***14 years later***

"I'm done. Wake me up when they graduate…" I had barely made it into the staff room before I already had one leg in my sleeping bag. 
"Yeesh, Shota. They can't be that bad!" Midnight chuckled from her place at the water cooler, glancing at the clock that ticked away upon the wall. "Wait, don't you have patrol tonight?" 

Shit. 

It had barely been a week since I had been introduced to my new first year class, and I was already beyond spent. Adding my regular hero duties on top of dealing with them was just pure torture. 
"Where's Snipe?" Stepping out of my yellow safe zone, I kicked it to the side, rolling my shoulders until I felt them click into place.
"Why?" Cementoss questioned, scooting his wheelie chair to the side so he could peer out from behind his computer. 
"I want him to put me to sleep."

My fellow teachers began to laugh as I trudged out of the room, but I hadn't been entirely kidding. I wanted as much sleep as possible, and the idea of eternal slumber sounded like my kind of paradise. Down the halls, out the doors, through the gate and to my car, I wanted to lean my seat back and nap away the hours once I had buckled myself in. Duty called, though, so I drove myself home, leaving my vehicle behind as I walked towards my designated patrol zone for the night. 

It could have been worse. I was at least lucky enough to have been assigned somewhere close by this time, so if things went smoothly I would be able to squeeze in a few decent hours of rest before morning. Even better, it was Friday. I didn't have to do shit. 

Low crime zones had become my favourite areas since I had become a teacher. Exerting myself was such a chore, even though I did enjoy my job, to a degree. Enjoy may have been the wrong word for it, but I definitely didn't hate it. Not so far, anyway. Clad in black, the night was my friend, and I roamed the darkened streets in complete silence for hours, spotting nothing out of the ordinary. 

"Ah, Eraserhead! Long time no see! How's things?" I nodded my head to the portly man behind the counter as I entered my favourite cafe. Twenty four hour joints were a rare find, but this guy kept it open specifically for heroes and shift workers, bless his soul. 
"Hayakawa. Exhausting, as usual. Your son started college, right?" I approached the counter, pausing to bend down and rub behind the ear of one of the many shop cats that lazed around. No wonder it was my favourite place to go. 

"He did, he did! Environmental studies, so he tells me! Out to save the turtles, and all that! So proud of him!" Hayakawa chuckled, his second chin squishing out as he spoke. "Dark roast tonight?" Straightening up, and bringing the calico cat; Tomomi, up with me in my arms, I nodded again. 
"Please. It's been a long day." Using my free hand, I reached into my pocket, retrieving my wallet and setting the correct change upon the counter. As the man started on my much needed caffeine boost, I wandered over to one of the booths, sitting down and resting Tomomi in my lap. 

I should've become a barista. 

Not long after, Hayakawa waddled on over, placing my coffee before me and smiling. 
"No milk, no sugar, just how you like it." He said amusedly, leaning against the table. "Catch any wayward souls this time?" I signalled for him to wait as I took a sip, almost being able to hear my taste buds screaming for help as the scorching liquid burnt them to death. 
"No, not this time. It's usually rather quiet around these parts, especially this time of year. Now that we have All Might working at Yuuei, they've probably fled for their sorry lives." 

"You're not one for copious amounts of attention, Eraser. How are you going with all of the media hounds surrounding him all the time?" Before I could answer, the entry bell chimed, and a woman walked in. A sleeveless hooded shirt hid her face, and she approached the counter, rocking back and forth on her heels as she studied the menu. "One moment, please!" 

Hayakawa tottered back over to his usual position, greeting the girl with a bright, cheery disposition, as he did with everyone, and asking what she would like. 
"Iced coffee, please, Mister." Her voice was incredibly quiet, and I exhaled, switching my attention back down to the purring ball of fluff in my lap. She was definitely my favourite, though Sushi II always got jealous when she could smell another cat on me whenever I returned home. 

"Here you go, young lady! An iced t-" The elder man's voice cut right off, and I paused, waiting for him to continue.
"Thanks. I owe you one, Mister." There was that soft voice again, followed by the scraping of metal against wood. Snapping my head up, I caught sight of the woman stepping out the door. Turning to Hayakawa, I felt bad as I jumped out of my seat, causing Tomomi to tumble to the floor with a disgruntled yowl. It was as though he was frozen in time, and it was then that I realised exactly who that woman had been.

No way...There's no possible way...

I was out the door in a flash, and I could see the young woman sprinting down the street, cup in one hand, and her other balled tight, covering something else. She knew I was on her tail, and she did the obvious. With a skid, she ducked into one of the many side streets, trying to lose me.

She was always so predictable...but it really can't be...

That was no way to shake me. I had been in the game for half of my life, and I knew exactly what to expect. Following her through the side street, we came out the other side in a culdesac, darting across the road one after the other into a small park, fitted with swings and slides and monkey bars. That was where she slowed to a halt, turning and reaching up to her hood.
"Good job, but better luck next time!"

My reflexes were better than they had been all those years ago. Before she could look me in the eyes, I had extended my capture weapon, wrapping it around the top half of her face to block out her quirk. I could have used my erasure just as easily, but this way she couldn't make a break for it.
"You're fast." I pointed out the obvious, starting to walk towards her, but keeping a firm grip on my scarf.

"Well, I gotta be with heroes like you chasing after me!" She snorted, completely unphased by being caught. Now that she was speaking at a regular volume, I had no doubt in my mind. This was exactly who I thought it was.
"Running was completely illogical. Don't you know who I am?" Why did my voice take on such a teasing tone? It was involuntary, and I wasn't sure where it had come from.

Her body seemed to stiffen after I had spoken. Tilting her head to the side, her hood shifted against the back of her neck, bunching slightly.
"Shota..?" My scarf stayed wrapped around her eyes as I came to a stop, though my grip had somewhat laxed.
"(Y/N)..." She had definitely grown up since I had last seen her. Physically, at least. Her (H/C) hair looked a little different; a new style perhaps, and her body was no longer that of a brat barely in her teens.

Where the hell have you been all this time..?

"Wow, I didn't even see you in there. Still as dark and edgy as old times? Y'know, I once imaged you going through a whole pastel twink phase, and it was hilarious!" The one thing that hadn't changed was her sense of humour. Raking a hand through my hair, I sighed, trying to figure out what steps to take next. She had committed a crime, so the logical point of action would be taking her into custody, but when had I ever followed the rules when it came to her?

No...I barely know her. I have to do my job...

"Come on. I'm taking you to the station." I announced, giving her a slight tug, which she didn't seem to appreciate very much. Her lips puckered into a pout, and even in the faint glow of the street lamps I could see the sweat beginning to bead on her (S/C) skin.
"Haha...funny...Could you maybe take this thing off now? It's cutting off my brain juices." (Y/N) tossed the takeaway cup to the ground, using her newly freed hand to knock against the side of her head.

"That's another charge for littering." I said flatly, standing my ground when she decided to move closer. Her other hand flew out, and inside was a familiar number of coins. The same coins I had left on the counter back at the cafe.
"I only took this off the bench! I'm gonna pay him back one day, I swear!" She sounded more urgent now, finally convinced that I was serious. "Come on, Shota! Give me a break! Don't tell me you've turned into even more of a hard-ass!"

Why only that? She could have taken the whole till if she had wanted...

"What was the point of taking small change? You seriously still can't afford a coffee?" I clicked my tongue, trying to pull her along into a walk again, but she wouldn't budge.
"For your information, no, I can't! I just had to pay rent, and utilities, and all the other normal stuff I should be paying!" She huffed, arms folding across her chest. "The rent was for real, though...I really was gonna pay him back..."

(Y/N) sounded sincere, but she had always been good at putting on a facade. Of course, I was glad to see she was okay, but I couldn't turn a blind eye. We weren't children anymore.
"Do you know how many times I've heard that line? Not buying it. Move it, unless you want me to throw you over my shoulder and carry you there." She retreated a single step, worry evident on the lower section of her face.
"N..no, I really mean it! Okay, lo..look!" She reached into her coat pocket, and I instinctively tightened my capture weapon, causing her to squeak out in surprise. "Fucking...I don't have a gun or anything, so chill out, man! Here!"

I was offered a tacky looking notebook, and I hesitantly took it from her, opening it with one hand. Inside was filled with chicken scratch, but I could make out names, addresses, and amounts. Some were crossed out, some were added to. Some even made more than one appearance. It was the cardboard back of the notebook that had me, though. Stuck inside, with heavy duty duct tape, were three cards. Seeing my youthful face staring back at me caused my chest to tighten, and I cautiously looked back to the subdued woman.

"You kept them..." It was more of a statement than I question, but she nodded nonetheless, hands patting against the front of her thighs as she waited.
"I told you I would, didn't I? Same goes for when I tell you I plan on paying all these people back. I really intend on doing it, Shota. I know you're not really the kind of person to give someone the benefit of the doubt...but please?"

I don't think she's lying to me...

Even though I kind of believed her, I didn't really want to let her go. We had all been pretty concerned when she had stopped showing up, and I knew the chances of running into her again were slim.
"Why don't you try for a real job, instead of petty theft?" I asked her, genuinely curious. She seemed to suck on her teeth for a minute before heaving a sigh, her shoulders slumping with the exhale.

"What kind of a question is that? I can't look at anybody properly, and I don't have any real skills. I can operate blind, sure, but who would hire someone who could..." She trailed off, seemingly irritated by the subject. "Oh, and I'm annoying. You mentioned that a lot way back when." I could kind of see her point, but it still didn't justify her crimes, whether she was planning on reimbursing her victims or not.

He'd want you to let her go...You know that...

"If I...let you go...just this once...I want you to promise me something..." I murmured, shuffling my feet against the damp evening grass. The perked up, and began to bop up and down excitedly.
"You got it! Anything you want!" Huffing out a long breath, I cleared my throat.
"Tomorrow, two o'clock, meet me at the diner on the corner on eighth and ninth street."

The wind picked up, and an oddly warm gust blew through us, adding weight to the silence.
"How do I know that you're not just gonna have me arrested if I show up..?" She had every right to be skeptical. Hell, I would have been lying if I had said the thought hadn't crossed my mind for a brief second.
"You have my word. I just want to talk, but I've got to get back to work tonight. Besides, if I wanted to have you arrested, you'd already be in a cell."

He'd let her go...

(Y/N) pondered over my ultimatum for a bit, tapping her chin in thought until she gave me a single nod.
"Alright, you've got a deal. You're paying, though. I want one of those big American burgers that could clog Godzilla's arteries." She said firmly, her hand falling to rest against her hip. "Oh, and a big-ass milkshake. Fries, too. Those cheesy ones in the little basket thingy."

Did she even grow up..?

"Fine. Also, you have to promise me you're not going to use your quirk on me when I release you. I have to get back to patrolling. Can I trust you?" I was using the same tone I took with my students, and she gave me a stupidly immature salute.
"Aye aye, Shota! No quirk!" I wasn't really buying it, but I couldn't help but give her that rare benefit of the doubt. Slowly, I allowed my scarf to unravel, and I was silently shocked by her entire face.

She really had grown up. I could only imagine how much more attractive she would have been if her eyes weren't closed.
"Tomorrow. Two o'clock. Be there." I repeated her end of the deal, and she smiled brightly.
"I'll be there." She turned to walk away, but stopped herself, turning her head towards me once more. "Hey...could you...close your eyes for a second..? I wanna look at you properly. Real quick."

Her request surprised me, but I complied, closing my eyes and folding my arms as though it annoyed me. I wasn't sure if it really did or not.
"They're closed." I informed her, and I waited for some kind of reaction.
"Damn, I can't tell if you grew into the angst, or if the angst grew into you!"

Did I really miss this idiot?

"Are you done? I really need to get back to work." I waited for a reply, but nothing came. Taking a chance, I opened my eyes, and was met with empty space. She was nowhere in sight, yet I still stared out into the night, the haunting creak of the vacant swings causing me discomfort.

Somehow...I doubt that she'll even show up...

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***Next time: Big and Loud***