through the worlds of waters by starburstsunshine

by alkhuzamaa

Shouta is called in to help with a special case with a mermaid. They can't understand each other's language, the mermaid has never dealt with having legs before, and now Shouta has to look after him. Well, it's not like Shouta's life has ever been simple.

3. Ch 3

It becomes a bit of a waiting game.

Naomasa is busy at the best of times, and there's likely more on his plate than ever to deal with. Izuku seems to have even more energy, but he throws himself into studying with a renewed sense of vigour and determination.

Which is saying something, considering Shouta thought his levels were always at a high amount to begin with. But now Izuku is asking even more questions, like he finally has the bravery to do so with some of them.

He's certainly feeling more comfortable in the apartment, which is certainly helped along by Hitoshi and Eri. He's started to try and learn cooking, which Hitoshi has taken charge in, because Shouta isn't exactly the best at planning out meals.

He has gotten better, really, mostly for Eri's sake. But Hitoshi just nudges him out of the kitchen and drags Izuku in with him, and Shouta doesn't argue with him. Besides, Hitoshi seems to enjoy it, and Izuku seems to be grateful for their time together in the kitchen as well.

Shouta is curious, though.

There's been something he's been thinking about, albeit reluctant to approach. Izuku is doing better, and he doesn't want to accidentally set off anything.

But Shouta also wants to make sure that he understands certain things. So, just as Eri and Hitoshi leave for school, Izuku turns expectantly to him, waiting for Shouta to set out the materials for the day.

Shouta doesn't do that — not immediately. He has to approach this first.

"Izuku," he says, which helps to abate some of the confusion on Izuku's face at the new change of plan for the day. "It's okay if you don't want to talk about it, but I want to ask."

Izuku nods to show that he understands, and Shouta takes a deep breath before he goes ahead.

"Yagi mentioned that mermaids can create and control portals between worlds, correct?" Shouta asks.

"Correct," Izuku repeats, but then his face twists. "Most... correct?" "Mostly correct?"

"Yes. Not all mermaids. Only the... older?" Izuku explains.

"The older mermaids?"

Izuku nods.

"Not you?" Shouta asks, a feeling sinking in his chest.

"Not me," Izuku confirms.

"Izuku," Shouta says, and maybe he uses it as a delay, maybe he doesn't want the answer to this question. But he has to ask — he has to know. "Did the mermaids know you could shift?"

Izuku shakes his head. "No. I did not know." "And they didn't either?"

Izuku hesitates, his facial expressions shuttering, flickering between different ones before he reluctantly speaks. "They did not know."

"They closed the portal on you, didn't they?" Shouta asks, stomach sinking just as it has been whenever he thinks about the situation.

The mermaids did not know Izuku could shift. They didn't know he could breathe in the seawater. They closed the portal, and they left him there to die.

"I... do not know," Izuku whispers, though by the way his fists clench and his eyes scrunch, Shouta thinks that Izuku is all too aware that it is a high probability.

"Okay," Shouta says, and the heaviness in his stomach is turning into anger, because he doesn't know the nature of mermaids or how their societies work, but he cannot ever imagine there being a cause to abandon someone so young and leave them to die.

Izuku closes off, his expression going carefully blank, and Shouta does not push him. He just puts the materials on the table in front of them, and gets Izuku to focus on learning.

It's a heavy, heavy realisation that sits between them. Shouta doesn't share it with Hitoshi or Eri, but he also knows they share a certain solidarity between them that only they understand.

Finally, a day later, Naomasa calls him. Through a coded message, he slips in a location for Shouta to note down. When he traces them back, he comes up with a small, secluded beach area.

It's an hour away by car, which is a little inconvenient, but Shouta supposes it'll be a good way to get Izuku to see some of the world and get out of the apartment. Besides, it's not like they do much else other than just sit in the apartment and take their daily walks.

Izuku's able to walk up to an hour now, and he's quickly pushing the limit of that. The car might make him a little restless, even.

But it's currently their best location, other than the bathtub, and Naomasa has ruled that out anyway. Which, fair enough, because Shouta doesn't know how he'd handle seeing Izuku in yet another container that's just all too small for him.

He'll probably just be reminded of the cage. And then of the fact he was left to die. So, yeah, no bathtub.

Shouta lets Izuku know they can visit the beach tomorrow, and Izuku absolutely lights up in excitement.

He tells Hitoshi and Eri that he'll be going, just in case anything happens and they're not back in time before they are from school, and they're both disappointed that they're missing out on going to the beach.

"It'll just be for a short while," Shouta tells them. "For now, I just want to work on getting him comfortable with shifting. Once he gets a handle on it, I'm sure he'll be excited to bring both of you as well."

They both reluctantly agree, and Shouta knows he owes them a lot more of his focus than he's been able to give. It's just difficult, with his timer only lasting an hour, meaning he can't quite give either of them any time alone personally with them. He's done his best — he's taken Eri on walks to the mart and quick visits to the playground, but Hitoshi has mostly taken on the role now of doing that.

And he's done the same with Hitoshi, though instead of playgrounds there's just quick visits to a cafe and some help with his homework. It doesn't feel like enough though, not to make it up to them — especially as Shouta is their only legal guardian.

Well, maybe on paper, he is their only legal guardian. He messages Oboro and Hizashi, and asks if they'll be able to have a free day to take out Hitoshi and Eri. It's been a while since they've all seen each other, and Shouta knows they'll all be happy to meet up.

Thankfully, both of them have the coming Sunday free, and Shouta tells them to keep it that way. It's not too far away — today is a Thursday, so it's only a matter of a couple of days.

He doesn't tell Hitoshi and Eri, not just yet. He knows their line of work too well, and he doesn't want to get any hopes up in case any emergencies come through. He'll tell them Saturday night, and hope nothing comes up in those few hours.

He does tell Izuku though, the next day, when they're on their way to the beach. Izuku is openly more curious about the car now that he's no longer as confused about his whole situation, and Shouta patiently explains all the buttons that Izuku is basically itching to touch.

"We're probably going to have visitors in two days," Shouta tells him, once Izuku seems to have a lull in his questions about the vehicle. Izuku turns to him curiously, and Shouta continues. "One of them had a hand in your investigation, but I don't think you've met him."

At least, he hasn't seen the sketch of him in Izuku's notebooks. He's sketched out, now, all the faces he remembers — some are of the other kids, though their faces are always blurry, with very few

identifiable features, and Izuku says that he only got a quick glimpse of most of them before they were divided.

One of them has half-split hair, and Shouta knows enough to tell him that's Shouto Todoroki, but the name means very little to Izuku. There's other sketches as well, like the people that helped him, and the ones that didn't. With his permission, Shouta takes photos and sends them off to Naomasa, who confirms their identities and the fact they've been rescued or apprehended now.

All apprehended except one. The very one that Izuku has drawn a few times now, the details of his face drawn sharper than the others.

He's one of the main leaders, Naomasa had told him. But they are still working on finding him. "Friends?" Izuku asks, and Shouta taps his hand on the steering wheel and nods.

"Yeah, but don't tell them I said that, alright?" He turns his head to look over at Izuku, to check he's caught the joking tone, and thankfully Izuku's lips curve up as he nods.

"Alright," Izuku agrees, even though he is most definitely lying. His sense of humour is starting to properly come through now, at least, and it's a good sign that he's comfortable enough to share it.

"Are them..."

"They," Shouta corrects, and Izuku nods before continuing. "Are they like you?" Izuku asks.

"Like me?" Shouta repeats, tapping at the wheel again. There's a few angles Izuku is likely looking at, but there's hardly any angles they actually have similarities in, so he figures it's a safe enough answer to say: "No, not really."

"They don't... They are not kind?" Izuku asks, and Shouta almost splutters.

Jesus. This kid's goddamn standards for what he considers kind are a shocking reminder of what he's gone through so recently. If Shouta is the kid's baseline for 'kind'... then yeah, he definitely needs to meet some new people.

"They're much kinder than me," Shouta replies, and he manages to catch Izuku's small frown out of the corner of his eyes, like he doesn't believe Shouta. "I haven't lied to you yet, have I?"

Izuku mouths over the word 'lied', and then shakes his head. "No."

"They are nicer than me. Better with kids, too," Shouta lists, and Izuku hums. He's got no reason

not to believe Shouta, but he still doesn't seem convinced. "Sometimes they're loud."

"Noisy?"

"Yes," Shouta confirms. "Especially Hizashi."

"Hizashi... Oh! Shinsou has mentioned him before," Izuku says, tapping his chin in thought. "He is... blonde?"

"He is. Did Shinsou show you a picture?"

"Yes," Izuku replies with a nod. "Also a picture of... woman with long hair."

"That would be Nemuri,"

"Nemuri," Izuku repeats slowly, getting used to the name. "Is she the other visitor?"

"No," Shouta replies, shaking his head slightly. "She's working undercover at the moment. The other visitor will be Shirakumo Oboro."

"Hair?" Izuku questions.

"Light blue, almost white," Shouta answers. Izuku takes a couple of seconds to think, and then he sits up straight, an answer likely coming to him.

"Hm... Sy... clouds? The cloud creature?" Izuku gestures up to the sky.

"Sylph," Shouta confirms. "Yes, that's him."

Izuku nods. "They have talked about him."

"I would have thought so," Shouta responds. "But they'll be taking Eri and Hitoshi out for the day."

"Okay," Izuku replies, looking back out the window. He doesn't seem upset or anything of the sort, but rather thoughtful. There is quiet between them in the car, only the sounds of the engine and the low volume of the radio.

"You said they are better with kids," Izuku says after some time, turning his head to look back at Shouta. "Do they also have kids?"

"Only in emergencies," he replies. "Just for a night or two. Right now, I don't think so." "Why?" Izuku replies, and he's leaning now in his seat, a little closer to Shouta.

"Why? Uh, because they work on relocating the kids back home," Shouta answers, not too sure what it is, exactly, Izuku is now asking. "They're usually wrapped up in missions, and Oboro usually goes abroad."

"Abroad?"

"Travels to other countries," Shouta replies, and Izuku nods at this explanation. He's picked up on geography quite well, and Shouta supposes that probably has a lot to do with knowing his way around the water even with such minimal exposure to the actual ocean on their side of things.

"Did you go abroad?" Izuku asks.

"Yes, a long time ago. Now, I stay here, and work on local cases." "Because of Eri and Hitoshi?"

"Mhm."

"But... your friends are better with kids?" Izuku presses.

"They are," Shouta confirms. "Kids love them."

"But they do not have any?"

"None of their own, no," Shouta replies.

"They are better with kids, but you have Eri and Hitoshi?"

Ah. Shouta thinks he's starting to understand now.

"I do," Shouta replies, thinking about his next words. "It was a rational decision. They did not have homes they could safely relocate to, and my abilities were a suitable countermeasure to their own."

"But now they can control their ability," Izuku points out, and Shouta slowly nods.

"Yes, they can," he responds, and Izuku seems like he's about to press on further, but he closes his mouth and settles back down properly in his seat. Shouta keeps waiting for him to work up to ask another question, but he spends the rest of the car ride just waiting for a moment that never happens.

"Oh!" Izuku says, leaning forward in his seat with his eyes wide. "The water!"

It's splayed out before them, no buildings or hills obscuring their view of it now. Izuku doesn't take his eyes off it, looking on with excitement.

Eventually Shouta pulls up to the coordinates that Naomasa has passed on, his phone ending the navigation, and Shouta turns off the engine and stretches his arms up as much as he can in the car.

"Alright, let's see how this goes," he says, and opens up the car door. He knows Izuku is watching to copy him, so he's a little slower than usual, but Izuku manages to get out of the car on his own.

Izuku does, however, forget the seatbelt. He goes to turn his legs out and place them on the ground, but he's stopped by the restraint. He flounders for a second with a surprised noise, but he doesn't seem like he's panicking. Shouta waits to see if he'll figure it out on his own, and Izuku seems to do so within very little time.

They both act like it didn't happen, and Shouta walks to the boot of the car to get out the bag that contains two towels, as well as a change of clothes. Izuku's currently in board shorts meant for swimming, but Shouta really has no idea how that's going to go with the whole tail thing, so he's also gotten a long stretch of fabric that can act as a wrap around his waist.

Shouta's got his own clothes for swimming, just in case, but he really hopes to stay out of the water. It's rather cold, which means no one else is really considering the beach — and they wouldn't here, not on this private strip, but it does work as a guarantee that they won't be stumbled across.

"Follow me," Shouta says, locking up the car and walking down a small, narrow path. There's some sudden drops, but Izuku handles them well enough that Shouta hardly has to worry. He might have to, on the climb back up, but he'll get there when they come back to it.

They eventually flatten out to a small strip of sand, the waves crashing about fifty metres away from where they stand. Izuku basically runs ahead of him, getting closer and taking in a big, deep breath, and throws out his arms with laughter.

"Take off your shoes before you get them wet," Shouta says over the small gust of wind, and Izuku turns back to him sheepishly but basically skips his way back up to where Shouta has placed down the bag. "Here, change into this."

Izuku listens, and Shouta turns away as Izuku changes and manages to figure out how to wrap the fabric around his waist. Shouta double-checks their surroundings, making sure there's absolutely no other signs of people around them — but the small strip of sand is empty of footprints except

for their own, and Shouta suspects it has been like that for a while.

He makes sure the bag is out of the way of the tide rising, and then slides off his own shoes before he follows Izuku to the water. He only stands up to his ankles, refusing to go any further as the chill of the water makes his toes curl.

Izuku doesn't seem to mind it at all though, as he steps into the water confidently. He makes it a few more steps, and then looks back at Shouta with a smile.

"It's...strange, being in the water like this," he admits with a shy laugh, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Mhm. Just let me know when you want me to drop the shift," Shouta replies, and Izuku's hand drops as his demeanour changes. He's no longer shy, tentatively excited — he's determined, now. He walks until the water comes up to his waist, the fabric spreading out in the water around him, and then he lets himself drop, the water coming up to his shoulders as he sits down in the sand.

"Alright," Izuku says, giving him a thumbs-up.

Shouta blinks, and after so long holding onto Izuku's shift, it's almost strange to tug back on that feeling in his chest, slowly unravelling the tight ball of string that feels like it's been knotted up inside of him.

The water begins to react, a small tornado appearing under the water. Izuku remains steadily above the waves though, as it's not dragging him down — it's just wrapping around him, slightly jostling him, but not enough to properly disrupt him.

Shouta watches carefully, studying Izuku's expression. Izuku is just staring down at the water, his hands curiously poking the tornado. He seems calm enough though, so Shouta stands and waits.

Eventually, the water calms, and there are no longer legs below the water. There's a tail, stretched out before Izuku, and he looks back at Shouta and grins at him.

Shouta raises an eyebrow, trying to cover the way his heart is starting to pick up in pace.

The beach is fine. The water will be okay. Toshinori and Naomasa have guaranteed him as much

— and if it's not safe, then Shouta will be able to shift Izuku back. He'll be fine.

Izuku takes in a breath, but he splutters immediately, and he quickly ducks the lower half of his face below the water. Shouta can see bubbles rising from the breaths he takes, and Shouta lets the tight feeling in his chest loosen properly. It's fine — Izuku is fine.

Realising it as well, Izuku suddenly moves, going further into the water. They've already talked about making sure Izuku doesn't go too far — and he stays relatively close to the surface, Shouta able to catch glimpses of green as he properly swims. It's from his tail, as he dives through the water, but it's also from his hair, when he occasionally peeks his head up to look back at the shore.

Shouta raises his hand, making a thumbs-up, and then turns it down in question. Izuku raises his own hand and gives a thumbs-up, answering Shouta's question on how he's going.

Shouta steps back from the water and sits down on the dryer part of the sand, but keeps his feet outstretched and touching the small waves that wash up on the sand. He knows this time is meant for Izuku to be figuring out how to shift on his own, but Izuku is clearly joyous in being reunited with the ocean, and Shouta is reluctant to put an end to that.

So he keeps quiet and stays on the beach, ignoring the cold gusts of wind that seep through his clothes. He can basically hear Izuku's excited laughter echoing through the waves, and he does not disturb it.

He's all too aware that if he wanted to, Izuku could swim away and simply leave Shouta here on this beach. He could leave all the humans behind, and he'd have every right to do that after everything he's gone through.

Shouta wouldn't blame him. If he was in Izuku's position, he'd likely take the chance, wouldn't he?

Maybe not, he muses. If his family had thrown him into the sea, fully prepared to accept that he'd drown, maybe he would stick it out with the mermaids.

Fuck, his heart is aching again.

He takes a deep breath and listens out for the sounds of Izuku in the water, his laughter still echoing close-by. He hasn't left yet.

He thinks back to the car ride, and the unspoken questions and thoughts that Izuku seems to have. It's easier to reflect on than other topics he keeps circling back to.

Izuku has a point, he thinks, questioning Shouta about his ability with kids and his work. And he knows what Izuku had been leading into questioning: if Hizashi and Oboro are better than Shouta with kids, then why are Eri and Hitoshi still with him?

At first, it had just been the logical decision to match up Shouta's ability with Hitoshi's. Hitoshi had grown into his abilities, had learned how to control it, and yet neither Hitoshi or Shouta had ever really thought about any other options once that had happened. Hitoshi had stayed, and Shouta had wanted him to, and that had been that.

When Eri had come along — well, Shouta was already staying on local cases, and his workload was already easing up, and it'd just made sense to take Eri as well. And it'd made sense for her to stay, because Hitoshi and Eri had grown attached to each other, and — well. That'd been that.

It had been his choice to accept them, but it had been their choice to stay.

And when Izuku learns control over his shift, then what? What will Izuku's choice be? It's a question that isn't Shouta's to answer.

Eventually, Izuku comes back closer to the shore, army-crawling his way closer when the water becomes too shallow. He keeps the lower half of his face below the water, and Shouta stands up and makes his way to stand beside Izuku, looking down at him.

"Have you tried shifting yet?" Shouta asks, and Izuku hesitates before he shakes his head, looking a little guilty.

Shouta just nods. "Do you want to try?"

Izuku, realising Shouta doesn't mind that he's just spent all that time just reacquainting himself with the water rather than trying to shift back into a human, takes a second for himself. And then he nods.

"Alright," Shouta says, and stays standing beside Izuku.

He watches as Izuku's tail swishes in the water, making sand rise up and swirl around him. His fins occasionally lift up out of the water, and Shouta watches the hypnotising movements as Izuku tries to figure out how to shift.

Izuku seems to go through some movements. At one point, he tries holding his breath, his fingers curling into fists. It doesn't seem to work, and Izuku just lets his face fall forward and splash into the water, and bubbles rise up in a way that means Izuku is definitely grumbling.

He moves his tail more actively, lifting half of it out the water. He holds it there for as long as he can, before Shouta starts to get worried about the wind and sun drying it out, before Izuku lets it fall and splash down into the water.

It does, unfortunately, strike Shouta. He closes his eyes and wipes the seawater from his lips and the bottom half of his face, shaking out his hands before he wipes them on his jumper. Izuku makes a type of gurgling sound, and Shouta can recognise it enough to understand sorry.

"It's fine," Shouta dismisses, even though the water now on his skin is making the wind feel so much more striking.

Izuku's hand wraps around his ankle, and the feeling of it is almost like slimy seaweed tangling around him. Shouta makes sure he does not shudder, even though he strongly dislikes the feeling of anything slimy.

Shouta looks down and meets Izuku's eyes, who's staring at him with a certain kind of intent. He's waiting for Shouta to reply to something.

Shouta tilts his head slightly. "You want me to shift you?"

Izuku nods his head, and Shouta follows his request. The water once again acts strangely, tangling itself around Izuku's lower half, before it settles, and there are now legs in the place of a tail. Izuku sits up and takes a breath.

"Sorry, I know the purpose of this is for me to do it," Izuku says in a rush, going on before Shouta can stop him. "I just... I have no idea how to do it. I don't know what to feel. Or what to... do."

"Hey," Shouta does manage to cut in, voice firm but not unkind. "Don't apologise for not being able to do it right now. This isn't something anyone can teach you to do. This is something you have to learn on your own, and that's going to be difficult. It's going to take time."

Izuku mutters under his breath, frustrated at himself still, and Shouta sighs.

"Problem child," he says, and Izuku's muttering stops, confused for a moment about the sudden nickname. "You learn things at a terrifying pace, and I know you're holding yourself to that same standard. But this isn't like learning a language. You're being taught that. You have help. For this... Unfortunately, there's no one that can do that. So it's going to take time. I know this, and you need to understand this."

Izuku sighs, but he's not arguing back or muttering, which means he is taking something onboard. "Okay," Izuku finally says, and lowers himself back down. "Shift me back, please."

Shouta does. Izuku is not able to shift himself back.

Eventually, it starts to get too cold, as the sun starts to lower and the tide begins to rise, the waves getting a little more abrasive. Shouta can't quite put it off any longer, and eventually gets Izuku's

attention by bending down and placing a hand on Izuku's shoulder.

Izuku's head peeks up.

"We should probably head back," Shouta says. "We can come back and practice another day."

Izuku's shoulders slump, but he nods in agreement, and Shouta shifts him. Izuku gets his head above water in that time, and gets his legs under him. Shouta holds out his hand to help him stand up, and though Izuku's knees wobble as he gets used to standing again, he stays upright.

"You good?" Shouta asks, and Izuku shakes out his legs.

"I'm good," he says, a little breathless as exhaustion seems to cling to his frame, and walks out of the waves. They both head over to the bag, and Shouta passes him over a towel to dry off with.

Izuku manages to get away with not wearing shoes, saying it's going to be easier for him to climb back up. Shouta can't argue that, because Izuku isn't exactly fond of shoes half the time, so he leads the way up and makes sure Izuku is following him.

He helps pull Izuku up some of the steeper inclines, but eventually they manage to get back to the level of the small road. Shouta shakes off the sand that's still in his sandals, and though he doesn't bother trying to get Izuku to put his shoes back on as they head back to the car, he does keep his eye out in case there's any glass or sharp rubbish on the ground.

"Oh," Izuku says, once they climb back in the car. "It's gotten late."

"Mhm," Shouta hums, texting Hitoshi as he speaks. "We'll pick up food on the way back."

Shouta turns on the car once he sends the message, and Izuku is rather quiet on the way back, his chin resting on the palm of his hand as he looks out the window in thought. Shouta doesn't disturb him, and just keeps his eye out for any particular places that they prefer to order from on the way back.

"Alright, anything you want in particular?" Shouta eventually breaks the quiet, pulling into a space to park. Izuku blinks, like he's just realising where he is, and Shouta gives him a few moments to work out an answer.

"I— no, thank you," Izuku replies, and Shouta mentally makes a note of chicken. He likes chicken, even if he will not ask for it.

"Alright," Shouta says. "Stay in the car."

Izuku gives him a thumbs-up, surprisingly demure, and Shouta presses his lips and does not voice his concerns as he gets out of the car to head into a small restaurant. It's quiet, the hour is still quite early to be getting dinner, but that's all the better for Shouta.

He leans against the wall of the restaurant and waits, knowing that they will at least finish the order fast. He glances back out the window occasionally, where the car is in view, but Izuku has just taken to staring back out the window again in thought.

Shouta knows he's frustrated, and it's frustrating not being able to help him. He knows this frustration will turn into fuel, but it just might take a bit of a nudge to get Izuku back onto that path again.

He'll be able to help with that, at least, when Izuku has ridden out the worst of the frustration inside

of him.

The restaurant does finish soon enough and passes him over a bag of food, and Shouta thanks them before he heads back to the car. Izuku isn't too far out of it, as he doesn't startle when Shouta opens up the car door, and he takes the bag from Shouta's hands to hold it safely as they head back home.

Eri and Hitoshi are sitting on the dining table when they walk back in, and Eri gets up excitedly and heads over to them.

"How was the beach?" She asks brightly, and Izuku crouches down and gives her a smile. It's not the full, whole-hearted one he sometimes gives, but it's still wide enough to make sure Eri doesn't worry.

"It was good!" He says, and as he does so, it's like he remembers all the better parts about being there, like he's suddenly remembering his joy when he first entered the water again.

"Did you get your tail back?" She looks up at him with wondrous eyes, and he smiles at her. "I did," he says, and pats at his legs like he's demonstrating the tail that was just there.

"One day..." she trails off nervously, only encouraged by Izuku's smile. "One day, can I see?"

Izuku looks at Shouta, like he's asking permission, and Shouta just turns his head in a clear demonstration that this answer does not depend on him. Instead, he looks to Hitoshi, who's doing his utmost best to look like he's not listening carefully to the conversation.

"I would love for you to," he replies, and she's so excited that she wraps her arms around him.

He laughs and picks her up, despite the fact she is definitely past being the age of that — but Izuku is deceptively strong, as it turns out, and it's little problem for him despite her size. Shouta takes the bag from his hand that isn't balancing her and places it down in front of Hitoshi, who rifles through it and distributes all the containers to their usual seats.

Their usual seats. Izuku has one now, at the table. A spot on the couch he prefers, and one they tend to make room for when he comes out. And though the guest room tends to be used from Hizashi or Oboro when they're between missions and need a place to crash, it's now definitely becoming Izuku's room.

It's up to Izuku, he reminds himself. Once Izuku can control his shift, then it'll be up to him as to where he wants to go. Once he's no longer forced to stay so close to Shouta just because of his abilities.

Hitoshi knocks his foot against Shouta's leg, raising his eyebrow from across the table. Shouta raises his own in turn, and Hitoshi just huffs and rolls his eyes, but doesn't press him any further.

It gets Shouta out of his head at least, though he remains quiet as he lets Eri, Hitoshi and Izuku talk amongst themselves. Izuku always has plenty of questions about school, but this time Eri — and Hitoshi, when he pipes up because his curiousity can't quite be sated — asks just as many about the trip to the beach.

Shouta washes up the dishes on his own, dismissing any attempt at help, because he wants to keep letting them talk amongst themselves. They talk until they tire, until eventually Izuku says he needs to go wash up because his hair is getting stiff from the seawater.

Izuku's voice has gotten livelier over the night, at least, and that frustration that had been so evident

in the car seems to have now begun the shift into determination.

It might still take some time, but for now, when they all head to bed, Shouta is proud of the progress that Izuku has made today.

There's a knock on the door, and Eri basically runs over to open it up. "Zashi! Oboro!" She cries out, grinning up at them.

"Hey little listener!" Hizashi says, opening up his arms for a hug. She bounds into them, and then into Oboro's a moment later. Hitoshi walks over to them casually, both their bags on his shoulders, and gives both of them a fist-bump in greeting.

Shouta remains on the dining table with Izuku, not quite leaving him alone to greet Oboro and Hizashi. Hitoshi glances back at them, and then makes a decision as he steps aside to let both of them properly inside.

Izuku looks over to Shouta, and then resolutely takes a deep breath and slides the chair out and stands. Oboro and Hizashi both look over to Izuku, both smiling warmly but ultimately waiting for him to make his approach first.

"Hi there," he says politely, bowing in greeting. And then he looks up to Oboro. "Um, you were part of the investigation, right?"

"I was," Oboro smiles at him.

"Thank you," Izuku says, and Oboro flaps his hands around.

"Ah no, really don't thank me! I'm just glad to see you're up and walki— uh. Um."

"I'm glad to walk," Izuku graciously says, and Oboro laughs and clasps his hands together.

"Great! Well, I'm glad to see you're doing well. Sho's treating you to lots of good human food, right?" Oboro asks, and Izuku seems to lean into Oboro's bright energy as he steps closer. Oboro easily throws his arm around Izuku's shoulders, and Izuku doesn't mind in the slightest.

"He is," Izuku replies happily.

"Oh? Any favourites?" Hizashi asks, and gets a reply from everyone in Shouta's household.

"Katsudon," they all say together, because it seems like Izuku's stomach is endless when it comes to that dish.

"Hah! Good choice," Hizashi cheers. Oboro's arm slips from Izuku's shoulder after giving him a pat of comfort.

"Alright, well we'll be heading off. You guys want to see a movie, right?" Oboro asks, turning his attention back to Hitoshi and Eri, who nod in agreement.

Hitoshi leaves with a wave, but Eri comes over and gives Shouta and Izuku a hug in parting. Oboro and Hizashi flick them both a thumbs-up, and then the door closes behind them.

"They're... going to watch a movie?" Izuku asks in confusion, turning to Shouta. "Can't they do that on the television?"

"They're going to the cinema," Shouta explains, and pulls up an image of his phone. "Movies generally run first at the cinema for a couple of weeks when they're new, and then they become available on the television."

"Isn't that a television?" Izuku asks, pointing at the phonescreen.

"It's a projector actually. Which, yeah, I guess is just a very big television," Shouta responds. "Oh," Izuku says, rocking back on his heels as he nods. "Okay."

He looks a little put-out, and Shouta tilts his head.

"Do you want to go to one, problem child?" He questions, and Izuku hums.

"It's... that's lots of seats, isn't it? Lots of people," Izuku replies.

"It depends on the session. Usually, they're not ever full, unless it's a premiere night." "Premiere..."

"Um, first time it's being shown to the public."

"Right," Izuku nods. "Then... maybe, one day? If that's okay?"

Shouta hasn't even thought about it, not really — Izuku's just been able to learn so much of the language and of the world around him, even in the small sections a time that Shouta exposes him to, and Shouta forgets the smaller things like this.

The cinemas are a normal thing for teenagers that are Izuku's age. A usual outing for Hitoshi, when he goes out with his friends.

These things might be mundane for the rest of the people around Shouta, but for Izuku, this is a whole new experience. This is something he's learning about for the first ever time.

"Yeah, we should be able to arrange that," Shouta replies. "How about next week? I think there's a superhero movie showing..."

"Really?" Izuku asks excitedly. He's taken an extreme liking to them, and they've become his go-to when he tries to find something to watch on the television.

"I think Hitoshi has watched it already, but I'm sure he'll come along if you want to go," Shouta muses, and Izuku just seems even more excited, muttering to himself rapidly, switching between languages.

"Anyway," Shouta says, stretching up. "While the house is free, do you want to head to the beach again?"

He didn't suggest it yesterday, as Izuku still seemed conflicted about how he felt from the trip. But now, Izuku just nods, fists clenching.

"Yes please!"

"Alright, go grab the towels from the dryer. I'll get the rest of it together," Shouta says, and Izuku

scampers off to do exactly that. This time, Shouta packs sunscreen, because it's slightly warmer today, and he's also learnt his lesson — despite the chill in the air, his nose has still gone a little pink from the last time at the beach.

During the drive over, Shouta finds himself explaining to Izuku a bit more in-depth about all the different stores inside of shopping malls. Now that he remembers most of them will all be new experiences to Izuku, he goes into quite a bit of detail about them all.

Izuku is especially enamoured by the arcades, taking Shouta's phone just to type in and look up the different kinds of games and consoles. Eri and Hitoshi have shown him small handheld devices, and Hitoshi has definitely mentioned arcades before, but now Izuku properly has the details and the visuals to accompany the information.

"Wow..." Izuku says, and taps through Shouta's phone to look up more stores. "It's so big!"

Shit, yeah, maybe Shouta really is slacking on showing Izuku more parts of the world. He supposes Izuku will be able to handle it now, at least — he probably wouldn't, a couple of weeks ago, but now he's become more exposed and used to parts of human society.

When they get to the beach, Izuku takes the lead on going down the path to reach the small strip. He hurries to pull off his shoes and tie the fabric around his waist, and wades into the water.

"Okay!" He calls out, looking back at Shouta. Shouta lets the shift go, and Izuku settles right back into the water with ease.

What does not come with ease, unfortunately, is Izuku shifting. He's still left near the shore, trying in a vain attempt to shift but to no avail.

Eventually he flops over onto his back, and raises his hand in a signal for Shouta to shift him back to human. Izuku remains human, not even minding as the waves gently splash across his face as he remains lying on the sand and looking up at the sky.

"Shouta," he says into the open air, and Shouta grunts in the signal for him to go ahead. "When you... shift me, what does it feel like?"

Shouta moves a little closer, taking a seat on the sand, just out of reach of the waves.

"Well, when I grab onto someone's abilities... it's like there's a thread. A piece of string. If I grab onto it, it's like I start to pull it towards me, and wind it up inside of me until it's a tight ball," Shouta explains.

"A... ball of string?"

"Mhm. Sits right between my ribs," Shouta answers, and Izuku's own fingers come up on his bare chest to press against that spot on his body.

"Here?" He asks, pressing on his sternum. "Yep."

"And when you want to let go of their ability?" Izuku questions, now flipping over so that he's on his stomach, keeping himself up with his elbows as he looks at Shouta just a little further up the sand.

"I pull on the end of the string and unravel it," Shouta replies. "I give the string back to them, I

guess."

Izuku hums, and then flips back over. His fingers come back up to trace his sternum, lightly pressing in.

"I don't feel it," he says eventually.

"I wouldn't really expect you to," Shouta responds, shaking his head slightly. "Your abilities are not mine, after all."

"But you can make me shift," Izuku retaliates, and Shouta shrugs.

"Sure, but I can't really make you shift from human to mermaid. All I can do is let go of your, uh, mermaid form that I've got bundled up. But if I don't have it to begin with, then I can't make you."

"So if I shift into a human on my own..."

"Then you'll need to figure out how to shift back into a mermaid. I can't help you in that scenario," Shouta confirms, and Izuku's hand falls from his sternum and splashes back into the water.

"Of course," Izuku sighs, and then suddenly hauls himself to sit upright. His hands swirl through the water. "But if there's no string, then what do I unravel?"

Shouta remains quiet, because he doesn't have the answer to this, and he doesn't want to prod Izuku in the wrong direction accidentally if he attempts to try.

In the end, Izuku does not manage to shift on his own today either.

Izuku still seems frustrated — and, well, if Shouta stops to get them some ice-cream before they head back, then it's purely because it's warm today, and his black clothes have made him overheat.

The movies don't happen, not that following week, as the superhero movie has just finished its theatrical release. Izuku brushes it off though, because his focus has turned entirely to shifting.

"Let's go when I shift," he says to Shouta. "As a..." "Celebration?"

"Yes! Let's go as a celebration when I am able to do it." So that's the agreement for now.

Oboro and Hizashi come over a lot more, now that Izuku is familiar with them. They still take Eri and Hitoshi out, either together or separately, and just let them get out of the house for more than the hour that Shouta can offer.

They usually come over, or come home, with something interesting for Izuku to have. Sometimes it's food, like fairy-floss, or sometimes it's small plush toys and other small trinkets. They're slowly filling up Izuku's room, placed out on-top of the drawers as a treasured collection.

One day, Izuku takes a while to approach Shouta about something that he's clearly thinking over.

Shouta basically watches as over the course of the day, Izuku talks himself up — and down — from asking him something.

Eventually, he just turns to Izuku, and says: "What is it?"

"Ah," Izuku flusters, realising he's been caught out. "Um. I was... wondering if you could... If I could speak to Yagi?"

Toshinori's contact still sits in Shouta's phone, but has not yet been touched. Izuku has not needed any translation help, and he also hasn't brought up Toshinori until now.

"Of course," Shouta says with a small shrug, and pulls out his phone, ready to pass it over so Izuku can text him.

"Oh," Izuku says, and licks his lips as he pauses nervously. "Um, I wanted to call." Right, Shouta's an idiot. Izuku can text, but of course he'd prefer to talk to Toshinori.

"I'll ask him when he's free for one," Shouta promises, already pressing Toshinori's contact for the first time and sending a message to let him know Izuku wishes to call.

Toshinori's reply takes a little under an hour, and says he's available now, if Izuku is. So Shouta passes Izuku the phone, after calling up Toshinori, and then leaves the room to give Izuku some privacy to talk. Not like Shouta would be able to understand much, anyway, but it's the principle of the matter.

The call lasts about just over an hour, and Izuku hands back Shouta's phone with his eyes clearly spinning from so many thoughts.

"Thank you," Izuku says, and his fingers are already tapping at his sides like he's anxious to write. "Was it helpful?" Shouta asks, and Izuku nods with a jolt.

"Yes! Yes, I— I think so. I hope so," he says, and Shouta nods and leaves him to it.

Shouta takes Izuku to the beach as often as he's able — some days it's only short, a couple of hours at most, but Izuku appreciates it, and so Shouta does not mind the drive. It gives time for Izuku to study anyway, and he's getting better at memorising roads and other structures.

And if Shouta is tired, he's taken to just laying his towel out on the sand and taking a short nap. It's slowly getting ever so slightly warmer, and the small trace of sunshine usually lulls him to a light doze. He's too alert to let it go any deeper, and he's still usually rather aware of his surroundings, but it's good to help any edge of tiredness.

It's such a time, their second visit after the call with Toshinori, where he's got another small towel over his face so that he doesn't burn as he naps, when he hears the water making interesting noises. Usually Izuku splashes around, and he's gotten used to the different sounds — like when Izuku is actually trying to get his attention. But this is different, and Shouta slips the towel off his face and sits up.

And there, just skulking in the water close to the shore, is Izuku. He's got his back to Shouta though, looking at his tail, and Shouta soon realises why.

Because it's not a tail for much longer. The water is splashing around him, and Izuku's tail splits into legs.

The piece of string falls away from Shouta's grasp, no longer in his reach. He did it.

Izuku shifted.

Izuku kicks one of his legs up, admiring it in the water, before he suddenly whips around and looks to Shouta. He basically hurries to his feet, running over to Shouta and kicking up a ridiculous amount of sand in his excitement.

"I did it! I did it!" Izuku shouts, and then almost trips right over his feet and falls. Shouta manages to get up in time to steady him, stopping him from face-planting right into the sand.

"You sure did," Shouta replies with a proud nod, which is his and his alone to know about. "What made you do it?"

Izuku looks back at the water, staring at the small waves crashing over each other.

"I guess it was... kind of like your string? But different. But there's definitely something, in my... chest? Yeah. Something there. I had to try and focus when you shifted me, and try to understand what changes, and..." Izuku starts to ramble, his tongue clicking like he's trying to slip back into his first language out of habit. He manages to speak mostly Japanese, though he's speaking so fast that Shouta can hardly keep up. "Yagi told me about... ah, I guess it was different in the end, but I just had to make sure I could get that feeling. And I think I still can! I can still feel it. It's just different now, with legs."

Izuku kicks out his legs, like he hasn't spent most of his time lately with them. But Shouta supposes he can understand how they feel different, now — it feels different for Shouta now too, now that Izuku is before him with legs and human but that feeling in Shouta's sternum has not appeared. There's no string to unravel, and there's no string to grab onto either.

It's up to Izuku now, entirely, to shift back.

"Do you want to try?" Shouta asks him, nudging him in the direction of the water. "Do we have time?" Izuku asks, and Shouta nods.

"Sure," he responds. They do — and they can be a bit later today, anyway. They try to get back in time for dinner usually, but Eri and Hitoshi will understand anyway if they're home past their usual time.

Izuku heads back into the water, sitting down where he usually does once he gives Shouta the go- ahead to shift him. And though Izuku looks back at him, there's no signal to give. Shouta is not the one holding the shift, this time.

It takes Izuku half an hour to shift. He almost forgets about the fact he needs to breathe underwater, because he's staring at his tail in surprise, until he suddenly chokes on the air he cannot breathe.

He basically throws himself forward, and he looks a little like a fish out of water, Shouta will admit. But he adjusts himself soon enough, once he's no longer panicking about his breathing.

This is it — Izuku is finally getting a handle on his shifting. Now that he's done it both ways, Shouta is sure that he'll be able to get the hang of it in no time.

This time though, today, he gets Shouta to shift him back into a human.

He basically drags himself up the beach, exhaustion clinging to his frame. Shouta hasn't really seen him like this before — no matter how long he swims, it's like the water invigorates him usually. But now he's basically crawling back up the sand, and he flops down without a care as he finally manages to get up to where Shouta is sitting.

He groans, and Shouta places a hand on his shoulder. "You alright?"

"Tired," Izuku rasps out. He sits up slowly, wrapping the given towel around himself to dry. "Shifting is... tiring."

"It probably just takes for you to build up an endurance for it when you do it yourself," Shouta says, slowly packing the bag up. "But now that you've done it, you're already working on it."

Izuku just grunts, because he seems to be too tired to formulate any type of response. Shouta's a little concerned he's going to have to carry Izuku back up to the car, but Izuku manages to get enough energy to do it himself.

It's a quiet ride home, as Izuku falls asleep on the way back. Shouta stops to get some food, letting him nap inside the parked car as he waits. He texts Naomasa a coded message as he waits for the food, just to let him know that Izuku has managed it, as well as Oboro and Hizashi.

After all, they're also in the plan now to 'celebrate' Izuku being able to shift. Shouta supposes he's going to have to accept he's getting dragged to the cinema to watch a superhero movie — that's alright, though. Cinemas can be decent places to nap.

He doesn't text Hitoshi, though, as he will let Izuku tell them himself. When he gets back in the car, Izuku blinks himself back into awareness, giving Shouta a sheepish smile as he's passed over the bag of food.

"Ah," Izuku says, and his tongue clicks a couple of times like he's getting his jaw moving again. "Mm? Katsudon?"

"Yep," Shouta replies, setting off on the drive home. "We're a bit late, but I'm sure Eri and Shinsou will forgive us when you tell them why."

That seems to get Izuku to liven up, as he suddenly remembers what he's accomplished today. He's back to his usual energetic levels, beating Shouta up the stairs in his excitement to spread the news.

"You guys are back late," Hitoshi says once they're through the doorway, his tone curious. Shouta remains quiet, and lets Izuku speak for both of them.

"I managed it!" Izuku reveals, eyes basically creasing up with his smile. "I finally managed to shift!"

Eri hugs him in excitement, happy for him.

"'Finally', he says, like mere weeks is a long time to figure out how to change your form entirely," Hitoshi rolls his eyes, but he nudges Izuku in the side with his elbow to make sure Izuku understands his sarcasm.

"Oh! Oh! This means we can go out to the movies, right?" Eri asks, turning between all of them with wide, pleading eyes. Hitoshi and Shouta both look at Izuku, leaving him to the reveal.

Realising it's up to him, Izuku thankfully takes charge. "Yes! I think so!"

"Yay! There's a new movie coming out too, this is great timing!" She says, taking Izuku's hand and leading him over to the table so they can start eating.

Izuku lets himself get pulled along, listening to Eri without argument — not like any of them could to begin with anyway.

Just a couple of days later, thankfully Hizashi and Oboro's schedules line up for an evening, and they head to the shopping mall together.

They split up into two cars, Hitoshi heading over with Hizashi and Oboro, while Shouta drives Eri and Izuku. It's not too far, but it is a couple of streets past the ones that Izuku is familiar with, and he stays glued to the window as he watches the new sights.

They're nothing really too new, not until they properly hit the shopping mall, but Izuku is still in awe of it all anyway. Eri is chattering excitedly, even though the hour is a little later than they usually head out — they're avoiding the crowds, just to make sure no one gets overstimulated, and also giving Izuku a bit more of a chance to get used to such an area.

"Oh! We have to get popcorn!" Eri says, clapping her hands together.

"I've had popcorn before," Izuku gently reminds her, because she usually only takes on that tone when it's something that Izuku hasn't tried yet. They're very quickly running out of things for Izuku to try, at this rate, especially as Oboro and Hizashi keep coming over with gifts.

"No, no," she refutes, shaking her head in denial. "It's different!"

"It's... different?" Izuku's eyes drift over to Shouta for confirmation.

Shouta gives a small shrug. He's really not the person to ask when it comes to these things.

"Ask anyone else to explain why," he advises, because he's really not sure how to. Izuku just hums in response and will likely do so.

Just as he thought, once they reach the cinema, Oboro throws his arm around Izuku's shoulder and lays out exactly why cinema popcorn is so different to home-made popcorn.

"It's just part of the experience!" Shouta can hear Oboro saying, once he catches up with them. "The taste of hot, fluffy popcorn through the previews that quickly goes cold, with too much salt and too many kernels at the end... ah, that's the stuff."

"Okay," Izuku says, and blinks down at the bucket that has suddenly appeared in his hands. He picks out a piece and eats it, humming contently as he does so. The prices of the cinema make Shouta grimace and remind him why he prefers to stay home, but he supposes it is a celebration.

He allows all of them a large slushie, but he makes sure to buy bottles of water for them as well.

"Aw, look at you!" Hizashi says, a little too loudly and a little too directly into Shouta's ear. "You know, they say three kids is so much harder than two, but you're doing just fine! Look at those three, they're just adorable!"

Oboro, Eri, Hizashi and Izuku are walking ahead, with Oboro leading them into the cinema. Izuku keeps glancing back, like he's making sure Shouta and Hizashi are following.

"Hizashi," Shouta sighs, adjusting his grip on the bottles of water. Hizashi takes one, even though he's balancing his own popcorn and drink.

"And three is a great number, don't you think? Like us!" Hizashi continues on, ignoring Shouta's small warning.

"It's not up to me if he stays," Shouta reminds him, and Hizashi gives him an unconcerned wave of his hand as he laughs, and Shouta sharply shushes him to make sure the group ahead don't overhear.

"He could decide to go back to the water," Shouta says, though the last word sounds strange on his tongue.

"And he could have chosen that a while ago, but he didn't," Hizashi counteracts. "Come on, Sho, admit it! Three kids."

"Yamada. He can shift. He could go anywhere he wants to. I don't know why he'd choose to stay here," Shouta replies, and Hizashi stops walking.

Shouta doesn't even bother looking back at the dramatic expression Hizashi is likely pulling. Hizashi just huffs and catches up, basically stumbling over himself to do so before Shouta reaches the cinema door.

"Sho, are you serious? Are you seriously asking why he'd choose to stay?" Hizashi asks him, and Shouta just crosses through the cinema doors and turns to shush Hizashi petulantly.

"Ah shit," Shouta says, realising something. "I forgot to tell him to be quiet in cinemas."

It's the little things like this that Shouta can tend to forget — things he's just used to knowing, not even thinking that it's something that has to be taught.

Their eyes both sweep over the cinema — there's not many people, as intended, but there's still a few. Oboro is already seated, waving at Shouta and Hizashi like they somehow would miss the group of them.

Shouta takes his seat, and passes down the bottles of water. Izuku is sitting close enough, so he leans forward over Hitoshi and gestures for him to do the same.

"You have to be quiet in cinemas," Shouta tells him, and Izuku just nods.

"I know! Oboro told me," he whispers back, and Shouta nods and leans back, settling into his chair. Hizashi tilts the bucket of popcorn towards him, but Shouta just shakes his head and crosses his arms, and closes his eyes before the movie even begins.

He doesn't fall asleep, not properly. He's listening out, though he knows Oboro and Hizashi are aware and alert. But he's listening out for Izuku, waiting in case Izuku needs an out.

But Izuku is just quietly saying things like wow under his breath, and crunching on popcorn, and seems to be enjoying it. So Shouta settles, but he does not sleep.

He really does not know what happens in the movie — but that's okay, as Eri and Izuku excitedly talk together and summarise it once it finishes, going through their favourite moments.

"And the explosions! They were so loud," Izuku says, dramatically clenching a hand to his heart. "I could feel it!"

Eri laughs and agrees. She's managed to make her way onto Oboro's back for a piggyback, making her just a little above Izuku's own height. Oboro has to hold tightly, as she keeps excitedly waving her arms around, the late hour and movie having boosted her usual energy levels.

Shouta's sure she'll crash out by the time they're home, so he doesn't mind. And everyone seems to be enjoying it, Izuku hardly even realising he's being walked a little further into the mall.

"Oh!" He finally says, looking around. There's light displays on, twinkling lights as the date for Christmas approaches. A lot of the shops are closed for the day, but there's still some food places open.

"Are we feeling hungry, kiddos?" Hizashi asks.

"Crepes," Hitoshi suddenly says, and clearly the excitement is even getting to him now, as his voice has risen past his normal deadpan. He flushes once he realises it, but he doesn't back down on it, pointing to a stall.

"Oh! Yes, yes! Izuku, you haven't had one before yet, right?" Eri asks, patting Oboro excitedly like she can point him in that direction.

"I don't think so?" he draws out, eyes narrowing as he tries to read what they are. "Oh, I have, I think!"

"Only the simple one," Hitoshi says, and he's the first one to make his way over to the board. "But there's plenty of other toppings."

"We usually can't bring them because they'll melt by the time we get back," Hizashi says, pointing to some of the ones with cream.

Izuku looks over the board, eyes widening as he looks at all the different choices. Oboro pays for Eri and Hitoshi's, while Izuku stands in front of the board and tries to make a decision.

"Strawberries are usually a good choice," Shouta says quietly, stepping up beside Izuku and starting to recognise there are, perhaps, too many options for him. And Izuku seems to like strawberries, gravitating towards them when there's different options available to him usually.

"Are you getting that?" Izuku asks, looking at him.

"Sure," Shouta sighs to himself, and orders and pays for two strawberry loaded crepes.

Hizashi just grins knowingly at him after Shouta holds a crepe of his own, but thankfully keeps his mouth shut.

He does, unfortunately, snap pictures. And he makes sure to get Eri, Hitoshi, and Izuku in amongst them, as well as a few selfies.

"Don't worry," Hizashi says, scrolling through the photos once he's done taking them. "I'll send them through."

"Please don't," Shouta says flatly in response, but Hizashi just grins and sends them anyway.

And if, a few days later, when Izuku takes Shouta's phone to look up something, he sees the picture

of all of them with crepes in their hands and with some of them (Oboro, Eri, Izuku) with cream on their noses and smiles, then that's only for the two of them to know.

Perhaps Shouta regrets introducing Izuku to Oboro and Hizashi.

He definitely regrets it one night, when Izuku has been spending a while alone in the bathroom as he's taking a bath, and Shouta suddenly hears a big splatter of water sound suspiciously like it's just been washed all over the floor in a sudden wave.

"Don't tell me," he grumbles, rolling out of bed and meeting Hitoshi in the hallway. Eri's just gone to sleep, just managing to miss the sudden chaos.

Shouta knocks on the bathroom door, and is relieved when he hears Izuku make a panicked splash in the water. However, he does not reply, and Shouta shares a look with Hitoshi.

"I'm going to open the door, alright?" He calls out, but he still gets no response.

The door isn't locked, so Shouta twists it open — and, yep, there's water all over the floor. There is also a mermaid in his bathtub.

"Christ," he says, running a hand through his hair, not even sure how to begin processing the sight before him right now. Hitoshi follows him in, silent for a moment in stunned awe, but then he is suddenly smothering something like a laugh behind his hand.

Izuku is peeking out over the rim over the bathtub, which is thankfully still full enough for him to keep his head below water. He looks apologetic, but that's not exactly enough to mop up the water now all over Shouta's tiles.

"You really listened to Oboro," Hitoshi snickers, and Shouta whirls around on him. "Shirakumo?"

"Oh, um," Hitoshi's amusement has faded now that he's realising Shouta is not so. "He kind of... asked why he doesn't just try in the bath?"

"He knows why," Shouta groans, slapping a hand over his eyes and pulling it down his face.

Izuku's hands are wavering around in the air, like he's saying no, no!

"Shift back," Shouta sighs, turning back around. Izuku's long tail is spilling out over the bath, and Shouta doesn't want to learn what it takes to dry out a mermaid. Izuku lowers his hands and closes his eyes, like he's focusing, but it's after a couple of minutes that Shouta realises he's not going to be able to.

"I'll do it," Shouta says, and Izuku nods. Shouta pulls on the string, and Izuku eventually folds back into the bath, more water splashing out.

He's going to have to drop it when they're back at the beach, no longer allowing Izuku the choice to shift on his own, and he feels a little guilty for it now.

"I'll, uh, go get the mop," Hitoshi says, walking out of the bathroom.

Izuku's basically turning red from head to toes from embarrassment, and he peeks out again over the edge of the tub. "Um, sorry. I really didn't mean to."

"You didn't mean to...?"

"No," Izuku says, shaking his head, and Shouta knows he's telling the truth. "I wasn't — I mean, I guess I was kind of listening to Oboro, but not really! He was just teaching me about calming myself down and focusing on shifting, and I was practising that, and I didn't mean to shift!"

"Alright," Shouta sighs, because it sounds reasonable enough. And it seems to have been an accident — and, at the same time, something for Izuku to learn from. "Just... you know how to mop, right?"

Izuku nods. "Yeah! Yep, I'll clean up."

Shouta gives him a thumbs up, and walks out of the bathroom just as Hitoshi walks down the hallway with the mop in hand. Hitoshi enters, and Izuku tells him not to worry as he'll clean it up himself, and Hitoshi walks back out, looking a little dazed — the amusement has sunken away, and now Hitoshi is blinking at the wall.

"Man," he says, leaning against the wall. "So... mermaid. Right. I think I forgot about the whole tail part."

"That's kind of the whole point of, you know, 'mermaid'," Shouta says in response, and Hitoshi's lips quirk up.

"I guess so," Hitoshi replies, and then pushes his hair back from his face. "That sure is a fucking tail though, huh?"

"It sure is," Shouta says in agreement, not even bothering to call Hitoshi out on his swearing.

There's a moment of quiet, only the sounds coming from Izuku in the bathroom.

"Eri's going to love seeing that," Hitoshi breathes out with a small breath of laughter.

"Yeah," Shouta agrees, because Izuku has already brought up to him about possibly bringing Hitoshi and Eri along the next time they're able to.

Hitoshi moves back along the hallway, and knocks back on the bathroom door. "You all good in there?"

Izuku makes a squeaking noise, and Shouta's almost worried Hitoshi has just startled him into slipping. But Izuku seems to be alright, as he calls out a yeah, I'm all good!

"He did it by accident," Shouta reveals, when Hitoshi makes his way back along the hallway and closer to him again.

"Accident?"

"Mhm. Didn't mean to," Shouta sighs. "So let's hope he doesn't do it when he's not near a body of water."

"Yeah, shit," Hitoshi whispers. "Did he say what brought it on?"

"Something Shirakumo told him, because of course it was," Shouta gruffly replies.

"Huh," Hitoshi replies, contemplating. "Well, um, as long as he doesn't do it on dry land, then it should be alright?"

"Let's hope so."

"You'll be around anyway," Hitoshi says, elbowing him in the side before he heads back into his room for the night. "He'll be just fine."

Shouta can only hope so.

"You're sure about this?" Izuku nods in reply. "Yeah!"

"Alright," Shouta says, and stands up straighter from the way he's been slouched over on the kitchen counter as he talks over it to Izuku. "I'll let them know they can come today, then."

Despite the fact there's going to be more of an audience than Izuku is used to coming to the beach, he seems confident. Shouta supposes he can understand why — Izuku has gotten his time down to shifting in five minutes, now, and he's built up to four shifts in two hours before he's exhausted. All the beach visits over the past couple of weeks are paying off, and Izuku is pushing himself at a rapid pace, just as he does for everything.

Soon enough, Eri and Hitoshi are sitting in the backseat of the car, and Shouta now has five towels packed. He's got an extra one, because he's learned it's better to just have it on hand — especially if Izuku is shifting so much, and prefers to dry off in between.

And Shouta can always use the extra towel as a makeshift pillow, anyway. He won't be dozing, not with Eri coming along, even though Izuku kind of acts like an overqualified lifeguard anyway. Still, Shouta's not going to let that make him complacent.

Izuku helps Eri down the narrow and steep path once they arrive, sure-footed now. Shouta sets out to sit at his usual spot, laying out his towel. Izuku takes off his shoes and changes, and Eri and Hitoshi also kick off their shoes as well.

Holding Eri's hand, Izuku walks confidently into the water. Eri squeals as the coldness hits her, and Hitoshi also hesitantly hangs back, also not too excited about the chill of the water that's currently splashing against his ankles.

Izuku just laughs and calms Eri down, and then turns around and holds his hand out to Hitoshi, as well. Shouta can hear Hitoshi sigh even from his current distance.

Still, Hitoshi reaches out and takes Izuku's hand, and wades into the water with them. Izuku lets go to sit down in the water, while Eri is just managing to still touch the sand. Hitoshi stays close to her, now taking hold of her hand that Izuku has let go of, and both of them stay close to Izuku.

Shouta is intrigued about how this will go — how long it will take Izuku to shift. He hasn't done it voluntarily in front of anyone but Shouta before, and Shouta wonders if there'll be any emotions

that might interfere with Izuku's usual timing.

But Izuku is faster than usual. It takes only a couple of minutes for the water to start swirling. Eri gasps loudly, and Hitoshi takes a step back, but Izuku just reaches back for them with a smile.

"It's okay," Izuku says, over the sound of the waves. "The ocean will not hurt you."

Hitoshi stays, but he does not take a step closer. He keeps Eri close, both of them watching with fascination as the water begins to swirl around Izuku's legs.

"Oh my god!" Eri shouts, clapping her hands as there's suddenly a tail swishing in the water. She lets go of Hitoshi in her excitement, and tackles Izuku down — he's already got the lower half of his face in the water, but now his entire head goes under as Eri crashes into him.

Hitoshi is just staring at the tail — he's seen it once before, but now he's properly looking it over. His concern about the coldness of the water seems to abate, as he ends up crouching down to get a closer look.

Izuku carefully turns himself around, keeping his head in the deeper end of the water, but letting his tail stretch out amongst the more shallow end of the water. It allows for Eri to get a little closer without worrying about keeping her wandering deeper, and she does so carefully, keeping a considerate berth from Izuku's tail.

He lifts it up out of the water though, and indicates for her that it's okay to come a little closer. Her hands reach out, and she makes sure she gets approval before she reaches out to stroke his tail.

Hitoshi doesn't touch, but he does seem interested, watching the tail like he's hypnotised by it. And when Izuku keeps it out of the water a little too long, Hitoshi splashes him with water.

It makes Izuku's tail swat lazily at Hitoshi in retaliation. Naturally, it devolves into a splash fight.

Shouta has no idea on what logic Hitoshi and Eri are using, thinking they can battle with a mermaid, but it's amusing to watch as they all get soaked. Izuku is gentle with Eri's splashes, but he is not so kind when it comes to Hitoshi.

Much to Shouta's enjoyment, he watches as Izuku slinks up in the water to Hitoshi after he stands, and his hands wrap around Hitoshi's ankles and suddenly pull him down into the water. Hitoshi ends up on his ass, and then gets splashed right in the face by a wave.

He's glad he's not involved, and he's definitely glad he's far enough that Hitoshi doesn't hear or see his quick laugh. Eri does laugh though, and he's sure Izuku is laughing too, under the water.

"Bet you won't be so tough when you're shifted!" Hitoshi shouts out dramatically, kicking his legs once he notices Izuku creeping closer to him again. "No, no! You shift right now, you coward! Face me on the sand!"

Eri has draped herself on Hitoshi's back, and she's laughing loudly, simply enjoying watching Hitoshi yell at the water and Izuku circle them. Izuku won't make any type of dramatic move with Eri clinging on, but he does still splash them a little.

And then Izuku shifts, just as he manages to get behind Hitoshi and Eri, and quickly gets his feet under him.

"Eri!" Izuku yells out in warning, and she listens without thinking, jumping off Hitoshi's back and into the water. Hitoshi is a little too slow at turning, and Izuku manages to tackle him down into the water.

He comes up spluttering, but he quickly gets his footing under him and starts to wrestle with Izuku. Eri's cheering on the sidelines, and Shouta isn't exactly sure who for.

Hitoshi manages to push Izuku back up into shallower waters, until Izuku is in water that's lower than knee-deep. It means he's lost his advantage to shift now, as the water isn't deep enough, and Hitoshi tackles him down.

They go rolling, both of them dripping wet and flicking water out of their eyes and spitting it out of their mouths.

It goes back and forth. Izuku is trying to get into deeper waters again and shift, but Hitoshi is doing his utmost best to keep him in the shallow waters.

Eri eventually tires and comes to sit beside Shouta. She's still laughing at them, tackling each other down into the waves, but she rests her head on Shouta's shoulder as it seems she spent most of her energy trying to keep up with them.

Shouta's keeping track of Izuku's shifts, and Izuku has now just made his second shift back into a human, meaning it's his fourth overall. He should be tapped out now, especially as he's doing it so much faster than usual, but —

Izuku shifts again, when he gets the upperhand in the water, his tail splashing in the waves and soaking Hitoshi once more. Hitoshi's tiring now too, because he wrestles free and gets back up the shore by basically crawling his way up there. Izuku crawls up too, but he's keeping his head below water, watching Hitoshi carefully.

But it seems he's finally hit his limit, because he just shakes his head at Hitoshi when Hitoshi makes a come hither motion, foolishly trying to go for another round despite the fact he's got his hands on his knees and he's basically panting.

Shouta sighs and stands up, Eri following close as he walks up to where the waves just reach the sand. Hitoshi walks up to him, and then sits right down, resting his arms on his knees and dropping his head down to take some deep breaths.

Eri pats his back in consolation. "You did really well!"

Hitoshi gives her a thumbs-up, and that's all the energy he has.

Shouta wades a little further into the water, letting it just cover his ankles properly, and Izuku's eyes blink innocently at him. Too innocently. He knows he's overdone it, and Shouta knows he definitely has a sheepish expression on his face that's covered by the water.

"Do you think you can shift if we wait around?" Shouta asks him, and Izuku tilts his head slightly to listen better, and then thinks it over.

Izuku turns to look up at the sun, gauging where it is in the sky, and he blows out some bubbles as he thinks.

He gives a shrug — nothing nonchalant, but just the best gesture he can give for I don't know. Shouta tends to prefer letting Izuku shift back to a human on his own terms, as Shouta wants to

give him the chance to shift back into a mermaid when he wants to, rather than when Shouta drops it. It's not like Izuku really should be doing it anywhere else other than their beach visits, which Shouta is present for, but Shouta would just rather that Izuku has as much control as he can.

"We have time," Shouta says, sticking his hands in his pockets. "So let's see how you go, hm?"

Izuku nods. Eri wanders from Hitoshi's side, back into the water, and she sits down in the water and scoots herself closer to Izuku.

"I'll stay with him!" She reassures, and Hitoshi groans and gets up from his spot on the sand, and also wanders back in.

"Truce?" Hitoshi asks on his way in, and Izuku tilts his head in question, unsure of the word. "Um. No more, for now?"

Izuku gives him a thumbs-up in agreement, also just as exhausted. Hitoshi sits back down, and tilts his head up to the sun. Shouta wanders back up the beach to sit back down on his towel — he will not be getting any part of him wet other than his feet, and he knows it's only a matter of time before Hitoshi or Eri try to convince him otherwise.

He picks up his phone, and without really thinking about it, he takes a photo of the three of them in the water. The angle and the water mean that Izuku's tail can't be seen in the photo, and it just looks like he's just lying low in the water with his legs out of sight. He forwards it to Oboro and Hizashi, and then puts his phone away.

Giving it an hour, he eventually wanders back over. Hitoshi and Eri are playing in the water lazily, both of them gaining back some energy. Izuku is a little deeper now, but he comes back in when Shouta walks up to the water.

"We'll head off soon," he says, and Izuku gives a small nod, and then pinches his thumb and finger together. Close. "Alright. Ten minutes."

Izuku's gesture changes into a thumbs-up. He doesn't go back out into deep water, but he does turn on his back and look up at the sky from underneath the water.

Shouta does stay a little closer this time, but just far enough out of reach that he's out of the splash- zone from Hitoshi and Eri — and that includes Hitoshi's attempts to actually splash him.

"I'll get Izuku to splash you," Shouta threatens, and Hitoshi snorts but leaves Shouta be.

Ten minutes pass, and Shouta goes back to the bag to pack up everything, and passes over the towels to Hitoshi and Eri to dry off with. And, sure, he does so slowly, giving Izuku just a little more time.

It pays off.

Izuku shifts back, though he's clearly exerted from the attempt. He sits up in the water, and then sits there for a while, getting his breath back. Hitoshi holds out his hand and helps haul him up, and Eri passes him over his towel.

Hitoshi and Shouta focus on helping Eri get back up the path, but Shouta also watches Izuku. Thankfully he has the energy to clear the climb, but by the time they get back in the car, Izuku basically leans right over on the window and falls asleep immediately. Hitoshi and Eri aren't far behind.

As it's becoming something of a ritual, he finds a restaurant to stop in and order from. Hitoshi blinks himself into bleary awareness when the car stops, looking around at the other sleeping passengers before looking over at Shouta questioningly.

Shouta gestures to the restaurant just in front of them, and Hitoshi gives him a nod and quietly makes his way out of the car with Shouta. It's silent between them as they head in, Hitoshi still slightly drowsy and only half-awake as Shouta orders the food.

They both move without speaking to the window, making sure they have a view of the car. Eri and Izuku remain asleep — and Izuku knows well enough by now that even if he does wake up, he'll easily find Shouta in the restaurant closest to the car. Still, neither of them wake up, and Shouta hides his amused yet fond smile by ducking his head down into the collar of his jacket.

"He's seriously strong," Hitoshi muses quietly.

Shouta's figured as much, with the more mundane things that Izuku shows his strength in, but he definitely witnessed it today while he was wrestling with Hitoshi. Hitoshi generally sticks to a good exercise and strength regime, and as far as Shouta knows, Izuku isn't at the moment.

Even if he was previously, it's impressive that he still has that much strength after weeks of inactivity. But some heritages allow for it, and Shouta figures that a full creature like a mermaid probably has more strength than the average human.

"Mhm," Shouta agrees, but is stopped by speaking any further as their order is called. Hitoshi takes the second bag, and they head back to the car. Hitoshi stays awake for the rest of the ride home, but he seems lost in his thoughts for the most part anyway, so the rest of the ride home is as quiet as when it began.

Izuku and Eri take a bit of prodding to stir once they arrive home, but eventually they manage to wake up and head up to the apartment. They decide to wash up quickly first, as they're all covered in sand, mostly just rinsing off for now. Eri takes a little longer, as she opts to try and wash out the tangles in her hair, and she comes to sit at the dining table with a towel still wrapped around her hair.

"Would you be able to braid it later, please?" She asks Shouta, and nods easily.

Izuku seems interested in the interaction, and Shouta looks over at him. He's caught Izuku watching him braid through Eri's hair before, as well as practising on his own when he thinks Shouta isn't looking — but he never quite shakes out the evidence properly, half-plaited strands in amongst the rest of his hair.

And so, when they finish eating, Shouta quietly asks if Izuku would like to learn. Izuku looks a little flustered at being caught, but he nods eagerly, and sits beside Shouta on the couch as he walks him through how he does Eri's hair. Hitoshi is sitting on the other couch, looking interested in his phone but Shouta knows he's just swiping his thumb up and down on the same page.

"Here," Shouta instructs, picking out three strands from one side of Eri's hair. "I'll do this side, and you can mirror it."

Izuku does try, at least. His strands are loose, and fall out the further down Izuku gets, but he seems to be understanding the motion at least. It's just getting his fingers to cooperate with him.

"Oh dear," he says with a laugh, once he's at the end. "I'm sorry, Eri."

Shouta's already tied his end off, but Izuku doesn't tie his end up. Eri grabs hold of it to stop it from

falling out any further, and gets up and goes over to the closest mirror. She's grinning widely, admiring both sides of her hair.

"It's better than my attempts!" Eri consoles, and Shouta catches Hitoshi subtly rolling his eyes.

Shouta has caught Eri doing her hair just fine on her own, but she just acts like she can't quite get the hang of it. She's always quite shyly pleased with herself as she sits down on the floor at Shouta's legs, getting him to do it, and thinking he doesn't know about her plan all along.

Shouta's not going to call her out on it.

She asks for the hair tie so that she can tie it off, and Izuku looks a little panicked.

"Um, I don't think... I think you should maybe get Shouta to re-do that side!" He suggests, and she just finishes tying off the other side with a self-triumphant hmph!

"Why?" She asks, happily running her hands over that side of her hair. "This is your side! Why would I take out your efforts?"

"Because my efforts are, um," Izuku fumbles for a word, eventually coming up with "messy."

"I like it!" She declares happily, and Izuku has no hope of arguing any further with her.

Hitoshi pats Izuku's shoulder in mocking consolidation. Izuku just sits down on the couch in defeat, but there's a happy smile on his lips, and he keeps looking at Eri's hair with something like wonder.

"How're you feeling, problem child?" Shouta asks, because he didn't get the time to check in with Izuku directly after the beach.

Izuku stretches out his fingers. "Good, actually. I mean, tired, but the first shift felt like it didn't take anything out of me this time! And even though I used up more energy than usual, I was still able to shift that last time."

Shouta nods. "You're progressing well."

Izuku's hands loosely clench into fists, and he stares down at them. "Yeah," he says softly. "I guess so."

"Don't know how you have so much energy," Hitoshi says with a yawn. "I didn't think shifting took anything out of you with how you were rough-housing."

"Ah," Izuku rubs the back of his neck. "It came a lot easier today, actually. I thought I'd have to be calm and focused to make it happen so fast, but..."

"Oh! If it was faster today, then we helped?" Eri asks, wandering back into the room.

"I think so," Izuku replies with a smile.

Eri turns hopefully towards Shouta. "So we can keep coming to the beach?"

"You have school mostly every other time," Shouta reminds her, but then sits back on the couch and gestures to Izuku. "Regardless, that's not up to me. He's the one you gotta ask."

Eri nods, and walks over to Izuku with a shy smile. "Izuku, would it be okay to keep coming? When we can? And if Hitoshi wants to come as well?"

Hitoshi waves his hand vaguely, which is basically the symbol of his for yeah, sure. "I'd like that," Izuku replies, and both their smiles grow.

And so, just like that, the following Sunday, they have an outing again all together to the beach. And by that time, Izuku has already added one extra shift to his usual counter.

Izuku can shift on his own, now.

It means he is not restrained to being by Shouta's side. There is no longer a time-limit of an hour that they can be separated — now, there is no ball of string inside of Shouta, waiting to be untangled. Izuku has grasped his own, and now, realistically, he no longer needs Shouta to help him remain human.

Shouta brings it up to him, on their trip down to the beach. He's been working himself up to saying it all morning, and this is something he can't back down from. Izuku deserves to know what his options are, and he deserves to be able to make a choice. Now that he's no longer tied to Shouta, he's able to do whatever it is he may want to do.

"Izuku," Shouta says, and intentionally stops himself from tapping at the steering while like it'll help release some of his nervous energy. He doesn't want to seem nervous, or to give any emotional indication as to how he feels. He does not want to pressure Izuku, one way or the other. This is his choice to make.

"Mhm?" Izuku replies, turning his head lazily. He'd been zoned out, thinking to himself, and Shouta almost feels guilty for disrupting it.

"We should probably discuss some things, now that you can shift on your own," Shotua says. Izuku just nods, like he's been expecting it.

"Okay," Izuku says softly, though he is not as nervous as Shouta had been expecting.

Shouta thinks he's already made up his mind. He's already got his answer for whatever question Shouta might just ask.

"Well, you were situated with me because of my ability. But now you don't need that to help you remain human, and it means that if you want, we can work on relocating you. This can be back to the water, or to somewhere on land, where it'll be safe," Shouta explains. "We might need to do some under-handed things, just to make sure the commission doesn't trace you back and figure out your abilities, but I'm certain we'll be able to handle that."

"If I want?" Izuku asks, and Shouta gives him a small nod, trying to tamper down the blossoming hope. Not yet. There's no guarantees just yet.

"Yes. At the end of the day, this is about what's best for you. And that means what you want to do," Shouta replies, glancing over at him for just a second.

Izuku looks out the front window, his arms crossed over himself, and a small smile on his lips. It's quiet between them for a few moments, and Shouta has to focus on his breathing so that his fingers don't go tightening around the steering wheel.

"I want to go to the arcade with Hitoshi," Izuku eventually says. "I want to go with Oboro and Hizashi and ride a rollercoaster. I want to get better at braiding Eri's hair."

"You can do that," Shouta reassures. "You can always come back-"

"I want to stay with you," Izuku cuts in, before Shouta can go on any further. He sinks down a little in his seat, realising he's cut in. "Sorry."

"That's okay," Shouta responds, because it is. He didn't want to figure out the logistics of trying to get Izuku back every few weeks, like he was a divorced parent with no custody rights of the kid anyway. God, he'd hate that. "That's more than okay."

"Really?" Izuku asks hopefully, now turning in his seat to look at Shouta. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, problem child," Shouta replies, and reaches over to ruffle Izuku's hair. "I'm more than sure."

"But... won't it be more difficult for you?" Izuku asks hesitantly, though he doesn't sound entirely discouraged.

"It'll be easier," Shouta replies honestly. "It means our story with the commission doesn't change. If you're thinking about costs, don't. I get paid well enough to look after Eri and Hitoshi alone, and I'm getting bonuses to cover your expenses too. On top of that, if you decide you want to go to school or anything, they cover that too."

"School..." Izuku trails off, obviously letting his thoughts wander as he considers the idea of it. "Really?"

"The most difficult thing about you, problem child, would be figuring out what school grade you belong in," Shouta says.

"And driving two hours to the beach..."

Shouta shrugs. "We can move a little closer to the beach, or closer to the station that goes directly there. Commission will cover that too. Perhaps a place with a bigger bath."

Izuku lets out a small breath of laughter at that. "But if you move... Eri and Hitoshi?"

"As long as we're near a station, getting to school won't be an issue. Hitoshi only has two years to go, so it'll just be waiting that out, and then we can enrol Eri to a closer high school," Shouta reasons.

Izuku's mouth still twists though, not entirely satisfied. "But-"

"Problem child," Shouta says, cutting in before Izuku starts on a spiral. "I can get the commission to build a goddamn tank in a warehouse, if that's what you'd want. I'm telling you, you're not difficult. We'll work something out for you with the water that everyone can be satisfied with. And we want to do that, because we want you to stay with us. Got that?"

Izuku swallows something thick.

"Got it," he says quietly, and the conversation comes to an end as Izuku goes back into thinking deeply.

Izuku had his answer when they first started the discussion, but it seems he faltered once he realised Shouta's was the same. Now, he's almost doubting himself — truly wondering if it's the

best solution for everyone in the equation.

Shouta will do his best to build up Izuku's confidence and reassurance, because there is absolutely no chance the answer will ever change.

It's Izuku's idea — for Shouta to talk alone with Hitoshi and Eri about having him stay.

"I just want to make sure they're okay with it," Izuku had told him, wringing his hands nervously. "And without the pressure of me sitting there, listening to their answers. And you'll tell me if they have any concerns, right?"

"Sure," Shouta had replied, just to appease him, even if the whole conversation was going to be rather pointless.

And so, now here he is, with Eri and Hitoshi on the dining table and Izuku in his room with the door shut, giving them privacy to talk alone.

"So," he starts with, casually, because he honestly doesn't have many doubts going into this conversation at all. "Today, Izuku and I talked about the fact that he has the option to relocate, now, if that's what he wants to do."

Immediately, Eri's face falls, and Hitoshi is also frowning, his fingers clenching tightly around the edge of the table.

"Does he want to?" Eri asks softly.

Shouta shakes his head. "No. He wants to stay here. With us."

Eri and Hitoshi's shoulders fall forward in relief. Eri's frown turns into a smile, and Hitoshi's grip has loosened up from the table.

"You told him yes, right?" Hitoshi questions, though it's more of a thinly-veiled threat.

"Of course," Shouta replies, waving a hand in the air dismissively. "But he wanted us to discuss it first, to make sure we're all in agreement."

"Yes!" Eri says, leaning over the table so that she can be a little closer to Shouta. "Yes, I agree!"

"Yep," Hitoshi says, and then leans back to look down the hallway, where Izuku's bedroom door is in his view. He looks like he's about to get up and go knocking and drag Izuku out here, so Shouta puts his hands on the table.

"Wait," Shouta tells him. "He won't be pleased if we don't properly go through everything first." "What's there to even go through?" Hitoshi mutters, but stays seated.

"Logistics wise, the beach is currently quite a distance," Shouta explains. "So I proposed that we can perhaps move closer to the beach, or closer to a station with a direct line to it. This will be after you complete high school, Hitoshi. But Eri, this might mean moving in the midst of yours."

"I don't mind," she says easily. "I'm good at keeping friends! And I can make new ones."

Hitoshi rubs at one of his eyes, and Shouta understands — it's surprising, sometimes, to have Eri's optimism shine so brightly in their house. Neither of them are quite used to her way of thinking.

"Okay," Shouta says placidly. "But Izuku wants you to think hard about this, so make sure you do it for him, okay?"

Give him no room to doubt.

"Okay!" She replies, even though she seems a little confused by the request. "But we won't be moving that far, will we?"

"No, not really," he replies, because in the grand scheme of his life, the distance of an hour is barely one to be noticed. "But for you, it's a big change. It will be for all of us."

"But we'll all be together?"

"Yes," Shouta replies, and that seems to be enough for Eri.

Still, she respectfully remains quiet, like she's trying to think of any problems for Izuku's sake. Hitoshi gets up, though he pauses to give Shouta a questioning look. Is it alright now?

Shouta nods at him, and Hitoshi heads down the hallway to knock on Izuku's door.

"Hey," he says, leaning against the doorframe once Izuku opens up the door. "Want to visit the arcade?"

"Right now?" Izuku asks, surprised.

Hitoshi shrugs. "I mean sure, but tomorrow might be better, if you want to spend more time there."

"O-okay! Yes, please, let's go tomorrow," Izuku replies, and Shouta doesn't have quite the angle to see it, but he can imagine that Izuku's eyes are shining in excitement.

"Alright," Hitoshi says, and pushes himself up from the doorway. "Door open or closed?" "Are you, um, all done talking?" Izuku asks, and Hitoshi hums.

"Yep," he replies. "Not much to discuss, when we want you to stay around, so."

"Oh," Izuku says, and yep, Shouta can definitely imagine his eyes shining now.

"So. Open or closed?"

"Um, I'll come out," Izuku says, and Hitoshi nods and turns around, and Izuku follows him out. Eri jumps down from her chair and wraps her arms around Izuku's waist, almost barreling him over in the hallway despite Izuku's strength.

"You want to stay with us, right? Right?" She asks excitedly, and he smiles down at her and crouches down so that he's closer to his level.

"Only if it causes no problems for the rest of you," Izuku replies quietly, Shouta just barely catching the words.

"No! No problems," she reassures, even though she is the least likely of them all to know about them. She folds her arms seriously at him, a small pout on her lips. "It'll only be a problem if you don't stay."

He laughs in surprise, and holds out his arms for a proper hug. She easily folds into him, but does lean back at one point to poke him in the chest.

"No problems, okay? Please stay," she quietly says, and ducks her head into Izuku's shoulder. "Please."

His hand rubs up and down her back, and his eyes look over Eri to meet Shouta's.

Shouta just gives him a half-smile, and then turns his head away. Eri has all the answers that Izuku is asking for, anyway. On his phone, he pulls up Naomasa's contact.

It's been a while now, since he's applied for the custody of a child that's technically under the care of the commission. It might be a little more difficult, this time around, as the commission will likely not want to hand over the control of Izuku.

But there's also Naomasa, Toshinori, and apparently Keigo, in Izuku's corner.

He sends a text to let Naomasa know his intentions, because hopefully a head's up will give him a bit of an edge when he actually starts to file the application. Naomasa, only three minutes later, sends back a simple reply.

Great. I'll look into it.

Indeed, perhaps it won't be so difficult, after all.

While Naomasa starts the ball rolling, things change slightly in the household.

Izuku goes out alone, without Shouta, to the arcade with Hitoshi, and he comes home with no less than three giant stuffed toys. He gives two to Eri, but keeps the giant, soft fish for himself.

"How'd he manage that?" Shouta asks Hitoshi, when he flops beside Shouta on the couch.

Hitoshi's eyes just gleam with amusement. "I don't even know. But he's definitely coming with me every single time now."

Over the days, Izuku becomes slightly more reassured and confident with every single one. He's exploring more parts of the world — not quite yet just on his own, but at least with people that aren't just Shouta.

Things change, because now Izuku goes out with Eri and Hitoshi. Now, he's not just stuck following wherever Shouta goes.

But things are still relatively the same. It's easy with Izuku, and the changes with him have always just been easy. Always easy for Shouta to adjust for, despite everything.

They go to the beach, just the two of them, and Izuku pushes the limits as much as he's able to. He's getting better, faster, able to shift more times before he's too exhausted.

It's Friday, and Izuku is excitedly drumming his fingers on his lap as they drive up. He's reading over a history book, and Shouta has no idea how he's managed to develop that skill without becoming completely motion-sick, but he's not going to make Izuku aware it's even a possibility.

"In the water, sometimes I'd find things," Izuku tells him, and though his book is still open, he's not quite paying attention to it anymore. Shouta glances over, and he sees the depiction of an old ship on one of its pages. "Human things. I found a ship, once, even. But I think that's what got me caught, in the end."

"Why's that?" Shouta asks, and Izuku hums.

"I'd been keeping my visits pretty short, but that time... I was exploring for too long. It was too much of a risk for the other mermaids, and they weren't happy that I was bringing back human items into the realm. And I guess they were right, because not long after that, I got caught when I went back to the ship. Anyway, I guess I got my wish to look at a functioning, floating ship," Izuku replies, with a small shrug like he's not bothered by it, even though his fingers have curled tightly around the book he's holding.

"If you're still interested in ships," Shouta says carefully, because this isn't something to say I'm sorry for, even though he is sorry that Izuku has had such an experience. "There's a maritime museum that we can visit. And we can always drive down to the docks, to get a closer look. Understandable if you're no longer interested in them, but it might be good to have some... better experiences with these things."

Shouta glances over to see Izuku biting down on his lower lip, tugging at it thoughtfully. His fingers have taken to tracing the ship currently on the book's page.

"That might be nice," Izuku whispers, ducking his head down. And then it whips to the side, his eyes wide as he stares at Shouta. "Wait. Could I see a plane, then? Is there a museum for them?"

"Um," Shouta says, slightly whiplashed by the change in Izuku's demeanour. "Probably?"

"Cool," Izuku says to himself, nodding slightly. "I don't really understand them, and it'd be really interesting to see them up close!"

Shouta does not think planes are interesting, but that's also because he's gone on so many in his life, flying back and forth for missions. He doesn't miss going on them in the slightest.

But this is something he takes for granted, a normal commodity in his life. For Izuku, they're inventions that he's only ever seen up in the sky — very, very far away from the world underwater.

"I don't understand them either," Shouta replies simply with a half-shrug. "But sure, we can probably arrange that."

"Thank you!" Izuku says, and it's nice not to hear him ask really? Are you sure? I don't mind if we can't, please don't put yourself out of the way to do this for me.

Izuku turns back to his book, the conversation over, and Shouta supposes he'll just spend the time on the sand looking up different museums. Maybe, in future, they can arrange a short trip — Izuku seems to be okay off the ground, as he greatly enjoys being lifted up by Oboro's clouds. Flying shouldn't be too much of an issue, but there's really only one way to find out for certain.

Later, later. They'll need to get documents for Izuku, a passport, and other sorts of legal documentation they don't quite have yet. They've gotten most of it at least, the commission doing their usual work to integrate him into the world silently. It'll just take some time.

They get to the beach, and Shouta sits down on his towel and turns the brightness of his phone up, ready to delve into his research.

Izuku makes his way into the water, and the familiar splashes echo around their small, secluded space.

After about half an hour, Shouta lowers the brightness down on his phone, and he focuses on his other senses. Something isn't right.

His eyes immediately go to Izuku, but Izuku is still just in the water, his tail coming up as he dives into the waves. He's probably diving for shells, or chasing around small schools of fish — he brought one up to Shouta, at one point, to show it off. Thankfully, that was the only time he'd done that.

Izuku is fine.

But Shouta has not gotten this far by ignoring his intuition.

He does not give away the fact that he has noticed something amiss, because he has a deep-rooted gut feeling that he is being watched. He sends a message to Naomasa quickly, just the two words: Beach compromised.

It'll be enough for Naomasa to send someone to get Eri and Hitoshi from school, and to make sure they don't go back home just yet, and so Shouta can't let himself worry about that right now. He has to focus on getting Izuku out of the water, and getting him somewhere safer.

If they're being watched, then Shouta needs to run on the assumption that these people know exactly who they're looking for. Izuku is currently safe in the water, but now it is not a guarantee.

And there is only one path in and out of this section of beach by the means of walking. It'll be best for them to get out of it, and to get to a more open area. The longer they spend here, the more information the person or people watching will be able to gather.

So he pockets his phone, and walks over casually to the waves, making sure his body language does not give away that something is wrong.

Izuku takes a couple of minutes to notice him, apparently distracted by something under the water. He shifts into a human, swims the slight distance it takes for him to be able to get his feet properly on the sand.

Izuku tilts his head, because Shouta doesn't usually come up to the waves this early. He gives Izuku the time and the privacy to enjoy the water to himself, and only comes over when he's checking on Izuku's physical health after shifting.

"Don't react. Being watched," Shouta says, making sure only Izuku will be able to hear it over the waves. He's pretty sure they're being watched from above, somewhere up on the cliffs, but he's not going to risk it.

Izuku's eyes immediately widen, but he visibly stiffens, stopping himself from looking around. "Who? Where?" He asks, following Shouta back up the sand.

"Don't know yet, but we're not risking it. Dry off, we're going to head back up," Shouta says, and Izuku nods and does so quickly, pulling his pants on in record time.

Shouta won't have time to properly sweep the car for any bugs or trackers, but he's confident enough that he'll be able to lose any trails. He can rendezvous with Naomasa, or anyone else available, and switch vehicles and get it sorted from there. He's not confident with the area around

here, and he doesn't want to risk running into any further people. The sooner they can head out of here, the better.

They pack up and head back up the trail, and Shouta keeps Izuku in front of him just to keep sight of him at all times. He hasn't caught a glimpse yet of anyone watching, though he's keeping an eye out for them. He's certain they're still watching, but they're just staying out of sight. Hopefully, this means they're far enough that they won't be able to obstruct the path as they leave.

Once they're in the car, Shouta opens up the glove compartment and pulls out the spare phone he keeps in there. He presses a phone number into it, one he memorised long ago, puts it on speaker, and passes it over to Izuku to hold as he pulls out.

It almost rings through, Naomasa making sure the call isn't being traced, before he picks up.

"Oboro says hey," Naomasa says upon greeting, and Shouta nods to himself with the reassurance, eyes sweeping across his mirrors and the road. Oboro's heading over to Eri and Hitoshi. "You're driving?"

"Yeah," Shouta replies, cautious in case there's any bugs in the car.

"Any photos of the view?" Naomasa asks, and Shouta grits his teeth. Eyes on the target?

"No," he responds, though he knows they had eyes on him. Naomasa, thankfully, knows well enough to trust Shouta's intuition as well.

Shouta takes different paths — ones he doesn't take home, but ones he knows will lead him back onto main roads, not giving himself any chance to get lost. He's at a disadvantage, not knowing the area as well as he'd like right now, so he's going to get somewhere he's more familiar with.

Naomasa stays on the line, though he's covering the mic and instructing people around him.

Shouta looks in his rear-view mirror, and he narrows his eyes. They're a couple of cars behind, but they drift slightly to the side, like they're trying to see ahead of them.

Shouta turns up the radio, and glances for a moment at the phone in Izuku's hand before he reaches across and hits the hang up button. Izuku tilts it towards him, but Shouta shakes his head.

"Text that number," he mouths out, looking down at the phone purposely as a gesture. Izuku bites down on his lip and looks down at the screen, and Shouta — fuck, Shouta probably should've introduced him to his own phone, or something. He's too used to teenagers knowing their way around devices, but Izuku's never quite gotten the chance to get familiar with texting before — he only ever calls Toshinori, after all, and usually Shouta sets it up for him.

Thankfully, when Shouta glances over next, he sees the empty chat screen appear. Izuku glances over at him, waiting for instructions.

In case they have bugged the car, Shouta doesn't want to tip them off into realising he already knows he's got a tail. They'll back off too early, and Shouta won't have lost them where he wants to, and it'll give them the chance to catch up again.

Shouta reaches his arm out, and starts to draw the symbols on the dashboard slowly, giving Izuku a chance to recognise them. Once Shouta finishes spelling it out, Izuku points to his legs in question, and Shouta nods.

Tail.

Izuku sends it to Naomasa, and Shouta glances back in the rear-view again. They're still keeping careful distance, but Shouta is certain that if he were to take four lefts, this car would still be right behind them.

Not just a wanderer, who stumbled across the beach, and accidentally caught sight of them. This is someone with intention, following right behind, and they were ready to move quickly.

Shouta takes a couple of difficult turns, but they keep behind. They're following quite well, and if Shouta's skills weren't what they are, then they'd likely easily go unnoticed. They're good, and that's worrying.

Izuku taps him on the arm lightly about twenty minutes later, and Shouta glances over to see Izuku showing him the phone. Naomasa has sent forth a location — disguised as just a chain-cafe name, but Shouta knows the true location behind it.

Shouta is forming a plan, making his way back onto roads he knows well how to navigate. He keeps an eye out for that car, but otherwise keeps his turns rather unremarkable, not giving their tail the slip that he knows they're behind. Shouta needs to lose them at an exact point, and get to the meet-up location before they can trace them back again.

His heart-rate starts to pick up as he approaches that point. He's not nervous, not really — even if this plan doesn't work, he'll be able to work with Naomasa on a new one. But his brain is cycling through the points that someone knows. Someone knows about Izuku, someone is following them, and now they are at risk. Even if Shouta loses them today, there's no guarantee on the safety of their usual locations now.

There's no point worrying about all that right now though, so he takes a deep breath and focuses on the present. He's got to lose them now, and that's all that matters. The details come later — just as long as Izuku is safe.

"Hold on," he grits out, though it's lost over the too-loud radio. Izuku clutches onto the passenger door handle though, as Shouta makes a sharp turn and speeds up down a street, turning again at a split before the tail has a chance to see which way they go.

He doesn't slow down until he's certain that he's lost the tail, and he starts a mental clock in his head. They're five minutes out from the location. It's going to be too risky to bring the car up to that exact point, but he drives in as close as he's able to. He parks the car, and Izuku's head whips around to him when Shouta pulls up the parking brake.

"Out, out, follow me," Shouta hurriedly instructs, and Izuku just nods, his arms wrapped around the bag. "Keep the bag in here."

Shouta's taking absolutely no chances. The bag of clothes and towels and Shouta's phone can be sacrificed as long as they're safe.

Izuku would probably hesitate to follow that instruction any other time, but he basically throws it to the ground as he clambers out of the car, almost forgetting his seat-belt in the process. Shouta reaches over and hits the clip, and Izuku thankfully doesn't stumble as he rushes out.

Shouta locks the car, and then starts to jog down a path. It won't be able to be followed by a car, and there's no footsteps to trace along the pavement. He stays on the pavement as long as he can, and then splits off and starts to walk along grass and dirt. They're going to leave tracks, but they'll hopefully be far enough anyway that by the time they're followed, it won't matter.

Izuku follows closely, glancing behind him every few metres like he's expecting someone to jump out behind them.

"They're not going to get you, kid," Shouta finds himself saying, keeping his eyes forward but his focus around him. "I won't let them."

"I know," Izuku breathes out, though he's still on high-alert and clearly anxious.

Shouta spots a car in a parking lot, and someone in dark clothes leaning up against it. They look like they're just having a quick smoke, but Shouta recognises the agent as someone on Naomasa's team. Their head turns to them as they come closer, and they incline their head into the car as they snuff out the cigarette, quickly folding their way into the driver's seat.

"We're getting in the back of that car," Shouta says, head gesturing to the one in question. "Okay," Izuku confirms, and picks up his pace.

Shouta can hear two footsteps running — distant, but quickly making ground. He pushes his legs to go faster, and basically throws himself across the car to get to the further side, throwing the door open and getting inside. Izuku opens the other side not a moment later, falling in.

The car speeds off before Izuku or Shouta even have the chance to put their seatbelts on.

"Sorry," Sansa apologises from the driver's seat, voice purposely light — likely mindful of Izuku, not letting his tension show. His driving calms down once he hits main traffic, and Shouta pulls on his seatbelt now that he has the chance, making sure Izuku does as well.

"Oboro?" Shouta asks, pulling the battery out of his spare phone as he speaks.

"With Hizashi, they've got them," Sansa confirms, and Shouta breathes out a sigh of relief, reassured that Eri and Hitoshi are alright.

"Any leads on the tail?" Shouta asks, and Sansa nods, eyes flickering into the rear-view mirror to meet Shouta's.

"Yeah, we're pretty sure it's that last guy in the ring," Sansa replies.

Well, fuck. He's managed to escape Naomasa's team finding him for this long, so Shouta isn't too impressed that he's stuck his head up now and taken his chance to get Izuku.

"We haven't confirmed it," Sansa continues, giving Shouta an apologetic smile. "But considering we were closing in on this area for his location, well..."

"So you knew he was around here, and you didn't warn us?" Shouta hisses, and Sansa's apologetic smile doesn't waver.

"We didn't think he was that close, or that he'd make a move," Sansa replies, and Shouta tries to tamper his agitation. Naomasa would probably wait until the last possible moment to warn them, just to try and draw the guy out, but he does believe Sansa — they would have been warned if there was belief he would have striked.

Shouta presses his fingers to his temple, and rubs small, deep circles into the skin. Fuck.

"We'll get your car picked up," Sansa says, and Shouta nods, having expected as much anyway. At least they'll make sure it's not bugged. "We've got teams following the tail now, of course, and we'll

get you reunited with Eri and Shinsou. Hopefully this will be sorted out by the day's end."

"Hopefully," Shouta grumbles, sinking down into his seat. Izuku, in comparison, is sitting ram-rod straight in his own, glancing out the windows with intense frequency.

Shouta waits a few minutes before he speaks again.

"So, it turns out there is an aviation museum rather close to us," Shouta says, and Izuku's gaze snaps to his own. It takes a couple of seconds for Shouta's words to register though, as Izuku still looks on edge until he suddenly blinks, shoulders loosening slightly.

"There is?" Izuku asks.

"Well, about a thirty minute drive, but it's actually only about an additional ten minutes when heading from the beach," Shouta replies, and is glad to see Izuku's tension slowly start to lift from his frame, no longer as highly strung or paranoid.

Right now, they're with the people that can help them best. Eri and Hitoshi are safe, and Izuku will be too — the people around him will protect him, and Shouta is certain of that. Even if they'd been caught up to, Shouta would've fought with everything he had. There was no chance he was letting them take Izuku again.

"Ah," Izuku says with a small nod.

Sensing he's about to lose Izuku again, he continues on the topic. "Eri got really interested in helicopters, for a whole week a while back. I'm not too sure if the museum would have them, but she'd probably like going there. And they always have historical stuff, things from decades ago, and Hitoshi likes that kind of stuff. And Shirakumo — well. He loves that kind of stuff. His element, quite literally."

Thankfully, it seems like Izuku gets distracted by Shouta's words, as his expression starts to shift. "Does Hizashi like them?" Izuku asks, and Shouta gives him a lazy shrug.

"He somehow always seemed to enjoy our long plane rides, so I say he would," Shouta replies. "Wait," Izuku says, leaning over to the middle seat and closer to Shouta. "You've ridden on one?" "Too many," Shouta grumbles, but Izuku's now latched onto this with excitement and curiousity. "How many?"

"I literally could not count them. At least, like, fifty?" Shouta replies, because that sounds like a reasonable number.

"Fifty times?" Izuku repeats, disbelieving. "What? Really?"

"Haven't I told you I worked abroad?" Shouta asks, and Izuku's head tilts as he thinks, and then his

mouth opens slightly in an 'ah'.

"You went by plane?" Izuku questions, and then he shakes his head and starts to mutter to himself. "Wait, no, of course. Humans use plans most often when travelling abroad, and it's the fastest option. You were there for missions, so obviously going abroad would be by plane."

Izuku is now, at least, mostly focused on the concept of planes. He's not just looking out the windows for any threats, but he's also scanning the skies and following a plane's trail.

Shouta's a little on edge, not having a means of communication to Eri or Hitoshi, but he trusts Naomaso, Oboro, and Hizashi to keep them safe. Still, he doesn't like not having a phone to contact them and just make sure — but Sansa does, and if there's any updates, then Sansa will know about them.

Sansa drives carefully but cleverly, and after about another forty minutes of driving, Sansa eventually pulls into a sidestreet, just beside an apartment block. Sansa checks his phone and scrolls through it for a moment, and then nods and turns around from the front seat.

"We're clear, let's head inside," Sansa says, and leads the way into the apartment building. He leads them to the elevator, and it only goes up a single floor before Sansa steps out and leads them inside of an apartment.

Immediately, Eri and Hitoshi are on their feet, hurrying over to greet them at the door. They're both still in their school uniforms, and their school supplies are the only sign of the apartment having any life in it at all. It's just an ordinary, empty safe-house, by every other means.

Hizashi and Oboro are sitting at the small dining table, and they both give a wave as Izuku and Shouta properly step into the apartment. Shouta is very grateful for their presence, because they're likely the only reason that Eri and Hitoshi seem rather calm as they walk up to greet them, just glad to be reunited.

"I'm going to join the investigation," Sansa says, still lingering at the door. "There's a new phone on the table there, Aizawa. Tsukauchi or myself will keep you updated. Ah, Aizawa, do you still have your car keys by chance?"

Shouta pats down his pockets, and throws the set of keys to Sansa.

"Thanks," Shouta says, and Sansa nods his head and leaves quietly.

"You were seen?" Hitoshi asks, looking worriedly between Shouta and Izuku.

Shouta nods. "There was someone at the beach, and we were followed on foot by at least two people."

Hitoshi whistles. "Yikes."

Hizashi snorts in mild amusement at the reply, clearly intent on keeping the mood light between them all. It won't be too hard, at least — they're all together, and that's a big reassurance and comfort for all of them. Izuku might be a concern, and Shouta will be keeping a close eye on his emotions.

"Well, this is cosy," Oboro says, leaning back on his chair as he stretches. Shouta just rolls his eyes at him, while Hizashi just laughs again. They manage to rope Izuku, Hitoshi, and Eri into conversation though, so Shouta takes the time to sweep the apartment, checking out the space.

There's two bedrooms — one with two single beds, and when Shouta opens up a cupboard, there's a futon set rolled up inside of it. There's only one bathroom between them, no bath, but it'll be enough to make do for the hopefully short time they're temporarily in the apartment.

When he comes back in, they're all still engaged in conversation, and he takes stock of the food that's in the cupboards. There's only long-life items, unused cleaning items and a small amount of dishes. Not enough to cover all of them, but they'll probably have to order delivery anyway for dinner.

Shouta really hopes that this won't last longer than a few hours.

Unfortunately, the update isn't good. It comes a few hours later, when Hizashi makes the call to

just order dinner for all of them and get it delivered to the front desk.

"Sorry," Naomasa says immediately, which is not a great start. "We've lost him for now. We managed to get his accomplice, but... this might take more than a few hours."

Shouta groans, glad that he's taken this call in the other room, and rubs his head. God, he doesn't even have a hair-tie to tie back his hair.

"We've got your car, and we'll make sure to give it a sweep, as well as your phone. Unfortunately, we don't want to take the risk right now of getting anything from your apartment, but if you send a list of things you need, I can get it sent over by tomorrow," Naomasa explains.

"Alright," Shouta says gruffly, leaning his head back to look up at the bland, white ceiling. He's just glad that it's the weekend, and he doesn't have to think right now about Eri and Hitoshi's schooling.

"Sorry again, Aizawa. I know this is frustrating," Naomasa says, and Shouta sighs and closes his eyes.

"It is, but don't bother apologising. I only caught onto it because of instinct, but he stayed well out of my sight otherwise. Besides, being a big part of that ring, I'd assume he'd be good at hiding," Shouta replies, and tilts his head forward again.

"We'll get him," Naomasa assures, and Shouta grunts.

"I know," he replies. "Just keep me updated."

"Of course," Naomasa says in parting, and the call disconnects.

He walks out of the bathroom, and his expression must give him away, as any hope lingering on anyone's faces is immediately stifled.

"Aw man," Hizashi says in sympathy. "No dice?"

"Not yet," Shouta replies, putting the phone down on the table. "They got his accomplice, but the main guy has gone under radar again."

Oboro winces. "Damn."

"They'll find him," Shouta says, and looks over at Izuku as he says so. Izuku just nods, his fists clenching loosely over his lap.

Hizashi and Oboro stay the night with them. They're just as worried, and they're also just as paranoid as Shouta — though Shouta is sure that Naomasa has done his job well, there are also never promises that an area is completely safe. Especially not when a man is hunting down one of his kids.

"I'll take the couch," Shouta says, already making himself comfortable on it. Oboro pulls a face. "You're going to mess with your back."

"I used to literally sleep on the floor in a sleeping bag," Shouta reminds him.

"Point," Oboro mutters.

"We can take shifts," Hizashi offers, glancing at the apartment door. Oboro nods in agreement.

"Yeah," Oboro says. "I know you're probably not going to want to sleep, Sho, but you're going to need at least some. This might end up being a couple nights, you know?"

"I know," Shouta huffs.

"Alright, so shifts it is!" Hizashi says, leaving no room for argument. "Shouta, you can take the first shift. I'll take second."

Oboro groans at his early wake up time, but otherwise doesn't argue. They head into the bedroom together, Hizashi leaving a reminder that he'll be back out in about three hours to swap out, and Shouta just waves him off.

He spends the hours just scrolling through the phone that he's been left with, carefully listening out and watching for any movement. He can hear the elevator stopping every time on the floor, and he holds his breath and waits every single time, waiting for those footsteps to stop outside the door.

They always continue on, though, no presence lingering outside their room. He's wound up by the end, when Hizashi comes out, rubbing his eyes tiredly and trying to purposely be quiet as he walks as to not disturb anyone.

He sits down on the couch with a silent yawn, stretching his arms up.

"Go on," he whispers, trying to get Shouta to move off the couch. But Shouta just looks over and glares, and Hizashi throws up his hands in surrender. "Fine, but you'll be getting in there for some sleep at some point tonight."

After a few minutes of silence, Hizashi gently elbows him in the side.

"How're you going? With it all?" Hizashi asks. "And like, seriously. Not just how you think you're expected to be with the kiddos."

Shouta folds his arms and sinks down into the couch. "Fine, really. Yamada, you know I'm well aware of what these jobs are like."

"'Yamada,'" Hizashi echoes with a sigh. "Fine, I'll ignore your attempts to put up some distance like that'll help me stop worrying. How do you think the lil ones are going, then?"

Shouta dips his head down. It's all his thoughts have been revolving around, stressing about how they'll handle it.

"They're all going to be more worried for each other than themselves," Shouta replies quietly. "Mhm," Hizashi agrees. "They're good kids. They care a lot about each other."

Shouta nods.

"Izuku's going to feel guilty for all of it," Shouta huffs.

"Right. I guess it would be hard not to feel like that," Hizashi says. "So you're probably just going to have to focus on reassuring him."

"Yeah. It's what we've been working on doing anyway, to make sure he knows he can stay with

us," Shouta responds, and Hizashi nods. Shouta's been keeping Oboro and Hizashi updated with the whole process, because it means he's going to be taking a further step back from work to deal with it all.

"Well, I reckon it's been working," Hizashi says, folding his arms behind his head. "He seems a lot happier lately, you know? He'll bounce back from this. It'll be easier once the guy is caught."

"Yeah," Shouta replies, and closes his eyes. "I guess I'm worried about what happens if they don't catch him within a reasonable timeframe."

"Then we'll probably be here for a while," Hizashi says casually, but then he looks over the apartment again and frowns. "Well, you will be. But we can figure out what to do with Eri and Hitoshi's schoolwork. I mean, they might be alright anyway, if they're just tracking Izuku."

"But until we know for certain, then we can't assume that," Shouta looks over at Hizashi, who gives him a shrug of agreement.

"Yeah, but we'll find that out soon enough. You know Tsukauchi will do his best, and his best is damn good."

"Mhm," Shouta says, and looks back down at the television that has nothing playing.

"I'm sure it'll be sorted soon. But whatever happens, we'll deal with it, right? I know the little ones are resilient, after all. They'll be just fine," Hizashi assures.

Hizashi then elbows Shouta in the side, and makes another attempt at trying to get Shouta off the couch. He sighs when Shouta once again doesn't move.

"You know, it won't do them any good to be worrying about you," Hizashi tells him, and Shouta turns to give him a look. Weaponising his kids against him is a damn dirty play, and Hizashi knows it. "Seriously, Sho. Go sleep. I've got this."

Hizashi gives him one more nudge, and Shouta sighs as he stands up. Hizashi manages to cover up his self-satisfied expression before Shouta can see it, but Shouta knows it had been there.

As he walks down the hallway, he pokes his head into the bedroom where Eri, Hitoshi, and Izuku are sleeping. The futon is rolled out on the ground, but there's no one lying on it — instead, Eri and Hitoshi are sharing a bed, managing to curl up around each other on the single bed. Izuku is asleep, sprawled out across the other bed, and they're all thankfully asleep.

He'd been worried that they wouldn't be able to, but it seems like the events from today have taken a toll on their energy. Reassured, he makes his way into the other bedroom. Oboro is dead to the world, not even moving as Shouta slips in on the other side and shoves at Oboro to get him over his half of the bed.

He doesn't feel like sleeping, and there's restless energy still brimming under his skin, but Hizashi might just tie him to this bed if he gets up to wander around. So he closes his eyes, focuses on the sound of Oboro's steady breathing, and manages to pull himself under into sleep.

It's only when Hizashi walks into the room that he stirs, blinking blearily at the shape of Hizashi shaking Oboro awake to get them to swap out on shift. Oboro grumbles, but when he realises Shouta is beside him, he quietens immediately and slips out of bed. Hizashi crawls into the space Oboro left, and he throws an arm around Shouta's waist like he's trying to keep Shouta down in the bed.

If Shouta had the energy, he'd shove Hizashi's arm off and get up out of spite, but he's still half- asleep and definitely lacking the energy to do so much. He blinks, once, twice, and then falls right back to sleep.