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Shouta knew it was bound to happen – he just didn’t think it would happen this late. When he told Eri about the war and that he had to go out to help others, she took it pretty well. There were no sights of her being upset, she continued training just like always with him and All Might.
However, Shouta didn’t have false hopes. Eri was a little girl and little children usually broke down when the loss of their loved ones came to the picture. There was no point in All Might trying to convince him otherwise, telling him Eri was more mature than other children – Aizawa knew the little girl better than anyone else at U.A.
It was the last night before the start of the war against the villains. Shouta had tucked Eri in bed and was about to leave her room when he heard the ruffling of the sheets. He turned back with his hand still on the doorknob and found himself face to face with big, wet eyes.
”Do you really have to go?” Eri asked with a sniffle. Shouta turned back towards the bed, kicking the door shut behind him. When she didn’t get an immediate answer, Eri asked again. ”Do you really have to go?”
”You know I have to,” Shouta sighed, kneeling down beside the bed. Eri turned towards him with her legs hanging down from her bed. ”My power-”
”There are lots of other strong Pro-Heroes!” Eri exclaimed and Shouta’s eyes widened. Eri had never yelled at him before. ”I am sure they will be just fine without you,” she said stubbornly, rubbing her eyes.
”You and I both know that’s not the case, kid,” Shouta said with a sigh, petting the top of Eri’s head.
In the next moment, the little girl launched at him, wrapping her small arms around his neck. For a moment, Shouta’s breath was caught in his throat from how tight the hug was.
”But if you go out, you will not come back,” Eri mumbled into his T-shirt. Shouta gulped as he felt his clothing getting wet.
”And why are you so sure about that?” Shouta asked, trying to use a stern voice, despite that it had come to his mind more than once these last months.
”In wars, the enemy always tries to kill the strongest heroes,” she said, looking up at him with tears shining in her eyes. ”Mirio-san told me that.”
In his head, Aizawa cursed the third year for answering the little girl’s every question with the truth, but once he himself said that lying to a child was one of the cruelest things.
”If you go, I want to go too!” Eri spoke up again and Shouta felt his heart dropping into his stomach. ”I’ve practiced extra hard and I learned how to control my quirk better-”
Eri couldn’t finish it, because Aizawa pushed her away. When their eyes met, the little girl saw pure dread in the older mans’ eyes which frightened her to her core. Shouta squeezed her shoulders, which made Eri yelp out in pain.
”Anything but that,” Shouta growled.
”Shou-san?” Eri asked, peeking up at her caretaker’s face. The man looked back at her, but Eri knew he didn’t see her.
Shouta’s mind wandered back to a rainy day. He was standing in front of a crumbled building once again and saw blood pooling out from under one of the stones.
”-san!” Eri’s voice pulled him back to reality. He blinked a few times and his view cleared. ”Are you okay, Shou-san?” Eri asked worriedly, touching his face. ”You started crying all of the sudden.”
Shouta pulled her back against his chest, hugging her as tight as he could without causing her pain. He kissed her on the top of her head and Eri wrapped her arms around him.
”I’m all right, kid,” he said, smiling down at her. Eri returned his smile, but there was still doubt in her eyes. Shouta let her go just to sit up onto the bed. When he did, he pulled her in his lap. ”Eri, have I ever lied to you?” He asked on a serious voice.
”No, never,” Eri answered, shaking her head.
”Then believe me when I say I don’t plan to die anytime soon.” Shouta took her face in his hands. ”I didn’t become your guardian just to leave you alone only a few months later, did I?” Eri giggled and a soft smile appeared on Shouta’s face.
”You are not easy to kill, Shou-san!” Eri stated, burrowing her face into the man’s chest. ”You are my hero after all.”