Chapter Six: Escapade
Aizawa told her to 'stop bothering people' before they report her for harassment. Since when did talking to strangers become harassment? She just wants to get to know them.
It gives her little else to do. The new school term is beginning, but she isn't a student. Not here. Not now. Not that she wants to. She has limited time here. It would be a waste to spend that time in school.
Even with a superpower-based society, people seem ready to work themselves to death. That's what she tried to avoid back in middle school. Not that high school is any better. The system just wants to suck the life out of people.
"This is where you've been going?"
"Yes! I can't fall behind on my studies," says Serizawa proudly before stepping into the building. It's the future! They just need to go back to the moment they left and he would be fine! His whole face glows. He seems really proud of his dedication.
"I'll just be over there." Tome points to the row of computers.
She stares at the screen and then down at the keyboard wondering what she should search.
Everything looks so familiar, but just different enough that it tilts her world. The browser and interface are different that leads to Tome mis-clicking a few times.
There's got to be plenty of cool and interesting legends that's come about. She surfs the web for a few hours, consuming anything she can find and continuously hunching forward.
"Tome, is there something you want to do?"
"Huh?" She leans over the back of the chair to look up at Serizawa. "Didn't you want to study?"
"It's been a few hours already. Didn't you want to explore more? You were kind enough to come with me, so it's only fair we do what you want to do too."
Tome sniffles and rubs her nose. Why are there so many kind people in her life? "You're too kind, but I'll take you up on the offer!" She even has a list of things to do now.
She notices some people staring their way. Right. Library. She tugs at Serizawa's jacket to pull him along to leave. Her stomach growls. Lunch first.
Serizawa and Tome order from a burger joint before Tome leads the two to a park where they eat on a bench. "They say this is the place that people appear out of nowhere." Tome chews the straw of her finished fountain drink as she leans back against the wooden public park bench waiting for someone to appear. Anyone. Any moment? "Why isn't anyone showing up?" She shakes her head. She can try again another day.
"Let's go find the weird sunflower?"
"You want to see a flower?"
"Not any flower. Sunflowers always face the sun. There's a garden where one often faces the other direction. Clearly there's something supernatural involved." Her face lights up as she can see a garden of giant sunflowers ahead. "It's there!" She points and runs over.
"Hello. They're pretty aren't they?"
The colour drains from Tome's face as Serizawa says, "Absolutely radiant!"
The sunflower facing the other direction is just a person whose head resembles a sunflower tending to the sunflower garden. A quirk.
The next three places on her list ends up being quirks too. If everyone is going to have one, she should have one too. She wonders if that's an actual power. If someone's quirk can literally be sunflower then she doesn't see why not. "I just want to see something that will chill my bones."
"I'm sure we'll eventually find something." Serizawa is so positive and patient.
"You want something spooky?"
A shiver goes down Tome's spine as she jumps and yelps away from the warmth that brushed her ear. She regains her balance and throws her arms aimlessly in front of her as a defense mechanism.
The figure has grey hair, eye bags, and arms out oddly like in horror films. However, otherwise the person is dressed perfectly normally.
Tome shares a glance with Serizawa before looking back at the girl. "You know something spooky."
"Yes," she says like it's the most obvious thing.
Tome runs forward and grabs the girl's hands in her own. "Tell me please!"
"There's been a ghost sighting in Nonome Park. It's pretty forested so people go out looking all the time and creepy things happen. Things get stolen. Things start to float. Things like that but no one has ever been caught.
Tome's eyes sparkle. "Can you show us the way?"
"Can I join you?"
"Of course! We'll get to the bottom of it together! I'm Tome. That's Serizawa."
"Reiko."
The day gets better as they walk to the park. Reiko knows all about horror and the occult, and gives intricate details and information to Tome.
Serizawa follows closely behind, but watching fondly that Tome's spirits have been lifted. He then sees a man standing a little off the pathway. "Excuse us, have you noticed anything strange?"
Reiko and Tome stop to look back at Serizawa then look in the direction he's speaking to.
"Who is he talking to?" Reiko can't see anyone.
"Eh?!" That's totally a spirit. She can't make out the details but she can faintly depict the outline of something that appears humanoid. Where's Dimple when you need him? It's because of him that she can see any outline at all. He's taken over her body a few times which has lead her to being more sensitive to spirits even if she still can't see most.
"There's a man. Right there," Serizawa points but Reiko still can't see.
"A man? All I see is a vague white blob."
"So cool," Reiko says.
"You can see me?!" The spirit approaches.
"Haha. It's been like twenty years and now someone who can see me shows up. Do you know how bored and crazy I've gotten? It's all because of this stupid quirk. Or at least I think it's one because I've never met another like me."
"Quirk? You're clearly some spirit of sort."
"I thought I was quirkless, but after I died I realized it was only my body that died. That's got to be a quirk right? Stupid Inawaga. I still haunt him sometimes to this day as payback."
The answer panics Serizawa but Tome is amused.
"You shouldn't be causing problems for others."
"But what else am I supposed to do?"
"I'd be careful if I were you. Serizawa is a super strong esper. He's exorcised plenty of spirits." Tome reaches into her jacket but remembers she doesn't have salt on her. It's sad. She wants a moment to shine and be cool too.
The spirit is suddenly low on the ground. Is he bowing?
"I'm sorry! I won't misbehave anymore. Just let me live."
"Tome, I think we should leave him be." Serizawa doesn't want to harm someone who seems as skittish as he used to be.
"I mean, if he wants to have fun scaring the people visiting the forest I don't see a problem. Just promise not to hurt anyone, okay?" If this guy had been haunting one of the forests back home she would have loved it. He would also certainly be entertaining in haunted houses and haunted walks.
The encounter wasn't bombastic, but it finally gave her what she wanted. Plus, now she has a friend in this strange time wanting to know all about their past jobs. Aizawa can't be mad at her if she didn't initiate.
Reiko separated from them to go home.
"We should do this again." They start crossing a stone bridge when he doesn't reply. "What's wrong?"
"I still can't contact Reigen. Do you think something has happened to him?"
"He has that silver tongue of his. Besides, he always finds a way. I'm sure—" Tome rubs her eyes as she glanced down to the shallow river stream. "Is that guy possessed?"
There's a black thing coming out of the person with a bird head. It must be strong for her to be able to see it.
Serizawa quickly reacts and uses his powers. "Nothing is happening."
"That's a quirk?" Tome doesn't believe it. She runs back to the start of the bridge and slides down the short hill on her feet. As soon as she reaches the bottom she runs to touch it.
"You're cute!"
Tokoyami had been practicing in an area he won't be disturbed when a girl comes running at him yelling 'you're cute." His cheeks redden and he stops stunned unsure what to do when the girl wraps her arms around Dark Shadow who lets her. Dark Shadow could have easily manipulated his form to avoid her but he leans into his attention.
"I am aren't I."
The back of a man suddenly appears in his vision. He must have jumped down. Probably with a quirk as his figure was lightly outlined with a light.
"Sorry for disturbing you!" Serizawa bows.
He's still confused.