Aizawa stared into his stew as he remembered the encounter. The zombie didn't act animal-like or monstrous. It was holding the child so carefully and tenderly, like it was the child's mother.
It didn't make sense.
He couldn't tell Hizashi or All Might what he saw. He also couldn't explain why he didn't kill the zombie and take the child to the bunker.
Not until he saw them again.
He was picking through an abandoned 7-11, grabbing some canned coffee when a growl sounded, the door bursting open with the intrusion. Aizawa gasped and pressed himself flat against the wall, clutching his handgun in a desperate grip.
A soft chuff and tiny footsteps echoed on the concrete floor. "Kacchan, I hungry."
The kid!
Aizawa looked around the corner, his black eyes widening in astonishment as the zombie grabbed the kid's hand and led him to an aisle, trudging to the food section. The zombie…or Kacchan…groaned, pointing at the rice balls.
The boy gasped, looking from the rice balls to Kacchan. "You found food! Yay, Kacchan is amazing!" In a jerking motion, the zombie brought a hand to the boy's head, ruffling it. It was a little harsh since zombies can't control their bodies, but the child giggled anyway.
The kid took a couple and one Mapo tofu cup. Kacchan grunted. The boy tilted his head. "You like spicy stuff, Kacchan. I feed it to you." Kacchan groaned, letting his arms lax. The yellow backpack slid off his back, landing on the floor with a thud. The kid placed the supplies inside of the backpack, zipping the opening shut. The zombie groaned again, bending down.
The child picked up the backpack, grunting with the effort. He placed it on the zombies' back, letting out a satisfied sigh as he completed the task. Kacchan let out another noise as he straightened up again. He then picked up the kid and was about to trudge to the door when a pack of gummy bears fell to the ground along with a muffled curse.
Kacchan froze, turning slowly behind him.
Aizawa gasped softly, holding onto his gun in a death grip. He heard the zombie walking closer and closer…
"Kacchan, can we go home?" The teen looked at the kid again, softly growling.
No, not growling.
Purring.
The child sighed sleepily, curling into the teen with complete trust. The zombie's red eyes looked back behind them for a few more seconds before finally walking away.
Aizawa gasped softly, feeling like the world was turning upside down.
Why would this zombie be protecting that child?