•Manipulation• [BNHA × Male!OC]

Chapter 179: TOKYO DRIFT

"How are you feeling, Best Jeanist?" I pipe up from the back seat.

It felt weird to be driven around by the previous number 3 hero so I thought I should at least make conversation.

"I'm doing well since my discharge, thank you," he spoke politely as he switched hands on the wheel.

"Contrastly, both you and your mentor are still under observation at the hospital, so do take good care."

I smiled at his words. They might have just been pleasantries towards me, but I knew the man cared for his fellow hero, Hawks.

Why else would he be the one driving us now?

'Learning about Keigo's past, huh?'

It's true, I knew little more about my mentor's past than his true name, and the fact that he idealized Endeavor. That latter point always confused me quite a bit but admittedly I was starting to view the flame hero in a different light with recent events.

"I'm only there for them to check my mental state, make sure I'm clear of all 'villainy', physically I'm recovered," Thus far I'd been able to hide my memories of Kaida from the doctors prodding around in my head.

The injuries I'd attained in the battle were mostly small external injuries. The real worry was that I'd apparently exhausted an already malnourished body.

It seemed that even as Nora, I had a habit of eating poorly when things got to me. And villains wouldn't even notice, let alone help me like Katsuki and Shoto would.

'Right! Katsuki!'

"I hear Katsuki's about to be discharged soon, are you planning to go see him?" I chirp.

I remember the brief discussions I'd have with Katsuki about his mentor. Despite the disdain that he tried to convey, his voice was always laced with a level of respect when speaking of him.

He'd even said he wanted the man to be the first person he told about his hero name.

"Katsuki? Ah, you mean Bakugou, you two must be close..." he mumbled.

'What was that...?'

I blinked silently at the man, the view in the rearview mirror allowing me to see him ponder something.

"Forgive me, something came to mind," he shook out of it, "I visited him while he was still unconscious, but I doubt he would be very happy to see me while awake."

I laughed. It's true, he'd probably be more embarrassed than anything for his mentor to see him all beat up.

"However, he did mention something peculiar at the battle," he began and I leaned forward to hear better, "his hero name."

"Ah! So he told you already-" "No." 

I paused.

"He said he would only break the news when someone returns, so "you extras will just have to wait" before knocking out cold," he repeated the words so monotonously I had to hold back a snort.

"He called the person a "Bumpkin", rather uncouth but," Best Jeanist eyed me in the rearview as I flinched, "I noticed you speak with a Kansai accent."

'He was... waiting for me?'

That made no sense. 

In the hospital we'd been seeing each other almost every day, or rather I'd go to see him and Shoto so they wouldn't haul their already injured asses everywhere. So he would have had plenty of chances...