Rescue // Shoto Todoroki x OC Fanfiction

Chapter Eighteen

"Thank you for agreeing to this," Shoto told Aizawa as he entered the room. Eri was in tow, just behind the stern-looking man. She was taller now than when Shoto had last seen her, seeing as it had been a while since they graduated from UA. 

"Hi, Eri! It's so good to see you!" Midoriya exclaimed upon seeing her. He dropped to his knees and caught Eri, who was already running in for a hug. 

"Deku!" she replied, hugging him tightly. While Eri and Midoriya caught up, Shoto turned to their old teacher. 

"Are you sure there isn't another way?" Aizawa asked. 

"We couldn't have requested this if we thought of anything else," Shoto responded. "She's not in great shape."

Aizawa sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You kids, always causing trouble. When am I even not cleaning up after you all?"

Shoto sighed as well. "Well, we should get started. I don't want her stuck like that longer than she has to be."

Then, Shoto led Aizawa and Eri into the next room over. He let them look through the glass at Katsumi, where she was still sedated. Her head hung limp in front of her, her hair obscuring her face. Despite any better judgment, Shoto just wanted to hold her. he wanted to apologize for letting this happen. He wished he was able to fix her on his own, but it was obvious that this would be the only way. 

Aizawa knelt down in front of Eri, who had a determined look on her face. "Alright Eri," he said, putting his hands on her shoulders. "It's going to be just like we practiced. I'll be right there in case anything happens. So don't worry, okay?"

"I got this," she said in a firm voice. "I wanna help." 

Aizawa nodded, then looked to Shoto. "We're ready," he told him. 

Shoto stayed behind the glass while Eri and Aizawa went in. They froze when Katsumi stirred, but she quickly stopped moving and fell limp once more. Aizawa picked Eri up, who clung to him like a sloth. Then, he knelt down in front of Katsumi. He said something to Eri, but Shoto couldn't hear what was said from behind the glass. Then, Eri tentatively reached out and put her hands on Katsumi's cheeks. 

Then, Shoto held his breath. 

Katsumi stirred and jerked as Eri used her quirk on her. Then she looked up suddenly, her eyes frantically searching the room. Still, Eri clung to her face, not letting up. Aizawa's grip around Eri tightened as the incapacitated hero jerked, but after a few seconds, she stilled. Her head hung down again, and Eri let go. She and Aizawa stayed put for a moment, waiting for something to happen. 

Then, Katsumi looked up. The look in her eye was different this time as she looked at Eri. Shoto could tell in an instant that she was back. Without thinking, he rushed into the room and fell to his knees in front of Katsumi. 

"I really, really need a nap," were the first words out of Katsumi's mouth. "Thank you, Eri. You're my hero."

The white-haired girl beamed, and Aizawa patted the top of her head. 

Katsumi then looked at Shoto, and a darker look shone in her eyes. "I'm so sorry," she said. "I didn't want to hurt you... I- I'm sorry." 

"No, it's me who should be apologizing," Shoto told her in a firm voice. "Let's get you out of here first, and then we can talk."

"Sounds good to me."

Aizawa and Eri left, and not long after, a few police officers came to remove the Iron Maiden that was holding Katsumi. She tried to stand, but her legs were too weak. Despite Eri's rewind, it looked like she was still in rough shape.