Chapter 08

The first thing she feels as soon as she wakes up is a complete foreign. She is in a foreign room, laying in a never used foreign bed, covered by a foreign blanket, but wearing an extremely comfortable pajama.

Oh yeah, she's at UA right now, sleeping at the dorm.

She's also wearing Eraserhead's shirt.

It was probably the best sleep she had ever had.

This Quirk is making her do some mushy things.

Well, at least this time it had helped her instead of causing troubles.

She sits up and stretches her arms straight up in the air before releasing a content sigh. Then, she checks her phone and sees that it's actually the weekend, meaning the students are all at the dorm right now. Checking the time, she might make it in time for breakfast. There are a number of text messages…

Eh, she can check them later. Her stomach is demanding for something right now.

So, making sure she has her (his) pants on, she leaves her apartment and gets to the floor where she thinks the rest of the students are at.

Heh, those hellions. That brings back the memories from last night. They were squealing at what she wore (at least, the female students were), saying she looked very cute in them. They also mentioned that it was the first time they saw her wearing something casual and not her Hero costume, making it feel a little more intimate. It didn't help that she was wearing Eraserhead's regular casual outfit, making it even more intimate.

For some reason, his jawline looked familiar… Like, she had seen it before. It made her blush a little stronger than usual.

To make matters worse (or better, depending on one's perspective), Eraserhead was silently staring at her for a long while last night. It was subtle but she saw it, felt it. She had to pretend she didn't notice but her face was red thanks to it. One of his kids even pointed it out but she waved it away.

Eri really liked it. She said she looked pretty in it and was actually aware of how comfy it is.

She quickly exploited Eri's preference, saying she will keep his clothes from now on. She saw that Eraserhead was about to protest but he relented when Eri gave him a look that melted hearts faster than Endeavor's fiery blaze.

She was internally cheering inside at her own little victory.

When the elevator doors open, the first thing she hears is surprisingly the news that is playing on the large TV. Everyone is watching it mutely. When she enters further, they all turn towards her.

All of them have a sympathetic look on their faces.

"What's up? Why the faces?" she asks, utterly confused.

"I think you should watch the news," one of the students, the one with the bobby haircut girl, says as she points towards the screen. Intrigued, she does as told.

…Isn't that where she lives?

Why is it on fire?

"There was a skirmish between Endeavor and a really powerful Villain," one of the male students, the tallest one with the mask, gives her the summary. "There was nothing salvageable. We're… sorry…"

…Basically, she's now homeless.

Is that why she got so many text messages? Fuck, Hawks might be-

"No need to be in a hurry," Eraserhead's voice is heard behind her. She turns around and sees him approaching her with a steaming mug in hand. She gives him a confused frown. "I already told everyone that you are safe, and made it doubly reassuring to Hawks. The HPSC will handle it for you, fortunately."

"Why didn't you wake me up?"

"You were sleeping peacefully."

She freezes.

His words… that means…

He saw her sleeping.

Her face flushes.

That means he must've seen just how peaceful she slept with his shirt.

She fucking hopes she didn't sprawl on the bed with the blanket off.

"Where will Miruko be staying?" The voice from one of the students pulls her away from her thoughts. Looking around, all the students are looking back and forth between the only two adults in the room.

"Wait!" Another one quickly butts in before Eraserhead could open his mouth. It's the pink skinned girl. "Why doesn't she just stay here at the dorm? There's nothing wrong with that, right?"

Now all eyes are on Eraserhead. Most of the students are giving him begging looks, akin to innocent kittens.

…Cute.

"I've already spoken with Principal Nedzu regarding this matter. Fortunately, he approved of her stay until the PHSC gets their act together. Knowing them, it might take a while."

He says the last sentence more to himself but none of his kids are listening because they quickly cheer in celebration, a complete one eighty from earlier mood.

"Miruko is staying!"

"This is exciting!"

"We need a welcoming party!"

"Dude, she had been here for a day already!"

"Yes, but now she's going to be here longer!"

The room then fills with excited chatter, excited to include her into whatever they are planning starting today. Honestly, she feels touched by their welcome, not fully realizing just how much they are excited for her even if they interacted very little.

Well, she is the number five Hero. So she has her charms.

"Miruko." She turns her attention back to Eraserhead when he calls her name. He's a little closer to her know, probably so he can speak normally over the noises around them. "Principal Nedzu is calling for your presence."

For some odd reason, a chill runs up her spine. Oh yeah, she knows why.

This is the Principal Nedzu of UA, a notorious person that is feared in the Hero community.

She gulps.

Fuck, she has nothing to change into. It looks like she has to change into her uniform from yesterday. FUCK, she only has one uniform and no other clothes beside his that she is currently wearing.

"No need to worry about your clothes." Eraserhead's voice pulls her away from her thoughts. It sounds like he had read her mind, but she guesses her face was showing what she was thinking. "You can go there with what you're wearing."

"You sure?"

"Hm."

"…You're fucking-"

"Language."

"You're messing with me, right?" His expression doesn't change as he stares at her blankly. "O-Okay. Shall we get going?"

"Hm."

.

"We're here," he says as they stop right in front of the incredibly tall twin doors.

Contrary to popular beliefs, this is her first time at the Principal's office. She may be a little bit of a delinquent when she was a UA student but she never caused troubles.

At least, inside UA, because it became a whole different story when it came to the shenanigans she did outside UA.

Just seeing the large doors is intimidating, because sitting inside is a scary man, or er- rat(?). She starts tugging the hem of her shirt, feeling a little underdressed. She really begins to doubt Eraserhead's words that she is fine with what she's wearing, even if it feels a little disrespectful.

When he pushes the door open, there is no turning back.

"She's here," he announces.

"Ah, Miruko! Do come in!" She hears the Principal's voice coming from inside. Still standing by the door, Eraserhead urges her in with a tilt of his head. She takes a deep breath to encourage herself before she heads inside.

Principal Nedzu is smiling kindly at her as he sits on one of the two couches in the room. Right between the two couches is a low table and two steaming mugs. She's smelling tea.

"Principal Nedzu," she greets with a respectful bow.

She does twitch when she hears the door shut close behind her. She doesn't hear Eraserhead at all, meaning he's outside.

'Wait, I'm here alone with the Principal?!'

"Do sit, no need to be shy." Principal Nedzu gestures towards the couch opposite to him. She stiffly strides over to the offered couch and sits down a little too hard, really showing her nervousness. "I made tea, I hope you don't mind."

"Thank you." She picks up the steaming cup and takes an experimental sip.

It's delicious.

"I sincerely hope Mr. Aizawa has filled you in?" the Principal suddenly starts, who has his own cup and saucer in hands.

"About staying at UA since my house was destroyed?" she asks for confirmation after gulping her beverage.

"Yes indeed." Principal Nedzu nods his head. "It is quite a shame that your home was part of the casualty. So, UA will open its door to you! You can stay here until the Public Hero Safety Commission sorts out this mess."

Her spin chills when she hears the disdain in his voice at the mention of the PHSC, not hiding his distaste of them. The Principal has always been at odds with the PHSC as long as she can remember, rarely agreeing on something. In fact, she had never heard of them agreeing even once.

"Of course, that is not the reason why I called you here."

Her heart stops for a second.

She gulps thickly.

…Did she do something wrong that had offended him before?

"You have been in quite close contact with Shouta lately."

FUCK.

Out of all things, why does it have to be Eraserhead?!

…But why Eraserhead specifically?

Also, did the Principal say Shouta? That sounds a little bit more intimate than an ordinary employer-employee relationship. Are they close?

"It happened a little too suddenly, may I say," the Principal continues before he takes a little sip from his tea, the first time since she arrived. "It is almost suspicious."

She gulps again as she feels beads of sweat forming at her temples.

Not only is she scared, explaining it will be very awkward too…

"W-Well… You see-"

"No need to worry! All is fine!"

"W-What?"

"Seeing your outfit, I am unnecessarily worrying. It is enough for me to know it's nothing malicious or anything that harms Shouta."

His words give her a quick reminder of what kind of clothes she is wearing. Her face flushes in embarrassment.

Her pride has been squashed by this point.

"Before you are dismissed, your Hero costumes are already ordered and will hopefully arrive at your room by tomorrow."

"Ah, thank you."

"It's my pleasure. Off you go then!"

.

When she exits the office, she releases a breath she doesn't realize she has been holding.

Fucking hell that was frightening.

No wonder many people are scared of the Principal.

"If you had stayed at your home last night, there is a high chance you might not survive as the battle occurred in the dead of night."

She jumps at Eraserhead's voice that is so close. She turns to the side, where the source of the voice is at. She finds him leaning by the wall right next to the giant doors, seemingly waiting for her, by the looks of it.

"Have you been waiting for me?"

"Don't want you to wander around UA ground unsupervised and cause trouble."

"I'm offended."

"All is fine, I take it?" he asks, pushing off the wall.

For some reason, that single sentence reminds her of Principal Nedzu.

"Yeah," she answers while nodding her head. "I have no idea why he needed to meet me just to say my uniforms are on their way."

"He usually did it to evaluate the person. Since you came out unscathed, you will be fine."

Unscathed?

What does he mean by unscathed?

"Let's get going. Don't want to leave the Problem Children unattended or else they might burn down the common area, again."

She can't help but snorts at his words as he begins to walk down the hallway and she quickly joins him.

"Problem Children?"

"You have no idea just how true that name is."

"They can't be that bad."

"They're worse."

She snorts again.

Then, as they walk down the hallway, probably returning back to the dorm, she catches a reflection on the window.

She stares at Eraserhead and herself, wearing the exact clothes.

He's not wearing his usual jumpsuit, his Hero outfit, she quickly realizes.

Is it her or…

Has he always been this broad?

Wait…

Since she will be staying at UA for who knows how long, does that mean…

She will be with Eraserhead closer and longer?

"You are very lucky that you conveniently lost your keys yesterday."

She stumbles in her steps before staring at Eraserhead with wide eyes.

He knows this whole time?