A police officer guides Arata and Shoto through the halls of I-Island Central Tower. The contrast with two days ago is stark: the corridors were bright and bustling with people dressed for the party, but today they are broad, empty, and dimly lit. They stop in front of a room marked "Investigation" with a hastily scribbled sign.
"There's at least one investigation room in every tower to speed up the process. Rest assured, I'm here to help you if needed and ensure you're not alone," the officer explains. Arata wrinkles her nose slightly at the waft of smoke emanating from the officer as she passes her. "Let's go inside? All Might is already waiting for you."
Arata can feel her stomach sink at the sight of the looming door. Once I pass this door, if they decide I'm at fault…
She closes her eyes, drifting to a pile of cherished memories in the back of her mind. It's a short pile, but it has begun growing steadily, little by little.
She recalls Shoto, Aizawa, and herself perched on a picnic mat, munching on sandwiches by a serene lake. Her quiet giggle when Aizawa snatched the last serving of curry that night, right before Shoto could get seconds, which earned him a death glare from the boy across the coffee table.
The comforting weight of Aizawa's hand on her head as his silent way of saying thanks for cooking dinner. Washing dishes with Shoto after he insisted on helping her clean up, the clinking of plates a soothing rhythm in the midst of the running water. Saying "good night" and knowing that she could still see both of them another day.
… What if this interview takes all of that away?
Noticing the apparent reluctance, the officer releases her hold on the door handle and turns to smile at Arata. "We know it's difficult for you to recount what happened two days ago. We hope you can bear it for a while, only until the investigation is over. Pardon us for the inconvenience."
"Oh, um…" Arata blinks in surprise. "Uh, I understand… Th— Thank you, Officer."
Kindness was the last thing Arata expected this morning. Her time in the hospital with the police in Japan had prepared her for a barrage of questions, with no regard for her feelings or physical condition. Even when she nearly collapsed as the painkillers wore off, they kept on asking questions about her and her villain mother. Only Aizawa held back.
"My pleasure!" the officer chimes. "Anything you need, let me know and I'll help you both."
Hopefully, things will be different this time around, she wishes silently and glances at Shoto, who turns out has had his grey-cyan eyes trained on her all along. He silently nods at her, she nods back. And together, they walk into the room while the officer stands guard in front of the door.
Inside, All Might stands tall, careful not to accidentally knock over a file organizer beside him.
"Good morning, Todoroki-shonen, Arata-shoujo! Sorry for the cramped conditions." he beams at them, white teeth sparkling brilliantly under the lamplight. "We're trying to keep things efficient so we can all go home soon. I'm with you every step of the way, so do not worry!"
All Might's confidence fills the room with warmth, and Arata feels a wave of relief wash over her. She has never spoken with this big man, the closest thing to interaction that she had with All Might was the problems in their heroics homework. But, she takes comfort in knowing that he's someone both Aizawa and Shoto trust, a teacher in U.A., and Japan's top pro hero.
"I'm— I'm grateful you're here." she offers him a shy but sincere smile, trying to absorb some of his positivity for herself.
"Thanks, All Might," Shoto gives him a nod. "We're counting on you."
All Might pulls out a pair of chairs and places them in front of the desk where a brown-haired man is waiting for them. He motions for Arata and Shoto to sit down while he stands behind.
"Arata-shoujo, Todoroki-shonen, before we begin the investigation, I'd like to introduce you to David Shield, Melissa's father."
"Welcome, Todoroki-kun and Arata-chan," David says as he stands up and shakes their hands, his lab coat swaying with the movement. "Please, have a seat. Make yourselves comfortable. Sorry for dragging you both into the invasion two days ago. I'm helping you with your police interview today."
David sees Arata glance at her white-crimson haired friend, who only mirrors her puzzled expression. "Um, we thought we were meeting with… an investigator or a detective," she voices the question on their minds after a moment of silence.
He lets out a chuckle and explains, "With everything going on, the police force is understaffed. I'm… volunteering to handle your interviews."
"I didn't know scientists were qualified to conduct police interviews." Todoroki frowns, a hint of wariness in his voice. "Aren't people supposed to be in law enforcement for that?"
"This is a special case." All Might puts both hands on his hips, giving both children a flashy grin. "Besides, David is no ordinary scientist. He's so much more than that."
David gives his friend a grateful smile before turning his attention to the children in front of him. With a deep breath, David pulls out a spiral notepad and a pen. His gaze shifts to Arata and Todoroki.
"Just answer my questions as best as you can," he reassures them. "I promise, I'll handle the rest. This is about making things right."