chapter 13

JUNE 22ND
2 months after Kagoshima
17 hours since the last earthquake

Hitoshi Shinsou, dressed in his hero Mindjack attire, kicked a rock at his feet. The same rock he had been kicking at for the last three blocks. Shimamura, who was walking next to him in her own Sensima hero costume, was shocked he hadn't lost the pebble yet.

The two pro-heroes were patrolling their agency's sector for the day. With all the earthquakes happening in Japan, they had every hero on call or on patrol in case there was any leftover damage or another aftershock. People just wanted to feel safe again. Ever since Kagoshima, it was hard to think that safety would return. The heroes were here to prove that it would. They were here to promise it.

Shimamura peeled away a wrapper to a cookie and nibbled on it. Half of the cookie was already gone since she had gotten it a little while ago during their patrolling. Shinsou was pouting with his new rock friend because he couldn't eat too. His metal mask was in the way. He wasn't allowed to take it off so as to protect his identity. On patrol, everyone was watching them.

Two kids from across the street frantically waved at the two heroes. They called out their names to get Sensima and Mindjack's attention. The heroes waved back and continued on their walk. The kids screamed with joy and scampered off somewhere to play.

"Mmm, by the way," Shimamura said to him mid-bite, "The neighbor a few doors down wants to buy the couch off us."

Shinsou knit his eyebrows together. "The one we left outside because Mocha pissed on it?"

Mocha is their brown, very fluffy and high-maintenance cat. One could say that this cat has a bit of an attitude...

"Yeah."

"Why?" Shinsou asked.

Shimamura shrugged. "They want it. I didn't ask any questions."

"You should've told them to smell it is what you should've done."

"I was trying to be nice."

"Did you already tell them yes?" Shinsou's metal mask made his voice sound distorted even when it wasn't turned on. If Shimamura hadn't known him for so long, she might've had to ask what he had just said.

"No. I said I had to ask you."

"And they said...?"

Shimamura paused. Although her eyes were hidden behind her light purple mask, it wasn't hard to discern her expression. She puffed out her lip, not wanting to tell him. But she does anyway.

"Then they said we make a cute couple..." she grumbled.

Shinsou snickered. "Of course they did."

Shimamura rolled her eyes from behind her mask. She put her hands up, nearly dropping her cookie. "It's cuz we live together! What do you want me to do?"

"Just say 'We like to keep it in the family.' and leave it at that—"

"Shinsou!" Shimamura smacked him in the arm. "That's terrible!" But she couldn't help but laugh at his joke.

Shinsou chuckled softly, his own version of bursting out laughing. Shimamura shook her head and pressed the cookie into his hand. He looked at it then tossed it into the trash, not wanting to tempt himself. Maybe that was punishment from Shimamura. He can look but can't eat. Harsh.

"We don't even look like we could be related, calm down," Shinsou grinned behind his mask.

Shimamura rolled her eyes. "You always make it weird."

"It's funny, alright? Besides, it'll get them to stop making those stupid comments about us."

"75% of Japan already thinks we're a couple anyway. If we want it to stop we need to stage some elaborate breakup."

"Now you're talkin'!" Shinsou smirked.

Shimamura giggled and raised her head high. She was in such a good mood right now. Sometimes these patrols were nice. Especially when she had Shinsou by her side, nothing could ruin her happy mood.

"Sensima! Mindjack!"

The two stopped and looked behind them. They knew that voice. And it wasn't the voice of any reporter or neighbor that wanted to buy their piss stained couch. It was a friendly voice.

A tall, muscular man waved at them as he jogged up. He was dressed down in a grey hoodie and sweats and flashy red sneakers. His green hair was well hidden under his hood, but they knew who he was pretty quickly.

"Midoriya!" Shimamura waved back with a smile. Shinsou cocked his head to the side.

"Hey Midoriya," Shinsou greeted casually.

Midoriya, otherwise known as Deku, smiled at them with his legendary hero grin. He stepped up and put his hands in his hoodie pockets. "Glad I caught you two! You are just the people I wanted to talk to!"

Shinsou and Shimamura exchanged skeptical glances. "We are?" They asked.

"Sure! I was going to ask if you got my email!"

Shimamura blinked. Email?

Oh... The email.

This was the email that Tako Miyata had mentioned a few days prior. With all the earthquakes and work they've had to do, Shimamura almost forgot that she had even seen Miyata recently. Shinsou had no excuses though.

"The invitation?" Shinsou raised an eyebrow at Midoriya.

Midoriya nodded profusely. "Yup! I just wanted to know if you two were planning on coming to the get together on the 31st. I got RSVPs from the others that could make it, but haven't heard back from you guys yet. What do ya think? Just a small hangout with a few of us alums from our class for brunch!"

Midoriya expected some sort of enthusiastic response from the two. He expected them to say absolutely! Who wouldn't want to come to a mini class reunion?

But he forgot who he was talking to...

Shinsou and Shimamura stared at him blankly. Even from behind Shimamura's cloth mask, Deku could tell she was giving him a funny sort of look. This encounter turned awkward.

"Gosh, Midoriya..." Shimamura started. "We didn't send any response back yet because... Well..."

Shinsou cut her off. "We don't want to go," he says bluntly.

Midoriya blinked, frowning. He was getting ready to plead if he had to. "C'mon guys, after everything that's happened lately... I think we all really need this. We need to remember our roots! Our friendships! If anything can get us through these difficult times, it's each other."

Shimamura bit her lip. A flash of memories arose from the back of her mind just by that little comment. She closed her eyes momentarily, washing the memories away before they had time to change her mental state. She was still in a good mood. Shinsou knew this. Shinsou could see Shimamura's decision changing just hearing those words...

"Listen, Midoriya... You kind of got us at a bad time—" He started, but Shimamura was the one to cut him off this time.

"Who's going?" she questioned.

Midoriya regained his smile. "Me, Todoroki, Miyata, Uraraka, Iida, Kirishima, and Asui. The others are too far away to find the time to make it. We're all still on call and such. But we'll have more than enough heroes on the field for just a couple hours to cover for us! No worries!"

Shimamura smiled lightly. She was happy he didn't name the one person she didn't want to see. Shinsou narrowed his eyes at Midoriya, suspicious. He was playing Shimamura's good mood like a fiddle.

"Then we'd love to come!" Shimamura grinned.

Shinsou smacked a hand to his face. Dammit. Shinsou pulled on the crook of Shimamura's elbow, leading her away before she could rope them into any other plans they didn't actually want to go to. He waved goodbye to Midoriya and Shimamura giggled before saying goodbye as well. Midoriya waved to their backs as they rushed off.

He letd out a deep breath and frowned. He tilted his head down, staring at the ground. He hated lying to them... but it was for Shimamura's own good. Actually, it was for both of their sakes. They needed this... and he knew it.

Deku didn't tell Shimamura, but Bakugou was also attending their reunion.