CHAPTER 323(Kicking The Hive)

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CHAPTER START---

---Upstate New York, 7:00 PM...

"Not what you expected, right?" Law asks as he takes a seat in the small diner.

He places two trays on the table, each having a burger and fries, but the one opposite his also has a salad.

"I only ordered a salad," his date says, a gorgeous black woman with a large afro, bright golden eyes, and a Quirk that acts like a moving tattoo of golden ink across her skin, constantly moving and changing like the tides.

Her dress, black and gold, well-fitting and backless, matches his suit, and her eyes are impossible to track as they glow gold, yet he knows she's staring at him while he takes his seat opposite her.

"Women always order the salad, it's polite," Law says as he starts eating his fries. "But then they stare all night staring at your burger, regretting that decision."

"Well I suppose you'd be the expert, you are the international playboy, after all, Mr. Matani," she says, eyeing her burger before reaching for the fries.

"And you're the reporter who agreed to be my date, even knowing that, Alana."

"Already on a first-name basis?" she asks. "Are you always this polite, telling women what they should eat then assuming they're going to sleep with you just because you're," she gestures to all of him.

"Thank you?" Law smiles as he takes a sip of his drink.

She shakes her head, then continues eating her fries.

"Is this the first time you've had to agree to a 'completely business and not a date' type dinner?"

"No, but it's the first time I've been sent a dress and purse I could never hope to afford, only to be taken to a diner," she gestures to the empty diner around them. "Also, if you're trying to buy a woman, you really should add some jewelry."

Law chuckles "You don't need jewelry. You're my jewelry."

"Excuse me?" she sits back in her seat, folding her arms.

"You're a junior reporter to some reporting agency that's already bankrupt, won't even last until the end of next month, you've got no accolade, no experience, nothing to offer, except..." he points to her.

"My body?" she narrows her eyes at him.

"Your Quirk," Law says, pointing at her with a fry. "Dark skin and golden skin, matches the company colors, the family colors, you look good on me."

The woman scoffs, "Four years in college and the biggest opportunity of my life, is because he thinks my Quirk is pretty. You could have at least called me smart before you called me pretty."

"I'd never accuse you of being smart," Law says, jokingly. "Can't be smart if you spent four years studying journalism."

"Now you sound like my dad."

"Well I am a father to my people," Law says. "Ready to get started?"

"Halfway ready for this night to be over," She says while reaching into her purse and taking out a small notepad. 

"So what would you like to know first?" Law asks.

"Your English is very good, by the way," she says.

"My American too."

"American isn't a language," she says.

"Every three states the people sound completely different," Law shrugs. "It's one of the charms only a country this big and divided can have."

"So have you been enjoying your stay over here, you've been seen at a few fundraisers and parties, but you're new headquarters stateside is the Manhattan Matani Tower, why?"

"Central Park is a nice view to wake up to," Law says. "Plus in New York, you can get anything you want...except a street with no noise or traffic."

"Well I can't attest to the former, but the latter is certainly true, which I'd imagine you dislike considering your car collection is ever-growing."

"Buying stupid things like that is a good way to meet people who have more money than they know what to do with," Law says as he takes a bite of his burger. "I'd rather you not put that part about my, associates, in your story."

"Got it," she scratches out her last note. "And now you're here, in America, enjoying your life and setting up some new businesses all of a sudden, why?"

"Growth is part of life, it's that simple."

"You make your employees in Japan nervous, over a hundred thousand people exist under the Matani banner, you being overseas scares them," Alana says. "But they have faith in you. You kept their pay coming when you weren't making any profits, you quite literally bought their trust and respect."

"Everything has a price," Law says. "Well, almost everything."

She raises a brow, "You believe there is something that can't be bought, like what, loyalty?"

"No, money buys opportunity, and one good opportunity is all it takes to earn loyalty," Law says, with a sad smile. "But the only thing I ever cared about can't be bought, after all, people always say money doesn't follow you to the grave."

"Right, your family," she says while taking some notes. "When I researched you, I learned about them. I'm sorry that happened."

"Accidents happen, it's not anyone's fault," Law says. "I just try to make the most of what they left me, help all the people I can."

"Using your inheritance and going public, growing the family business and brand, donating money as if you don't care about your personal account, I should have guessed you don't care about money," she says. "But do you care about yourself?"

Law gives her a strange look, "that's a new one. Hundreds of reporters and none have ever asked me that."

"People rarely ask heroes how they feel."

"Hero?" Law chuckles. "Sorry, I forgot to wear my cape."

"You quickly became a pillar in Japan, what else would you call that?"

Law sighs, "A man with no time on his hands."

"And a man that's good at avoiding questions," she says. "How do you feel, Law?"

Law stops for a moment, thinking about it, then smiles.

"Hopeful."

"Hopeful?"

"I feel stupid for it, but I have to be hopeful, otherwise," he pauses for a moment, thinking very clearly about the future. "Otherwise I don't know what I would become."

"Well, if you ever stop being hopeful, a hundred thousand people could suffer," Alana says.

Law smiles as he takes a sip of his drink, "Sure, just a hundred thousand. What about you, how are you feeling?"

"I'm on a date with one of the most rich and powerful people in the world, so I'm nervous."

"Date, I thought this was an interview?"

"That too," she quickly takes a deep breath to focus. "And what's your endgame?"

"No idea," Law admits, seeing her finally eating her burger. "I've got a lot of things I want to do, maybe be the messiah, maybe the devil, which should I be?"

"There are people calling you both, how about we flip a coin and you decide?"

"Nah, I know what I am, now we just wait," Law says, jokingly. "Enjoying your burger?"

"It feels wrong eating a burger on a da---interview."

"That just helps it taste better," Law shrugs.

After another half hour of talking, they both finish their meals and get up to leave, and Law leaves a thousand-dollar tip on the table.

"I wish more rich people were like you," Alana says as she notices the tip, before following him out of the diner. "Would make a lot of people working regular jobs happier."

"Most people care about the money they have," Law says. "But nothing I want has a price tag, unless you know someone who can resurrect people...do you?"

"Maybe you should get on Horizon's list, win the bid, and have him try his magic."

"It's not magic, it's just a strong Quirk," Law says. "Besides, already tried that. Two billion dollars for him to tell me it's impossible. If there is a god, it's not him..."

"Wow," Alana says as they arrive at his car, a sports car she doesn't recognize in the Matani colors, black and gold. "What kind of car is this?"

"It's custom, from the wheels and chassis to the engine and interior," Law says. 

"Well, driving back to Manhattan does give us some open road for you to actually enjoy it, can't say I'm excited for the drive back," Alana gestures to her car parked nearby, a slightly worn down older car.

"About that," Law says as he takes out the keys and hands them to her.

"What?"

"You think I'd have someone this beautiful on my arm and not show you off?" he asks after handing her the keys.

"So the interview isn't done?"

"Not even close," Law walks over to the passenger seat. "And you're driving, someone will come by to get your car, it'll be waiting for you after breakfast. Now lets go, we've got a party to get to..."

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