Chapter Text
Katsuki stood at the entrance of Yuuei, his heart sinking further with each step. Eri was small in his arms, resting her head against his shoulder, blissfully unaware of what was coming. He wished he could be as unaware as she was.
The gates loomed ahead, and Katsuki forced his legs to keep moving, every step heavier than the last. His thoughts churned, clashing violently as he tried to convince himself this was the right decision. It was for her safety, her future, but it didn't stop the knot in his chest from tightening with every breath.
He set Eri down gently, her small feet hitting the ground with a soft 'thump'. She blinked up at him, her wide red eyes full of a trust that he knew he didn't deserve. She glanced at the gates, then back at him, confusion pulling her brows together. "...Why are we here?"
Katsuki swallowed hard. His hand moved to his pocket, pulling out the knife. His favorite. He crouched down to her level, pressing the handle into her small hands. "I need you to stay here for a bit" he said, his voice thick, the lie hanging on his tongue like poison.
Eri stared at the knife for a moment, her fingers gripping the handle tightly, like it was a lifeline. Her eyes lifted to meet his, a flicker of worry darkening her innocent gaze. "You're coming back, right?"
The innocence of her question hit him like a truck. The words he wanted to say got lodged in his throat, choking him. He hated this. He hated lying to her. But he couldn't take her with him, not anymore.
"Yeah" He finally muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah, I'll be right back"
But Eri wasn't convinced. Her grip on the knife tightened, her knuckles turning white as she took a shaky breath. "You- You're not leaving me... are you?"
Katsuki's chest tightened painfully. She always saw through him. Always. He couldn't back out now. Thank god for his mask, for the way it hid the fear in his eyes. He didn't think he could lie to her face if she could see the truth written all over it.
Before he could respond, the gates opened, and Nezu stepped out, his calm expression betraying none of the tension in the air. "Hello Eri" He greeted kindly, his voice gentle. "We've prepared everything for you"
Eri's gaze flicked between Nezu and Katsuki, her uncertainty deepening. "You'll come back?" She asked again, her voice small and fragile, like she was clinging to the last shred of hope.
Katsuki clenched his fists at his sides, nails biting into his palms. He nodded once, forcing the lie out again. "Yeah, I will. You're just staying here while me and Teskai go on a mission"
"B- But he doesn't... Teskai doesn't go on missions..."
"Yeah" Katsuki said softly, forcing a smile she couldn't see. "But we've got something special an' I need another set of hands"
Her face dropped, her shoulders slumping. "...Okay"
She took a hesitant step toward Nezu, but her hand lingered in Katsuki's, her fingers gripping his own like she was afraid to let go. He squeezed her hand one last time before gently prying her fingers away, feeling the weight of each small, fragile movement.
"Go on" he said, his voice rough and thick. "You'll be fine"
Eri finally let go, but she looked back at him over her shoulder as Nezu led her inside. Her eyes, wide and shimmering with a mix of hope and fear, stayed locked on him until the gates closed behind her, sealing her away from him for good.
As the silence swallowed him, Katsuki felt the weight of his decision settle deep in his chest, heavier than anything he'd carried before. He stared at the closed gates, his heart pounding under the weight of the lie he'd just told.
He wasn't coming back. Not for her. Not for anyone.
The guilt ate at him, gnawing at the edges of his mind. He'd lied to her face, even though Teskai had told him to be honest. Katsuki clenched his jaw, reaching into his holster for the only gun he'd brought with him.
He just needed to reset. That's all. Once he reset, everything would be fine. He'd be fine.
Everything would be okay.