«So that's it, Kyudai... You hid another clone from me. I didn't kill them all in the ant arena. This is my last remaining brother.» — Taiko-Nomura (TN) sighed in confusion. Memories merged; he remembered Taiko's life and Nomura's.
TN remembered a cruel and unhappy childhood in the orphanage, and his subsequent life among Okutami-sama, although well-fed and prosperous, often even excessive, was comparable to living in a gilded cage. Mistakes were often forgiven, which is why Nomura grew up completely spoiled, frivolous, and arrogant. They wanted to mold him into the heir to the business, but he didn't live up to expectations.
«Your life wasn't all roses either, was it?»
And Kyudai... Kyudai exploited his vulnerable and unstable state, his faith in his "true father," which he also used to instill in Taiko as a child. Nomura even idolized him!
At some point, TN felt sorry for the old version of Nomura in Taiko's body. Who else but he, who remembered his entire life, his own brother, could fail to understand?
«He's just a boy. He just wanted freedom and truly family, but his wounded psyche has always been unstable…» — Taiko-Nomura finally understood his actions.
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Which personality takes precedence?
This problem also had no solution. Like an ouroboros. A snake eating its tail and being reborn. Honestly, it's a completely stupid question if you think about it. It doesn't matter who came first if at this moment only "now" exists. The present rules everything.
The changes around him forced TN out of his mind.
—Oh, Father, you've come.
TN rose slowly, ostentatiously wiping his shoes on the pathetic worms sprawled on the floor. His aquamarine ears and tail were gone, falling off on their own and lying on the bench like a discarded mask. A final reminder of who he had been here and who he no longer intended to be. He didn't even glance back at them, as if these signs of mutation no longer had any bearing on him.
Okutami-sama[1] looked every bit the man accustomed to controlling everything around him. An old man with deep wrinkles, a cold, calculating gaze, and an entrepreneurial acumen imbued in his very posture. He compensated for his baldness with a neat gray wig, which gave his appearance a slightly comical quality if you knew where to look. An expensive jacket, a red tie, a black suit, and an overcoat handed to a bodyguard, who held it in the crook of his elbow and stood motionless as a pillar. They commanded respect just by their appearance. Simply by their appearance.
Another policeman ran into the cage, confused about what had happened to the others.
—What, what happened to them? Was this your doing? Did you beat them up?— He started calling for an ambulance, checking the pulses of those lying on the ground.
—Policeman-san[2], they were bullying me~. They started fighting here, I hid in the corner, and everything turned out okay.— Nomura gave a mock-eye, and after a moment, he assumed a nonchalant expression. Looks like he'll get away with it.
—Nomura-kun[3], are you alright?— the bodyguard stepped closer, trying not to look at the bodies. —What happened here... in this vile place?
He had known Nomura for a long time. He could feel it. And in new, still-unsettled memories, the name surfaced naturally.
—It's alright, Kaito-senpai[4],— Nomura smiled, lightly and almost kindly. —They just wanted to fuck me. And I fucked them.
He wasn't exaggerating. What he had done could truly be called rape. Taking away a Quirk meant depriving a person not just of a power, but of a gift that had been shaped for years, woven into their personality, becoming an integral part of it. In the modern world, that was worse than death. A moral dismemberment that left a man alive, but empty.
The harshness of Nomura's words disconcerted even Okutami-sama. The old man instantly switched gears, and his full anger was directed at the police officers. He didn't raise his voice, but every word cut like a blade.
—What kind of crappy detention conditions are these? Do you even know who they've detained?— He stepped forward. —I have connections in the media. One call, and the whole country will know what a mess you've made here. Do you want trouble?
—But sir, your son was a suspect in the case, and we must to waiting for detective...
—Then let your case run its course,— Okutami snapped. —We're busy people. Any questions, please ask my manager. Am I clear?
The policeman winced. He knew perfectly well who stood before him. The owner of a large trading corporation with branches in Tokyo and Osaka, controlling two port terminals. A man capable of causing problems even at the government level. To him, this place was a wasteland.
Nomura was already following his father, not looking back.
—You've done something wrong again,— Okutami's tone remained even, but there was a hint of paternal concern in it. —I'm certainly glad what happened to the Kenji family corporation, but you have to have your limits.
—I assure you, Father, this time the problems were truly worth interfering with,— Nomura replied calmly, almost warmly, as he climbed into the luxury, tinted car. —Thanks to you, I got off easy. Thank you.
The words were sincere. So much so that Okutami squinted, trying to remember the last time he'd heard him express gratitude without any hidden meaning. He climbed in behind him.
—I should probably stop by home. My appearance leaves much to be desired," Nomura began to examine himself.
—Yeah,— the old man muttered, —it's best not to go outside like this. Where did you manage to tear your clothes like that? Were you running through the forest, clinging to branches?
—Let's just say you're not far from the truth. Something important happened.
—I hope this won't affect your reputation. And no one recognized you.— Okutami looked out the window at the lights of Tokyo at night. —Honestly... I don't recognize you now, Nomura.
He coughed, covering his mouth with a handkerchief. He tried to hide the blood stain, but TN noticed.
—Those worms helped me a lot,— he chuckled. —At least once, their worthless lives were useful. They opened my eyes to a few things. By the way, didn't I tell you? I got a girlfriend.
—A girlfriend?— Okutami raised an eyebrow in surprise. —When were you even interested in girls? I thought you had enough of German cars and Italian motorcycles.
—Enough,— Nomura replied reservedly. —I'll just be taking my girlfriend for a ride,— he said, grinning smugly like a fool.
—As you say,—the old man sighed. —I hope it's not a one-night stand. And anyway, introduce us, if you're serious. I hope she's from a well-off and distinguished family. That would be even better, honestly.
Kaito listened silently to the conversation, driving through the city lights. He couldn't put his finger on exactly what had changed, but he felt it clearly. His manner of speech, his demeanor, his posture. Nomura finally exuded genuine masculine confidence. Not a show-off. Not a studied one. The kind that no longer needed proof.
—What's wrong with your hair? Did you dye it? And why your hand is black now?
—A change of style.
...
—Did you at least get some sleep? What's your rush?— the elder Okutami said wearily as he entered the apartment. The bags under his eyes showed he'd been woken in the middle of the night.
The Okutami estate was near Mount Fuji, almost adjacent to the national park. A truly luxurious place. But they also owned apartments in Tokyo, which is where they were headed. It was quicker here. His father's study was conservative, almost aristocratic in style. A desk of luxurious wood, an armchair with a large panoramic window overlooking Tokyo. Nomura's room was furnished with ornate gilding interspersed with white. A luxurious, wide bed had been made by maids. An expensive computer, for which he was sure the body's previous owner had overpaid, and a large rack of keys to numerous cars and motorcycles, now in the car park. He didn't feel entirely comfortable here right now. Both Taiko and Nomura liked wealth, but perhaps Taiko did not like to show off.
A quick snack from the refrigerator helped him forget about hunger for a while.
—I still have urgent matters to attend to. You'd better rest.— Nomura quickly went to the shower while they helped his father take off his coat.
—Yes, of course,— he panted, sitting in a white shirt on the sofa in the great hall, removing his tie. He turned on the large plasma screen in the main hall, quickly scrolling through the main news channels, checking for any involvement by Nomura that might have damaged his reputation. This time, everything had worked out, and who cares that he had to scare a couple of police officers—it was a minor matter. Even if they opened a criminal case, with their old friend the prosecutor, there would be no problem, and the case would be shelved, or at least kept quiet.
Five minutes later, Nomura emerged from the shower. His hair had completely turned black, as if the previous aquamarine color had truly been just dye, but Taiko's strong will had been transferred along with Oneself, which subsequently transformed his body. He had a theory that with each stolen Quirk, Oneself's power increased. Some kind of passive bonus or something. Who knows. Right now, he had more important things to do. Kuinn.
—Kaito! There's something to do! Follow me. —The sleepy bodyguard merely sighed wearily. With such an heir, you'll never get bored.
A little later, when Nomura had already hurried off on his mysterious business, Okutami-sama was thinking.
Deep down, he knew, no, he felt—Nomura had changed for a reason. Such drastic changes were no accident. He knew about his Body Swapping quirk. Perhaps this time he'd swapped with someone else again, but for too long, and...some of the memories from his previous body had become entangled with the new personality that had inhabited it.
The old man scratched his temple. Even if the New Nomura possessed all the memories, and someone else had been such a perfect replacement... Perhaps it was for the best. The previous Nomura hadn't been a good son, sometimes even downright cruel, but he'd received more respect and gratitude from the new one this evening than he'd ever received from the old one in his entire life.
Whoever had taken over the body was clearly a better person than the previous Nomura. And the old man didn't want to change anything, especially with his death approaching.
—Nomura is ready for business. It's time to train him, and then I'll hand over the entire business to him. But...will he be able to handle it? Rikiya[5] has gained significant power in recent months and has begun to put pressure on the merger of the companies.
Suddenly, a TV station showed a forest near Musutafu. Police discovered remains there, and during the investigation, it was determined that the cause of death was a malevolent criminal, nearly two meters tall, with black skin.
The incident with the police had left Okutami-sama extremely nervous. And now, having learned that Nomura might have been involved in a man's death, his heart was racing.
—Allmight protect us all...— He clutched his heart and slowly slid off the couch, frantically trying to grab the phone and dial an ambulance. A crushing pain was growing in his chest, and a roaring noise was starting to build in his ears. His hands trembled with mortal fear, and his eyes wanted to roll back in his head, burying their sight in this unfair world.
—Hello, this is the dispatcher...— came a soothing female voice from the other end. —Do you need help? Please tell me where you are?
All the old man could muster and all the air he could muster came up empty and ineffective. It was ironic, because his life had always been measured by his productivity and efficiency, and now he couldn't do anything at all.
The time has come.
***
It was too quiet in Taiko's house. Not comfortably quiet, not like evening, but as if the very air was still and waiting. Kuinn supported his arm, feeling the tense muscles beneath her fingers, too tense for a man who seemed barely able to stand. He was heavier than he should be. Not in body weight, but in presence. His steps were hollow, unnaturally even, as if he never tired. Taiko smiled, said the right words, even allowed himself awkward jokes, but it all felt like a perfectly practiced role. Like a mask put on too carefully.
She caught herself in small things. He looked at her longer than usual, but his gaze was empty, like a mannequin whose pupils had been forgotten. He touched her carefully, almost tenderly, but without warmth. When he leaned in to kiss her, his lips touched first her fingers, then her palm. Kuinn froze. Taiko always started at the neck. Always. It was their stupid, intimate habit, the kind you never forget. Her heart sank unpleasantly, but she smiled, forced out something neutral, took a step back, and walked into the kitchen, feeling fear begin to rise from her stomach to her throat.
After a brief interrogation, the fake Taiko was released. Director Nezu reprimanded him, thanked him for his "heroism," lingered his gaze a little longer than necessary, as if he'd detected the falseness, but said nothing and quickly left. The house welcomed them back, the way a place welcomes strangers that no longer considers them its own.
Kuinn was shaking. Every time something bad touched Taiko, her body reacted before her mind. Now the trembling wouldn't subside. She couldn't even imagine that the real Taiko, the one she knew down to the last detail, down to the breath she breathed in her sleep, might already be rotting somewhere in the ground, torn apart by Nomu in a dark alley. The thought was too terrible to fully formulate, and so it lived somewhere on the periphery of her consciousness, pressing wordlessly.
He was almost acting right. Almost. And it was that "almost" that cut the hardest.
She shuddered slightly. Taiko always started with her neck. He loved the way her breath caught, the way she froze. He kissed her gently, almost gallantly, like a stranger who'd learned a gesture from a book.
When he went to take a shower, Kuinn stood in the kitchen and looked at the knife. She didn't think of it as a weapon. It was simply an anchor. Something real, cold, present here and now. She hid it, trying not to make a sound, even though the house was already too quiet to really hide anything.
She decided to test it. Not head-on. Carefully.
—Remember... the hive in the tree?— she said as casually as possible, as if it were just a casual matter. —And the way you jokingly called us.
He froze. Just for a split second, but it was enough. His shoulders tensed, his breathing deepened.
—Well, how could I forget,— he answered after a pause. —There were a lot of bees back then; they probably stung us.— The fake Taiko tried to remember, but the assimilation with the body hadn't yet fully occurred; Taiko's body stubbornly resisted Nomura's will. He had to make it up as he went along until he realized Kuinn was testing him.
—After that incident, you always called me Queen Bee. And...and you?
—And...I...— The fake Taiko tried with all his might to solve this riddle and give the correct password. There are bees, there are wasps, and then there are hornets. He guessed: —Hornet. King Hornet.
The girl froze, realizing the answer was correct, but there was a strong hesitation. Realizing he'd hit the nail on the head, the fake Taiko smiled faintly.
—Darling, I'm really tired already, let's stop asking questions for today.
—Yes, you're right. It's been a tough day. Let's go to bed.— The girl lay down on the bed, but an inexplicable tension clung to her subconsciously. His hand rested on her waist, but something made her twitch slightly.
«What's wrong with me? Am I over-nervous? Because of Taiko, I'll soon go gray.» — She tried to forget, and almost fell asleep, but the memories played silently in her head, until she recalled that two-meter-tall silhouette at the supermarket entrance. Where had she seen him before...?
Almost asleep, this thought could easily have vanished like sand in the wind, but then realization rang out like a loud boom. It was Nomu. One of those creatures that had been in Kyudai's lab, that mad scientist and Taiko's pseudo-father. What was Nomu doing here? Something very unusual, perhaps even terrifying, had happened today. Did Nomu attack Taiko?
From the outside, it seemed like a simple attack by a villain, but Kuinn knew that if Nomu had arrived, disaster was coming. It had been that night in Jako. In their former home.
Meanwhile, she finally felt Taiko wrap his entire body around her, as if forbidding her to leave. He was fast asleep, but it was as if he was reflexively trying to take everything for himself. Even in such small things, Kuinn found it strange now.
Her heart began to beat faster. Everything fell into place. It wasn't Taiko. Someone had replaced him. «It's not him. It's not him. It's not him...» — she repeated like a mantra, trying to comprehend the full horror. The whole time, she felt something unpleasant and very uncomfortable with this Taiko. It was time to listen to her feelings.
She tried to loosen her hands, to break Taiko's grip very slowly, but he had grabbed on so tightly that she couldn't escape without waking him. Her only salvation was the smartphone lying on the bedside shelf. She barely reached it and quickly texted Denki Kaminari. She'd only recently acquired his contact information. Calling the police was pointless. Before she could cling to hope in the form of a status message she had read for Denki, she quickly hid her smartphone.
The fateful question that shattered the silence was: —Why is your heart beating so fast?— the fake Taiko asked, completely emotionless and completely feigned. When Taiko got up, he saw a bead of sweat on Kuinn's face; she pretended to be asleep and managed to hide her phone. The knife also lay under the pillow, waiting for the inevitable. The girl felt his breath above her. Very deep. She felt his searching gaze on the back of her head. There were no thoughts in her head. But there was a quiet, inexplicable horror inside.
Kuinn barely opened her eyes when she noticed a huge shadow standing right outside the panoramic window. She pressed herself into her pillow in fear, realizing that this creature didn't seem to be acting human, and what was most frightening was that Taiko didn't react at all. The shadow disappeared after a couple of minutes, and the sounds of footsteps could be heard from the courtyard. Footsteps.
«Help me...please...Taiko. Where are you?»
***
In the middle of the night, Denki's phone received a message, but he was too fast asleep. He rolled over, dreaming of Kyouka feeding him strawberry ice cream while he was tied to a chair, unable to do anything. It was a nightmare, but also a strange fetish known only to Denki. A few minutes later, the phone rang. He didn't pick it up right away.
—...Kyouka, give me the vanilla already...— he grumbled, incomprehensibly, until the ringing wave shattered his sleep. He opened his eyes with great difficulty, as if glued shut.
—Uh...Unknown number?— He considered answering for a few seconds. Almost automatically, sleepily, he answered.
—Denki. It's Taiko. I need help.— A few seconds of silence passed before Denki abruptly shot up from the bed. The realization dawned on him that the voice didn't belong to Taiko at all. A little softer, perhaps.
—Taiko? What's wrong with your voice? Or is this some kind of media prank? I'm telling you right now, I'm not giving you any of my classmates' addresses. —Against the backdrop of the recent media intrusion into UA territory, Denki chuckled, astonished by the stupidity and apparent futility of their attempt to obtain information. How could they even think of calling in the middle of the night?!
A couple of seconds of silence on the other end shut him up.
—How the hell did you even know I needed addresses...?— TN whispered. —Get the hell up, I'm already at your house.
Denki opened the curtain and saw an expensive car outside, a young man, and behind him a man in the same formal suit, looking like a typical bodyguard.
—Who are you? Stalking me? Yakudza? I don't owe anyone anything!— Denki jumped back from the window and backed away.
—Yakudza? Ha-ha-ha!— A melodic, rather unusual laugh rang out, unlike Taiko's. —What if I tell you something only Taiko knows, you will trust me?
—Come on, surprise me. Just don't break down my door, please. My parents are asleep.
(┬┬﹏┬┬)
—You're in love with Kyoka, and you electrocuted me to awaken my Second Quirk.
Denki's gaze suddenly lost its serious look, as if his kidneys were about to be beaten.
—Taiko? No way...
—Come on, get dressed quickly, we don't have time. Kuinn is in danger.
Denki dressed in a flash and slipped through the hallway like a spy so as not to wake his parents.
The entrance door opened, and upon exiting the apartment building, Denki could see with his own eyes... the unknown face of the man who had introduced himself as Taiko.
—I have no idea how you learned all these secrets; Taiko must have told you everything.
—I never doubted your loyalty, Denki. If you can keep a secret, then I can trust you with another one. —the handsome, black-haired young man smiled.
—My name is...Nomura, not Taiko now. And this is my bodyguard, Kaito. Easy to remember, the names sound similar.
—Nice to meet you, Denki-kun,— Kaito nodded reservedly.
Denki clutched his head, confused.
—I'll tell you on the way. I need someone's address from my classmates so I can copy their Quirk. Sorry, but your Quirk won't work for me to save Kuinn. The Quirk is really taking its toll on me.—Denki whistled as he got into the luxury car.
—Great car. How long have you known Taiko?— Denki peered at Nomura's face. Indeed, some of his features were reminiscent of Taiko. The same black hair, a more diamond-shaped face, a straight nose, and purple eyes.
—I have a whole fleet of cars. —First he answered the first question.—Yes, I've known him for a long time. I can say I'm his best friend,— TN said, looking gloomily out the window. For some reason, he didn't dare assure Denki that he was Taiko, since he wasn't quite Taiko, but he wasn't quite Nomura either. But he had to be someone, right? Everything had somehow gone on as usual without his intervention.
—Okay. You need addresses? I know Rikido Sato's address. That big guy with the Sugar Rush Quirk. Also: Fumikage, Hanta Sero, and Eijiro.
«Four Quirks, not much, but their Quirks are quite suitable for defeating Nomu...» Nomura said quietly. After a moment's thought, —Give me Sato's address.
«If his body is enhanced by sugar, it'll be a great complement to Nomu Blood and Press-Hand Quirk. At least it somehow compensates for the lack of strength. And let's also look for a mask and some used clothes. I'm not planning on fighting in a jacket, am I?»
—What do you know about Rikido's Quirk? -asking Denki
—Rikido's Quirk allows him to increase his strength five-fold for three minutes. To activate his Quirk, he needs to consume 10 grams of sugar. When converting sugar into strength, his cognitive functions gradually drop, making him sleepy afterward. For every additional 10 grams of sugar he ingests, he extends the time of increased strength by another three minutes. -TN remember about almost every classmate ability. He kept a list of all his classmates' and even teachers' quirks. He wondered why no one else did this, even though Izuku seemed to be constantly writing in his diary as well.
—Wow, do you remember all your classmates' quirks? Cool. -Denki inspected the expensive leather interior.
—Want some champagne?
—W-what?
—I will. For courage. Maybe it doesn't look like it, but I'm nervous as hell. —TN uncorked a bottle of champagne in the car and took a couple of confident sips.
—So, what are we dealing with? Did the Yakuza kidnap Kuinn and you're going to meet them!?— Denki was nervous that Nomura, had involved him in this. —Will I not get into trouble?
Looking up from his bottle, Nomura said, —You won't get into trouble, I promise. You and Kaito are here to protect Kuinn and get her out. I'll take care of the rest.
In reality, they weren't going to the Yakuza, with whom they could at least come to an agreement, but to a very mentally unstable guy with two quirks and a strong body, and a very powerful bio-robot programmed to kill, which is much worse than dealing with the Yakuza.
—Nomura.— Denki was the first to break the silence, opening his smartphone and seeing a message from Kuinn. He handed the phone to Nomura, whose expression twisted into a scowl of anger. It looked like he was about to break it with that strange black hand that Denki had long since stopped being surprised by.
The message contained only a few words. "Home. help."
—Will we be there soon?— Nomura asked Kaito, containing his anger. He wasn't quite sure how he felt right now. Everything was jumbled, but something had clearly changed in his attitude toward Kuinn. However, there was no time to sort it out now.
—Almost there.
—So. I'm apprehending the enemy. Kuinn runs out of the house. If she's inside, you intercept her, put her in a car, and drive away. Preferably, breaking the speed limit. Don't worry about the consequences; I'll take care of everything.
The instructions confused both Denki and Kaito. But they were all for it if it meant helping and saving a life, and in a way, it was even romantic that the young man was so eager to save the girl from some very unpleasant, and possibly even dangerous, situation they weren't entirely aware of.
...
Rikido Sato's apartment was on the other side of town, and the drive there took an inordinate amount of time. The closer they got, the more the feeling of being late became overwhelming. Nomura remained silent almost the entire drive, going over his steps in his head until the car finally stopped at the right building.
—Kaito, wait here,— he said calmly, opening the door. —Denki, you go first. Knock on him and chat with him, as usual. I'll follow.
Denki nodded, visibly nervous, but didn't object. He approached the door and began knocking, while Nomura, in his suit, hung back slightly, trying to look as unthreatening as possible. It wasn't working, but at least he was trying. The door didn't open right away. Only after a couple of minutes of persistent knocking did a disgruntled grumbling sound, and the door opened just enough for Sato's sleepy face to peek out.
—Who's here...?— he grumbled, squinting. Tall, strong, with eyes still half-awake.
—Denki?— Surprise quickly gave way to interest. —Why are you so early?
—Hello, Sato-kun,— Denki scratched the back of his head, smiling habitually. "Well... something happened."
—Well, come in since you're here,— Sato stepped aside, letting them in, and immediately turned his gaze to Nomura. —And you... Taiko?
He paused at the black hair, too similar, and then frowned, examining the face more closely. The features were softer, the shape of the face different, diamond-shaped, though the jaw and cheekbones remained prominent.
—Oh, I was mistaken. Who are you?
—Denki's friend,— Nomura replied calmly. —Nomura Okutami.
He extended his hand and bowed slightly, keeping a polite distance. Sato smiled and returned the handshake, firmly and without hesitation. A faint whitish spark ran across Sato's palm at the moment of contact.
—Oh, sorry,— Nomura said immediately. —Probably static electricity. The car has leather seats.
—A...— Sato stared at his palm for a few seconds, unsure what had happened, but feeling no pain or discomfort, he quickly dismissed it. —Okay, it happens.
Nomura turned to Denki.
—You can stay if you want. I still have some business to run. Sorry, Sato-kun. We'll definitely have tea together sometime.
Denki hesitated for a moment, but then hesitantly said, —Hey, Nomura, wait! If Taiko's in danger, I can help too!
—Taiko's in danger?— Sato asked, puzzled and wary, not really intending to get involved in his classmates' nighttime adventures. He still needed to get some sleep before morning classes. Who knew what kind of test Aizawa would present tomorrow.
TN stopped and smiled amiably, understanding that Denki was a good friend despite his fears and misgivings. Perhaps he was trying to do this out of politeness? No. Politeness is what people give up on the bus, but this was literally risky. Denki might not fully understand TN's situation, but it was cool.
—Thanks. I appreciate your bravery, but it's not worth your attention, honestly.— TN shrugged, as if this was a trivial problem that would be resolved at his command. But deep in his soul he prayed, understanding the full extent of the danger: «Please, don't follow me. I beg you.»
He waved his hand and walked out, leaving Denki in the apartment. With his Quirk, he'd be useless against Nomu. A few seconds of paralysis at best, and then - 100% death by Nomu. Too much risk. Better to let him stay here, in relative safety.
Outside, Nomura opened the trunk and began changing. He changed into all-black clothes that didn't restrict his movement, more like a gym uniform. A tight turtleneck, a balaclava—everything had been prepared in advance. In the trunk were also a chocolate bar bought at a convenience store. Fuel for Sato's Quirk. Kaito watched the process silently.
—Where's that guy?— he finally asked.
—He stays here. I'm not going to drag him into this.
Kaito mentally approved of the decision. Denki was still too young. Almost a child. Nomura now looked anything but a young man.
—Don't you think you're overdoing it?— the bodyguard asked cautiously. —Is all this necessary?
TN slammed the trunk shut and looked Kaito straight in the eyes. His gaze was hard, focused, and laced with poorly concealed anger.
—You have no idea who our enemy is. Maybe one of us will die. I really don't want to kill anyone.
Kaito recognized the purple gaze, a somehow very noble and luxurious color, the same color as the Byzantine flag. His eyes held the unwavering will of a warrior facing certain death.
«Why do he have such eyes... as if he's already killed? This brat is barely 16 years old, and yet I sense strength before me.»
He didn't care whether Kaito approved of these words. Right now, it was more important to act than to think about the consequences.
Purple eyes glinted faintly in the light. TN glanced at Kaito with his Quirk Vision as he got into the car. A small glow in the chest cavity—many Quirks not tied to the limbs were likely located in the heart or brain. He'd noticed these patterns before. This was good—he was making progress. Kaito's Quirk could be described simply: transforming into some kind of beast. A good Quirk for a bodyguard, but using it would likely result in his job being lost, or at best, a fine.
Glancing around for a second, he saw a cluster of lights in the apartment buildings. Dozens and hundreds. Many of them were worthless, but each one harboured the energy and will of its owner.
Kaito sighed heavily. The only tools he had were a baton, pepper spray, and, in a pinch, his own quirk. But the regulations were strict. Any mistake meant a fine, or even dismissal from the agency.
—I remind you, your task is to evacuate the girl to a safe distance,— TN said dryly. —If there's a chase, go to a crowded area. Shopping malls, residential areas. Heroes usually patrol there. If Nomu or Taiko venture there, they'll be stopped.
—I'm not surprised by anything anymore,— Kaito muttered.
He had no idea who Nomu and Taiko were. And after a moment's thought, he decided that maybe he didn't need to know.
[1] -sama (様) is a suffix that demonstrates the highest possible respect and honor.
[2] -san (さん) is a neutral polite suffix
[3] -kun (君) is a warmer, polite suffix than -san. It denotes a close, yet somewhat formal, relationship.
[4] -senpai (先輩,) is a suffix used when a younger person addresses an older person.
[5] Rikiya Yotsubashi also known by his alias Re-Destro. Is the President and CEO of the Detnerat Company