- Not many people know my name, damn you. Long time no see, Grimm. - Giran lit a new cigarette.
Taiko nodded. His eye noticed the camera in the corner of the bar. - I hope that scumbag is watching...
- Who are you talking about?
- All For One. He did some bad things, of course. And he ruined my life.
- Did he really do that much harm to you? - Giran nodded understandingly.
- Yes. - he lifted his mask and drank a shot of vodka. - But I didn't come for him. I see your life isn't great either.
In fact, it was his first alcohol, but he tried not to show it.
- Yes, it's slowly going along its own way, but I agree with you. I try to do as little business with him as possible.
- He made his own base here, right?
- Something like that. So you came on business, not to drink vodka.
Taiko nodded in a mask and hood. -Looking for someone. What do you know about the Grimm Revenge Cult? - He began to observe every reaction on Giran's face.
Kurogiri was in a strange state all the time and only now decided to intervene, but was immediately stopped by Taiko's order. Giran swallowed. Taiko felt his nervous grin and glanced at him. -You better tell me everything at once, Giran. I can hurt you too... -Taiko jumped over the bar counter, breaking some bottle.
-Kid, you don't have to try...damn...- Taiko came closer and closer threateningly, holding a broken bottle in his hands. -...b-but so be it, for old times' sake I'll give you a hint.
***
Matsurada had long since severed ties with the Cult. He still dreams of the atrocities they committed against the helpless girl. Yes, he was there, but he couldn't do anything, he just stared. He, a young man, thought it would be fun to kick the ass of some upstart from the Internet, because of whom his couple of friends got into trouble. So he joined this adventure, not even suspecting where it would lead.
A couple of years later, he still has nightmares, even when he sleeps hugging his wife. Very soon they will have an addition to their small family. Matsurada himself was a child of the street and leaving it was an extremely difficult decision. You know, the street never goes away, it continues to live inside him forever, but he was lucky to get out of this hole only thanks to his beloved. Only this ray of light gives him hope for the future.
In the end, he found a job, took out a mortgage on housing and now lives, albeit not in luxury, but a small family and, most importantly, his own corner. The man has not maintained contact with the Cult for a long time after that night. Every time he thought back to that night, he realized how big a mistake he had made. He hadn't just been there. He had stood by, watching all the senseless cruelty to that innocent girl.
...
His wife had gone to take a shower before bed, and he was watching the evening news about heroes. About how another group of villains had been caught.
"Thanks to the diligence of the heroes and the police, our streets are safe," Matsurada whispered.
Suddenly the doorbell rang, and he went to open it. "It's a bit late already," he yawned. The man looked through the peephole, but there was no one there. "That's weird, someone from the neighborhood is playing around."
There was a noise coming from the window, Matsurada got nervous and grabbed the first sturdy object he could find, but it was too late. The last thing he saw before he lost consciousness was a very fast black silhouette. The man didn't even have time to scream, the air was knocked out of his lungs and he was knocked out with a blow to the head.
Opening his eyes, Matsurada didn't understand where he was. There was a light ahead that was very similar to... a city light. Cars were driving and night lights were on, and then he realized that he was hanging upside down at a great height. Someone was holding him by the legs. The ringing in his ears stopped.
-Ah-ah! God...
-Admit it, do you remember the incident in the city of Jaku?! - a black silhouette shook him. - Speak! - the voice of the silhouette sounded aggressive and somehow youthful at the same time, but it was difficult to distinguish the voice through the mask.
-Y-yes! I was there! Please, don't touch my wife, I beg you!
-You.... did you see how she was killed? You also.... killed her? - the shadow asked uncertainly.
- I... forgive me... - Matsurada started crying. - I saw them kill her. I swear I didn't lay a finger on her!
The silhouette stopped holding the man right above the road. When he came to, the man was on the roof of the building, opposite was his apartment, a couple of floors below to be exact. In front of him was a 170-cm (pretty tall for Japan) silhouette in a uniform that Matsurada could describe as street-fighting.
- Was she close to you? - Matsurada asked as soon as he caught his breath.
The silhouette nodded, gritting his teeth. The man fell to his knees.
- Please forgive me! I'm a weakling and a pathetic coward! I had no idea that this would happen... The cult only wanted to kill Grimm! Just don't touch my wife, she's pregnant! - he began to cry. - Do whatever you want with me, but not my wife...
How Taiko wanted to dip his hands in blood. If he had his way, he would drown the whole damn world in blood just to get Kuin back, but that's the problem. She can't be brought back. All that's left is to punish the guilty bastards. - Do you swear by your wife that you didn't hurt the girl?
He fell down again.
- I swear.
- Then tell me everything you know about the Cult.
Matsurada was happy to tell about it, hoping to deal with these monsters, but he was afraid of reprisals from them, so he did not contact the police. - It's a large group of guys, they got together and decided to go to that house. Someone gave them a tip. Someone else.
Taiko already guessed who it was. However, All For One's guilt was only confirmed, but the perpetrators need not just be punished. We need to show All For One what awaits him. Taiko is sure that this bastard is watching him somewhere, most likely through cameras.
- Names. - Taiko demanded.
- I only know a couple of guys from there, as far as I know, they still hang out together ...
Having received the right name and potential address, Taiko was pleased with the result and was about to leave.
- Take care of her. - Taiko pointed to a pregnant woman in the apartment window, who had already come out of the shower and was waiting for her husband, worriedly calling him on the phone. He left, leaving the man sitting detachedly on the roof.