Stepping down the stairs opposite the chimney area dressed in a crop top and short pajamas, Camie approached Felix, who was sitting alone on the sofa, finishing his glass of red wine and eating the fraisier his mother had bought, his phone in hand.
Once again, her parents seemed at each other throats, if you can call it that. Her father insulted and berated her mother, and her mother derided him with a convoluted smile.
If arguing were an Olympic sport, they'd be world champions.
A bit strange that they'd dare to be like that in front of a guest but at this point, it didn't bother her anymore; she'd seen worse.
"Is Onii-san already bored?"
"—! No, nothing like that. I just give them some space to chat."
"...Don't think this's what chatting looks like."
"Well... Yeah, your father doesn't really wanna "chat" anymore."
"But why? Dad was in such a good mood when I left to take a shower to escape your lame-ass chitchat."
"—A good mood?" Felix chuckled, putting his phone on the coffee table. "I accepted your mom's deal, and your dad didn't like it one bit."
"Mm... That's why the dining table's in shambles?"
"Oh, that. He tried to punch me."
"Damn me... Good stuff happens when my sorry ass is somewhere else..." Camie pouted for a second before walking toward him, taking his face between her hands and scrutinizing his features. "Where's the punch mark, tho'? No bruises, nothing?"
"It didn't land, dummy."
Taking a step back, she crossed her arms, lost in thought. She maybe was a dummy, indeed. That much could be true, but then, it would mean that her father got manhandled by a tall, muscular Onii-san, and she knew her father's ego wouldn't let him miss his punch without trying to punch a second time... if not, her mother stepped in, and if that was the case, that was such a rare occurrence even eclipses were merrier.
"That's def' sus... What was the deal?"
"Marrying you."
"Uuuh..."
"What?"
"O-Onii-san's too straightforward."
"Weren't you the girl hitting on me full gun-blazing not even 3 hours ago?"
"Different scenarios!"
"What's different?"
"The roles are switched!"
"Double standard much?"
"Yep, because me having the hots for you doesn't mean I'm not gonna play hard to get, nuh-uh."
"And I'm the one being too straightforward?"
"Since I'm the girl, I'm privileged to do so.~ Mm.~"
"Now you remind me of a bitchy heroine. Hearing you talk like that, I'm sure you'd get along just fine."
"So, I'm bitchy now?"
"Bratty?"
"How's that supposed to be better?"
"Never said it was."
"Would someone really marry your mean ass, Onii-san?"
"I'm sure your mom would."
"Already stepping so low as to crank up some mom's joke."
"I'm not sure she sees it as a joke."
"...You're sketchy as fuck, y'know that?"
"Just like your mom."
"Another one, really?"
"This ain't a joke, though." Felix scoffed with a wry smile. "It takes a lot of nerve and guts to stand up and say what she just said in front of her husband."
Not precisely understanding what he was getting at, Camie frowned and put her hand in front of her mouth, thinking about what he'd just said. A wedding. At her age. If it was true, her mother must indeed be plotting something devious and plainly without her father's approval.
If that was the case, and knowing her dad, it promised "bloodshed" down the road, but hey, as a future hero, she always succeeded in smoothing matters over between her parents, so she wasn't too worried. Take it easy. It's not as if anything serious was going to happen anyway.
The Problem was that she knew her mom well and recognized that she was a spirited yet calculating woman. She wouldn't act on a whim, so she must have a few tricks up her sleeves along the way for her to say such a thing.
—Mm... I don't think Onii-san would lie to me, so I guess it's true...
She sat down next to him on the sofa, a reasonable distance away, to take her turn eating her piece of cake, and scanned the social networks on her phone, hoping to find entertainment. The trends of the moment revolved either around hero controversies, with Hawks or Yoroi Musha's comments on women pursuing a career in heroism, saying of them that: "They're just youths seeking in their femininities a reason to exist by flashing their butts and boobs to have a star career with the benefits of being seen as morally superior."
—Yuck.
Suffice it to say; it was quite the savage tongue-lashing and also a ballsy move for him to speak his mind on AIR on a prime-time channel.
"What's wrong with that, tho'?" Camie muttered, raising an eyebrow as she slumped down the sofa. "Ain't that the main reason there are enough heroes to fight the bad guys...?"
"What are you on about?"
"What does Onii-san think about heroes?"
"They're cool but can't see further than the tips of their noses."
"—What...? The fuck does that even mean?"
"Haha! So, you want me to start ranting?"
"...Naaaah, enough of that, Dad, do the ranting, no need for a second dad."
—You'll call me Daddy soon enough.
Felix's attention was drawn ten minutes ago to a message from the HPSC and Kaoruko, who had told him to be careful when he got home in the evening since she couldn't pick him up for obvious safety concerns, as all the surveillance cameras around his house were down.
Taking advantage of this lull to reflect, he texted Mei to ask if her machine's former calibration could have done this to such a massive area, and it wasn't the case. The radius had been wide enough for her to offer to Manami, who lived downstairs, to repair whatever she'd damaged for a hefty price, but not so broad as to disable cameras more than 100 meters away.
So much for a high-security neighborhood; it just takes one competent, shadowy individual to counter a few cameras. Police patrols didn't change a thing. It was futile.
Fully aware of the growing danger swirling around him, he was bound to end up in the eye of the storm. The trick was to have time to build himself a dugout. From Rumi and Kaoruko to Nighteye and Recovery Girl, he made some solid allies but wasn't willing to put everything on someone else's shoulders.
—Since the last time with Rumi, my quirk's been a mess. My hormones became more potent, that's for sure, but everything else deviates from what I learned from my old man...
Working with Recovery Girl proved to be of exceptional help, but even she was lost by how his quirk operated. Over the last few days, working in tandem with her, he'd successfully deduced, after observing his internal body for several attempts, that the EXP his system was using was, in fact, some sort of meta-hormone refined by his pineal gland, a kind of super-melatonin fused with super-serotonin—a meta-hormone existing nowhere else. They called it: metatonin.
He was nearing one of his goals, to create his own hormonal cocktail, all condensed into a single hormone producing its own specific effects on the body, creating a whole range of new possibilities for evolution.
All that remained was to succeed in making it airborne, a pheromone, and he'd have a chance to "fight" just about anyone without even being remotely close to them. Of course, if they wore masks and were fully clothed, this would be problematic, which is why he sought to strengthen his body and replicate quirks by growing new gland cells in his body.
Moreover, judging by the amount of Rumi's super-hormones he required to create a mock replica of her abilities, speeding up the process proved just as necessary as the rest.
Also, thanks to Recovery Girl's insight and considerable experience, he became aware that he needed to meet Rumi often enough to maintain a good enough flow of her super-hormones so that his replica could remain stable and potent. If not, it would die out and become nothing but a bunch of dead cells.
"Mr. Tremblay?~♪"
"Oh, yeah, what's up?"
"It seems that my husband and I haven't reached an agreement. Truly a pity.~"
"You don't seem too sad about it."
"Nothing new. What can I say? Fufu.~" She bemoaned with a sarcastic, passive-aggressive tone before focusing on Felix and Camie. "I'll sit between the two of you, eager to finish my slice of cake next to someone who can be called a man."
"Fuck off, you retarded bimbo." Haruo snarled from the other end of the house. "I'll get back at you with worse."
Felix stared at Daphne, who had a large and charming smile on her face, seemingly not even stung in the slightest by what her husband had just told her. She brushed it off with a discreet sneer and a shoulder roll before gazing back at Felix.
Her eyes had a hint of malice, something frivolous yet cunning.
"...What a lively, lovely household."
"Isn't it?~♫"
"Mum, what's the deal with the marriage you talked 'bout? That's kinda dope, but..."
Giving a knowing look to Felix, she closed her eyelids with a satisfied smile and gave him a gentle nudge of her elbow. Another trademark chuckle escaped her lips as she joined her hands, leaning toward her daughter.
"Isn't he far better than the old geezer your dad wanted you to meet with?~♫"
"Onii-san's hot and all, better than the other Ojii-san, yeah, but..."
"What do you think, Mr. Tremblay? Felix? Must I say: dear son-in-law?~ Perhaps my husband-in-law?~♪"
"MUM!"
"Fufufu.~ Don't get upset, sweetie. Don't get upset. I'm just acting like a goofball.~"
"Talk 'bout sudden... I still haven't graduated, tried UA entrance exam again, or even completed a single internship, and you wanna marry my ass."
"Your dad has plans. He won't let you breathe, so I'm giving you the keys to unlock some of your futures.~"
"...Well," Felix stepped in, getting up from the sofa. "I don't think I belong here now. Besides, it's getting late, so I'd better get a move on."
"You could belong here if that's what you desire, Mr. Tremblay."
"I already gave you my answer, ain't I?"
"Yes, yes, you did.~" She exclaimed, deciding to follow Felix, accompanying him to the garage, the two of them staring at each other at a loss for words. "Want me to call a cab? Or maybe you want me to drop you off?"
"Would that be wise, considering how was your husband this evening?"
"Dear.~ Don't be such a goody-goody after what you tried to do at the gala."
"What do you mean?"
"You think I'm a fool, Mr. Tremblay, but that's alright. I can't blame you. I give off that vibe, after all.~"
Felix took a step back to analyze her and reflect on her behavior. Rare were the people he couldn't even read, even just a bit. Daphne Utsushimi was one of them. Her daughter was the same, like mother, like daughter. They remembered him of his mom and grandma. Their initial vibe isn't entirely accurate to what they're on the inside. Yet, to know what they were on the inside was another matter.
"Mrs. Utsushimi, can you please explain what you truly want? I agreed to the deal, but you must give me matters to work with."
"Mm...~ I suppose the most hands-on approach is best in this context, yes.~"
"Then?"
"I did not lie. My proposal about my daughter's hand and mine still stands. Running away from my husband means running away from the mess my daughter and I will end up in if the police and heroes jump in and go haywire like a bunch of bonobos.~ It's a selfish and somewhat callous act, but necessary for dear Camie's future. Protection is what she needs. I'm sure you can understand."
"Do you mean you would betray me if deemed necessary?"
Raising her eyebrows slightly, she put her hand on her chin as she fixed the ground with some kind of pout.
"Seems like the wine I brought made you tipsy enough for you to talk more than you wanted. It wasn't a bad idea; I'm glad."
"...You're quite the piece of work.~ Fufu.~ Well, dear me, I suppose beggars can't be choosers. An oath shall be alright. I promise not to do the tiniest things that wouldn't go your way; if I ever do, you can dispose of me. All I ask is consideration, respect, and protection for my daughter. In return, you can do whatever you please with me."
"Eh... This is music to my ears, but prove it."
Sighing deeply, she picked up her marriage ring, threw it on the ground, and stepped on it, a wry smile on her lips.
"Now.~ You're not as cruel as to make me kneel, are you?"
"You haven't done anything bad to me, so no."
"Shame."
"—Shame?"
"You misheard me.~"
Shaking off what he just heard, Felix scoffed before turning toward the car he was inside when he arrived here, knowing it wouldn't work for a while since he used Mei's contraption.
"Seems like I can't even drive you home with my personal car.~"
"What happened?"
"Honestly, I don't really care.~ I'll just take my husband's car. At least I'll be able to exceed the speed limit without being the one to have to pay the fine."
"You're a viper."
"He's only reaping what he's sown over the last 18 years. I'm just a non-cape-wearing vigilante. Fufu.~"
Seamlessly opening her husband's car using retinal recognition technology, she invited Felix in and slumped into the driver's seat before turning the keys in the ignition, and all the car's LEDs lit up, also turning on the radio.
She activated the vibrating seats before rolling her eyes and opening the garage door before leaving her home.
"He's the only one who can afford that kind of stuff."
"It's a little indiscreet, but could I ask why you're so angry with him?"
"Quirk Marriage."
"So this is what it is."
"No, no.~ If that's all it was, it'd be fine. I was a young and foolish Canadian girl when my family agreed to the marriage with Haruo. He was a charming doctor looking to find a woman with a quirk who could help him make a boy who would follow in his footsteps and help him in his research. Nothing scarce these days."
"So I heard."
The car's built-in screen showed a call from her husband, but she hung up without giving it a second thought.
"Then Camie was born, but it wasn't a boy, as you saw.~ Then we tried to have another child but never succeeded. I'm somewhat barren, silly me.~ It really harms a woman's ego, you know."
"I can definitely imagine. It's just like a guy losing both his balls in a tragic turn of fate. Truly saddening."
"Hahahaha! N-Now, now!~ Don't catch me by surprise like that when I'm driving, or we'll end up in a ditch.~ I'm not the best at driving. Haha!~"
"I needed to add my idiotic two cents." He scoffed, amused by his own boorish answer. "You're much lovelier when you let out your real laugh."
"I really found a charmer, isn't it?~ A great find, great find, dear me. Fufu.~ Well... To conclude about our original topic, he has treated my daughter and me as nothing more than human tools for long enough. I refuse to let him force dear Camie to marry an old fart for his own profit, even if it's for his research, to gain more money for his research... He's a father, but he prefers sacrificing his own kid, her dignity, and her future for... what's called the greater good. I... don't understand... and I don't want to. His spite, tactlessness, inhumane way of treating his... patients." Distinctly spoken, albeit lips pursed between what sounded like two ragged breaths, her eyes locked on the road, wide open. "The more time passes, the more his presence infuses me with hatred."
"...I sympathize with your rage; it was the same between my parents and me." He muttered before trying to fish for information. "Aren't you part of it all, though? I mean, the patients and all. I guess it's closely related to the Underground Maskerade."
"Oh, yeah, of course, you have this info. You're their nosy parker, after all. To answer you truthfully, I'm just a picker. I scan people with my eyes, I identify the best ones, the ones with physiques way more chiseled and potent than the average person, then I do the same with their quirks, and my job is done."
"So you're not the one who's taking them on to join the ranks of fighters in the arena?"
"No, I only did that for you.~ Rappa's information and my eyes told me not to let slip that chance."
"Then I guess I'm a lucky guy? But you know, I'm going out on a limb here..."
"But aren't you already out on a limb?~ Fufu.~ Silly me, being a tease like that. As a reminder, I'm slightly aware of your situation, just as you are aware of mine, but my tongue won't loosen, so I hope yours won't too."
Peculiar. Felix didn't know what to think of her and her family. Sure, he'd been briefed to investigate them, but they'd been in on it, hoodwinking the mission altogether. Come to think of it, considering his dislike and aversion for Felix, one question remains: why didn't the father opt to eliminate him instead of taking the risk to "ask" Felix to be a double agent for "their" sake?
Given his status and fortune, he could have hired someone to attempt to do the dirty work. Either he'd thought of another method, chickened out after seeing close to whom he was "working" for, or tried to do so, but the attempt failed for whatever reason.
All in all, it was a pretty fucked up situation to take care of. Refusing a challenge wasn't his kind, but he had to think this through thoroughly. It could even be better if he could ask for help from Kaoruko and Rumi, maybe even Nighteye. Daphne was also willing to help, but she wasn't ready to put herself on the line for it, so he had to work with bits and pieces.
The only time he stepped into the Underground Maskerade not knowing what to expect, it could have ended sourly if it wasn't for the team's quick thinking and the sheer strength of both Mirko and Rappa. All of that being somewhat tied to the HPSC was another whole matter.
The first thing to do would be to actually hinder the government's movement even more by corrupting more heroes. The earlier in their careers, the better. Backed by well-known heroes and supported by someone from the underworld would be a definite plus.
"So, Mr. Tremblay, please remember the date we agreed upon.~"
"I won't. And thanks for the ride back."
"I'm glad I did so we could have that talk. Good night to you, and please take care.~"
Given the lateness of the hour, Daphne waved at him before winding up the car door window and leaving the underground parking lot of the building where he lived. This allowed him to go unnoticed, which came in handy considering his current situation. That said, all alone at night, the parking itself gave off an eerie vibe.
Only occasional murmurs of wind and faraway noises echoed through the air. It smelled like rust and oil, like some old ass car had a leaking fuel tank.
"Ah, you're here!"
"—! What the fuck... Don't startle me like that..."
He wasn't ready for someone exclaiming to him like this in the middle of nowhere, but he didn't sweat it too much since he knew to whom this voice belonged. Rumi stood there with a look of mixed annoyance and joy. It was the first time he had seen her like that. It was strange, considering how she acted most of the time.
"Don't you think I've waited long enough?"
"Huh...? The fuck you're talking about?"
"My patience has limits, you know."
"You're pissed easily, I already know that, thank you very much. Now scoot over."
"Tsk! Never mind, just follow me."
"Nah... Weren't you the one who told me to stay inside to avoid taking unnecessary risks not even a week ago?"
"P-People change!"
"You're just not making any sense. Stop pulling me by the sleeve; I won't follow you. And how come you were waiting for me here?"
"I searched for you since you left, and since I can see your phone position with my phone GPS..."
"Shut up. Firstly, she doesn't talk like that; she has an accent that alters the sonority of some words. Secondly, she wouldn't be so easily flustered. Thirdly, she's working tomorrow; she'd never stay awake that long. Fourthly, she's so bad even with her phone that she can't even use Spotify; for her to text me takes her a good ten minutes."
"Now, this is mean-"
Grabbing her by the collar before pinning her against a wall, he put his forearm at the nape of her neck, crushing it and leaving just enough slack for her to breathe.
"No lying. Now I'm sure. I have a quick and foolproof method of figuring out if someone is really the person I think they are or some kind of doppelganger."
"...Mm."
"So? I won't spend hours on it. I can handle you and send you to the police."
The fake Rumi let a wide, devious smile appear on her face while blushing deeply.
A poorly acted Rumi. She was way too hasty, way too giddy. And after analyzing this person's hormones and comparing them with Rumi's, it clearly wasn't her. It was as easy as that.
"Just a few cute blood droplets! Pwease! Ever since I saw you all bleedy at the Maskerade thingy a few months ago, this is all I dreamed of!"
"—Wha?"