Tsukauchi's Point of View

The second I saw the email, my stomach dropped. Sivax. That name dragged up memories I'd buried years ago—the kid I couldn't save. The case I failed to solve. Now, ten years later, he was alive, sitting in a villain's den, practically begging me for help. And I was sitting here, eating a damn sandwich.

Sansa's voice broke through my spinning thoughts. 

Sansa:"Tsukauchi? What's wrong?"

I didn't even look at him. My eyes stayed glued to my phone as I read the email again, trying to process it. Sivax. Suicide mission. Bait. Dead by tonight if no one steps in. The words hit like a sledgehammer, and suddenly, I couldn't breathe. There was no time to explain, no time to waste.

Me: "I have to go,"

I already stood up and shoving my phone into my pocket.

Sansa: "Go? What? Why?" 

Sansa blinked, his sandwich halfway to his mouth as his tail twitched in confusion.

Me: "Emergency." 

That's all I could manage. My mind was already three steps ahead, planning, panicking. I started moving toward the car without another word.

Sansa: "Wait—what kind of emergency?" 

Sansa stood, clearly not ready to let this go but I had no time to waste.

Sansa: "Hey, Tsukauchi, slow down! Shouldn't I come with you?"

I waved him off without turning around. 

Me: "No. Walk back to the station. I'll explain later."

Sansa: "Walk back?.....You're ditching me?!"

But I was already gone, practically sprinting to the parking lot. Guilt nagged at me for leaving him in the dark like that, but I couldn't afford to slow down. Not now. Not when every second mattered.

I threw myself into the driver's seat and slammed the door shut. My hands shook as I fumbled with the keys, starting the engine. The sirens blared to life, and I peeled out of the lot, weaving through traffic like a man possessed. Cars honked, pedestrians stared, but I didn't care. I had one destination in mind: Hawks' agency.

Midoriya's words replayed in my head like a broken record. They're sending me on a suicide mission. I don't know how to drive, but they don't care. I'll be dead by tonight if you don't come.

My foot pressed harder on the gas. How had it come to this? A quirkless kid, forced into the life of a vigilante, now being used as disposable bait by villains. He'd been failed by the system, failed by me, and yet here he was—still fighting, still surviving, still reaching out.

And I'd almost missed it.

The thought made my stomach churn. I'd let his case go cold all those years ago. No leads, no evidence, and the higher-ups didn't want to waste resources on a quirkless boy. I told myself it wasn't my fault. That I'd done everything I could. But deep down, I knew the truth: I hadn't fought hard enough. I hadn't pushed back when they told me to drop it. I'd let him slip through the cracks.

Now, he was giving me a second chance. And I wasn't going to screw it up.

I sped through a red light, ignoring the blaring horns of oncoming cars. The city blurred around me, neon lights flashing in the dark. Hawks was my next call. He was sharp, quick on his feet, and willing to bend the rules when it counted. If anyone could help, it was him.

The agency came into view, its sleek glass façade lit up against the night sky. I skidded to a stop in front of the building, tires screeching. I barely remembered to turn off the sirens before jumping out of the car and rushing inside.

The receptionist at the front desk looked up, startled by the sudden commotion. 

Receptionist: "Detective Tsukauchi? Is everything okay?"

Me: "No time!"

I said, brushing past her. My shoes echoed against the polished floors as I made my way to the elevator.

Every step felt like a countdown. Less than twelve hours until Midoriya was supposed to drive that truck. Less than twelve hours until he was gone for good. The thought made my chest tighten. I had to move faster, think smarter, and bring in every ally I could trust.

As the elevator doors slid shut, I leaned against the wall, my heart pounding in my chest. The guilt was still there, gnawing at me, but so was something else—a spark of hope. Midoriya had reached out to me. He still believed I could help him. That had to mean something. I wasn't going to let him down again. Not this time.

When the elevator dinged and the doors opened, I stepped out, already planning my pitch to Hawks. This wasn't going to be easy. Nothing about this case was. But if there was one thing I knew for certain, it was that I wasn't giving up.

Not until Midoriya was safe.