❧

Horyo is quiet the whole way to the hotel, but when Midoriya locks the door and Shinimi ties him to a chair, he really starts to freak out.

"Don't kill me!" He screams, rocking the chair in an attempt to escape, "I don't want to die!"

Shinimi sighs, unfazed. "Duh. Not many people do."

Your heart wrenches when you look at the boy; his teary eyes and nervous sweat. He's just a kid. He's just a kid. He's just a kid.

"We won't hurt you," you say, furrowing your brows, "the ropes are just a precaution, I promise."

He must see the sincerity in your eyes, because Horyo stops struggling, instead taking a deep breath. The tears don't leave his eyes, though.

"What do you want to know?" 

You look at Midoriya, nodding. You and Shinimi let him take over, watching from the sidelines.

"I'm going to ask you a few questions," the green-haired man says calmly, "and you can't lie. We'll know immediately, thanks to the other kid's quirk."

Horyo nods in understanding, letting his interrogation continue.

"When were you invited to Tokyo?" Midoriya asks.

"A few days ago," Horyo answers, looking down, "I got my tattoo and caught a plane."

"Did he provide the tickets?"

"Yes. He provided everything for me to get here."

You watch the captive's expression. He seems to be telling the truth.

"Who is he?" Midoriya asks, "Tell me everything you know about him."

"He goes by the Agitator," Horyo starts, "and he invites kids to Tokyo, providing everything they may need to get here. I've never seen him. I've never met him. I only met his messenger."

"Was there anything strange about this messenger?"

"We only talked for ten minutes. After that, I never saw him again."

"Was there anything strange about this messenger?" Midoriya asks again, clearly not satisfied with Horyo's answer.

"When I told him I was going to get the tattoo," Horyo says, turning his head and showing the cobra there, "he told me to get it on my neck, specifically. Like the Agitator wanted me to get it."

"Alright," The former-hero continues, "where were you supposed to meet him?"

"I was going to meet him in a few hours at some bar, until you guys stopped me."

"Which bar?" Midoriya tilts his head, "And why would they let you in anyways?"

"I don't know, man," Horyo sighs, shifting his feet, "they only told me where—"

"He's lying." Shinimi speaks up, his gaze like a gun pointed at Horyo's head. "Tell the truth, Horyo. I can feel your mind racing to come up with a believable lie."

"Shit, alright," Horyo chuckles, "guess I underestimated you. It's the tattoo. I heard you can't get in if you don't have it. The name of the place is Sparky's, and it's only open until after midnight."

You and Midoriya look at Shinimi, who nods. "He's telling the truth now."

You can't help but feel sorry for the boy. He's deathly scared, you can tell, and he's just a kid. It's not like he's a criminal. Does he even deserve this?

He's a murderer, you remember, who knows how many other kids he killed to get here.

You look over at Shinimi. He's a murderer too. He's just like Horyo.

"Sparky's?" You wonder aloud to distract yourself from your thoughts, "That sounds like some weird American name."

Shinimi shrugs. "Who knows? I used to hear rumors that the Agitator was a foreigner. Maybe he likes that kinda stuff."

Midoriya turns back to the boy tied to the chair, asking one last question.

"Is there anything else you'd like to say?"

"Yeah, actually."

Horyo looks up for once, staring into Midoriya's eyes. 

 "Fuck you guys."

Shinimi stands up, his chair clattering to the ground. "Midoriya, grab him! He's going to—!"

And then, the room bursts into flames.

❧