MHA: SHADOWS IN UA

The cab moved at a steady pace, keeping a safe distance between the man's car.

The hum of traffic blending into the background as I leaned against the window, my gaze locked on the car ahead.

The city outside changed gradually.

The glass buildings and polished streets gave way to something grittier—older storefronts, smaller businesses, cracked sidewalks.

It wasn't a bad neighborhood, but it was definitely a step down from where he came from.

Not the kind of place you'd expect a high-profile businessman to frequent.

That alone made it interesting.

I watched the car slow and pull into a small parking lot beside a row of shops.

The man stepped out, adjusted his cuffs, and shut the door.

My cab rolled past, giving me a brief but clear view of him before I spoke.

"Drop me off up ahead."

The driver nodded, pulling over at the corner.

I paid him and stepped out, pulling my hood up as I started walking.

Not directly toward him, obviously. That would be stupid.

Instead, I moved at a natural pace, doing my best to blend into the crowd.

He was walking with a calm air, his pace steady. No looking around.

I kept my distance, my hands tucked in my pockets, my phone in one hand in case I needed fake checking something.

He turned the corner.

I slowed, waiting a few seconds before following.

The surroundings were different from before. We weren't in the polished part of the city anymore.

The buildings were older, the streets a little narrower.

The stores here were smaller businesses, mom-and-pop shops, and places with faded signage.

He stepped into one of them.

I exhaled and kept walking, passing by without stopping. Just close enough to glance through the glass window.

Inside, he was at the counter, talking to the cashier. His back was turned to me, his posture still casual.

I kept my distance, moving toward a nearby cafe and slipping inside. A good vantage point.

Then came the waiting.

Spying wasn't all action and high-stakes tension—it was a lot of sitting around, pretending to be occupied.

I just had to pretend that I belonged here while trying not to look suspicious.

I took a seat by the window, pulled out my phone, and tapped at the screen idly.

Every so often, I glanced up and I have to say,

If this was some kind of secret meeting spot, it was an odd choice.

No suspicious cars waiting nearby. No shady figures lurking around.

I'm not really expecting something out of crime series but maybe this wasn't business.

Maybe he actually needed a damn USB cable or something.

But I doubted it.

AFO wouldn't waste time tracking someone unimportant.

I waited.

Minutes passed. Then an hour.

Still nothing.

I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose.

This was the part no one ever talked about, the mind-numbing boredom.

By the second hour, I was questioning if this was even worth my time. But then—

Movement.

The door finally swung open.

The man stepped out, still looking completely at ease

I straightened slightly, pretending to stretch as I stood up, ready to tail him

He walked with that same casual confidence, heading toward his car.

I kept my distance, matching his pace but careful to keep enough space between us.

But instead of getting in, he turned and started toward a narrow street.

The shops here were a little rougher—older, more used.

Some of them had neon lights still flickering on, advertising cheap deals on electronics and clothes.

I adjusted my position, ducking into a convenience store to give him a bit of space.

From the aisle, I watched him and thankfully, he didn't seem to notice.

He was heading for a small pharmacy now. Nothing flashy about it, the type of place that I would walk by without a second glance.

I stayed put for a moment, watching through the glass as he entered.

I didn't get a great look inside, but I saw the cashier wave him in with a smile that didn't seem forced. The door closed behind him.

A few minutes passed.

I shifted my weight, biting back the urge to fidget.

I glanced at my phone, pretending to scroll, though my eyes kept darting back to the pharmacy door.

Finally, he came back out, the bag in hand.

Not heavy. Maybe it was light, or maybe it was just the way he held it.

It looked like nothing special, no fancy logos or symbols on the outside, just a plain, simple brown bag.

No one would bat an eye at it, but taking in the mission and this environment, it didn't sit right with me.

He didn't go straight back to his car. Instead, he turned the opposite direction, heading toward a side street.

I let him get a little ahead before I followed, my shoes making no sound on the pavement. My eyes were locked on his figure.

Then, I caught sight of the street he was heading down. It was quieter here, with fewer people.

The walls were littered with faded posters, signs barely holding up in the wind.

It wasn't sketchy or dangerous. But it was surely different.

I kept following at a safe distance, making sure to stay hidden in the shadows of the buildings.

A few more blocks passed, and then, as I was crossing a side street, I saw it.

A black van parked up ahead.

The man didn't seem to react to it, but he glanced around just once before slipping into an alleyway that led toward the back of the cafe I had been trailing him from earlier.

He stopped at a door, the kind of place you'd expect a storage entrance to be.

I hung back, pulling out my phone again and pretending to text, though my eyes never left him.

I wanted to see what he'd do next. If he was meeting someone, I needed to know who.

But instead of entering the building like I expected, the man stood still for a moment, like he was checking something in his pocket.

Then, he slipped something out of his jacket.

I couldn't make it out, but it definitely looked like a piece of paper.

He folded it up quickly, like it was something he didn't want anyone else to see. And that was enough.

I was about to move closer, to get a better view, when I heard a voice behind me.

"Azaria?"

My blood ran cold.

I slowly turned, my heartbeat picking up as I tried to play it off.

***

Azaria turned towards the voice, his brain stalling for a second.

Denki Kaminari was standing a few feet away, hands stuffed in his jacket pockets.

He was grinning like he had just stumbled onto something hilarious.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Denki asked, stepping closer.

Azaria forced his expression to remain neutral.

"Well, I could ask you the same thing Denki."

Azaria barely spared him a glance before flicking his eyes back to the man in the distance.

Across the street, the man had slowed his pace near a parked car. If he got in—

Denki smirked. "Dude, don't deflect. I called your name, and you just flinched like I just caught you doing something illegal."

Azaria resisted the urge to sigh. Of all times to run into someone he knew, it had to be now?

He tried to keep his body relaxed even though irritation prickled at the back of his mind.

Across the street, the man was standing beside the car, checking his phone.

Azaria still had time—if he could just wrap this up fast.

"You just caught me off guard," Azaria muttered. "That's all."

"Then what, you just happen to be standing on a random-ass street, looking all serious." Denki wiggled his eyebrows. "Lemme guess. Secret date? Mystery girlfriend?"

"It's nothing like that, not what you're thinking."

"Yeah, yeah, that's what they all say," Denki teased. "Come on, bro, don't lie. You usually maintain a chill vibe in school and now you're out here, looking all serious in the middle of nowhere? It's gotta be a girl."

Azaria's jaw tightened.

Across the street, the man opened the car door.

Azaria shifted slightly, angling his body so he could keep him in his peripheral vision without making it obvious.

The longer Denki talked, the more time he was wasting.

"Like I said, it's nothing like that. You're just making it up."

"Okay, okay, maybe not a girlfriend. But like a sugar mama? Oh my god, tell me it's a sugar mama."

Azaria blinked. "What?"

"I knew it." Denki nodded to himself, like it all made sense now. "I mean, you do have that whole mysterious pretty-boy thing going on. Some rich lady probably scooped you up."

Azaria exhaled slowly. "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard."

Denki wasn't deterred. "Then why are you here?"

"Just running an errand," Azaria said.

Denki hummed. "Weird place for an errand."

Azaria kept his expression even. "Weird place for you to be, too."

Denki grinned. "Touche." Then he shrugged. "I was just picking something up for my mom. She sent me to this shop down the street because she saw some fancy imported tea online. It better be life-changing for how much she's hyping it up."

Azaria nodded absently, barely processing the words.

His eyes darted back to the man—

And his stomach twisted.

He kept his breathing even, forcing himself to stay still as he watched the man slide into the car.

He wanted to run. Right now. Just break off the conversation and go.

But Denki was right there. If he bolted, it'd be suspicious.

Denki grinned. "But you know, that'd be wild, man. You, getting picked up in fancy cars, going on expensive dates with a sugar mama. Meanwhile, here I am, still trying to scrape together money for extra snacks at lunch."

A car door shut. The engine rumbled to life.

Azaria's stomach sank.

Denki kept going, oblivious. "Wait, don't tell me you're into older older women. Like, rich widow type. Bro, if you tell me you're pulling some 'lonely housewife' storyline, I swear—"

"I wouldn't," Azaria muttered.

Denki snapped his fingers. "Damn. Missed opportunity, man. You'd have been set for life."

The car pulled into traffic.

Azaria kept his face neutral, but inside, irritation burned.

He'd lost him.

Denki hummed, rocking back on his heels. "You sure you're good, though? You seemed kinda out of it when I called you."

Azaria glanced down the street, but it was pointless.

His target was gone.

No point in pretending anymore. He'd fucked up.

He forced a small smile. "Yeah. Just thinking about my sugar mummy."

Denki reeled back like he'd been physically hit. "WHAT?"

Azaria turned away, already walking in the opposite direction.

"Later, Denki."

"WAIT—NO, YOU CAN'T JUST SAY THAT AND LEAVE. AZARIA, GET BACK HERE—"

Denki's voice faded behind him as he increased his pace.

But as he turned a corner and finally lost sight of him, his smile dropped.

He let out a frustrating sigh, as he face palmed.

"Fucking Denki."

———

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