Eraserhead and Scribe V

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Aizawa returned from the gym the next morning to find Scribe alone. Two cups of coffee and a plate of toast sat on the counter. And Scribe wore her hero costume. He paused. "What's this? Where's Eri?"

"I sent her to breakfast with Midoriya. I have somewhere I have to go today, and I needed to tell you about it." She picked up her mug and set it down again, then looked up at him appealingly. "Alone."

"Okay." He leaned on the counter and took a sip of coffee. "I assume it has to do with Shigaraki."

"Yes." She didn't flinch and he realized they must both be relieved everything was in the open now. "I saw him last night. It...started as a nightmare. But I talked to him. He told me how to find the girl. Or at least, how to find the nurse who knows where the girl is."

He nodded, wondering how the nightmare had changed and what it had changed into. A dream. He's still dreaming about Scribe. Or is she dreaming about him?

I love you.

He looked up in surprise. She looked both anxious and determined. He nodded. "I love you, too."

Her face relaxed in a smile. She came around the counter and sat on the stool next to him. "Her name is Ichika. She's a nurse at the hospital I was in after the Murder Hornet attack. I did some research and I think I've located her. I don't...Tomura asked me not to cause her problems, Shota. So I don't want to bring in the police. But I did want to tell you what I was doing."

He wanted to tell her not to go alone. His instinct was that it was a trap. "You don't want me to go with you."

She looked away. "I need to do this on my own."

"Because Shigaraki told you it would be okay." He swallowed what felt like an exceptionally dry piece of toast and cleared his throat. And you trust him.

She put her hand on his and he looked up at her. Then he nodded. And I trust you.

He stood and pulled her to her feet and into his arms. She came willingly and without reserve, her arms sliding beneath his scarf to wrap around his neck. And when he kissed her, he knew there was no one else between them.

She smiled against his lips. There's no room, is there?

He wanted to laugh but decided against it. As they parted, he maintained a serious expression even though his heart felt lighter than it had since the night before. "Okay. Just be careful."

"Always." She whispered the word, her hands still on his chest as if she didn't quite want to release him yet. He knew she would. But at least he knew she had every intention of coming back.

***

Scribe waited outside the hospital perimeter. She knew the young nurse, Ichika, would be by soon on her walk to the bus stop to go home. When she heard the woman's footsteps, she stepped into her path.

Ichika stopped in her tracks, then nodded and bowed. "It is good to see you again, Scribe-san."

Scribe inclined her own head. "I am sorry I don't remember our first meeting."

The other woman looked at her curiously. "How did you find me?"

"Tomura Shigaraki gave me your name. He said you could tell me how to find the girl. Hina."

Ichika frowned. "I don't want to do that. I hope you understand. She is safe and happy. She will be so until her family comes back to her. Taking her now would just upset her."

Scribe caught her arm when she would have turned away. "Ichika, all I want to know is that she's safe. But I need more than Tomura's word for that."

"Really?" The nurse raised her eyebrows. "Fine, you have my word."

"That won't work, either." Scribe shook her head. "I don't know you. And I know him too well."

Ichika looked at her curiously. "I get that. But why are you here alone? You don't know me. And if Shigaraki gave you my name, why would you trust me? Unless it's actually true."

"True?" Scribe frowned.

"That you're in love with him. You'd have to care about him to know he wouldn't put you in danger."

Scribe looked away from the other woman's direct gaze. "I—" She broke off, knowing there was no answer she could offer. When she looked back, she surprised a look of empathy in the nurse's eyes. "It's much more complicated than that."

"It would have to be, I would think, considering who you are." Ichika shrugged. "But if Shigaraki really did send you to me, I can offer one last option."

"Which is?"

Ichika turned away. "A short walk and we'll be there." She led the way down the street, making a left at an intersection. She glanced curiously at Scribe. "So...are you really a hero? Or a villain? Because I've seen some pretty surprising things since...since I got involved in this whole thing. But finding out for sure that you're a villain would kind of blow my mind."

"How involved are you in this, anyway?" Scribe frowned at the young woman. "Tomura said you weren't really. He said you helped them, and...healed."

She nodded. "I guess I kind of sympathize with them a little, but I'm not going to fight for them. I made that clear. When they need me, they send someone to get me. And I do what I can. I'm sorry I couldn't help you."

Scribe looked at her questioningly. "When I was in the hospital?"

"No." Ichika shook her head. "I'm the one Shigaraki called when you..." She hesitated, then finished her sentence, "When you were with him. When you were unconscious."

"Oh." Scribe felt a flush of surprised embarrassment. She knew what it must have looked like to the girl who'd been called on to tend to the woman in Shigaraki's bed. "I guess that makes this even more awkward, huh?"

Ichika shrugged and came to a halt in front of a chain-link fence. "Here we are. I don't want to go any closer, but they'll be out in a few minutes. This is a special school. My mother enrolled Hina in it when she realized she'd never received proper quirk training. She's very smart though. And sweet-natured. We're hoping we can move her to a regular school next year. If her family doesn't come for her."

Scribe studied the name of the school on the sign. She recognized it as a good school with remedial quirk training. She nodded. "How do you afford it?"

"My family is not without resources." Ichika didn't look eager to go into details. At that moment a bell sounded and the schoolyard began to fill with children. Ichika turned, searching. After a moment, she pointed to a young girl. "That's her. See?"

Scribe followed her direction and spotted the girl. Her black hair was pulled back neatly beneath a headband. She was chattering happily with several other girls. Ichika turned to Scribe. "I will go closer and call her. You will be able to tell something about our relationship when I do. But I would prefer that she not see you. Will you be satisfied with that?"

Scribe nodded, understanding what Ichika was saying. If she sees me, she will be angry and sad. Ichika wants to spare her that. "Yes."

So she watched as Ichika approached the front gate and called and waved to Hina. The girl turned and her smile lit up her face. She ran to Ichika, throwing her arms around her. The two talked for a minute, then Hina waved goodbye to her friends and put her hand into Ichika's. And they walked away.

Scribe waited until they were gone. Then she turned away and walked back toward town. Whatever else Ichika might do for the Paranormal Liberation Front, Scribe felt she could be trusted to take care of Hina.

Told you, pretty. Trust.