Chapter 99: I'm Willing!

While Eri was having a chat with her grandfather, Shido found himself free of anything.

He would usually be busy with marking papers, taking care of his students, doing his hero job, or merely accompanying Eri on her adventures to various shopping malls.

It was rare that he didn't have anything to do. He saw that countless people were bustling along everywhere. And out of all of them, only some had a smile on their faces. The majority had either a frown or a stoic expression on their faces.

It was to be expected. After all, this was a hospital. Who would smile when your loved ones got injured?

Since he had nothing better to do and already had a light lunch, he decided to go back to his first and foremost profession: A musician!

He hadn't conducted many concerts ever since this school year started since he was busy with many matters, and the public has begun to miss him.

Thus, he decided to hold a concert today. He didn't have anything specific to work with, so he just decided to go with something more action-pack to cheer up the hospital people.

He went out of the hospital and went across the street.

Mosaicing himself, he flew up and summoned his usual piano.

The moment he flew up, some of his more die-hard fans immediately recognized him and started screaming hysterically.

"Good afternoon, everyone! It has been a long time since my last concert!" Shido announced, earning him a round of applause. Within seconds, everyone had gathered below him, waiting for his music to arrive.

He didn't disappoint his fans and decided to start without any further ado. He had flown up to a height of eight stories, high enough for the sound to spread everywhere.

[BGM: Blue Bird by Ikimono-gakari]

♪♪♪

You say if you could fly, you would never come back.

You aimed for that blue, blue sky.

♪♪♪

You've yet to remember "sadness",

Just now began to grasp "pain".

Even the feelings I held onto for you,

are just now changing into words

♪♪♪

As you awaken from the dream of an unknown world

Spread your wings and take off

♪♪♪

You say if you could fly, you would never come back.

You aimed for those white, white clouds.

If you break through, you know you'll find it.

♪♪♪

So try until you break free to that blue, blue sky.

That blue, blue sky

That blue, blue sky

♪♪♪

With a sound like all civility was gone.

The rusted, old window broke.

♪♪♪

Look, you're so sick of looking at that cage that you're throwing it away.

Without ever looking back again

That throbbing beat takes your breath away,

And you kick open that window and take off.

♪♪♪

You said if you could run, you would obtain it.

You're tempted by that distant, distant voice.

It grasps your far too dazzling hand,

Until you pursue that blue, blue sky

♪♪♪

I understand that you are falling.

But still, continue to follow the light.

♪♪♪

You say if you could fly, you would never come back.

You searched for those white, white clouds.

If you break through, you know you'll find it.

So try until you break free to that blue, blue sky.

♪♪♪

That blue, blue sky

That blue, blue sky

♪♪♪

Shido used a metaphor to compare a falling bird to someone. This beautiful song indicated that his audience was basically birds that had trouble getting back on their feet in this current messed up society.

Shido wanted to let them know that they would have to try a lot harder if they're going to sore into the blue sky (freedom and not blindly follow the government's rules like a puppet).

Of course, 99.999% of his listeners wouldn't even find the hidden meaning behind the song, and Shido didn't plan to let them know. After all, what good would it do him if the government knows that he's trying to instigate rebellion in Japan?

[A/N: I don't know half the things I wrote above, so don't take it to heart.]

Either way, the song was very well received (like any other song of his), and they wanted more.

Eri was still upstairs talking to her grandfather, so Shido had no reason to refuse. He then continued playing more songs.

[BGM: Radwimps - Aparkle]

[BGM: Goosehouse - Hikaru Nara]

[BGM: Radwimps - Nandemonaiya]

Songs were played after another, each having its own unique meanings and place in every person's heart.

[A/N: Yeah, I like these type of songs. Don't comment about my choice of songs.]

After about two hours of concert, Shido finally decided to finish it.

"And that's all for today!" Shido announced, but their response was unexpected.

"NOOO....!"

"Why do you do this to us?!!"

Hearing all of their complaints and groaning, Shido was speechless. He questioned, "Don't you guys got work to do?"

Hearing his words, everybody paused for a while before eventually screaming.

"Oh shit! I forgot about work!"

"My boss is going to kill me!"

Shido shook his head as he dived into the shadows present on the hospital window and navigated his way back to where Eri was.

As soon as Shido emerged from the window, Eri jumped towards him, causing him to stumble slightly.

"Hm?"

"Hehe...nothing." To Shido's questioning gaze, Eri shook her head and just snuggled into his arms.

"Brat...Eri told me everything. You're no hero, you know that?" The old man looked considerably stronger than before. His tone also contained more vitality and sounded firmer than before.

"The word 'hero' is overused. I don't know which type of 'hero' you are referring to, but if you're talking about the 'hero' as a job, then I'll have to say you're wrong." Shido smiled and replied.

"Hmph, you know what I mean." The old man snorted as he glared at Shido.

"I never once considered myself as a 'hero'. I do it as a job, not on my conscience to save people. If I can help others without any problems, why shouldn't I do it? But if their problems would cause me even more difficulties, I wouldn't save them. Eri is an exception, of course." Patting Eri's head, Shido continued, "Besides, you are no better than me. At least I'm on the side of 'justice', 'hero', and 'good' on the surface. You're the boss of a Yakuza gang. If you weren't Eri's grandfather, you wouldn't be here talking to me right now."

"Tch..." He clicked his tongue in annoyance before whispering in a soft tone, "That means I have to thank you then?"

"You're welcome."

"You brat."

The past two hours were enough for Eri to tell her grandfather everything that she needed and wanted to tell, so now she was resting on Shido's lap on the couch.

Silence descended upon them as Shido and Eri's grandfather stared at each other, not wanting to back down. Eri was oblivious to all this, or maybe she knew, but she ignored everything that was happening and just remained on Shido's lap.

After a minute or so, the old man eventually sighed.

"So what is your plan from now on, Mr. Alien?"

"Mr. Alien? Not a bad name, I must say." Instead of getting offended by the weird label, Shido thought that the name was pretty good.

Seeing that Shido wasn't annoyed by the nickname he had given, the old man clicked his tongue once more.

"Anyway, my plan is to support future heroes and let them mature before exploring other places. This batch of students would probably be my second and last batch of students I would be teaching."

The old man was surprised, "So fast?"

Shido nodded but didn't provide any further elaboration.

"You're bringing Eri with you?"

"If she wants to." Shido replied but was quickly interrupted by Eri.

"I want to!"

"There you have it." Shido rubbed Eri's head as he shrugged at the old man.

The old man let out a huge sigh and paused for a while before continuing to say while fixing his gaze onto Shido, "Take care of Eri, you hear me?"

"You don't have to worry. I don't promise many things, but I can promise this one thing. Forever, I swear I to always protect Eri."

"You know about her ability best. And because of that, if one day, the entire world wants to hunt her down and kill her, and you can't beat them, what will you do?"

"Haha...you must be joking. I'm confident that no one will be able to beat me." Shido laughed at his question before turning serious, "But if there are people like that, then they will have to step over my dead body to get to Eri."

Hearing Shido's declaration, Eri buried her face into Shido's stomach, trying to hide her shyness. Her face donned a bright smile after hearing his resolve to protect her.

'But I won't drag you down...'

Eri's grandfather was equally surprised by Shido's determination and resolve. He might have heard about his personality from Eri before, but hearing it and witnessing it with his own two eyes were two completely different stories.

"Hahaha!" He laughed out loud. His mood had never been better than now, "You've got guts, boy! I have not been a good grandfather for Eri, letting Chisaki rebel and experimenting on her while lying down here comfortably. But thanks to you, she seems happy now. And for that..."

The old man got up unstably and stood up on his two feet. He then bowed deeply in front of the two children and said, "...thank you...for taking care of Eri all this time."

Shido stared at him for a while before grinning, "You're welcome!"

After that, the three of them talked a bit more before calling the nurse to their room. Needless to say, the nurse was pretty shocked at the fact that their VIP (Very Important Patient) had woken up from his coma and was standing up.

Subsequently, many doctors and nurses appeared and diagnosed him as healthy, so he would be allowed to be discharged the next day if nothing else was wrong.

They also realized that two unknown children were present and were about to reprimand them for sneaking inside when Eri's grandfather stopped them and helped them out.

The doctors had no choice but to leave them with only a warning.

The old man was definitely sad about losing the Yakuza gang that he made and was even more painful about its members dying, but after thinking about what they did, indirectly or directly, to Eri, his sadness was lessened considerably.

Checking the time, Shido realised it was already 5pm.

"Alright, old man. It's time for us to go. Eri hadn't had lunch yet, so she must be feeling hungry now." Shido said.

The old man looked at the clock and realized that Shido was right. Maybe it was due to his excitement of waking up after seven years that he talked so much with Eri that he had forgotten the time.

"Oh! You're right. I guess it's time for both of you to go now, huh?" He stated wistfully.

"Don't sound so sad. Tomorrow is a Sunday, so Eri would have time to pick you up to All Might's home, where you will be under house arrest. Can't let a Yakuza boss go free after all, even if you were in a coma."

"Damn rules..."

Even though he cursed, the old man had a smile on his face. He was just glad he could accompany his granddaughter. Though his gang might be destroyed, and he felt a little salty at Shido, he could at least be with Eri like an ordinary grandfather.

"Alright, see ya." Shido and Eri waved at the old man before entering the elevator.

"Bye."

In the lift, Shido and Eri just stood in silence until Shido broke it.

"So mind telling me about what you said at the hideout?"

"What did I say?" Eri asked, but her cheeks were red. She clearly knew what Shido was referring to, and Shido wasn't going to pass out on that.

"You know, the 'yes' you replied to the question Nemoto asked." Shido replied with a teasing smile.

However, instead of answering him, she asked back with a question of her own.

"So, do you like me?"

"No."

Eri's smile froze at the simple answer, and she immediately teared up.

"But I love you." Shido hurriedly continued his sentence when he saw Eri tearing up. He knew he had gone too far in his teasing.

H grasped both of her hands in one of his and wiped her tears with another. He asked, "Are you willing to be with me for the rest of your life?"

"Baka..." Eri sniffed, "You already told my grandfather that you would protect me with your life. Do I have any other choice?"

"I'm willing!"

*****************

A/N: I realised that I've been writing a lot of plot lately so I guess it's time to slow things down a little. Here's a little slice of life! Enjoy!

If you want to support me or/and want 14+ chapters in advance, link:

https://www.patréon.com/spirits_everywhere