Shangri La Pt. 1

68: Envious

"Hey– Izuku, he's gone. Izuku? Ah–" When the blond tried to tell the greenette the news, he looked down in his arms to see that she's passed out even while standing. 

"Ah– You gotta be kidding me."

Katsuki was left in awe to see that though he'd tried giving the greenette enough oxygen that she shouldn't have passed out, it still ended this way. 

'Okay, guess it's not all that bad that she passed out right after that guy left. Still...' Katsuki paused for a second when he looked down at the sleeping greenette and was reminded by how Shinso sounded when he was trying to search for them. 

'She said he's a friend, but he didn't sound like a good one for her. Wait a second, she never told me she had any guy friends besides me, so does that mean... she likes that guy?' he thought as his heart felt like it dropped from his chest in disbelief. 

'But... But she can't– Why would she wanna like someone like that guy who literally just tried to break shit to find her? That guy doesn't make any sense, but I guess that means we can stop hiding in here, it's too crammed in here.' he thought as he carefully tried to hold the greenette by her waist as he tried to exit the crammed tiny closet.

What Katsuki didn't expect to happen was for the door to the room to open again but to see Melissa standing there. 

"Ah–" 

'Shit– I don't think I'm supposed to be in here with Izuku like this.' 

"You're a friend of Izumi's, right?" Melissa questioned as she pointed at the unconscious greenette in his arms. Katsuki jolted his eyes down and then back up at the blonde unsure of how he should answer now. 

"I-I– I am, b-but I didn't cause her to be like this!" 

"I know." 

"Huh?" 

"I'd been getting word from some of our regulars here that they've been seeing a man with black hair and red eyes coming here everyday, but then disappearing after a certain time. Not only that, they would say that this man would disappear once the Jade Goddess left the main lobby. My only guess could be that if you're not a stalker, then you're Izumi's friend and possibly her personal bodyguard? Yes?" Melissa monologued, leaving the blond to drop his jaw from how spot on she was.

"Am I right?" 

"Ah– I-I–" 

"If you really think that I'm dumb and blind, think again, as I'm the owner of this place and pretty close friends with Izumi. So first, why don't you let Izumi lie down so she can regain consciousness soon, hm?" Melissa suggested as she walked past him and cracked the nearest door leading to the garden area for some fresh air to be swept in. 

'She knew? I thought me and Izuku made sure no one would know about our plan here? Arg– I'm gonna get an earful, ain't I?' he thought as he carefully and delicately set the unconscious greenette down on her back to see her lying comfortably.

"Right, now that things have settled down, why don't I introduce myself? My name is Melissa Shields, and I'm the owner of this brothel." Melissa stated as she made a subtle bow to him. "Uh huh– And I'm–" 

'Wait– Should I tell this chick my real name? No one else knows who I am when I look like this, so would it be okay to say anything?' he thought as he knew that if he revealed himself, then news could possibly spread of him having a little fling with a woman from the East. 

But was that really important to think about at this point? 

"You're not from here, are you?"