The Two Sides of Survival

6

Kaminari had gone to the café every day. He had become a regular with the same order every day; a mocha with extra cream and a little design. Akari, being the supportive co-worker that she is, made Hitoshi make his drink. Every single time. Hitoshi made sure to change the design each time he made the drink. He liked giving him a surprise. He liked watching him and Eri play from the counter while he dried dishes. Kaminari always had a big smile on his face. Akari walked up behind Hitoshi and watched with him.

"You should ask him out." She said, Hitoshi looked at her with a glare and continued drying dishes. "Don't you glare at me! You stare at him every day until he leaves. You're like a love sick otter!" She took the cup and rag he had in his hands and put them down. A customer walked into the shop and looked around at the pastries. Hitoshi fixed his apron and walked over to the man. Akari rolled her eyes in defeat and went to the back.

"Hello! Welcome to the Friendly Café! My name is Shinso, pronouns He/Him, how may I help you today?" Hitoshi asks the man, smiling. The man told him he would be a bit. He told him he had a sweet tooth, but only brought enough cash for one treat in order to restrain himself. Hitoshi got excellent vibes from him. Who doesn't love a guy with bubblegum pink hair? His whole aesthetic gave him good vibes. While the guy checked out the treats, Hitoshi went to check on Eri and Kaminari. They stopped playing switch games together and started homework. All Eri had to do was draw a picture of her family, but Kaminari had to write a three-page essay. He was only a paragraph through and the English was terrible.

"What monster would assign a three-page essay when everyone has barely learned any English? That's too cruel, even for you." Hitoshi asked, looking over Kaminari's shoulder. Kaminari put the pencil down and looked at him.

"The new teacher, that's who. She's a monster." He replied. Hitoshi looked confused.

"Why would they hire a new teacher when they have plenty?" Kaminari looked at Hitoshi. He had no idea how to break the news to him. He took his hand and turned to fully face him.

"Shinso, Nezu replaced Aizawa and Mic. They've been gone for way too long. He refused to keep giving us substitutes. He had the police put the search for Mr. Aizawa on hold for a while. We tried to reason with him, but he already did it. I'm sorry." He told him. Hitoshi laughed like it was a joke. He kept telling Kaminari how funny he was. Kaminari assured him that he wasn't joking as he squeezed his hand. He repeated the news again, a little slower the second time, so Hitoshi could process it. He was still in denial. Nezu loved his dad. He constantly told people that he was the best teacher he's ever hired. He was also his friend. Telling the police to stop looking for him made no sense.

"It doesn't make sense, Kaminari." Hitoshi started. "Nezu is my dads friend. He wouldn't just replace him, especially not with an asshole teacher! It's not Nezu, it can't be him. When was the last sighting of Himiko Toga?" Kaminari pushed him into a chair.

"Shinso, it's not Toga. We all thought that at first, too, but he proved to us that he is in fact Nezu. He didn't have a choice. He had to put personal relationships aside. You should know how important that is, more than anyone else."

Hitoshi looked at him. He yanked his hand out of his and headed to the back. He tugged off his apron and sat in a chair. Akari looked over at him and dried off her hands.

"Shinso? You good man?" She asked. He didn't answer. Kaminari rang the counter bell. Akari walked out.

"How can I help you?" She said in a deadpan voice.

"Can I take Shinso home? His sister's upset, I'm getting stressed, and he's about to let out the Niagara Falls of tears." He asked, getting straight to the point. "He just found out more news about his dad. He's not mentally well enough to be here." Akari looked at the time. Hitoshi's shift was practically over anyway. It wouldn't hurt if she let him go early. She still got some bad vibes from Kaminari, but he knew how paranoid she could be.