Chapter Text
“What?! Who put you in charge of picking the movie?”
“Obviously me, myself, and moi,” she smirked with satisfaction.
“You always pick the movies! Let others decide this time, Nemuri!” Hizashi complained. “Plus, I already have this little one prepared.” He held his phone showing the poster of his movie choice in front of her face.
The pro hero known as Midnight pouted. “But that seems sooooo boring…”
Hizashi buffed and turned towards the cocoon-man trying to ignore them feigning he was already asleep. “Shouta, choose you! You agree that this one's better than another romance movie, right, right?”
Nemuri gasped. “This isn't just 'another' romance movie… This is THE romance movie! The emotion! The drama! The YOUTH!”
“Nemuri, we have already seen that dozens of times,” Hizashi deadpanned.
“Which is exactly why Shouta knows first hand how good it really is! Tell him, Shouta!” she prompted him, sure of herself.
Realizing that he really couldn't escape this debate anymore by ignoring it, Shouta slowly unzipped a bit his sleeping bag and stated, “Hizashi's movie is better.” He then proceeded to zip it fully and ignore Nemuri's cries of 'betray!' and 'traitor!' as she shook his sleeping bag along with him, as well as Hizashi's yell of victory.
The new UA dormitories were already ready, with the staff moving to their own dormitory this week. They still had the option to stay on their homes outside UA, but they all agree that it was more convenient this way. For those being homeroom teachers, they also had a room of their own in their students building if they preferred staying with them instead of in the staff building.
The students would be moving in the next week, alongside the beginning of the classes, and in Shouta's case, also their preparation for the Provisional Hero License Exam. With the training camp being interrupted (which was supposed to prepare them for the exam), they really had now a lot of things to do before the exam. Shouta was already in pain just thinking about it.
However, to celebrate their move and that they were now living together, Nemuri had decided to organize a movie night. And for some reason, it had to be in Shouta's room… So far, it was going good, if you ignored the betrayed Nemuri and the boasting Hizashi. It was nothing new, so Shouta just ignored them in favor of unzipping his sleeping bag and grabbing a bow of popcorn. At least it wasn't another romance movie.
Though pouting for a while, Nemuri quickly recomposed herself, muttering something about “vengeance”… He was going to ignore that too. For now. As Hizashi started to put the movie, Shouta's phone ringed loudly.
“Who's calling at this hour?” Nemuri wondered aloud, looking over his shoulder as Shouta picked the phone to see the identifier. They frowned. “I'm really starting to wonder if he ever sleeps.” Shouta wondered the same.
“Who is it?” Hizashi asked with curiosity.
However, he wasn't the type to call unless it was something important. Shouta picked the call. “What do you need at this hour of the night, Principal Nedzu?”
Hizashi mouthed a silent “What? Why is he calling right now?” in surprise. Upon seeing Nemuri leaning over his shoulder to eavesdrop to their conversation, he shrugged and approached to do the same. Shouta sighted internally, but let them listen.
“It's about one of your students, Shinsou Hitoshi,” Nedzu quickly replied, making Shouta tense up. After what happened with Midoriya, the least he needed now was another problem child. “He's currently hospitalized at Musutafu's general hospital.”
Shouta paled at hearing that, not paying attention to Nemuri's gasp or the loud “What?!” from Hizashi. “What happened? Is he fine?” he asked with concern.
After mentoring the kid for several months since the sports festival, he had to admit that he had grown a soft spot for him. He was smart and ambitious, and had a lot of unseen potential inside him. It kind of reminded him of himself when he was young, having to train harder than anyone else and being sometimes looked down because of his quirk's specifics. It made him want to support the kid and help him become a great pro hero. He already had the potential for it, he only needed some guidance to help him hone his skills.
But now he was in the hospital… for what? He was fine a few days ago. What had happened since the last time he saw him?
But Nedzu was dead silent at the other end of the line.
“Principal Nedzu. What. Happened.”
He heard him inhale slowly as he began explaining. “Just some hours ago, he was physically assaulted by some old students on the street. A civilian saw him being dragged to a secluded alleyway by force, so she reported it to the first hero she saw.” He stays silent for a few seconds before continuing. “But he didn't arrive in time.”
“Nonono, don't tell me he's…” he heard Hizashi murmuring.
“He's alive.”
“Oh thank goodness!” Nemuri exclaimed at hearing Nedzu's reply, letting out a relieved sigh she had been holding.
“But?” Shouta asked, fearing the worst.
“But they cut off his tongue.”
“WHAT?!” If there's was still any doubt Nedzu didn't know Hizashi and Nemuri were also listening in the conversation, now there wasn't.
“What do you mean they cut off his tongue?!” Hizashi yelled worried at the phone. If there was someone else in the room who knew Shinsou well, it was his former homeroom teacher, Present Mic. They may have not interacted as much as Shouta did with him, but he was still his student.
“The pro hero in scene reported him bleeding profusely from his mouth. He also found his tongue on the ground nearby,” Nedzu explained further, making them inhale sharply at the scene that description evoked in their minds. “Apart from that, all his injuries were healed by Recovery Girl while he was unconscious, shortly after getting out of surgery. But if you want to know… his jaw was broken. The doctor said it seemed to be done by a strength quirk.”
So someone grabbed his jaw so strongly, to the point of breaking it with their quirk? Who the fuck would do that? Shouta thought darkly, as the anger for those assailants who injured his student so badly grew and grew.
“He also had some bruises, not only on his jaw, but arms and upper body. As well as a few broken ribs,” Nedzu finished his report.
And they held him in place. And probably also kicked him…
“Shouta…” Nemuri murmured in worry, looking at his face. He briefly wondered what face he must be making right now for Nemuri to look him like that.
“How is he?” he asked.
Nedzu sighed. “I wish he was doing better, but giving the circumstances… He was unconscious until recently. He had a panic attack upon waking. The doctors were unable to calm him down, as well as his parents. When he tried to leave, they were forced to give him a tranquilizer.” Nemuri covered her mouth in shock at hearing that. “He finally calmed down and we were able to explain him what was happening and where he was now. That was two hours ago. Since then, he has been unresponsive to any attempts at communicating with him. Not even his parents have been capable of reaching out to him.” Nedzu takes another moment to breathe in and out. “Given your relationship, I was hopping you would have better luck than us. I know it would be best to give him some time to recover. But if he keeps refusing to talk, that would mean his assailants would get away with what they did. And I know neither of us want that,” his voice turned cold at the last phrase despite his attempts at sounding empathetic. Not that Shouta cared about that. “Also, he looks like he needs someone by his side.”
“On my way.” Without another thought, he left the popcorn bowl on the table and abandoned his sleeping bag, already walking towards the door.
“I'm going with you!” Hizashi exclaimed.
However, immediately after Nedzu replied, “I would advise against that. Eraserhead, if you could…” Shouta put him in hands-free. “I apologize, Present Mic, Midnight, but after what Shinsou went through, the less he needs it's a crowd. Especially giving his current state. I hope you can understand.”
Hizashi and Nemuri looked down at that, but they nodded in understanding despite Nedzu being unable to see them. “We understand. Just… kept us updated, alright? Shinsou is also our student, after all,” Hizashi asked to Shouta.
The hero nodded. “I will,” he said, before quickly exiting through the door.
They heard him walking down the stair, almost running like the house was on fire. The two pro heroes watched at each other in concern, both about Shinsou and their friend. They both had seen the face he had made when hearing about Shinsou's injuries. He hadn't made that face since Oboro's death, all those years ago.
***
Shouta was there in minutes, quickly walking to the room Nedzu had told him Shinsou was in. As he approached, he could see Nedzu already waiting for him in front of the door. Detective Tsukauchi was also there, talking to a nearby concerned couple. They must be Shinsou's parents.
“Ah, Eraserhead. You're already here, good,” Nedzu greeted him. “You can go in now if you want. I don't think they will notice,” he said, briefly looking at Shinsou's parents with… contempt? Why contempt, though?
“Shouldn't I greet Shinsou's parents first?” Shouta asked in confusion. Their son has just been attacked in plain daylight, so it would be a natural reaction if they worried about a stranger, who was clearly not a doctor nor a nurse, entering their son's hospital room. And though they had already meet when he visited them to talk about Shinsou's transfer to the hero course, that was while Shouta was on his formal attire. They probably wouldn't recognize him now.
“They're busy talking with Detective Tsukauchi. You can do that later,” the animal quickly disregard them, sliding open the door and prompting him to enter inside with a gesture.
Shouta looked strangely at him, wondering why he was acting like that. He looked for a moment at the couple, still busy talking with Tsukauchi. Maybe they won't mind… He sighed before finally entering the room.
As he stepped inside, his eyes quickly focused on Shinsou. He was sitting in the bed, looking at the urban scenery behind the window. At first look, he seemed fine. No visible injuries or bandages anywhere (all thanks to Recovery Girl's miraculous healing). He should be discharged in a few days if nothing was wrong. However, upon closer inspection, there seemed to be a shadow clouding his eyes, his gaze focused nowhere despite looking at the window.
He slowly slid the door closed behind him, not wishing to scare him.
“Shinsou.”
Due to Nedzu's description as “unresponsive”, Shouta had expected the worst. But upon uttering his name, Shinsou quickly turned towards him with a surprised look on his face. He opened his mouth, as if intending to say something, but all it came out was some unintelligible noises.
Right, his tongue. It was not like he was unable to utter any sound at all, but without his tongue to guide the sounds into forming understandable letters and words, he was unable to speak. Realizing this, Shinsou made a hurt expression before turning his eyes away, looking down as he gripped the sheets of his hospital bed.
Absentmindedly, Shouta decided to have a talk afterwards with Nedzu about his taste for unnecessary drama.
“Hey,” he said shortly, walking towards his bed and sitting on one of the chairs next to it. He noticed a little whiteboard with one marker and a duster. He guessed the doctors must have lend it to him so he could communicate with everyone. “How are you?”
He could see him tense up when he approached him, giving Shouta a cautious side eye as he talked. In response, Shinsou gave him a half-shrug, apparently not feeling like picking up the whiteboard to elaborate further.
“I heard about what happened.” Shinsou tensed up even more if that was possible, even though Shouta was trying to speak as gentle and soft as it was possible for him. “But I have yet to hear your version. If you don't mind.”
There was a frown in his face, not long after followed by what seemed like a sneer and a slight snicker. After that, it slowly vanished from his face, leaving in its place a blank mask, like someone who had lost all their hope. It made Shouta worry.
He tried to take one of Shinsou's hand, which had loosened their grip on the sheets as if lacking any strength to keep doing so. It was just a poor attempt at comfort. But upon making contact with his skin, Shinsou jumped out of his skin and quickly moved his hand (and almost his whole body) out of Shouta's reach as if he had just touched something burning hot. There was an expression of fear and shock on his face, and his breath started quickening.
Shouta cursed inside his mind, slowly retreating his hand while making sure to leave it somewhere where Shinsou could see it. If he wasn't a people person, then he was even worse in this type of situations. He'd had to get better at it when he was a student, because one of the duties of pro heroes was to comfort the victims of villains and disasters, make them feel safe until medical help arrived. But he still sucked. Badly.
“I'm sorry… I didn't mean to startle you.” However, his quick breathing hadn't stopped. Was he hyperventilating? Shit. Should he call the doctor? Though last time they had to give him a tranquilizer by force… That didn't look good for his current mental health. What was the protocol for these cases again? “Hey, Shinsou. Breathe with me, okay? Slowly… like this.” He saw the kid look at him, trying to imitate his breathing. “Yes, like that. You're doing it great. It's going to be fine, Shinsou. Trust me. It's going to be fine.”
Slowly, Shinsou's breathe began to stabilize, finally calming down. He looked really tired as he buried his head in his hands, fingers threatening to grip his hair out of distress. Shouta wanted to put a reassuring hand on his shoulder to comfort him, maybe even give him a hug. He looked like he needed one. But after what happened before, he didn't want to risk it again. All he could do was give him reassurance words, tell him everything was going to be fine…
He couldn't help but think those words sounded fake somehow. It wasn't fine. He was physically assaulted out of nowhere, in plain daylight. They beat him down and cut off his tongue. And what was worse it's that no hero came to rescue him in time. And now, all his injuries had healed, except one, the most important of all. To make it even worse, his tongue was fundamental when using his quirk. Without it, he could as well be considered quirkless. It wasn't like he couldn't be a hero without a quirk, of course. But it would make things harder, way harder. Not being able to effectively communicate would also make working in a team difficult. Suddenly, his life had complicated overnight. And here was Shouta, telling him everything was going to be okay… It wasn't a lie. But he also felt it wasn't near enough.
His eyes caught Shinsou's sudden movement, finally reaching out to the whiteboard and slowly writing something. He didn't have any particular or telling expression while doing so. Once finished, he turned the whiteboard so he could see it.
“Why are you here?”
“Principal Nedzu told me what happened. I came to see how you were.”
There was no change in Shinsou's expression upon hearing his reply, only a finger moving and tapping at the “why” written once.
“Because I was worried for you.” However, Shinsou's expressionless face remained the same. Shouta had a feeling the kid didn't believe his words, which make him feel heartbroken. “You're my student, Shinsou. After hearing what happened, I came here as fast as I could to see how you were. You didn't deserve that, kid.” No change of expression. He had to admit it was somewhat unsettling. “How are you?”
Shinsou looked down for a moment, as if thinking his response, before calmly erasing his early words with the duster and writing something new. He turned the whiteboard.
“I'm fine.”
There was no way he was fine. Especially not after what just happened a moment ago. Yet here he was, looking at him with a stoic expression as it was a normal day… But he wasn't going to push him. He didn't need that right now.
He choose to ignore it. For now.
“Can you tell me what happened?” Shinsou tensed up again. Wrong move, wrong move! “If you feel comfortable talking about it,” he tried to amend.
He saw him clench his jaw, a frown appearing in his face. He wondered what the kid was thinking about so hard. He wrote a response.
“I don't want to talk about it.”
Okay, it was a natural reaction, Shouta thought. There was nothing strange in that. However, if he didn't say anything, that would mean leaving his assailants go free. Shouta wouldn't allow that. They had to get punished for what they did to Shinsou.
“I understand. However, we can't let your assailants go free either. Could you at least give me a description of them? A description, a name, a mark, even a tattoo or a tic. Anything would be fine. Help us to find them.”
Shinsou's frown deepened at that. There was something stopping him from talking, Shouta realized. Had they threatened him? Or maybe it was the trauma? Was he scared about they finding out he snitched on them and coming later for revenge?
“Are you worried they will come for you again if you tell me about them?”
Shinsou tensed up a bit more, but surprisingly, he relaxed by himself after a few seconds. It took a moment, but Shinsou shook his head in negation. It wasn't that. If he wasn't worried about them returning for revenge, then what was he worried about?
He started to write something, but he seemed to be struggling to find the right words. In the end, he settle up with something.
“There's no need. They have connections. You wouldn't be able to touch them.”
Oh, so it was about politics? That and the blank expression of Shinsou bothered him even more. The kid may have given up, but not him.
“Try me.”
Shinsou frowned at him. And then frowned even more. He was probably thinking how foolish he was or something like that. It didn't matter to him. Shouta would make sure those villains paid for their crimes, no matter the cost.
Shinsou sighed, tiredly, and began writing something.
“I only know the name of the leader. Oyami Yabunori. The others were his minions.”
That surname felt somewhat familiar to Shouta, though he wasn't sure where he heard it from. It wasn't important at the moment. He bowed his head with gratitude.
“Thank you. That's more than enough. I will make sure him and the rest pay for what they have done to you,” he promised him. And he didn't intent to fail.
Shinsou nodded, though it was clear from his eyes that he didn't expect too much. Seeing Shouta hasn't exited the room yet to quickly inform of the news to Tsukauchi, though he hesitated at first, he started to write something else before showing it to him with an awkward look.
“I guess I no longer need to attend the hero course.”
Shouta frowned.
“What do you mean?” After a moment of hesitation, Shinsou pointed at his closed mouth. Oh, right. Oh, right… Wait, did he believe that… “You mean that now that you're unable to use your quirk properly, you can't become a hero?” Shinsou nodded sheepishly. Shouta huffed in disbelief. “Nonsense. You may not be able to use your quirk anymore, but you have a brain and a body. You can move without problems and think perfectly. Yes, communicating with others will be difficult, and maybe even bothersome in middle of a fight, but you can still communicate with others. You can write. And you could learn sign language. We could visit the support department to see if they're able to do something to facilitate your communication with other people. Maybe something like words and phrases prerecorded in a device, I don't know,” he shrugged. “But there are options, kid. There are always options.”
As he talked, Shinsou expression started to shift. From confusion, to shock, to hope. He could see the tears in his eyes, how he tried to hold them back to not start crying. Shinsou quickly wrote something and showed it to Shouta, quickly tapping repeatedly at the underlined part.
“But my quirk is gone!”
“It's just a quirk. You've been learning how to fight quirkless all this time. And you've been doing it perfect. Granted, there's still a thing or two you could do to improve, and there will always be things to learn. And you have plenty of time to do that. And I will be by your side all the time, supporting you, teaching you. Not having a quirk to relay on is a big disadvantage in battle, but it's not your only card. You have options, Shinsou. Resources and people to rely on. Use them to your advantage. Become a pro hero. I know you can do it.”
Shinsou's efforts were quickly trumped by his last words, resulting in tears falling down his cheeks. Shouta opened his arms in an invitation, feeling a bit awkward at first. But Shinsou quickly jumped into them, burying his face in his shoulder in an effort to silence his sudden sobs. So Shouta closed his arms in an embrace, holding him warmly as the kid cried silently.
He realized then how much he wanted to protect this kid. And he will. He swore it for all he held dear. He will protect this kid.
***
After the kid calmed down, and after promising him he would only be gone for a moment, Shouta stepped outside the room.
“How did it go?” Nedzu quickly asked him with a smile.
Shouta glared at him.
“'Unresponsive'? I thought he was catatonic.”
“To be fair, he ignored any attempt of communication except doctor's instructions.”
“You're always careful with semantics.”
“Do I? I must be getting old,” he laughed with innocence.
Shouta glared at him for a moment longer. Damn his antics. He looked for Shinsou's parents. His father was talking over the phone with someone, while his mother was talking with a doctor, probably Shinsou's. They didn't seem to have noticed him yet, but Tsukauchi did.
“Did he say something?” he asked with concern.
Shouta nodded. “The leader's name. Oyami Yabunori. He said the others were his minions.”
Tsukauchi frowned but wrote it down.
“Did you say Oyami?” Nedzu asked. When Shouta looked at him, he realized Nedzu was a bit tense, barely noticeable for the untrained eye, but still tensed up. Strange.
“Yes. Shinsou said his assailants had connections. That we wouldn't be able to touch them,” he added.
“I see. That complicates things,” was the only thing the principal said, quickly entering in what Shouta called his 'calculating mode'.
“Why?”
“Could he be related to Oyami Shitagaka?” Tsukauchi asked in concern.
Nedzu nodded. “Yes. His son. His only son, with a very… promising quirk.”
Shouta looked at both of them in confusion. “I'm going to need context. Who's this Oyami?”
Nedzu's face seemed to be clouded by dark clouds as he answered, “Oyami Shitagaka. Executive assistant and right hand of the vice president of the HPSC, Monoma Ayakari. If I had to describe him with one word, it would be 'spider'. He's a patient man, slowly weaving his web until you have no choice but to step in it. And once you do, he will wrap you tightly in its threads to prevent you from escaping, and you will remain there until he decides you're ready to be eaten. And the worse part of all is that you won't even notice there was a web at all until it's too late.”
Shouta felt chills crawling down his spine at the way Nedzu described him. Nedzu of all people.
“A name is not irrefutable evidence in a trial,” Tsukauchi explained. “We would need more evidence to convict his son. But…” He sighed.
“But he will erase everything once he finds out what his son did,” Nedzu finished. “If he isn't already aware. And even if a miracle happened and there was something he forgot, Vice President Monoma doesn't want bad press, specially the one related to himself. Legally speaking, it's an impossible mission.”
“I can try to investigate him. But I wouldn't be surprised if my superiors ordered me to stop the moment they found out…” Tsukauchi added with defeat.
Shouta remained silent at that, a frown in his face. “Is there no other way?” he asked to Nedzu.
But he shook his head. “I'm afraid not. I'm sorry.”
Shouta clenched his punches until they became white. There had to be another way. There were always options. There had to be…
“What?! That's too much!”
Shinsou's mother indignant shout gathered everyone's attention at her conversation with the doctor, who looked apologetic. Her husband didn't take too long to walk to her side and ask her what happened.
“The doctor said there's someone with a quirk to regrown Hitoshi's tongue. But it's too expensive…” she explained, crestfallen.
“Who's this someone? A pro hero?” her husband asked to the doctor.
The doctor shook his head. “On the contrary, he's a civilian. A surgeon from the US. You see, recently, the US has created a new law that allows a civilian to legally use their quirk if they prove to the government that it would benefit the society, such as a healing quirk. I heard they need to pass multiple exams and interviews before they are granted a Quirk License. Health care in the US is already expensive, and apparently there's only a few doctors with a Quirk License…”
“He won't say it to not break their hope, but I heard he's also quite greedy. As expected of anyone who manages to get a Quirk License. Apparently, the pay is astronomical,” Nedzu murmured to Shouta and Tsukauchi.
“How much?” Shinsou's father asked regardless, determined.
The doctor repeated the fees for the surgeon's services to him. And his determination shattered.
Shouta's eyes were wide open upon hearing the surgeon's price. It was ridiculous. You could work for ten years and still not have even a half of it.
“There's no way he has clients with those fees…” Tsukauchi murmured in shock.
“He has,” Nedzu confirmed. “Though as expected, they're usually millionaires.”
“Isn't there a cheaper option?” Shouta intervened in the conversation, approaching the couple and the doctor.
They looked at him in confusion for a moment, wondering who he was. Still, the doctor responded to him. “There are more options. But none cheaper than the surgeon I just mentioned. That's why I suggested him.” He sighed. “I know it's a lot to take in. Feel free to take your time thinking about your options. I'll be close if you need me.” After saying that, he walked away, leaving those present in silence as they thought about what more options could there be other than…
Shouta took a deep breath and turned to Shinsou's parents to finally greet them. “I know it isn't a good time but… Good evening, Mrs. and Mr. Shinsou. I'm Aizawa Shouta. We meet a few days ago to talk about your son's transference to the UA's hero course.”
They blinked at him, taking a moment to recognize him before looking up and down at his attire. They probably assumed he hadn't had time to dress up properly and just picked anything he had at hand.
“Ah, yes. We remember you, Mr. Aizawa,” Shinsou's father shook his hand. “I wish we could meet at better circumstances but…” He looked apologetically.
“No need to worry. Principal Nedzu told me about what happened to Shinsou, so I came as fast as I could to see him. I'm sorry for what happened.”
“Thank you for your concern. We were also surprised when the hospital called us in the middle of work. Who would had thought that something like this could happen to our son?” He looked down with sadness.
Shouta noticed Shinsou's mother frowning for a moment, eyes looking to the side as if she was remembering something. But didn't pay it too much mind.
“I promise you. We will make everything in our hand to catch the responsible for your son's assault,” Shouta swore to them.
“And we're grateful for that, Mr. Aizawa,” he smiled at him briefly, before looking at his phone to check the time. “I apologize, but I must go now. I left in the middle of work to come here, but I can't delay my unfinished work any longer.” He turned to his wife. “Take care of him for me.” As soon as his wife nodded, the man started to walk away, seemingly eager to return to work.
Shouta wasn't sure how to feel about that.
“I guess Hitoshi's transference to the hero course it isn't effective anymore…” she mentioned awkwardly.
Shouta frowned. “Why wouldn't it be?”
Mrs. Shinsou blinked at him in confusion, before clenching her mouth. “As much as it pains me to admit it, he's lost his tongue, Mr. Aizawa. Hitoshi can't use his quirk anymore. And… it doesn't seem like he's going to get better soon.”
Ah, of course it was that.
“I understand what you're trying to say, Mrs. Shinsou. But I assure you, Shinsou doesn't need a quirk to be a hero. I have full faith in his capabilities, and I will be by his side to guide him every step of the path. If he wishes to become a pro hero, I will not be the one to stop him.”
Mrs. Shinsou looked at him wide open, seemingly at a loss for words. She seemed to want to say something in response, but in the end chose not to.
He exchanged a few more words with Mrs. Shinsou before returning back to the hospital room together. Shinsou was in the same place as before, but this time looking in silence at the whiteboard in his hands, frowning as he thought about something. He looked briefly at them when they entered, before turning to look back at the whiteboard, his frown vanishing into something more weary.
His mother told him about his father having to return to work, to which he just nodded. There was a slight change in his expression as she told him, but Shouta wasn't sure what it was as he remained expressionless. She tried to start a conversation with her son, but strange enough, instead of writing in the whiteboard, he just keep nodding when necessary, almost automatically. Even strange enough, he did write on the board, but only to answer Shouta. Had they fought before? Though Mrs. Shinsou didn't seem to have any problem talking to her son…
It definitely didn't sit right with Shouta.
After a while, she exited the room.
“Are you alright?” Shouta asked him once they were alone.
Shinsou nodded.
“Did you have a fight?”
Shinsou blinked in confusion, before shaking his head in negation. He pondered for a moment before writing a response. He huffed with a smile that didn't reach his eyes as he turned the whiteboard, as if trying to make light of the situation.
“I bet you anything that when she comes back, she will say she has to return to work and you have to be my nanny.”
Shouta frowned.
“Her son is in the hospital right now. What's more important than that?”
He wrote a new response.
“Work.”
Shouta frowned even more. He was going to reply when the door slid open again. It was Mrs. Shinsou.
“I'm sorry, but there's an emergency at work and they need me. Could you take care of him for me?”
Shouta's mouth opened slightly in shock. But before he could response, she was already sliding close the door and walking away.
“What the…”
The sound of something being written on the whiteboard called his attention.
“Told you. She's not going to return, so you're stuck as my nanny.”
In other circumstances, he would have snorted a laugh. But in these circumstances? He didn't like these circumstances at all.