Chapter 11
Misa stood with Rin and her mother at the trainstation a few days after the house fire with Rin wrapped around her legs. "I will make sure to always keep in touch okay? If there is anything either of you need, please don't hesitate to call." Misa smiled, hugging Rin tighter.
"We should be safe with my sister. I can't tell you how much we appreciate everything you've done. You saved my daughter." Rin's mother cried, pulling Misa in for a bone crunching hug. "Thank you." Misa smiled kindly and pulled Rin from her legs gently.
"Keep working hard, okay? You are so strong." She whispered, wiping Rin's tears from her cheek. "I'm going to miss you."
"Me too Shira." Rin choked, wiping her tears roughly with the back of her hand.
"Call me Misa. Take care of each other" Misa sniffed, seeing the approaching train. Rin's mother took her hand and stepped into the train, sending one last wave to Misa. "Bye baby girl." Misa whispered, turning to leave the station.
Misa decided on the long walk home; letting her mind buzz with heavy thoughts. She hadn't spoken to Bakugou since she ended their game, unsure of where they stood now. A line had been crossed that neither refused to acknowledge before. Did everything just get too complicated to come back from? Coming to a bridge, Misa leaned over the railing, remembering this to be the location where Bakugou saw her cry. His gentle words and strong arms were her support that day, a day she can't forget. Never had she been so open and vulnerable, but he didn't look down on her for her shortcomings. He just wanted to be there for her. Twirling her thumbs in thought, the image of Bakugou's hurt expression when she chose to end their game returned to her mind. "Why is this so hard?" She mumbled, rubbing her eyes. "What do I want?" A buzzing in her pocket stopped her thoughts. Glaring at the screen, a low growl sounded from Misa. "Time for patrol."
Meanwhile at Todoroki Agency, Bakugou was mindlessly twirling his pen between his fingers at his desk when Todoroki got his attention. "You really need to talk to her."
"Who?" Bakugou scoffed, twirling away from his boss.
"Come on man. Don't play it like that." Todoroki groaned, closing the office door behind him. "The girl is miserable. And Kaiya said that the little girl she saved is leaving today." Bakugou's eyes widened at the news, feeling a sense of sadness for Misa. "And things are still getting worse at her agency." The final sentence reached Bakugou.
"I can't help that!" Bakugou yelled, smacking his fist onto his desk. Todoroki regarded him carefully, feeling the tremendous anger exuding from Bakugou. "She made it perfectly clear that I can't help her. She hasn't spoken to me since the fire." He felt tears pool in his eyes that he refused to show to Todoroki. "She said she could take care of herself." He whispered.
"She can. And she is. But no one should do it alone. I thought she taught you that?" Todoroki tried, walking over to face Bakugou. "Come on man. Since when do you back down?" Bakugou's eyes burned into Todoroki at the challenge. High school Bakugou would have blown Todoroki up for his comment; but the Icy Hot hero did have a point.
"Fine. I'll reach out to her. Check up on her." He mumbled, dialing Misa's phone number but heard her voicemail. "See? She's ignoring me."
"No she's not. I called her earlier. Kaiya too. She isn't picking up for anyone." Todoroki told him, worry creeping onto his face. "Maybe Ayami is working her overtime?"
"She was supposed to quit a few days ago." Bakugou mumbled, rising to his feet. "I'll go check on her at her office."
Buried under piles of work and drinking her fifth cup of coffee that day, Misa laid her head on her desk. An impending headache racked within her as every little sound caused agony. "Sleeping on the job Shira?" Ayami's voice sounded, bringing more noise to her. She raised her head to see the fat man glaring down at her.
"I have a headache." She mumbled, rubbing her eyes. "What do you need?"
"You have a visitor." He answered her, pointing to the lobby. Misa froze at the sight of who stood in wait. "He's insisting."
"I'm busy." She told Ayami, starting to jot down notes again in her files.
"Deal with him yourself. I'd like to not get blown up today." Ayami refused, turning back to his office. Misa groaned and got to her feet, feeling a fog hit her as she did so. "Oh. I saw your lunch in the refrigerator. I didn't think you'd mind if I helped myself. I know you're keeping an eye on your weight." He smirked, shooting a smug smile over his shoulder.
"I haven't…" Misa groaned, feeling her stomach grumble with hunger. She pushed the lobby door open to see Bakugou pacing. "Hey."
"Are you okay?" Bakugou asked, seeing the weak smile Misa showed. "We've been calling you." His voice was stern but his eyes were searching.
"I'm fine. Just been here." Misa shrugged her shoulders, hoping she sounded genuine enough. "I'm sorry if I worried you." Her eyes didn't meet Bakugou's as she shifted her weight. Her stomach growled louder this time and Bakugou heard. "Don't."
"You can take care of yourself. You told me that." He gruffled, itching to make sure she was eating. "Just...message one of us when you're busy so we know you're okay. Kaiya was all worried." Bakugou said, turning to leave before Misa's voice sounded.
"Just her?" Misa asked, a small hope in her voice. Bakugou stopped,debating on whether to tell her the truth. That he hadn't slept well since the fire. That she would not leave his mind. That it was killing him to give her space.
"Icy Hot too." He mumbled before he could stop himself.
"Oh. I see." She whispered. "Thanks for checking on me. I'll message them back." She said, turning to go back to her desk. Bakugou looked at her as she did so, his heart desperately wanting to stay with her. Her face was hollow and her eyes were dull.
"What is this place doing to you?" He mumbled, leaving the building before he changed his mind.
Nearing five o'clock, Misa was packing up her files when Ayami approached her. "What did Dynamight want?" Ayami asked. Misa rolled her eyes but decided to respond.
"Just checking on me. I was too busy to check my phone. He got worried."
"Why would anyone worry? It's not like you're out there doing real work." Ayami snarked, seeing Misa's claws grip her chair. "Watch that temper missy. Remember our conversation the other day? You can't leave, but I can fire you. Then where would you be? No company can afford to pay the remainder of your contract."
"You are the worst human being on this planet. You will not get away with treating people like this." Misa hissed to a chuckling Ayami.
"I am just looking out for you dearie. You'd be nothing without me." Misa's eyes burned with rage as Ayami turned from her to leave. "Oh and one more thing. The next time that you speak to me like that again; you will be fired." Misa's face scrunched up in anger as tears fell from her eyes. Her phone buzzed again and she noticed how many calls she had actually missed all day.
"Five from Todoroki. Eight from Kaiya ...and...shit. Fifteen from Bakugou." She whispered, seeing the notifications.