"He's gone..." Shoto said, when the last trace of Enji had faded from the hall's echoes. She pulled the covers down to under her chin, but stared the empty doorway. Mr. Hoshino huffed out a puff of air while he pushed a hand through his hair.
"I'm... sorry," he said, looking Shoto's direction with intensity. It felt more like he was apologizing for his parenting than the situation. "Shoto, is everything all right? Do I need to send someone to check your place out?"
"It's fine, Mr. Hoshino. Don't worry about it."
"Because Kairi's made mention, and based what I just heard-"
"I appreciate the concern. But I promise things are all right. My father and I simply don't get along, that's all there is to it. Not every parent is perfect, right?"
"Right, but..." He gave Kairi pleading eyes. She shook her head hopelessly, still swaddled in her coverings. "Listen, I'm... going to head on down to the station and see what they've gathered after questioning QuirKey's staff. Do you want me to let in your friends?" Shoto looked to Kairi, waiting. She nodded. Mr. Hoshino grunted as he raised from the stool, making for his daughter's bed. He leaned over and pressed a kiss to her forehead, eliciting a smile. He turned and held out a hand for Shoto, who took it firmly. "If I come here claiming official police duty, the hospital is required to allow me in, even outside of visiting hours. So if either of you need anything, I am more than willing to come at any time." He winked at Shoto before dropping his hand. Shoto leaned over and gave Kairi a look. She only rolled her eyes before slowly emerging from her blanketed cocoon. The awkward tension fell away with her father's cheerful warmth, allowing her to break from her shell.
"I'm not in need of anything. Thank you, sir," Shoto said.
"The hospital staff said they would supply us with any toiletries we needed," Kairi said. "Besides, isn't flashing your police badge when you're not actually on duty in order to gain privileges considered an abuse of power?"
"It's simply to see my daughter who is in the hospital. I hardly think that's much of a punishable offense that could be considered an abuse of power."
"Regardless, don't worry about us. Just get some rest. You've been doing too many late nights over that kidnapping case."
"Then unless you call for something, I'll be here tomorrow when they release you, Kairi. With a change of clothes?" She nodded. "Have a good night then. Try not to make too much trouble for the nurses."
"So no coloring on the walls then?" Mr. Hoshino smirked. "Damn."
"See you, Riri. Shoto." He disappeared into the clatter of the hallway. Kairi pushed her blanket down all the way and sat straight up.
"I'm sorry for my father's behavior," Shoto said. "That was uncalled for and terrible of him to say." Kairi rolled her fingers together, examining the stressed lines across her nails. Horror stroke through her with the imprint of his father's words. Shoto frowned at the feeling she left.
"Am I a bad influence?" Her voice diminished to one nearly inaudible. "Do I weaken you and make you make questionable decisions?"
"No, of course not, why would you think that?" He scoffed. "I went with you to make sure you were safe. I could never just let you go out there alone."
"But you would be a much better hero..."
"That's bullshit and you know it. You have done the exact opposite. Look, I have never... seen much compassion in my household. I know how it looks on TV, and I have a theory of what it looks. But I had never seen much of it until Midoriya exhibited last year. And then I saw it up close and personal, being your friend. In fact, with you, I literally feel it. It's helped to educate me. Care and compassionate makes for a better understanding hero. And that feeling is what made me refuse to abandon you. I had to remain by your side to make sure you were safe. That's what heroes do, we protect people, right?"
"But my decisions could have put you in terrible danger and gotten you in major trouble!"
"What does that matter so long as you were safe?" He spat. The quickness in his reply made her chest shudder. How could he be so blasé about everything and focus so much on her own safety? Her heart was struggling to contain itself thinking about it. Eyes fixed to her, centering his focus. She grew warm. "You were my priority, the whole time. None of that other stuff I mattered. I tried to make sure we were following hero protocol, and thankfully we didn't break any laws. But even that wouldn't have mattered."
"But that's exactly what your father said! There's protocols for a reason and m... my, erm.. your need to... make sure I was said caused you to ignore them and...!"
"And your father said it was situational. Which it was. And the situation was I chose to concern myself more with you."
"But I was weak! I couldn't do anything in there, I...!"
"Stop it, Kairi! Stop it! You're the reason we got out. You got us out."
"Yeah, because I used some old and stupid trick you come up with."
"It doesn't matter who came up with it! That's what this is, right? We're comrades. We're friends. We're partners in the field. We play off of each other, plan together, work together. Strengths and weakness, we can build off the other, and we're stronger together. Never leave your partner behind, right? You should know all about that. That's what I refused to do. I refused to leave my partner behind. And so did you. Not just me... you made sure to get Bakugo, someone you can't stand. Sacrificing your own self for the benefit of others. That's not just hero work, it also is something the average person struggles with. Sometimes even the strongest among us have trouble being so selfless. Yet, you did it without hesitating. Maybe you can't throw a punch the way some of others can, but the strength of your mind and character might be better than you can even say for some heroes. You're not weak, Kairi. If anything you strengthen me." Her heart would not calm, and would not take a break from its ballet performance as it leapt wildly in her chest. His words, filled with a devotion and yet felt unworthy of it. She shied away from the impact of his words, but could not deny how warm they felt when they seeped into her soul. How she wanted. So small, and yet so tall at the same time. It was impossible to turn away from these feelings. Did liking your best friend have to be so complicated? "If my father says anything on the contrary one more time, I won't hesitate to face off against him myself."
"Well, I... I'm sorry for the ridiculous claims your father made."
"Yeah, I am too."
"I'm sorry he accused you for growing weak around me, and for implying you had some sort of crush on me."
"... Don't worry about that, Kairi. It's fine."
"It really was stupid of me to go in there without getting some backup."
"Everyone makes some stupid decisions. However, you were suspicious of QuirKey from the beginning, which is some pretty good intuition. Pretty smart about that, if you ask me." She smiled warmly.
Clamoring and excitable talking was heard just outside the hospital room. Green hair popped in first before Momo pushed past the eager Izuku. Tsu pushed past both of them but leaping between Momo's long legs and popping up in front of them. "Ribbit!" she greeted.
"You're okay!" Kairi called.
"Yep!" Izuku said, giving her a thumbs up. "Endeavor blasted them, cutting them off the rest of the building. Eraserhead erased that woman's vomit quirk and I isolated the lion man with one of my smashes. With a few extra moves from Tsu and Momo, Tsu restrained them long enough for Endeavor to get them the handcuffs and the cops took them away. It was a quick fight once the Pro Heroes were on scene!"
"What happened in there?" Shoto relayed the story again, saving Kairi having to relive it again. The three of them held on firmly to his tale, each of them becoming more horrified the further he explained.
"... now they want to hold us over night," he finished. "Does anyone know if Bakugo is awake yet?"
"He's groggy, but swearing a lot," Momo said. She shrugged her shoulders. "I'm... really sorry, but I knew that you just couldn't go in there without some proper backup. I talked to Midoriya and we both agreed we needed to find Aizawa and get him involved. Tsu refused to let us go alone and once we told Aizawa... he told Endeavor who of course wanted to go after Todoroki. I'm sorry, Kairi, I know you wanted..."
"No, it's fine, you were absolutely right..." she sighed. "I should have been more logical than relying on my emotions. Again."
"Your emotions weren't wrong," Izuku said. "They were right in pointing out QuirKey had some diabolical secrets."
"It's okay, Izuku. I know I need to learn to balance the two mind sets," Kairi dismissed casually.
"We only got a few minutes but we wanted to see you before heading back, ribbit!" said Tsu.
"Were you terribly injured at all?" Momo asked.
"Some scrapes and bruises, but we're all right," Shoto answered. He gestured towards Kairi. "She... hurt her wrists a bit, thanks to those damn restraints being sharp and too tight."
"But I'm okay," Kairi added.
"Bakugo was clearly not happy to be in the hospital. We left when his mother came in screaming. He wasn't too happy to see us anyway," said Izuku. Kairi lifted a brow.
"His... mother started screaming?" she repeated. Izuku breathed in cautiously.
"Bakugo's anger is inherited, it seems," he said. Kairi looked to Shoto, who only shrugged as if it were knowledge he already had.
"Well... thanks for... bringing in back-up... and telling Aizawa..." Kairi's confessing thanks spiraled out of her slowly.
"I'm sorry, Kairi, I just..." Momo said guiltily. "But I felt it was necessary and I... if anything bad happened to either of you because-"
"I know." Kairi held up a hand to stop her. "It's okay. You made the right call. I was too stubborn and hard-headed and should have just done what you did."
"Learning to be a hero also means making some mistakes along the way," Tsu said, leaning over the bed to pat Kairi's hand. She smiled down at her. One of the nurses from earlier peered into the room, reminding them visiting hours were ending for the night.
"We'll see you all tomorrow, I'm sure," Shoto said, waving them away. "We're just here for observation to make sure we didn't sustain any terrible damage."
"Yeah, and then we can begin the lectures..." Kairi groaned, slipping back under her covers while she half-heartedly waved at their friends before they disappeared from the room. The nurse shut the heavy door behind them, leaving both Shoto and Kairi in a silent room once again.
"I doubt it will be as bad as you think," he said to her, though his voice sounded somewhat hesitant. She rolled the blankets in her fingers, eyes boring into the texture of the fabric between her hands.
"This is what my quirk does, Shoto. One way or another... it brings trouble."
"That's-"
"Don't say it's ridiculous. It happened slower this time, but being friends with me is a dangerous thing. I could have gotten us in serious trouble. I have already gotten you in trouble with your father..." Her stomach churned in her discomfort as she remembered him yelling in the room.
"That's nothing I can't handle. And it's nothing to do with you, okay? My father is like that."
"I mean that isn't good, but that doesn't mean I should be aggravating it more. A policeman's daughter, and if you weren't there I would have broken the law because I didn't care! My emotions ruled over me because I can't control how erratic they are, how crazy they get! My senses are overpowered and it turns into a huge mess like this! Being my friend is dangerous, I'm dangerous! Almost synonymous with a villain, even!" Shoto aggressively shook his head. "I dragged you into this, if it weren't for your sense, I would have gotten you in major trouble! God, can you imagine the lecture we're going to get from Aizawa? From the Principal, for completely abandoning everything we're been taught as heroes! And it was my fault!" Her soul stirred up her wild anxiety. Tension pushed against her, and she was unable to stop the tears that flowed freely. She swallowed, wishing that thickness would disappear from her throat. Breaths deepened with the visible rises in her chest. Shoto frowned and shoved aside his blankets before rising to his feet. "I caused all of this! Because no matter how much I fucking try, I can't get control of this! I am out of control! Not only do I make stupid decisions but... I... I get... I can't..." She gulped, trying to find air and only grasping small amounts of it. She curled her fingers around each other, twitching in her spot. Wheezing breaths sounded from her while Shoto wheeled his monitor alongside his steps. Upon standing near her bed, he tapped against her knee. Responding automatically, she moved several inches to her right, allowing room beside her. Shoto swung his legs over the bed and laid beside her. Kairi was too lost in her panic for anything to occur to her about how close he was.
"Before I say anything I need you to focus on taking breaths. Don't think about anything else. Hold each breath for a couple seconds before releasing them, okay?" Kairi nodded, obeying him. In moments, her panic decreased slightly, but her hands still shook. Shoto placed a hand against her back, talking her through her grounding exercises until she felt reasonably calm again. His palm continued to burn into her back while he spoke. "We're going to still make mistake. We're still in training. And even Pro Heroes are still making mistakes on occasion. You think all the teachers are going to expect us to be perfect heroes already? At fifteen, almost sixteen? In addition, we're teenagers. Every parent in the world will tell you teenagers make stupid decisions. That's including the ones who aren't heroes, even the quirkless." Her heart smiled while she wiped at a stray tear. "Maybe things would have been worse alone. That's why it's important for heroes to work with others, right? To hold each other accountable for their actions and to work together to find the best course of action. Maybe I prevented things from being worse, but you got us out and you were the one who sensed something was fishy in the first place. And you were right. And Momo, and Midoriya... they were the ones who thought to send in back-up. Friends work together to build each other up. Heroes work together to make the best decision and turn out the strongest and most effective result. There were some bumps, but that's what we did. Heroes who are also friends? There's nothing stronger than that, I think."
"But if I hadn't so badly wanted to go, you wouldn't have wanted to go!" Kairi argued, though her chest had relaxed and her voice had grown even. Shoto shook his head calmly.
"No. I said it before. I wanted to go to make sure you were going to be safe. It didn't matter how badly you wanted to go. That was all me, and not you. Your own emotions had nothing to do with me going with. I wasn't going to send you in there alone, and that was that. And if anything like that ever happens again, I will strongly try to talk you out of it. But I am never going to let you go alone. I will never abandon you like that."
It was uncontrollable, the fluttering in her soul. Surely, he felt it. It was impossible, considering how wild the feeling was acting. Her breath quickened again, for a different reason this time. The heat from his arm touched against her shoulder and back, while he continued to keep her in a strange half embrace. She froze while she gripped the blanket. A screaming for him to back away from her so she couldn't feel his closeness echoed in her mind. However, the screaming faded, drowned out by her heart's pleads for him to remain. The firmness in his words, the promise that he was never going to leave her alone. It was terrifying and she begged in her soul that he was wrong. With her quirk, it sounded terrible. Kairi pushed away every scenario that occurred to her, of how that could damage him. She wished he wouldn't. But didn't please her and lift her victorious. How much she wanted it to be true and for him to remain beside her through anything.
"I wish you wouldn't say such things," she sniffled. Golden amber eyes twinkled. "But I'm grateful, regardless."
"Good," he smirked. "I'm sorry about the uh... panda sweatshirt."
"It's fine, it's just clothes."
"But the ears!" he reminded. "If I remember right, you would not stop texting me about the ears when you bought it. They were the only reason you bought it."
"It served a better purpose," she shrugged as Shoto reached over for her phone on the nearby tray. He tapped at it, opening the streaming app for them.
"Season seven, right?" he asked. Her shoulders rolled back as the weight of her stress fell away. Kairi situated herself more comfortably against him, leaning over to get a better look at the phone. "Try not to get so excited again you have a heart attack."
"Aren't I in the best place to have a heart attack?"
"Do you want to be the want to tell the doctors you had a heart attack because you were so excited you just couldn't contain yourself and fangirled so hard?"
"I would wear that as a badge of honor!" she declared with a prideful fist to her chest. Shoto rolled his eyes, face aglow with amusement.
"Of course you would..." he sighed, pressing play. For the most part, she was silent, too exhausted from the day's events. However, she found it in her to release a small squeal now and then.
Three episodes later, the phone had fallen into Shoto's lap, Kairi's head rested against his shoulder, and the two of them slept soundly.