1:00 PM
Tsukauchi took another sip of his coffee.
'Mmm. Roko sure did brew a good batch today.' Tsukauchi mused to himself.
It's the afternoon, and it was an average day at the office for Tsukauchi and the officers. A few Villains have been arrested for small crimes and taken into custody by the Heroes, from pickpocketing to robbery, and property damage when they want to cause trouble. As of now, it's just Tsukauchi and the rest of the detectives and officers in the Musutafu Police Department doing mundane work.
As he looked through police reports, he couldn't help but think back at the kind, young girl named Katara.
She was certainly an interesting young lady, her ability to 'bend' water as she puts it. She also said some pretty bizarre stuff, from her home 'world', to her village, to other people that can bend the elements, fire, earth, and air, to how everything works in her world. However, the most fascinating thing about what she said though, was this person, the Avatar. A person who is reincarnated and able to control all the elements... He didn't know why, but he believed her. Maybe it was because of his Quirk 'Lie Detector'(it never failed him before) that made him believe everything she said. Her tone sounded honest, and she had no reason to lie... also, she didn't look mentally off. And really, what she said back to the mud-guy last night was very sincere.
Also, from his line of business, he's always expecting the unexpected, and Katara was as unexpected as they come.
'She's certainly a very unique character. Hopefully, Toshi watches over her, just for a little while... I know he can't do it forever, but I couldn't take care of her either. I have a twenty-four-hour job. I just hope Toshi is up for the task... I haven't even told him how long he should keep her…' Tsukauchi sighed, '...Just hang on a little while longer Katara... you too, Toshi,' the detective took another sip of his coffee.
Then, Tsukauchi's phone on his desk rings.
Finishing his sip, Tsukauchi laid his mug down on his desk and picked up his phone, checking the caller ID.
-Toshinori-
"Huh?" the detective looked at the ringing call in alarm, 'I wonder what Toshi's calling for? Is Katara okay?'
He decided to find out once he answered it.
"Hello? Everything okay, Toshi? Did something happen to Katara?"
"Oh! Hello, Naomasa! There's no need to worry, Katara is just fine! Everything's fine. I just called you for a favor."
"Oh…" Naomasa sighed in relief and then chuckled, "Okay then. Sorry for the questions Toshi, it's not that I don't trust you. I just always expect the worst whenever I get calls."
"Oh dear... well, I can safely say that you have one tough job then, Old Friend."
"Appreciate that," Naomasa smirked a little, "So what's the favor?"
"Heh. Well, I'm... thinking of maybe sending Katara to a school."
"Oh? So she's interested in learning here?"
"Well... it was my idea, honestly. I just feel like she needs to go someplace to communicate with kids her age... I mean, that doesn't sound like a bad idea, does it?"
Tsukauchi chuckled, "No, in fact, that's a great idea. And I'm thinking you want me to write up some documents for her, right?"
"Um... yes... I mean, I'm not breaking any laws or anything if I ask you to do this, am I?"
"Well, first of all, I can't do that. I'm just a detective."
"Oh... well, uh-"
"But, I can try to talk to some of my 'higher ups' on doing something like that. I'm pretty certain they can patch some fake documents in no time. No questions asked from them."
"Oh... really?"
"Of course. They always make fake documents for us officers whenever we go undercover."
"Oh! Wow, uh... okay...um, thanks, Naomasa."
Naomasa chuckled, "No problem. What does Katara think about it, though?"
'Well, I did ask her, and... I think she's okay with it. I'm in my room at my house by the way. Katara's downstairs, so it's just us talking. We talked about it earlier at a ramen shop, and she seemed like she was fine going to a school."
"Hm. Well, that's good at least. I don't think you can juggle crime-fighting and looking out for Katara at the same time. Plus, you have that teaching job offer at UA."
"...Oh crap, you're right! Ah man, I almost forgot about that! And if Katara wanted to go to...well, a Hero school I would think, then I won't be around much often! Ugh...I didn't think this through."
"You often don't," joked Tsukauchi with a smirk.
"Oh, ha ha. But seriously, there's also training Young Midoriya! I mean, I can't slip up and let her know that I'm training a young boy to have...you know, that."
"That I do, Toshi."
"Yeah! And also, I can't let her know that I'm All Might! ...Hey...wait a moment...she has amnesia, right?"
Raising an eyebrow at the question, Naomasa said, "Um, yeah?"
"Well…if that's the case, she doesn't know who All Might is, right?"
"...Um, Toshi, I'm certain you already know this."
"Yeah, I do! And if that's the case, then why not I just…uh, tell her?"
"..."
"..."
"Are you...sure about that?"
"Well, hey, she has amnesia, right? And I can just tell her not to say anything about my All Might identity...right? I mean...I feel like that would be a good idea. That way, when I go off to fight Villains, train Midoriya and teach at UA in the future, she won't be wondering what I'm doing all the time!"
Tsukauchi blinked, "Wait, so...you're saying you can take care of her long term?"
"...Well...yeah...that's uh...that's what I'm doing right now, right?"
"Well...yeah, but...are you, um...sure?"
"...Well...yeah? I mean, even though the girl has amnesia, and doesn't know certain...things, she seems like a smart girl. When we were eating out at that ramen shop, she was talking about how she wants to learn certain things around here. She looks like she's willing to learn, and she...she seems...well, she seems to be a good kid from what I've seen in her mannerisms."
Naomasa processed all this information…
"...You're getting a soft spot for her, aren't you?" Tsukauchi asked him plain and simple.
"Hu-wha-huh!? I-uh...I mean...w-...w-...w-well, yeah. I mean...yeah, she's been growing on me a little bit. She seems to be a nice girl, and that speech she gave out to Dukanara is certainly a sign of heroism. I can honestly see great potential in her if she ever becomes a Heroine. I mean, her bravery was very inspiring. She ran in that interrogation without thinking, not even knowing who the assailant and the hostage are...that kind of sense of justice almost sounds like me back then...back when I was..."
Tsukauchi felt the pause through the other line. He didn't say anything, but depending on where that sentence was going, he probably had a clue. He didn't say anything about it, though, for his friend's sake.
"...Anyway, she's also...well, you know, she's...well, she's almost becoming like a daughter to me…"
Tsukauchi frowned at that, but in pity.
"Wow...she certainly has an effect on you, hasn't she?"
"Heh, yeah...and uh, yes, I know, she's not my kid, but...I always wanted to know how it felt to...well, I guess to have a daughter…and to be a father..."
The detective sat there, a frown on his face as he felt sorry for his friend.
"...You know, you can still find someone."
"Oh no, I think it's too late for that. I'm old now, and I don't want anyone that's in a relationship with me to be put in danger. I just can't take that risk. Especially if…"
"Toshinori...you don't have to worry. He's gone."
"...I can only hope so. Though I wouldn't be surprised if he's somewhere around trying to slowly regenerate."
Naomasa sighed, "You know, for someone so positive in their thinking, you are grim when it comes to you-know-who."
"Well...I can't help it...that man was a monster."
"Hmm…" Naomasa hummed in agreement, "...Well, you shouldn't be so morbid about that. You took care of him, and that's all there is to it."
"...Yeah...heh, yeah, you're right. Sorry, I...uh...I'll try not to think about it as much."
"There ya go," Tsukauchi smiled, "So, about Katara…"
"Oh, yeah! Heh, yeah, Katara just seems like a really sweet young girl. I think I can manage to take care of her even further down the road. But she needs to go to school for her to socialize with kids her age."
"Hm. I can agree with that," Tsukauchi paused, "...Are you sure you want to tell her about your identity?"
"Well, I...um...hm...I mean...well, actually thinking about it now, I feel as if I should maybe tell her, but not, well...uh, not today."
"Really? Well, when are you gonna tell her?"
"...Maybe when she decides which Hero school she wants to go to?"
"That seems like a pretty long way. Think you can manage to keep your secret that long?"
"Oh yeah, sure! I mean, I've been keeping this secret for a good while now! It's been years, I think I can handle eight months of not overusing One For All during that time!"
"Well...okay then. If you say so. Just tell her beforehand that you're putting her in a school. And find the best but closest one for her."
"Hey, no worries! I'll talk to her and find the best and nearest school she can attend to!"
"Alright. Until then, I'll ask my superiors about those documents."
"Thanks, Naomasa."
Tsukauchi smiled.
"No problem, Toshinori."
Toshinori hung up his phone and stood there for a moment to contemplate what Naomasa told him about finding someone...someone to be with...
'Thanks for reassuring me to find a lady, Naomasa, but…' the man frowned, 'No...I just can't risk it...even if he is gone, I just don't want anyone to be in danger from any Villain in general…'
Sighing at the unfairness of it all, Toshi nodded at that conclusion and walked out of his room. Upon exiting it, he almost passed the picture of the woman without a second thought...until when he reached the first step of his staircase. He looked back at the picture of the woman…
'...Nana…'
He slightly frowned, the feeling of dejection overwhelming him for just a second...he continued down the stairs.
Once he arrives on the ground floor where his living room is, he sees sitting on the couch and Katara looking at the TV with such amazement and wonder. She's currently watching a documentary on how Quirks were manifested.
"Wow...this...this is...this is really...fascinating…" Katara said to herself, seemingly not noticing Toshi coming down the stairs.
Toshinori smiled at Katara's interest in the program. "Yep. Quirks are still a mystery to this day, though."
Katara jumped in her seat, surprised by the voice. She turns her head behind her and sees Toshi standing there with a smile and his arms crossed.
"Oh! Toshi! Um, I was…" she paused.
'Wait...can I tell him the reason why I was amazed was that I was looking at this...thing? What was it, a...tee-vee?'
"Hey, no worries, little lady! I mean, you have amnesia, you have to catch up on all kinds of this information! Plus, it is a very entertaining documentary," Toshi told her.
"Uh...yeah, it, uh...it sure is," Katara said with an awkward smile that she hoped didn't look too forced.
'Documentary? ...I...I'll just go along with it.'
Thankfully, Toshi didn't pay too much attention to it as he rubbed the back of his head and cleared his throat to say, "Um, so, uh...Katara, I've...been speaking to Tsukauchi and…"
"Wait, Tsukauchi? He's here?" Katara asked in confusion as he pointed down to emphasize Tsukauchi's location, "But I didn't see him come in."
"...Uh...I-I called him…" Toshi blinked at Katara's question.
Katara blinked as well as he stared at him.
"...on, um...on my phone?" Toshi said as he scratched his head in confusion, but for a more different reason.
"...Oh. Oh!" Katara seemed to get what he's saying now.
'Oh, does he mean that thing people carry in this world all the time? That...rectangle object?'
"Uuuh...o-oh yeah! That...th-the phone! Um, y-yeah, okay!" Katara nodded and gave Toshi the fakest smile that she could muster.
Toshinori just blinked at her again as he looked at her oddly…
"Um...okay then," Toshi said.
'Goodness, she really does need to go to school,' Toshi thought.
'Goodness, I just made myself look stupid, didn't I?' Katara thought at the same time.
"Uh...anyways, um," Toshi cleared his throat once more, "I, uh, I spoke with Tsukauchi...um, on my phone, and he said that he'll, uh, help you get some...uhh...documentation for you so you could stay here for a good while."
"Stay here? You mean, at your home?" asked Katara curiously.
"Well, uh...yeah, but I meant staying here in Japan as well."
'Japan? That's the country we're in right now, right? Tsukauchi said something about that...' Katara couldn't fathom the process behind it, but she could see how it would make sense to have documentation on other people if there were other countries out there in this world besides this one…
...How big is this world, anyway?
'Well, I'll figure it out eventually. This tee-vee thing has been telling me some good information so far about what these Quirks are.'
"Oh...uh, yeah! Okay! That...that sounds cool," Katara said, trying to be nonchalant about it.
"Uh...right," Toshinori nodded, "So! Um...the reason I called that to attention, is...well, I'm thinking of sending you to a school, Katara."
Katara's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"
"Yeah! I mean, I feel like you need to communicate with kids your age instead of little old me here," Toshi joked with a chuckle, rubbing the back of his head, "So, what do you say? You said you wanted to do something like that at one point, right?"
"Um...well, yeah, but…" Katara looked down in thought, considering the ups and downs of going to a school.
'Well, attending school will let me learn more about this world...but on the downside, I'll be the odd one out. I mean, everyone will know this stuff and know how to use certain things like phones and other oddities, except me...but...I really do want to try to communicate with other kids around my age. And I got to admit, shopping with Mina was kind of fun...I mean, I guess I could make some friends before I...go back...'
"Um…I mean," Toshinori began to say awkwardly, "I-If you don't want to, then I understand. I just, well, I thought that you would be feeling a little lonely here when I...go off to some places. And I think you wouldn't want to be cooped up in my house all day…"
"...I mean," Katara began to say, "If it's the normal thing for girls my age to go to a school, then...yeah, okay. I can do that," she said with a small smile at Toshi.
Toshinori straightened up at her answer, "Oh! Well, um, okay then!" he smiled at her, "In that case, I think it's a good time for you to get a cell phone."
"A...cell phone?" Katara asked as she blinked in surprise.
'Is...that the same thing?' she thought.
"Well, yeah! I mean, you're old enough now to have one, and you need to call me whenever you need me for something and...you can maybe call some new friends. That Mina girl wanted your phone number, so I thought, 'Hey! Katara needs a cell phone!'...so, yeah! What do ya say?"
Blinking at that, Katara put a hand on her chin to ponder on using this peculiar object 'the phone'...or 'cell phone' as she learned it was also called.
'Huh...well, I need to adapt...so, yeah, that'll be fine.'
Meanwhile, Toshi sweatdropped as he looked at Katara contemplating about it.
"Um...Katara?"
Katara looked up at Toshinori, "Okay. That'll be good!" she said with a smile.
"Oh! Okay! Uh, great!" Toshi said with a smile.
'Um...was she joking with me on that pause? I mean, everyone wants a cell phone, don't they? Her amnesia isn't really that bad, is it?'
Deciding to forget about that for now, Toshinori then told her, "Okay then! Well, how about we look at the internet and find some schools close by that you can attend?"
"The...in-ter-net?" Katara asked in confusion.
'...Yeah, she definitely needs to go to school.'
And so, after Toshinori showed Katara the 'wonders' of the internet(she was blown away by it, as well as Toshi's laptop), they found certain schools around the area where Toshi lives that include middle schoolers from age 14 to 15.
"Hmm...so these symbols here...they're stars? And if they're filled up, that means it's the best?" Katara asked.
"Um...yes. That's exactly what that...means," Toshinori said, a little baffled that she was curious about that.
'Katara must've been hit hard on the head,' Toshi concluded.
"Huh...well, why not this one then?"
"Oh, um...okay. I mean there's more if you want to look at, but, uh…"
"Well, the most 'stars' mean that it's better, right?"
"Well...yeah...but I mean, this is the first one we saw. I mean, if you're sure, then you're sure, but...do you want to check out the others or…?"
"Hmm...nah, I think this one is good."
"Oh! Well...alright then! Then this one it is!" Toshinori then clicked on it to check out the info, as well as the website.
'Wow. That was easy.'
"Okay! So...what now?" Katara asked him.
"Um...I'll...call them I guess. I mean, right after Tsukauchi makes those documents, of course. Oh! But first, we need to find you a phone!"
"Oh! Okay...well then, where to?"
One Trip to a Cell Phone Carrier Store Later…
"That was...an experience," Katara said, a little stunned.
"Yeah...sometimes even I don't understand what they're saying about all those plans," Toshinori said as he scratched the side of his head.
"Uh...yeah."
'I meant all the devices that they had there, but I'll just go along with what he said.'
Katara looked down inside the bag to see her new phone. Apparently, it was an iPhone...Toshinori told her that she should get that one, as it was the most popular. She just went along with what he said. However, she was given a choice of what color she wanted in...which she chose blue. To some, it was an odd choice for a girl to choose blue out of all the colors for a phone, but it represented the Water Tribes...plus, she liked blue.
'I need to know how to use it though…' Katara mused.
"So..." she began to say, "I have a phone now…"
Toshinori turned to her, expecting her to be a little excited...but she looked even more confused and uncertain.
"Um...yep! Are you, uh...excited?" he asked
"...Well...yeah, I...I am, a little…" Katara said as they began to walk side by side on the sidewalk, passing other businesses.
As they walked, Toshinori glanced at the young girl with a puzzled look, not expecting that answer.
'Hm...that's odd. Most kids her age would love to have a phone…'
"...Well, all we need to do now is enroll you in that school once...you know, the other thing is done," Toshi told Katara, changing the subject.
Katara turned her head to glance at Toshi with a smile. "Yeah…" she looked down as she walked, the smile on her face still, "...That part will be fun."
Toshinori glanced back at the girl, "Hm?"
"I mean...the whole school thing. I...I like to meet kids my age and make new friends. Also, I can learn some new stuff about...here…" Katara said, slightly wincing as she caught herself from saying too much.
The thin man turned his head to Katara with a smile himself. "Well, it's good to see that you're excited about it! Heh, most kids dread going back to school."
"Really? Why's that?"
Blinking at that question, Toshinori began to think about that, "Um...I...guess they don't want to learn anything?" putting a hand to his chin, Toshi muttered, "Actually...I don't see why anyone would not like school. I mean, it's their education! They would need it for the long run, and be in a profession that they would like to work in! I mean, of course, everyone wants to be a Hero, but they could use their Quirks for certain things like plumbing, construction, even engineering if they want to. Heck, even accounting! Hmm...maybe if they, murmur murmur murmur…"
Now Katara blinked as she looked at the man. "Um...Toshi?"
"And maybe-hm?" They stopped as he turned his attention to the girl. "Yes, Katara?"
"You were...kind of drifting off there," Katara said with an amused smirk.
"...Oh!" Toshi blinked again "Uh...wow, I was, wasn't I? ...I never did that before…" he gave out somewhat of a warm smile as he looked ahead. "Heh. Kid must be rubbing off on me."
Katara cocked her head in confusion, "Who?"
Realizing his mistake, Toshi winced and turned his attention to Katara once more with a sheepish but panicked expression, "Oh, uh, n-nothing! Nothing, just, uh...someone I know."
"Oh...okay," Katara just shrugged as they continued walking, much to Toshinori's relief.
They were silent in their walk, passing people as Katara looked on at the sites of this modern city. To people, to buildings, to vehicles, to monuments to shops…
Katara stopped to look at a shop window that sells toys. Out on display, were toy figurines that resemble that huge guy from last night...wearing some sort of weird-looking outfit...as well as another weird-looking outfit that had a cape on it.
"Hm?" Toshinori noticed that she wasn't walking ahead of him. Turning around, he saw that Katara was looking at a few All Might action figures that were on display. Going over to her, he said in a joking manner, "Something caught your eye?"
The girl jumped and turned to Toshi, "Oh, uh, no, I was just…" she turned to the action figures once more, "...Hey, um…" seeing if the coast is clear from any walking bystanders, she quietly said to him, "Do you happen to know who this All Might person is?" she asked, turning her head to him.
Toshinori once again blinked. "Uh...you...don't know?"
Blushing in embarrassment, Katara decided to keep talking as if it's normal to ask the question, "Well...he seems to be very popular...I'm just curious about him."
'Hm...she honestly doesn't know who All Might is, huh? I mean, I already knew that, but...it's kind of odd hearing it.' Toshi thought with interest.
Before Toshinori could ask further, a voice rang out.
"Excuse me!" a loud but somewhat formal voice said.
They both turned to see a tall young man with blue hair and glasses on with a polo shirt and jeans, along with nice shoes. He was coming up to them at a moderately fast pace, but then he stopped almost immediately, letting whatever little wind fly past the pair.
"Uh...y-yes?" Katara asked the male in question.
Toshinori blinked what seemed like the fourth time today, his gaze and attention now on the young man.
The young man looked at her face closely, until he nodded, "Yes! You are definitely that girl on the news last night!"
"Huh?" Katara blinked.
"I have to say, you were quite brave on going into that interrogation without a second thought! In fact, it inspired me!" he said while making chopping-hand motions in the air...for some reason, "It inspired me to achieve my goal of being the best Hero that I could be! You certainly showed courage and determination in helping out that hostage, as well as that misunderstood captor! Very noble of you indeed! And it must be a joy to be alongside All Might, the Symbol of Peace and Justice! I'm certain you must've been in awe of his extreme presence!" he raised a fist to his face to add dramatic effect, "It would be an honor to meet All Might in person. This is why I aim to go to the most prestigious school there is, UA, so I can learn the ways of Heroism to be like him!" the young man nodded, "...Oh! I am deeply sorry! I forgot to introduce myself! My name is Iida Tenya! I aim to be a Hero someday just like my brother!" he bows to her stiffly, "But either way, I just want to congratulate you on doing such a selfless heroic deed! I wish to be like you whenever I see someone in danger like that. Whatever school you wish to attend in the future, I'm sure you'll do splendidly, whatever Quirk that you may have!" he straightens up again, looking as serious as he can be.
...Silence…
"...Uh...thank you?" Katara said back as she looked at him in bewilderment.
The young man, known as Iida, nodded and saluted to her. "It was no problem! I just felt like I wanted to say that since you really inspired me!"
"...Uh…" Katara was at a loss for words.
"...Um, if you don't mind me asking since I told you my name, may I ask what is yours?" Iida asked, almost sounding a little embarrassed.
"Umm...my name is…Yagi Katara?"
"Ah! Excellent! Then with this, Yagi, I bid you a very heroic day!" Iida then turned around and jogged his way down the sidewalk, passing pedestrians as he whizzed past them by.
...More silence...
"...Huh…" Toshinori looked on at the scene oddly, "Well...that was nice of him, I...guess?" he turned his attention to Katara, "It looks like you really made a difference to that young man, Katara."
Still dazed by Iida's sudden meet and greet, Katara blinked a couple of times, "Uh...yeah…" shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Katara asked Toshi, "Uh, how did he know that I did that?"
"...Did what now?"
"Um...that I...tried to save someone, and that All Might came to save the hostage and captor?"
"...Uh...the news, young Katara."
"...Okay…"
…
RIIING! RIIING!
"Oh! Uh, my phone," Toshinori said, as he fished his phone out of his baggy pocket. Looking at the caller ID, it read Tsukauchi on it.
"Oh! Um, you know what? Let's get back home, Katara," Toshi advised her as he pushed the 'accept' button to talk to Tsukauchi.
"Uh, sure…"
Meanwhile, Katara was thinking…
'Okay, two things I know so far about this world: There are some really strange people here, and I really need to get adjusted around here more. I still don't know what he means when he says the 'news'...what does he mean by that?'
Back at Toshinori's…
Once Toshi drives his truck up the small driveway in his moderate home, Katara gets out of the passenger seat and begins to close the door, when she sees that Toshi wasn't also getting out of the vehicle.
"Uh, Toshi? Are you getting out?" Katara asked him.
"Uh, well, actually, I need to see Tsukauchi for just a moment. It won't take long! Just, um...don't answer the door to anybody and make yourself at home!"
"Oh, okay! But, um...you'll teach me how to use this, uh…'phone', right?"
Toshinori smiled at her, "Of course, little lady."
Katara smiled back, "Okay then! I'm, uh, not...um, attuned with this kind of stuff, believe it or not."
"Heh. No worries! Technology can be a little intimidating."
"Oh yeah, uh, heh," Katara said a little awkwardly, "Well, I'll just go on in! Thanks for the phone, Toshi!"
"No problem, Katara!" Toshi said with another smile and a wave.
Katara closed the truck door, and went inside Toshinori's house, while Toshinori backed up and drove back on the road.
When she did enter the home, she went to her room upstairs, all the while almost passing the picture of the woman that was in the hallway...until she backed up and looked at the picture again.
Staring at it, she furrowed her brows in curiosity.
"...I wonder who this woman is?" she asked herself.
She kept staring at it.
"...Whoever she is, she must be really important to Toshi," Katara concluded as she looked around the place for any other pictures on the wall...not even artwork was displayed, "...I should ask him sometimes."
She then continued through the hall and was about to go to her room…
...but when she opened the door, it didn't look like her room.
"Oh!" Katara exclaimed.
She went to the wrong room and entered Toshinori's bedroom.
It looked...quite plain actually. There were drawers, a bed, and another tee-vee mounted on the wall, but the room seemed to be just...ordinary. There was a closet next to the bed, as well as another door to the far right.
"...I...shouldn't walk into his room like this...it's his private area, after all...yeah," Katara nodded and turned around to go to the room across from his, which was hers, but her eye went back to the picture on the stand in the small hallway.
Katara stared at the picture again…
'...You know...I never saw any other pictures around here that Toshi is familiar with.'
Looking back at Toshi's room, Katara contemplated the thought…
"...Well, he did say to make myself at home...and I guess I am living here for a while."
But first, she put her newly required stuff on the bed in her room. As she exited her room, she looked at the open door to Toshi's room…
"...I mean, I'm just looking inside. It's not like I'm going into his personal belongings or anything...yeah...exactly," Katara told herself.
She took some tentative steps to Toshi's room until she's in his doorframe.
"...Okay…"
Katara walks inside his room...
...Nothing out of the ordinary here...
Katara then went to the door to her right…
It was some sort of...she would say washroom?
"Huh…"
She exited it to see what else she could observe. Not looking for anything personal of Toshi, she's just taking a look around the place...taking a look around his home...his room…
Katara glanced at the closet.
'...Just one peek. It's probably just clothes. I mean, I'm not gonna find anything too shocking.'
Katara went over to the closet and gingerly opened it ever so slowly.
"..."
She then opened the door fully…
"..."
…
…Her eyes widened comically.
...Okay, she was wrong. What she found was shocking.
"...What...in the…?" Katara looked on in stupefaction as she blinked.
"Here you are, Toshi," Tsukauchi gave him Katara's fake documents in the lobby of the Musutafu Police Department.
"Thanks, Naomasa!" Toshinori said to the detective with a smile as he held onto the records.
"No problem. So, has Katara been informed about the school thing?"
"Yep! She chose the first school that seemed like the better choice," Toshinori chuckled...until he frowned, "Although, for someone who has amnesia, she certainly has forgotten a lot of stuff on how to function in society."
Naomasa frowned slightly.
"I mean, I don't know, I would think that some people who do have it would've remembered how to do things normally. Like she would remember how to dial a phone or know how a computer works, or something...I mean, is that part of amnesia? If it is, she must've certainly hit her head pretty hard...how did you find her again?" Toshinori asked.
Naomasa just stood there silent, appearing to look like he was thinking...until he sighed, "...Toshi, I'm sorry. I can't tell you everything, but...just keep a good eye on her, okay?"
Confused a little bit, Toshi says, "Um, hey no worries. I won't let anyone harm her."
"I know you won't. But...I haven't really been honest with you about her."
"Huh?" Toshi blinked, "What do you mean?"
"Well, for one thing, what I told you was true, she is a mystery. And...she told me some things about herself that sound a little questionable."
"Questionable?"
"Mm-hmm. And the strange part is...she's not lying."
"Uh...okay? Well...what did she say?"
"That's where I can't have myself tell you everything. I don't think she would even like it that I'm telling you anything about this as of right now. You might just need to ask her yourself."
"Oh, um...alright," Toshi scratched his head in confusion.
Tsukauchi just smiled, "Hey don't worry. I can tell she's a good-hearted kid. You can just ask her, you know? I'm certain she'll answer you honestly."
Toshinori stood there as glanced down, processing this information with fingers on his chin.
"...Well...okay then..." he then looks up at Naomasa, "She's not like in any...um, danger, is she?"
Naomasa shook his head, "No no, nothing like that. She's just trying to find someplace to live for now."
"Oh...uh...this isn't, like...some really unbelievably out-of-this-world type of stuff, is it?"
The detective smirked at him, "As I said, you're gonna have to ask her that yourself, Toshi."
'Hm...is Katara hiding something? But she seems like a nice girl,' Toshinori thought as he drove his truck back to his home, with the documents in his passenger seat, 'I wouldn't think she would be some type of...alien? No, that's ridiculous, don't think that. I mean, we're a super-powered society now and we still haven't even found any life on planets! So, I'll rule that one out...but what did Naomasa mean when he said all that stuff? Still a mystery but she wasn't lying? What did she tell him?'
...He sighed, '...She has been acting a little...well, I don't want to say abnormal, but odd whenever she tries to understand simple stuff like a TV, laptop, a phone, heck even my truck!'
He drove up to his small driveway again and put his truck in park, turning it off.
"Hmm…" Toshi tapped his head as he pondered, "...Well...I might as well have to ask her..." sighing once more, he got the documents in his hands and got out of his truck.
Entering inside his house, he sees that Katara isn't anywhere on the first floor.
"Huh?" Toshinori closed the door behind him and called out, "Katara?"
…
"...Hm? Katara?!" Toshi said a little louder, putting the documents on a counter.
…
...He blinked, "Um...K-Katara!? Are you here!?"
…
"...O-oh! Yeah! Uh, sorry!" yelled out the voice of Katara. However, her tone sounded...embarrassed.
"Oh! Uh, okay then!" Toshinori called out, followed by a sigh of relief.
'Whew! I thought she was gone.'
Then Katara called out, "Um...Toshi?! Can you come up here for a moment?! I, uh...need to show you something!"
"Oh!? Uh, hold on, I'll be up!" Toshi called out.
'Hm...maybe she's trying to work on her phone.'
And as Toshinori went through his living room and went up the stairs and into his small second-floor hallway…
...He sees his door is opened.
"..."
...Toshi's eyes suddenly widened like dinner plates.
'...Ooooh...no...'
"...U-Uh...K-Katara!?"
'Please don't be in my room, please don't be in my room please don't be in my room, PLEASE don't be in my room!'
He gave a quick glance at Nana's picture and upon viewing it, he seemed to feel like her silly smile became mischievous all of a sudden...and was directing it at him.
"Toshi...I'm in your room," said the clear voice of Katara.
'OOOOOOH SHIT, NO!' yelled Toshi's mind.
He never ran so fast in his frail life to his room. It was probably a millisecond when he reached his door.
...His eyes looked abnormally large for his sunken head at this point.
'...Oh no.'
"Toshi...I have...questions," Katara said with a raised brow, as she pointed at the display...in his closet…
…
…
...It was a shrine made for Nana, with posters of her Heroine costume, some pictures of her in her civilian clothes in general, and...one poster where she looked to be younger, probably in her 20's, wearing a one-piece swimsuit…
Katara just...stared at him, waiting for an answer from him…
...She looked worried too. Also, she was blushing a little bit...
Toshinori...now officially wants to DIE.
"...Umm...I can...explain."
And there it is folks! Another chapter from one of my stories updated in the SAME month of February! Wow, it's a new record! 8D
Either way, I hope y'all are still into this story...I know y'all are probably enjoying dragon-fire217's story. I hope y'all will come back to this at least...I don't want to feel like I've failed on losing all of your interests. :( Also, I could just read his story, but...I felt like I would be cheating if I read it, you know? Like it may be different, but it's still the same concept, you know? So...I would like it if none of y'all don't tell me what happens in that story. If it somehow is like mine in some way, then I don't need to know that. Again, I know it's supposed to be different, but it's still the same concept. I want to be original as best as I can. So if it looks like some ideas were borrowed when future chapters come up, then know that I didn't copy it from him, that I thought of it all myself. Are we good on that? And hey, dragonfire, look, I'm sorry for saying all of that stuff back there in the PM. I hope you understand at least...just keep doing what you're doing, okay man? :)
But yeah, thank you all who ARE reading my story! I'm glad you still love it so! :) By the way, how is this chapter? Tell me what you think! I love to hear your feedback!
Next time: Toshi fesses up, and so does Katara! What's gonna happen!? And then, maybe we can finally let Katara go to that school she chose! :D
Thank you all for reading! Leave a review, fave, and a follow! :)
Keep on rocking everybody! ^_^
-TSP
(Oh, and thanks a lot to Lancealot for betaing! LOL, hey, that rhymed! XD )