25Chapter 6: Planning II
Yagi hesitantly stood across a dingy-looking building with the words 'Uraraka Construction Company' labeled on top. After his experience with the furniture store, he didn't have high hopes. But, for some reason, he did trust the old man, and the building didn't look half as bad as the other ones he had seen.
Hesitantly, Yagi knocked on the door.
"Can I help you?" A man asked, opening the door.
"Yeah, are you part of the construction company?" Yagi asked.
The man's eyes widened, "Yes, yes! Come in, please!" He said enthusiastically and let Yagi in. Yagi was surprised to see a pretty well-furnished room. Heck, the room even had art hung up. It was definitely not something Yagi expected in this part of the town.
"Please, have a seat." The man motioned. Yagi obliged, "So, can I get you anything? Tea, coffee?"
"No thanks, er,"
"Hayate Uraraka"
"Uraraka-san, I would rather get down to business first. I have a stuffed schedule as it is." Yagi excused.
"Honey, who are you talking to?" A woman entered the room, "Oh sorry, I didn't know you had guests over." The woman said.
"He's a client. This is my wife, Yugao"
"Nice to meet you Mrs. Uraraka."
The wife smiled, "Hey, you're the guy who was handing out food yesterday, right? Nearly caused a stampede?"
Yagi grimaced while Hayate gave her wife a look, "What? I'm not saying his intentions weren't pure. Just needed some better application."
Yagi laughed the remark off much to Hayate's relief, "I suppose it did. But now I'm trying to plan out things better. That's partly why I'm here."
"Before we get there, how do we know you are trustworthy? Who are you working for?" Yugao remarked.
Hayate grimaced, "Honey-"
"I know, I know, we haven't had clients in a long time, but we have to be cautious! We have little Ochako's safety to think for too."
Yagi gave a shaky smile, "Don't worry! I'm not a villain or anything. I work for All Might."
"So, we've already heard," Hayate sighed, "The truth is we're not too great on All Might either. I mean I look up to the guy but he's partly the reason we're in this situation."
"Now who's being insulting to the client?" Yugao asked sarcastically.
Yagi looked shocked, "Could you please elaborate?"
"I don't know much myself but we know All Might was in a major fight before his retirement. That fight ended up destroying a lot of our ongoing construction projects. The clients weren't willing to pay more money to replace the damage. So, we had to sell most of our assets and relocate. And here, no one even knows of us, and worse, no one will trust someone from this part of the town." Hayate said sadly.
Yagi's heart sank. He clenched his fists. Another way he had failed as All Might. The longer he stayed in this place, the more he saw, just how much of a failure he was, "How could I be so stupid? How didn't I take this into account and reimburse the damages? Am I really that complacent without Nighteye?"
Yugao noticed Yagi's guilty look and reassured him, "Don't worry! It's not your fault! And the fact that All Might is helping now, through you, is good enough for us!"
Yagi nodded with a trembling smile, "I hope so…"
"So, can we get started on the business now?" Hayate asked.
Yagi nodded, "The stampede made me realize that we need a grocery store of some kind. For now, I'm using the already existing one. But besides a grocery store, we will also need other types of stores. So, I want you to build a shopping mall!"
"That is quite ambitious. I don't think people in this part of the town really have the money to spend on shopping." Hayate ceded.
"True, but I'm not talking about modern high-tech malls. Just a place big enough to house all the things a person may need, so that Might Tower can subsidize them."
"Labor will be difficult. I had to fire almost all of my labor for the downsize."
"I want you to use the people here. That will help increase the workforce and help people make some money of their own, hopefully for the better." Yagi replied.
"That makes sense but there is one issue," Hayate replied. Yagi looked at him questioningly, "The Yakuza won't be pleased a new man is calling the shots. And there's no way of knowing if they will plant anyone in our hired labor."
"I can offer you police protection for that."
"The last thing I want is a gang war." Hayate grimaced.
"So, are you refusing the deal?" Yagi questioned.
"Not at all. The money I can refuse, but I do want to help make a difference here. I just want one more favor." Hayate said.
"What is it?" Yagi asked.
"I want you to take my daughter and wife to the orphanage," Hayate whispered out.
"Hayate!" Yugao exclaimed.
"I'm sorry, but that's the best thing. I can't risk you two getting hurt! You can pose as a helper for the orphanage to help look after the other kids alongside Ochako. They do need it. And you've been meaning to help out for some time now anyway!"
Yugao bit her lip, "You are right," She conceded, "But you better stay alive!"
Hayate laughed, "Don't worry, I will!" Then he extended his hand toward Yagi, "So, deal?"
Yagi bit his lips, "Should I accept? The risk is great! I don't want to make a widow and an orphan!" Yagi cried out in his mind. Yet, a whisper in his mind told him to accept. He had been making decisions for the so-called better for a while now, and it had landed him in a worse situation. Was it really worth the risk?
"Then again, the only thing I was truly ever capable of was saving people as All Might. I can and WILL protect him!" Yagi thought vehemently as he extended his hand, "I accept."
A/N: Sorry, it's a short chapter, but hope you liked it nevertheless