Eraserhead and Scribe III

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Scribe had very little opportunity to return to a feeling of normalcy. The next morning, the students pounced on them as soon as they emerged from their apartment. Aizawa stood back and allowed the good-natured hugs and tears without comment. However, Scribe couldn't help but notice how quickly the tide of conversation turned to the upcoming return of Eri.

All of the students seemed to be looking forward to her return, especially Midoriya, who had obviously formed a bond with the child he'd helped rescue. She noted Aizawa pausing to speak to the boy on his way out from breakfast. They would go together—along with Mirio Togata from the third year—to greet Eri at the heliport. Aizawa had asked her to go, but she'd decided it would be best if he went without her to meet Eri after her long absence. Instead she covered Aizawa's homeroom for him that morning.

It didn't take Class 1-A long to notice Scribe's mind was far from her return to the first day of teaching, though none of them seemed to want to address what was obviously on her mind. "Miss Scribe, are you looking forward to meeting Eri?" Yaoyarozu ventured finally.

Scribe opened her mouth to say of course she was, but then she closed it slowly. She was looking forward to meeting the little girl who'd become so important to her husband, but her emotions were actually so much more complex than that. Her reunion with Aizawa still felt so new...and possibly still delicate. She summoned a little smile. "Of course, I want to meet Eri."

"She's really the sweetest, Miss Scribe. You'll love her so much." Ochaco's eyes shone with sincerity.

Tsu and Yaoyarozu agreed emphatically, but it was Bakugo's grudging, "She's okay" that actually convinced Scribe. She smiled a little at Bakugo. He hadn't been asked for his opinion, but he'd offered it. "Why would you say that?"

He shrugged. "Because she's okay, and you're okay, so everything will be fine. And you don't need to worry." He sounded gruff, but she noticed a look of concern in his eyes.

She smiled. "That's kind of what I figured. Thank you, Katsuki."

"Yeah, he's really right." Kirishima piped up. "I mean, Midoriya's probably already telling her how great you are, and she can't help but love you, too."

Scribe looked up in surprise. She'd never thought of her affection for the kids in this class in terms of "love" before. Kirishima's face turned as red as his hair as he realized what he'd said, and he looked down, but he shrugged. "I mean, just like we all do."

"True," Ochaco said. "We do love you, Miss Scribe."

"Very true." Iida nodded resolutely. "And we're glad you're back."

"Me too." Scribe realized as she said it that she meant it with her whole heart. These kids were more family to her than she'd ever really had. Along with Aizawa and soon, Eri, she knew she'd be surrounded by love. Did that mean she was wrong to remember the way Tomura had held her hands a second longer in their last contact? Did it mean her heart wasn't fully committed to her family if she remembered the longing in Tomura Shigaraki's voice with guilt? She hoped not.

Because try as she might, she couldn't wipe those memories from her mind, and she wasn't totally certain she'd ever want to. Her feelings for him were so tangled up and confused, but her love for Aizawa was a clear and shining light. And she felt the same for the kids in Class 1-A. There was a purity to its simplicity.

I guess it's only right that my feelings for Tomura would be more complicated. Murky. He's more like my birth family than this one. She frowned a little, then turned back to the class, resolved to put aside her doubts and fears about Tomura Shigaraki. Someday she'd have to face them again, but that day was not today.