Chapter 8: Interlude: Nagant
"Is killing them really gonna improve society?" Tsutsumi Kaina, also known as the hero Lady Nagant, questioned while looking directly in the eyes of her boss.
The man in turn looked at her, quite rudely she might add, as if she were the biggest idiot he had the displeasure of looking at in the last decade.
Truthfully, it was an accident as he was more shocked than angered or displeased. His face had just naturally defaulted to the expression he used when questioned by anyone on the board of directors. They were the real idiots after all.
Still his reasoning aside, Kaina decided to carry on her inquiry and hopefully ignore the growing desire to put a bullet in the man's annoying face.
"Making people believe everything's puppies and rainbows…is that any better than brainwashing 'em'? Is that really what heroes should be doin'?" She asked, as the last twinkle of light dimly lit her eyes. Looking for any reason to keep believing in her cause.
"Nagant…" Kirifuda sighed while pinching the bridge of his nose under his glasses and rubbing around his almost equally bag heavy eyes. Kaina wasn't the only one not getting much sleep recently, even if for completely different reasons.
One of the "projects" the board convinced him to secretly fund has hit an…unexpected snag in the development process, according to their consultant. One he was assured would be temporary at best even though that was already three months ago. And now they were breathing down his neck to get answers and perhaps send one of their agents in and secure the research subject for themselves.
It was something he actually agreed with pursuing as he already abhorred working with a supposedly "reformed" yakuza group, even if they weren't technically classified as villains. Much less allow them full monopoly on the product as powerful as the one they were claiming they could manufacture. It went well beyond the improved "trigger" drug that's recently made a resurgence and could very well change the entire flow of their society depending on whose hands it ended up in.
Unfortunately they didn't really have anyone capable of doing such a thing without drawing heavy suspicion due to their long term service or lack of ability in the field. He had only just recently scouted a young boy with an amazing wing quirk and potential who might be fit for the task, but he was nowhere near ready to take on a mission of this scale yet.
"It is ALL necessary, Nagant. Someone must preserve the hope and faith that the front-facing heroes have built up. We can't all be starry-eyed idealists with no actual ability to go about making a difference. There is only one All Might, after all." All the stress from the situation perhaps made him a bit more…harsh, with his words than he would have intended on a normal day.
"Preserve, huh?" Kaina asked calmly as the light in her eyes slowly extinguished, very quickly reaching a breaking point she had no idea she was so close to.
"And after that? Then what?" She questioned again. Her sleep deprived mind felt like it was just one step away from shattering into a million pieces.
Unfortunately, Kirifuda was unaware of her mental state nor was he one particularly known for his empathy in the workplace. He was already quite tired of people questioning him on a daily basis. He figured it might be a good idea to remind her about her contract and subtly hint why it would be very ill advised to continue this line of questioning. She was one of their best agents and it would be a shame to have her "disappear" as well, which was the only outcome she would be afforded with how much she knew about the darker dealings of the HPSC. The board would never allow her to just go back to a "normal" life after displaying clear anarchistic inclination…
Just as he was about to say something they both would regret-
*Ding*
The door to the elevator sounded interrupting the tense atmosphere neither had realized was slowly building until that point, and out stepped a young blonde woman still in the prime of her life but slowly approaching middle age. The current vice president of the HPSC, Fuano Kao.
[A/N: just realized it might be slightly confusing if I don't explain but I'm using last name then first name as this is japan and there is a chance we might be going to different countries in this fic. Honorifics are still undecided for now so let me know if you guys want them or not.]
She was a woman with a calm countenance and usually held a stern if slightly expressionless look on her face when not with people she was more familiar with such as the two present in the room.
Fuano was looking down at a few files in her arms when she stepped in so upon looking up she was mildly surprised someone else was up this late and also meeting the president at this hour. Realizing that it was only Kaina, she released a small sigh and smiled a little in her direction, quickly figured out the situation, and continued on with her steps after straightening her face.
Kaina on the other hand was visibly shaken by what had just transpired as she gave a hesitant smile back in return. Only she knew that, in that moment…she was very close to doing something unforgivable. Her fist clenched around a bullet she didn't even realize had appeared in her hand at some point.
She was so close to snapping and just throwing everything she had worked towards away. Rather than feeling relief, for some reason she only felt more exhausted. Like she had just missed the last opportunity she had to finally be done with this farce of a life. Even if they didn't put her down for what she almost did, at least she'd be behind bars for life. Where she could turn a blind eye to the world around her and continue to live out the rest of her life in relative peace.
"Kaina, always good to see you eager to work but I hope the president has remembered to tell you that your vacation days have been accumulating a bit too much recently. Any longer and we're going to have to force you to take mandatory time off. I know you want to help in any way you can but even heroes need to rest." Fuano said with a slightly chiding tone before resting her gaze on the president himself and giving him a nasty glare.
Clearly she had realized he would neglect to inform the young woman and disapproved of his handling of his subordinates. She idly realized that of course a man who overworked himself would hold his employees to the same standard, something she can personally attest to.
With a sigh she passed him the folder labeled classified that she had just picked up from their intelligence department. The contents of which were mostly unknown to even herself. All she knew was that a priority notification had been given based on something the president himself had been keeping an eye on apparently and it needed to see his eyes immediately.
The only thing she got from it was something about a new vigilante operating somewhere in Jakku city with the only thing to immediately stand out to her being their possible erasure quirk. Sure they were extremely rare in their current society and having one join the HPSC would be beyond beneficial, but it really wasn't something to warrant a priority notification to the president himself.
She figured something fishy was going on…again, but wisely chose to keep her nose out of it. For now, until it eventually came down to herself like it inevitably would once the president was hung up with the board of directors…again.
Sometimes she wondered why she chose a desk job if she just wanted to torture herself. Surely there were better, less stuffy ways to go about it, right? Was her eventual death under a mountain of paperwork really worth the minor satisfaction she received knowing the majority of the people living in the country could sleep easier at night thanks to the work she did behind the scenes? Unfortunately, the answer was always the same.
"Sigh, well I'm needed elsewhere. Sir, please get some rest in the next few hours if you plan to pull another all nighter. That goes for you as well, Kaina. I hate to imagine what I would be stuck with if the both of you suddenly became indisposed." She said, completely aware of the hypocrisy in her words and actions. Which is why she didn't really expect either of them to comply, but she could dream couldn't she?
"Ahh, yes Ma'am.." Kaina said sluggishly, feeling for the first time the true necessity of a good night's rest. Fuano nodded in approval and switched her gaze over to Kirifuda, her scowl returning in full force upon noticing his lack of response.
Kirifuda on the other hand didn't mind her words or glare and continued to browse through the documents he had just been given with an uncharacteristically grim expression on his face. Seeing him like that, Fuano decided to hold her words for now and simply boarded the elevator and went about the rest of her night.
Just as Kaina was about to awkwardly ask for her dismissal and consider her rest and resignation a little later, Kirifuda gently sat down the documents and let out another sigh. It was a wonder any of them had any breath left with how often they all did so.
"Perhaps she's right, I am a little tired. There's been a change of plans, Nagant. We'll put the previous matter on hold for now and see if we can't find a different solution in the meantime. For now I want you to take a few days off while looking over a new case. This one is designated your maximum priority and once you start you are to drop everything else you're doing as soon as a lead presents itself." He said with a very severe expression on his face.
"What…is the mission, Sir?" Kaina asked hesitantly. She had only ever seen him like this once before. Back when he assigned her another maximum priority mission that thankfully got canceled about a year ago. As to this day she was not sure if she'd even be able to complete it without giving up her life in return and maybe not even then.
"A new vigilante has popped up in Jakku. You are to apprehend them and bring them in by any means necessary. Should you deem it impossible, you are authorized to execute the target. However, this should only be done if all other options have been exhausted. We need them alive but we also can't afford for them to fall into the hands of any villains or similar organizations. We are looking at a potential threat on the same level as your previous priority target, All For One, if they are allowed to grow unmanaged. I want you on the case first thing Monday morning. Everything we have will be sent to your door by tomorrow afternoon at the latest. You're dismissed." He said before going over to his desk to make a few very important calls.
Kaina on her part was shocked, worried, and relieved. She was thankful for some time to readjust herself but equally upset that she received such a high profile mission just as she was considering her resignation. She couldn't with good conscience just leave after hearing the details of the mission. This was far too important to turn a blind eye to. Also…she wasn't sure she wanted the HPSC to get their hands on someone that powerful. Depending on how things turn out, she might decide to "exhaust all options" a little quicker than she normally would have otherwise.
'Just one last mission then I'm done. Hopefully it won't be too stressful…' She said, expertly planting a flag she would likely curse herself for in the next few days.
Kirifuda on the other hand decided to start making plans for a new team in anticipation of the success or failure of this mission.
"Koji, Kumo and now Komori…hmm, I think I need a better naming sense. Maybe something English for the next one? Ehh Hawks works, he does have wings and all…"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
UncrownedKing
UncrownedKing For those curious:
Koji translates to Lamb
Kumo translates to Spider
Komori translates to Bat
Wonder if anyone will be able to guess who they might be inspired by ^-^
Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know.
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