[A break from the cliffhanger, this chapter will mostly be getting used to this character. Next chapter we find out what happens with AFO.]

The same day as All Might's news, Mabui Tsukura was on her third job interview.

[Her last name is made up, by the way. She didn't have one. It means "work, to make". 

Her first name can mean two things, depending on the kanji you use. One meaning, the show's, is "cute, dazzling, pretty". It also means the part of the soul that defines oneself, its essence, like "mana". I liked both meanings because her ability on the show resembles my concept of portalling, and that uses soul energy, in a sense, so putting that together with the name "Tsukura", you had a cool meaning there. But obviously, she is also very beautiful, especially for that animation.]

She wasn't having much luck so far. She had brought a portfolio with her of her job experience...though she had to change the title Raikage to "mayor" or some such equivalent...but both other interviewers had taken one look at the hand sorted/printed papers, and given her a "get real" look.

"Maybe I'm aiming too high," she said to Shine and Wally. "Clearly these places are prestigious."

"I don't get why a little thing like a paper resume would be a problem," Wally said.

"Maybe we didn't fill it out right," Shine mused. "Momo helped, but Momo's never applied for a job in her life.. None of our kids have... Jeez, does anyone even use resumes here anymore? I bet you just show some digital record of wherever you worked before and a cover letter."

"Lord Ei did give me one." Mabui held it up. "But I think our kanji script is a bit different from yours. No one even looked at it."

"Or maybe because it was on a scroll..." Wally said.

Shine and him shook their heads.

"Surely there has to be someone who won't care about that," Shine said.

Suddenly, Shoto called them.

"Are you guys still taking Miss Mabui job hunting?" he asked.

"Yes." Shine rolled her eyes.

"How's it going?"

"It's not," Shine replied dryly. Wally laughed.

Mabui just looked perturbed and started going through her files again.

"She wants a secretarial job, right?" Shoto said.

"For starters," Shine replied.

Mabui planned eventually to find a new career, but as for now, she had to eat, and she was an expert at secretarial work--best in the business--so it made the most sense, she said, to start with that. Only she needed something fast...

"I think I may have a solution," Shoto said. "I don't know if she'll like it, but it's up for grabs... I'm at my dad's agency today, remember? He just told me his secretary quit."

"Quit?" Shine said. 

"Apparently, he yelled at him one too many times," Shoto said, "which is odd, since my father hardly even yells at me anymore, except when he's stressed about the job... Maybe that was the reason. Something apparently is going wrong today. He won't tell me what."

[Hint, hint, he probably was told about AFO.]

"He shouldn't yell at his employee for that." Wally was listening.

Mabui had her head tilted too. Shine's phone speaker tended to be up loud, but her real fascination was with cell phones at all. The Ninja World had nothing like them.

"Well, that's my dad." Shoto had finally learned to say this with less anger and more resigned humor. "If it helps, I doubt he really meant anything by it. He gets worked up when things don't go smoothly, but now he can't find this file he wants, and everyone here is nervous... Anyway, he's already putting out an add for a new secretary, but people will snap at this job because it's high paying."

A fact he'd only learned from listening to Mabui talk about it the last couple of days.

"So if she wants to try it, you should come now."

Shine looked up. "Well?" she asked Mabui.

"Work for Shoto's father?" Mabui said. "Isn't that the man you said Lord Ei reminded you of?"

"Uncomfortably so at times," Wally said helpfully.

Mabui's face lit up.

"We should go right away!" she said. "Quick, before someone with a better resume or whatever it is gets there."

Shine had to laugh at how excited she was. "Okay, then."

They portalled over there.

"Shoto," Shine was still on the phone (apparently portals had no effect on technology whatsoever), "tell your dad you know a great secretary, and she's in the area, and we brought her here straight away."

"I'll tell him right now," Shoto said. "But you should warn her--he's not so easy to work for."

But to that Mabui said, "He can't be worse than Lord Ei. Does he break windows?"

[This became a running gag in my story, btw.]

"Not on record, that I know of," Wally said.

"Then that's already a step up," Mabui said. "I hate waiting for those things to be reinstalled, so I think I could put up with a lot of hectic schedules... Besides, look at this place." She looked around. "It's a fortress. It's just like home."

"I mean...if home had electronics everywhere and a bunch of odd looking, quirked people running around..." Shine said.

Burnin noticed them.

"Oh, hey, visitors aren't really supposed to be in here," she said. "Do you have an emergency?"

Shine put a hand on Mabui's shoulder. "She's here to apply for the new secretary position that just opened today. Word travels fast."

"Oh, wow." Burnin looked Mabui up and down.

Mabui was about 5 feet tall, give or take a few inches, and non threatening...at least if she didn't give you a frosty glare.

"Well, good luck." Burnin's tone implied she didn't think she'd make it through the interview's first 5 minutes.

Shoto appeared out of the elevator.

"Dad says he'll see her right now. He has a lunch break," he said, "but there could be a crime at any moment. He really wants this position filled right away."

Mabui looked nervous now. "I hope I can say the right thing."

"We'll be right behind you." Shine helped her straighten her outfit. "Let's go."

They all went upstairs.

"Now, don't be nervous," Wally told Mabui, which never helps. "Just tell him your experience with loud, angry people. That will work."

"Wally, don't tell her that!" Shine said.

They were at the floor to the office already.

"He also likes it high up," Mabui noted. "It is like Lord Ei's."

They walked into one huge office where he was still going through his desk in a fit of rage... Well, it wasn't as much rage as in the past. Nothing was on fire--yet. But he was swearing about the d--- file.

He looked up. "Oh," he said, with classic Endeavor lack of social cues. "You must be the applicant. I didn't expect Shoto to know one... Are you a Hero or a Sidekick?"

"Neither," Mabui said, straightening her back. "I'm a secretary."

Endeavor stared at her.

That had come out a bit more wisecrack-ish than she intended.

"Right. You can have a seat," he said. "Likstar, West, why are you here? This is my office."

"Well, she's our friend," Shine said, "and we were job hunting, so we rushed over. But is it okay if we listen in? It's fascinating for us."

"I couldn't care less." Endeavor glanced at the clock. "I have to leave in 10 minutes, so let's skip all the usual questions about your education and personal life. How much experience do you have?"

"About 2 years as an official secretary," Mabui said, "and before that, a lot of bookkeeping, filing and intelligence work for 16 years."

"16?" Endeavor did a double take. "How old are you?"

"28," Mabui said, a little miffed at the question, "Sir."

"You started work at 12?" Endeavor wasn't stupid.

"Where I live, that's a normal age to start work," Mabui said.

Well, in some parts of the world, age didn't really matter that much anyway. Endeavor accepted it.

[And if any Naruto fans are doing the math, that would put her at regular Genin age when she started. She was supposed to be highly talented, so it all tracks.]

"Where did you work?" Endeavor asked.

Mabui held up her resume. "At city's leadership office." She gave her rehearsed answer.

"What city?" Endeavor asked.

Mabui swallowed. "Uh...it's called Cloud Village."

"Sounds rural." Endeavor glanced at the resume. "Still, it looks official enough. What's your quirk?"

"I don't have one," Mabui said.

Endeavor finally seemed to take notice. "You do realize this is a Hero agency?" he said.

Shoto shook his head in the background.

"I'm aware, yes," Mabui said.

"You have to willing to risk things, even doing this job," Endeavor said, "and without a quirk to protect yourself with, you're just an easy target."

Mabui arched her eyebrow.

"I am well trained to defend myself," she said firmly. "I believe I'm equal to any situation that might arise in the security department."

"At her old office, people breaking in to steal stuff was a monthly occurrence," Wally offered helpfully.

Endeavor glared at him, but then said, "Is that true?"

"Sometimes more often..." Mabui saw no humor in that answer, but Shine had to smother a laugh.

"Dad," Shoto spoke up, "we worked with her in the past...on a mission, I mean, with our supervisors. She's a great fighter, and she's really smart. I'd vouch for her."

"We'd trust her with our lives," Shine said. "In fact, we kind of had to. And she can keep a secret."

Endeavor considered.

"I don't know that much about what a secretary does other than organize," he said finally. "All I really care about is the security aspect of it. Anyone can get coffee and papers."

Mabui almost cringed at how easy he made that sound--it really wasn't.

"But there could possibly be some public commitment too," Endeavor added. "I guess that's the only other thing to ask about. Are you familiar with that?"

"I use to attend diplomatic delegations frequently." Mabui answered without really thinking if it would sound weird that way.

Endeavor didn't know whether she was trying to be smart sounding or she was serious. 

"And in front of a crowd?"

"I really don't see a difference between private work and public work," Mabui said. In The Ninja World, there wasn't much of a difference.

Maybe that line was what sealed the deal. Endeavor saw a bit of his own logic in it.

After a pause, he said, "Well, you seem qualified. You can start immediately?"

"Yes." Mabui tried to conceal her relief. 

"Good, you can start today," Endeavor said. "I have a file I need found. Now I have to go. Ask the last secretary to show you where everything is. Come on, Shoto."

Shoto shot them all a tentative "we did it?" look as he followed him out.

Shine let out sigh of relief. "Whew...I had a feeling he'd like you."

Mabui clapped her hands. "This is wonderful!"

"Where's the other guy?" Wally asked.

* * *

The previous secretary was packing up his stuff still and turning in his two weeks notice, but he was delighted to hear he wouldn't have to stay another minute.

Of course, he told Mabui why he was quitting.

"It's not just the yelling," he said. "It's the danger. I mean, Endeavor's always getting attacked. I expect some things, but any day now this agency is going to be the target. I just think I could take the pay cut for a little more safety."

"'Those who would trade liberty for a little security deserve neither'," Shine quoted.

"Huh?" He looked at her oddly. "But also, Endeavor can be kind of intimidating to work for. He yells at everyone. I just don't think I'm cut out for it." He shook his head. "Lots of Heroes need secretaries right now, though. School year's starting up, so I'm out." He was a young guy, too.

Mabui wasn't off-put by any of what he said. She remained totally calm. "Well, if you could just show me where to get started, I would appreciate it."

But...here was where they ran into their first problem.

The ex secretary showed her the "file room" which only had a few case of actual files in it--the rest were all computers or laptops.

Mabui's eyes went wide.

Since her arrival, Miss Joke had tried to show her how to use a computer, but she hadn't gotten very far yet.

"Do...I have to do everything on this?" she said.

"Uh...yeah..." Wally guessed.

"I hand write appointments and phone calls," the ex secretary said, "but you have to put them into this computer, so he gets the email alert. Don't you know that?"

Mabui looked faint.

"Okay, that's not so bad," Shine said.

"You'll have help," he said, "We have that service guy here, but it's not like there's that many people here, so you're in charge of most of the record keeping. And you know about codes, right?"

"Yes," Mabui said.

"Computer codes," Wally said, "like security ones."

"No..." Mabui mumbled.

The secretary laughed. "Wow, you won't last a day. Ah, well, not my problem anymore. Sayonara." He left them with a copy of the itinerary and to-do list as a by-your-leave.

"What a jerk," Wally said.

"I...don't know if I can do this," Mabui said. "I mean, given enough time, I could learn how to use all of this, I'm sure, but if I don't produce results today, I think Mr. Endeavor may fire me."

"He won't get a replacement that fast." Shine hoped. "Uh...I don't know how much we can help though. This is all in Japanese..."

Wally shrugged. "We can at least try to find that file. Did he write down what it was?"

"Uh, yes." Mabui looked at the to-do list. "It's footage of Kamino Ward." 

"Hey, name I recognize," Wally said. "Let me see that." He took the paper and went to a computer. "I'm guessing Endeavor is terrible at using technology. I mean, how hard can it be to find that?"

"Maybe he means special footage. Wasn't he there?" Shine said.

"Well, let's take a looksee." Wally typed something into the computer's search engine. "All right, look here, smart lady. This tells you where all the info stored on this device and this network is."

Mabui nodded.

"And we'll see what matches your key words, which is the title, okay?"

"Okay...this is like Moogle, then."

"Moogle for this device," Shine nodded.

A few files popped up.

"Right," Wally said. "And...I don't know. Tech is pretty similar here. Maybe there's a floppy disc or something."

"Similar to my timeline, hon," Shine said. "You'd want a USB."

"I don't know what either of those things are," Mabui said.

Suddenly a voice cut across their search.

"What in the h--- are all of you doing here?"

They turned to see none other than Dabi coming in, holding a coffee tray.

"Oh, hi, Touya," Shine said. "I forgot you worked here for a second."

"I'm serving my time," Dabi said, staring at them.

Mabui averted her eyes.

"Why are you here?" Dabi repeated.

Wally couldn't resist the urge to mess with him.

"Oh, you know, we had to show the lady your hood," he said, gesturing at Mabui. "Plus, you're now looking at the new secretary for the Endeavor agency. Your dad had a job opening today."

"I heard that that loser was quitting," Dabi said. "He b-----d about it to me--like he really has anything to complain about." He scowled. "But...how...?"

"Shoto told us," Shine said.

"That little drip!" Dabi was mad. "I'm going to punch him next time I see him... But, wait, Endeavor hired her?"

"Yes," Mabui said, finally looking up. "Is that a problem?"

Dabi turned a little red. "Uh...well...no, but...well, yes, actually. You can't work for my dad! That's too weird! I don't even want to work for him!"

"It's less weird if she does than if you do," Wally pointed out.

"Touya, since you've been here for like, a week, maybe you can help us," Shine said. "Mabui has to learn how to use all of this very fast, and you can at least read the language. You want her to have a job, right?"

"Well, uh...sure, but..." Dabi faltered.

"I will do my best to stay out of your way," Mabui bowed, "but I need this. And perhaps it won't be so bad. We've worked together extensively before, if you'll recall." She smirked slightly.

Dabi shifted. "Well..."

"It's too late now anyway," Wally added. "She's already hired."

Dabi swallowed. "Okay, fine," he said. "On the record, it's a bad idea. Especially if Dad finds out we know each other. But I guess it's worth a shot. All I have to do is teach someone who knows nothing about computers how to use all of this? In what, one day?"

"Pretty much," Shine said, "but it's just like old times, isn't it?"

"Sometimes, Likstar, I really don't like you," Dabi said.

"I know," Shine said sweetly.

"Best of luck with that!" Wally gave him a thumbs up. "Shine and I actually should be getting back to UA. Eri will be ready for us, and the kids and us have lessons later too."

"We're almost at the end of our list of reading," Shine said. 

"I thought that list was never ending," Dabi said.

"We'll see you later." Wally waved and they left.

Dabi and Mabui were left in confused silence.

"Well..." Dabi finally said, "I guess we'll have to start with the to-do list... You do realize that, technically, you're supervising me, here. I mean, I'm the one on probation. You'll be expected to report on how I'm doing."

"Then I trust you'll be on your best behavior." Mabui was fast. "That, at least, I can handle. I think I've almost got the hang of this Moogling files thing. Do you know what a USB is?"

Dabi rubbed his face. "This is going to be a long day."

* * *

Somehow or other, Dabi and Mabui got through her first day on the job, with only three major incidents--one being she sent a file to the wrong person, but they undid it. Another being that Dabi knocked over the coffee maker while he was trying to reheat his coffee by hand and got a mess everywhere, which Mabui was able to clean up by teleporting a lot of it into the trash.

The third being that a Hero emergency was called in, and neither of them knew exactly what the protocol for it was, but Mabui's professional experience allowed her to keep her head, and they managed to figure it out with only a minimal delay.

All in all, it could have been a lot worse.

When Endeavor returned from his patrol, he had forgotten Mabui was there, but she had the file ready for him and a late lunch, even.

He said nothing one way or the other.

Dabi told her, "With my dad, you have to read between the lines. Silence is his way of saying you didn't frick it up."

"Just like Lord Ei," Mabui said. 

"Ugh..." Dabi rolled his eyes. "And they said this job was an easy sentence."

"I'm sorry if spending all day teaching me was too much of burden," Mabui said, a bit tightly. "I promise I will try to learn as fast as I can and not bother you. I've always been a quick study, as you know. It shouldn't take too long."

Dabi winced. "Uh...well..." Mabui always had this effect on him lately. "I... Look, it's nothing personal. I just suck at this. I hate being here. I didn't get a choice. You know about my criminal record."

"I'm well aware. This would be a very odd punishment in my world. Your world puts a lot of faith in Heroes," Mabui commented. "You weren't lying about that. "

"Exactly. It's crazy, right? And they think I'm the head case. If I were them I wouldn't put myself anywhere near Endeavor or Shoto." Dabi gestured. "But they did... And now Dad wants us to tell mom... It's just...a lot. I don't really feel like a regular member of society, and I don't really want to be one, but I'm expected to act happy about this."

"I doubt anyone expects you to be happy," Mabui said flatly. "But if you aren't, that makes it more of a fitting punishment, doesn't it?"

Dabi looked up. "That was kind of harsh, wasn't it?"

"I'm afraid I can't be very convincing if you don't like the fact that I'm here," Mabui said. "Any offer of assistance from me will not be appreciated, then."

"It's nothing against you personally, but don't you think this is awkward?" Dabi said.

"Awkward?" Mabui repeated. She tilted her head. "Awkward...well, maybe. Awkward isn't really my criteria for declining to do something, however. It's a job. And if I were you, I'd start treating it like one. Moaning about it being a humiliating punishment will only make it take longer. And not a single window was broken today, so I see a silver lining."

Dabi actually laughed dryly. "That's your silver lining?"

"That and that at least someone was here to show me what to do," Mabui said. "In the ninja world, we call that an easy first day."

Pause.

Dabi finally shrugged. "All right, I see your point... It could be getting thrown to the literal lions instead, so you think I'm a wimp for complaining about it."

"I wouldn't have used that word," Mabui said.

"But you would think it," Dabi said.

She shrugged. "I think you're a pessimist. In a way, how is it not a good thing that I'll be in charge of you? I've only known you as a non-criminal. I can hardly be biased against you. As long as no one finds that out, that is, this got immeasurably easier for you. It's easier for me because you are aware of my lack of knowledge of this world. I call this surprisingly fortuitous for both of us. But if you're determined to see it as a bad thing, I'll hold my peace about it."

Dabi shook his head. "This is why working with you is going to be annoying."

"Because I have a different perspective?"

"Because you're smarter than me," Dabi said. "But, oh well...fine. How bad could it really be, right?"

Mabui rolled her eyes.

"One little thing though," Dabi said. "Do not mention to my father about us...uh...well...um..."

"Being indeterminate?" Mabui guessed. "I don't mix my personal and professional life, Touya Todoroki." She held up a clipboard. "I have a lot more organization to do, if you'll excuse me." She walked away.

Dabi chuckled to himself. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

[Portugal the Man--Feel It Still]

https://youtu.be/gli4f8f9quc

[And that's their dynamic. Love it?] 

Personally, I found the contrast of his salty, dark, and edgy but humorous way of talking with her professionalism to be hilarious when I wrote it. I like opposites attract, I guess.]

* * *

In fact, the conversation with Rei happened just that afternoon. Endeavor might partly have been stressed out because of that.

He and Shoto went straight there after their shift.

Bakugo was aware of the plan and went as far as to say, "Good luck."

Fuyumi somehow made it there before them all, even though she'd only just got off work. (It was because Hawks flew her there, but they didn't know that.)

Rei had moved into their new home and gotten situated in the last few weeks.

They kept her away from kettles, and so far, she was doing well. They had hired a maid to help her. Natsuo had already moved in.

She was still a little nervous about seeing Enji in person, and it showed, but he was too ashamed to really even speak much and kept to the back, so there wasn't much to fear.

Shoto and Fuyumi took her hands anyway.

"So, what was it you all wanted to talk about?" Rei asked. "Is it related to why I can't watch the news anymore? Not that I really missed it. It's so depressing." She smiled weakly.

No one laughed.

"Well...uh..." Shoto had asked Shine how to do this, and she'd said to just do it. Easing into it would probably not work. "Mom, there's something we want to tell you."

"It's a good thing," Fuyumi said.

"Depends on your point of view," Natsuo muttered to himself.

Enji said nothing.

"Okay..." Rei said.

"The reason we didn't tell you before is because he wasn't ready," Shoto said, "and we had to find a way to let him get settled in and get adjusted, and...well, anyway, we've taken care of it all now."

Rei went from puzzled to even more puzzled, but suddenly her eyes were huge.

"This is about Touya," she said. "He's alive...isn't he?"

Silence while they were all shocked.

"How did you know?" Enji finally said, in a low voice.

Rei started to laugh and then to cry. It was like hysteria.

Fuyumi handed her tissue and water.

"I don't know," Rei finally said. "I just knew once you said 'he'. Who else could you mean? And...I always wondered if...if..."

"If he was really dead," Natsuo guessed, getting a glare from the others.

"Yes..." Rei sniffed. "But...tell me, is he okay? What's happened to him? Where is he now?" She stood up. "Why didn't he come here? Does he hate me?"

"Mom, calm down," Shoto said.

"You shouldn't excite yourself too much," Fuyumi said.

"Touya is alive and you don't want to me to excite myself?" Rei said, but she sat back down. "Sorry...but...I don't know. How should I...? I mean..."

"Currently he's also rehabilitating," Enji offered meekly. "He's...well, he's made some bad choices, so he's readjusting to regular life also."

Rei nodded slowly, like that didn't surprise her. "He must have lived in the worst way all these years...for us not to find him... Not that we even looked... Does he hate us?"

A Todoroki would know to ask that, of course.

"Debatable," Natsuo said.

"Natsuo, shut up," Fuyumi shocked him by saying. He was taken aback.

"Fuyumi!" Rei was shocked too.

"Sorry, Mom, it's just...Touya doesn't hate us," Fuyumi said, "anymore..."

"He's trying to start over," Shoto said. "Dad's actually helping him. We've been keeping an eye on him for a while. He...well, approached me first, I guess. But we've all met with him now..."

Rei nodded. "He...doesn't want to see me?" she said.

"He wasn't sure if it would be too much for you," Fuyumi offered.

Rei nodded. "I can see why.... He must know all about..." Her face fell. "Well...I don't blame him, then... I've realized a lot of things about the past, especially about Touya...but this is like he's come back from the dead. Is he well, at least?"

"He's doing really well," Shoto said. "He's even working...kind of. And he said it was okay to tell you about him now. So...uh...yeah."

There was silence while Rei tried to take all this in.

Finally she said, "Does he...want to come see me?"

"Technically, he's not allowed to come here," Enji said flatly. "Part of the rules... If you want to talk to him, we'd have to meet out...which we can arrange..."

"Only if you're ready," Fuyumi said hastily.

Rei's hands were trembling. "I...I...don't know," she said. "It's terrible of me...but it's like I just put it all behind me... I might need some time...to think about it."

"That's fine," Enji said. He privately thought it might be better that way.

"But is he...is he very much like how he used to be?" Rei asked.

Fuyumi and Natsuo would know the answer to that best. 

Natsuo frowned. "He's still kind of aloof."

"But he's much kinder now," Fuyumi said. "I mean...you know, he was stressed so much...but he's not now... And, Mom, he's...actually made a full recovery... You know how his hair was white? It's red again now."

"Really?" Rei said. "I didn't know that was possible."

"Yeah, he's learning to control his quirk too," Fuyumi said. "Right, Shoto? You've seen?"

"Better than before," Shoto agreed. "Almost as well as I can now."

Rei smiled. "That's great."

Endeavor's phone buzzed.

"It's the agency..." he said. "Excuse me." He answered it.

"Sir," Mabui said, and working the phone had taken her longer than she liked, "I'm sorry to disturb you, but an urgent message just came in from the city council...regarding an escaped convict. They want to speak to you."

Endeavor frowned darkly. "I expected this. I'll be on my way...  Why are you still there?"

"I'm just finishing up some things," Mabui said. "I'll leave soon."

"Make sure you lock the doors," Endeavor said.

He hung up. "I have to go."

"But...Dad..." Shoto had finally started calling him this again.

"Shoto, I swear this is a serious matter," Endeavor said, acting kind of apologetic, "or I would put it off. But I can't."

"We understand," Fuyumi said. "Heroes have to go, right?"

Rei nodded. If anything, she was probably relieved.

Endeavor supposed he deserved that.

"Yeah, sure, whatever," was Natsuo's answer.

Endeavor always felt like Natsuo both wanted him gone and resented him for going. He couldn't figure out how to fix that. [Because you really can't.]

"Well...uh, we'll finish this discussion later." He left.

The rest of the time the kids spent answering Rei's questions about Touya...

They never told her he was Dabi. It was likely she was going to guess it on her own if she saw him, but it didn't seem the thing to just tell her right off. Let him make an impression on her one way or the other first, and then if she found out, maybe she wouldn't judge him by it.

Shoto was actually relieved it had gone pretty well. His mom only cried a bit and didn't get really upset at all afterward.

Fuyumi and Natsuo were going to stay with her to make sure she was okay the rest of the night.

So he went back to UA.

He called Momo on the way to tell her how it went, and she was excited for him.

"I guess things are looking up a bit," Shoto said.

"Yeah... Hang on, Shine's calling me," Momo said, rustling as she went out of her room. Shoto heard her say, "Yes? I have Shoto here on the phone."

"I'm sorry you have to hear this this way, then," Shine's voice sounded...really stressed, "but we have an S-class emergency on our hands. We need to meet."

Shoto had a terrible feeling this might be connected to why his dad had to leave so soon.

"I'm almost there. Wait for me," he said, going from calm to concerned in a split second.

"We will. But hurry up," Shine said.

Shoto quickened his pace.