The chatter among the people with soft tapping on the marble floor. Your thoughts were lost once again cold and alone on the night at the airport. Times like these are when you collect yourself more easily than usual despite the crowd of a busy airport like New York. Your hands hovering the screen with a text contact read 'Shota'. You were contemplating on whether it's worth asking him his well-being or you should go without any warning. But you felt like you should say something before doing anything else after all he's the one who has helped several times now. You typed in your lit screen often deleting and retyping again to see which options would be appropriate before you leave for your flight.
you
Hey, I heard you were on a mission today. Are you alright?
That was the most casual thing you could probably master to say without sounding like a weirdo even if it is partially sounding like one already...
you
I'm sorry I couldn't come to see you. I had to head back home for a family emergency.
sent
announcement: Good evening passengers. This is the pre-boarding announcement for flight 91B for Japan.
Your eyes look up to the announcement as you carry your bags and make your way to your flight gate. You might get a reply later but you aren't expecting him to reply right away. Especially the chaos they're under in. You aren't going to be walking around once you get home anyway. You'll have to sort things out and figure out who and what caused the incident.
It was already nearly pitch black with winter approaching, which isn't very demure. So to speak. It chills your flesh to your bone and lack of sunlight with the foggy clouds covering the bright city under you as the plane takes off. It was a goodbye to such a city even though you needed more break.
•⋗⁙ ——— ♥♪ ♪♥ ——— ⁙⋖•
"A collaboration?" asked Aizawa frowning as he looked back at the boy. He nodded in response.
"It wouldn't end well if it'll be worse. Furthermore, the experiments carried out were only shown in records rather than showing what had happened." Midoriya spoke moving in the room closer to the group. "But. Discussing this here is quite risky due to the situation we are in. We'll have a meeting tomorrow at 10 a.m sharp. We'll exploit more intel for Chisaki and the kids."
Everyone hummed and spoke in agreement. They all decided to stay in for a bit just to check on how everyone was doing so far. Midoriya walked up to Aizawa who was still reading the provided files of the previous mission views.
"Sir, I must ask a favor." Aizawa shifted his attention to the boy who was wearily looking down at him. "... There were some kids from Japan who need a legal guardian," Midoriya stated as he took a seat beside Aizawa. "We need someone to supervise them in case of any quirk malfunctions or sudden outbursts and to protect any potential kidnapping for the experiment."
See, Aizawa isn't a kid's favorite. His exterior looks and bluntness are why he's an underground hero teaching high schoolers who need that type of bluntness so they can be shaped like this hero in front of him. "...you think I should be? Of some 6-year-old kids?"
"Yes, sir. You're the most capable man of protecting them and best to put them training for their future."
Sold.
Aizawa got into the car with Midoriya shortly after the conversation. After a quick check-in on his legs and his injuries, he was dismissed from the hospital with the rest also heading back to their stay. Aizawa decided to follow with Midoriya and Hizashi tagged along after hearing his request.
"How many would I supervise?"
"It depends sir, we didn't have many kids speaking yet. Some with language barriers still need more time to connect."
Hizashi looked out at the now-darkening night as the streets illuminated the cold city with the small worth of warmth they could. Who could do such a thing still? Selling your kids to some organizations just for some debt. To say it was a desperate measure is way too cruel and heartless. It boils every bit of his nerve, so did Aizawa.
Buzz Buzz
A soft buzz in his pants pocket brings Aizawa back into his reality. Taking the phone out carefully to see some texts displayed on the lit screen with the name 'Y/n'. He did not dare to open it as he let the screen close and drew his attention back to the approaching building.
They all got off as they stepped into the building. It was one of the local agencies that gladly took the opportunity to help the pro heroes from Japan. Midoriya said it was all his partner's intel to get a place like this to collaborate and make a steady path to take on Shigaraki.
"The kids are resting in the agency's dorm at the moment. My partner is with them for their dinner." Midoriya spoke as they reached the building where the kids were supervised. They all walked to the large room and Midoriya landed soft knocks on the door before opening it.
"Come in." A soft voice spoke as he opened to reveal a young hero among the small kids surrounding them.
"Ah, Midoriya.. hello Mr. Aizawa and Mr. Yamada." They bowed at the two men as they approached with a small child in their hand. The two heroes nodded in acknowledgment at the greeting as Midoriya smiled warmly at the kid in their arms who looked scared at the new faces.
Having silver blue hair with contrasting crimson eyes was the girl Aizawa spotted with Dabi during his undercover mission. The girl was abducted for the mission's sake and was also a victim of child trafficking. The kid curiously looked at the man in front as her eyes scanned for any information.
"Hey there, Eri-chan," Midoriya spoke gently to the kid leaning down at eye level. The kid nodded wearily as she eyed the emerald boy. "Eri-chan.. these are the heroes I work along with.. Mr. Aizawa and Mr. Yamada." She eyed the men in front bowing half-heartedly. She held onto the person holding her as she adverted her eyes away. Sensing the girl may be scared by the attention, Aizawa spoke to Midoriya, "Do you think me and her could talk privately?" The girl perks up at the comment turning around with searching eyes. "Well... Eri-chan?" The person spoke looking down at the girl. She looks back at him with hesitation. "I just wanted to know more about you kid." He spoke as gently as possible. Weirdly enough, the girl nodded and put down to follow Aizawa into a more private space in the room. Hizashi decided to head back first to the hotel bidding goodbye to the hero. "Oh, Mr. Yamada. I have some files you ask for the mission. I will give them to you now." Midoriya spoke taking Hizashi with him out of the room. Aizawa nodded in reassurance as both men silently left in acknowledgment.
Eri sat on the assigned bed as she fidgeted her hand. Aizawa sat on the floor and patiently waited for the girl around him to be less tense. "I'm Aizawa. An underground hero from Japan... I work as a hero and a teacher at a school called U.A." The girl listens to him speak about nothing in particular. About how he works and what he does in U.A. Why and how he came here aimlessly so the girl would feel more comfortable with him.
"...Does the school have.. festival?" When talking about their summer festivals held in school the girl perks up.
"Yes, we do. Our students organize them to relieve stress from their school years." she listened to him speak of what they did in the previous festivals.
"...I'd like to see..." She spoke softly looking down at her hand. "..But I don't know where Mommy is... She said she'll come get me.." Poor girl. Aizawa didn't have the heart to tell her about her mother's whereabouts.
"Eri. Who's this man." Spoke a young boy who approached with a red cap, his face painted with a visible scowl like the angry blonde hero. Eri looked back at the boy as she spoke softly.
"This is.. Mr. Aizawa. He's an underground hero from U.A."
"U.A.? What is that... he looks suspicious."
"Well, he is an underground so.. so that means he had to disguise.. right.. mister?" She turned her head to Aizawa and continued her sentence with hesitation.
"Yes, that's correct Eri.." He spoke softly leaning back in the wall nearby as the two kids talked to each other. They occasionally ask him questions about his work and his past. Aizawa recognized the boy as Kota and he followed this mission. The kid was surely unaware of his following and he didn't want to bring up any topic relating to their time working under Chisaki. Nevertheless, the kids seem to enjoy his company.
"Midoriya... Eri... went through a lot, " the person said as they stood up. Midoriya eyed his teacher and the kids. "She's just barely 6." Midoriya sighed, putting a reassuring hand on their shoulder. "I know... but I think Mr. Aizawa could help her..."
They looked over at Aizawa who smiled at the kids speaking on the floor with him as he told his tales. "We'll make Overhaul pay."
"Mr. Aizawa. Where are they going to take us?" Spoke Kota who looked up at him.
"Well.. you guys might come back to Japan with the rest of the kids." Eri silently sat as she leaned back against the bed.
"...Japan..? My parents live there..." Kota spoke making Aizawa's attention switch. "Is that so? What's your full name kid? We can help you find them." "no."
The stern and cold voice of the kid shocks him for a second.
"...I don't want to go back. They're dead anyway." Now this kid knows more than Eri and has surely seen too much at 7. As much of a shock to Aizawa, he did not contribute with more questions seeing how Eri also tenses up. "If so, we could at least provide you a place to stay... just like how Eri would." The boy was skeptical hearing his words. "...I might find mommy again." Aizawa did not dare to agree or disagree with the girl's hoping words.
"You might not! Remember my parents? They're never going to come back!" Tears prickling down the boy's face were evident. It scared both the girl and the man across. Aizawa pulls the boy closer to wipe his tears. Relatively the boy would shake him off but never too far. Reminded him of the blonde boy he once taught.
"I'm sorry for your loss kid.." He sniffed as he tried desperately to catch his tears. "...I don't want Eri to go.."
"You'll come with me right, Kota?" She asked her eyes sincerely hoping he would. The boy looked back at the girl and hesitated on his words. "...sure."
Aizawa talked with Midoriya for a final check-up for the kids to follow along back to Japan. He said his goodbyes to the young ones as he made his way out of the agency. Checking his phone was nearly 11 now. He also noticed the small box of text has been left unattended for about 3 hours now. He should check it.
He won't.
"You're staring an awful lot at your phone. Shota." It has been about an hour since Aizawa arrived back at his hotel. It has also been an extra 30 minutes since he's been staring aimlessly at the lock screen of his blunt-ass phone with the most blank-ass expression Hizashi has ever seen. "You can't make a phone do all of your work."
"...I can't open it."
"Yeah because suddenly you think some random objects could save your day. Give me that." Hizashi walked up quickly snatching the phone from the tired hero who was anxious as soon as the screen disappeared to capture his thoughts. "YAMADA."
"Oh~ looks like the lady pulled her moves already."
Hizashi read the text with a smug look on his face, humming as he silently dodged his friend's frantic attacks like a teenage boy.
"She just wants to know if you're doing okay man. Text her back." He throws the phone back at the angry caterpillar. He glared at the blonde blonde who just ignored the man's gaze as he headed over to his bed. Aizawa turned around to his phone to read the messages and typed back his answer.
y/n
I'm sorry I couldn't come to see you. I had to head back home for a family emergency.
seen
you
No worries. All good so take care.
sent
All jokes aside, he sincerely wishes you're okay. The last thing he'd want is more trouble for you.
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It is back. Since our chapter is 'Assurance'. I assure you, we will be dropping a chapter a day maybe double to finish this book quickly. Because cliffhangers do not make me sleep soundly at night and I kept worrying my ideas would disappear the next day. Anyway, bear with mistakes and english being dumb. I cannot talk in my mother-tongue or in English anyways.
~Dyna~