that you can create a serum to weaken them as well.”
“Your original goal was to create something to control abilities, but I guess that didn’t work out for you,” Uraraka pointed out, recalling her conversation with Sensei years ago. He had been hopeful that the serum would help her control her own unstable ability. It should have excited her to be able to have a handle on Corruption, but it had frightened her instead. Sensei’s control over her ability scared her enough into submission even now.
No one should have that kind of power.
“I don’t have time for this,” Chisaki snapped. “Tell me what you’re accusing me of so I can get back to work.”
“You’re using the funding provided by the government to conduct your personal research under their noses,” Deku stated firmly, folding his arms across his chest. “Maybe the government knows you’re using people to conduct your experiments, maybe not. For a drug that will strengthen abilities, I bet they’re willing to overlook a lot to get what they want. I’m not blind to the corruption and greed in the government and Special Abilities Division. You’ve provided them with the research about boosting abilities while keeping the anti-serum a secret.”
“So is that why you’re siding with the Port Mafia?” Chisaki asked snidely.
“We’re not siding with them,” Uraraka insisted.
Chisaki scoffed. “You’re still one of them. As if the boss would ever release you from his control.” When Uraraka stiffened, a cold smile spread across his face. “His ability is one of the most highly regarded out there. It’s what we originally wanted to emulate, but it was impossible without direct access to him. We know that he wanted our research in order to control you better. It’s hard to put someone as dangerous as you on a leash.”
Uraraka jumped forward, hands clenched into fists at her side. “I’m not–”
“Stop.” Deku held up a hand, stopping her in her tracks. “We might be cooperating with the Port Mafia for now, but I don’t like the idea of them having your research in their hands any more than you. The idea that they stole a drug that could weaken abilities is dangerous for anyone who uses abilities as part of their work – and that includes Eight Precepts – or the Yakuza – the Special Abilities Division, and the Armed Detective Agency.”
Chisaki stared him down for a beat. “That’s a heavy accusation. Any proof besides stolen documents?”
“Yeah,” Uraraka said, flipping her hair over her shoulders to expose the needle mark left on her neck. His eyes snapped to her. “They used it on me for a test run. Congratulations. You were mildly successful.”
Unable to stop himself, Chisaki sat upright, looking at her intensely. The interest on his face was plain as day for everyone to see, but neither Deku nor Momo commented on it. Uraraka glared back at him. Had they not fully tested the serum yet to see its full effects? Perhaps that had been the next step, but the Port Mafia had interrupted their plans by stealing it. Whatever the case, once more she’d been the test subject.
She really hadn’t punched Shigaraki hard enough for pulling that shit with her.
Reaching over with her left hand, she plucked a small globe from a shelf. When she let go of it, the globe glowed a faint pink and slowly floated into the air, bobbing in place. She clenched her into fist, and the globe crumpled in on itself, the chunks falling to the floor when she released her ability. Chisaki leaned back into his seat, considering the debris with mild contempt, but she could see the gears turning in his head just like Deku’s did. His serum hadn’t just weakened her ability; it had taken it away completely, if only for a few hours.
But he didn’t know that, especially when they’d accused him of creating a drug that would only weaken abilities.
“In the end, you don’t have any direct ties between the drug the Port Mafia used and Eight Precepts,” Chisaki finally said, standing up behind his desk, “so you’ve officially wasted my time.”
Deku held out his hands in a helpless gesture. “I’d like to think it wasn’t a total waste. We traded information.”
Chisaki gave him an unimpressed glare. “If you even think about speaking to the media about these baseless claims, I’ll destroy your pathetic little Agency.”
“Is that a threat as the CEO of Eight Precepts or head of the Yakuza?” Deku asked. When Chisaki only glowered in return, Deku shrugged carelessly. “Ah, it doesn’t matter.” He pressed his hands against the top of the desk and leaned forward, his green eyes shining vibrantly. “Either way, if you’re threatening me, you’ll need to get in line. I’m fairly certain Shigaraki has already made plans to kill me by the time this is over.”
Unfortunately, Uraraka didn’t think Deku was entirely wrong about that, although she also didn’t believe Shigaraki would go through with it. He might want to kill Deku, especially once this war with the Yakuza was finished and he considered Deku a liability, but she wouldn’t let him. He could threaten Deku and the ADA all he wanted, but she knew he would never cross that line if she made it clear it was one she would refuse to forgive him for ignoring.
Deku pushed away from the table and started for the office door. “You can keep the papers. We made copies.” He waved a hand. “Thanks for seeing us when you have such a busy schedule. Good luck with your research!”
Momo followed him out the door, leaving Uraraka to be last in line, but before she could leave, Chisaki called out, “How did it feel?”
She paused in the threshold, hand on the doorknob, silent and unmoving. How did it feel? Like a nightmare. She hadn’t realized how much her ability meant to her until it was just gone . Not to mention all she could think about were those vague memories she had of her life before Sensei took her in. Not a person with any control of her own, just an experiment, one that went terribly wrong.
Uraraka didn’t answer Chisaki. He didn’t deserve an answer from her. Instead, she continued to walk again, leaving the room and letting the door shut behind her. She followed Deku and Momo into the elevator, taking her place against the back wall again. As soon as the doors shut, they all allowed their shoulders to sink. Momo put a hand to her head while Deku leaned his shoulder against the side.
“I thought my heart was going to explode,” Deku said, placing a hand over his chest.
Momo let out a breath. “I thought for sure he was going to end us in his office.”
“You certainly didn’t look like it,” Uraraka told them. “You both held your cool.”
Deku smiled. “Yeah?”
Pulling her hand away from her head and lifting it to look at him, Momo added, “You were brilliant in there. Even I was nervous. You definitely unsettled him.”
“Good.” Deku folded his arms across his chest, his eyes flickering to the camera with a heated glare. “I want him second-guessing everything. He might not have confirmed anything, but he didn’t deny it. He could have, but it might have come back to bite him later. I want him questioning this entire plan.”
Considering he’d managed to sway the government to his side while running a top pharmaceutical company and head the Yakuza under their noses, Chisaki was an incredibly brilliant man. He knew that he needed to eliminate the Port Mafia or at least Shigaraki from the equation if he was going to succeed, but what he hadn’t counted on was Deku. A wild card if she’d ever seen one, she wasn’t sure if Shigaraki had completely considered him either.
On their way out of the building, Deku smiled and waved at the receptionist, who nervously waved back. They made their way back to the parking garage where they’d left Momo’s car, lost in their own thoughts. Ochako tried not to think about the bug that she’d planted when she lifted the globe from the bookcase, just as Deku and Momo tried to ignore the fact that they now had targets on their backs.
As they walked through the parking garage, there was a shimmer to their left. Uraraka didn’t even blink when Camie and Shinsou seemingly stepped out of thin air to walk beside them. She ran her fingers under her long blonde hair and flicked it to pull strands out from her collar, sighing dramatically, “They have much more expensive taste than we do. I think we need to decorate our office better.”
Deku shook his head and turned to Shinsou. “Were you able to get anything?”
“Anything?” Shinsou pulled a hand out of his pocket and produced a USB drive between his fingers. “C’mon, don’t insult me. Their tech security measures were honestly kind of embarrassing.”
“Did you find information on their test subject?” Momo asked, peering back at Uraraka briefly. She had to ask since Uraraka couldn’t get the words out of her mouth. Every time she even thought about it, her world went dark, and it was like she could feel Corruption clawing at her chest.
Shinsou and Camie glanced at each other, a silent but telling look passing between them. He pocketed the USB drive and said, “Yeah, but I wouldn’t call them a test subject.” Deku tilted his head, both wary and curious, while Uraraka’s heart sank. She didn’t need Shinsou to say it – she didn’t want to hear it – but something in her said that she already knew. “She’s more like...the source.”
“What do you mean?” Uraraka managed to force out.
“We’ll know more once Yaomomo looks at the data we retrieved, but…” Shinsou shrugged uncomfortably, his eyes darting away from hers as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I think the drug – whatever the Port Mafia stole and used on you – has something to do with her ability.”
“Her ability.” Uraraka stopped walking, forcing the others to stop with her. “Did you see her?”
Another look and then Shinsou admitted, “Yeah, I found some security footage from their lab.”
“How old?” Uraraka asked.
Silence. Chirping echoed through the spacious parking garage, honks from the traffic below, but between them, there was nothing but silence. She clenched her hands into fists, her gloves tightening, and then relaxed them. Something old threatened to break free from inside her, something she hadn’t felt in a long time. The memory of watching Shigaraki torture a child killer for information seeped to the forefront of her mind. Horrible as it had been, she’d felt pleased in the end.
Uraraka stepped forward. “How old?”
Camie let out a breath. “Six, maybe seven.”
Everything spun as the rug was pulled out from under her feet. Uraraka brought shaky hands to her mouth and closed her eyes, but flashes of the lab burst into her mind. White coats, beeping monitors, needles, masked people, her hands glowing pink. Screams, cries, silence in a dark room. She turned away from them, but they let her go, even Deku, understanding that she needed space.
A child. It was another child. They never learned from the past, did they?