Third person pov

Dabi was horrified. How could one man have so many knives on his person? Should he be impressed, or terrified? Not only that, but how had Chad hid so many guns? Guns were bulky, and yet Dabi hadn't noticed a single one on the guy. Chad could have easily shot him with one of the five different firearms he had, and stabbed him with one of the twenty-two knives he had tucked away in his clothing. That wasn't even counting the thin, sharp strips of metal without handles reserved for what Dabi supposed had to be emergencies.

Chad was a total oddball. Dabi had never in his life run into someone like him, and Dabi had run across plenty of different types. Never a quirkless badass who was slowly eliminating the Yakuza with firepower and skill alone, who was the self-proclaimed father of a weird little girl and creepy gremlin of a creature. Not one who was in college, and doubled as an Uber Eats driver. Not one that 'had something living in his couch, but don't worry, it wouldn't eat you if you didn't touch it.' Not one with enough weapons on him to fill a small armory. 

"When you're quirkless, you learn shit." Chad shrugged. "Now, I've got class. Don't let Vlad near my toaster. Peace."

"Wait, what?" Dabi sputtered as Chad began to slide his weapons back into the places he'd gotten them from. Chad raised an eyebrow at him as though he were an idiot. Dabi felt like one under the other man's piercing golden eyes. Dabi couldn't help but admit that Chad had managed to get about ten times more attractive in the last twenty minutes by divulging his on-person weapon's collection to him. Dabi was pretty sure Chad had more knives hidden on him, but didn't want to reveal where they were. That was both hot and respectable. Dabi clearly had very off, very unique tastes. 

"I've got one more class before I get off for summer break. Can't miss it. There's a pretty important test." Chad said, shoving a granola bar in his mouth as he grabbed his keys. The scarred man watched him, not sure what to do or say. How did he even react to this? Not to mention he really didn't want to be stuck in an apartment with whatever the hell Vlad was. Those beady eyes would surely be making appearance in the depths of Dabi's worst nightmares tonight. Plus, what about the thing in the couch? Chad had seemed serious, and Dabi got the impression that the guy didn't fuck with people in such a manner.

"I'll just leave." Dabi said on reflex, knowing full and well he'd feel far too obligated to just up and bolt if Chad left him here. And mildly threatened. Would Chad be pissed if he walked off? Would he hunt him down and slit his throat with one of his many knives, or maybe blow his brains out with the several guns he no doubt owned? The thought made Dabi shiver, but only because he knew it was a real possibility. This man hadn't been found by the Yakuza yet. Or maybe he had, but he clearly wasn't dead.

"Will you, though? Besides, you're my only option. My usual babysitter is swamped, and I don't want to pile Eri and Vlad onto that." Chad grinned, taking a big bite out of the granola bar. He shot a wink at the stunned man sitting at his table before sliding out the door. "Be good for Dabi, Eri! Don't start anymore fires with the glassware!"

"It was for science!" Eri called back just as the door closed. The little girl huffed indignantly, crossing her arms over her chest and sharing a look with Vlad, who mimicked her movements right down to the hunch of her little shoulders with vigor. Dabi's mouth snapped shut with an audible clack of his teeth once he realized he'd been gaping, and he breathed out slowly through his nose. Right. He was on babysitting duty. How hard could that be? Of course, he could totally leave. But he was risking angering someone he was sure was dangerous if he did so. Dabi was a bit of an idiot, but in no way was he a moron. 

Silence fell over the apartment, the only sound to permeate the air being the TV in the background. Eri was staring at Dabi from over the back of the couch, and Vlad was doing the same thing. He stared right back at them. Vlad wasn't so terrifying when he wasn't moving, but that was due to the fact that Dabi was pretending he was an actual statue. Just a really extravagant art instillation. In the living room of a raggedy apartment. That Dabi had... somehow gotten himself stuck in.

It only took about a minute or two for Vlad's eyes to slide away from Dabi and to something on the counter. The creature had yet to do anything violent. Still, the scarred man immediately tensed, hesitantly following his gaze. It took him only a moment to find what Vlad was staring at. He felt the heat drain from his face when his gaze came to rest on the toaster. If he weren't so scarred up, he'd be paler than a bone-white sheet.

"Don't let Vlad near my toaster."

Vlad leapt over the back of the couch with a determined shriek. At the same time, Dabi stood up so fast his chair toppled to the ground, already diving for the kitchen appliance. Eri let out a happy cheer that implied that this had definitely happened before, and Dabi had to wonder just how he'd gotten here.

"No!" Dabi swiped the toaster, hugging it to his chest like it was something precious and twisting so his back slammed against the counter rather than his front. Vlad skidded to a stop, so close Dabi could feel the creature's hot breath fanning against his face. His heart stuttered in his chest as the dark creature cocked its head curiously, eyes trained on the object Dabi was clutching like a lifeline. Eri was watching, dedicated and wishing she had popcorn. Dabi thought he heard scratching coming from the couch the girl was sitting on, but one beast was enough for him. He was going to pretend Chad had never mentioned anything... else.

Vlad blinked at him, dipping down and closer to the toaster. Dabi literally couldn't back up, settling instead for holding his breath. A part of him screamed to just hand the damned thing over so Vlad would maybe go away. Still, the idea of Chad coming back to see his toaster gone when he'd explicitly said not to let Vlad near the thing made Dabi shiver. God, he should just leave. Why was he even still here? Fear? Boredom? The fact that he had no idea what to do or what would happen if he left?

"Put it in the fridge!" Eri chirped from her place on the couch. Dabi's eyes slid over to her, and Vlad whipped around with his eyes flashing full of betrayal. Eri shrugged, smiling cheekily and somewhat apologetically. Seeing an eight year old not fear Vlad was somewhat comforting, but mostly disturbing. It made Dabi a bit concerned. What Eri just not realizing the danger, or was there no danger?

"Plastic fork." Vlad said firmly, his voice throaty and a bit warbled. Dabi flinched, eyes sliding over to the fridge.

"That means no, by the way. Metal fork means yes." Eri turned back around to continue watching TV. Dabi nodded even though she wasn't looking, not prying his eyes away from Vlad. The thing was fucking creepy, and looked almost sad as he began to inch towards the fridge. It didn't try to stop him, however. Even as he opened the door, all it did was let out a low whine as Dabi very slowly put it in. Dabi felt almost like he was taunting it with his overly cautious actions, but he wasn't risking jack or shit. Not that he really had much to live for. His goal in life was sort of gone now that Endeavor was arrested.

Dabi slowly closed the fridge, the toaster secured inside. Vlad hung his head mournfully, letting out a pitiful little noise before slinking over to the couch. The scarred man watched the thing plop down, releasing a breath of air as Eri comfortingly patted its back. His throat hadn't been ripped out-- yet-- but he wasn't going to count his blessings. His life was a roller coaster of questionable individuals and bad luck. And if that ever changed... well, he wasn't sure what he'd do on that day. Laugh in the face of god he supposed.

"I'm hungry." Eri suddenly said. She turned, looking at Dabi once again. The man tensed awkwardly. "There's salsa in the fridge. Queso, too. Want to watch old western movies and eat nachos?" 

"...You know what? Why the fuck not."

~~~~~~~~~~

Jay Tori had married his husband Kawashima Tori only a few years back. Kawashima wasn't a hero like his husband happened to be, but he was admirable all the same. He'd been a simple man who enjoyed teaching high schoolers, no matter how insufferable they got at times. Watching them grow and mature had always brought him a great deal of joy. Knowing he was helping prepare them for the world softened his personality and who he was as a whole, making him a warm and welcoming person much like his significant other. He was an openhearted individual with a lot to give.

People liked Kawashima. He and Jay had a lot of friends and shared a reputation for being bright, lively, and kind overall. To learn of Jay's death was devastating for many who admired the hero, and to hear of Kawashima's disappearance sent others into a frenzy. He'd clearly been taken. To where, no one could say, but that didn't stop them from looking. Official search parties and those constructed by volunteers alike all looked. They branched out from Jay's agency and from his home, slowly spreading out and webbing their way across the city. No body showed up, but then again, neither did any signs that Kawashima had been taken either.

People knew he'd been taken. That much was clear, because if he wasn't he'd obviously still be at the house or at least around it. His family hadn't heard from him, his daily phone calls to his mother and little sister coming to a dead halt despite how consistently the man had always kept up with them. Nobody knew where he could have gone off to. Everyone knew he wouldn't disappear on his own. Not without a trace or a word, even with Jay's death.

Neito had met the man only once. Jay had brought Neito to his home for dinner, and the blond had gotten to see the married, gay couple in a domestic situation. It showed him that it was possible. That yes, it was something Neito could realistically have. He could be a hero and have a husband, even if the public would no doubt be increasingly cruel. Jay and Kawashima were living proof that Neito could have support, and friends, and a life helping people. Now, his sexuality and where he was left standing because of it seemed like the least of his problems. Because not only had he been murdered, but tests had determined that not only did Neito have someone else's heart, he also had a stranger's liver, a portion of someone else's spine, and from the looks of it, a lung that was not his. 

That didn't explain the voices. At least, not until you knew Kawashima Tori's quirk.

Anything or anyone Kawashima touched would remain undead so long as he touched them before they died. It was as simple as that. If he was in contact with someone, they could get shot in the head and be perfectly fine. Their head could be ripped off, their throat could be slit, their heart could be removed from their chest. And they'd stay alive, so long as some part of their body was in contact with him. He could hold someone's severed finger in his hand and keep them in a dead-but-conscious state, even if they were all the way across the city.

Neito had copied that quirk. He was constantly copying it. He was inadvertently using his quirk on Kawashima, and Kawashima was using his quirk on Neito due to the fact that they were both technically touching. It was an endless cycle. They were keeping one another alive, which meant Kawashima was off somewhere, along with three other people that Neito was managing to keep alive just by having their organs in his body. Whoever was responsible for this had made Neito into a walking life support machine. 

"If you have Kawashima Tori's heart, and are copying his quirk from there, and he's using it on you automatically via the organ... then... you're keeping one another alive?" Tsukauchi felt sick to his stomach as Neito sat there, despondently looking at his hands as the realization hit him. He wasn't technically alive. Kawashima was, somewhere, sort of. Maybe. He didn't know how it worked. He was keeping Kawashima from dying completely, and Kawashima was keeping him from dying. They were using one another, but... what did that mean? Did he want that?

Neito's entire life had been flipped on its backside. How did one cope with their own death? Because he definitely was dead. He'd literally been murdered. Honestly, he should probably start therapy as soon as possible. Neito had been putting it off in a stubborn sort of way, which was clearly a mistake. That being said, any progress he may have made before had he started to get help probably would have been wiped out by his breakdown anyway.

"We are. A-And I think I'm keeping... three other people alive. Or undead. If their organs are really in me, and they're functioning properly, it means there's... th-there's other people out there." Neito swallowed heavily, his eyes burning. He felt tired. So, so incredibly tired. Where was Kawashima? How much pain was he in? If something happened to him... how much time did Neito really have? "S-Sometimes I hear their voices. Mostly K-Kawashima's, but I hear the others. They're... th-they're confused. They aren't as... mentally here. They're dazed and confused. I don't... I-I-" 

Tsukauchi watched tears leak unbidden down Neito Monoma's face, and he frowned. It made sense. It explained why Neito was functioning. But... why? What was the motive here? Why would someone kill the pro hero Songbird, only to take his husband and intern? Plus three other people, whoever they were. They'd see about getting some tissue samples from the teen, but Neito had been through enough. Were Tsukauchi in his shoes, he really wouldn't be too keen on the idea of anyone slicing into him.

This case was getting more and more complicated, and Tsukauchi was overwhelmed. Between the Endeavor case, Rei, and the sudden influx in vigilante activity, he was barely keeping his head above the water. Still, he was working hard to keep himself upright. He had help with Endeavor's case now that the arrest had finally been made, and he had to be here for Neito. The vigilantes could hold, though. Eraserhead was going to be away anyway, and they worked together to deal with any illegal quirk use in the category of heroic acts.

"You hear their voices... can you communicate with them?" Tsukauchi asked carefully, rolling the idea around in his brain. If Neito had some level of contact via Kawashima's quirk, maybe they could figure out where they were and get to the bottom of this. The sooner they found the four people Neito was connected to, the sooner Neito could rest and get on with his life.

"A...A bit. Mr. Kawashima's become more coherent lately, but the others... th-they're going insane. I think they're going insane." Neito shook his head, blinking rapidly and wiping at his cheeks. He was glad his friends weren't here to see him like this. He was a wreck. Neito... he wanted his mom, and his dad. But they didn't love him anymore. That was okay. He had Mihoko, and she'd come if he called. Mihoko and Rei both would. That was somewhat comforting. Maybe he could get Hajime in here, at the very least...

"Insane? Why?" Tsukauchi frowned. Neito gulped, and Tsukauchi watched his Adam's apple bob. He felt a fresh wave of exhaustion and despair wash over him. No child should have to deal with this. Neito was young-- just a kid. And yet he'd already lost his life. But he also hadn't. He was stuck in an odd inbetween. He was neither alive, but he certainly wasn't completely dead either. He could breathe, and needed both food and water to survive. His brain was alight and functioning, and yet his heart wasn't beating. How was that possible? Did he not need blood in the same way most did anymore? 

Even Recovery Girl was a bit stumped when it came to how Neito was still... well, moving, and such. He could breathe, but he didn't need to. The heart was needed to keep blood flow on track, only it wasn't pumping the way it was supposed to. It seemed like it was working, only it wasn't beating like other hearts did. But quirks were odd, and they made the impossible possible. Tsukauchi had seen it with his own eyes. His own quirk as an oddity in and of itself.

"I... I-I..." Neito grew paler, if that was possible. So pale that Tsukauchi could see some of the veins in his face. The poor kid looked like a corpse, sitting there in that hospital bed. The detective wondered if he should stop and give the blonde a break, but knew deep down that it was probably better if they just got it over as soon as possible so that Neito could be done. He was already missing his summer camp due to this whole mess. Tsukauchi didn't want to keep hindering his life and bringing up unwanted memories.

It's not like Neito wanted to be freaking out. He'd actually prefer if he could like, you know, not. Now wouldn't that be something. That was entirely besides the point. Life didn't care what he wanted, evidently. Was he even a part of 'life' anymore? Neito had no idea, but he quite frankly didn't give a shit. He was exhausted. He wanted ice cream. He didn't want to be in the hospital, sitting in a bed, broken mentally and physically and lying smack dab in the middle of some huge, sickening murder mystery.

"It's alright. Take your time, Neito." Tsukauchi said softly as the boy began to sob all over again in his frustration, bringing his hands up and knitting his fingers into his hand as he tried to fight his ragged breaths. The police officer wondered if  maybe he should get Hound Dog. The hero had agreed to see Neito. After all, he'd seen Lillian for quite a few sessions after what happened at the USJ. The girl's visits were far less frequent now, but if anything that was just a sign that they were working.

Neito halted his breathing all together, gripping his hair tightly. The sting was oddly grounding in a way he couldn't much explain. It didn't matter. He had to get through this. He'd be okay, and so would Jay's husband. He just... had to get through this. He had his friends. even if they weren't here right now, he knew well and good that wasn't their fault. If they knew, they'd only try to skip the summer camp for him. He didn't want that. He knew how excited they were, just like he knew that he'd be okay. He'd been okay before. He'd been making it. He wasn't about to let a minor relapse and some new information hinder him.

"M-My-" Neito cleared his throat and allowed himself to take a deep breath. He thought of Shoto and how he was always showing them new games on his phone. He thought of Hitoshi, and of Lillian, and all the odd ways they'd pile onto one another while watching a movie. With Lillian draped over their laps and Hitoshi's shoulder pressed against his. He thought about Mihoko, who was more of a mother than his had ever been. He thought of Rei, who was soft spoken, and made the best cookies. He thought of Hajime, who worked odd hours and never failed to provide dry, tired commentary in the background of their days. He thought about Chad and Vlad, and Eri. He'd be okay. He was okay.

"It's alright, Neito. Do you want to take a break?" Tsukauchi asked after a moment of silence. Neito raised his head. Tsukauchi almost smiled at the spark that seemed to have appeared in them, hesitating on what to say next. Neito was strong, but just a teenager. He could only take so much pressure. Already, he was beginning to crack. How much could he take before breaking completely?

"No, I'm okay." Neito said in a quiet but level tone. He took another deep breath. "I... I think they... they were trying to make us into Nomu. They... They are trying to make them into Nomu." 

Tsukauchi's felt his heart plummet. Neito swallowed thickly. 

"T-There was a man there. A-At the agency. When it happened." Neito said, his heart in his throat. He gulped. "I... I don't know if he was real. I... h-he did something to the other people, before he took their heads. T-To Jay. To all of them. O-Only..."

Neito shivered, and Tsukauchi held his breath. Even just sitting here, the Detective felt a sense of danger and urgency. He knew where this was going. He hated where this was going. He already knew what Neito was about to say, as much as he hated to admit it. He didn't want to think about it. Just considering it made him sick to his stomach. Just the idea made him so physically ill he felt the need to stop out. But Hitoshi needed someone with him here. He needed Tsukauchi to be strong, because he was the adult here, and he was the support. 

Neito cleared his throat again, shaking his head. He looked at Tsukauchi again.

"He... He didn't have any eyes."

Tsukauchi's breath hitched in his throat. A sense of fear washed over him, but he did a good job not letting it show in his expression. He could see Neito assessing his reaction. Dead, undead, alive-- whatever it was-- Neito was still smart. He was a clever teenager, and he'd panic at the first sign. Tsukauchi had to hold strong. If not for Neito, than for himself. He took a few deep breaths of his own, forcing a smile onto his face. He knew it looked more like a grimace, but if the blonde noticed, he didn't say a word. He just pressed his lips into a grim line and nodded as the detective stood.

"I... I need to make a call." Tsukauchi said, hand slipping into his pocket to grab his mobile. "Thank you for your time, and for answering my questions. Can I get you anything before I go?"

Neito bit the inside of his cheek, "It... n-no problem. Just... can you see about getting Dr. Hajime Shinso for me?"

Tsukauchi smiled for real this time. The situation was dire, but at least Neito was accepting help. He took a deep breath and nodded, tipping his head down and replacing his hat on his head.

"Of course." Tsukauchi nodded, already pressing All Might's contact. "Anything you need, kiddo."

~~~~~~~~~~

It was the day before they left for camp, and Hitoshi's house was crowded. At the beginning of the year, Mihoko never would have thought she'd have so many people in her home at one time. Especially since it wasn't a holiday of any sort, and even then they rarely had family come into town to visit. If they were going to see relatives during the more festive seasons, it was always them going somewhere, not the other way around. But now her house was booming. A hub of people coming in and out. It meant her house was always a mess that needed to be combated, lest it become too much.

"Honey, where's my supersuit?!" Lillian called, the sound muffled a she walked through the home with a half-full bag on one arm and a bagel in her mouth. Shoto was in the laundry room with Izuku, both of them trying their best to fix the dryer using a YouTube video. Mihoko had tried intently to reassure them that it was fine, but they'd both insisted before vanishing. She could faintly hear the sound of them trying to turn to dryer on every few minutes, along with cursing and the rattle of Hajime's toolbox. Last time she'd gone in, Izuku's hair was singed. She'd made the executive decision to leave them be after that. Startling them in the middle of whatever they were doing would only result in a house fire.

Rei was in the kitchen with Fuyumi, cooking. Chad would be dropping some food off as well later, though he said he couldn't stay due to some previously-made commitments. They were going to have a lot of people over, since Inko and Tsukauchi were both coming as well. Tsukauchi said he was going to bring his friend who needed to eat more, and Rei and Mihoko had immediately zeroed in on the idea with glinting eyes. Someone who needed to eat more? Not on their watch.

"Mom, where are all my socks?" Hitoshi called from his bedroom, his voice carrying down the messy hall that had a few piles of dirty laundry sitting in it for whatever reason. Honestly, what had they done with the hamper in the bathroom? Did Mihoko want to know? Probably not, now that she thought about it. Her biological son and other two sons were concerning as it was, and that was without her making inquiries. 

The front door swung open to reveal Mic and Aizawa, both holding a tank. Mihoko had agreed to watch Yeet while Lillian was away, so they'd bought a smaller home for the reptile and were going to set it up in the living room for the time being. She glanced at them cautiously as Mic stumbled and almost brought them both crashing down, scooting out of the way with several plates stacked in one of her hands. 

"I don't know! Why're you asking me?!" Mihoko called back as Lillian dug through one of the three full laundry baskets sitting on her couch, the garments all in need of folding. "You're in charge of your own clothing!"

She was answered with silence, which wasn't all that uncommon. She sighed, turning to direct Aizawa and Mic to the small table she had by one of the living room's windows. Rei and Fuyumi's chatter wasn't enough to drown out the small boom that came from the laundry room, but it muffled it enough to the point that neither Mic or Aizawa jumped in surprise. Though, they all turned their heads to stare at the closed door as smoke began to leak out from the crack beneath it. Alright, not the worst thing that had ever happened within these walls, but still enough to draw her gaze. 

"...I'm sure they've got that handled. Right here will be fine." Mihoko smiled, turning her attention back to the two men. They looked concerned and hesitant, clearly wondering if they should maybe check it out. Honestly, Mihoko wouldn't be surprised if they needed a new dryer and washer after this, but it was alright. Shoto had a lot of money to his name and had been pretty much paying for groceries, and Rei was going to start back to work soon to help provide. Fuyumi contributed too, and her husband was a doctor. 

Not only that, but UA had contacted her about her job and she was going to build a website for them. It was a good commission, and with the kids gone at summer camp, she'd have plenty of time. Assuming Neito didn't need her, wherever he was. She was getting worried about him. After learning about the way his parents were treating him, she and Hajime both had opened their arms and home to him permanently. He'd settled in nice, and like Shoto, was now a natural part of the family that Mihoko couldn't imagine her house not having.

"Dad, is the support department still making me gloves?" Lillian asked, bagel in one hand and the other digging through the second basket on the couch, the half-full bag abandoned by her feet. She was very clearly distracted, but Aizawa wasn't. Not enough to brush over the fact that he'd just been called 'dad' for pretty much the first time directly without her sputtering and quickly changing it. Mic let out a yelp as the tank clattered down on to the table they'd been aiming to set it down, luckily not cracking. Lillian jumped slightly, turning to face them with wide, questioning eyes. Mihoko tried not to snicker.

"U-Uh." Aizawa blinked dumbly at her. "...Yes?"

"O-O...kay?" Lillian looked severely confused, looking between Mic and her father. She was excited for summer camp, but stressed as well, and severely worried about Neito. There was still no news on him, but Tsukauchi promised to update them as soon as he got the all clear. Aizawa had also been rooting around for information, coming up dry and hating it. Nezu wasn't talking, and both Recovery Girl and Hound Dog had been awfully quiet. Especially when he'd mentioned it to them in passing. There was something he wasn't being told, and the Erasure hero really didn't appreciate it. He wasn't extremely fond of Neito or anything like that, but he was one of his daughter's best and closest friends. That, and he'd been in Aizawa apartment enough times that the man was mildly obligated.

Aizawa stared at her with a small smile on his face that made her flush and raise her eyebrows in hopes of getting him to either stop or tell her why he was doing what he was doing. Mic looked close to squealing, but everyone present was glad when he didn't. They really didn't need their ears to ring for the next hour, give or take a few minutes or so. Still, there was a warm look on Aizawa's face that Lillian didn't know how to react to. She raked her brain for why he could possibly be looking at her like that, and knew she was missing something obvious when she found nothing. Instead, she jammed the rest of her bagel in her mouth and pulled out her phone.

Mihoko sighed in a good-natured but exasperated kind of way, shaking her head. Mic nudged Aizawa as he passed, drawing him from his fatherly daze and urging him back towards the front door so they could get the rest of Yeet's items from the car. Honestly, Aizawa really hadn't needed Mic's help, but the blonde had been present when Lillian hesitantly asked. Apparently Chad had some tests he unfortunately had to show up for and couldn't make it until later, but she wanted to get it done so they wouldn't have to rush. Rational enough. Aizawa had needed a break from paperwork anyway.

The two men both glanced at the growing plume of smoke coming from the laundry room. Lillian also frowned at it, seeming mildly concerned. Mihoko wondered if she was texting Bakugo again. Hitoshi, Neito, and even Shoto complained about him constantly. Apparently he was 'stealing' Lillian away. It was sort of cute to see them get all pouty over it. Maybe she should invite the explosive boy and his family over for dinner as well...

"Fuyumi, be a dear and turn off the fire alarm before Shoto and Izuku's... mishap sets it off!" Mihoko called, going to check to make sure the two boys weren't slowly dying of smoke inhalation. Lillian was hunched over her phone for the time being, typing something rapidly, rolling her eyes, and then shoving it in her pocket. Mihoko began to pry open windows when her empathic quirk detected no distress from the laundry room. Just bone-weary exhaustion and the feeling of being completely, totally done. She knew there was a window in there as well that the pair could open. If worse came to worse, Izuku would kick the door down to get out.

"Hitoshi, I found your socks!" Lillian called when she hit the sock goldmine at the bottom of the basket she was pillaging. Hoisting it up, she scrambled off to the hall just as Aizawa and Mic both came in with a few bags of substrate and some other decorative pieces that Yeet would no doubt enjoy climbing on, along with a plastic pet store bag Mihoko was sure held a package of frozen mice. Definitely gag worthy, but Mihoko would only need to feed the snake once, maybe twice. Hajime had owned a snake in his childhood and would be able to tell. Besides, Mihoko's mother didn't raise no bitch.

"This place sure is lively." Mic chuckled. Growing up, he'd had a lot of siblings. He was the oldest of seven, meaning he'd doubled as a caretaker. Though he was the only one of them who'd gotten a voice quirk powerful enough to make people go deaf, his family was still loud and boisterous. He'd forgotten what it was like to be immersed in that before now. It was almost comforting, and it certainly brought a grin to his face and made him feel lighter. Chaotic as it was, Mihoko's house still managed to feel like a home. One that was definitely, definitely well lived in.

"You said it." Aizawa grumbled, ripping open one of the bags. Mihoko moved around the home, picking up things off the ground as she went and straightening things that had either been knocked over or moved. All the boys in the house were pretty bad about collecting dishes, leaving Mihoko to balance several on one splayed hand. She didn't even look up when she heard the front door open. She was so used to people just waltzing in now that an armed robber could enter and she'd probably just tell them to make themselves at home without bothering to even check. And even if she did, her kids knew so many odd characters, she'd be too unsure to bother trying to kick anyone out.

"I'll be back, dear." Mihoko called back to whoever'd come in as she entered the kitchen. She looked at the full sink and clicked her tongue. She'd get to washing those... maybe she could pawn Aizawa and Mic into folding the laundry and watering all the flora she and Rei had planted out back together. The woman was really adjusting quite well to being out of the hospital, and it was nice to have another woman around the house to help out. Rei was witty, and Mihoko felt they were becoming closer and closer friends as the days passed by.

"Where's the black pepper?" Fuyumi asked, opening cabinets only to close them when she didn't find anything relatively close to what she was looking for. Rei was chopping vegetables with quick precision, her white locks drawn up into a bun not unlike Mihoko's. Rei loved cooking, and Mihoko was glad. She'd never been the best chef. Breakfast foods were more her thing, so Rei was more than happy to handle dinner. Lunch was usually a free-for-all, save for weekends when more people were home.

"Try the pantry, dear." Mihoko re-entered the living room to see a very lost looking Hawks standing there. He was the new Number Two hero, and the man Shoto had interned with. She smiled warmly in greeting. He was Chad's brother, Brad, as well, if she was remembering correctly. She approached in a welcoming manner as the tense young man glanced around, clearly wanting to ask Aizawa and Mic for help but not wanting to interrupt their bickering over the placement of some of the pieces they'd bought.

"Hello, ma'am." Hawks sputtered out when Mihoko finally made her way over, the woman almost tripping over one of Eri's stuffed toys along the way. Chad had told her he'd found the little girl a second babysitter, so Mihoko wouldn't constantly have to watch her. The thought made the woman a bit sad, but she knew she'd still see the red-eyed little spitfire sometimes nonetheless. And if not... well, Mihoko supposed she'd have to hunt Chad down herself.

"Brad, right?" Mihoko chirped. The winged-man nodded immediately. "Shoto will be out in a moment. For now, fold this laundry." She gave him a light shove in the direction of the couch. Hawks hesitated for a moment, like a lawn mower reluctant to start before jerking forward and beginning. Mihoko shrugged, darting back to start on the dishes. If dinner came and they didn't have plates, silverware, or even cups, there was going to be a problem.

So yes, Mihoko's house was a bit hectic, but she could no longer imagine it any other way. The more quiet days made her and Hajime feel odd, and when there wasn't more than four people in the home at a time, it felt oddly lonely and empty. It wasn't a very big house by any means. It was one story with three rooms, though their backyard was expansive enough that Chad was already thinking up ways to expand, along with Hajime and Hitoshi both. While the older of the three was a bit resistant to the idea of expanding the house, his entire face would twist with distaste anytime Mihoko brought up moving.

"Mom, Neito called from Dad's phone!" Hitoshi came racing down the hall at the speed of light, almost crashing into a stray dining room chair someone (Shoto, everyone is looking at you) didn't push in. Lillian almost did the same thing, skipping out of the way and catching herself on the wall with a wide grin on her face. Mihoko immediately lit up at the news, but her heart dropped soon after. Hajime's phone?

"Why is Neito at the hospital? Is he okay?" Mihoko asked. Rei and Fuyumi both looked relatively concerned as well, peering over at the two winded teenagers who seemed more excited than worried. Lillian was almost vibrating with relief, and Hitoshi looked as though a ten ton weight had been lifted off his chest. There was another clang from the laundry room, the first sign of life since the small explosion, but nobody paid it any mind. Save for Hawks, who was looking more and more troubled by the smoke seeping out from under the door as he folded one of Neito's shirts.

"He's alright. It was just... something with his... you know..." Hitoshi cleared his throat, his smile seeming a bit more strained all of a sudden. "He remembered some stuff during the final, so he won't be able to come to camp with us."

"But he's okay. Hajime set up YouTube on the TV, so he can watch vines!" Lillian excitedly added, raising her friend's spirits more. Mihoko smiled back, feeling some of the tension in her shoulders seep away. They'd all been worried for Neito as of late, and him vanishing again had only made it worse. Lillian had, of course, immediately assumed the worst. How could she not when Neito literally died last time he went AWOL? 

So even if he was in the hospital, she was relieved. It was better than him being stuck in a ditch somewhere. Hearing what had happened to Jay, the hero Neito had interned with, had sent shivers down Lillian's spine. Her stomach had churned the same way it did anytime she thought too hard about the events of the USJ at the beginning of the year, and anything positive she was feeling immediately became subdued. Hitoshi was the same way, falling silent and closing in on himself in a thoughtful and defensive sort of way that told her he was just as hurt by it as she was. 

"I'm glad he's okay, then." Mihoko blew out a puff of air, glancing at Hawks. The man was very focused on his folding, poor thing. He only came to wish Shoto off, and get put to work instead. Oh well. Mihoko needed more hands on deck. Maybe she could convince him to patch that leak on the roof, too... "Lillian, have you been texting Bakugo today?"

"Ew. Why are you asking about him?" Was Hitoshi's immediate response. Mihoko swore to god Aizawa's head did a full 180 from how fast he turned to look at the sound of Bakugo's name. For a moment, she thought maybe his eyes had flashed red, but she had no proof. Mic had also fallen silent, staring with a silent intensity that was all the more intimidating due to how loud he usually was. She brushed it off. Chad was scarier than the two of them combined, and Chad was a total sweetheart.

"Be nice, Hitoshi." Mihoko swatted at his head, earning a feral hiss only her son could make. Little recluse.

"O-Oh, some. I'm mostly texting DustBowl. On Discord." Lillian said, waving her phone a bit for emphasis. Mihoko tilted her head slightly in question, and the freckled girl flushed, looking sheepish. "A-Ah, he's my online friend. W-We play video games together almost everyday."

"The're a co-op nightmare. All they do is bicker, make quips at each other, and totally obliterate the competition. I'd be convinced they were soulmates if not for the fact that DustBowl doesn't know what a vine is." Hitoshi snorted. Lillian gave a gasp full of mock offense. It made Mihoko grin. When she first met Lillian, the short girl would never dare do such a thing, not to Hitoshi and certainly not in front of Mihoko.

"I'll have you know he's steadily converting. He even understands what the word 'yeet' means and says it anytime he throws a grenade." Lillian said. Mihoko snorted, rolling her eyes at the mildly impressed expression on her sons place before turning back to the dishes. She adjusted the water to be warmer. Again, the boys were horrible with their dishes, meaning food would dry up on the plates and be near impossible to get back. But Mihoko was a mother and a miracle worker, both jammed into one. She'd find a way.

"I'm glad you've made a friend to play video games with. I know Hitoshi sucks at it." Mihoko commented, earning a groan from her son. "Yes, yes, I know. You're offended. Suck it up. Now, I was going to ask if you wanted to invite Bakugo and his family over for dinner! I've heard so much about him, but have only ever seen him on the TV, for the Sports Festival. Inko is coming. Didn't you say Mitsuki knows her?" 

"Really? Are you sure?" Lillian blurted out with surprise evident in her tone. Hitoshi gave another, louder groan, but was quickly silenced when he received a sharp jab to his ribs. He yelped, causing both Rei and Fuyumi to laugh. "I don't think-- no, scratch that, I know the table isn't big enough for everyone. Adding Bakugo plus his parents..."

"I'm forcing your dad to buy a bigger table. Didn't you hear? He'll be here later with it." Mihoko smiled innocently over her shoulder. Lillian and Hitoshi stared blandly at her. "Don't you two give me that look. It's better than another bed."

"Fair." Hitoshi agreed. Lillian nodded solemnly before muttering something about inviting him, sulking off to continue looking for the sweater of her hero costume. Normally UA had their costumes, but Lillian's had somehow gotten dragged to Aizawa's house, and then to Mihoko's. Hitoshi sighed about socks before rushing off to finish packing the needed clothing. There was no guarantee they'd need their costumes for camp, but Aizawa was insisting they all bring them anyway.

"The Bakugo's? Is that really a good idea?" Aizawa asked from where he was trying to jam a hide further into the tank. Mihoko sighed heavily. 

"It's an excellent idea. Bakugo is one of Lillian's best friends!" Rei chimed happily, her tone soft as usual and hesitant to join the conversation. Fuyumi snorted, muttering 'understatement' under her breath only to get a special sort of look from her mother that was a halfway cross between amusement and scolding. Fuyumi looked ready to retaliate, but was cut off when a slightly-charred Shoto literally fell out of the laundry room and belly flopped on the floor. Izuku's ashy face popped out behind him, peering down at the half-and-half boy's prone form. Hawks jumped.

"There you are. What were you even doing in there?" Hawks paused in his folding. He'd gotten an entire basket done, with only one more to go seeing as Lillian had stolen the third for Hitoshi to plunder. Shoto looked up, blinking at Hawks with confusion flashing in his mismatched eyes. "I came to wish you luck, remember? I said I'd drop by."

"You're not leaving until you eat!" Mihoko called from the kitchen. Hawks twitched.

"I guess I also came to eat dinner?" He gave a shrug. Shoto let Izuku help him to his feet, trying to brush off his pants and only succeeding in making them messier. Smoke could still be seen behind them, escaping through the open laundry room window in wisps. The dryer was happily thunking along, full of clean clothes. Another load had been forced into the washer, leaving it to rumble. Izuku looked stuck between being frozen in a starstruck way in response to Hawks and being satisfied over the fact that they finally wrangled the dryer into submission.

"I see. Come on." Shoto shuffled towards the kitchen. The winged hero immediately followed, really in no place to refuse. He wasn't the best house guest, but didn't want to make a fool of himself in his intern's home. Especially since Chad was apparently held in high regard here. It was rare that Hawks found people accepting of his brother and his quirklessness, and he didn't want to risk ruining that.

Rei and Fuyumi both turned as Shoto pulled Hawks into the kitchen. Izuku shuffled off down the hall and towards the bathroom so he could shower. Shoto made a mental note to bring the freckled boy clothes. He would join him if he wasn't so sure his mother and Mihoko would kill him. Shoto would see about using the bathroom Hajime and Mihoko shared. Mihoko's soap was flowery, and he liked it. Lillian's body wash smelled too much like a cupcake, and always made him hungry.

"This is my mom, Rei, and my sister, Fuyumi." Shoto said in his usual bland sort of way. Mic and Aizawa finally gave up on trying to make the tank their definition of perfection. The blond man seemed to decide on finishing Hawks' job, tackling the last basket with vigor while Aizawa began to mutter and shuffle through what was already folded in search of his daughter's sweater.

"I'm Hawks. Or Brad. Whichever you prefer." Hawks choked out. Fuyumi pulled her head out of the cabinet, and Hawks let out a strained and surprised wheeze. Fuyumi's eyes went wide with surprise.

"Ohhhh." Fuyumi drew out, staring at him in a stunned manner. "I don't know... you... at all..."

"It's nice to meet you." Rei shot her daughter an odd look. Hawks was still paralyzed, staring at Shoto's sister with twitching fingers and tense shoulders. Shoto raised a brow but said nothing. 

"Y-Yeah, glad to make your acquaintance." Hawks stressed the word, crossing his arms over his chest almost defensively. Shoto eyed him. He looked rather nervous, which was... different. "Can I help with dinner?"

"No, but you can help with the roof." Mihoko piped up. "Shoto?"

The teenager wordlessly grabbed the hero's arm, dragging him off to the hall closet for supplies. Hawks never once looked away from Fuyumi, and the young woman gazed after him with narrowed eyes and a small but taut frown on her face. Rei and Mihoko both shared a look, but knew not to push. Whatever was going on would eventually make itself known. Around here, everything did.

~~~

I would like to thank you all for 8,000 followers! I seriously don't deserve any of you. I appreciate each and every comment, and all the votes you guys drop on my stories. It means so much. This chapter, note not included, was literally 8,072 words! I thought it'd be cool to celebrate with a super long one. Maybe I'll write a 9,000 word one if I ever make it there.

Honestly, I need to make another book centered around Chad, Mihoko, Hawks, and Fuyumi. THAT would be some deadass tea. Maybe I'll write one chapter and see where it goes? Who knows omg