Yoshi Miura POV
Yoshi Miura didn't think much about moral torment while working. Nor afterward, for that matter. Unlike Dr. Takahashi, whom he assisted, and some of his colleagues, he didn't consider his work a "great calling" or an opportunity to help "advance scientific thought." No, he felt satisfaction and pride for a job well done, but specifically as a job. He believed that sooner or later others could do this work, so why shouldn't he do it for good money? After all, he hadn't studied at one of the most prestigious medical universities for a measly salary in some backwater position when all the best spots were taken by people with Quirks suited for their field.
However, it wasn't his motivation that attracted Dr. Takahashi. The doctor liked three things most about him: attentiveness, pedantry, and the ability to hold his tongue. And the last skill was by no means the least in importance. Three days after graduation, while he was planning what job to take, his former academic advisor contacted him and said he could recommend a good place to work, but for that, he needed to talk to an acquaintance. Arriving the next day at the meeting place, the Blue Dragon Chinese restaurant in Tokyo, he was led to a private room for visitors. A grey-haired elderly man, dressed like a typical clerk, was already sitting there. Upon his arrival, the man stood up and greeted him.
"Hello. You are Yoshi Miura, aren't you? My name is Akayo Takahashi, and our mutual acquaintance Reiji-san recommended you to me as a young man of great promise."
"Hello, Takahashi-san. Yes, Reiji-san called me yesterday and said he recommended me to you."
"Excellent. I need new workers for my research project. I can offer you a lab assistant position with a subsequent promotion, but for this, you'll have to sign a non-disclosure agreement. The pay, of course, exceeds the standard by one and a half times. As for the topic of the project, which I can disclose before the contract is signed: have you heard about the scientific discovery made three years ago regarding animals?"
"Yes, the topic stirred up all of society then. The possibility of Quirks appearing in animals is amazing, though it causes concern. It's a pity that further study of that animal is impossible since, according to reports, it acquired intelligence comparable to a human's. Is the project's topic related to this? To animal Quirks?"
For the first time in the entire conversation, as Yoshi noticed, the man's face opposite him changed slightly. If before he sat with a benevolent smile and examined him closely, now the smile became slightly ironic, and an expression appeared in his eyes as if he had been told a joke only he understood.
"Yes, we will study Quirks and the possibility of their manifestation in various 'animals.' Although the possibility of Quirks appearing in animals is incredibly rare, according to the data we managed to obtain from those studies, we have options for action to increase the possibility of Quirk manifestation. You are probably wondering what this is all for? Mostly it's related to the phenomenon of Quirks itself. Two centuries have passed since their appearance, yet no one can still give an exact explanation for the reasons for their appearance or an exact definition. About 80% of people have Quirks, and we know deplorably little about them. Yes, we cannot understand why those who have the extra joint in the pinky toe do not develop a Quirk. Research on 'animals' with Quirks could allow for an advanced understanding of the nature of Quirks themselves. And I very much hope that you, Yoshi-san, will make your contribution to our cause."
The conversation itself continued for another thirty minutes, during which they discussed the clauses of the employment contract and a possible work schedule. Yoshi himself was surprised and pleased to get such a profitable job. From the following week after signing the contract, he was brought to the laboratory complex. The first day was mainly devoted to familiarization with duties and the workplace. The complex itself is located in one of Tokyo's special wards and is surrounded by a concrete wall with a security checkpoint, and the building is an unremarkable concrete box. However, the interior might surprise a potential visitor with the brightness and sterile cleanliness of the rooms separated by steel bulkheads, and someone more familiar with science would be surprised by the advanced measuring and computing instruments. At the end of the briefing, Miura received a level one security clearance out of three possible levels and was registered in the local database.
Working for the next six months, Yoshi mainly observed the provided animals and recorded data from the measuring instruments with further calculations and organization. Since the emergence of Quirks, doctors had to study areas of zoology previously in demand mostly in the veterinary profession, as many Quirk owners' body structures can have the traits and properties of beasts. Therefore, Miura did not feel lost in this field, although he primarily planned to interact with people. He was quite interested in the drugs that changed the animals' bodies to sometimes absurd and grotesque forms, although he prudently did not ask questions about it. He didn't meet Dr. Takahashi very often. In those moments, the doctor mostly conducted conversations about medical ethics, the importance of research, and the history of the first attempts to study Quirks. At a certain point, as if having decided something for himself, Yoshi was offered a position as Akayo-san's personal assistant and introduced to a man covering his face with a medical mask.
"Yoshi-kun, I want to introduce you to the owner of a Quirk that is quite unique and incredibly useful in our business. Unfortunately, I cannot give his name, but you can call him the Notary. His Quirk is called Contract..."
As it turned out, his Quirk amusingly resembled the Unbreakable Vow—an indestructible oath from the Harry Potter novels popular back in the era before Quirks. The Quirk works only once on a person; the condition to which the subject of influence agrees must not contradict the principles of their personality, exceed a certain volume, or be too complex to understand. After shaking the Notary's hand and agreeing to the condition to "comply with the terms of the non-disclosure agreement," the Quirk activated, and Miura took note of the future impossibility of forcing himself to reveal any information about the work. Miura agreed to such suspicious conditions because of his belief that if a chance appeared before you, you must take it, and only those who take risks can achieve more.
True, after familiarizing himself with what was studied at the other clearance level, Yoshi thought about the potential problems that were far too large for him. Great money and the opportunity to advance science are good, of course, but not when you fear the appearance of some hero or, God forbid, All Might, and the subjects of your research and test subjects are people, especially children.
End POV
The young black-haired man sighed sadly and finished his simple breakfast, prepared in a hurry. Quickly dressing and getting into his recently purchased car, he drove to work. He shouldn't be late today, as a new batch of material would be brought in soon.