My Hero Academia: Seek and Destroy [Reader Insert]

31. The Higher They Rise...

{You had long known of the brutality that went about in the underground world. The Yakuza might not be classified by the government as supervillains, but that didn't mean they were any less despicable by any measure. However a foe like Overhaul who was both a Yakuza and a super villain was a new realm of terror entirely that nobody would have been able to prepare you for. As you took a step onto the other side for a night, you had a feeling that you would only be getting a taste of the kind of deplorable activities underneath the city's surface. Impersonating Dabi and going into the heart of the Yakuza organization was no easy task. Shigaraki had given you a briefing on what to say and what not to say but other than that he was trusting you to put on a believable performance as a villain. The entire case and your future as a hero depended on this meeting going well. It depended on you.}

The meeting place that Kai Chisaki had chosen was the last place you had expected. A traditional sumo wrestling ring on Musutafu's old town had apparently been a primary operation site for the Shie Hassaikai for over a decade now. Despite the finery and classy decor of the setting, the many masked and tattooed individuals lurking around made it clear this was territory of a villain. Everywhere villains, criminals and gangsters were talking amongst themselves and socializing in the lounge.
As you and Shigaraki entered, the atmosphere immediately became tensed and wary.
Your 'boss' was in his usual ensemble of dismembered hands, masking his face and clinging to his overcoat. You stood by his side, hands in your pockets and pierced face schooled into a neutral expression.
Shigaraki and his league may no longer be what they were two months ago, but he was still the symbol of fear and even the toughest looking criminals seemed wary of his presence.

A man with white hair stepped forward. You realized with a shock that it was the same man who had been giving speeches at the recruitment ceremony this morning that you and Izuku spied on.
He gave a thin smile and folded his hands behind his back, "Ah, Shigaraki. The boss has been expecting you."

Shigaraki glared at him behind the fingers of his mask, "What, he's too busy to greet me himself?"

"The tournament is about to start and he didn't want to miss it. I was instructed to escort you to his booth upon your arrival," he recited obediently.

The villain rolled his eyes, "Whatever. Just show us where he is."

The man pressed his lips into a thin smile, "Very well. This way."
He waved for you both to follow him up a set of wooden stairs aside the lounge.

You and Shigaraki trailed after him, glancing at the gangsters around you as you did so. They were all looking at you and your leader with thinly veiled hatred and fear. You expected people to be sizing you up, to challenge your position as a villain, to look at you critically as if they could smell the hero in you. Sure you were with Shigaraki, but you expected that their fear of him wouldn't overpower their doubt.
However, it was very clear that nobody even thought about confronting you. Every eye you caught quickly filled with terror and turned away, whispers turned to deafening silence as you walked past and you were given a wide berth to walk as people scrambled out of your path. It was such a different experience from how people looked at you as Rosoku, like you were hope incarnate. As Dabi, men twice your size looked at you with hatred and terror, like you were one word away from murdering everyone in your path.

'They are afraid of me,' you realized. The thought made you feel strange inside. You had never had anyone around you look at you with such fear. Heroes almost never invited such looks. Endeavor as a hero often scared people, but the fear was often overpowered by awe and admiration. The looks you were given were nothing like that, only containing visceral fear.

The white haired man led you upstairs to the entry point for the tournament booths. He stopped at an entryway with a velvety red curtain where a man wearing a hat and plague doctor mask was standing guard. "Good to see you Kurono. Our guests have arrived?"