Need You (ShinDeku)

Ch. 128 - Both

A/N: it's another one where I think the concept was better than the execution but... oh well. It's not too bad.
Have fun reading!

Midoriya POV

     If I don't think too hard, it feels like this afternoon, when Hitoshi left but Shota was still sleeping in their room. If I don't think too hard, it's like I'm not fully alone.

     This time, I stay in the living room. The silence is more obvious out here, and I feel more exposed, but I also have more of the apartment within my audio and visual range. I finished my weekly assignments earlier and I'm not in the mood for research or analysis, or anything else productive, so I settle into the couch and pull out my phone. You know, like a normal kid my age. At least I think that's what they do.

    And... I should be doing normal teenager things, right? I go to the App Store and after a while of staring at the screen indecisively and chewing my lip, I click on a puzzle game and download it.

     It takes me an embarrassingly short amount of time to become absorbed in it, and I think I almost have a heart attack when Nyoko hops up next to me.

     "Hi," I breathe out, shoulders relaxing, "you are very good at scaring me. I haven't seen you all day, I forgot you were here." She settles down easily, becoming more comfortable as I run my fingers down her back.

     "I guess I'm not really alone huh? You're here to keep me company."

     Later, when Hizashi gets home, it feels like I've achieved a small victory. It was almost relaxing, not being around any other humans for a little while.

     My blonde guardian smiles when he sees me and Nyoko on the couch, and asks me about training today. I keep him company while he eats a quick dinner, and because minus the hiccup with Hitoshi this morning the day has gone really well, I gather the courage to ask a question that I've been worried about.

     "If I were to want to meet up with a friend over the summer, how would that work?" Because I know very well it's been implied that I'm not allowed out of the house without a chaperone, and I'm pretty sure there's a 'no friends over' rule that Hitoshi's the only exception to.

     "Hmm, well, we can definitely figure something out. You deserve to do normal kid things and have fun over the break. Was there something in particular you wanted to do?" So perceptive. Or maybe I'm just being obvious.

     "Well, Uraraka mentioned that it would be nice to hang out at a cafe at some point. And... uhm... Momo sort of invited me to her home on Thursday."

     Hizashi set down his chopsticks and I tried to mask my apprehensive look.

     "That shouldn't be an issue. Oh- as long as you're planning around training. Me personally- I'd let you take a few afternoons off, but Sho is real strict about your training. He'll be upset if you start skipping out and going off his perfectly planned schedule," he stage whispered to me, like we were in on a little secret.

     "O-of course! I would be going in the mornings- or the weekends. But I'm not really sure... how it would work?"

     "Sho and I have had a few conversations about it. If you were going to the cafe with Uraraka, I could take you on a weekend. I'd give you space, but for safety reasons I'd probably stay in the shop at another table, or maybe just outside the door." He pauses, then seems to steel himself.

     "I know it's awkward and it's not fair, but while we know it's wrong to keep you inside all day, we dont have a full picture of the League's movements right now. We cut off the head but there's no telling if a new one has already grown, and knowing that they think you still have All-Might's power... we don't know who has access to that information right now. Shota and I aren't willing to take any chances." He stares expectantly.