The 9 Millimeter Kiss - Chapter 69: Chapter 69

"You guys found a place to do your work study at?! That's great!" Uraraka exclaimed. A group of them gathered at the sofa's.
"Wow!" Mina praised.
"Congrats, Midoriya, Yuki." Iida congratulated, offering his hand to Midoriya before he shook Yuki's.
"Thanks." Midoriya humbly spoke.
"It's not that big of a deal." Yuki's knowing grin said otherwise.
"I can't be idle, either." Mr. Glasses told them. Yuki only shrugged, leaning back into the couch.
"But man, you're really amazing, Midoriya." Kaminari piped in from behind Yuki.
"Yeah, I mean, you'll be at Sir Nighteye's agency!" Sero added.
"You were recommended by Togata-senpai?" Kirishima asked.
"Yeah, Midoriya! Good Job!" Yuki gave his freckled friend a closed eyed smile.
Said boy looked away from Yuki nervously. Somehow he was still able to forget Yuki knew about him and how he used to be quirkless before One for All was given to him. The healer hadn't made a big deal out of it which itself was suspicious but then again, he never even asked about it.
Yuki heard a faint scoff coming from Bakugo.
"The school said Gunhead hasn't had enough interns, so I can't go there." Uraraka sat down, hunching over in thought.
"Same here. I wanted to go to Selkie-sama's but..." Tsuyu joined in from Yuki's right.
"Fourth Kind doesn't even take work studies..." Kirishima plopped over the couch between them in light somber.
"I mean, the threshold's been set pretty high..." Sero sighed, leaning onto the other couch.
"Yeah, we can only ask pros with good track records who'll take work study students..." Kaminari sighed.
"It can't be helped." Ojiro told them from the dining tables. "Unlike the internships, we'll be directly involved, so if anything happens--"
"It becomes a problem of who's responsible on the pro side." Aizawa interrupted as he entered the dorms.
"Aizawa-sensei!"
Yuki looked away from the homeroom teacher. He wasn't regretting his decision to blackmail but he certainly didn't like getting 'the look' from adults.
"Pros who accept students even after knowing the risks are the real thing." Aizawa explained.
"Tokoyami," he called out. "You've got an invitation for a work study from one of those real pros. It's from Hawks, who works in Kyushu."
Yuki did a double take.
"HAWKS?!"
"Ranked third in the hero ranking?!"
"WoOw!"
"That's Amazing!"
"Good Job!"
A request from the number 3-- or would it be number 2 hero now...?
"What will you do, Tokoyami?" Aizawa asked.
"I respectfully accept." Tokoyami bowed slightly.
Aizawa nodded. "Very well. I'll give you the work study paperwork later. Let me know when you figure out when you'll be going to Kyushu. I'll authorize your absences for those days."
Don't I still need to do that? Or is Recovery Girl taking care of it? Shouldn't I do it myself since she didn't want me going in the first place? Can't I just email Dr. Nozawa--
"Stop saying that!" Bakugo shouted again. Yuki didn't know what the angry pompom was complaining about this time but he couldn't help but let out a light chuckle.
"Also, Kirishima, Amajiki from the Big Three wants to see you." Aizawa looked over to them.
"He wants to see me?" Kirishima perked up in surprise.
"Also, Hado wants to talk to Uraraka and Asui. Go see them tomorrow or something and hear them out." Aizawa informed them. "That's all." and he took his leave.
"Amajiki-senpai... I wonder what he wants..." Kirishima pondered.
"You think it's about the work studies?" Tsuyu dared ask.
"No way!" Uraraka jumped up. "If so, I'm getting my hopes up."
"I can't wait until tomorrow." Kirishima then stood up straight. "I'm going to the third years' dorm right now!"
"Ochaco-chan, let's go too." Tsuyu excitedly asked.
"Yeah!"
"Good luck!" Yuki waved them off.
"We need to catch up as--"
"SHUT UP!"
"BAKUGO! STRESS!" Yuki shouted at him from the couch. Geez, had he forgotten their talk last night already?!
"They sure are lucky." Sero mumbled, referring to the recently recruited. "Let's do our best too!"
Mineta proceeded to huff, "Who cares about work studies? Even if first years like us go, we'll just be made to run errands and stuff."
Yuki couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Not every agency is like that."
"That was what happened at your internship, right?" Kaminari pointed out.
"Don't remind me of my dark past!!"
It came to a surprise when Yuki found out Recovery Girl had already taken care of the paperwork. He didn't even get a chance to look over it and was getting the feeling this time around would be one of the easiest jobs he would ever do.
"Good morning, Dr. Nozawa!" Yuki cheerfully greeted. "My name is Satori Yuki, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Dr. Nozawa was one of the top tier surgical doctors in the country. Having worked beside Dr. Young, they'd met before. Just under not so great circumstances.
The old and tired man huffed, "I wish I could say the same."
Yuki nervously laughed, "I truly am sorry. I didn't mean to contact you the way I--"
"What does that matter now? Hurry up and go get changed. If a kid like you is dragging me out of retirement I might as well give you work to do."
Yuki held back a smile, "Yes, Sir! I'll be in your care!"
Having claimed an empty cot bed, Yuki got dressed and quickly made his way to the cafeteria where Dr. Nozawa was waiting for him.
"Here." the old man handed Yuki a clipboard. "Your job for today is to check patient's vitals and make sure they're in stable conditions."
"Okay." Yuki quickly replied, glossing over the list. "And then what?"
"You go home."
The boy nearly choked on his spit, "I'm sorry-- go home?!"
Dr. Nozawa pulled a lollipop from his white coat. "Yes. Do you have a problem with that?"
Yuki's frown was prominent. "I have a healing quirk--"
"I'm aware of that." Dr. Nozawa began to walk away, unravelling the lollipop and plopping it in his mouth.
"Please," Yuki walked up next to him, keeping his pace. "I have experience in assisting surgeries, I've been on call for emergency--"
"Tell me, boy." Dr. Nozawa stopped walking, turning to look at him. "What exactly are you trying to be?"
Yuki continued to hold his frown, now even more confused. "What do you mean?"
"What are you trying to accomplish by being a doctor?" the doctor slowly asked.
"I want to save people." Yuki replied without hesitation.
"Then go become a policeman."
"I'm trying to be a hero." Yuki quickly added before he walked away. "I'm trying to save lives and be a hero."
Dr. Nozawa raised a brow, "And what makes you think you need to be one?"
"I have a healing quirk" the boy replied as though it was the most obvious thing.
"You've mentioned that twice already." The Doc pointed out.
"Well that's one of the reasons," Yuki shrugged.
"And the others?" The doctor queried.
Yuki went to reply but stopped himself. "I believe you already know."
Without hesitation the old man replied, "Do I? Or is it just you making excuses?"
"I'm not making excus--"
"Then you will do as I say. Now hurry so we can both leave early."
Yuki stood in the hall, clipboard at his side, as he watched the doctor walk away.
What the fuck was that about...?
Yuki had expected to be worked to the bone as a way to get back at him for blackmailing Dr. Nozawa. But instead he got the opposite. He even told Aizawa he would probably be returning near the end of the day and so was excused for classes. But now he was on his scooter, not even near lunch hours wandering the streets of Musutafu.
He could go back to school but who would want to when you practically have the day off. He could also just go and show up to hospital and volunteer, but then Recovery Girl would get news of that and he would for sure be banned from work study until it becomes mandatory. One thing he did know was that he should probably drop in to cafe Motif, just to check in with the old man. Maybe he could bring back pastries for the class.
Snapping out of his thoughts he found himself pulling up in front of his house. It looked rather lonely since he'd last seen it. Yuki was thankful to Dr. Young had hired some people to clean the place up every once in a while. Parking his scooter he decided to head inside, thankfully finding the spare key buried just behind a small bush.
Unlike when he was occupying the space, he did not walk into a pile of newspapers, advertisements or mail urging him to pay the utility bills. The curtains were also opened and everything was off the floor. He removed his shoes and ventured through the house as though he were looking to move in. Furniture was clean. Counters spotless. And the tv screen was cleared of any fingerprints he might have left behind.
Yuki had made sure to clear his desk of everything, including cabinets, since he was bringing those along to U.A. The bookshelves were still neatly organized just as he'd had them and was thankful nothing seemed out of place. Moving up to his room, it too has been cleared of everything. The bed was made but not of his bedding. He figured the people in charge of cleaning had made it.
Out of muscle memory, he bent down and looked under the bed. It was empty.
As it should be.
Memories of his first time living here resurfacing. How he struggled to sleep on the bed and opted for the cold floor with a thin bed sheet.
"Stupid." He mumbled to himself, getting up and leaving the room. "Could have at least slept with a pillow."
Walking out the house a thought crossed his mind. He looked down at his phone, it was only 11am. He was supposed to be back at school by 7pm. He had plenty of time to go and come back. If could catch the train on time he'd be back before 5pm.
Yuki hid the key as he contemplated actually going.
Just before getting onto his scooter he grimaced and relocated it onto his driveway before making a run for it to the nearest train station.
Deja vu. If Yuki had to explain all he was feeling, it would be like Deja vu. It wasn't the kind where one would feel weird. Nor was it the ominous feeling. It was obviously the one where everything feels familiar, in a comforting way.
After nearly 3 hours to get where he wanted to be, he would have thought the nervousness would have settled. He wasn't in Musutafu anymore. Yuki was back in his birth city, Sendai.
For the first time in over a decade. He was back.
Yuki felt he knew the streets like he knew the human muscles. His feet seemingly retracing every memory lane as his eyes wandered. Short memories forcing his lips to thin. He tightly held onto the straps of his backpack at every corner he turned.
The houses were getting more and more familiar to the point he needed to slow down.
Why was he slowing down? He knew where he was going.
Turning another corner, Yuki could feel his throat tightening up.
There's the park.
Reaching the next corner he stopped and looked to his left.
There's the market.
He was so close. So close.
Taking a deep breath he continued to walk.
"Mommy! Look! A butterfly!" Yuki glanced over to the kid tugging at his mother's sweater. He stopped and looked behind him, over to the direction they were pointing at. Indeed it was a butterfly.
Yuki stepped to the side as he watched pass him and fly ahead.
Following its path, Yuki could help but think it was headed in the same direction he was. He laughed at himself for even thinking about such things.
Focusing on the butterfly had calmed him and he wouldn't have realized he was standing across his destination. The butterfly landed on a pink camellia flower.
It was an old traditional house. At least to everybody else.
The smell of his cooking. "Welcome back, Yuki!"
The tv, turned to the news. "Was the park fun, Yuki-chan?"
"Yeah!"
Tears began to weld up. Covering his mouth he held back what he could.
"What do we say when we greet you back?" Takumi scolded.
"Give him a break, He just ran back here!" Uncle Shin defended.
"Oh sorry--"
Swallowing the lump in his throat, Yuki let out the laugh. Wiping away some stray tears.
And with a mournful and heart-breaking voice he finally said,
"I'm home."