Accidental Adoption

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Yoichi hadn't meant to kidnap the boy, but now he had to explain to Nisokudo and Santou why he had a five-year-old child clinging to his leg like velcro.

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Pre-Yoichi/Third

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Yoichi had gone out alone for the first time since he'd arrived at the base, he wasn't doing much, simply taking a stroll through a park a few blocks away from where the warehouses were. He loved being able to breathe fresh air, even if he had to dye his hair to avoid being spotted, his currently black hair itching slightly due to the temporary dye that had been placed in it. He hated the color, but he'd do anything to seem like a completely different person if the alternative was being recaptured by his brother.

Of course, he'd just gotten a snack, a bag of chips and he'd sat down to rest on a park bench, only to get distracted when a small boy approached with a blank expression. The boy had dark green eyes and pale creamy blonde hair, he was fairly cute, Yoichi had to admit that at least. He and the child stared at each other for a long time, before the child made the first move.

"I want your chips." The child stated, throwing Yoichi off with how absolutely blunt the words were, it was clear the kid had no social skills whatsoever.

"Uh, don't you have parents?" Yoichi tried to defend his snack, but the boy just shrugged and didn't meet his gaze, immediately cluing him into the reason the boy approached him." Fine, you can have my chips, I can always get more later if I want some."

He handed the mostly full bag to the boy, watching their eyes light up before the kid just plopped on the bench beside him and began eating like he hadn't had anything for days. He probably hadn't, if he was right with his suspicion of the boy being homeless. Ten minutes later the chips were gone and Yoichi stood up to leave, only to pause nearly a block away from the warehouse when he realized he was being followed.

With a frown he turned to survey the area, only to blink when all he saw were the wide dark green eyes of his chip thief.

Had the child followed him five blocks, why, he'd already given them his chips, what more did he want to rob him of? He and the child stared at each other again for a long time, before Yoichi just sighed and shook his head, turning and beginning to walk away once more. The kid wouldn't be allowed into the resistance base anyways, so it didn't matter if he followed Yoichi all the way there or not.

For the next five minutes, Yoichi kept looking backward, his frown increasing as he noticed the child still hadn't stopped following him, but by the time he reached the base he had given up on believing it would change. He greeted Santou who was on guard duty, the man giving him a smile and wave, before frowning and looking past Yoichi to the child. He winced, preparing to be scolded for being careless, it wasn't the first time he'd been followed, but this time it was only a child.

"Yoichi, did you kidnap a kid?" Santou asked slowly, turning his dark grey eyes towards him and Yoichi coughed and spluttered before managing to respond.

"What?!" Yoichi exclaimed in shock, before shaking his head rapidly." No, I gave they stole my chips and now they leave me alone, they followed me for five blocks, and they've barely talked or done anything besides staring at me."

Santou blinked, before turning back to the boy, who returned the gaze just as intensely, how a kid could be so cute and creepy at the same time was making Yoichi's head hurt. How should he get rid of the child, give them another bag of chips and send them on the way, perhaps they needed protection, but he seriously doubted children should be given guns or tasers. Frankly, Yoichi had never interacted with kids, he hadn't even had friends growing up.

"You look like a pineapple." The child stated bluntly to Santou, making the man gape in shock, but Yoichi grinned and realized he might actually like the kid a bit.

"I look like, what?!" Santou muttered under his breath, before turning to Yoichi." If you're bringing in a stray, you're responsible for feeding it and keeping it alive, you found it, it's yours now. Just make sure that Nisokudo understands the kid is here, otherwise things could get ugly, also next time don't give your food to a child."

He blinked, gaping at Santou and feeling a surge of panic, how was he supposed to keep a child alive, he could barely keep himself alive. He'd tried having a dog, but that hadn't gone well, he had to put it up for adoption cause he forgot to feed it for a week. To be fair, the dog did nothing but sleep, how was he supposed to know it was hungry? He swallowed before turning to the kid with a nervous expression, letting out a soft sigh when he realized he wasn't getting out of this.

"So, my name's Yoichi, what's yours?" Yoichi asked and the child frowned, before shrugging.

"Hikage Shinomori, I've chosen you as my caretaker as no one else has given me any signs of kindness and you don't trigger my Meta-Ability." Hikage stated simply as if it was completely normal to make a random stranger who gave you chips the title of parent." Now take me inside, I require a bath, new clothes, and sleep. I also crapped my pants earlier, so there's that to clean up too, father."

Yoichi choked on air, exchanging a bewildered expression with Santou who was staring at the child like it wasn't from this planet, were all kids like this, or had he simply attracted the strange one?

"I'll go let Nisokudo know that you're back, with a guest," Santou said slowly, before backing away into the warehouse, leaving Yoichi and Hikage to stare at each other for another ten or so minutes.

This was completely his fault, wasn't it, he should never have given those chips to the kid.

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