Chapter Text
Sometimes life doesn’t always go as planned.
You go through the motions of growing up, stumbling your way onto your feet and learning how to walk. From there you learn how to talk, and you learn what it means to communicate with those around you. You go through the motions of learning that sometimes life isn’t at all fair and that some people never have to struggle through their childhood. You learn that some people aren’t forced to clean up the mess their parents leave behind or to take care of themselves and grow up alone.
You learn that even though you never asked to be born, you are forced into a world that isn’t at all fair or kind and that you simply must push through it and continue. You learn that sometimes it’s easier to leave the things you hold most dear behind because sometimes it isn’t worth your life to stay where you cannot flourish.
Kirishima was reminded of the harsh reality of life as he watched the streets he grew up on flash by. The ocean in the distance was a reminder of where he was headed. To bigger and better and hopefully, more beautiful things.
Life had not turned out the way he had planned, not from the moment he had entered the world. All screaming lungs and eyes too full of wonder for someone so young. It had been one whirlwind after the other. It had seemed like there was no semblance of peace, no moment in which he could remember taking a step back and simply breathing. It had been full pelt; from the moment his feet had touched the ground.
He thought of it now, the swirl of emotion tightening in his gut the more buildings rushed past him. He knew every street and every small-town shop there ever was to know in this resolute, old beachside town. He saw alleyways he had run through and knew each turn and every corner. He could see the ghost of himself running along the sidewalk, messy black hair flying in the wind as he weaved through the groups of people. He could hear old Mrs. Samson yelling at him to quit running down the street like she had every morning he came flying past. He could see the other kids in the town snickering, heads bowed together as they whispered. He had never been fond of the other kids in town since he could never tell what they thought of him, or his family.
It had taken him longer than it should have to realise that they were the outcasts. The odd ducks out when it came to those who lived in the small town. He had tried, at least for the first few years of school, to fit in with the other kids. But his smile was too big, his teeth too sharp and his eyes too bright. Features he had inherited from his mother, the biggest mystery in his life. He had come to the small town as a boy, a mere babe as his grandmother always said. Wrapped up in a shabby blanket and plopped on her doorstep in the middle of the night.
To this day he had only seen a single photograph of his mother, her startling red eyes, those deadly sharp teeth and glorious, ink-black hair. His grandmother had said she was a free spirit, always running off to the ocean and getting lost in its wonders. She had gotten the sharp teeth from her father, something that had always been a mystery in the Kirishima family. No one quite knew where they had come from or why they seemed to end in sharp points the way they did. The people in the town of course had their ideas, stories they had spread from a time long before Kirishima or even his mother had been born.
His grandmother had raised him if you could call it that.
She was a spindly old thing, all frazzled grey hair and salt-dried skin. She was often lost in thought, her eyes steady as they looked out at the ocean. Kirishima remembered the first time she had spoken about his mother, the way her mouth quirked slightly, and she said that his mother had been the same as her father.
‘’She loved the ocean’’ she said one night, the moon full on the horizon.
‘’Why?’’ Kirishima asked from the step of their veranda.
‘’It spoke to her and him’’ She sighed fondly. ‘’I remember the first time I met her father; he said the waves had called his name’’
He hadn’t known what that meant, not the first time at least. But as the years went on and his grandmother started saying that he was the same as both, he began to understand. He could feel it in his veins, the pull towards the water, the need to be close.
When he had been a child, he had thought the notion silly, if not delusional. The ocean did not speak, the waves did not whisper names and coax people to its sandy shores. But as he grew, his soft, pale skin turned sun-kissed and tanned. His hair often tangled with sand and smelling of sea salt, he began to understand.
It wasn’t that the ocean could speak, but it called for him. The sound of the waves crashing along the shore and the winds smelling of salt drifting through town. It was the feeling of sand on his feet and the sun kissing his skin. No, the ocean couldn’t speak, but he felt it pull and call for him. The same way it had his grandfather and his mother.
He could feel it now, eyes watching the swell and push and pull off the waves. He was on the edge of town now, only a few miles long and he would be gone. Officially off to start his life in a completely new place, a new piece of ocean to call home, hopefully.
It was both terrifying and freeing at the same time. The rumble of the old bus, the smell of salty air and the feeling of knowing that you had nothing. Well, I suppose he didn’t have nothing. There was the old shack, its furniture covered by sheets and dust settling on the floorboards. There was the headstone he had made for his grandmother, seagrass growing wildly about it, the salty air clinging to the stone. So, I suppose he didn’t have nothing, but he had no one.
Kirishima had once thought it odd, that the children around him had parents to run to and warm homes filled with joyous laughter and comfort. He did not understand what it meant to have a real family, to have a mother and a father. To have people around you who looked so similar that you were never the odd one out.
He had grown up in that small town with eyes watching his every move and whispers following him. He had grown up taking care of his grandmother, singing to her softly in the evenings and brushing the tangles of her hair. He had grown up in that small shack, nestled into the cove of a small beach, the high tide lapping at the sand beneath their veranda. He had never imagined a life where he would do anything different.
But life doesn’t always go as planned, not when you live by the sea and those around you watch as you follow in the wild and wondrous steps of your mother, and her father. When you fall in love with the ocean.
He had been 13 when he met Hikaru. Running into the man as he had been running towards the water. His wild black hair fell around his shoulders as he ran from the school, it had been the middle of the day.
Kirishima hadn’t thought of Hikaru in a long time, but the warm swirl of memories rose to the surface as he watched the man’s old shack flash by. He wouldn’t be leaving the town behind if it hadn’t been for him.
Hikaru had known his mother; they had grown up alongside each other. She had made him fall in love with the ocean, the way she would sparkle in its depths. He had spent his life working within its deep blues, watching and learning of the life beneath its surface. He was one of the only people who had ever left the small town and come back, his eyes bright and his smile friendly.
Hikaru had been somewhat of an outcast himself, taking Kirishima under his wing with ease. He taught the boy that there was more to hope for in life. A life outside of the small town just waiting to be explored. He was the first one to tell Kirishima about University, the first one to drive him out of that dingy little town and into the next. Hikaru had pushed him and encouraged him where no other had. He had been there for Kirishima when his grandmother had passed and held his trembling shoulders as he sobbed.
Hikaru had been the first person in his life, outside of his grandmother, to ever give him a chance, to see past the wickedness of his sharp teeth and look at him without fear. Without Hikaru, he never would have made it into university, and he certainly never would have graduated with a Master’s in Marine Science. The man had pushed him, the same way one’s parent would push you. And once Kirishima had come home, once he held that certificate in his hand Hikaru officially made him an apprentice. Something Kirishima did not realise he could do.
He had spent the remainder of Hikaru’s life learning everything he had to offer, going on expeditions and clocking up hours upon hours of research and experience. They had worked together, day and night, clocking the migration of sea life. Kirishima had fallen in love with the ocean all over again on their expeditions, his eyes bright with excitement when their work on migration turned to sharks. The predators of the deep, their sharp teeth and black eyes.
He had fallen in love with the predators the first moment he had seen them. The entirety of his time in university was spent learning everything he could about the magnificent creatures. His final assessment is based on their habits of migration and the misconceptions surrounding them as a species. He had become known on campus as a Shark boy, the guy whose teeth were just as sharp as the predators he loved. It was the first time in his life that other people around him had not run away from his smile, those within his course had a morbid curiosity about his teeth. I suppose that’s what you get when you have a group of young adults, obsessed with the ocean’s secrets.
Hikaru had based the remainder of his life’s work around that love, that unique connection that Kirishima seemed to have with the predators. He put everything he had into the boy and left everything to him as well.
So no, life didn’t always go as planned and Kirishima swallowed down the lump in his throat thinking about the way his life had turned out vastly different to how he hoped it would.
He watched as the sign for his small town flashed past and finally, he let his eyes fall shut.
-
‘’Eijirou Kirishima?’’
‘’Yes Sir’’
‘’You’re bigger than expected’’
Kirishima flushed, scratching behind his neck with a nervous smile. The man who had come down to the front gate to collect him was tall, not quite the same height as Kirishima but then again, no one was as big as Kirishima. The man had yet to introduce himself, simply grunted at the Security guard and motioned for the other to follow him into the facility.
‘’Ahh sorry about that, probably should have said something’’ he said.
‘’Why?’’ The man replied immediately, looking at Kirishima with a calculating gaze.
‘’Ah, I guess because it can put people off’’ Kirishima sighed.
‘’You mean it scares people, most of the time?’’ His brow was quirked, arms crossed over his chest as he waited for a response.
‘’I mean, yeah?’’ Kirishima shrugged, a nervous smile pulling at his lips. The man before him narrowed his eyes, homing in on the glint of sharp teeth.
‘’You may be big, Kirishima, but you will not be feared here’’ he said simply before turning and stalking off.
Kirishima felt a blush on his cheeks as he rushed forward to follow the other man further into the facility. He hadn’t known what he was getting himself into, he had only put his name forward for the position because Hikaru had once mentioned working at a similar facility and he thought it a good experience. He wasn’t sure why he had chosen to apply for this one, it was the furthest away from his small town and not a single familiar building in sight.
But I suppose what truly drew him in was the predator program. It was vast, so much bigger than that of other research facilities. He hadn’t known there would be entire sections dedicated to the research of the animals he loved so much.
The facility hadn’t seemed real, not when he stepped down from the bus and thanked the driver. Turning to look up at the big white buildings before him, the sun glinting off them. He knew it backed onto the ocean; he could smell it in the air. The security gates surrounding the place, the entire area twice, if not triple the size of his small town left so far behind. He hadn’t realised he would be walking into a place entirely consumed by the ocean and its wonders.
Kirishima could feel it though, the pull within his chest. The smell of sea salt wafted through the air as he followed the man through the facility hallways. It was brighter than he had expected and more spacious and he had yet to see another person.
‘’Kirishima’’ The man stopped, holding a door open and gesturing for him to walk through.
‘’Thank you’’ He mumbled, ducking through and his steps echoing on the concrete floor.
The man closed the door behind them, and Kirishima heard as locks slide shut the man double-checked the door could not be opened. Kirishima swallowed the lump in his throat, looking down the poorly lit corridor, no windows to be seen and ending on a sharp turn. The walls and floor were concrete, the entire space looked like something from a horror movie.
‘’Keep moving’’ The man grunted, pushing past Kirishima and stalking down the damp space.
Kirishima couldn’t find the words to respond, simply shook the anxiety from his head and followed after him. At least he knew no one would be following along behind, that was some sort of ease to his mind. Their footsteps echoed around them as they walked, turning around one corner just to come to the end of another corridor and go down another. The entire ordeal was irksome, and Kirishima couldn’t help but think that maybe he should have just stayed in his dingy little shack, but then finally there was a door at the end of the corridor, and he couldn’t help the relieved sigh he let out. The man in front of him huffed out an amused snort and put his shoulder to the door, pushing it open.
At first, all he could see was brightness, his eyes fluttering as he brought a hand up to shield them. He blinked a few times before his vision adjusted, the feeling of fresh sea air wafting through his hair. He couldn’t help but let his mouth fall open, looking out at a closed-off harbour. Perhaps not a harbour, it certainly wasn’t as big as one, but it spanned a great deal of distance. They had walked out to the path lining the wall between sections. Kirishima spun around and looked at the building they had come out of, a sign above the door: ‘Private Facility Exit Point’. He turned back to the water and noted the path leading from the wall and out into the open area. This was not the facility he had expected.
‘’Where are we?’’ Kirishima asked, turning towards the man as he gestured to follow him again.
‘’This is the private branch of the facility’’ The man said, he gestured to the span of water. ‘’This portion of the harbour was sectioned off and is used as a rehabilitation and research reef. It functions in the same way a normal coral reef would, and the water flows back into the ocean through the filtration system’’
‘’I’ve never seen something like this before’’ Kirishima said, eyes full of the glorious wonder he had carried with him throughout life. ‘’What kind of climate is the water set at?’’
‘’It averages between 73°F-78°F, the coral and sea life are from areas around the Northern parts of Australia and the Solomon Islands. Deeper in the water it cools off significantly to maintain a stable habitat for our predators.’’
‘’Makes sense, predators do migrate to warmer waters, but they often prefer the cooler climates. Having such a large enclosure would allow for different climates to be within one area. What kind of predators do you have? I’m assuming I won’t be jumping into the water with Great Whites, especially not if the water is mainly set to that of Northern Aus. temperature, they’re more likely to be around the southern end of Aus. I assume there might be bulls, perhaps tigers?’’ Kirishima had walked over to the water’s edge and crouched down; a hand dipped in to feel the temp. His chest was tight with anticipation, it had been days since he had gotten into the water.
‘’You’re willing to go in the water?’’ The man asked, curiosity filling his tone.
‘’Yeah of course! There’s this misconception that sharks, or most predators, will automatically bow towards violence. It’s rare and usually only the cause of extreme distress or a survival instinct. I’ve only been bitten a handful of times and each one was my fault.’’
‘’Interesting’’ The man muttered. ‘’Come along, there’s more to see’’
Kirishima nodded, looked back at the water and quickly dipped his hand a little deeper. He didn’t want to leave, at least not yet. He swept his hand through and felt something glide across his open palm, he smiled down at the water. It was dark, his shadow making it impossible to see whatever it was touching him, but he smiled anyways and wiggled his fingers. He saw a few bubbles pop on the surface just as he pulled his hand away, rubbing the water along the back of his neck. The smell of the ocean calmed his senses.
They continued walking along the water, the terrain natural and not at all what he would have expected. It was almost like they had found the harbour and built the facility along its shoreline, regardless of the dips and curves. The slice of the ocean they were nestled on was like the bite out of a cookie, tall concrete walls were separating the different sections and Kirishima noted that it would have taken a lot of work to get things to where they were now. From what he could tell, the facility was split into two parts. One side was the public facility, their portion of the harbour was smaller however they had to launch sites to head into the open ocean for the catch-and-release programs. The Private section, where he and the other man currently were, held the larger portion. The area around them didn’t look much like the public facility, with all-white square buildings and metal viewpoints over the water, like that of an aquarium. The private section was built almost like a small villa or a beachside town. There were houses, or were they cabins? Built along the edges of the water, wooden decks hung off the sides, almost like a lakeside retreat.
It reminded Kirishima a little of his small town, the somewhat rundown buildings and the old dingy Utes parked behind them. It was an odd feeling, to feel like you were at home but knowing you were so far from it.
‘’It feels like I’m going to summer camp’’ Kirishima grinned, looking around at the seagrass and sandy roads, there was a small embankment leading into the shallows.
‘’We based the layout to feel like a small town one of the founders came from’’ The man replied, nodding towards the houses. ‘’We’re a small team and we don’t often leave the facility so it’s important to have all the resources we need. It was also important that the area surrounding the portion of the harbour we maintain remained as natural as possible. The Private section does not follow the same guidelines and rules of the Public.’’
‘’I noticed that there was no mention of a Private section on the facilities website, I didn’t realise it was so separated from the Public.’’ He was still smiling, his duffle bag feeling heavy over his shoulder. He could feel his skin starting to itch, the water right there.
‘’The work we do is classified, the facility built around it and the public section added to maintain privacy over our research’’ The man sounded tired like he also couldn’t wait until this introduction was over with as well. ‘’We’ve brought you on board for your expertise and ongoing work with predators, not to mention the glowing reviews we’ve received from your work with Hikaru and the University you attended’’
‘’Hikaru?’’ Kirishima stopped walking, his heart faltering in his chest.
‘’Yes, he was a founder of this facility’’ The man turned, quirking a brow at him. ‘’I assumed that was why you were here?’’
‘’I didn’t know’’ Kirishima was shaking his head, looking around and suddenly seeing the space in a different light. It was all open, natural, following the shape of the land and he felt a pull so strong he hadn’t realised it was because Hikaru had taught him the importance of feeling welcome and at home in such an environment. He realised now, why he had thought the area felt familiar to him, it was because it was based on his small town. The spacing between the buildings and the colouring almost match. His breath caught in his throat as he looked back at the man before him. ‘’You’re Shota Aizawa’’
‘’Correct’’ He replied, looking at Kirishima with a calculating gaze. ‘’Hikaru and I created this facility together, I assumed he had told you’’
‘’Hikaru only ever mentioned the facility in passing, I had no idea where it was’’ Kirishima swallowed down the tightness in his throat. He could hear his heart beating. ‘’He mentioned working with you, I stumbled upon one of your papers and asked him about it. I never realised …’’
‘’Interesting’’ Aizawa said again and turned around, nodding for Kirishima to begin walking again. ‘’We made this facility to accommodate our needs and the dreams we created during our time spent in school. Everything about this area has been touched by the passion that man had for the ocean, and I am led to believe that you hold the same passion, if not more than Hikaru himself’’
‘’Yes,’’ Kirishima breathed, moving to walk alongside Aizawa. ‘’I grew up along the water, there’s something about it that pulls me in’’
‘’Good’’ Aizawa said and lead them away from the water’s edge and towards the largest of the buildings.
It was at least 3 stories, built over a shallow canal breaking up the shoreline. Kirishima could see that the bottom floor was entirely hollowed out, the water running inside like a boat shed, although there was no boat inside. The second floor had a balcony, hanging out over the water and he could hear voices and laughter floating down to them. They walked around the side and up a set of stairs, everything out in the open and he had yet to feel like he would be trapped within 4 walls as he had been during his research days at Uni.
The top of the stairs opened out onto the balcony and there he found the source of the noise. There was a group of people sitting around one of the tables, another standing by the barbeque whistling softly as they worked. Aizawa walked towards the man at the barbeque laying a gentle hand on his back and leaning to kiss his shoulder. Kirishima felt his cheeks flush and quickly turned back to the group who had now gone quiet, their eyes trained on him.
‘’Ahh hey,’’ He smiled nervously, raising a hesitant hand to wave.
‘’Holy fuck your teeth!’’ One of them said, pushing themselves up. He was big, almost as big as Kirishima and his smile was bright as he walked over. ‘’That’s sick man, you’re like a shark!’’ He clapped Kirishima on the shoulder and pulled him over to the table.
‘’Hah yeah, but lucky for me I’ve only got the one row’’ He grinned. He couldn’t help it, the guy was still beaming at him, not a hint of fear clouding his gaze.
‘’Good one bro!’’ He laughed. ‘’The name’s TetsuTetsu’’ He held out his other hand.
‘’Kirishima, nice to meet you!’’ He beamed and clasped their hands together. Somehow feeling at ease immediately.
‘’Sit down Tetsu’’ Aizawa sighed, walking over carrying a plate of food and setting it on the table. ‘’As you just heard, this is Eijirou Kirishima, he will be joining our team as the new predator specialist’’
‘’Nice bro! We’ve been needing a predator man around here’’ Tetsu smiles up at him. ‘’Shit’s been hectic since the last one ran away’’
‘’Unbelievable’’ Aizawa muttered, shaking his head to himself and turning around. ‘’Make yourselves useful and show him around’’ he called over his shoulder, following the man from the barbeque inside without another word.
Kirishima watched until the door closed behind them, and he felt eyes on his back. He turned around and smiled. The table was covered in food, grilled meats and salad filling the space between the people sitting around it. Beside Tetsu was a woman with short purple hair and wicked piercings, her arms covered in tattoos. Across from her was a guy almost the same except his hair was long and black, tied back into a messy bun. His eyes were bright, and a friendly smile plastered across his face. He wondered if the two had gone and gotten their ink and piercings together. The last person was a tired-looking guy, his purple hair messy and he looked as unamused as Aizawa had.
‘’Hungry?’’ The girl asked, her smile soft as she gestured to the spot at the end of the table.
‘’Starving’’ Kirishima let out a sigh of relief and moved to take a seat.
‘’Hell yeah! Mic cooks up a killer meal’’ Tetsu clapped his hands together before digging in.
‘’I’m Kyoka Jirou by the way’’ The girl said, rolling her eyes at Tetsu. ‘’Tetsu is the resident meathead an idiot, you’ll get used to him’’
‘’Hey!’’ Tetsu gasped, mouth full of food and a hand over his heart. Jirou rolled her eyes again and laughed, Tetsu only proving her point.
‘’I’m Hanta Sero’’ The black-haired guy added in, holding out his hand. ‘’I’m the resident handyman, or in technical terms, the team's lead Engineer’’ His smile was bright.
‘’Oh, sick man!’’ Kirishima beamed, clasping their hands together. ‘’I’ll have to pick your brain sometime’’
‘’Hitoshi Shinso’’ The other guy nodded. ‘’I’m also an Engineer but help Jirou with the relationship studies’’
‘’Relationship studies?’’ Kirishima asked, looking back at Jirou. ‘’Have you got some unique creatures out there?’’ He nodded his head to the water behind them.
‘’You could say that’’ She smirked, shrugging her shoulders. ‘’We work with a lot of different species, it’s interesting to see the way they interact’’
Kirishima could feel the excitement bubble up inside, his skin tingling with the need to get in the water.
‘’Aizawa said you’re a predator specialist’’ Shinso said, raising a brow as he looked towards Kirishima. ‘’Are you the same Eijirou Kirishima who studied the migration of Great White across the Great Australian bite?’’
‘’Ahh yeah, yes. I am’’ He felt heat creeping to his cheeks, all their eyes locked on him.
‘’Well shit’’ Sero whistled, leaning back in his seat and looking Kirishima up and down. ‘’when Aizawa said we were getting another person on board I didn’t realise it was the Shark boy himself’’
‘’Shark boy?’’ Kirishima hadn’t heard that name since his Uni days.
‘’Yeah, that’s what they call you, isn’t it?’’ Tetsu added, swallowing his mouthful and gesturing to him. ‘’You got shark teeth, bro! And weren’t you bitten like a million times?’’
‘’Oh right, yeah, the teeth’’ Kirishima swallowed, his throat getting tight. He knew they would be properly brought up at some point, it was inevitable. ‘’The bites weren’t anything bad, they were just curious that’s all’’ He shrugged, looking anywhere but their faces.
‘’Badass man’’ Sero chuckled, punching him softly on the arm.
‘’You’re not scared to get back in the water?’’ Jirou asked.
‘’Dude, he’s huge!’’ Tetsu butted in, grinning like a madman. ‘’He could probably fight anything that tried to tussle with him’’
‘’You’re big too’’ Shinso smirked. ‘’and you rarely get in the water’’
Tetsu’s cheeks flushed red as he leant forward and shared hushed words, Shinso’s smirk simply growing in mirth as he rolled his eyes.
‘’Ignore them, Shinso likes to rile him up’’ Sero chuckled, leaning on his elbows. ‘’Show me one of the bites’’
‘’Oh yeah! I wanna see it too!’’ Jirou clapped her hands leaning forward as well, their eyes glued to Kirishima.
‘’Hah yeah sure’’ He smiled, cheeks flushing as he stood up and pulled his shirt over his head. ‘’This one’s from a black tip reef shark, the males don’t grow very big and this one was only in its adolescence, so the bite wasn’t very deep’’ He pointed to a set of teeth marks along his hip bone. ‘’This one is from a cookie cutter, again their mouths are tiny so it’s not much to show’’ He chuckled as he sat back down and turned, showing the 2-inch bite along his shoulder.
‘’Bro, you have so many scars!’’ Tetsu gasped, having turned his attention back to Kirishima. Shinso had gotten up and walked closer, looking at the scars with intrigue. ‘’Aren’t you worried you’ll lose a leg or some shit one day?’’
‘’Nah not really, man!’’ Kirishima smiled, feeling in his element. ‘’Predators, well sharks mainly, are so misunderstood. The only reason I have these bites is that I pushed the shark too far or I’ve been around during the mating seasons. The females can be rough when they want to be.’’ He chuckled shaking his head, he didn’t notice the blush tinting Tetsu’s face. ‘’Once you get used to them you can understand their behavioural patterns and it’s easy to be in the water with them. The larger sharks don’t tend to bite you unless they mistake you for something else. Most of the time they’ll swim close out of curiosity.’’
‘’You’re drawn to them’’ Shinso noted, walking around to look at the other scars littering Kirishima’s back. ‘’I could tell you had a passion for the creatures, your research proves that. But it’s more than that, isn’t it?’’ He reached out and traced one of the larger bites along Kirishima’s side.
‘’I feel at ease when I’m around them’’ Kirishima shrugged, scratching the back of his neck. ‘’I’ve never spent more than a few days out of the water, not since I was a babe’’
‘’A babe?’’ Sero snorted, looking at him with amusement. ‘’Are you 80?’’
‘’Sorry, a force of habit, my grandmother always said it’’ He huffed out a laugh, cheeks flushing red again. ‘’she says it runs in my veins, my mother and grandfather were the same. Nothing could stop them from going to the water’’
Kirishima missed the smirk Jirou threw Sero, the split-second eye contact and the unspoken conversation. Shinso was still tracing along the scars on his back, muttering to himself about the marks and spacing.
‘’So, what’s the story with the teeth?’’ Tetsu piped up, shovelling food into his mouth as he spoke. Jirou whacked him on the arm with a disapproving hiss. ‘’What? Shindo said it was the biggest mystery on campus’’ he said, shrugging his shoulders at the woman’s reaction. ‘’I know you’re curious too’’
‘’You know Shindo?’’ Kirishima asked, Tetsu nodded and continued eating. ‘’Damn small world’’ He sighed to himself and shrugged again. ‘’Sorry bro but there’s no story to tell, I was born with them’’
‘’Really?’’ Jirou leaned closer; shock written across her face. ‘’Can I...?’’
‘’Oh, yeah sure’’ Kirishima nodded and opened his mouth without thinking about it.
There was something so disarming about this group of people, something so open and honest about the way they presented themselves. He was used to people finding his teeth odd, the people in his Uni course found them interesting but even then, they had feared the look of them. He knew they were scary, and they looked like a threat on someone so big. But the group around him now did not seem intimidated. Shinso was prodding his finger in the cookie-cutter bite on his shoulder, and Sero discussing the different grooves and teeth marks. Tetsu was watching as Jirou leant forward and confidently touched the tips of his front teeth. Her fingers smoothed along them and tested their sharpness.
‘’Can you shred stuff?’’ Tetsu asked.
‘’Yeah, I can’’ Kirishima chuckled; Jirou having pulled her hand back apparently done with examining his teeth.
‘’That’s sick bro’’ Tetsu nodded to himself, a smile permanently on his face.
‘’You’d leave a gnarly bite mark.’’ Sero was nodding along with Tetsu. ‘’Could I get a mould?’’
‘’Go for your life man, I don’t think anyone’s wanted one of those before’’ Kirishima chuckled, Sero immediately jumped up, rushed out that he’d be right back and rushed down the stairs.
‘’He’s collecting data on jaw strength from various species’’ Jirou told him, nodding towards the stairs. ‘’He’s been getting sample bites for months, yours will be more unique than ours’’
‘’Happy to help’’ Kirishima smiled; he couldn’t help it. ‘’Honestly, you guys are reacting better than I expected’’
‘’I had wondered how you got the nickname Shark boy, I assumed it was because you loved them, but the teeth are a dead giveaway’’ Shinso said, plopping down into Sero’s vacant seat. ‘’I think you’ll find there isn’t much that will scare us Kirishima, we see sharp teeth every day’’
‘’You can be yourself around us man, don’t even sweat it!’’ Tetsu added in. ‘’we’re weird as shit, you’ll fit right in!’’
‘’Fuck’s sake T’’ Jirou muttered, shaking her head with a fond smile. ‘’I mean, he’s not wrong but still. Could have waited until a few days at least’’
Kirishima couldn’t help but laugh as Jirou kicked Tetsu in the shin and the tumble that followed. It seemed like they had all been around each other for a while, their bonds so solid and trusting. Shinso had rolled his eyes and leant closer to Kirishima, telling him that Jirou almost always won because she knew the right spots to hit. Sero had come back a few minutes later, puffing with a brilliant smile across his face. He took up Jirou’s seat, barely acknowledging the two adults rolling along the ground and opened the bag he’d brought with him.
By the time Aizawa and the man Kirishima assumed was Mic, had returned, he had drying mould in his mouth and Jirou was perched atop Tetsu’s back, pinning him to the floor. Mic walked over to them and started chattering like it was an everyday occurrence while Aizawa raised a brow at the scene in front of him.
‘’I’m getting a mould’’ Sero said immediately at the look Aizawa threw his way.
‘’I can see that’’ He sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. ‘’Every day. Every day you guys do something stupid’’ He muttered to himself, and Kirishima could see Mic smirking up at him.
‘’He does have interesting teeth’’ Shinso said, shrugging his shoulders. ‘’Sero needs more samples to continue his work’’
‘’Whatever’’ Aizawa sighed, leaning against the table. ‘’Lunch is done clean up your shit’’
‘’Yes Sir’’ Sero chuckled, giving him a sloppy salute.
Jirou had gotten up and started clearing the table with Mic's help, and Tetsu had groaned before pushing himself up from the floor. He walked over and tapped the mould in Kirishima’s mouth. Sero batted his hand away before testing it himself and pulling it out. Shinso passed Kirishima a drink before he stood up and started clearing off the table as well.
All at once things had turned into a flurry of movement, Sero had collected up his gear and was heading down the stairs with the mould of Kirishima’s teeth, chattering along with Shinso as he went. Jirou was rolling her eyes as Tetsu babbled on about God knows what and Kirishima picked up his duffle as Aizawa and Mic called him over.
‘’Kirishima, this is my husband’’ Aizawa nodded at Mic. ‘’Hizashi Yamada but everyone calls him Mic because he’s loud and obnoxious’’
‘’Charming as always dear’’ Mic rolled his eyes with a fond smile. ‘’Great to meet you Kirishima, heard a lot of great things!’’
‘’Nice to meet you!’’ Kirishima beamed, an identical smile blooming across Mic’s face. ‘’So, is this everyone?’’
‘’Nope!’’ Mic said, popping the P. ‘’There are a few others, Shota has an adoption problem’’
‘’Ridiculous’’ Aizawa muttered, shaking his head. ‘’Jirou!’’
‘’Yes Sir!’’ She called, walking out through the open doors and wiping her hands on her shorts.
‘’You’re in charge of Kirishima, show him his living space and introduce him to the others’’ He waved a dismissive hand in his direction. ‘’Kirishima you’ll be shadowing Jirou for the remainder of the day, I don’t care what you do after that.’’ And then he was walking away, Mic rolling his eyes at the dramatics as he chased after his husband.
‘’Ignore him, he’s always like that’’ Jirou waved a hand at Aizawa’s back. ‘’He pretends to be all cold and tough but he’s a big softy’’ Her smile was bright with amusement as she heard Aizawa mutter to himself before he disappeared down the steps.
‘’Noted!’’ Kirishima chuckled. ‘’So, what’s the plan boss?’’
‘’I’ll show you where you’re staying, at least for the next few nights’’ Jirou beamed, shaking her head at his enthusiasm. ‘’Depending on the project you’re assigned you might move so don’t get too comfy’’ She added as they walked down the stairs.
It was amazing to think that they were in a Research Facility, and he could see why it was one of the top-rated in the country. Of course, that was the rating received for the public section, the Private was something else entirely. As they walked around Kirishima felt as if he was on an island resort, with sandy footpaths and open air. He had been expecting a dingy, concrete room with blaring white lights and aquarium tanks, not this slice of ocean and wildlife. The wall sectioning off Public and Private had been built through the harbour, cutting it in half and curved around until it sunk into the side of the cliff face opposite. The side of the cliff acts as a second wall, closing in the harbour, and keeping it private. He could spot shacks within the trees, and canals winding through the bush. There were wooden walkways built around the mangroves and leading into the forest area.
It was breathtaking and entirely unbelievable. Kirishima didn’t think he would ever leave this place if he didn’t have to.
He followed Jirou along the pathways between the buildings. All of them were covered in large, open windows and sliding doors. Each is open to the sea air wafting around them. They came to one of the buildings towards the section wall, it was one of the bigger structures and Kirishima could see the makings of a small kitchen and a hallway, no doubt leading off to different rooms.
‘’This is the lodge’’ Jirou said, sliding the door open and gesturing him inside. ‘’We don’t use it anymore, not since we have our labs and stuff’’ She shrugged, looking around the bare space.
‘’You sleep in your labs?’’ Kirishima asked, walking into the room and putting his duffel on one of the tables. ‘’I thought that was usually a big no-no’’
‘’Aizawa doesn’t care’’ Jirou smiled. ‘’Our Research labs, as you could probably guess, aren’t the same as the one’s you’re familiar with. See those buildings’’ She turned, pointing out towards the forest area had he been looking at before. ‘’Those are our labs; each one has a personal canal that runs beneath it. The canals are wide and surprisingly deep, so we use them as personal research pools.’’
‘’This place doesn’t seem real’’ Kirishima breathed, shaking his head and looking at the expanse of forest around the research labs. ‘’How can any of this be real? It’s like living on an island’’
‘’We’re extremely lucky’’ Jirou said looking out at the facility, if you could call it that, with a soft smile. ‘’Aizawa is very strict about who he lets into our little slice of heaven. It was his and Mr Hikaru’s dream, to have a place where they could continue their research, their study and call it home.’’
‘’It’s a privilege to work alongside you’’ Kirishima said.
Jirou smiled. ‘’Go put your stuff down, there are a few others you still need to meet’’
Kirishima nodded; a beaming smile planted across his face as he rushed into the first room he could. Throwing his things down and taking a moment to breathe. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, the smell of salt in the air and the feeling of being so close to fresh, ocean water.
This was not the life he had planned, but it was turning out to be something far better.