Mute

Chapter 20

"You still got it." Shouta remarked, sitting down next to Hizashi once he finished his song.

"I'd sure hope so!" Hizashi laughed, setting his guitar off to the side. "Can't let years of practice and talent disappear!"

Shouta tried to keep a happy face, still feeling guilty because eventually, like it or not, it would. It was only a matter of time, as much as he hated to think it.

"Shouta-Dad?" Eri whispered, walking over to them and hugging Shouta. "Can I help Zashi-Dad with my quirk? Pleeaase!"

"Eri, this isn't safe and you know that. I don't want to risk anything happening to either of you." Shouta said, crossing his arms.

Hizashi sighed, looking a bit more down. Shouta caught it, looking at him sternly.

"You know we can't allow this. Did you agree with using her?"

I told her no, then to ask you. She has a good argument, but I'm still against it.

"Eri, I'm sorry, but no."

"Will you at least listen?" She begged, letting go of Shouta's legs and giving her best pleading eyes.

Hizashi smiled, chuckling to himself.

Thank god I'm not the one opposing that face.

"Eri…" Shouta said sternly, kneeling down to be on eye-level with her. "You could get hurt, and Zashi-Dad is happy how he is. You don't need to risk your own safety."

"But you'd be there, so it's okay! And Zashi-Dad said that when I'm happy, he is…" Eri tried, tears pricking her eyes. "Doing this and hearing him sing for real would make me the happiest person forever."

She wiped her face, looking at Hizashi. "He won't say it but I think he'd smile just as big as me too."

Shouta glared at Hizashi, tugging on his sleeve to head to another room. "We'll talk about it. No promises."

He shut the door to their bedroom, Hizashi bursting out laughing as Eri immediately played another CD of him singing.

"You can't seriously be allowing this, Zashi. We have to be responsible here."

Hizashi nodded, sitting down on his bed and rubbing his eyes.

"I know how much you want this, even if you don't want to admit it. But we can't use her power for selfish reasons, we'd be just as bad as Overhaul."

I think it's more complicated than that. I don't want to argue for this, I swear. But this is for her. She wants to, nobody's forcing her like last time.

Shouta said nothing for a while, listening to Hizashi's singing play softly in the background. "Do you really think this is the right thing to do?"

This girl has suffered her whole life. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make sure she's never sad again. In my opinion, the right thing to do is makin' her smile.

"I don't like this. Even if she says she isn't being exploited… I want your voice too but-" He sighed, looking Hizashi in the eyes. "I can't help but feel selfish."

I feel selfish too. I worry that I've manipulated her or somethin'. But this is a real home. She deserves a say in what she does with her own quirk. If it's her choice, let her.

Shouta stood up, leaning on the door for a second, then left the room, stopping the music. Hizashi followed, a worried expression on his face.

Is he upset with me..?

"Eri. I will agree to help Zashi but we need to make this clear. If anything happens that makes me think it's taking a turn for the worse, it's over."

She beamed, running over and hugging him with all the strength she had.
"Thank you…"

"Yeah, well, let's just go do it now before I change my mind about this." Shouta muttered, grabbing his car keys and gesturing to both of them. "Let's go."

"Where are we-" Hizashi started, getting cut off.

"Ground Beta. UA is a safe place to do this and if something happens, we have Recovery Girl nearby."

Hizashi gave a thumbs up, holding Eri's hand to walk to the car.

"Wait, you should, um… bring your guitar! If it helps, then you can sing right away!" Eri said, breaking away from Hizashi's hands and carrying it to him.

"Thanks, lil' listener." He smiled, picking the guitar up by the strap and setting it over his shoulder, taking Eri's hand again.

"Hurry up. It's almost dark." Shouta called, shutting the car door behind him.

They drove quickly, trying to beat the sunset. Soft music was playing in the background, Hizashi whistling to it and handing Eri his guitar to play with while Shouta drove. It was clear that she had no idea how, but nobody told her that.

The campus was mostly empty as they arrived, with a few students walking to the pool or the gym to train. Shouta had Hizashi and Eri wait out in the hall as he asked Nezu for permission. Once it was granted, they started the long trek all the way to Ground Beta, Hizashi tuning his guitar again and strumming as they went.

"Alright, go to the center area where there's no buildings nearby. Remember, if it gets out of hand, I'm stopping this."

They obliged, leaving the guitar next to Shouta and walking to the empty space.

"Thanks, kid." Hizashi mouthed, still smiling as he closed his eyes and sat on the ground.

Eri softly put her hands on his shoulders, closing her own eyes and straining to activate her quirk.

Her mind may have suppressed it, Hizashi thought, staying frozen in place. She may not even physically be able to.