Running on Empty

Take a chance on me

Shouta knew, from the moment the words left his husband's mouth, that a grave mistake had been made, and the current disaster he was caught in the middle of was exactly what he'd feared.

Despite the game starting off somewhat subdued due to Emi's earlier outburst (he really should have seen that coming) it was now in full swing.

"Oooh! Regent Street! So kind of you to visit me!" Hizashi exclaimed as Hitoshi set his marker down, the colour draining from his face. "As you can see, I have a hotel on that one, making your total... a lovely 1,275M."

Hitoshi cleared his throat and let out a weak, "I'm sorry, how much?" But Hizashi just narrowed his eyes in response, lips staying sealed shut. He'd fallen for that one too many times. Shouta shouldn't have been as surprised as he was to discover how incredibly competitive Hitoshi was, the kid had caught all of them out at least once, making them forget his rent, let him change his chance card, or in one case, just straight up give him a wad of cash. It was that move which had sparked a raucous debate on whether or not quirks should be allowed in play.

In the end, Shouta was outvoted as the others all claimed leaving them in made the game more fun. And so he was stuck trying to erase everyone's quirks in an attempt to keep himself in the game. Nemuri nearly sent him to sleep a couple of rounds ago, but he cut that off pretty quickly. Emi had been remarkably contained, and had to this point, refrained from using her quirk. However, that was putting everyone more on edge, and the smirk on her face every time someone squinted suspiciously at her led Shouta to believe that that was her tactic — increase the suspense until they destroyed themselves. It was either that or lull them into a false sense of security and then attack, he wasn't sure, but he was keeping an eye on her anyway.

Hizashi had just been yelling at anyone who requested money from him until they relented. It was a very effective method when Shouta didn't erase his quirk, until the neighbours complained and he'd had to be more careful.

He'd had delayed reactions to Hizashi and Nemuri using their quirks because he was so focussed on Hitoshi. He'd used his quirk. Multiple times. He'd always seemed nervous when Shouta brought it up in training, and he hadn't wanted to push it when the kid's mental state was so volatile, but he'd just used it, multiple times... and he didn't look panicked or nervous. He'd done it so naturally and without consideration that Shouta was concerned.

Not about the nature of his quirk or the way in which he was using it, but about what his reaction was going to be when it finally hit him what he'd done. Currently, he was so swept up in the game, so caught up in his competitiveness and the experience of playing monopoly for the first time, that the reality of what he'd done hadn't settled in. Everyone was using their quirks, everyone was so kind to him and he evidently felt comfortable around them, despite Emi's earlier outburst. (Again, he should have seen that coming and was absolutely going to yell at her about it later considering how insensitive it was of her, even not knowing Hitoshi's past it was rude. Although he had to admit that the kid did a wonderful job of standing up for himself, which he intended to tell him later, repeatedly.)

Regardless, Hitoshi felt comfortable around them, and he'd let his guard down. He'd used his quirk. Multiple times. That was what was really getting to Shouta, he'd expected him to freak out after the first time, but he'd just smirked and moved on. It seemed he was in a good place mentally. And it scared the shit out of Shouta, because he shouldn't be. So much had happened recently — the statement was only a few days ago after all, it was highly unrealistic for him to have made such progress so quickly.

Shouta was glad to see him smiling, all he wanted was for Hitoshi to be happy and comfortable around them, but this seemed wrong, his mood had risen too quickly and he couldn't help but feel that on the other side of this was a great fall.

He was snapped from his thoughts by Hizashi screaming "YOU'RE BANKRUPT!" He looked over at Hitoshi who was staring at his collection of mortgaged properties in despair. He was short 350M. Hizashi started cackling wildly as Nemuri patted Hitoshi's head in sympathy and Emi stared forlornly at the board. It was her turn next and she was about to cross the yellow/green corner of the board. Hizashi owned both sets and had no less than three hotels on each property.

"Hey 'Zashi," she tried, "what's the difference between a dirty bus stop and a lobster with breast implants?" He pulled his hearing aids out and stuck his tongue out at her.

"I guess I'll never know!" He said loudly.

She sighed and rolled the dice — seven — Oxford Street, four houses. 1100M. She looked at her money, neatly laid out, but nowhere near enough. She looked at Hizashi, grinning like a madman and sighed.

"I'm done."

Shouta signed her defeat to Hizashi and he put his hearing aids back in victoriously.

"One's a crusty bus station the other's a busty crustacean!" She yelled and they all burst into hysterical laughter.

Through blurred eyes Shouta saw her lean over and try to grab Hizashi's stack of money. He swatted her arm away and held her back until her quirk eventually wore off. After that they reluctantly agreed he'd won and started packing the game away with stitches and aching cheeks.

Shouta noticed Hitoshi still in his peripheral vision and looked up in concern. The kid was staring at the table, what could only be described as horror on his face.

"What is it Hitoshi?" He asked urgently, gaining the attention of the others, and he looked up at him, pained. Silently he held up a 500M note.

"I hid it under the board for an emergency... and then I forgot about it." He whispered, distraught, and they all dissolved into giggles once again.

Shouta decided in that moment, that maybe it wasn't the worst mistake.