[The Japanese Hero Commission] Striving for the Truth

Elevator doors would open and unleash a myriad of folks in suits. There was on that wasn't quite like the others. Speed, rather Mayoi now, was who they were all answering to. He'd been getting up to speed on many things, the commission was an entirely different beast than being a hero. He was glad to have placed his agency in Panda's hands, as he could work from inside and try to make changes in the industry from within. If he couldn't fight crime, he'd fight the system that allowed tragedies to happen.

He was told there was going to be a meeting today, but he was too embroiled in paperwork to really see who. As the group finish off their simultaneous breifing, they scatter to their own offices and tasks, leaving Mayoi to see who exactly was awaiting  him. "Oh, it's you." Mild surprise, but there was an undertone of bitterness. The two hadn't talked since that night. It was the night he questioned Benji's motives for the first time and the night Nocturne was killed. It was an off the books operation, but it was a stain on his integrity as a hero. Honestly... if he didn't have lasting wounds, he wasn't quite sure how he could push through knowing a major hero died that night. He HATED Nocturne, but that didn't mean the guy deserved to die. Maybe if they stayed things could have turned out differently. 

He brushed his hair out of his face only for it to flop back down. "Seems you had an appointment with the director. That would be me now." He would hobble over to the number one and offer a handshake. Was the least he could do to keep things cordial.  

Mayoi sat with his feelings as he scanned his former partner up and down. Benji's hand was warm, like it always had been. Speed would turn, and keep his crutches tight to make his trip to the meeting room more efficient. "Let's get this show on the road. HEY!" Some of the associates would stop in their tracks as Mayoi quickly hobbled passed them. A childish but valient effort from the once speedy hero. "Don't think you're faster than ME!" Speed was still Speed, regardless of his position. He held a strong amount of pride and an indomitable will.

Though he could no longer be a hero, hero would create an environment that would cull any corruption that the commission once had. But first, he and Strive needed to understand what led up to that night at the wharf, and how things were ran prior to his taking office. "We have much to discuss."

Speed sat on the first statement. With what he knew now, there was no way he could call Benji a bad friend. Did he still feel a way about the situation, absolutely... but a bad friend?-NEVER. He eyed the associates, who seemingly understood it was probably best if they left the number one and former hero to their selves for this conversation. It was something that needed to be discussed in private. Mayoi didn't interupt his former partner.

It was fair. Rather, they'd gone so long without speaking, it was almost expected. There wasn't particularly any time to speak anyway. There was an uptick of crime when Nocturne passed, and on top of that, Speed had to invest his resources into his protege, and into his future career. A lot had changed in this short period of time. Change was necessary and arguably just as good as it was bad. "Mmm... " Initially it was all he could get out. He wanted to shout at the man, but no good would come from that. Instead, the chairman took a deep breath. "Saying you don't deserve to be number one would be a spit in the face of both Nocturne and myself. Hold you chin up with pride, hero." This wasn't as his "friend" but as chairman. Ifs, shoulda, couldas, and wouldas didn't matter. What mattered was the present.

Presently, the country needed a number one hero more than anything. Strive being so down on his luck would only breed cracks in this society of theirs. People needed someone to believe in, someone who could foster hope. "I guess in a way, I see what Nocturne meant. Being number 1 can make you blind to a few things if you stand in the spot light long enough. Who do you think was standing behind you this whole time? There were top heroes behind you, supporting and helping you this whole time."

Pointing to himself, "even the nobodies who help you. There was never a moment when you didn't have help." A slight joke at his most impressive feat as a hero, being a retirement announcement on the news.

"He also was wrong about a lot of things, in the same way we were that night... Instead of sticking himself on an island and putting the mission first, he should've considered our motived and intentions as well. " The chairman would allow his laptop to connect to the room's projector. On display, a signed document would reveal a hero request from a anonymous third party. It was a shell company requesting hero security for vip guests. Due to the type of guests, it seemed to warrant a hero of status. Nocturne, while he specialized in combat and detective work, was a suitable candidate. "His claim of being there on work was legit, as was his silence about the details. I'm sure with his familial background, there were likely a few people he begrudgingly wanted to protect. I can't speak for the case with his mother, but there has been confirmation of her death. Safe to say it was why he fought so hard... Unfortunately, they both are gone now..."

With a disappointed sigh, he-" In the simplest of terms. Neither side between him and us were wrong... He was speaking his truth, as were we. Rather than hearing each other out, we duked it out and only caused more disarray, just like the enemy wanted. Knowing KK he probably took into consideration of Nocturne's nature as a hero, and your want to finally see your sister to his advantage. Absolute success, we damn sure weren't gonna stop and he was deadly serious when facing us... " He gingerly held on his abdomen, where a blade once passed through.It was an awful memory from an awful night. Eyes trained on Benji, Speed continued, showing more of the document. This included Nocturne's kit and approval to use his own resources rather than pulling from heroes pools as one typically would. It was all there.

"I'm sorry none of us could realize this all sooner, partner. We could've saved, Yoo, your sister, and possibly even his mother. I take this failure on as my own... I can only push for situations like this to never happen again with the commission." As viciously as they all fought, Speeds hatred dwindled in the face of his best friend. His eyes were sad, darkened by the trauma. He fought tears, but forced it out, albeit quietly. "I'm sorry, Benji. As heroes... we lost that battle entirely. You, me and Nocturne." It was true, one hero dead, one hero forced into retirement, and one hero emotionally scarred by it all. Hope would never die here, but it damn sure did hurt the prideful Mayoi.

For now they needed to connect the dots. They needed to draw a clearer picture, so they knew how to move forward. They need heroes to build a stronger sense of unity, so situations like this didn't happen again. There was so so so so much work that needed to be done.