Eraserhead and Scribe V

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Aizawa sat on the hill under the tree where he'd kissed Scribe the day he decided her training was complete. When he'd known she was strong enough to be a hero.

Do you think her quirk is unsuited to hero work?

If I could take Scribe and Eri and disappear, sometimes I think I'd do it.

I know where she belongs. It's not with me.

You are aware very few quirks of the mind are effective in battle?

I don't want her to leave again.

So much had happened since her return to UA. He couldn't totally wrap his head around the fact that it hadn't even been a year. Barely half a year. Half a year he'd held the woman he knew now he'd always been destined to love. And one thought crowded out all of the other doubts. I don't want to lose her.

He drew in a breath and let it out in a long sigh. He hadn't slept much the night before. He and Scribe had talked for hours after her confession. He'd held her while she cried. Though he didn't blame her for her feelings, and he actually admired her for facing them instead of hiding them, he couldn't help feeling as if he'd lost something. Not her. He didn't think he'd lost her, but something indefinable was gone from their relationship. And he thought she might feel that, too.

The most important thing isn't gone, though.

He looked up. Scribe stood next to him, smiling. He shook his head. Are you ever going to stop sneaking up on me and eavesdropping?

Your thoughts are very loud, my love. She sat next to him and leaned over to kiss him. Sorry?

I'll forgive you since you look so good in your costume. He put both arms around her waist and lay back on the soft grass with her.

She laughed out loud. "Shota, if anyone sees us—"

"Nobody's going to. Everyone's in class." He kissed her neck, then drew away, looking down at her and stroking her hair back. "I take it everything went well?"

"Yes. I found the nurse. She showed me Hina. She's in a special school that Ichika's parents are paying for, and she seemed very happy. There's real affection between Ichika and Hina. It's best not to interfere, I think." Scribe paused. "The nurse is the one who puzzles me. I'm not sure what her tie is to the Paranormal Liberation Front, but she confirmed what Tomura told me. She doesn't fight for them. But she does help when they need a healer."

"She might be someone we should keep an eye on. I imagine there are many healers who will heal no matter what side the injured party is on. She may only be one of those. But if Shigaraki trusts her, she's made her way fairly far into the Front." Aizawa rolled onto his back and pulled her into the crook of his arm. After several minutes of quiet, he finally asked the question that troubled him. "Have you thought at all about how long you want to do this, Scribe?"

"What? Teach? Or hero work?" Scribe turned on her side, letting one arm drape over his chest.

"All of it. I know it's still new to you. But...sometimes I wish I could just..." ...take you and Eri and vanish.

She didn't answer, but her arm over his chest tightened a little.

"I'm sorry. I know you love teaching. But I think, when this class graduates...that might be it for me. I don't know where I'll go or what I'll do, but..."

"But you want to rest." She moved her arm so her hand rested on his chest above his heart. "Are you certain, Shota? There'll always be another class. Maybe not one like this one, but more kids with lots of promise and gifts to give. It's not like we're old." She sat up, looking off into the distance. "And there's Eri. She'll have to choose her own path, of course, but what if she wants to be a hero, too?"