Anteiku's wooden floor had aged, its boards creaking under the pressure of every step. Even though it's just another routinal day at the coffee shop, Akatani can't help but feel although he's being trampled upon just the same. The passing customers don't demand much, just for him to pour coffee from a silver pot into their blue onion flower cups arrayed at each table. Yet, the tin feels heavy enough in his hand to be a dumbbell.
The young barista absentmindedly places a dessert plate decorated with a caramel flan on one of the tables. He'd normally be anxious under the anticipation of waiting on Eraserhead given ordinary circumstances, but his excursion last night has him extra stressed. If the underground hero found out he's still operating as a vigilante, regardless of restraint, he worries that he'd really no longer be able to see Eri.
Every time the door chime indicates another customer, Akatani's head swivels to see if it's the little girl and her new guardian. He instead notices what's playing inaudibly from a television mounted above the checkout counter. It's across the way from where the boy is currently standing so that he can see it at the perfect angle. What's being shown has him just as entranced as he was with his own thoughts.
The morning news covers a story about Japan's most prestigious hero school. Apparently, the U.A barrier was destroyed. Or rather, it was disintegrated. Already, Akatani speculates the reasons and possibilities as to how or why. It had recently been announced that All Might began teaching there. A reporter or member of the paparazzi could have simply wanted to get a big scoop. However, there's always the concern of more sinister motives.
Before the boy can get too lost in thought, his mind is returned to its original focus. The door chime alerts him to their arrival before he hears Eri's gleeful, "Akata-nii!" That's the only warning he gets before a little blur covers the span of the cafe to slam straight into his legs.
Overwhelmed with an equally delighted emotion, Akatani can't help but laugh with somewhat relative relief. It's from an awkward angle that he has to bend down at the waist, but he happily returns the little girl's hug. "I missed you too, Eri.", the smile on his face is genuine as he takes in her presence. As though they'll take her away from him again, he lifts his head to check on the others that came through the door. Aizawa isn't alone. Accompanying him is the detective, Naomasa.
Akatani eyes them for a moment, lowering his voice for Eri alone, "Have they been treating you well?" When he feels Eri nod against his legs, the rest of him loosens. The tense tightening of his shoulders lets them drop a little.
Whether it's because the detective heard or saw Akatani's concern for the girl, nobody can be sure, it's his job to be perceptive; Naomasa tries to reassure the boy with a smile. "She's in good hands.", it's the best attempt at comfort that he can offer.
But Akatani isn't in the best of moods to perceive it as an attempt of peace. "I didn't ask you.", his words have a bite to them that reminds the detective of how animalistic the boy can be. That the young barista isn't an average teenager. He's the Tokyo Ghoul.
Aizawa takes a step forward, the foot meant to be put in between the two opposing sides of law each one represents. "She's safe.", his assurances seem to reach Akatani instead of the detective's. Suddenly, it's a reminder that he is the one caring for Eri and not Naomasa, putting Akatani at ease. "You can trust us.", Aizawa's eyes meet the boy's to let him know that he's sincere.
Akatani holds Eri closer to him anyways. Having her there in his arms helps to calm his nerves, but he still can't help but shake his worries. Not after what the television showed. "The U.A barrier. I saw on the news–", he starts to vocalize his concern but gets stopped short.
"Everything's under control.", Aizawa is quick to allay Akatani's worry yet again. He sounds so sure of himself. Akatani remembers that the man is not just a pro hero, but a teacher at the hero school too. He's on the front lines in both potentially dangerous scenarios.
But it's because of that lifestyle that Akatani is worried in the first place. "Is it? She could've been hurt.", he doesn't want to consider what would have happened if somebody malicious had broken into a place to hurt children.
Aizawa's eyes narrow just the slightest bit. The slight glare makes Akatani realize how hypocritical he's being. It's not like his own vigilante lifestyle had given Eri the safest living environment. "U.A's teacher's lounge is one of the safest and most secure places she can be.", he makes a fair point that heroes are there to protect her as well. But.. Aizawa isn't looking him in the eye anymore.
Naomasa looks over at the underground hero with a bit of surprise, then back at Akatani. The motion doesn't go unnoticed. The detective sighs before saying, "Come on, Aizawa. The kid doesn't need my quirk to know that was a lie."
Aizawa's stare switches to Naomasa, "It wasn't."
And that makes the detective pause momentarily. Naomasa waits a second before shaking it off. Then, he explains. "The barrier being destroyed so that the paparazzi and reporters could get in wasn't an accident. We're investigating whether this deliberence was malicious or just for the sake of some lucky scoop on All Might.", and Akatani is grateful for him not sugarcoating the truth at the very least.
Aizawa hangs his head, ashamed for having hidden that truth from the boy who had entrusted Eri to him. Having it out in the open now, "It was a declaration of war. A distraction.", he shares his own outlook on it.
Naomasa raises a brow in the underground hero's direction, "I thought taking care of a child would get you to drop your conspiracy theory hobby.."
"I don't think it's just a conspiracy. It did seem strange.", Akatani defends Aizawa's reasoning with his own suspicions.
Seeing the detective isn't quite as easily convinced, Aizawa elaborates. "In all the years U.A has prospered, has it ever once been infiltrated like today?", his question makes Naomasa swallow whatever retort had been on the tip of his tongue prior to that thought.
The detective considers that factor. However, it's something that'll have to be mulled over in his office and not a coffee shop. "Enough. This isn't something to be discussed in front of civilian children.", he ends it there before he and Aizawa overshare something important about the investigation. Especially since, "And I'm saying that lightly when not taking other components into account..", Akatani has his own criminal record. He stares at the boy, not seeing a hint of ghoulish evil hidden in him. "No offense."
Akatani shrugs impassively, "None taken."
Interjecting herself into the conversation now that it's essentially ended, "Akata-nii?", Eri tentatively looks up at the boy she's latched onto.
His smile returning to put her at ease, Akatani looks down to meet her gaze. "Yeah?", his voice is much softer with her than it was with the adults.
"Um..", but Eri still hesitates. She shyly looks away before requesting, "Can you tell Todorok-nii and Shinso-San I said hi?"
Akatani's eyes widen briefly, surprised by the affectionate nicknames she had given their friends. It seems that he isn't the only one that she's missed seeing. His smile wobbles a bit as he holds back tears, "I sure can.", and he ruffles her hair much to her dismay.
Listening in, Aizawa's own eyes widen in shock as well. He recognizes the names of the boys Eri mentioned. One of which is a student in his class. He's not sure what their connection to the boy and girl is, but as curious as he is, he decides to let it go for now.
The rest of Eri's visit to Anteiku is a lot more enjoyable for her and Akatani. The mood takes a more lighthearted tone when Yoshimura joins in on the reunion. They enjoy eachother's time and company, not taking any of it for granted.
But sooner or later, it ends. Eri leaves with Aizawa and Akatani is left alone again. All he has after she's gone to remember her by is the promise he made to her. He goes to the Quirk Support Group so that he can keep his word.
As expected, the coffee machine in the hallway is where he runs into Shinso first. "I thought I'd find you here.", he jokingly greets the fellow insomniac and coffee addict.
Shinso steps aside so that Akatani can fish his own canned coffee from the vending machine, "I should be saying that to you." When Akatani's back is turned, Shinso allows a lazy smile to cross his face, "Long time, no see."
Hearing Shinso, Akatani scratches the back of his head as though he'll be able to dig out a proper excuse for his absence. "I've been a bit busy.", is all he manages to come up with.
Shinso shrugs like he doesn't care, though he probably secretly does. It helps him to avoid being accused of having affection by blaming the other boy Akatani came to see, "Todoroki barely comes around anymore either. I think he was a little disappointed that I was the only one showing up."
Hearing that and remembering his last conversation with Todoroki, having promised to see him again during sessions here, Akatani feels a pang of guilt in his chest. "I'm a terrible friend, aren't I?", his body syncs with his sulking voice by literally sinking.
"But a better brother.", Shinso tries to cheer him up, not knowing better of Akatani's current situation. "Speaking of which.. Where is Eri? She's normally attached to your leg.", he glances around in search for the little girl.
Akatani's demeanor doesn't quite change aside from mild fidgeting as he searches for a proper response, "Oh.. Uh.." He eventually lands on, "Her dad wanted to see her.", a technical half lie considering Aizawa had to adopt her. He pulls from his own family history to make it a little more believably personal, "He lives in America, so.."
Shinso solemnly nods as he takes in the lie, believing it. "I get it.", his consoling expression makes Akatani feel all the more guilty for withholding the truth, "You probably already miss her, huh?"
"Is it that obvious?", but there's no need to lie about that.
"Well..", Shinso hides his face with his canned coffee, "Don't forget you have, um, friends.. That are here for you..", taking a sip afterwards so Akatani can't see his blush.
Taken aback by Shinso's rare show of affection, Akatani is startled into silence. He cracks open his own coffee before also taking a sip, sharing the boy's embarrassment. "Anyways.. Eri wanted me to tell you, before she left, that she said hi.", he averts his eyes before adding, "You and Todoroki go to U.A, right?"
Shinso lowers his coffee, stopping from taking another sip, "Yeah?" He's surprised by the question, but dismisses it just as quickly, "Except I'm in Gen Ed. Remember?" He presumes Akatani is just curious about the hero course.
"Nevermind that. I just..", but Akatani surprises him yet again. Shinso waits to hear the rest, curious as to what this could be about. "Be careful.", he certainly wasn't expecting a warning.
"That's not ominous at all.", Shinso raises a brow that gives him an expression oddly reminiscent of Aizawa.
Akatani swallows despite having not taken another sip of coffee. "The U.A barrier being destroyed..", he hesitates before explaining his reason for concern, "I don't think that it was coincidental." He pauses one last time before trying to smooth it over, "I'm just saying to be cautious is all."
Shinso continues to stare at Akatani. Skeptically. Perhaps even warily. Then he mumbles a, "Thanks..", still not quite sure what the boy means. "I don't know how or why you know that..", his eyes meet Akatani's, "But you be careful too."