Shouta grabbed his third cup of coffee, resisting the urge to chug it in one swallow. How did a top ten hero just go missing?! Sure, Shouta didn't like Endeavor, how could he after the man had almost killed Viridian, but he was the number two hero. He couldn't just disappear. There were protocols! He had training! There was no logical reason why Endeavor should be able to just disappear for more than three days without anyone having any clue where he went.

All Might: Uh oh.

Todoroki: So the Villain Factory really got him...

Endeavor(a little uneasily but hiding it): I'll be fine.

Tamaki: I don't think so...

There had been talk among the police department for weeks now about bringing the Todoroki kids in and making sure that the rumors of child abuse that had been cirulating since the New Year's disaster were false, but he hadn't been planning on those interviews pulling double duty as a potential murder investigation!!! Although, honestly, with what they'd uncovered so far, it wouldn't have surprised Shouta in the least if one of those three had just snapped and killed their sperm donor. His money was currently on Natsuo, though Fuyumi was also a likely candidate, considering it was always the quiet ones that were full of surprises, but Shoto was the only one with a quirk powerful enough to be a legitimate threat to a pro hero. The other two still could have done it, but they would have had to get creative.

Dabi(snorting): The day Fuyumi even thinks about fighting back is the day I become a hero.

Tsukauchi, however, had just cleared all three, which was how Shouta had found himself involved in the whole mess. If the villain factory was looking for powerful quirks, Endeavor's would certainly fit the bill and if All for One really was the one behind the experiments, he might have the power and connections to explain how the number two hero had managed to vanish off the face of the earth. They obviously weren't hoping for that, considering that Endeavor was enough of a loose cannon without whatever modifications those monsters did to turn their victims into Berserkers, but it was something they were going to need to prepare for in case it happened.

Gran Torino: Yes...

Shouta left the station and hit the rooftops. He knew it wasn't likely that he would be able to find a critical lead in the case tonight, but the sooner they closed down the villain factory, the better. The hero commission and Endeavor's agency were both working overtime to keep Endeavor's disappearance from the media, but Shouta knew they'd only be able to manage that for so long. People were already starting to notice that Endeavor hadn't made any public appearances and were beginning to speculate as to why, so Shouta gave it until the end of the week, at the latest, until the vultures managed to sink their claws into the whole story.

That was gonna be fun.

Hawks(sarcastically): Oh definitely.

He heard a scuffle a few alleys over and made his way there, jumping down when he saw Viridian fighting two villains while the victim cowered in the corner. They weren't very skilled, and Shouta knew that the kid really wouldn't have any trouble taking them down by himself, but he still didn't waste any time dispatching the thug that was trying to sneak up on the kid, then quietly went after the other. If he could get rid of both villains before Viridian realized he was there, then he might just have a chance to grab him and take him in before the kid ran away again.

Hagakure: Somehow I don't think that's going to happen.

He was already moving to attack the second villain when Viridan brought both of his pipes down on the guy's head and knocked him out. Years as a pro hero had taught Shouta to roll with the punches, though, so he simply shifted his momentum into going after the kid instead. For half a second, he thought he would actually succeed in catching him, but Viridian's eyes widened and at the last moment, he managed to roll away, grabbing his slingshot and letting a marble loose right at Shouta's chest. He used his capture weapon to stop it, but when he'd recovered, the kid was already halfway up the wall.

"Nice try, Eraser!" The kid gave him a bright smile as he leaned over the fire escape. "Um... can you make sure the police get those guys?"

Aizawa: Problem child.

Shouta grunted and activated his comm to let the police department know he had criminals ready for pickup, "You can least help tie the villains up before throwing in the towel, problem child."

"I... I'm not...!" The kid's cheeks puffed out indignantly. "I'm not throwing in the towel, Eraserhead, I'm trying not to get arrested!"

"Same difference." Shouta responded cheekily, leaning down to zip tie the villains' wrists together. He could still feel the kid watching him, so he wasn't as rushed as he could have been as he turned to the victim, "The police will be here in a few minutes and these villains aren't going anywhere. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a vigilante to catch."

Bakugo(crossing his arms): Yeah no you're not catching him anytime soon.

He smiled as Viridian squawked above him and scrambled to get onto the rooftops, Shouta following quickly behind after receiving a confused nod from the victim.

"No fair!" Viridian called over his shoulder. "Who's throwing in the towel now?!"

"Still you, kid." Shouta responded. "We're offering you a shot at being a real hero, just quit running and let us help you!"

Nejire(sighing): I just want to jump into the screen and tell sensei that Viridian actually can't be a hero, at least not through the way he's trying to make him.

Compress: Yes I quite agree with you.

"I told you, I can't be a hero!" Viridian yelled back. "But I'm not trying to die anymore, so pick your battles!"

The easy admission made Shouta stop in his tracks, and Viridian glanced behind him and stumbled to a confused stop as he realized Shouta was no longer chasing him. Illogical problem child. He should have been using this chance to get away.

Midoriya: Oops.

Monoma: You're still not getting caught anyway.

"Um..." Viridian looked at him nervously. "Did I say something wrong?"

Hound Dog: Nope. You said something right actually.

Shouta blinked a few times as his brain finally caught up, "No, kid, not at all. It, um... I'm happy for you. Congratulations?"

Kaminari: Awkward.

Viridian shuffled nervously in place, his voice getting quieter as he retreated back into his shell, "I, uh, I know it seems kinda sudden, but um... there are a couple people I can't leave, you know? So, uh, I'm gonna be better!"

Maybe this was his chance to finally get through to the kid and convince him to let them take him into custody, "Problem Child..."

"I'm not gonna stop being a vigilante." Viridian cut him off quickly. "I still want to help people and I'm not going to give that up, but uh... I'll try to stop being so reckless and I'm trying to communicate better! Was, uh, did the notebook I gave you end up being useful?"

Mitsuki: Yes.

Shouta sighed, "If I say 'yes', are you gonna keep digging into things you're not supposed to?"

Viridian smiled sheepishly, "I'll probably do that anyway."

(everyone groaned)

Shouta glared at him, but the problem child simply gave him a !(*^@-eating grin and he couldn't help being grateful. With how distraught the kid had been recently, it was nice to see him in a good mood.

"In the spirit of better communication... " Shouta said finally, looking around. Thankfully he couldn't see or sense any other presences, so they would be fine to discuss the case, at least for now. "There's something that we're keeping out of the media for now, but we think the villain factory might be behind it. Since you refuse to keep your nose out of the case, you should probably be prepared."

Recovery Girl: Endeavor...

"Alright?" Viridian looked confused and stepped a little closer. "What is it?"

Shouta glanced around again. The kid knew a lot about heroes, so it would be better to bank on that so he could keep it vague, just in case anyone was listening, "No one's seen Enji Todoroki in a few days."

"Enji Todor..." Viridian's eyes widened. "You mean En..."

Todoroki: Sh!

Shouta cut him off with a glare and the kid slammed his mouth shut as he fully processed how bad it would be if and when that information got out.

"Oh." The kid breathed. "And you think it's linked to trigger?"

Tsukauchi: It is.

Shouta shrugged, "He's got a strong quirk and the family didn't have anything to do with it. You have to admit it's likely."

"But why...?" The kid started muttering and Shouta could tell he was gonna lose him into theorizing if he didn't say something soon. "It seems so risky, they've been operating in the shadows, but this'll..."

Spinner: Wait the chapter is called 'distraction'...

Kurogiri: A diversion.

Tsunotori: And it's probably going to work...

"Kid." Shouta interrupted. "You realize that most of the reason I'm telling you this is because if he... shows up different, I want you to promise to run in the opposite direction. You said you're gonna be less reckless? Well, let's put that resolution to the test."

"I would never!" Viridian waved his hands frantically to emphasize the denial. "I know I would lose that fight, no question! I'm pretty sure the only reason I'd ever fight him, especially if the villain factory got their hands on him, would be if he came after me directly but I'm just a minor vigilante, so that's not gonna happen."

(everyone breathed a sigh of relief but Inko looked slightly skeptical and worried)

Inko: Please don't say he jinxed that...

All Might: But seriously somehow everything bad manages to happen to him so...

"Alright." Shouta said skeptically. "Just remember you promised."

"I won't forget." Viridian said seriously, then the problem child grinned, "See ya later Eraserhead!"

(everyone laughed as Aizawa groaned)

Shouta activated his quirk and grabbed his capture weapon, but the kid was already hopping onto the next rooftop, "Get back here kid!"

To his surprise, Viridian actually laughed as he ran away.

(Bakugo paused as he tried to remember the last time he'd heard him laugh on his own without other people's laughter being contagious. He was having a hard time remembering)

The third glass in a row melted in Dabi's hand as he tried to polish it and he would have thrown the buffing rag onto the counter in frustration if it hadn't already burned into ash. He knew that he hadn't been meant to overhear the conversation, but he'd just been trying to cool down after a long evening working a hot bar, keeping to the rooftops to avoid the inevitable stares and fear that came when normal people saw his scars. And, of course, as someone who had a sidegig as an info broker, seeing a vigilante and hero having a civil conversation had been enough to ignite his curiosity, but he almost wished he'd just gone back to the bar immediately.

Dabi: Wait...

No one's seen Enji Todoroki in a few days.

Toga: ...Well Dabi knows now.

Most civilians wouldn't know the name, even though it was public record, because most people just didn't care. It was a lot more fun to cheer for Endeavor, after all . Dabi, however, knew the name a little too well. How could a kid ever forget his own old man, right?

Todoroki(huffing): Wish I could.

How such a big story was being kept out of the media was a miracle in and of itself, but Dabi wasn't going to be the one that broke it. No, he was more concerned about finding whoever had dared to kidnap his father when he was supposed to be the one to kill him.

Shigaraki: Yeah I hate kill stealers.

Eraserhead and Viridan hadn't dropped a whole lot of hints during their conversation, just something about a group called the villain factory and that they had connections to trigger, but it would have to be enough because Dabi wasn't about to let a bunch of nobodies steal his revenge out from under him. And if he had to stop this villain factory himself, then so be it.

(everyone paused as they thought about that)

Midoriya: ...Do you think I'll run into Dabi?

Uraraka: Considering how literally everything seems to happen to you on a regular basis...

Iida: Most likely.

Midoriya(pale): Oh boy.

Todoroki: Well at least he's not trying to kill you in this world.