After the terrible events in the village, the media began to be wary of the frivolity of heroes, and the issue of safety became the order of the day. Nezu and Anan Kurose continued to live in Musutafu, increasing their heroic activities. They kept in touch through mutual acquaintances. However, when the tragic events occurred, they were left in shock. Nezu understood that Nobu, a smart and determined guy, could survive in a critical situation, but his main concern was his well-being, and he did not cope with it.
Anan Kurose, very worried, wanted to go to the scene, but Nezu persuaded her:
"I think you will only feel worse if you see the destroyed village." Nezu did not express his sadness openly, but he was much more worried about Nobu. He believed that Nobu was able to survive, and hoped for it. Nezu began to cry, trying to calm her down.
"We do not know what happened to the missing people. Maybe someone just got lost in the forest. Rescue efforts are ongoing... - Their conversation was interrupted by a TV in the cafe they were in. One of the journalists said:
- We have information about the rescue operation. There are survivors, but we are not allowed to get too close to the scene. - The service did not allow reporters to record all the consequences of the incomprehensible incident and did not interfere with the investigation.
- Mister officer, please, what can you say about what happened? Oh... point the camera there... - The cameraman pointed the camera at several silhouettes in the distance who were being taken away to a car.
The screen showed the silhouettes of several survivors who were being placed in rescue vehicles and checked for injuries. Then the officer ordered them to retreat and turn off the camera, preventing the cameraman from continuing to film.
Kurose exclaimed:
- It's Grandma! And Ryuji, but where is Nobu?
Nezu tried to calm her down by suggesting that Nobu might have been among the survivors but wasn't shown for some reason. Maybe he wasn't shown on screen or he ran into the forest out of fear. It was only a matter of time before he was found. Kurose suggested visiting the survivors to find out what happened, but Nezu thought that the authorities should investigate and hoped that the details of the events would be made public.
Even though Kurose didn't pay attention to Nobu, she still loved him like a little brother, and when she realized that she could very well lose him, she felt hurt by it, angry that she couldn't do anything about how weak she was. This anger would become the fuel for her further development as the heroine of "Thirteen". Of course, Kurose can't just give in and go to the rally that is organized by some independent individuals interested in punishing the culprits and raising the main questions to the masses "Why did about 65 people go missing? Who is responsible for this?" This rally will be held at the courthouse in Musutafu, where they will demand testimony from the victim, and if he refuses, he will face either a fine or, which is quite possible under pressure from the protesters, imprisonment.
Why do the protesters want to put Ningen in prison? They wanted to find the culprit, the masses wanted to find the person responsible for this. So far, the only suspicious person was this man, who is not registered in the village, which is very important, and there were almost no visitors to this village. He was not related to anyone, not even among the missing. There were several clues against Ningen, leading to his involvement in several criminal cases before, which made him a suspect in blackmail. So who is this man? And who is this lawyer who spoke in his defense? The question remains open, and all of Japan, especially the protesters, want to know.
***
Behind the closed doors of the interrogation room sat Ningen, whose interests were represented by a lawyer who was primarily responsible for Teruko and Ryuji, since they belonged to the Himura family, and Ryuji was the direct heir of the current head of the family. The old woman and the boy asked him to help Ningen. The lawyer introduced himself to them as Oda.
Oda was a thin man with sunken cheeks, and his head was hidden by a hat under which short white hair was barely visible - a trait inherent in the Himura family. He was a very professional lawyer who represented the interests of the head of the Himura family. After Teruko and Ryuji were released, they went to the family estate. When Ryuji asked why he helped them, he answered:
-Family should help each other.
Finally, they asked for help from Ningen, because he helped them back in the forest. Helped to avoid a catastrophe and possibly their death before the unknown phenomenon that destroyed the village. Oda said that the case was very serious and public attention was affecting the court, if he could not release him, then he would try to soften the blow of justice.
Ryuji and Teruko were the most worried about Nobu, because they knew that even his body could not be found, absolutely no trace. The old woman reproached herself for her inattention, and the older brother was angry, even though he was a bad brother, but still a brother who should be responsible for the younger one. They realized that they could lose Nobu forever, their mood became pessimistic, but hope still did not leave them. Ryuji was depressed and destroyed, he lost his home, his father, and now his brother. The investigation continued, and the public and the police were not going to just let go of the only suspect now - Ningen.
The last thing Ningen said before parting with Ryuji and the old woman
"I know this may seem surprising, but I know that Nobu is alive. I feel it through my ability." Even then, he touched Nobu, and was able to track him, but for some unknown reason Nobu was too far away and only the feeling of his life remained.
He raised eyebrows; apparently he had more knowledge than he let on. Oda was surprised and made a note to learn more about the younger Himura in future conversations. The Himura family had always valued family ties, and perhaps selflessness and devotion to their loved ones were what kept the family together.
Once alone, Oda, now acting as Ningen's lawyer, began a dialogue. Oda took off his hat, sat down opposite Ningen and asked.
"You mean Nobu is alive? Are you sure?" Oda and the head were worried about every true member of the family, in whose blood the snow-white blood continued to flow. The Himuras have many family ties all over the world, their gene has been lost, but only in the origins of Japan do they continue to have power thanks to the head of the house.
"My ability allows me to see through the eyes of the person I touch when I touch them. I touched Nobu, after all the events, I activated the ability again in secret from everyone and realized that he was out of range of my quirk, but I clearly felt that he was still alive.
- Phew. - Oda Himura showed his relief, exhaling nervously.
- But he is too far away, very far away. I think he is not even in Japan.
- H-how is that possible? - the man clenched his fist, for whom family was above all else, even if he had never seen or known Nobu and Ryuji, Oda understood their value to the family and the head, by the way, they were nephews to him. "This must be reported to the head."