Heroics and Other Things

Chapter 33: Tenko Shimura

Hizashi was pleased to hear that Shouta was giving Hitoshi the week between school ending and the summer training camp starting off from their private training.

"Some time with his friends will be good for him Shouta," Hizashi insisted when he'd heard.

"Whatever," Shouta grumbled into his coffee.

However, Hizashi knew that Shouta could and would go back on that affirmation if he let himself get bored, so he decided to take the opportunity to distract Shouta. The kids probably had the right idea, in Hizashi's opinion, and so Hizashi dragged Shouta out of his sad little apartment to go shopping. Shouta hated shopping, but combat boots were impractical for the woods, so he allowed himself to be dragged out on the logic that he did need hiking boots. Hizashi tried not to think of how little they'd been alone together recently and counted Shouta's agreement to the outing as a win.

"See!" Hizashi said when Shouta not only let himself be swept into the store without complaint, but tried on every pair of shoes Hizashi presented him with and bought the ones Hizashi liked best. "You do love me!"

"You have good taste in shoes," Shouta insisted, which was as much of an agreement as Hizashi was going to get.

Since they were already out, far from Kiyashi Ward Shopping Mall so as not to accidentally run into the kids, they decided to get lunch. Hizashi was nearly unrecognizable in casual summer clothes and his hair down, and no one knew Eraserhead by sight anyway, so they were able to get an outdoor table at a little cafe neither of them had been to before. The sun was shining, the air was warm, and the food was good enough that Hizashi made a mental note to come back to this place. They were actually having a nice time.

"You know you've been very accommodating lately," Hizashi said halfway through the meal. "You don't usually let me drag you out shopping."

"We've both been busier," Shouta explained, without really explaining.

"Is that your way of saying you have a minimum quota of time with me you have to fill?" Hizashi asked sweetly.

Shouta glared. "I mean I've had less energy to argue with you."

Hizashi laughed, feeling better than he had in a while. "C'mon, you'd miss the sound of my voice if I wasn't here!"

"If your voice was all I needed, the radio show would be enough," Shouta said, glaring off to one side.

Hizashi blinked. "You still listen to the show?"

Shouta opened his mouth, eyes narrowed, but before he could speak his cell phone began beeping rapidly. He didn't use pictures for contacts, but Hizashi could read Hitoshi's name upside down on the screen. Obviously confused, Shouta picked it up and answered it, but he'd barely managed to get it to his ear and say a gruff "hello?" when he jerked the phone back and hurriedly put it on speaker.

"-only left him alone for a minute!" insisted Hitoshi's voice, high and panicked. "Then there was an announcement that they were closing the mall and I tried to go back but they were all around him and they wouldn't let me through and-"

"Calm down," Shouta ordered, and Hitoshi went quiet. "You're still at the mall, correct?"

Hitoshi took a deep breath. "Yes, I'm still at the mall," he said, then to Hizashi's horror sniffled like he'd been crying.

"Is anyone hurt?" Shouta asked urgently.

"I don't know!" Hitoshi exploded. "Something happened and they won't let me through and-"

"What do you know happened?" Shouta pressed, keeping his voice even despite the way Hizashi could see his brows creasing in concern.

"Everyone went off to shop for their own stuff," Hitoshi said slowly, but it took obvious effort to be so calm. "It was just me and Izuku. I went off on my own to look, but then I felt bad and went back, but before I could get to where I'd left him an announcement came on the loudspeaker that they were closing the mall due to an emergency and we all had to leave."