Hey, Can I Meet You Tonight?

I Can Feel You Fade Away

The scuffling of papers filled the small office.

The brunette sat alone at his desk, reading and looking through and writing on the papers in front of him.

The sound of small scampering fast steps rushing to the dull office door. Kai looked up as his daughter jetted into the room, swinging the door open widely in her wake before he returned to the report in his hand.

Eri grabbed onto the sleeve of his dark button-up, pulling slightly on it and calling for him over and over again in her soft voice, excitement blended in his child's tone.

Chisaki looked down at his daughter, giving her the attention she requested.

"What is it?" he asked.

"I want to see the hero again."

That caused a slight raise to the man's eyebrows. His eyes scanning over Eri's earnest face. She was completely serious.

"Now why is that?" he asked. Never had she shown any curiosity or interest in other people around besides himself and Chrono before, what made this one any different? Was it because he was a hero?

"I want to thank him." she said gently, a small and sweet smile on her pleased face.

Ah, I see. She felt indebted to them.

"Gratitude is unnecessary, especially in regards to those heroes." Chisaki inputted, in an attempt to appease his child. It seemed to do the contrary as Eri was now frowning at him.oh no Quickly he added, "B-besides you did already thank them, remember? So really it is completely unnecessary.-" " But I want to! Even if it's not neci-necessary!" Eri exclaimed, her tiny voice rising in volume. She started to yank and tug on the dove's father's sleeve as she continuously begged "please"s and "papa!"s, not letting him get a single word in and slowly wearing in his patience. "Eri really, no-" "No! I want this! I really, really, really, reeeeally want this! Please, papa!" Eri yelled, causing Chisaki's tense brow to twitch at the sheer volume. "And I know I don't have to -" "Then, Eri-" "- but Croni said that thanking people is 'good and respectful' to do! He even taught me how to write a nice 'Thank You!' letter!" "Eri-" she pulled harshly on her father's sleeve, the seams vocally protesting against such actions as she plowed through his words. "Come on, papa! I promise to be good!" you usually are "And- and I promise to not ask for so many apples, I swear! I'll ask for two apples less, maybe four!! But please let me see that hero aga-"

"Eri. Stop."

The dove* froze at the harsh, almost hiss-like tone, instantly releasing the abused sleeve in her grasp and took half a step back, away from the man. The action caused Chisaki's temper to melt away and immediate guilt to rise up and simmer in his body, burning under his skin. He scooped up his incredibly still child into his arms and sat her on the capo's lap, holding Eri close to his chest in a tight, awkward yet solid hold.

A tight and stressed silence weighed down on the yakuza head with slivers of guilt, shame burning him up under his skin, akin to one of his infamous yet frequent break-outs.

The brunette croaked out "I'm-.. so sorry." The words foreign on his tongue.

In an attempt to comfort his frighteningly still child to the best of his own abilities and experience, the gangster gently brushed his hand over Eri's grey locks, trying to soothe and ease her tension. "I shouldn't yell at you, especially when you have done nothing wrong. That is a fault of mine alone. I thought that I was getting better for both of our benefits, for your benefit, but it would seem that I still have quite a bit to learn."

Pulling back, Kai looked into his daughter's ruby eyes, wanting to convey the genuinity and sincerity of his words. His hand stilled on the top of the girl's head, minding her so small horn.

"I'll ... keep an eye out for those heroes for you, Eri."

*

A sneeze ripped Aizawa out of his thoughts, he shot a glare a few seats down to his coworker Present Mic, just receiving a smile from the other that gritted on the raveonettes' nerves. He better not think about getting the ravenette sick, especially during a staff meeting.

Looking back at the rodent principle, the shabby-looking hero tried to stay focused on what the teacher's boss was saying in regards to the up and coming Sports Festival for this year's freshmen but his mind kept drifting back to the run-in from nearly a month ago now. Replaying the events carefully through his head, slight irritation at himself for not recognizing the mysterious yakuza head and irritation aimed at Hizashi for recognizing him and saying nothing until after the man left. Especially at Yamada Hizashi, actually.

With that thought, Shouta threw another glare at his terrible friend that was answered with an almost smug-like grin, like he knew what he had done. Asshole.

Looking away again, Aizawa once again was drawn to that interaction between that young, and surprisingly quiet, girl and the yakuza boss, seemingly her father.

Now as an underground hero, he has seen children of about all ages and many ranges of personalities, a small girl, looking no older than 5, maybe 6 even, so quiet and submissive that it was worrying. The man, from what little face the hero could see with that black face mask in the way, looked young as well. Hard to specify.

All Aizawa Shouta knew was that he needed to keep watch out for the gangster and that girl. He needed to keep an eye out for the girl's safety.