Here's the next chapter! I hope you all enjoy it!
I do not own My Hero Academia.
Present Day
Shouta's eyes fluttered open to the dimly lit room. He didn't remember someone propping him up on the pillows he was leaning against. He didn't remember much at all after Hitoshi and Eri came to the infirmary. His entire body ached. His eyes started to droop shut again when something warm shifted against him, and he looked down to see Eri curled up at his side. Her hands twisted into his shirt, but she didn't stir when he pulled her closer. He shifted but found a weight holding down his other arm. Another bed had been pulled up next to his. Hitoshi was fast asleep and clutching Shouta's outstretched arm just above the bandages.
"They missed you, Shouta."
He whipped his head to the side to see Hizashi sitting in the corner with a lamp. Papers were scattered across his lap and on the floor around him. He smiled while he continued writing. Shouta glanced back down to Eri and Hitoshi.
I had just gotten Eri's paperwork finalized. Hitoshi's adoption process had only been complete five months ago…I guess now it's nine….
"What the hell happened?"
He tensed but relaxed a few seconds later when he realized neither Hitoshi nor Eri had woken up. Hizashi's smile disappeared. He gathered the papers and set them aside.
"Unfortunately, you're the only person who could tell us that," he started. He tucked a piece of hair behind his ear. "Hitoshi was devastated when Nemuri came back to campus and told him you went missing during patrol. Eri could tell something was wrong right away."
"Who's been looking after them?"
Hizashi chuckled, but there was no humor in it. He raised an eyebrow.
"Do you really have so little faith in your best friends?"
"No, I didn't mean…."
He let his head fall back against the pillows and closed his eyes. The chair softly scraped across the floor. A firm grip on his shoulder got him to open his eyes again to find Hizashi right next to the bed.
"I'm sorry. I'm sure you must be overwhelmed, and you haven't even had a chance to truly think about how long you've been gone. When you were missing for a week and we didn't have a single lead, Nemuri and I realized they needed a more permanent solution until we found you, so I got temporary guardianship of Hitoshi and Eri."
A weight lifted itself from Shouta's chest.
"Thank you, Hizashi."
Hizashi's smile returned.
"It's been an honor to look after these two. You've got some incredible kids. Hitoshi was a bit stubborn at first, but he realized quickly I wasn't trying to replace you. We've gotten along well over the last few months."
"How have they been?"
"They both had a rough time, especially right after you went missing. Spending time with Mirio seemed to distract Eri for a while. I would hear her laughing and chatting away, but she grew quiet and her smile faded every time she saw it was me picking her up instead of you." Someone might as well have stabbed Shouta's own knife through his heart, and he unconsciously pulled Eri even closer to his side. "But you would be so proud of Hitoshi.
"He's been the best big brother Eri could have. I moved into your apartment, so I've had a front row seat to see him step up and help Eri adjust as best as she can. She showed him the books you'd been reading her before she goes to bed, and he read to her every night. He even used his artificial vocal cords to give the characters different voices. I know that was technically misusing his support gear, but I figured I could let that slide."
Shouta shifted his gaze over to Hitoshi, who was still clutching his arm like a lifeline. The door to the infirmary opened, and Nemuri tip-toed into the room. She smiled when she saw Shouta was awake, but he suddenly whipped his head toward Hizashi.
"The new school year has started," he realized. Hizashi slowly nodded. "So, Hitoshi's officially transferred into the hero course?"
"The rest of the staff and I discussed it, and we decided he should go ahead and transfer a couple months ago. Nedzu showed the Hero Commission the footage from the joint training with Class B. It's been at least a decade since I've heard of them doing this, but they set up a private exam for him to take and he got his provisional license."
"They're setting up more, from what I've heard," Nemuri chimed in. "Crime's been rising throughout the country the last couple months. The Hero Commission believes we need more heroes and are offering more opportunities for students to get their license."
Shouta blinked at the two.
"I missed his first day in the hero course…and him getting his provisional license?"
"Nedzu had his exam recorded for you. I know it's not the same, but…." Hizashi trailed off for a moment and took a deep breath. "We can watch it after you've recovered a bit more. It might also interest you to know Hitoshi already got himself a work study."
He swallowed, forcing down the lump quickly forming in his throat.
How could I have missed…don't think about it. Just don't think about it. It's not like I can do anything about it now.
He tried to cast away the thoughts and return his focus to the conversation.
"With who?"
"Ms. Joke."
Shouta's jaw dropped. Nemuri stifled her laughter behind her hand.
"In his own words, it was a rational decision. Despite your protests, you and Joke have a lot in common. Your quirks only help you so much in a fight, and you both rely on your skill and strength to physically take down villains. Considering you…it was a good opportunity for him given the circumstances."
"Why the hell did Nedzu reinstate the work studies?"
After Sir Nighteye's death, Shouta couldn't imagine any scenario that Nedzu would allow his students to participate in a work study again before their second year. He wouldn't even consider letting Shouta leave campus for a month after the close call with Chronostasis and Overhaul during the raid. Considering the attention Eraserhead was getting from heroes, civilians, and villains alike, Shouta couldn't really blame him. The fact that he allowed Hitoshi to take on a work study made him nearly question his reality.
"Your students made a compelling case," Hizashi said, adjusting his glasses. "So did their interim homeroom teacher."
"Who…." Hizashi flashed him a smile. Shouta's eyes widened. "You couldn't possibly have the time—"
"I took a leave of absence from the radio station."
"But you love working there—"
"But I was needed more as a hero and teacher, especially since most of your students had a work study."
Shouta shook his head.
What could they have said to Nedzu that he would agree….
His blood ran cold.
"They were looking for me."
"Yep. No matter what the media was saying, every single one of your students knew you were out there somewhere and couldn't return on your own. You would've a long time ago if you could've. We figured it was best to let them venture off campus under the supervision of another hero than sneak off campus without the staff knowing. They tried a couple times before I brought up the work studies to Nedzu."
"I caught Midoriya, Uraraka, and Todoroki the first time," Nemuri said with a smirk. "I thought detention with me would've scared them straight, but I underestimated their determination. Cementoss caught a whole group of them just before they reached the gate. He created a barricade around Heights Alliance that stayed up for a couple weeks until Nedzu approved the work studies."
Hitoshi shifted before releasing Shouta's arm and rolling over. Nemuri immediately rushed over and adjusted the blanket so he was covered completely. Shouta tried to push himself to sit up further with his now free hand, but fire shot throughout his arm and he groaned. Hizashi winced and stood up.
"I'll go find Recovery Girl. She gave you some pain medication before you fell asleep last night, but I'm sure that's worn off by now. She definitely has her work cut out for her this time around. Unfortunately, even with her quirk, your doctor said you'd probably have several scars."
Hizashi left, and Shouta's thoughts couldn't help but wander to what his doctor said the previous night.
"…second degree burns on your arms, chest, and legs, three broken ribs, ligature marks on your wrists and ankles."
"Although, it seems like the carving was the least of your worries."
"Nemuri?" His friend immediately perked up. "My doctor said I had a carving…."
He trailed off when Nemuri's face fell. She pinched the bridge of her nose and seemed to compose herself.
"What about it?" she whispered.
"What is it?"
Nemuri swallowed.
"Someone carved the words 'Subject Number Nine' into your stomach."
Shouta sagged back against the pillows, his free arm unconsciously wandering beneath his shirt and feeling the bandages covering the wounds.
What the hell?
January 21XX: Heights Alliance
Hizashi rolled over with a groan, pulling the blanket tighter around his shoulders. His eyebrows furrowed. He rolled back over on his back, pushed himself up, and rubbed his eyes. He opened them to an almost pitch-black room. A little bit of moonlight streamed in through the curtains. He patted around the bed for his phone, squinting when he hit the home screen button. He blinked a couple times, and his heart dropped into his stomach when he saw the time.
Shit!
He flung the blanket off and jumped out of the bed. He stumbled into the bathroom, cringing when he turned on the light. He splashed water on his face before running a brush through his hair just enough to look presentable. Stalking back through the dark room, he entered the hallway, but paused just before he shut the door. Music drifted in from the living room. He could hear Eri giggling and the sound of cabinets opening and closing. He checked his phone again.
I promised I'd bake cookies with Eri over an hour ago. Who would—
"Do we need this one, 'Toshi?"
He crept down the hall until he could just see into Shouta's living room and kitchen. The radio on the coffee table was on. Butter, sugar, flour, and chocolate chips were spread around a large mixing bowl on the counter. Hitoshi looked up from his phone to see Eri standing on her tip toes and holding up a wooden spoon. Hitoshi grinned and took it from her.
"Yeah! Thanks, Eri!" He poured some flour into the bowl and checked his phone before grabbing a measuring cup. "Do you want to help me add the sugar?"
Eri nodded. Hitoshi moved the step stool in front of the counter and helped her onto it. She took the cup of sugar and dumped it into the bowl. Hitoshi handed her the spoon. She stirred while Hitoshi scrolled along on his phone.
"Do we need anything else?" Eri asked.
Hitoshi's eyebrows scrunched together as he stared at the screen.
"It looks like we'll need two eggs."
"I'll get it!" Hitoshi held her hand while she jumped off the stool. Eri ran across the kitchen to the refrigerator, but she stopped when her hand touched the handle. Her smile faded, and her shoulders sagged. "'Toshi?"
Any trace of happiness in her voice was gone, and Hitoshi noticed immediately. He set his phone down.
"What's wrong?"
"I really miss Aizawa."
Hizashi's chest ached. He clenched his eyes shut.
He's already been missing for three weeks, and we don't have a single lead.
He opened his eyes again to see Eri sitting on the ground and leaning back against the refrigerator. Hitoshi ran a hand down his face before joining her. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her against his side.
"I miss Aizawa, too."
"Do you think he's coming back?" Eri sniffled.
Hitoshi lifted Eri's chin and smiled at her. The ache in Hizashi's chest only got worse when he realized that was the first time he'd seen Hitoshi truly smile since Shouta went missing.
"I know he is, Eri."
Present Day
Hizashi slipped into the hallway and quietly closed the door, not daring to wake Hitoshi or Eri. He only took a couple steps before he froze. Nedzu, Naomasa, Sekijirou, and Neito were gathered at the end of the hall. The four were so engrossed in their conversation, he'd made it over halfway down the hall before they even noticed him. Neito's eyes widened when they landed on him.
What the hell are they talking about?
Neito's arms were crossed, but he hunched his shoulders and curled in on himself the closer he got. Hizashi raised an eyebrow. Sekijirou had already turned and approached him.
"Mic—"
"What's going on?" He frowned when Neito flinched a little at his tone, so he looked to his colleagues and Naomasa. "Is there a reason you're having this little get-together without Nemuri and I? I thought we all had agreed to keep us in the loop unless—"
"I didn't see a reason to because we don't have any answers or explanations," Nedzu interrupted.
"But why would—"
"Something's wrong with his quirk."
Hizashi whirled around to Neito. The student's fingers twisted into the material of his shirt.
What the hell?
"I've copied erasure before. There's a distinct burning in my eyes whenever I activate it, and my hair floats. I tested erasure in the car as we were leaving the hospital. My eyes didn't burn, but something pulsed through them in rhythm with my heartbeat. My hair didn't float either. I wasn't even sure I activated erasure until Tetsutetsu couldn't use his quirk." He looked Hizashi in the eyes. "I'm sorry. I was hoping Principal Nedzu would have an explanation since he's had access to Eraser's files for years. I was hoping it was nothing…."
"But I'm afraid that's not consistent with any of the information we have on Aizawa's quirk."
Hizashi glanced over his shoulder at the door leading to the infirmary.
What happened to you, Shouta?
*break*
Shouta jolted awake. Panic surged through him until he realized Eri was no longer curled up next to him and the bed next to his own was empty. He relaxed back against the pillows and rubbed his eyes.
"We thought it was best for Shinsou and Eri to get some fresh air and spend time with your class." He opened his eyes to find Nedzu occupying the chair Hizashi had previously. "We decided to cancel their classes today. Monoma and Tetsutetsu were excused from their classes as well. We needed to give the hero course staff a chance to figure out how to proceed now you've returned to campus, and I didn't want to risk that news spreading around to the rest of the school yet."
"I see."
"How are feeling?"
"I'm…I've been better," he admitted when Nedzu's eyes narrowed.
Nedzu hopped off the chair and handed him the pills and glass of water on a table next to his bed.
"Recovery Girl left those for you. I told her to get some rest, but she'll be back this evening."
He'd just sat back in his chair when Naomasa and Nemuri entered the infirmary, the latter carrying a few containers in her hands. Naomasa pulled up a chair next to Nedzu and shot Shouta a wry grin.
"I'll apologize in advance. I'm sure you don't want to answer any of my questions right now."
Nemuri opened one of the containers and put it in his lap. He instantly recognized Katsuki's curry. Steam rose up from the dish. His heart sank into his stomach.
The students insisted Nemuri and I eat this with them before we left for patrol….
"I'm not hungry—" he was interrupted by his stomach growling. He took the spoon Nemuri held out for him before taking a bite and looking to Naomasa. "I'm afraid I won't have any answers for you, Tsukauchi. I still don't remember anything after going on patrol with Nemuri."
"Can you try using your quirk?" Naomasa asked.
Shouta's eyebrows furrowed. Nemuri held out her hand, pink mist slowly rising out of her palm. He activated erasure, and the mist disappeared. Nemuri's jaw dropped.
"Your hair isn't floating."
Shouta immediately reached for his head, and sure enough his hair was still down just past his shoulders. Nedzu leaned forward.
"Your eyes are a brighter red, too. Do they hurt?"
Shouta shook his head. The four were silent until Shouta finally blinked, and the mist started rising out of Nemuri's hand again. He rubbed his eyes again while she quickly deactivated her quirk. Naomasa looked at his wrist and scribbled in his notebook.
"You kept your quirk activated for almost a minute. You haven't been able to do that since the attack on the USJ, have you?"
"No."
Nedzu reached into his pocket and tossed him some eye drops. Shouta unscrewed the cap, then stared at the bottle in his hands.
My eyes aren't as dry as they usually are.
He put a couple drops in each eye anyway and set the bottle on the table.
Someone altered my quirk….
A chill ran down his spine at the thought. Everyone must've noticed because no one made another comment about it, and Naomasa was quick to change the subject.
"Present Mic, Midnight, and your students have already given their statements on what happened on the drive back to campus," he continued, "and I'm assuming you don't know anything about who might've been driving those cars?"
"That's right."
"But you knew to duck before someone shattered the windshield and windows of the car?"
Shouta leaned back against the pillows.
How did I know that?
"Yes."
Naomasa's lips quirked into a grim line.
"I think we all can agree that was the result of someone's quirk. I was hoping that would've jogged your memory even a little, but I guess not." He took a deep breath. "I…I'm sorry to ask this of you, Aizawa, but would you mind watching the security footage from the night you went missing? We've had next to no leads these last four months, and it looks like you saw someone before you disappeared. Anything you can remember, no matter how small, could help a lot in this investigation."
Shouta set the curry aside and pushed himself to sit up more. Nedzu and Nemuri adjusted the pillows behind him while Naomasa dug through his briefcase for his laptop. Within a minute, he set it on Shouta's lap with the security footage already loaded.
The footage showed an empty street that Shouta instantly recognized. During the day, the shops and restaurants were flooded with people, but it was practically a ghost town at night, especially at the time he'd normally patrol. He blinked when he appeared on camera, running toward one of the shops. He slowed to a stop and stared at one of the buildings.
That's right. Nemuri and I got that message about someone breaking into the tea shop.
He pulled out his phone before looking to the tea shop again. He knew exactly what he'd been thinking that night.
There should've been shattered glass. The door should've been kicked in, but it looks like there isn't any sign of a break in.
He watched himself walk up to the door and put his ear to it before trying to open it. He perked up and looked to the alley between the tea shop and boutique to the left. Cautiously approaching, he peered into the alley. His shoulders sagged as he straightened up. He walked down the alley, disappearing from view. The footage glitched for a couple seconds before returning to the empty street.
"Someone tampered with the security cameras." Shouta looked to Naomasa. "We don't have footage of Nemuri coming down the street, and she's the one who called us when she found your cell phone and hero license in the alley. This is the frame for the rest of the night. It glitches again around six, then we can see a few cars driving down the street."
"Can we zoom in a little and watch it again?" he asked.
Naomasa clicked a couple buttons and rewound the footage. Shouta watched the video again. When he stood at the entrance to the alley, he paused it. He brought the laptop closer, and Nemuri helped him keep it steady. He could only see one side of his face, but he could see that eyebrow rising near his hairline. He resumed the video, watching his body relax before walking down the alley. He sagged back against the pillows.
I knew whoever was in that alley.