𝐈 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 𝐘𝐎𝐔 || ꜱ. ᴀɪᴢᴀᴡᴀ

Penultimate

   My eyes fluttered open as I heard a faint rustle and the feeling of something soft fall over me.

"Shota...?" I mumbled, nestling down under the blanket he had just rested over me.

"Why are you such a light sleeper?" He sighed.

"Heightened senses," I groaned, arching my back as I tried to get rid of the ache from the uncomfortable position I had fallen asleep in, though I stopped moving rather quickly when I noticed Eri's small form nestled into my side.

She made a small noise and buried her head under my arm, instinctively I put a protective arm around her gazing down at the peaceful look on her face.

"I think I'm in love." I looked back at Shota who chuckled lowly and shook his head.

"What about me?"

"Don't play that card Scarfy, you know I love you too." I smiled, carefully bringing Eri into my lap and shuffling over so that Shota could sit down beside me. Once he had done so, I rest my head against his shoulder, "You got clearance, right?"

"Mhm," I felt his hand rest against my head as he started to stroke my hair, "Nezu's given permission for her to live here with us full-time, I'll tell the kids tomorrow."

"They really pulled out all the stops today," I smirked, recalling class 1-A's performance at the festival. "Tired Eri out though."

"I can tell."

"She had a great time though," I smiled even wider, remembering the way Eri's face had lit up when she saw the performance, truly smiling for the first time in too long, the pure excitement in her voice as she told Shota about her day when we got back.

"This feels perfect," I whispered, "I've never been happier Scarfy."

And that was true.

I felt safe, calm -happy. Truly,  utterly happy, because for the first time, there was no empty feeling in my chest. There was no part of me that yearned for something that I couldn't find, that thing I had cried for was no longer gone. It was right here.

I leaned down and kissed the top of Eri's head.

"If you've never been happier, why are you crying Sunflower?" Shota looked at me with concern, brushing a tear from my cheek with his thumb.

"Hm?" I looked up at him, confused before I realised that I was, indeed crying. "I don't think these are sad tears Scarfy, they're happy tears."

"Stop, you're going to make me cry too."

"Really? The great monotonous Shota Aizawa is brought to tears by the 'immature' hero they met on patrol?"

"Do you mean the great monotonous Shota Aizawa who fell for that 'immature' hero?"

"More like fell head over heels."

We both laughed quietly before we fell into a comfortable silence.

I rest my forehead against his.

"I love you, Scarfy."

"I love you, Sunflower."

"The school should do more festivals like that, really brings the mood up."

"I think I'll lose my mind if we have another festival any time soon," Shota grumbled.

"I like mama's idea."

I froze, looking down at the little girl in my arms, my eyes widening as I realised she was looking straight up at me, it wasn't just something she had said in her dream.

"Eri? Honey, you know you don't have to call me that if you don't want to."

"But I want to. If it's okay with you?"

It was as if my mouth didn't want to function with my brain, I wanted to say yes, but all that came out was a small squeak.

"Is she okay?" Eri looked at Shota who I saw trying not to laugh from the corner of my eye, the act in question making me elbow him in the side and turn back to Eri.

"I'd really like it if you called me that Eri." I smiled and pulled her in for a hug.

A/n~ This is officially the penultimate chapter.

WE'RE COMING TO AN END PEOPLE.

I have two different final chapters, both completely different and I love both of them.

I also want to add that the final chapter won't be posted tomorrow, it will be posted in a few days time as I want it to be perfect.

Thank you and I hope you enjoy the final chapter.

Xoxo Gee oxoX