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It's been a while since a student of his has gone into underground heroics. Most tend to go public, scatter over the whole of Japan and even move internationally, spreading their skills all over the world. Underground is even more demanding than regular heroics, requiring skills and instincts not everyone is capable of succeeing at.
Which is why it's so surprising to hear a hushed "sensei!" calling for his attention as he's crossing through a rooftop.
Shouta pauses, his capture weapon unfurling as he turns towards the voice, quirk ready to be used.
It's... a boy. A young boy, still a few years away from being able to apply to UA, which makes the form of address all the more baffling. He has messy green hair and bright green eyes, which shine in excitement as he makes his way from the entrance to the roof.
"Hi, sensei," the boy repeats. Then curls his shoulders sheepishly. "I got hit with a time travelling quirk, and I'm not really sure how to get out of it?"
Shouta finds himself sighing, capture weapon going slack as he pinches the bridge of his nose.
"Well," he says. "At least I'm glad you decided to find me instead of making a mess of things."
Setting aside the inconsequential matter of how, exactly, someone managed to find him years before they even met.
The child nods. "I think it's not going to cause a paradox- I remember thinking I dreamt about you bringing me home around this age, so it should be fine!"
Ah. So if not for the fact that the kid knew he has gone to Shouta before, he would have tried fixing it on his own? "What a Problem Child..."
"Hey!" The boy squawks in offense. "I didn't even get injured, or bumped into any villains yet!"
Like... Like that's a likely and somewhat expected option? Shouta feels sorry for his future self.
"Where is home?" He asks instead, listening carefully to the rattled-off address. Best to minimize the chances of anything going wrong and just send the kid off-
He hesitates at seeing his expression. Kid seems to be weighing something in his mind, teeth biting at his lips and hands wringing anxiously. Doesn't hurt to let him say what he's got to say, Shouta figures.
"If you are going to do something stupid at least have the decency not to get caught," he warns anyway, just in case.
That seems to tip the scales. The boy's across the rooftop in a second, crashing into Shouta. It takes a long second to realize he's not being attacked; The boy is hugging him.
"I know I can't tell you anything," he says. "I know nothing can change. I really want to, but I won't. But I still... I'm still glad I could see this version of you again!"
Oh, great. There's a crying child in his arms. Shouta pats the top of his head awkwardly - and, wow, what soft hair he's got! - trying not to feel overwhelming anxiety at the idea of whatever future caused this reaction.
"As long as my students make it out alright, everything is as it should be," he tries. The boy chuckles through his tears, but gets the idea to start wrapping it up.
He untangles carefully, taking a step back as he wipes at his eyes. Which keep straying towards Shouta's right eye in a disproportionate manner. He refuses to think deeper about the possible reasons why.
"I better get back to the future," the boy nods with determination. He never once offered his name, and Shouta is glad for that, even though it would be impossible not to recognize him at the entrance exam.
He would have to make sure to treat the boy as he does all the other students, without the expectation of him passing all the tests.
"Alright," the boy squares his shoulders, followed by a quirk analysis that ends with- "My prediction is that the quirk will snap me back as soon as Erasure is applied. I might pass out."
...Oh, who is Shouta kidding. The boy just raised the bar of his expectations way higher than he holds it for other kids.
Shouta can't wait to finally have someone who's genuinely decent at analysis. Those weren't the hard-won words of someone he had to whack on the head to learn; That off the cuff analysis had the markings of someone who was genuinely invested in the topic.
"See you in a few years," he tells the kid, and sees the blinding smile split his face before Erasure flares.
He catches the wavering boy in his capture weapon.
His eyes are blurry as he looks up. "Eraserhead?" He mumbles as Shouta brings him into his arms.
"Shh, kid. It's just a dream."