twomillionvolts | Open Post

[ No yakuza either. That's up for debate, considering what Kyuketsuki told him earlier. Jammer gets a bit of a shrug in reply at that one, but he's all behind the idea of an era of peace. Deku's doing a good job; even someone as hero-favorite biased as Denki can see that.

The media makes or breaks a hero, unfortunately. Depending on how his own mess is twisted, it might be Dynamight that has to vouch for Chargebolt instead.

Kyuketsuki looks really different than before, all greasy and mechanic-like. Denki would really like to see Katsuki like that, it's pretty hot. Him being in the zone while messing with his grenadier bracers is almost as good. ]

Hey, man.

[ The electric hero says in a greeting, giving everyone a nod. It was a bit more uncomfortable to be standing here with the people who did the actual kidnapping than his time spent with their boss... and that damn condom guy is still weird as fuck.

Heading towards them, he gives the car a look. ]

You're really lucky that I can, it's not exactly common any more.

[ Driving everything was probably a hero class, though. ]

Nice color. Very me.

[Jammer's an intern; he might have a more innocent mindset on the villains running around. Who knows. He's the one that stood up to his boss after all. But since the potential power grab is looming overhead, Denki's right to be wary about what other groups potentially lurk in the dark.

The media can only break a hero if you give them the power to do so. Katsuki has no intention of letting the media have that power over him no matter how much they fume about his attitude or language. They can't argue his fucking results. And that's what matters. Let's see them bitch about the F-word when he's offering a hand to pull them out of a burning building.

Though if the media twists Chargebolt's kidnapping to make it seem a negative to the Stun Gun hero, Dynamight is gonna be PISSED as hell. Jeanist will have to put a shower cap on to protect his precious hairstyle from that blowhard.

Well Denki, once you get the Boltmobile or the Dynabike, then you'll get to see Katsuki being a mechanic in the garage. All tight tanktops and oil grease and bare arms covered in sweat while he works. Something suggests that might end up in the vehicle's tune up getting delayed...]

That's good to hear, kiddo. [Synthetic slaps the roof of the car.] Japan used to be over 80% manual transmission, but now most of it's automatic. More computers. [He shakes his head in disappointment before backing off from the car. Then tosses the keys over the vehicle towards Chargebolt. Doesn't even have a key fob to pop the locks. Super old school.] Head's up.

[Kyuketsuki finishes wiping off his hands and tosses the hand towel over his shoulder with a 'whip' of air.]

Band'll be accompanying you to the drop off point. Once there, she'll take the car.

[ Jammer standing up to Kyuketsuki is really telling how good of a guy he is, and honestly Denki wishes him all the best at this place. He doesn't want the guy mixed into any said dark forces.

Hey, Katsuki being known as an angry, violent dick is better than Dynamaid-in-distress. Some kids like those kind of heroes.

...who knows how this story will be spun, especially when he's about to free himself. If the threat was just a hoax, he's going to be a laughing stock and his agency might not trust him any more. If it's true and he got free like this, they might think he's in on it. He just has to watch what he's saying. For his own sake and the power plant's.

(Denki's getting a Boltmobile just to get fucked on the hood by sweaty, greasy mechanic Katsuki.)

He catches the keys easily enough with a nod to Synhetic. Guy really liked his old school stuff, and who was he to judge. Apparently it made them excellent kidnappers. The fact that Band was going with him makes him frown a bit, but he's not going to jeopardize things now. ]

Okay. That works for me.

[ Chargebolt gives Kyuketsuki a smile. He should probably end this on a nice note. ]

I hope this will repair some of your faith in heroes, Kyuketsuki-san. It has repaired my faith in you.

[He's at a powerplant, occasionally making sure his boss' phone calls don't get tapped when he's talking to their other branches. Competitors can get real ugly sometimes, and do some very underhand things to gain the advantage. Plus Jammer was good with the communications tech, so that was another role. It's business as usual here. He likes Mizudenki.

Katsuki's known by many things. Primarily an angry, violent dick who's also an incredibly strong and capable hero, and also the infamy of his younger years... which hasn't entirely left him alone, since kidnapping heroes is one way villains try to gain the upper hand. He does his damnest to avoid any further Dynamaid-in-distress situations, fuck you very much.

(That's only if they end up making it to the hood, cause if Denki's gonna bother Katsuki while he's working under the car, might just fuck him right down there on the floor. Ride him while he's on the little rolly skateboard thing that goes under the car.)

The keys are fairly nondescript, with one key to use for the ignition and front door, with the other one for the glove compartment and the trunk. Old school "security" sort of thing. The Rubbers specialized in old school tech for their work. From duct tape and rope to chloroform and 2x4s. And apparently old electronics and cars.]

We get one last ride together, Sparkplug.

[Band pops a bubble in the gum she's chewing and winks towards Chargebolt before giving a one-two rap on the card roof with her hands and moving off to the passenger's side. Condom King gives a final check of the trunk and closes that as well, while Synthetic checks under the hood with the mechanic working the car's guts.]

It's given me a lot to think about. [Kyuketsuki admits that without hesitation.] Hopefully things can, what's that phrase... smooth over, and we can work together in the future to stop this threat.

[ Yet again, the electric hero really wishes they had all met in a different way rather than by 2x4 violence. Mizudenki was definitely his favorite power plant now, Kyuketsuki and Jammer were people he could have been friends with easily in any other circumstances.

Dynamight was going to be the #1 hero, Chargebolt is still sure about that. If Endeavor can be that while being a cold-hearted bitch, Katsuki would do so much better. He cared so much in his own way, and those stupid kidnappings were so long ago.

(Doing it on the car creeper seems like a great idea to knock a head into a car door, but damn if it doesn't sound hot at the same time.)

Denki rolls his eyes a bit at Band's comment, a lot more confident now that he's not in danger any more - or at least that's what he hopes. He's just a few hours away from Katsuki, and that's all that matters.

Moving to get into the driver's seat, he smiles at the leader again. ]

We will, Kyuketsuki-san. If everything you've told me is true, I will need your help.

[ Strapping himself in, the blonde turns on the ignition and closes the door. Giving a wave, he puts the gear in reverse to turn the car around and head out. ]

[What happened happened. He can't keep running from it, as Jammer pointed out, and has to own up for what he did. Even if it never comes to like, thanks to Chargebolt's offered testimony, the element of regret will remain. Damaged despite what Kyuketsuki might believe.

Dynamight has indeed continued to strive for that top spot, but it's arguable if the ranking system will ever come back, considering the contention it caused with the villains and the superficial materialism it corroded in the heroes. Besides, with Deku becoming the new Symbol of Peace, and One for All's power now exposed to the world... Dynamight is battling and uphill fight when it comes to popularity. (Endeavor might have been a domestic abuser, but he never called someone a "fucking loser" on camera...) Some people never forget things, after all.

(The car creeper. That just sounds hilarious. Katsuki will definitely be moving them away from the goddamn car if Denki wasn't to screw on a fucking skateboard. Lest he bash his boyfriend's head into the car.)

Band pops open the passenger's door and slides inside, getting settled with the same easy air of someone hopping in for a ride with a friend. She rolls down the window (oh yeah, handcranks to get those suckers down) and says a few things to Condom King before leaning back in the seat.]

I'll be here when you need that help, Kaminari. [Kyuketsuki offers a smile to the young hero before stepping back as the car rumbles to life and rolls backwards out of the garage. It's back out on the forested valley road, with the car running smoothly under Denki's control. For what should be an ancient clunk, it operates as easily as melted butter. Band leaves her arm hanging out the window, ignoring the wind ruffling at her suit sleeves.]

[ The fact that he talked his way out of all of this is still a doozy. No fighting, no threats, nothing. Just a few uncomfortable things in the beginning - not including the Rubbers, who he's pretty much seeing as a different event. It feels more like a win than any villain he'd fought, honestly.

Chargebolt has never driven a car like this before. He definitely imagined it to be at least a little shitty, but it's running really well. Feels sturdy, too, despite the age. Maybe he'll get something similar as his Boltmobile... only electric so he can run it himself.

The blonde hero is quiet as they drive, following the road and looking at Band to tell him where to go to get out on the main road again rather than these old forest ones. Fuck, his stomach is aching with nerves, but he's out of there. He's safe. Band alone is not going to be much of a threat, not with his quirk at full power and all appendages free to fight with. ]

I'm guessing you're not gonna tell me the drop-off point until we get there?

[ Denki asks, keeping one gold eye on her as he drives. ]

[Katsuki's gonna have some words to say to him when he meets back up with his boyfriend. A number of them. Though he'll probably be fighting through the wave of his classmates and concerned mentors. To say nothing of the police and other heroes who want to get as much information from Kaminari as possible before he forgets some important detail.

Heh, look forward to getting back, Denki. Cause it's gonna be one hell of a madhouse all for you. Good luck talking your way outta that jam.

Band is an easy director. Nothing complex, only going one step beyond where they are. One of those "turn left up here, and then we'll turn right a few minutes later" kind of people. Not telling him to look out for road names or landmarks while juggling two other directions at once. She's rather laid back, despite her formal appearance.

But she does keep him on the old forest roads for a while, winding through the streets and trees rather than going straight for the highway. It's at least scenic, despite the extra time spent. She's a professional at not being followed or tracked, so Chargebolt will have to put up with it for a while. They're gonna pass through a number of tunnels. (And yes, she's taking roads that avoid traffic cameras along the way.)

Mind you, man, Band was the one who kept you tied up through the entire process...]

Depends. Do you know where Tsubaki's Dire is? I'll give you a hint: it's a casino in the prefecture above Shizuoka.

[ Oh, he's so not looking forward to that avalanche of questions. Concerned friends, maybe, but the questions... can he pretend he's still hurt? Denki just wants to give his statement, see a doctor and go to sleep in his home with Katsuki holding him.

Sigh. Being a hero is tough.

...at least Band's nice enough to direct him, and the electric hero isn't complaining about their weird long route here and there. He still feels freer than he has in days... and he knows that this will be a long drive, considering the time it took to get to Mizudenki. At least a full day, if not more. He might have been unconscious for most of it, but still.

Band's upper hand on him was tying him up while unconscious and with quirk suppressors on, his was quite different. Even if she was somehow resistant to his electricity, he had taken a bunch of self defense classes since he needed to be more well-rounded rather than relying on his sharpshooter gear.

When she mentions the casino, Denki shakes his head. ]

Not exactly a casino person, to be honest. It confuses me a lot... maybe if they had, like, trivia slot machines... [ Shrug. ] Yamanashi or Nagano?

[It's going to be a long statement and they're going to grill him as much as they can about his captors and kidnapping and everything around it as much as possible. After all, Bakugou himself had been bitching at them for not covering as much detail as possible when looking for him and figuring out the kidnapping, so...

Sorry, babe.

Well they are three prefects away from the one Kaminari calls home. It's going to be almost a day's drive. After all, there was a hotel stop in the middle of the previous road to get here. Plus it went squirrely at times to ensure any tails were shaken off or bored out. Probably another reason why Band's accompanying him. If also to make sure Chargebolt doesn't pull into the first gas station he sees and call the cops and other heroes.

Luckily neither of them have reason to go versus each other in a fight, but she doesn't seem to be worried about sitting beside a loaded lightning bolt that likely has a reason or two to begrudge her.]

Then you wouldn't know where the drop off point is. [Band points out with a teasing lilt in her voice.] So it wouldn't matter if I told you or not.

[ Just give him a coke and some ibuprofen and he'll talk. He sent most of the 'evil plot' details via mail, so he just has to keep things about Kyuketsuki on the low, keep him as an informant, the person who will give everything up about the villains to him for anonymity. He won't personally press charges until they know more.

Good luck getting your boyfriend's head in gear, Dynamight. It's a little soft.

Having a driving 'buddy' means Band can take over when he's too tired, and they can gain more ground that way. Denki isn't sure how much the car guzzles gas, but it's a long road and they probably need to stop at least at some point for that. He'll behave. ]

Fiiine, fine. You made your point.

[ Can he turn on the radio? Is there one in an old car like this? ]

What kind of name is the 'Rubbers' anyway? What's the deal with that condom guy, holy shit?

[That sounds like a old-timer's remedy for a hangover before getting grilled on last night's wild party details. They've already been pouring over the details Kaminari sent via the email, but it's less about that and more about the kidnapping they want to know more of. How, when, why, what happened, all that good stuff he's gonna get scrutinized on.

And hate to break it to you, but Bakugou already thinks his boyfriend's lips have been "sealed" via a threat or something else... So he's doubtful about this shit. About the kidnappers being "nice" to him and ultimately Denki escaping via being let go.

True. Band does plan on taking the wheel when Chargebolt needs to rest. They can trade off at the various gas refills. The car itself is pretty good on gas mileage, but it's not the greatest compared to more modern cars. One downside. That said, there are canisters of gas in the trunk, secured and stabilized, so there won't be gas station stops...]

Excuse you. That "condom guy" is my husband and a very respectable gentleman. Far better than your grenade-obsessed fuse box. [Band's voice and composure shifts to proud and defensive all in one. Maybe touched a nerve... "Holy shit" her man, and she'll fire right back at yours, buddy. Hmph.

Her eyes focus on the road in front of them, tone softening.] And our "deal" is corporate sabotage. Perhaps you've heard of Gomumamoru? [No? (If not, she'll explain the following to Kaminari.) It was a private production and research company that specialized in rubber products, based in northern Japan. Known for both its quality and wide array of products that ranged anywhere from entertainment such as children's toys and *ahem* adult interests, to business supplies like erasers and rubber bands, to serious construction efforts helping heavy machinery and automotive areas. Both natural and synthetic rubbers were used and studied in the company, which also employed people with rubber-based Quirks for both familiarity with their main production material and to help with researching the material.] Gomumamoru was founded by my father and passed to me when he died. We were on the verge of a breakthrough in producing a new synthetic rubber that we hoped would revolutionize the rubber industry by enabling rubber trees to produce natural synthetic rubber, a compound that combined all the best qualities of natural rubber and synthetic rubber to one superior material. However, the firm we were partnered with at the time sabotaged and stole our research, destroyed our laboratory, and bought out the shares of my company, liquefying all of Gomumamoru's assets and absorbing everything my father, I, my husband, and our workers and researchers had worked on and produced for years.

In the span of a month, we had nothing. Our government did nothing, claiming our research on the rubber trees for themselves and refusing to acknowledge our ownership of it. A benefit for everyone, revolutionizing the industry standard, they said, was not something we could hoard for ourselves. Due to the sabotage and theft, we were unable to produce enough solid evidence the research was our own... We lost everything. Our jobs, our research, our livelihoods, workers, friends...

[Touching her index and thumb together, Band dragged them apart, stretching a length of rubber between the digits.]

Have you ever lost everything, Kaminari Denki?

[ Oh. Wow. That's... not what he expected at all. The guy dressed in a condom cape was her husband? The guy with a rubber hat that looks like a condom tip? That guy?

Denki does his best to choke down the sudden nervous laugh, schooling his face and keeping his eyes on the road. ] Oh man, sorry. My bad.

[ He's quiet as she speaks, trying to concentrate on driving and following her story as well. It absolutely sucks that it happened to her and her family, he can sympathize with that. A lot of hard work just destroyed, pushed out of their own company and with nobody to help? It's heartbreaking, and he wishes it was something that could have been helped by a hero. He has no idea how lawyers work.

It's always something like that... abandoned and alone that seems to grow villains. It's sad.

When she asks if he's ever lost everything, though, he sighs. ]

Not everything. It got close, though... losing friends, teachers, heroes, our whole way of life. I fought in the UA war. So many heroes died...

[ Denki shakes his head, turning on the blinkers to change lane. ]

So no, I haven't. I'm sorry.

[Yeah. That guy. Same with Denki dating a guy who wears grenades on his wrists (stupid, dangerous idea) and puts bladed explosions out the back of his head like he's a bad ass. Yeah. That guy.

Band doesn't seem to chastise him further for the faux pass. After all, he didn't know, and she's not unreasonable. The apology gets a mild shrug of acceptance and she leans back in her seat, casually pulling the rubber band from between her fingers.]

The heroes weren't the only ones who lost things in that war. For all the shit All for One and Shigaraki did, there were plenty of good people out there trying to fight for a better life. Or to reclaim what was taken from them. There was death on both sides...

[Even though the heroes tried to save the villains, there were still casualties. Many villains didn't care about mowing down their "allies" if it meant furthering the more intense goals.]

You're young. You'll experience it at some point. [Band pulls the rubber band around her wrist and rests her head on the headrest.] Everyone does.

Anyways. That's our business. It's not something you, your friends, the police, or even Kyuketsuki needs to get involved in. It's the Rubber's deal and we'll handle it ourselves.

[Just in case Kaminari felt the urge to be a hero and stick his nose in where it's not wanted.]

[ Hey, those grenades are super helpful to his mans and the explosive thing is easy to recognize! Condoms just... make it weird. Seriously!

Still, Denki keeps his mouth shut about it after the explanation, and nods softly when she mentions the losses on both sides. No, he gets that, he's not without empathy for the villains - especially the ones twisted by AFO. In addition to that, a lot of civilians were affected, homes and businesses destroyed... they tried to keep the people safe, but the city suffered.

Nothing's ever perfect, but it was needed. ]

I know. A lot of them would have had a better life if they had received the help they needed from the start. That's why we're trying to do better, now. [ Another sigh. ] ...and I prefer not to experience that, thanks.

[ He's already been on the verge of that one time too many. Hell, he's risking everything right now by trying to work out a deal for Kyuketsuki. His trustworthiness, his hero status, his whole image. ]

I'll keep my nose clean.

[ The electric blonde concedes, and continues driving in silence. ]

[And what's to say those condoms aren't super helpful to her man? To the same point, Chargebolt will never see Condom King and forget who he is. How's that for recognition? Mr. Looks Like He Walked Outta Hot Topic on a Friday Night.

Band doesn't pursue the explanation further, thankfully not a villainness who feels the need to rant on and on about her past and motives. She gave enough to Kaminari to reveal this isn't random and she has a reason for her actions, but isn't looking for sympathy or aid from the young hero. There are problems on both sides of the line and she's aware of them. Heroes and villains often times only care about pierces of the world, rather than the entire thing. The Rubbers are no different. Villains making a living with their own agenda behind it.

Nothing's perfect. It's a sad, but true lesson in life.]

They're not blameless. Many of them could have had better lives if they'd ask for help, been content with their lot instead of demanding more, or accepted their own responsibility in their personal problems. My husband and I should have been more vigilant in who we partnered with, should have been more protective of our work. Heroes can only do so much... and they shouldn't be expected to fix or do things that people could've already on their own.

[While she won't accept responsibility for being betrayed, set up, robbed, and ruined, she will admit to her naivety and bad choices, even if coming at it from a hindsight lens. The heroes are not responsible for her downfall. That would be the government. Chargebolt isn't the only thing the Rubbers have kidnapped over their career.]

I believe this generation of heroes will improve the society they were given. You've a lot to be proud of.

[Perhaps not proud of getting clonked in the head by a plank of wood by old-time expert kidnappers, but you know, take what victories you can.]

[ Hey, Hot Topic is timeless!

He's grateful for her holding back any kind of villain monologue, both because Denki's trying to keep an eye on the road and he's prone to getting distracted, but also because he doesn't really know what to say. It's the same issue all over again, but they're doing the best they can.

Changing. Spreading new values and thoughts on what it means to be a hero, and not saturating Japan with them and making it easier for some to get corrupted without notice.

He is proud, because he's part of that. (Not so much the violence to his head.) ]

I hope so. It's what Japan and the world deserves. Especially after AFO.

[ The electric hero keeps driving until the car gets thirsty, and then takes a moment to let Band take over as he leans his head to the door and looks out the window. At least the weather looks nice. ]

...hey. Kyuketsuki mentioned about losing something to heroes. Do you know what that's about?

[A Goth classic. It'll be in history books forever.

It's not an issue that will go away. Unfortunately, the human condition exists and inequality will always be a part of any society. There will be those down below and those high above, the middle flexible and varied, but all trying to survive, some with more difficulty than others. And the sense of fairness versus unfairness pervades... which leads to all the rest o the mess.

A cynical and embittered view of the world thanks to her experiences. She'll admit the heroes are trying, but they can only do so much. After all, even heroes are only human.

But they have things to be proud of. Japan remains Japan, not the kingdom ruled over by All for One. Any villain who thought that would go their way was a fool.]

Depends on who you ask.

[Band switches drivers when Denki needs his break, getting some food and water from the back so he can take his pick. Apples and oranges, dried snacks, biodegradable packets of water (you can even chew the straw up if you're that kind of munchies person). The car heads back on the road, finally reaching the highway and heading out.]

Kyuketsuki's family was attacked by heroes. I don't know the details, but he lost someone important to him during the event. He's not a man who speaks much of his past to people.

[ He's more than happy to have an orange and one of those cool water packages (you know he'll chew it up). It's a nice normalcy in all of this, having car snacks while on a road trip. All that's missing are some good tunes. Awkward quietness isn't something Denki's good with - with his friends and boyfriend, sure, but like this? He's nervously gonna try to talk about anything.

The electric hero didn't expect Band to actually answer him about Kyuketsuki, though, so he's immediately more interested. ]

Attacked by heroes? Why would heroes just attack people?

[ Was it some of those corrupted Meta Liberation Army people? That's all Denki can really think of. He still hasn't put anything together, teetering between stupid and naive. Maybe both. ]

If that's the case... I hope I managed to give him a little bit more trust in heroes.

[ It looked like he had managed, his own upcoming freedom proof of that. Why they're going to a casino is another hing, but there might be enough people there for Band to just disappear with the car after she drops him off. ]

[The food's in the car so they don't have to stop and pick up something at a gas station. Same as the tanks of gas being in the trunk. All to keep the trip going smoothly without having to stop for any extended period of time. On Kaminari's side, to get him home fast as possible. On the Rubbers' side, to avoid any potential spots or recognition.

And the radio's free to be turned on if Chargebolt wants; Band isn't gonna stop him from listening to music. Provided it's not like... raging death metal at full volume or toddler's nursery rhymes. She's fine with driving in silence, but already figured the electric hero is not.

The surprise and interest on his face is obvious and expected.]

You really don't see things from any side but your own, do you? [Band glances at him with a piqued brow.] The wrong place at the wrong time. A false accusation. An assumption. There are many reason why a hero would attack someone. Often couched in the name of protecting from villainy. [She returns to the road.] Think about it, Chargebolt. Both Hawks and Lady Nagant attacked people. And yet, they're heroes.

[To say "just attack" like it was the heroes who snapped and went mad is a shallow way of looking at things. Of course corrupt heroes are real. Perhaps Kyuketsuki's family fell on the wayside of one of those. Or perhaps they were setup and framed to take the fall for the real villain. Band can't offer information she doesn't know, but simultaneously, she doesn't instantly consider the heroes' the innocent side in Kyuketsuki's background tragedy.]

I can't speak to that. However, I believe you are a good hero. And for what it's worth, I'm sorry you were caught up in this. [Though she offsets it immediately with a shrug.] Of course, to the Rubbers, you're just a paycheck. Nothing personal.

[The casino will make sense once they arrive.]

[ Thankfully Denki's choice of music ends up being some bright pop music that he keeps on a low volume. Both so he can hear her and to not be too distracted by that as well. Now and then the music is broken up by road announcements and commercials, but at least it's not 'Baby Shark'. ]

I don't really have much experience with other sides but my own. [ He points out. ] ...and I know heroes can be flawed. Killers, even. Much of that was because of the HPSC, though. Fucked-up people grooming kids... and then there were the corrupted heroes. I was wondering why they attacked; I wasn't saying it was Kyuketsuki's fault.

[ He realized is might have sounded that way, though, so he concedes to that. Her next words are a surprise, and there's a slight smile when she brushes it off immediately as well. Nothing personal, indeed. ]

Thanks. That's all I hope to be.

[ Denki is already gambling. He doesn't need a casino for that. ]

[Band usually goes quick whenever the road announcements show up, listening in for traffic flow, accidents, impediments, or other such news. Commercials don't bother her and the music is fine. One brief run of the news mentions Chargebolt's continued disappearance, but that's more for the television news rather than expounding on it on air. Which is somewhat odd, considering the information Chargebolt gave them. Perhaps there's an effort not to cause a national panic and suspicion right now...]

That's part of the problem for both sides, isn't it. [The villains can't see from the heroes' side and the heroes can't see from the villains' viewpoint. Both operate on what they see of the other, stereotypes, assumptions, and misunderstandings included.]

That's an interesting way to view it... [Band glances at him.] Because I assume you'd be among the first to defend U.A. and similar schools from accusations that they likewise groom children into child soldiers and heroes. Yet no one would call those institutions "fucked up" despite operating on similar principles.

[She keeps her voice from being angry or accusing, mostly a conversational tone that brings up the counterpoints. Less trying to convince him and more exploring the other side and how things can be viewed differently.]

I don't know much of Kyuketsuki's background apart from what he's told me. And I make it a point not to believe anything I hear without doing my own research. So I can't tell you for certain if his family was innocent or not.

[She'll concede that point to Kaminari as well.]

[ Denki's eye widen a bit when he hears the news talk about him, and it makes him sit back a bit and bite his lower lip. Fuck, everyone's probably still worried about him. This car ride suddenly feels way too slow, but he can't exactly call his Kacchan and go piggyboom to the next prefecture.

Band's comment about not knowing each others sides is a little bit of a sting, because the things they saw during the war, with Shoto's brother and even Shigaraki? Yeah. It's not always fair.

Mentioning UA, however, makes him reflexively want to do exactly what she said he would. He does take a moment to actually think of his argument, though. Katsuki reminded him of doing that all the time. ]

Yeah, sure... some of that is right. We're all pretty much told from young childhood to adore heroes and want to be one - but becoming a hero the school way seems to help with values and critical thinking rather than brainwashing. Our class just happened to be a mess, and then Japan lost almost 200k heroes to corruption and we had to step in. Normally, that doesn't happen.

[ His fingers play a bit with the seatbelt as he speaks. ]

We don't kill people as heroes. Hawks got some bad shit over that, and the fact that the Commission was making hero assassins and essentially eugenics makes it a lot more different than a school that is, in the end, a choice to want to attend. [ Sigh. ] It's not perfect, I know, but after living through both UA and the war... I would say it's more different than you think. However, it's probably a lot more different than I think, too. Like you said... I only have one point of view.

[ If Kyuketsuki's family was innocent or not... well, that's really not the point here. It had hurt the man already, and then he escalated by making a mistake like this. His head felt pretty good, but he's a little sleepy. The rattling of his brain takes a long time to heal even after he feels okay. ]

Do you mind if I take a nap until we switch again? Concussions are stupid and the fatigue comes and goes.

[He's still big news despite the scarcity of it on this channel. Chargebolt is one of Class 1-A after all. Of course they haven't given up on looking for him, especially now that they know he's being released. Which Bakugou is insanely suspicious of. Why the fuck would some kidnapper release a high profile hostage for no reason? The world's not nice like that.

"Fair" is a fool's word. An ideal that cannot exist in a world inhabited by humans. Band might have thought things were "fair" a long time ago, but by now, that's become a figment of imagination. No one truly wants "fair"; they only want what the think is theirs.

When Kaminari doesn't reflexively jump to his school's defense, Band silently gives him a look of surprise, but approval. It's a flicker, there and gone, but she notes his maturity. Been a heavy subject for a while. And she can admit to some fallacies in her own argument about U.A. versus the HPSC.]

Normally. [A quiet agreement. U.A. sought to create heroes, though a hero could be a soldier depending on the battle, if they aren't already. ] You're right. U.A. doesn't want soldiers despite heroes battling regardless. And had they more options, they wouldn't have sent you all into the war. But like you said, they had no choice. Not jumping to defense and explaining your way of thinking's the proper way to do it.

[She changes lanes with an easy move.] There should be more people like you.

[Knowing he's still dealing with the concussion, and satisfied with his answer, Band nods and reaches into the back. A second or two of feeling around and she drags a blanket up, leaving it draped over the armrest in case Kaminari wants it. She won't tax his brain further.]

Do you want to drive through the night or stop at a hotel like last time?

[ 'Fair' and 'nice' both seem like things that cannot exist in their world, but here he is, a war veteran but still believing in both.

The surprised approval from Band feels like the generic version of the one Katsuki gives him when he manages to put his feelings and words together in a way that has a decent point. He did not expect her to agree with him or admit to her own misconceptions, but here they are.

'There should be more people like you.' He wants to say that there are, almost 40 of them, but he allows himself to take the compliment without rerouting it to his friends. ]

I am a delight, I know.

[ Okay, the joking works instead.

The blanket is a welcome surprise and Denki pulls it on himself after Band leaves it for him. He's not exactly cold, but it's cozy and if he's going to rest better than in the nervous half-asleep way, he has to have something comfortable. He was technically in a car with a kidnapper, after all. ]

I want to get there as soon as possible, honestly. However, I'm happy to stop if you don't want to. I'm not gonna be an asshole just because I'm in a hurry.

[ Denki. Kidnapper. Villain. Stop being nice! ]

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