shouto wishes he could catch a break. his body is heavy, weighed down by stress and exhaustion and confusion. he hates the confusion the most.

he's sure that if he hadn't had the help he does from the very beginning, he'd have lost a long time ago.

shouto steps out of his office. he's the last to leave tonight, though that's no surprise. he's usually one of the lastest working heroes in the agency.

he'd been hoping to get back to his apartment without a hitch, but he can tell that won't be the case. not tonight.

not when it feels like someone's watching his every move.

he continues walking for a beat, stepping out of view of his agency. he reaches a fire escape stairwell against the side of another building and climbs to the top, quiet as he can.

shouto could use his ice to get up,

but keeping inconspicuous is more important than speed.

he settles on the edge of the building, legs relishing in the pull of gravity for but a moment.

"shadow," shouto says aloud then, unsurprised.

when he blinks, the vigilante stands beside him, usual dark get-up donned, though this time he doesn't have his mask and hood pulled up. he looks... normal. if anything, that feels stranger than seeing nothing but the man's green eyes.