Payback (Hiatus)

Chapter 6 (EDITED)

Edited: 26 July 2023

Lets reverse time a little while back

As Izuku made his way back home, a warm smile played on his lips. He was eager to see his mother's face; he missed her terribly. Their interactions had been limited to phone calls, and they hardly ever got to spend time together in person. Despite his excitement, Izuku couldn't help but carry a few concerns he wanted to discuss with his mother.

As he walked, a handful of locals and admirers recognized him and greeted him with waves and requests for pictures. Some struck up conversations, asking about his whereabouts and his excitement about making his heroic debut. After all, he was the most well-liked individual, a fact even acknowledged in the U.A. Student Billboard from the previous year, where he was voted as the top hero candidate.

While Izuku appreciated the admiration, he didn't inform them of his decision to withdraw from school. Instead, he simply smiled and played along, not wanting to dampen the mood with his departure news.

Upon arriving at his house, Izuku noticed two pairs of shoes that struck him as familiar. As he recognized them, his eyes widened. Rushing into the living room, he found Aizawa enjoying a cup of coffee while conversing with his mother and Eri. The sight surprised him; he hadn't expected them to be there.

"Uh, what's going on here? Aren't you supposed to be in school, Eraser Head?" Izuku asked, genuinely confused.

Aizawa knew instantly that Izuku didn't want to be associated with him anymore, evident by the lack of "sensei" in his address. "Eri was throwing a tantrum and even threatened so she could stay with you," Aizawa explained.

"Again? Eri, what did you do?" Izuku pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation. "And why did you threaten them?"

"All I wanted was to stay with you, but they didn't allow it," Eri pouted.

"Eri..." Izuku bent down to her level. "It's for your safety, and they need to keep you under surveillance to prevent any accidental use of your quirk."

"That's why I threatened them. If they don't let me stay with you, I'll rewind everything around me, including them!" Eri explained, her innocence juxtaposed with her frightening quirk.

Izuku couldn't help but be taken aback by the young girl's power. "That's why Aizawa is here—to control your quirk from getting out of control," he said.

"Well, he can't keep using his quirk all the time. His eyes get tired," Eri innocently pointed out.

"We decided it would be safer to let her stay here than risk her going berserk at U.A.," Aizawa sighed.

Izuku was concerned about Eri's safety. "Can't you guys find a more suitable place to keep an eye on her? Perhaps a hospital?"

"We are not sure of the limit of her quirk, so it's safer to listen to her request. We even put her in a room with anti-quirk measures, but they didn't work on her," Aizawa explained.

Izuku pondered the situation, knowing that Eri's quirk had the ability to reverse the effects of measures taken against it. "I have no problem with her staying here, but I'm worried about her safety. What if villains come after her?"

"Well, that won't be a problem," Aizawa assured. Izuku narrowed his eyes, seeking an explanation.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Ever since you defeated the League of Villains, there have been barely any villain sightings. It's pretty safe out there," Aizawa simply stated.

Izuku wasn't entirely convinced. "Alright, fine. We'll take her in," he said, turning to his mother. "That's fine, right, Mom?"

Inko smiled, trying to ease her son's unease. "Of course, she's welcome here."

Izuku noticed his mother's anxious glance. She was delighted to have Eri with them, but she couldn't help sensing her son's irritation. Even though he didn't show it, Inko could feel it in her gut - mother's intuition, as they say.

She also noticed his subtle changes in demeanor. Despite speaking to his former teacher as if he were a stranger, Izuku was no longer shying away from him. Instead, he was addressing Aizawa in a formal manner, an unusual shift in their dynamic.

Aizawa soon took his leave, promising to return when he had time. Izuku reluctantly accepted, realizing that things were becoming more complicated than he had anticipated. With two potentially dangerous individuals under the same roof without a hero overseeing them, he knew that the hero community would be keeping a close eye on both him and Eri.

Izuku wrestled with doubts, wondering if he could successfully carry out his plan under these circumstances. It was clear that vigilance was required, but he couldn't ignore his concerns for Eri's safety. He decided to wait until late evening to discuss his worries with his mother, after Eri had gone to sleep, not wanting her to overhear their conversation.

To Be Continued 

Word: 790