STRINGS // KATSUKI BAKUGO [2]

Chapter 57 // Become

You spent the majority of the day on the couch, most of your time occupied by staring at the boy on your lock-screen as you tried to remember more about him other than what was in the reminders he left you.

You were curled up in one of the blankets previously draped in the back of the couch when the doorbell rang. You looked around for Aizawa, but he was nowhere to be seen. He must've been busy elsewhere in the house.

You slowly untraveled yourself from your cocoon before standing, tucking your phone away into the pocket of your sweatshirt as you made your way over to the front door.

"Hey, Little Listener."

You stared at the tall, golden haired man standing on the porch, a small child clinging to his right leg.

"Is Shota around?"

Your hand fell from the door, your eyes narrowing at the two as you tried to put names to their faces.

"I don't remember you," you confessed. "I haven't been able to remember much this morning."

"Right," the man's face fell from bright to stoic. "I'm Shota's friend, Hizashi. This is Eri," he gestured down toward the little girl beside him, who you assumed to be six or seven based off her appearance.

"Your daughter?" you wondered aloud.

Hizashi chuckled, saying, "something like that," as he set his palm atop the girl's pale, blue-gray locks.

Eri stepped forward, head craned back at she stared up at you with furrowed brows and pursed lips, the gleam of hope in her red eyes slowly fading away.

"Why don't you remember me?"

You frowned, sensing the child's innocence to your situation. You were unsure of what to tell her.

"[Y/N]'s a bit sick right now," Hizashi began as he kneeled down to face the girl. "Sometimes, she can't remember certain things or people."

Eri glanced at her father figure before looking back toward you, her eyes searching for familiarity in your face, but there was none.

"Will you ever remember me?" she asked, fingers clutching the material of the maroon dress she wore.

"I don't know," you crouched down to be at an appropriate level with her, "but I'm still here. That's something."

Eri's fingers tightened around the smooth material of her dress, a pained look in her innocent eyes.

"Will you still hug me," she began, "even if you don't remember me?" You cringed at her question, almost mournful for yourself.

She was just a kid. She didn't understand this situation to the fullest. She never would, and you weren't sure you wanted her to.

You didn't find any familiarity in this child, even with her hope draining from her eyes. Still, you opened your arms to comfort her.

"I may not remember much, but I still remember how to give hugs," you began, forcing the corner of your mouth up into a crooked smile.

Eri's lips relaxed from the pursed line they were stuck in before curling up into a toothy grin. Her hands released the hem of her own dress, and she rushed forward into your open arms.

Her small arms found their way around your neck, and, thankfully, she didn't weigh much, so you were able to carefully lift her from the ground and settled her on your hip with somewhat ease.

"Hizashi," you heard Aizawa's voice before you saw the man, but he soon appeared beside you as Hizashi stood from his kneeling position.

"Shota," the golden-haired man greeted mutually, "Eri wanted to visit, and I thought you'd like to know that the class is heading out later today to secure Midoriya."