The Difference Between Strength & Power ( MHA x Maki Zenin Reader)

Food and Beer

The old man, fearing another incident, asked Kasumi and Maki to stay that night too, to provide surveillance and security. They decided to camp in the office. The office comprised of an entrance room with a reception window and the break room where they'd conducted two of their three interviews. Maki sat in the reception area, on alert, while Kasumi sat down to a takeout feast in the break room.
"Come on, Maki," she called. "Have a bite."
"Can't. I'm keeping watch," Maki replied.
The office was inside the entrance to the old apartment complex, so it was easy to keep track of anyone who came or went. Maki was scanning the area restlessly, knowing the Villain might appear without warning, when a spoon laden with rice popped into view.
"Eat! I didn't order the best fresh rice in town for you to let it go cold. Go on, say ahhh!" said Kasumi, hovering over her, a spoon in one hand and a steaming takeout container in the other.
"I can feed myself," said Maki sullenly. Clearly, going hungry wasn't going to be an option.
She took the spoon and tried a bite of the rice. It came from the ramen place Kasumi had pointed out while they were driving, and it was as tasty as she'd claimed. The rice fell apart in her mouth, releasing a shock of black pepper and a rich aroma of sesame oil. Perfect accents.
"And this is their alleged main attraction, the soy ramen," said Kasumi, then, with a grin, she proffered a bowl.

Maki paused. She remembered what Kasumi had said — that the fried rice was delicious but the ramen was terrible. Cautiously, she took a mouthful.
"Urgh!" She almost chocked and spat the noodles back out. It was worse than she could have imaged. What were they using for a stock? Ditch water?
Kasumi laughed, in fact, she laughed so hard that the takeout container almost slipped out of her hand and onto the floor. Her one eye swam with tears as she gasped for breath, rocking backwards and forwards, clutching her sides.
"Awful... right?" she chocked, holding her ribs. "They call it.... swamp ramen. Supposedly... it's because it's so rich... and thick, but... the truth is... it tastes... like... a swamp!"
"If you knew it was bad, why did you order it?" asked Maki, exasperated.
Still breathless with laughter, Kasumi encouraged her.
"You have to taste... the horror... for yourself. Here, there's... plenty more!"
Maki frowned at her cackling senior.
"Enough," she said, pushing the bowl away. "We've got work to do. We don't have time to stuff our faces."
"Hm? Sure we do," said Kasumi breathlessly. "Humans can't fight on an empty stomach. A Pro knows to fill up when they have the chance."
"Fine," Maki admitted. "Maybe you're right about the food. But what's that you're holding up now?"

After placing the delivery order, Kasumi had gone out on a beer run. Immediately, before the food had even arrived, she'd cracked open the first beer. There were already five empty cans on the desk. Number six was in her right hand, preparing to join them.
"This is a drink called beer," Kasumi informed her.
"You're mocking me."
"Oh, relax," Kasumi laughed. "You need food to fight, and you need beer to party."
"Need I remind you that this isn't a party," admonished Maki. "We're here to catch a Villain."
"You're so serious, Maki. The serious ones always die young."
"I don't plan to go down that easy."
Kasumi was quiet for a moment. Then Maki heard beer number six hiss as she opened it. She flopped down into the office chair.
"It's fine," she said. "We're only staying here tonight because the old man begged us to. The real work starts tomorrow."
"What do you mean?" asked Maki.
"I mean this will al be settled, but not tonight. Think of this as a Villain hunt eve," said Kasumi, shoving fried rice into her mouth and raising her beer to toast an invisible companion. Maki frowned at her flippant behaviour. How could she possibly know the Villain wouldn't show up that night? It could be prowling that very moment. Or did she already have the whole case figured out?

Kasumi brushed off the question with a wave of her arms, saying, "Where's the Villain? No idea!"
Maki was more annoyed than ever.
"In that case, how can you be so sure it'll 'all be settled' tomorrow?" said Maki, doing her upmost to keep her voice even.
"Hey, I'm a Pro."
"That's not an answer."
"Touchy, touchy. Are you eating right?"
"I'm trying to be serious here!" That settled it. She would never get along with this woman.
Maki continued to glare at Kasumi from her spot at the reception desk. Unfazed, she pulled out a cigarette.
"I don't know where the Villain is," said Kasumi, "but since they've only attacked residents of this complex, they're probably nesting here or in the vicinity."
"Then why are we sitting here with our thumbs up our asses?" Maki asked, still trying to keep her voice casual. "We should be out there searching for every nook and cranny."
"In this huge complex?" said Kasumi. "If that's what you want to do, I won't stop you, but we don't the manpower to search the whole building, and don't have a warrant. You can't just barge into apartments, occupied or otherwise."
Maki thought quickly. "The Villain has a distinctive appearance. We can ask around and try to identify the suspect."
This Villain didn't seem to be able to alter its basic appearance. If this Villain was someone from the building, the neighbours might recognise them. Maki and Kasumi could put together a sketch from the descriptions of the three eyewitnesses and show it around the building. Surely, sooner or later, they'd find someone who knew the person it was. Maybe they were even occupying their own apartment.