This Time

Chapter 30

Once a criminal, always a criminal as Ankoku often liked to remind me (to my abundant annoyance). But considering I was now perched atop my favorite spot, vigilante suit and mask in place, I guess he was right. Old habits die hard.

I was sure the police were aware of my existence, and since I ran away when I should have aided the follow up investigation, there was no doubt they were probably looking for me. Regardless, I wasn't going to stay in hiding completely - if anything, I had even more to make up for now. It was my fault their Symbol of Peace was no longer able to save them, so I would pick up the slack where I could and as best as I could. A poor substitute, but it was the only thing I thought I could do.

Jumping down from the ledge, I leapt to another building, starting my patrol route. Out of the corner of my eye I caught a hint of movement and a dark silhouette, and without hesitation I spun around, igniting my fists in preparation for whoever - or whatever - was watching me in the dark.

Only, my flames didn't ignite.

"What the..." I gasped, looking down at my empty palms frantically.

"I might not be your teacher anymore, but I still can't condone illegal quirk use," Aizawa said as he stepped out of the shadows. His hair dropped around his shoulders as the tell-tale sign of him releasing his quirk, but I didn't bother pulling on my own power once he gave it back.

"Hey, Eraser Head," I greeted him without enthusiasm as I pulled my mask off. "Here to arrest me?" I asked somberly. Running from him was out of the question since he'd just erase my quirk again, and with no magnetic fields to carry me through the air I'd only fall to my death.

Aizawa grunted. "Heroes can't arrest people. Maybe if you paid attention in class, you'd remember that."

I chuckled and shook my head. "I did pay attention actually. Those kids are insane, because even as an adult those classes were still hard," I said.

The dark-haired pro didn't look impressed or amused. "No, I'm not here to arrest you, even though as a hero I should be turning you over to the police. I'm here as a favor to Principal Nezu, actually," he said, getting straight to the point. "You've been very irresponsible through all this, Hara. Nezu and All Might both put their faith in you, and then you just ran away when it got too hard. If this is the way you treat your problems, then it's for the best that you aren't a true hero."

The nerve under my eye jumped, and I grit my teeth in annoyance at the flippant way he spoke. "Don't talk like you know me, Aizawa, because you don't," I growled, and even as the words left my mouth, I knew I should be trying to sound more respectful. Despite knowing this, the pain and anger I'd been holding inside was boiling over, and I simply just didn't give a crap.

He rolled his eyes. "You're not actually a teenager, so you can stop acting like one now. You have a responsibility to the people involved in the plan you executed, and if your intentions were actually genuine, then you'll do what you need to," he said, giving me a level stare with tired eyes.

"And what do I need to do then? Please do tell me, sensei," I drawled sarcastically.

"The attitude really isn't necessary," he replied, "and if you don't know by now, then All Might really was wrong about you."

At those last words I flinched, and from the way the hero narrowed his eyes, I knew he hadn't missed the reaction. "How do I know I'm not walking to my doom if I go back?" I asked, feeling the anger fade away as quickly as it came. It was a misdirected emotion, and Aizawa wasn't really who I was mad at.

The hero raised a brow. "You're being dramatic. You weren't licensed, but you operated under the permission of two pro heroes who are both highly respected. They'll take most of the flack, not you."