The 9 Millimeter Kiss - Chapter 60: Chapter 60

"Even or odd?"
"Odd."
"Tall or short?"
"Medium. Sensei, these games are boring." Yuki pouted, dangling off the couch armrests.
Matsuda chuckled, "Are they now?"
"Yes." Yuki giggled, attempting to balance himself on his stomach.
"Are you doing well in class?" the counselor asked.
Yuki smiled widely, "I'm ahead of everyone already, Matsuda-sensei!"
"I heard." Matsuda mused. "Your teachers are rather impressed given your circumstances."
Yuki carefully slid onto the floor. "Because I was getting into fights?" he asked.
"Well yes, but also because off--"
"Sensei! Are you going to be here for the School festival?!" Yuki suddenly recalled.
Matsuda sighed, smiling, "Yes, I am. Is there something your class is doing?"
Yuki stood up and leaned onto the desk. "Yeah! I was told the class voted to do a play. I've never seen a play."
"Are you going to be in the play?" Matsuda asked.
"No. Everyone thinks I'll just start a fight." Yuki huffed.
Matsuda didn't say anything, opting to ruffle the boy's growing hair, it was enough to cover his ears.
"Your hair has grown quite a lot," he commented.
"This is the longest I've ever had it!" Yuki laughs.
"Breaking News! A body has been found only hours ago located in a Lake in the Prefecture of Hokkaido. Investigators say this could be a woman who was reported missing nearly a month ago, her name Tachibana Misaki, a woman of 23 years old, standing at around 5'5''. She was reported missing by one of her friends after she failed to return from her morning run. As of this moment no comment from Lead Investigator Detective Fujimoto."
"Our sources say this terrible incident can be linked to the reoccurring disappearance and murders as they have found a symbol, burned onto their arm."
"Are you sure you want to come along with me? You'll be walking around a lot." Matsuda asked, glancing over to Yuki who followed closely behind him.
The school festival was taking place. Yuki wasn't needed, or rather wanted, around his peers and staying home was definitely not a choice. So, he'd settle with sticking with Matsuda as he walked around campus as a supervising adult.
"It's fine." Yuki smiled, "I can handle it, Matsuda-sensei!"
The counselor returned a smile, "If you say so."
As they walked around Yuki couldn't help but look around at all the projects being hung outside on the hall and over the door ways. He saw plenty of scary mazes and cafe-like places. It was getting cooler outside as the month went by. Plenty of food stands parents volunteered for were set up just by the main entrance. He wondered...
"Maybe you'll be able to join next year." Matsuda spoke up, stopping under a tree for a quick cool down.
Yuki hummed in thought, "Maybe..."
His grey eyes scanned the crowd. There was laughter, and smiles, and kids, and... parents. He watched as a dad picked up his apparent son and placed him on his shoulders. A woman and a little girl joined soon after with shaved ice and cotton candy.
Matsuda glanced down, following the boy's gaze.
"Yuki."
"Yeah?" the boy replied, ripping his gaze off the family and looking up to the counselor.
"Have you eaten anything?" Matsuda asked.
Yuki shook his head, "No. Why?"
Matsuda grinned, pulling out his wallet. "Would you like to try something from the stands?"
The boy pursed his lips. A sad smile. "It's okay, sensei. I can go without eating for a couple more hours!"
Matsuda's grin didn't fade. "Then stay here in the shade while I go get something."
Yuki nodded.
The weather is nice...
Looking around he spotted a train of ants. A smile appeared. "Mai would probably know what kind of ants these are." he mumbled.
Reaching down he placed his finger near the trail, an ant getting off the trail and going to take a look. Yuki watched as the antennas moved about. Mai had told him every ant in the colony was important. Even if they did have a short life span.
"What are you doing, Yuki?"
Yuki quickly retracted his hand away from the dirt and stood up straight. "Nothing."
Matsuda walked over to the boy, his hands behind his back. "Were you looking at ants?" he asked.
"Yeah." Yuki smiled lightly, looking back down at the ant trail.
"Do you like looking at insects?" Matsuda asked, also looking down at the trail.
"I don't mind them." Yuki replied. "Mai really liked looking at them."
"Your friend, right?"
Both stared at the ants for a bit longer.
"Guess what I bought." Matsuda light-heartedly asked.
Yuki looked up at him, slightly confused. "You went to buy food, right?"
Matsuda went to speak but stopped. "Well, yes. But guess what kind?"
Yuki looked past him and towards the food stands. "Fried Chicken?"
Matsuda chuckled, bringing his hands from behind. "I suppose that is one way to guess."
Yuki noticed there were two small bowls of fried chicken. "Are you really hungry, sensei?"
"No~" Matsuda held out one to Yuki. "One is for you."
Yuki's eyes widened. Going back and forth between Matsuda and the bowl. "Is that-- Is it really okay?" his small hands tempted by his stomach, hesitant to touch the bowl.
"Yeah." Matsuda smiled. "Maybe we can even get some apple juice from the vending machine."
The counselor gestured for Yuki to grab the bowl. And Yuki carefully held onto it. The warmth of the chicken seeping onto his hands. His mouth watering and stomach growling at the smell of it.
"Come on, let's go find a vending machine and then a bench. One with shade preferably." Matsuda ruffled Yuki's hair as he began to lead the way. The boy slowly followed.
"Okay." Yuki beamed, his footsteps feeling light.
Winter had come once again. As it did every year.
"It sure has gotten colder." Matsuda sighed, leaning into his arm chair.
Yuki tried to snuggle deeper into the couch. He was draped in a blanket Matsuda had provided. His clothes were severely worn out and could hardly provide enough warmth.
"Do I have to go to gym class?" Yuki asked, shivering every couple seconds.
Matsuda hummed, "I don't think so. I'll talk to the teacher later, for now just make sure your near the heater."
"Okay..."
"Yuki, I'm thinking of working over the break." Matsuda began not looking up from his paperwork.
"You're not visiting your family, sensei?" Yuki glanced over to him, finishing the last of his winter break homework packet before break had even started.
"No, I'm sure they'll understand." Matsuda smiled, "I was thinking you could keep me company while I'm working."
Yuki sat up, "Really?"
"Yeah," Matsuda looked over to Yuki with a warm smile. "I'll even bring breakfast and lunch if you want."
"Really?!" Yuki jumped from his seat. His hands balled up into fists from excitement.
"Under one condition." Matsuda held up a finger.
The boy faltered. "W-what?"
The counselor grinned, "I want you to study--"
"But I'm already ahead! I placed first on the final--"
"I'm talking about studying for your quirk." Matsuda clarified.
Yuki tilted his head to the side, "My quirk?"
The counselor nodded, "You mentioned you could only heal what you know of, correct?"
"Yeah..." Yuki replied, still slightly confused.
"Then, if you really want to get into U.A., you should learn more about your quirk and how it works. Don't you think so?"
Yuki continued to stare at Matsuda. He thought about how things seemed to just go wrong for the past 3 years--
"Matsuda-sensei." Yuki took a deep breath.
Matsuda, the only person he felt he could call family, continued to smile. "What is it?"
Yuki fell onto his knees and bowed, "Thank you, Matsuda-sensei!"
"What are you--"
"I just want to thank you for every meal you've given me. For every time you've helped me. For every time you've taken care of me. Thank you so much!" Yuki cried out. "I promise-- No. I swear I'll do my best!"
Matsuda-sensei was going to help Yuki. Just like how Mai had helped him get better. Yuki couldn't help but feel excited. He was going to essentially start training for his quirk. He was going to get better and be able to help people. He was going to make people feel better.
"Before you start using your quirk, you should probably learn a bit more." Matsuda commented.
It was the beginning of break and the two were the only ones who would be on campus. Besides the security officer of course.
"Learn about what?" Yuki asked. They were currently walking towards the school library where Matsuda had hinted at a surprise.
"Yuki," Matsuda chuckled. "Do you think doctors guess what they're doing when they cure people?"
"No." Yuki shook his head, confident in his answer.
"Then you need to know more so you can fix everyone up quickly!" Matsuda grinned.
"Right!"
Opening the door to the library the first thing Yuki noticed was a pile of books stacked onto one of the round tables.
"It might be difficult but I promise to try and help as much as I can." Matsuda ruffled Yuki's hair.
For starters, Yuki told Matsuda-sensei all of the things he'd done in relation to his quirk. He told him about going to the hospital across town. About healing Mai when she was injured. And about that one time he helped a bird mend it's broken wing.
Matsuda found it astonishing. Healing didn't seem to be specifically for humans. He wondered if the things this friend of his told him were true. Was it really based on his knowledge? If so, just how much of an impact on his quirk was it? Surely a quirk like this came with a limitation. The well renowned Recovery Girl's quirk depended on a person's stamina, or so he'd heard. But Yuki's? The boy didn't seem to get exhausted after healing, the healed person didn't seem to be exhausted either. Matsuda was curious about the boy's quirk, that much was true.
"Yuki,"
"Yes!" the boy smiled, looking up from a textbook.
"You can't heal yourself can you." Matsuda thought back to all the time the boy had gone to school with severe bruising.
Yuki's face fell, "No, I can't."
"I see." Matsuda nodded in deep thought.
"Is that bad?" Yuki asked, fiddling with his fingers.
Matsuda reassured the boy, "Of course not. I guess it kind of makes sense. You heal others but can't heal yourself."
"Mai said all quirks have a flaw, if you can find them then you can beat the best of the best." Yuki gleamed.
"Well your friend is correct." Matsuda nodded.
Winter break ended.
Yuki spent the majority of his days in the school library alongside Matsuda studying anatomy. Yuki wasn't sure how this type of 'training' would affect his quirk but it wouldn't hurt knowing what parts he would be healing. With all the time he was spending with Matsuda, Yuki noticeably began to gain a bit of color to his face alongside a bit of weight. With all the food he was being fed, his body seemed to be taking whatever it was he needed and putting it to good use.
"Yuki," Matsuda asked.
"Yes?"
"How old are you again?"
The boy held out his cold hands, counting. "I'm about to turn 8," he replied. "Why?"
"Really? Aren't you a bit too short?" Matsuda teased.
"Matsuda-sensei! That's mean!" Yuki pouted. "Wait until I get older, sensei. I'm going to be taller than you!"
The man laughed, ruffling the boy's hair.
"Just kidding. Say!"
Yuki looked up at his counselor. They were currently leaving school after another long day of studying. Yuki wasn't complaining. The studying he did after school for his quirk would surely help him in the future. At least that's what Matsuda-sensei said.
"Why don't I take you somewhere to celebrate your birthday?"
"Huh....?" Yuki stopped walking.
"Yeah! Think of it like a little field trip." Matsuda smiled, getting down to Yuki's eye level. Disregarding the snow as it seeped onto his coat.
"What do ya say?"
"B-but it's a school day...." Yuki told him.
"I'll make sure they mark it as a sick day. We can go to a cafe-- You like pudding right?" Matsuda reached out and held onto the boy's shoulders.
"Call in sick?" Yuki asked, feeling a bit unsure.
"Yeah! It'll be our little secret." Matsuda warmly smiled.
"For my birthday?" Yuki asked. Just wanting to make sure he's heard him properly.
"Yup, for your birthday. It's been a while since you've celebrated, right?"
Yuki's bottom lip began to tremble. "Y-yeah..."
"Then it's settled." Matsuda gleamed, patting Yuki's shoulders. "We can even get you a pair of new shoes and clothes. A sweater or two as well."
Yuki couldn't help but let his tears fall.
"Does that sound good?" Matsuda asked, holding onto the boy's trembling shoulders.
"Yea!" Yuki hiccuped.
Matsuda had told Yuki to meet up at a park a couple blocks away from school.
The plan was for Matsuda to make sure he marked Yuki as sick before he suddenly had to leave for a 'family emergency.' So Yuki waited, hidden up in the trees just in case someone saw him. He was glad he gave in to Mai's bullying and learned how to climb.
"Yuki?"
Yuki's breath hitched. He clutched onto the branch waiting to see if it was Matsuda.
"Wow. You really took, make sure they don't see you to a whole new level."
Yuki was sure it was Matsuda but he wanted to see just how long it would take for the counselor to find him.
Matsuda kept looking around, a couple giggles led him to looking up a tree.
"There you are!" Matsuda grinned.
"You found me, sensei!" Yuki cheered.
"Jump. I'll make sure to catch you." Matsuda stretched out his arms.
Yuki only laughed. "Okay!"
Jumping into Matsuda's arms he was swung around until placed down.
"Where are we going first, sensei!" Yuki lightly jumped on his toes.
"First," Matsuda held up a finger. "We should get you a new set of shoes."
Yuki looked down at his feet. They were used but it was only thanks to Yuki's diligent attempt at keeping them clean did they look better than they would have otherwise.
"Shoes." Yuki repeated, nodding firmly.
"Second, a new set of clothes."
"Clothes." Yuki nodded again.
"New backpack."
Yuki gasped, cupping his face. "A backpack~"
"A backpack." Matsuda confirmed.
"And then what?" Yuki asked, bouncing on his toes again.
"Maybe a haircut will do. You look better with short hair."
"Haircut! It was making my neck itchy." Yuki agreed.
"And finally!"
"Finally?!"
"To a cafe,"
"Cafe!" Yuki shouted.
"I know one in the next town over that makes amazing pudding." Matsuda smiled.
"Any pudding is good!" Yuki cheered.
"Then shall we get going?"
"Yes!"
"This one!" Matsuda held up a shirt in front of Yuki.
"Why only heroes?" Yuki asked, looking down at the shirt.
"You don't like heroes?" Matsuda asked.
"I like them. I just don't want it to only be heroes..." Yuki mumbled. In truth, it was mostly because he was scared it would get ruined. And if he were to change houses with older kids, they were sure to take everything that had anything hero related away from him.
"Then are you only to get plain shirts?" Matsuda asked.
"Yes, simple is best." Yuki smiled.
Matsuda shrugged. "If you say so."
Yuki made sure to change into his new clothes. The old being tossed into a bag and left in the back of Matsuda's trunk.
"It feels weird." Yuki giggled. He'd just gotten his first haircut in what felt like ages and was now shaking his head and running his fingers through his short hair.
"You'll get used to it. And I was right." Matsuda nodded.
"Right about what?" Yuki skipped next to him, holding onto Matsuda's hand.
"You look better with short hair."
Yuki only grinned. Happy at the compliment.
Getting into the back seat Yuki kept moving his feet. He was going to make sure to take care of his shoes as much as possible. Yuki was going to be even more extra careful with them and clean them and not step in puddles.
"It'll take a bit to get there, you can go to sleep if you want." Matsuda told Yuki.
Yuki continued to look out the window.
"It's okay, I can stay awake!" Yuki smiled.
"You can sleep, Yuki. I'll make sure to wake you up." The man insisted.
Yuki was about to protest but a yawn left his mouth instead.
Matsuda chuckled. "Go to sleep now. We've got a long way to go."
"Okay..." Yuki mumbled.
"Matsuda-san!" Yuki's homeroom teacher cried out.
Matsuda turned around, "Good Morning. Is there something wrong?"
"Satori-kun!" The homeroom teacher rushed up to the counselor. "Have you seen him?!"
"Not today," Matsuda frowned. "Why? Was there another fight?"
"No, Matsuda," a distressed cry came from her. "He's missed school for nearly a week--"
"Have you gone to visit his home?" Matsuda asked worryingly.
"I did! But he's not there. No one has seen him for the past week. Matsuda-san, please tell me you know where he is!" she pleaded.
"I was away on a family emergency, I haven't seen him--"
"Sensei, please! You must know where he is. You're the only one he was close to." she cried, clutching onto Matsuda's coat.
The man carefully took her hand into his, "I'm not sure what's going on, but I'll do my best to find him."
"Please Matsuda-san," the teacher lightly sobbed. "His foster parents say he's run away but Satori-kun isn't one to do that. You know that too!"
"Please, calm down." Matsuda soothed her. "I'm sure he'll turn up eventually."
"But what if he was taken?" she whispered. "He could be hurt and we wouldn't even know."
Matsuda gently placed an arm around the lady, guiding her away from peering eyes.
"I'm sure he's fine. He'll be fine. We just have to wait." he continued. "I'll go look for him. He's bound to turn up again."
"Matsuda-san, I'm terrified he's become one of them."
"One of them?"
"The one's who go missing.... and then turn up.... their bodies--" she shivered.
Matsuda slightly bent down to her eye level, cupping her face.
"He will be fine." he reassured.
"But--"
"Yuki's a smart kid. I'm sure he'll turn up again."
The homeroom teacher was still unconvinced.
"He's a tough kid. He'll survive."