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“I think I’m going to try and expel some people today.”
Hizashi glanced over at Shouta from his place in the driver’s seat of their car and arched an eyebrow. Shouta didn’t look up from the two files he was holding. It was some expulsions papers for two of his students that he had prepared the day before in front of the two very students he was considering expelling. Just in case he needed them. After the talking to he had given the two brats the day before, Shouta was starting to think that he might need them. He braced the papers against his knees as Hizashi turned off the highway and into Midoriya’s neighbourhood. “Really? ‘Bout time. And here I was thinking that my husband had been body swapped or something of the like. You’ve usually expelled someone by this point. Or at least transferred them to my class. What brought this one then?”
Shouta hummed and tapped the pen against the file of Mineta Minoru pointedly. The kid who had taken his Apprentice’s rightful spot in the Heroics Course and was essentially pissing it away. It was only four days into the school year and this kid was already annoying the hell out of him. Shouta always tried his very best to not pre-judge his students in anyway. He considered things that they did in the past and if they were in counselling or whatever so he could best help and train them. But judging? No, as far as he was concerned, Shouta didn’t have any room to judge anyone. Besides, with Yuuei’s screening process, it was very rare that anybody with a record of bullying or anything like that slipped into Heroics or any of Yuuei’s classes. No reason for Shouta to judge.
But Mineta Minoru? Oh, Shouta was trying very hard not to judge this kid.
Both him and Ojirou Mashirao. Both kids were on Shouta’s shit list and they were going to fucking know it by the end of today. After what Kaminari had told him what had happened before Homeroom started, how Ojirou had implied his student was weak and Mineta had called his student a fucking slur, Shouta had taken both kids out for a little private chat where he had sat both of them down and explained in great detail Yuuei’s anti-discrimination policy. He had sat down in front of them and, while chewing them out for the discriminatory comments, filled out both expulsion forms. He had left one blank part blank at the bottom and warmed them both that if there were any repeat incidents, he would be filling it post haste. He would’ve preferred expelling them right then and there but with Mineta’s parents, it was harder to expel him than a normal kid. It would take either multiple incidents or Shouta starting a war with the school board. And Shouta really didn’t feel like starting a war with the school board right now. He’d be joining the war that he was sure that Nedzu was preparing for in Midoriya’s name later on. No need to fight multiple wars with those dumbfucks at one time. And as for Ojirou, the kid’s record for spotless enough that comments that, while terribly Quirkist, were soaked in enough “kindness” weren’t enough to warrant an expulsion or even a transfer. Shouta knew. He had tried before with kids like Ojirou in the past and one incident was never enough. All Shouta could do for now was keeping a close eye on both and make sure that they understood the potential consequences of not changing their ways.
Was having to play the waiting game annoying as all hell? Yes. God yes. But at least Midoriya wasn’t aware of what the two boys had said. At least Kaminari had had the common sense to talk to Shouta about it privately instead of blurting it out in front of Shouta’s anxious and kind hearted student. At least there was that.
“Mineta called Midoriya Geneless,” Shouta said, unable to keep the cool edge from melting into his voice. God, he hated that word. Even repeating it to Hizashi to explain the context of his possible expulsions left a sour taste in his mouth. As if he was saying it directly at his Apprentice himself. It made him shudder in disgust. “And Ojirou said that he wouldn’t be fighting against such a defenceless opponent. How annoying do you think that expelling them both would be? Kid of a school board member and a kid who is just,” Shouta’s lips thinned, and he practically spat out, “worried about hurting a student who doesn’t know his place?”
Hizashi let out a low whistle and shook h is head. “Normally, I’d say not at all. But, with the School Board refusing Midoriya into Yuuei this year, I’m not so sure anymore. They both really said that?”
“According to Kaminari they did. The kid pulled me out of Homeroom yesterday and told me all about it.” Shouta felt a shred of approval going the kid’s way. When he had first met the kid during the meeting with the international students, he had initially prepared himself for a lot of exhaustion when it came to that kid Because he knew his type. He was both loud and blond. Loud Blond = A loud blond that Shouta would have to deal with. Which wasn’t fair. Shouta was already married to a loud blond, he didn’t need another one to deal with. Especially a loud blond who had managed to short himself out and make himself a liability in the Entrance Exam. Shouta’s loud blond had never done that. All Shouta’s loud blond had done at their Entrance Exam was gotten a sore throat and made several pairs of ears ring. If he was being honest, Shouta had initially thought that the kid would be one of the early ones to be transferred to 1-C.
But judging by how the kid had immediately known what to do when faced with two other kids in his class being little Quirkist shits, maybe Shouta had judged a little too quickly. It took a lot of guts to be the kid from a whole other country in a new school and stand up against what was that country’s prejudice. A prejudice that was written deeply in said country’s culture and society. Because they were talking about a kid that Kaminari had just met and he knew that the way that they were talking was wrong. Even though that it could put him on the outs with the rest of his classmates, the kid still did what he thought was right. And that took guts. And Shouta appreciated having kids with guts in his class. The Quirk control would come after some one-on-one time with both Shouta himself and maybe even Hizashi. If he couldn’t make the cut later on, then Shouta would transfer him to 1-C with Hizashi. After all, guts would only get a Hero so far. But it would save Kaminari here. The rest was up to the kid himself.
“Keep an eye on them both for me,” Shouta asked, glancing up from his files and his husband. He softened a little at Hizashi’s immediate nod and leaned other in his seat and pressed a kiss to his husband’s cheek.
Hizashi just laughed and gently pushed him away with one hand. “I’m driving, Shouta, do you want to die in a car crash? Your Apprentice wouldn’t have anyone else to train him if we did, now, would he?” He glanced over at Shouta with a warm, mischievous smile and winked. “Wait until we’re parked at the least.” The two of them snickered, Shouta feeling that same warm feeling he had felt when they had first started dating, but Hizashi’s giggles faded away a few seconds later as they drove closer to Shouta’s young Apprentice’s apartment. “Or . . . maybe we should wait until after school tonight. Cause it looks like you got a complainant to deal with.” Shouta frowned and glanced in the direction that Hizashi was glancing in. And immediately groaned in annoyance.
Midoriya Inko was waiting outside with her son this morning. And from the moment that Shouta saw the woman standing behind her already obviously embarrassed son’s shoulder with pursed lips and crossed arms, he knew that it was going to be a particularly annoying conversation.
He fought against another groan as Hizashi pulled to a stop in front of Midoriya’s apartment building and rubbed at his eyes in just pure exhaustion. It was too fucking early for this. For just all of this bullshit. Because he knew Midoriya Inko’s type. He had known her type from the very first second he had met her and it looked like that particular annoying character trait hadn’t changed since Shouta had seen her last almost three weeks ago. Great. Just great. He really didn’t want to deal with this today. “If she claws my eyes out,” he muttered as he undid his seat belt, “do me a favour and don’t let Snipe take Midoriya on as an Apprentice. Even if you have to take him on yourself.”
“Oh, what a horror of a favour. Having to take on a smart, clever, quick kid on as an Apprentice who can analyze with the best of them. Oh, I guess that I’ll have to fall on my sword if that’s what my husband’s last wish is.”
Jesus, Shouta got no Goddamn respect around here. Not even from his own husband. Lovely.
Shouta sighed and slipped halfway out of the car. He leaned his arms against the top of his car, staring out at the two Midoriya with a bored gaze and half lidded eyes. “Midoriya-san, Midoriya-kun. Lovely morning.” He wasn’t sure if his irritation at being kept waiting for the drive to Yuuei came through to Midoriya’s mother. But he hoped that it did. He really didn’t like delays. Hopefully, whatever this was about wouldn’t take long. Or, at least give him enough time to buy him and Hizashi a coffee and Midoriya a hot chocolate before classes started. “It’s good to see you, Midoriya-san. You haven’t been out here the last few times that I picked your son up for the day.”
“I wanted to talk to you for a few minutes, Aizawa-san,” Midoriya Inko said with an obviously fake smile. Great, she was one of those people. The kind of person with a fake smile so fake that it looked like it had been painted on her. Shouta would have to check with his Apprentice to see the kid’s was as bad as forcing false expressions as his mother’s. “So, I thought that I’d talk to you about it before you picked up Izu-chan here for the day. Oh, and please, call me Inko.”
Great. A full-blown conversation. Great.
Shouta sighed, not bothering to hide it, and slipped fully out of the car. He closed the door behind him and slowly trudged around to the other side of the car where the Midoriyas were waiting for him. “In the car, Problem Child,” he muttered, reaching out and putting a hand on his Apprentice’s shoulder. He gently pulled him forwards. “You go on your daily run?”
“N-“
“Oh, I told Izu-chan not to bother today,” Inko said with a small raise of her hand. The boy that she had talked over wilted and ducked his head, obviously upset at the lost chance at getting to talk himself. “He’s been working so hard lately, nothing wrong with taking a day off.”
Shouta slowly arched an eyebrow. “I sent you his training schedule. His rest days are Sunday, just like my own. The rest of the week is filled with exercises that I created specifically for Midoriya to best help him grow as a young Hero in Training. I do that with all of the students that I teach.”
“Well, yes, but Izuku is . . . you know that he’s delicate.”
Midoriya’s shoulders slumped, his head ducked enough that his chin met his chest, and Shouta felt a strike of anger so deep and strong that he honestly thought that it was going to knock it off of his feet. This was Midoriya’s mother. His mother. His own mother looked at this strong, clever, quick child and declared him weak and delicate. For nothing more than a lack of a Quirk. As if that didn’t make Midoriya’s accomplishes all the more impressive. And Midoriya Inko refused to see any of that. Just a weak, frail little boy who couldn’t be treated like the rest of the kids. Even if that meant sabotaging his training that very well might save him in the future.
Shouta’s heart panged for his young Apprentice.
“. . . Midoriya, why don’t you get in the passenger’s seat this morning? Tell Hizashi to go get some coffee for the two of us and you can get whatever.” Shouta glanced down at his far too timid looking student and tried to soften his expression if just a little. Or, at least make it a little less bitchy. He wasn’t sure if it worked, Shouta was a rather bitchy person in general, but it seemed to make Midoriya relax if only a little. “Did you have any breakfast?”
“I-I had some toast, sensei,” Midoriya said softly, tugging at his fingers. Shouta glanced down at them with a pointed stare and Midoriya winced a little, letting go of his fingers and pulling out his tangle fidget from his pocket, holding it up close to his collar as he started to pull at it anxiously. “With an, an egg on t-top. And some yogurt.”
Good. At least Inko was feeding the boy good food. It could definitely be worse.
Shouta nodded and gently pushed him in the direction of the passenger chair. “Good. Then you’ll only need a warm drink to get you ready for school today. Go. Make sure that Hizashi doesn’t spend all of my money.”
Midoriya hesitated for a moment before nodding. He glanced back at Inko and clearly forced a smile. “B-bye, Mama. Have a, a good day at the hos-hospital.”
“You too, sweetie,” Inko said with an almost condescendingly sweet smile. “Call me if you need me to come pick you up, okay Love? If it gets too much, then I’ll come running to pick up my baby.” The words were nice but the implication and lack of faith in Midoriya made something in Shouta shift uncomfortably.
When Shouta and Hizashi had started to date each other, Hizashi had told him of his own experiences in the foster system before his mothers had adopted him. And one of the worst stories that Hizashi had told him were of a . . . nice couple. And there were nice enough. They had never hit him, never starved him of food, never locked him in his room for hours on end. He had a room. Which wasn’t always a guarantee. It should be but it hardly ever was. Shouta could say that for certain. And, at first, Hizashi had been ecstatic with his then foster parents. And then that nice set of foster parents had started to get . . . helicoptery. Possessive almost. To the point that it genuinely used to make Hizashi scared to go back to their home each day. He was their little Songbird, and he was terrified that they’d never allow him to leave the nest. It was only Hizashi calling up his social worker on a stolen phone after his own had been confiscated and begging him to find him a new home that he had been able to escape their grasp. And to this day, nobody could call Hizashi Songbird without Shouta’s husband excusing himself to promptly throw up. That home had terrified him that much.
And Shouta didn’t want to paint Midoriya Inko with the same paintbrush as that ever so nice set of foster parents. He really didn’t. But when Midoriya winced and hurry into the car to get away from his mother’s too sweet smile and a gaze like she was staring at a fragile newborn instead of a growing teenager, Shouta couldn’t help but do just that.
Hizashi glanced up at him through the window of their car and gave him a slightly worried look. But the moment that Midoriya slipped in the front passenger seat, Shouta’s husband immediately turned to the young Quirkless boy with a bright smile and started talking. Shouta couldn’t hear their conversation through the closed windows but had to fight a smile at how Midoriya immediately smiled at the positive greeting. God, Hizashi was so much better with kids than Shouta could ever hope to be. There was probably a reason why Hizashi’s graduated students all sung his praises and the most common review from Shouta’s graduates were, “I’d punch him in the balls if I ever had the chance but, and fuck does it hurt to admit, I’d probably be dead without the jerk.” Which Shouta was perfectly fine with. But that did mean that this Apprenticeship with Midoriya would probably end with his own damn Apprentice liking his husband more than he liked him.
. . . Ah, that was alright. Shouta liked Hizashi more than anyone else too.
“Aizawa-san-“
Shouta turned to Inko and raised a finger to his lips with narrowed eyes in a silent but firm gesture. He glanced back at the car in a pointed manner before glancing back at the mother. And to her credit, Inko did immediately fall silent. Albeit, it was with an annoyed sigh and an impatient expression, but Inko did eventually fall silent. Thankfully, they didn’t need to wait that long. Without a minute or two, Hizashi was pulling out from in front of the apartment. Hopefully to go get Shouta his usual coffee order. Hopefully anyway. Shouta waited until they had turned a corner and were out of sight before turning back to Inko. “I have a feeling that this is going to be a rather heated conversation. And I don’t know about you but, as a child, I always hated seeing my guardians and teacher arguing. Better the kid goes and get a hot chocolate while we talk.”
To her credit, Inko didn’t deny the fact that she was expecting an intense conversation just as much as Shouta was. She did look a little embarrassed at being seen through so easily but didn’t back down. She lifted her chin up, very much like her son whenever he was trying to fake bravery, and said firmly, “You’re pushing my baby far too hard. He comes back from school each day exhausted.”
“. . . He’s training to be a Hero, not playing pretend,” Shouta practically drawled, arching an eyebrow at her. God, he was exhausted with dealing with this type of parent each year. Year in and year out, there was always at least one kid with a parent who didn’t realize just what they had signed their kid up for. As if they thought that Shouta was going to be leading his class in nothing, but little jogs each day and they wouldn’t even be doing spars until their final year of Yuuei. Most of Shouta’s students didn’t have parents like that, thank God. Shouta doubted that he’d be able to handle it if they did. But there was always that one parent who thought that their cute little baby should be treated with a more “delicate touch”.
Shouta was training Heroes in Training from Yuuei high school, not working at a Goddamn daycare.
Most of those unfortunate kids ended up getting transferred out of Shouta’s class, much to his annoyance. Many of those kids had plenty of potential but were being held back. Which . . . whatever. It sucked but Shouta wasn’t their parents and could only tell their parents the exact same thing. That their kid had potential and to draw that potential out, Shouta had to be rough with them. Some parents understood after a few intense conversations. Others didn’t. Shouta really hoped that Midoriya Inko was one of the few who did. Because Midoriya wasn’t just another of his students. He was his Apprentice. And Shouta didn’t feel like having conversations like this each time that Midoriya came home with a bruise or some shit. God, he didn’t even want to imagine what Inko would be like when he started bringing Midoriya on patrols with him.
“He’s Quirkless,” Inko said firmly, as if that meant anything.
Shouta sighed. “I’m aware, Inko-san. But you signed the papers making him my Apprentice and gave me permission to train him however I like. And this is how I train any and all of the teenagers in my class. Midoriya does all of the same training that 1-A does each day at the same time. And after school, he does additional, one-on-one training with me. On days when the training 1-A does is non-physical, we do more intense after school training sessions. On days when the in-school training is physical, we do non-physical one-on-one training that is centered around case work, his analysis, and factors that he should consider that involve Underground Heroics. On Saturdays, the kid and I spend at the Young Heroes facility where I run him through his paces. Whether that be in parkour, sparring, or with a Capture Scarf. And Sundays is his mandatory Rest Days. That is the same training schedule that most students from Hero families in their first years have.”
Inko scowled and said firmly, “Like you said, those are kids from Hero families.”
“And there’s a reason why those brats are often the best of the best. Because their parents or trainers know how they need to be trained.” That are the unfair advantage that they were given straight from birth. “I’ve been training Young Heroes for a very long time, Inko-san. I do know what I’m doing here.”
And then Inko said something that made Shouta bristle a little in annoyance. “Do you?” Ohhh, he fucking hated when his credentials as a teacher was questioned. He didn’t become a teacher at Yuu-fucking-ei by asking nicely. He had gone to school, got a degree, and then spent a full fucking year observing how a Heroics class was taught properly before taking over. And he had been teaching Heroics now for several Goddamn years. He had churned out some of Japan’s finest Heroes in the past ten years. And, more importantly, all of his graduating students were still alive. If that didn’t prove just how good he was at teaching then Shouta didn’t know what would. “Izu-chan is Quirkless, Aizawa-san. He’s not like the other children that you teach.”
“You’re right. I find him more talented than most of them,” Shouta said, barely avoiding snapping back at her. “He’s a boy with a vast amount of potential, Midoriya-san. I said that when I first met both you and him and I stand by that statement. I wouldn’t have taken him on as an Apprentice if I didn’t think that.”
Inko pursed her lips and looked away. “I wish I could see what you do,” she said, glaring daggers at the ground between the two of them. “I really, really do. But I can’t. I just see my poor baby who doesn’t realize how fragile he is compared to everyone else around him and his, his mission to run to death. And how you and all those teachers at Yuuei were perfectly happy to assist him with that mission.”
Shouta fought back a snarl from forming on his lips as he asked, infuriately calm, “If you hate him training for Heroics so much then why did you sign those papers?” Why? Why would a woman who hated her Quirkless son’s dream of Heroics so much allow him to run after it? It didn’t make any Goddamn sense.
“Because I know that he’s going to fail. At least by doing this, I can say that I tried to support him even when I knew that he’ll never be able to do what your class will. And I know my son. If I didn’t sign the papers, he would’ve found some other way to run after Heroics. Even if that means waiting until he’s eighteen and going for an Apprenticeship then. Hopefully, he’ll realize soon how foolish he’s being.” Inko’s hands clenched, and she muttered out, “I don’t think that I’d be able to stand there and watch if the Hero Commission was ever cruel enough to actually give him his license.”
For a long moment, Shouta just stared at her in silent judgement and felt so, so much pity for his poor Apprentice. He had known, of course, that Midoriya Inko had no faith at all in her son. And he had assumed the reason why she had signed those papers. She had pretty much told her son why during the initial meeting that had sealed all of their faiths. But it made Shouta almost sick to hear it said just so plainly. She signed the papers to agree to allow Midoriya to train as Shouta’s Apprentice just to not seem like the bad guy to her son so that when his inevitable failure came, she would be able to swoop in like a true hero. Maybe even to crush his spirits so that, even when he was legally an adult, he wouldn’t have the guts to go after his lifelong dream himself.
She didn’t believe in him. Not even a little.
When Shouta next spoke, it was quiet and soft. Which was strange. He felt much angrier than he sounded. “He’s not weak, Inko-san. Midoriya Izuku is anything but.” The look that was sent his way said just what Midoriya Inko thought of that statement. “But . . . But back to the discussion at hand. You signed those papers. They’re legally binding. I’ve handed in a copy in to my lawyer and he agreed. I am allowed to train my Apprentice in any way as long as it doesn’t risk permanent injury and as long as it relates to his training as a Hero Apprentice. And everything that I train him in relates to Heroics.” Shouta looked Midoriya Inko in the eyes and said firmly, “I won’t be risking my Apprentice and your son’s life in the future by going easy on him now.”
Inko glared at him for a long minute. She was clenching her hands tightly and Shouta could feel his scarf tug gently against his neck as Inko’s Quirk was subconsciously activated. He fought the urge to erase her Quirk as he would to one of his students and remind her of the law against using a Quirk in public, let alone against a Pro Hero. She was an adult, and it wasn’t his job to lecture her on Quirk control. She should be able to do that on her own. Finally, Inko sighed and looked away. “Fine. I can only hope that you’ll be able to see it my way soon enough.” She looked up at him and said softly, “I know that you think you’re being kind, Aizawa-san, by humouring my son. But he’s just not like the other kids you teach. You can’t give him the same things that Quirked kids get.”
“I’m giving him the only thing that I ever give my students. A chance.”
He was going to have to watch the Midoriya household more closely now. Pay more attention to his Young Apprentice’s moods and thoughts towards himself. If this was how his mother spoke about him to practical strangers, how did she speak about him to his face? Shouta couldn’t see how it could get much worse but . . . but there was definitely the potential there. The ideal scenario would be to get Midoriya away from this sort of talk altogether. But it didn’t look like his mother would be changing her opinion anytime soon. And Shouta didn’t want to separate a child from their parent unless he had no choice. And even if it did go to court, which it might if he dug deeper and found more things that he didn’t like, no Judge in Japan would take away a poor, fragile Quirkless child away from such a loving mother who was only telling the truth. All Shouta could do right now was document and document well. Talk to Midoriya about his homelife, document each conversation he had with the kid’s mother, and keep an eye on things. There was nothing else for Shouta to do.
God, he wished there was more that he could do.
But Shouta just watched as Midoriya Inko turned on her heel and walked back into her apartment complex, closing the door firmly behind her. His scarf finally fell back limply around his shoulders and Shouta’s lips curled in annoyance. Fuck, he hated when people used their Goddamn Quirks on his scarf. It was his Capture scarf. And it was his. Not just something to be grabbed at whenever. Annoying.
He signed and turned back around when a car pulled up to the apartment complex, lips twitching when he took in the scene. Hizashi and Midoriya were both holding large takeaway cups of coffee in one hand, Midoriya with just the barest hints of chocolate sticking to his lips, and it was obvious to Shouta that they had to be talking about Quirk Analysis of some kind. Nothing else Hizashi as excited as he currently was, bouncing in his seat and eyes sparkling in joy. Nerd. And Midoriya was matching Hizashi’s enjoyment with ease, rocking back and forth slightly as his mouth moved a mile a minute. Nerds. As Shouta watched, he couldn’t help but think about how . . . domestic the scene looked. If someone didn’t know their situation, then they might just think that Hizashi and Midoriya were father and son.
The thought warmed something in Shouta more than he would ever, ever admit.
But Shouta quickly pushed away that mushy feeling and slipped into the back seat, holding out his hand and grunting off, “Coffee. Gimme.”
“Well, somebody’s cheery!” Hizashi laughed as he glanced back and took in Shouta’s glare before handing back a large takeaway mug. If it wasn’t for the nice, fresh scent coming from the takeaway mug then Shouta probably would’ve been a lot more annoyed. Or probably not. Hizashi was cute. Cute people got away with more sass than most. It was scientifically proven. “Here you go, Shouchan. And I got you a breakfast sandwich too. It’s already back there for you.”
Shouta grunted in thanks and leaned forward, pressing a kiss to Hizashi’s cheek. “Thanks, ‘Zashi.” He glanced over at Midoriya, who had pointedly ignored the public display of affection, and looked him up and down with narrowed eyes. “You alright, Problem Child?”
It looked like Midoriya was a better actor than his mother. If only by a little. Because the kid immediately smiled at Shouta with almost an impressive fake smile. Almost impressive. “I-I’m okay, sensei!” The kid’s smile wobbled and he said softly and stuttery, “I-I’m, I’m sorry that I didn’t run this morning. Mama wouldn’t let me leave.”
Shouta let out an annoyed sigh through his nose but just reached forward and gently patted his Apprentice’s head. “It’s fine. Tell me if and when she does that again. I’ll make sure that you get your warmup in.” He glanced over at Hizashi. “Speaking of, drop us both off two miles away from Yuuei. Midoriya, drink your hot chocolate before we get there. You’ll feel better running with something hot in his stomach.”
The smile lit up Midoriya’s face in a way that made Shouta relax in a way that he rarely did. Shouta was going to have to fight to make sure that that smile stayed there as long as he could. And, for once, he had no problem with that. After all, Shouta didn’t put time into things that weren’t worth his time.
And his Apprentice? Oh, his Apprentice was very much worth his time.