NeonHorizon: Special birthday shout out to a special reader :) I hope they had a good birthday!


Sayuri tried to put on a brave façade before she started back toward Eri's room. She wiped away her tears in the hallway and gritted her teeth. I can't let her see that I'm afraid. If I'm afraid, then how can I protect her? I need to just stay calm. For now, all I can do is try to reassure Eri that everything is okay.

She felt Kurono's hand on her lower back; silently urging her to go into the room. Sayuri only complied when she looked in and saw Eri sitting at the table with Chisaki standing behind her. One gloved hand rested on the back of the little girl's chair. When he lifted his eyes from Eri's workbook, they narrowed on her.

"Sayuri. Why don't you tell Eri the good news?"

The teacher felt a tightness forming in her chest and she managed to tear her gaze away from Chisaki. Looking down at Eri, she could see the growing fear in the girl's eyes. She let her instincts guide her and crossed the room to kneel down next to Eri's chair, putting on the most reassuring smile she could manage.

"You know how I always have to leave after your lessons? Well, starting today, I'm not doing that anymore." Sayuri was somehow able to keep her hands steady as she reached out and gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind Eri's ear. "Isn't that great? I'll be here all day, from now on."

"All…day?" Eri's eyes shimmered as they filled with tears. "Sayuri?"

I have to do something to cheer her up. She leaned in and wiped at the girl's tears before they could fall. "Why don't we take a break from the workbook and have snack time? I brought something special."

Eri glanced toward Chisaki and then back to Sayuri, giving her a small nod. She let the teacher take her hand and walked close beside her down to the kitchen. Footsteps were close behind them and the child lowered her head to try to hide her tears. "I'm…sorry, Sayuri."

"Hey, now. What do you have to be sorry about, Eri-chan? No tears, okay? I'm here because I want to be." She tried to sound convincing. She tried to sound brave and sure of herself, but she was absolutely terrified. "It's going to be fun, right? Now I can always be here for you. I promise. I won't leave you alone again." She felt Eri squeeze her hand slightly and she had to fight back her own tears.

I'll protect you. No matter what. I'm going to do for you what my own parents never did for me. I won't abandon you. I won't let you feel unloved. She paused in her steps and a real smile grew on her face as she turned to Eri. "Do you want me to carry you? I can carry you on my back. My parents used to carry me that way when I was little."

She did her best to try to act like everything was fine. Tried to keep Eri in good spirits. Tried to ignore the way that Chisaki followed her around the kitchen with that intense golden stare. Every time she so much as glanced at him, Sayuri could feel a chill run down her spine. Goose bumps rose on her skin and seemed to linger through snack time, the rest of the lessons, and dinner.

As the night wore on, she hoped that someone would see whatever message Kurono had sent out and realize that she was not the one who wrote them. Dabi and Fuyumi know me well enough to know how I talk. Kurono isn't me. There have to be differences in how we write messages. Someone has to notice.

"It's getting late. What's Eri-chan's bedtime?" She finally forced herself to look at Chisaki directly. Her stomach churned as she wondered what exactly night would bring for her.

He had been standing against the wall behind Eri, watching their interaction. Looking down at the teacher now, he nodded to himself. "Now is close enough. Eri. Bedtime."

Sayuri tidied up the little table in Eri's room; gathering the art supplies and workbook together into a neat stack. She looked to Chisaki, pushing herself to be brave and stand up for herself. Not enough to make him angry, but enough to convince him of how seriously she was taking this new role. "I'm going to tuck her in," Sayuri started. "Where am I sleeping? Is there a spare futon-?"

"I had a room prepared for you. Come out to the hall when you're done here." He slipped out into the dim hallway, Kurono following him.

She watched them for a moment before turning her attention back to Eri. Again, trying to smile. "I'll see you in the morning, okay?"

Eri clung to the sleeve of her shirt, her large red eyes shining with fresh tears. "Sayuri…I'm sorry. Please don't go."

"Hey, it's going to be alright." Sayuri led her over to her little bed and waited for her to settle beneath the blanket, but the girl refused to let go of her sleeve. "Eri-chan, I'm only going to be gone overnight. But when you wake up, I'm still going to be here. I know! I'll make something special for breakfast."

"…breakfast…?"

"Yeah. Tomorrow is Thursday, right? When I was your age, my mom used to make something special for breakfast. I'll make that for you tomorrow, okay? I promise. I can't really cook much, but even I can make something like this." She half-grinned and leaned down, kissing her forehead. "Have sweet dreams, okay? And you can tell me about them in the morning."

Her pulse was racingas she crossed the room to the door. She was still unsure of what exactly Chisaki was doing, but Eri seemed even more afraid of him than usual. What's going to happen to me? If no one realizes that I didn't send those messages…? He can't keep me here forever, right?!

Kurono was waiting for her in the hallway, but Chisaki had vanished. The pale-haired man pulled Eri's door closed and it clicked locked. "Follow me. Kai had some business to take care of."

She walked behind him, watching closely. Even if he had attempted to keep Chisaki calm and stop him from outright killing her, he was still loyal to the other man. Of course, it would be in her best interest to stay on his good side and try to make herself likeable. "Kurono-san. Thank you for earlier."

He paused in his steps and looked back at her over his shoulder. His normally expressionless face took on the faintest hint of a smirk. "It would be a waste to let you go," he pointed out. "You're a good addition. Before you, we only had two healers; Kai and Eri. But Eri's not so great with her quirk."

Healing quirks? Wait. Why is he telling me this? Only two healers? So there are more people involved in whatever this is. Like that "Rappa" person that I saw when I got here. But if he's telling me things like this, then Chisaki really doesn't plan to let me go. Kurono is telling me because he knows that I'm not getting out of here alive.

There was an unsettling slyness to Kurono's expression as he started walking again, now with her next to him. "This is your room," he said, nodding to a door they were approaching. "Kai had this set up just for you. Make sure to show some appreciation tomorrow."

Sayuri looked down at the number pad next to the door. Kurono punched in some numbers, but seemed to not care that she was watching. The door was pushed open and revealed something pretty different from what she was expecting.

She had expected a prison cell, more or less. This room was actually very nice. There was a comfortable-looking bed, a shelf with a big variety of books, a desk, a low table with an electric kettle and a box of various teas, a dresser, and an open door that led to a small bathroom. The furnishings were better quality than her own belongings at home.

There was a window, but there were thick metal bars covering it. It just provided faint light from the streetlights outside. I can't get through those bars, but if I could call for help…She bit the inside of her cheek, knowing it would be a bad choice. If I call for help and someone in this house hears me, Chisaki will kill me. And then I can't protect Eri.

She surveyed the room again and settled on something she had missed earlier. Sitting on top of the desk were some crafting supplies and recipe books. Sayuri raised an eyebrow as Kurono walked over.

"I picked these up," he informed her. "You like to make those snacks with Eri. These might give you more ideas. I don't think Kai liked the cookie decorating today." There was a very slight hint of humor in his voice. So slight it was almost undetectable. "The bathroom's stocked and there are clean clothes in the dresser. Don't complain about what's in there."

Sayuri gave him a half-smile, still doing her best to try to keep on his good side. I know I can't win him over. He's too loyal to Chisaki. But if I can at least keep him convinced that I need to stay alive, that should help me survive this. She picked up a recipe book and flipped through it absently. "I won't complain. And this was really thoughtful. Thank you, Kurono-san."

He seemed vaguely pleased and nodded. "The door doesn't unlock from the inside. I'll come to get you in the morning." Kurono walked to the door and his expression fell to his natural frown. "Don't do anything stupid. Just do what he says and you'll live longer, got it? Oh. And I almost forgot."

Her heart skipped when he drew her cellphone out of his pocket. Is he going to smash it? Is he going to give it back? He…almost seems like he wants me to live.

"Your boyfriend's been blowing up your inbox and voicemail." His pale eyes flicked from the screen back to her lilac stare. "He might need some more convincing. So what I want you to do is think about what I can tell him to get him off your trail. He's being persistent. Kai won't like it if he starts snooping around, you know?"

"Right…right, I'll think of something." She felt a lump forming in her throat. Hope tugging at her heart. Whatever Kurono had said to Dabi using her phone, Dabi seemed to not believe it.

The door was closed and locked. Sayuri walked a few circuits around the bedroom and bathroom, glancing around for possible cameras. When she fell onto the bed, she rubbed at her face with both hands and finally let her tears flow freely. Dabi knows me. He knows me almost as well as Fuyumi so he has to know that something isn't right. But if he comes here…Chisaki is going to kill him. What am I going to do? I have to come up with a plan.

Shift P.O.V

He stayed in the neighborhood for hours. Watching the Todoroki house. Waiting for Sayuri to come out. All while trying to call her and send her messages. Anything to get an explanation for this sudden breakup and demand for him to move out. It made absolutely zero sense.

When Endeavor arrived home and there was no sign of Sayuri fleeing the house like it was on fire, Dabi finally had to come to terms with the fact that she was probably not there. I know how much that fake scares her. But if she's not with Fuyumi, then where is she?

Walking down the street at night, he scrolled through the messages he had sent her. Over twenty of them, but no replies. Yet it showed that she was reading them. His hand tightened on his phone as he slipped into an alley and leaned against the wall, releasing a sound of frustration. A cross between a growl and a sigh as he tried to think of where else she could be.

Sayuri would never go to her parents' house; he knew they had broken contact with her years ago. She doesn't seem that close with those other teachers, either. So where'd she disappear to? Maybe her aunt's place? She said she hadn't talked to her in years. I don't think she'd go there.

He started moving again. Stalking along the wall, staying in the shadows since he was still in the Todorokis' neighborhood. Dabi paused at the end of this alley and looked over his shoulder. There was a man standing at the opening of the alley; head down, hands in his pockets. He looked like he had been about to enter, but stopped when Dabi looked back.

"What do you want? I'm not in the mood to play around," he spoke, pushing his phone into his pocket. Doesn't look familiar. Does he think he can rob me or something? He's got a bad surprise coming if he thinks he can just-!

The man rushed forward, pulling a knife out of his pocket as he got close. Dabi gripped his shoulder with his right hand and shoved his open left hand against the man's stomach, releasing a blast of blue fire that quickly spread over his assailant. Screaming in agony as flames engulfed his clothes, struggling to get them off before he was burned alive.

Too slow. Dabi watched him collapse as shock set in and he pressed a boot against the man's lower back. "Hey. You dead already? I've got some questions for you. Move if you can hear me." He saw the man's fingers twitch and he smirked. "What were you gonna do with that knife? Were you gonna stab me and take my money? That's…really pathetic."

"I didn't come here to take your money," the man blurted out. "I came here to kill you!"

"Weak. You gave that up way too easily. Whoever hired you to do that must've thought it would be funny. Too bad I'm not in a laughing mood, huh?" He grinded the sole of his boot against the man's back; pressing at the burned flesh beneath his cheap, singed jacket. "So who sent you?"

"I'm not gonna tell you! You're a dead man! Even if I don't get you, someone else will! You'll see!"

"That's what you think?" Dabi lifted his boot and then stomped down, making the man cry out in pain. He leaned down, pressing his elbow onto his knee to put more pressure on his assailant. "You're gonna tell me. One way or another."