Lack of something

After I celebrated alongside everyone in the orphanage, I had a serius talk with Mother Hawaka.

"Hawaka-Danna..."

"Without honorifics Aron, I know you are nervous."

Hawaka smiled at me, it made me feel more relaxed.

"Okay, Hawaka, i´ve been accepted, but now what, were do I live, I spend most of my time training or studying and totally forgot I was going to live there if I was accepted.."

"There's no reason to be so preoccupied Aron, me and the director made the arrangements, the orphanage and the Hokke middle school will cover all the expenses of living through a scholarship, since you are the first student from us to get to the U.A, it's the least we can do.."

"But, Hawaka, I know the orphanage has some money problems, let me get a job in Tokyo to cover some of my expenses.."

"Aron, as your mentor, I totally won't allow you to work, even if you did, the U.A doesn't allow students to work, just rest a bit and enjoy your school life, you barely made friends in middle school even when you were such energetic kid…"

Hawaka made a somehow sad yet care face, I felt bad for making the orphanage spend more money that could go into making the kids lives better..

"Don´t feel wrong with yourself Aron, once you become a pro hero you will repay the favor, now, erase those depressing thoughts and give this old lady a hug"

I stood up, we hugged each other from a long time, I knew once I left the orphanage, I would be to busy to meet them except if I made my hero peasanty here in Tottori.

We stayed like that for a long, long time…

---

I had 3 days before the start of classes in the U.A high school, so I had plenty of time to search an apartment to live, or so I thought, anyone with a sane mind would curse themselves for searching a place to live with only 3 days, but since I really didn´t have many stuff, and I only needed a place to sleep and study, I wasn´t that picky.

My search ended up in one of the eastern sides of Tokyo, a runned down 3 stories building quite close to the U.A, it was cheap as the apartment was quite small, and by small that meant that there were only 3 rooms of space and one bathroom.

I moved my things in, since all my possessions fit in a suitcase.

I sat in the living room seeing the caky walls with a green carpet full of stains of unknown procedure, made my feet into roses to absorb all the stains, dust, and organic garbage in the apartment.

As I finally relaxed, I finally analyzed the place I would call home until the fall of all might.

The main door opened to a narrow hallway of barely 2 meters, next to the bathroom, once crossed that hallway, there was the living room-kitchen, where I was currently sitting down, it had a green carpet that made a contrast with the caky walls.

Finally, a door in the left side of the room opened to the bedroom-study, where I would sleep and study since the only wooden chair and table were there.

It was a piece of crap, but it was better that sleeping in a public park taking the shape of some roses.

Tired of my life, I decided to go out and take a stroll, since I had quite some time and I needed to find a job since I was planning of returning the money send from the orphanage in form of "Misterius" donations.

I mindlessly walked in the streets of Tokyo, I didn´t knew everyone here, and the only person I knew was a girl so lazy and perverted it could put Mineta in shame, but she had her own house, maybe if I visit her I could get some free food…

Agh!

My head stated to hurt, it was like a needle poking my brain, I quickly prepared myself in case a villain attacked, I knew the major events of the story, but I couldn´t know every minor villain attack, but no, nothing happened.

I was quite confused, I thought I was just to stressed about starting classes in the U.A, but I knew something was wrong, as I carefully inspected the stores and buildings in the street, I noticed a shady store, the ones that give bad feelings, like antique shops in old movies, I tried to recall if that was the League of villains main base but it seemed it wasn´t.

I approached the store carefully, I oponed the door and stepped inside.

*Ding, Ding*

The sound of bells could be heard.

The store seemed like any antique shop, the walls were painted in a dark purple or blue, there were may old books and ancient artifacts, like mp3 players and vinil disk, but what gained my attention were some strange flowers hanging in pots in one of the walls in the store.

I made my way to the counter, there, a large and suspicious man seemed to be sitting in a comfy chair whilst reading a book.

The shopkeeper is a man with a large smile. He is wearing a very long trench coat and he is extremely intimidating, he is tall and robust as a beard and a brown hat and beard hide his face, as he notices my presence, he seems quite disturbed but continues to smile whilst reading.

"Looking for anything in particular?"

"Yeah, ehem, about the flowers hanging in that wall…"

The man notices im looking at him with greed and determination, he smiles even more and stands up and walks slowly towards the counter, not seeming worried in the slightest.

"Well, you've come to the right place. I have anything and everything you could need. What are you looking for?"

"That roses, they seem quite unique, are they a special breed?"

The man walks very close to me, he stares at me with an intense gaze.

I can see that his eyes are almost entirely black. I´ve have never seen anyone with eyes like that. Something about them is very off-putting.

"Yes, they are, they were quite expensive to breed and require a special treatment that only old-men like me can provide…"

"Yeah, especially when a flower has a quirk."

"Hoh now you have my full attention. I like people who can get right to the point, but, youngster, the world I full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, do you think it is good to explore mountains unknowing if there hides something?"

my face can't hide my discomfort towards the words the man just said.

"How much would this beautiful and normal rose cost?"

The man seems to be laughing under his breath at my comments. He seems to be enjoying my discomfort.

"You didn't think a man like me would be selling legal flowers, did you? That is not how I work. If you want to buy something from me then you need to be ready for this type of trade. Or do you not understand what my shop is about?"

As he says so, he points at his left, I turn my head and see multiple strange artifacts and weapons hanging on the walls were books used to be.

He stops walking and stands still next to me. Even though the shop is small, it still feels like he's looming over you from his sheer presence. i do not want to make this man mad.

"Of course not, I have these."

I fake looking in my back pocket and take out 3 Royal tulips.

"This 3 have the property of changing forms, they are as durable as steel and can be burned easily, I expect a man with a clientele knows the value of a 1 use multi-tool right?"

"A very good choice."

"I can already think of 10 different applications for such a tool. This is a perfect trade. Thank you for your business."

We hand over the tulips and roses to each other.

"Pleasure to meet you, if i ever want to make business with you, how should i search for you?"

"You don't. I find you. Not the other way around.

There's something you need to understand about my shop. I am not just a shopkeeper. I am the owner of the velvet store, who works on the shadows at plain sigh. The same goes for my connections and costumers. If you come here looking to buy something, then you are going to be on my radar. Just remember that."

The man turns to show me the door while still holding out his hand. His cold eyes stare right into mine.

"Just remember I am the kind of man you want to be polite to and they call me the shopkeeper. That's all I want you to remember."

The man's face is expressionless. He still has the same stare on me. His eyes feel almost threatening to you.

"Now get out."