***
"Are you sure about this, Jiro?"
Jiro sat across from her parents, taking in the deep worried looks etched onto their faces. She didn't blame them for being worried, what she was doing was technically illegal under lockdown. But if it meant finding Max,well, she could break all the laws without hesitation.
"I'm sure, Mom," she reaffirmed softly, "I can't just leave him out there. I have to bring him back."
"I don't know about this." Her father's voice strained with worry. "Jiro, I know you're worried about him, me and your mother are as well. B–But how will you even find him?"
"I'll be fine, Dad." She replied softly, offering a reassuring smile. "And I won't be doing this on my own. Eleanor is coming with me."
Jiro gestured toward the side of the table, where Eleanor sat quietly sipping her usual tea. Feeling their eyes on her, she set the cup down on its saucer with a gentle clink.
Jiro leaned over the table, taking in her parents trembling hands. "I promise you. We'll bring him home."
She could still see the painful hesitation written across her parents' faces
Her father shook his head, his voice cracking. "I-I'm sorry, but I won't allow you to do this. I can't allow you to risk yourself."
"M-Mom, D-Dad, please." Jiro pleaded, leaning forward until her forehead pressed flat against the wooden table. She didn't want her parents to see her tears. "He left out there and I couldn't stop him. He was dying inside all this time, and I couldn't help him. Please, just let me bring him back. Let me save him. Please," she begged.
Her father closed his eyes, finally caving in as he gave a slow, painful nod. The gesture sent a wave of relief down Jiro's chest. Her father turned towards Eleanor, his eyes glossed with tears. "Please, ma'am…keep my daughter safe." he choked out.
Eleanor paused, gently setting her teacup down on the table. "I promise you on my life." Eleanor said softly, "I failed Max when he needed guidance the most. I will not fail again. I am bringing both of our children home."
Pushing herself off from the couch, Jiro wiped her face as she turned toward the entrance with Eleanor. But before she could, her mother rushed forward and pulled her into a tight, trembling embrace.
"M-Mom…please, I'll be fine," Jiro whispered back softly, hugging her back tightly.
Her mother pulled back just enough to stare at her face. Her hands went up, softly caressing her face. "Just bring him back, okay?"
Jiro nodded firmly. "I promise. Even if I have to drag him back."
Without another word, Eleanor and Jiro stepped out into the cold morning air and slipped into Eleanor's car. The engine roared to life, and they tore off down into the empty streets. Jiro watched as her house grew smaller and smaller.
Jiro leaned her head against the window, her fists balled into tight fists on her lap.
Max…just hang on, she thought fiercely. I'm going to save you this time.
***
Max hissed through his teeth, staring down at his arms as they burned in pain each minute. He needed to stop the bleeding.
Dammint! How could I be so careless?! He gritted his teeth at his mistakes, this injury would only slow him down more. But he didn't have any clue in first aid treatment.
Ripping a piece of fabric from his shirt, he pressed it hard against the torn flesh. He flinched, tears stinging his eye as bit his lip to suppress a cry, before pulling the makeshift bandage around his arm. He did the same for his other arm.
Max let out a long, shaky sigh, letting his head rest against the cold wall. Today's battle had been an eye-opener, he couldn't carry on without his quirk.
He closed his eyes, looking for that same familiar spark. C'mon. He urged, but still nothing. Please, help me. The same as always.
Every time he reached out for that familiar spark, he was met with a dead wall. He had tried multiple times but since that day, the power wouldn't answer to him. Or was as if his own Quirk was rejecting him.
He snapped his eyes open, shaking his head in frustration. "I don't need it. I'll do fine without it."
Gritting his teeth, Max forced himself up. I'm wasting time here. He didn't need his quirk, he'll be more careful next time.
***
Anza Kazumi sat behind his heavy desk in his office, staring down at the financial ledger with an impatient sneer. He took pride in his work, no problem hero ever stumbled into his operations on accident, the math made sure of that.
The other operations had happened wonderfully, no hitches, no out-of-the-blue problems.
He glanced down at this particular group, the one that has currently failed to log in their money. His current cause of annoyance.
"Where are those fools?" Kazumi muttered, his fat ring-adorned fingers drummed lightly on the expensive desk.
Just as his patience was running thing, his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, paused at the name, and picked it up.
"Boss," Hiroshi's voice came in. "We've got a situation."
"A situation?" Kazumi's eyes narrowed. "I only accept good news or no news, Hiroshi. Which is it?"
"T-The boys for dropped." Hiroshi stuttered over the line. "They didn't get the money."
Kazumi froze, his hand coming up to pinch the bridge of his nose. Dropped? How could a foot roof plan unravel in minutes.
"Names, Hiroshi," Kazumi denanded. "Which pro Hero took them down? None were scheduled for that block."
"N-No Hero, Boss…" Hiroshi swallowed hard over the line. "I-It was a kid."
Kazumi glanced down at the phone, disbelief on his face. "You shitting me right now Hiroshi?!"
"I-I swear on my life boss!" Hiroshi quickly said, "Been following his blood trail, he's cornered in an old warehouse district right now.
Kazumi's annoyance shifted into something colder. A rogue kid was trouble. A rogue kid who could drop two grown men, his men, was something out of the equation and Kazumi didn't do variables. Either bring him in or take him out of the equation.
"Hold your position." Kazumi ordered. "I'll send in Vox." He dropped the call before Hiroshi could reply.
He leaned back in his expensive leather chair. "You get all that?"
A deep chuckle echoed from the shadows. "Consider the brat wrapped in a bow, Boss."