Recap

Speaking at the same time, the two looked at each other. Dante didn’t get a dangerous feeling in terms of strength from this guy, but Dante’s instincts told him to be wary of him.

"Who’s the twerp?"

Dante already foresaw that he wouldn't like him any further in the future than now. The old man looked over Dante before sighing and responding,

"An acquaintance, now how was the task?"

"That Bee user, I tracked her down to her school, but I got attacked. I asked around with the photo you gave me, and they responded by asking if I wanted "Hachisuka" ."

"A pseudonym? The school registry won’t work. "But info’s info I guess."

"That's some nasty stuff you're stepping into. Even I got injured, you're sure that Hauler and the girl are gonna be fine?"

Dante felt like he could step in the conversation at this point.

"Speaking of the two, I know you wanted me to know this since it can help me and my case, but where are they?"

"Some festival is going on soon, and Pop's participating in it."

Dante nodded his head, He did know about that from all the flyers posted around. 

"Good info, Keep a lookout, the both of you, and remind me if you need anything." The old man disappeared after that.

Dante was too lazy to use his senses to find him, so he turned to his acquaintance.

Unfortunately for him, attempting at being the outgoing one didn’t pay off this time since he was left with a stranger walking away.

"Soga’s the name, lose the image next time we meet."

Dante could somehow tell this was the Alleyways' fault.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

*Later that night, inside Koichi’s apartment*

"Aw, Mom, take your time with leaving, Stay awhile."

*Swat*

"Don’t say things you don’t mean."

 "Here you go, Dante."

"Thank You."

Receiving the cup, the three looked at the common spectacle of Koichi being hit with his mother's quirk.

Once she finished giving Koichi a break, she turned around to look at them.

 “Thank you all for taking care of Koichi.”

Koichi’s mother bowed to show her gratitude, Kazuho stammered in response, while Makoto and the old man modestly accepted.

‘Glad this doesn't have to do with me.’ Enjoying his drink, Dante marveled at Kazuho's hot chocolate making skills. 

‘She could go somewhere with this.’ Not that he knew where this ‘somewhere’ would be.

"Feel free to give him slaps in my stead. And you, Dante-"

She crouched down to his level, and him being in mid gulp caused him to choke. She patted his back repeatedly.

"When will this program finish?" She said aloud.

Not that he could answer because of his coughing, but even if he wasn't, he couldn’t give an answer. To him, this may have been a made up lie.

"Oh a few more months should go by before he’s finished. Though if he wants to continue and his ‘parents’ agree, he can.”

Shoko looked back at Dante while the old man gave a wink to Kazuho, Koichi, and Dante.

*Sigh*x3

"Thank you for helping him with chores around the house and helping him refine vital teaching skills.

"W-welcome."

"I’m going to head back to the office to finish up some things for the night." 

‘Office? That guy? No shot, where's he going?’

Dante didn’t have time to speculate as he was drafted into the atmosphere of the house and played some card games before being the first to lay down for the night. 

*Somewhere Else*

Noise came from inside a warehouse.

*Rattle*

Oguro was pulling himself up while being weighed down by 3 huge tiers. 

*Grunt*

He struggles but finally pulls himself up and finishes his last rep of this set. Moving on, he practiced some katas on a Wing-Chun dummy. The bars gave way under his heavy fist and broke after years of training with him.

Finished with that, he fought like a boxer with sandbags. 

*Punch*

*Dodge*

*Punch*

Repeated grunts could be heard through the warehouse.

*Catch*

Catching the sandbag, he walked over to a table and picked up a photo of a girl. The person whom he asked Soga to look for earlier.

*Huff*

*Huff*

"You ain’t getting away."

Speaking in a creepy way that would make others shiver, he continued his training.

*Next Morning*

Waking up, Dante walked into the room at the same time as Makoto. He heard Koichi discussing something with Makoto but ignored it for the time being.

"Hello."

Dante walked and sat under the Kotatsu that they had recently set up, allowing the heat to warm him.

"Koichi I got your call-"

‘~Ah this heaven.’

"-by the way, there were two packages that were sitting outside your apartment, so I picked them up."

Dante zoned out until Makoto handed him a package.

"Huh?"

"There was a package labeled with your name on it.”

Seeing the look on his face she mistook it for confusion.

“Maybe your school or parents sent it."

Though it was actually wariness.

 ‘How? My name shouldn’t appear in any database?'

Cautiously, Dante activated his sensing technique and confirmed that, aside from room, no one else was nearby.

He opened the box as Makoto walked over to the others. Inside was a letter and some kind of doll.

"Looking forward to working with you, Pop."

"WHA-...POP?! W-W-What do you mean? I don’t know her."

"Is that so?...Koichio here revealed everything, though?" She had a teasing look on her face as she spoke in an innocent way.

Kazuho spun her neck around to face Koichi at breakneck speed. 

He scratched the back of his neck and said, "She practically figured everything out during the bus incident."

"By the way, where's Mr. Iwao today?"

"He said he has things to do and won’t be here."

Walking up to her, Makoto put on her friendliest face to calm the anxious Kazuho.

"I'll protect your Masked Espades; that's me double-checking my sources so you don't have to worry."

Back with Dante, he may have noticed this important piece of news if it wasn’t for the letter in his hands.

 

"North, East, South, and West.

There are four pivotal corners in this world.

The foundation is held together by essential pieces.

When the clock strikes midnight, the hour and day change.

Upsets occur and changes happen all across the world.

On February 18th, 2125, mark your calendar for Naruhata, Marukane's Festival."

 

His eyes grew larger as he understood the meaning of the message. To cement this, an image of a stitched up Pop doll was laid in the box.

“While I take this call can you grab your current plans so we can review them?”

‘I don’t have time to waste.’

Dante practically ran out the door to the stairwell as Makoto was about to accept a call. She saw him running for the stairs and caught his wrist. He suppressed his fighting instinct in himself and looked back at her. 

"Do you know about the neighborhood vigilantes, the Crawler and Pop?"

A simple question that anyone should be able to answer, but Dante had already done his research on everyone in his vicinity.

‘Her quirk is bothersome, and I don't have time for this!’

"I-I have to go."

Pulling his hand away, Dante went down the stairs. Meanwhile, Makoto looked at her wrist, which was holding his hand.

"It read truth."