Chapter Text
Having taken a quick after-patrol shower to get rid of all the grime from parkouring through piss and dirt-covered alleyways, Aizawa Shouta headed to his barely stocked kitchen in search of something edible. Mocha and Kingyo wound around his legs, leaving fur on cat patterned pyjama bottoms as they begged for attention. Passing by the couch, he turned on the local news station to provide some background noise in the absence of his loudmouthed partner. Sake startled from the sudden noise of the reporter and sent Shouta a one-eyed glare from his wall-mounted perch.
"…multiple reports coming in of such sightings since the start of last month; one of our viewers managed to capture the animals at work on video. Let's take a look!"
The view switched to a shaky recording of abysmal quality taken at nighttime. You could just barely make out what appeared to be a group of raccoons swarming a large man in the distant alleyway; the person recording sounded out of breath as if they just stopped running.
"Yesterday night, Ichioka Ryozo, age 20, was walking home alone after missing the bus when he was attacked. Taking a shortcut through an alleyway close to Takoba Municipal Beach Park, Ichioka was held at knifepoint by one Seo Toshitsugu, age 34. The police arrived on the scene after being called by Ichioka, who was luckily unharmed, to find the assailant unconscious, with numerous bite and scratch wounds."
Exhausted after an eventful patrol, Shota didn't focus much on the story, too tired to care at the moment. His cupboards were empty, which wasn't unusual, but he swore he had that one granola box left from when Hizashi brought him groceries, and now it was gone. He was out of jelly pouches, which was his first choice; he was supposed to pick some up on the way home but was more interested in getting changed at the time. The acid-based quirk he took on that night was starting to eat through his clothes by the end of his patrol and he preferred to avoid getting a rash.
Another thing he was supposed to get at the store was wet cat food, a fact which he was reminded of by Kasegi yowling as she pawed the air, demanding early breakfast. Of course, they still had dry food in their bowls but it seemed he spoiled them too much because they would not let him sleep if he didn't provide, the ungrateful bastards.
Shouta sighed and went to put a sweater over his oversized Present Mic shirt. It seemed he was going to get groceries after all. "…not much is known about the sudden increase in raccoon activity and their strange behaviour, but the more superstitious of locals have begun to refer to them as guardian spirits, while others have taken to calling them, animal vigilantes. More on this story as it develo-". Shouta switched off the TV and put on his shoes.
—–
Neon lights of a konbini reflected against a pair of large green eyes in the wee hours of the morning. The sun was yet to make an appearance but the streets were beginning to slowly wake up with early risers getting ready for work. The summer breeze carried the smell of freshly baked bread from across the street. Reaching for another handful of granola, the little raccoon eyed his new target.
Tiny paws skittered across the empty road in the direction of an open window; the source of the inciting smell. With practised ease, Izuku climbed up the brick wall after ditching the empty box and peeked inside the kitchen. It seemed today's special was tiny cinnamon rolls with chocolate chips; a favourite of his. Checking to see if the coast was clear, Izuku dropped inside and hurried to the top of the counter. He swung the red bumbag he used as a backpack to the front and started shovelling rolls inside, squishing them as he struggled to zip them up. Hearing approaching footsteps he scrambled towards the exit, leaving sticky pawprints across the countertop. Scandalised yelling accompanied his escape to the rooftop; the owner just missed the furry bandit as she leaned out the window, searching for the perpetrator.
His pack now full of spoils, Izuku made his way back to the den. Leaping across the cityscape with the sunrise rapidly approaching, he felt energized after the success of his spontaneous heist. The freedom to go where he wanted whenever he wanted… he wouldn't give it up for anything.
—–
Shouta yawned as he walked to the konbini at the end of his street. He gave a nod to one of his neighbours walking their dog, waving at him from across the road. He might be known as the local recluse, but he wasn't completely antisocial. He stepped inside the empty store and absentmindedly went to the pet section. As he filled the basket with a selection of gourmet fish and poultry, he made a mental checklist for the day. After he takes a nap he has to drop off those case files at the precinct; Tamakawa was expecting him at around ten, so he had a solid five hours of sleep left; a real treat. He grabbed a value box of jelly pouches and stepped up to the checkout.
"Nice pants", the teenage cashier said with half-lidded eyes, scanning the items with the minimal enthusiasm required. "Thanks." Shouta nodded in acknowledgement; this was someone who appreciated good fashion sense. And a similar sleeping schedule to him if the purple eye bags were any indication.
"Have a nice day sir", the teen said as Shouta left the shop with a wave.
Stopping a few feet away from the entrance, the tired man reached for one of the jelly pouches to consume on the way back to his tiny apartment, when a block of yellow caught his eye on the other side of the street. Readjusting his bag, he crossed and picked up the empty granola box with a slight frown. Huh. If he didn't know better he'd say it was the same box he was missing from his kitchen. Dismissing the coincidence for what it was: a coincidence, he put the cardboard into his bag to recycle at home.