Silence Destroyed (MHA)

Chapter 47: A New Team Member

At some point, Hawks, Rei, Dabi, and Maggie had moved downstairs to an area they'd cordoned off as a meeting room for when Kismet needed to meet as a team. Basically, it was just dingy back-office space that was missing a door, but it was enough for the moment.

The yakuza weren't coming back until they knew Hawks was gone and Hasame was holding down the front counter with two of her minions... er, assistants that she'd hired, so the small group could talk in peace.

"Was that...?" Hawks was desperately trying to keep his cool as he pointed back out the door to where Hasame was standing, tiredly taking orders. "It can't be."

Rei just smiled and glanced over at Mag, "Maggie, darling, the lunch rush is about to start and none of us want Hasame in the kitchen. Would you go do some prep work for me?"

Hawks moved to intercept as Mag nodded, but Rei stopped him with a single sharp glance, "Unless you're volunteering to help, I'd stay where you are."

"That person is one of the most wanted people in Japan who is-"

"-Who is not leaving this building, Sir Hero. We're a business and we'll be busy soon, so Maggie is helping keep us afloat."

In this moment, Dabi felt his traumatized little heart grow three sizes as he watched his mom square off against this hero with steel in her voice and zero fucks to give. This was a woman he hadn't seen since he was young, and he was living for it.

"What..." Hawks was so confused, "What's going on here?"

Rei smiled gently as she settled in, "I thought you'd never ask. Do you by chance know the hero student Naoko Fujimura?"

***

The sun had dipped past the horizon by the time Naoko was able to get back to the café. Shadows loomed around her, and her feet were screaming after all the walking she'd done, but she was content.

After she'd left Aizawa and Mic, she'd been recaptured by Class 1-A, who'd forced her to take a tour of their new dorm rooms. She tried to show enthusiasm, and some of that stuff was actually really cool, but she was so worn out by the end of it that she disassociated through the last hour of the tour.

Don't get her wrong, it was fun and being around the class again was nicer than she'd like to admit, but Naoko wasn't a social person.

Her plans now consisted of getting back to the warehouse and passing out on the makeshift beds they'd set up.

It was a bit cramped, but they'd have more space once Rei moved into the new house with her kids and took Dabi with her, then it'd just be her, Hasame, and Maggie. And compared to Chris and Levi's house, this was a palace.

Maybe she'd get a real bed this time... God, that sounded heavenly.

A yawn forced itself from her, and she waved to the Yakuza guards, ignoring them as they waved her over. She'd talk with them tomorrow.

She pushed the door to the warehouse open and glanced around... No one.

Weird.

This place wasn't the most popular, but there were always a few people here in the evenings, playing poker or reading in the corner. They'd made this place specifically to get people to hang out... So why was no one here?

Instinctively, Naoko's quirk spread out under her, blanketing the ground as she walked past the counter.

Had someone attacked?

No, Dabi and Mag could take care of it... Hell, Hasame and Rei were good enough to take out most petty threats, so what was going on here?

Her quirk hit a person and Naoko's eyes shot to their meeting room. So that's where everyone was.