[Ghouligan]

“You’re telling me your shaft isn’t hard enough?”

“My cue stick isn’t durable enough to deal with the full impact of my strength.”

“It happens to the best of us, Ant.”

“Bernie, for the love of god, do you know anyone who can help?” Antoine said. “Without compromising my identity.”

“Hmm, well there was Ana.”

“Ana?”

“When I looked into UAU for you, when we found Emile dropped out, I looked at the rest of the support students. Ana was the brightest of the bunch, but I heard she turns people down a lot and sends them to Kei Hada.”

“Is he any good?”

“He’s great, but I don’t like the kid. Heard from Zipper he’s taking the coward’s way out.”

“Zipper?”

“My source. She reached out trying to get Kei on some promotional material around these parts. I’m not in the business of advertising hero students, but I could offer him some good compensation for the help.” Bernie tapped his lips with his index finger. “We’ll say it’s a prize for a billiard tournament and then report it as stolen by Ghouligan!”

“Yeah, sure.” Antoine doesn’t care about his reputation. “As long it’s good.”

“We’ll see.” Bernie shrugged. “Let me send them a letter.”

“Did you recently adopt a messenger pigeon?”

“Wow, you’re so cute today~” Bernie laughed. “No, but someone as desperate as her will run it to Kei quicker than a text. She’ll be one hundred times pushier about it, too. She made the guy a fan club. Talk about obsessed!”

---

Kei Hada

[Zipper]

Zipper rushes into Kei’s room, slams the door, and starts yelling. Her face is read, she probably spit more than she intended (she didn’t want to at all, actually), and flailed her arms like a lunatic.

“KEI, YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE WHAT I HA—” Yaoyao wasn’t in here, but she remembered what happened last time. She walked out the door, gently shut the door, and knocked from the outside. “Kei, I have great news. I’m going to respectfully slide this letter underneath your door and I would love for you to read it and take this opportunity to put your name out there.” She quickly added. “As a support student.”

Zipper sliders the letter, which reads:

Dear Kei Hada,

We at Bernie’s Burgers are formally offering our hand in a collaborative project. This upcoming weekend we plan to host a billiards tournament and would like the following cue stick as the prize. If you’re interested in working with us, not only will we generously compensate you but you’ll get a free dinner at Bernie’s Burgers and get to meet Bernard himself!

Sincerely,
Bernie’s Burgers Legal Team

[CUE STICK SCHEMATICS]

“I’m sorry for coming in and slamming the door.” Her face was red thinking of Yaoyao. “I’ll… leave for now. Bye!”

---

Kei Hada

[Kei Hada]

It was a nice, normal day in Kei's room. For once he didn't have any homework to do, so in a rare occurrence, he was schooling crushing speeding past online players in a racing videogame. First place. Last lap. As long as he held on to his lead he was sure to win the whole thing.

Until the slam of his door followed by loud words caused him to yank his controller from his console in surprise, which led to his kart dropping off the edge of the track. As he was put back on the road, every racer drove past him, making it impossible for him to catch up.

Welp. So much for first place.

With a sigh, he let his game kick him out as he stood to pick up the letter. What could possibly be so important that Zipper would barge into his room again? What was the opportunity?

Kei opened the envelope and read the letter. Skimmed the blueprint that came with it. His brow creased.

He opened the door and let his voice carry down the hall. "WHY DO THESE PEOPLE WANT ME TO MAKE A STICK?"

Ghouligan Zipper

[Ghouligan]

When Kei opened the instructions, it was just a stick. The stick itself wasn’t complicated. Instead, there was some liquid substance that he’d have to coat atop it that would require an even hand and a deliberate attention to detail. The only problem was that he wouldn’t have access to this material until he agreed to the project. And on the schematics, there was a location for him to pick it up.

Bernard stood at Bernie’s Burgers, waiting for Kei Hada to pick up his delivery. If he accepted. There’d be a bucket's worth of liquified metal — plucked and melted over the course of a month from Ghouligan’s abdomen — that’d he be worked with. Hopefully, it’d only take the one try!

“Well,” Bernie tapped his foot. There were still fifteen minutes before he arrived, if he showed up directly after receiving the letter, but… “I guess he’s not gonna do it. Hm.”

---

Kei Hada

[Kei Hada]

Okay, so it wasn't just a stick. Kei was a little suspicious of how a burger joint of all places had access to the substance that was to be used for the project. Maybe someone emitted it as part of their Quirk? Possibly. He worked with strange substances before when he essentially made a clone for a slime hero. Which was sick by the way. And also made him sick.

Where was he going with this.

Right. Offer. Opportunity. Zipper wanted him to take it. He also wanted it to take it because it was a commission outside of campus which was super sick. Which meant he needed to reach the address on the paper by-

Ah crud.

---

Kei bolted out of the bus as soon as it dropped him off at the right stop. And he didn't let up his pace until he reached the front of the restaurant, at which point he wheezed. "I-" Lost his breath already. He drew in another one before trying again. "Hi! Sorry for bein' late- I'm here to pick somethin' up for a project?"

Ghouligan

[Ghouligan]

“There you are!” Bernie clapped his hands together, excited to get back to work. Real work. Waiting for someone to pick up material was something he’d delegate to Antoine. Still, Antoine had put on his mask and headed for Kioko. In this time-sensitive project, being late besmirched his reputation and future ability to work alongside her. That left Bernie stuck with the grunt work.

“The name’s Bernie I own this fine establishment and am looking forward to seeing your work,” He says, gesturing toward the restaurant. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out an envelope and handed it to Kei. “This is the first half of the commission, I hope it finds you well.”

There was a large sum of money unbefitting the request. Or what Kei might assume the pricepoint for a request such as this. But in the underworld, this was pennies. Yennies? Bernie was so American.

“Anyway, just let us know when you’re finished. Hopefully before the weekend.” He winked. “Toodles!”

---

Kei Hada

[Kei Hada]

Amongst all the heaving Kei was doing, one draw of breath was a gasp in surprise, and he stood up straighter. "Oh, Bernie-san! It's an honour to meet you!" He didn't think he was going to meet the owner of the restaurant until after the project was finished. Oh god. This stick must've been important.

Especially since the man himself seemed to be in a rush. Before Kei even began his work he was already paid, peeking into the envelope more out of curiosity than to ensure the amount was correct. Which couldn't have been; this was more than what he'd get from more complicated complete devices. "Wow, this- this is amazing, thank you! I'll get the job done no problem." Though the student couldn't help but tilt his head still. Was the substance what warranted the high price? Maybe it was hard to get?

Oh right, he could just ask the guy himself. He raised a hand. "Hey, I was curious about somethin' when I got the schematics. Where did you get the-" Or not. Bernie was already gone. He really was in a rush. Kei's finger curled. "Okay... I'll see ya in a few days then." With that he picked up the bucket and made his way back to campus.

A stick. Really, how hard could it be?

---

Three days later

Not hard at all! Though Kei might've created several test sticks out of regular steel first to ensure he wouldn't screw up the few chances he had with the real deal since there wasn't a lot of that mystery substance. It may act like liquid steel which may have caused some colleagues to stare at him like he was deranged but he couldn't risk wasting it! And he didn't waste it! He didn't even his Quirk at all, which was an accomplishment to him.

The pool cue in question was tucked in a case the student was carrying to Bernie's establishment. Kei knocked on the door, then realized it was a restaurant and let himself here. "Hey Bernie-san, you around? Project's finished!"

Ghouligan

[Ghouligan]

“He’s in a meeting,” Antoine answered, standing beside the entrance watching over the restaurant. He wasn’t tall but he towered over Kei. Tan skin, an unfriendly face — not of his choosing — and a rough demeanor to boot. He looks over to the case and puts the pieces together.

“Oh,” Antoine scans the restaurant, making sure everything is in order before he leads him to the back of the restaurant. Not the back of the inside of the restaurant, but behind the actual building in a driveway they used to restock food. There was privacy here, outside of the cameras. Putting out his hand, Antoine gave a quick rundown.

“Security.” He flashes his badge, a small piece of laminated plastic with his name on it. “Bernie told me about the project, but I’m going to have to check it. Just in case.”

Once in his hands, he’d open the case an examine the work. It looked perfect. But like muscles, some were for fun and others for function. He walked to the grass on the side, waving the stick overhead as if he were to chop wood on a stump that wasn’t there.

Antoine slammed the stick on the ground.

It broke through. Easily. He hadn’t used all of his strength, but it was more than he could afford with his previous model. Mildly impressed, he turns back to Kei.

“Good work. I’ll get this right to him.” He puts it back in the case. “Kei, right?”

---

Kei Hada

[Kei Hada]

"A meeting? Who-" Before the student knew it he was led behind the restaurant, unable to veer away without risk of upsetting whoever it was Kei had to follow. The guy had an aura to him that he didn't want to mess with. It was only when the man introduced himself as a guard of the establishment that he let out a sigh of relief. "Oh. I wish you said that at the front, you scared me!" With the way he was brought to a back alley away from prying eyes, he thought this guy was going to take his gear and make a run for it.

God, that would suck.

Kei blinked when he the guy requested an inspection. "Oh, of course." Good on him to ensure the security of the item really. What the junior didn't expect however was the guy just slamming the stick down on the pavement. He stumbled back and a yelp escaped him before he covered his mouth to contain it, only opening it again when the surprise subsided. "Dude?? Property damage??" Seriously, was he allowed to do that?

He stared at the newly created pothole before looking up at the man, brows furrowed. "Thank you? And yeah, that's me."

Ghouligan

[Ghouligan]

“It’s just dirt.” Antoine took a step back and pointed at the hole in the ground. He’d let the sight sink in before using his feet to brush all the dirt back in place. There was a layer of dust and blades of grass that he’d sweep up once Kei left. “Anyway, that’s what Bernie wanted.”

Digging into his jacket, he pulls out an envelope and offers it to Kei. His name is scrawled atop it in neat yet rigid handwriting.

“Payment and a coupon for a free meal,” Antoine says. “Bernie wouldn’t mention it, but if you bring a date, he’ll cover you both.”

He walks back to the building, holding the door for Kei.

“I’m gonna clean up a bit.” Might as well kill some time while Bernie’s in the meeting. Give him plausible deniability, too. If he never sees the cue stick, it makes lying all the easier. Not that Bernie’s the type of man to need the help. “You remember the way out?”

---

Kei Hada

[Kei Hada]

Kei eyed the hole as the guard filled it up with the surrounding dirt, lips pressed in a thin line. He had the urge to repeat his words in a mocking tone - it's just dirt he said - but kept it to himself out of fear of seeming rude. Granted it was a close thing with the way he swayed his head from side to side.

But that was neither here nor there. The project was delivered. He was essentially done. His nonchalance was easy to forgive when Kei's attention was pulled elsewhere either way. Like the envelope in the man's hands. Grabbing it, his eyes went wide at the contents, seeing around the same amount as the payment Bernie gave him. And a coupon to boot too! But how to put it gently that Yaoyao hates fast food?

The obvious answer was to not mention it at all. "Thank you! That's so nice of him." Haha, lie about bringing his girlfriend over avoided. He was getting better at doing that, as the alternative would've been to break into a cold sweat at even the smallest fib. Not believable at all.

Kei nodded as he walked through the door. "Yeah, I do." He lowered his head to the guard. "Please thank Bernie-san for me for the opportunity to work on this project. I hope he'll be as satisfied with it as you are!" Standing up again, he smiled and waved. "If he needs anythin' else, he can send me another letter. For now though I'll head off- have a good day sir!"

With that the support major exited the restaurant, satisfied over a successful transaction.

Ghouligan

[Fanthes]

[nospaces]

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✨MISSION SUCCESS!✨

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✓ A successful transaction! I sure hope Kei's goodwill won't be used to commit crime! Great job you two!! [break][break]

+ 5.000 EXP!

[break]
Ghouligan - 18.000 // 23.000
Kei - 2.250 // 7.250

---

Tag: Ghouligan, Kei Hada

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