Chapter 83: Babysitting Gone Wrong
It was just another typical day for the League of Villains. In their hidden base, the members haunted the training rooms, practicing their quirks and sharpening their skills. Shigaraki was brooding in the corner, Kurogiri was mixing up some mysterious concoction, and Dabi was seated on a crate, idly flicking his lighter as usual.
Meanwhile, Toga, with an effervescent laugh and uncontainable energy, felt a sense of adventure calling her name. As she wandered away from the training area, she pressed through the trees surrounding their base, her mind racing with thoughts of mischief and delight.
That's when she spotted a small figure sitting in a patch of sunlight beneath a towering oak tree. It was a girl, perhaps six or seven years old, with big, innocent eyes and blue hair pulled into childish pigtails. Clutching a doll that wore a fluffy white dress, the girl was thoroughly engrossed in her own world, giggling as she narrated an imaginary conversation.
Toga's heart skipped a beat. "How cute!" she thought, an instant maternal instinct flaring up in her. She rushed over, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Hey there! What's your name?"
The girl looked up, surprised but not scared. "I'm Eri," she replied, a bright smile spreading across her face.
"Eri! What a lovely name!" Toga exclaimed, kneeling beside her. "What are you doing all alone in the woods?"
"I was playing," Eri replied innocently, holding up her doll. "She likes the flowers."
Toga's eyes lit up as she thought about the potential for chaos. "How about we have some fun together? I know some cool people who would love to play with us!"
Before Eri could respond, Toga took her hand. And just like that, she led Eri back to the League's hideout, her mind already turning with plans of what they could do together.
The League of Villains was initially taken aback when they saw Toga return with a little girl. "Who's this?" Shigaraki asked, narrowing his eyes.
"She's Eri! We're going to babysit her until her parents come for her," Toga beamed, completely ignoring the looks of disbelief from her companions.
Dabi rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right. Like we have time for babysitting."
But it didn't matter; Toga was already determined, and Eri seemed to bring a spark of joy into their chaotic lives. The unexpected bonding began, and over the course of the next week, chaos ensued.
Eri quickly soaked up the quirks and habits of her unconventional guardians, and she somehow compelled them all to dress in matching pajamas decorated with cartoon villains. Toga declared them "League PJs," and with every member wearing their outfits, they looked… ridiculous.
Next came Christmas decorations. Eri, with her childlike imagination, decided it was time to deck the halls of the hideout. With Toga and a very reluctant Dabi tagging along, they raided a nearby store and returned with an absurd amount of tinsel, lights, and a giant inflatable Santa.
"Why are we even doing this?" Dabi muttered under his breath as he strung lights haphazardly around the entrance. But there was a flicker of a smile on his face as Eri squealed with delight, her laughter filling the air.
Kurogiri was drafted into Eri's unique vision for a "Christmas party," which resulted in an array of handmade ornaments crafted from materials he didn't even know the League had.
With every passing day, Eri injected more chaos and joy into their lives. She turned Dabi's cool, aloof persona into one of reluctant affection, often using her charm to persuade him to sacrifice his brooding for games and laughter.
On the seventh day, a frantic knock echoed through the hideout, pulling everyone from their current activity of playing with Eri. Shigaraki opened the door, his eyebrow arching when he saw a man with disheveled hair and a weary expression standing there.
"Eri! There you are!" the man shouted, relief washing over him. It was Aizawa, Eri's father.
Toga popped her head around the corner, grinning. "Guess this means our babysitting job is up!"
Aizawa's gaze scanned over the wild state of the hideout, the decorated chaos, and his daughter's delighted face. The sheer absurdity of the scene momentarily stunned him. "What happened here?"
"We threw a party!" Eri chirped, bouncing up to him with open arms. "Daddy, they're my friends!"
For a moment, all Aizawa could do was shake his head, a mix of exasperation and amusement battling in his heart. He couldn't deny the joy radiating from his daughter.
With an eye-roll that masked a smile, he turned to the League. "Thanks for… taking care of her, I guess."
Toga waved enthusiastically, "It was super fun! You're welcome to join us next time!"
As Eri hugged her father tightly, they shared a moment of warmth amidst the chaos—a moment that showed even the darkest souls could be brightened by unexpected bonds.
As Aizawa led Eri away, a new chapter began for the League of Villains—one filled with laughter, chaos, and the lessons learned from a little girl who knew how to turn the world upside down, if only for a week.