Sunrise marked the start of the last day at UA before they headed off to their internships for the term. Hitoshi couldn't help but feel glad that the weekend would soon be here giving him a break. The hospital Touya had been admitted to didn't allow visitors on weekends aside from family and he didn't have enough money to make it over there that night so he would have some time to himself.

With a groan he climbed out of bed and got changed in his training gear of a grey tank top and jogger bottoms. His phone began to buzz.

'Alarm - Training with Dad'

"Yeah yeah I know." He silenced the alert as he grabbed his capture weapon and goggles, making a quick pit stop to fill his water bottle before heading out. As he finally made it outside Dad was already there and waiting.

Shouta quipped a smirk, walking closer and placing his hand on Hitoshi's cheek before giving it a pinch.

"Hey!" Hitoshi slapped the hand away with a smile.

"You get later every time." His Father teased.

"Then don't schedule our training sessions so early in the morning."

"Come on then lazybones."

Reading Ochaco and Fuyumi's copies of 'Fruits Basket' had been super interesting because the normality it showed him (well, sorta') was almost like a guide, something he could use as a reference for typical life stuff that he was still honestly only just beginning to wrap his head around.

But there was one thing that had stuck out to him from one of the chapters, something he'd never done with a parent, or at least remembered doing anyway. He surely must have done it with Touya at some point but he couldn't remember so he wanted to do it now.

If Shouta even wanted to though.

It had been after a scene where Kyo and Yuki had gone to Tohru's Grandfather's house to persuade her to come back to Shigure's. The two Sohma's took a hand to hold each as they walked home which made Tohru feel loved and like she truly belonged.

Kacchan thought it was flouncy garbage but he didn't.

"Hey... Dad?"

"Yes, Tosh?"

"Could..."

Realising that he was probably never going to find the words he needed to even begin to convey what he was hoping to achieve, Hitoshi simply took hold of his Father's hand as they walked across the campus.

He tried to judge the expression which came to his Dad's face afterwards but he looked almost near to tears. A smile followed shortly after.

"You've never held hands before."

Not a question and so quiet that if he wasn't receiving Shouta's own training about learning to listen to everything around him, he probably wouldn't have heard it.

"Oh, I just thought, is this okay for you? I know you don't need anyone to guide you here but if this throws you off or anything we don't have to-."

"Toshi it's fine." Shouta replied softly as he gave his hand a squeeze of reassurance. "I'm honoured you asked."

Hitoshi smiled.

"Good, that's good."

"You staying over this weekend?"

Despite choosing to stay at the dorms more frequently recently for Touya related reasons Hitoshi had still made sure to go back home at the end of the week for some chill out time and normality.

With his parents now knowing the reasoning behind the switch he would probably just move back altogether, he missed Dad and Papa, Jelly and Cream, his comfy bed, and the view from his window.

"Yep." He looked nervously down at the ground. "I was wondering if... if I could come-."

"Toshi..." Shouta cut him off softly. "If you're going to ask if you can come back to the house then you really needn't; that house is your home and we told you before you switched to the dorms that it will always be your home and that you could come back whenever you wanted."

Hitoshi smiled.

"Thanks, I appreciate it."

"Zashi told me about what's been going on and what happened yesterday, are you doing okay, apparently you were a bit shaken up?"

"It's fine, I know Zashi wouldn't hit me so I don't know why I reacted like that, it was stupid."

"Don't put yourself down like that, after what you're come to consider everyday life over the years it's not stupid at all to see things as a potential threat, those instincts are what kept you alive."

"I made Zashi sad." He admitted, voice small.

"Hey..." Shouta ruffled a hand through his hair. "Don't be so hard on yourself; Zashi might have been a little upset that you thought he would ever do that but I promise you what was affecting him more was everything else that flinch represented. It sometimes slips our minds that you didn't have a typical upbringing, especially after having gotten a little more used to seeing you all happy in class and making friends, you've come on in leaps and bounds since the first day we brought you home."

Hitoshi smiled.

"I am happy, I'm really happy."

That brought a smile to his Father's face too.

"Then that makes me happy too."

Shouta then began to swing the hands they had held back and forth.

Hitoshi swung their hands even higher causing them both to chuckle at the absurdity of the height they were now reaching. He then let them rest back naturally between them.

"Thank you." He spoke up sincerely.

"What for?"

"I know that Kyo, Yuki, and Tohru are in high school too, but I've never seen anyone doing this with their parents which probably means it's childish. But, thanks for always letting me do these things regardless just so I can see what it's like, I really appreciate that."

"Don't ever let anyone tell you how to live your life, if you want to hold hands then that's fine, your development of learning about life is yours and yours only, take it at your own pace and don't give a fuck what anyone else thinks."

Hitoshi gave a nod.

"I will."


They had only been training for around ten minutes before Shouta put his hand up to pause. Hitoshi picked himself up off the floor, brushing himself down.

"Something on your mind?"

"No… why?"

His Father seemed to observe him.

"You're not yourself, I can tell." He paused. "What Sir. Nighteye said, about two eyes always being better than one, it upset you didn't it?"

He was sure his Dad's quirk was mindreading.

"A little."

Shouta sighed.

"Hitoshi listen to me; you missing an eye is only a disadvantage if you make it one." He stated reassuringly. "You're more than capable of taking anyone on when you're out there, you know you are."

"I know, I just... I hate that people keep reminding me of it, like it's any of their business what happened to me. Ever since that fucking fight at Kamino everyone seems to feel like they know me and they don't."

"You're right, it isn't any of their business, so tell them that, these strangers aren't entitled to know anything about you, and that includes pro heroes who run fancy agencies okay?"

"Okay."

"Good." Shouta pressed a kiss to the crown of his head. "Now come on, I'll give you a free strike; I won't even use my capture weapon."

"Oh you're on." Hitoshi smiled as he held out a hand to his Father pulling him up before putting distance between them ready to attack. "Wait, wait, wait."

"What?"

"Forgot I need to put the blindfold on."

He quickly tied it before adjusting his grip on the practice knife.

"Okay let's go."

Caught off-guard it was mere seconds before Hitoshi found himself pinned to the ground by his Father.

"Too slow."

"Okay okay you win."

He waited until Shouta moved back before trying to grab him and attempt a pin of his own, but it didn't work.

A firmer hand came to hold him down.

"Nice try."

Hitoshi smirked.

"Worth a shot. Okay, I'm tapping out, for real this time."

His Father went to get to his feet, managing to make it halfway before he stumbled.

Hitoshi rushed to his feet to catch him, keeping him upright.

"What's wrong?!"

"It's okay." He attempted but it didn't work.

"It's not okay! You're in pain, what's wrong?"

"It's chronic, some days are better than others and I guess this isn't one of them."

"Then why are we training, you should be in bed wrapped up?"

"I'm fine, honestly."

"I don't believe you."

"Hitoshi."

"No!"

"Toshi..." Shouta began softly, sensing the panic and fear in his son's eyes. He raised a hand to gently place it against Hitoshi's cheek. "It's normal now and it'll pass, just like it always does. I've learnt how to cope with it."

It was in moments like this when Shouta truly understood what his son feared most in this world.

Losing anyone else from his life.

"I want to take you home."

"I still have a class to teach, you know that, I have it's with you guys."

"Is it another internship information session?"

"Yes."

"Then send it all as notes, you need to rest."

"I can't just-."

"Please!" Hitoshi almost begged. "Just, let me take care of you for a change." He asked softly.

Shouta sighed.

"I'll go."

Hitoshi smiled.

"But…" Shouta added. "Only if you stay at school, that internship class is too important to be skipped so I'll see if Zashi or Vlad can take it."

"Dad…"

"That's the only way I'll agree."

He sighed.

"Fine, I'll go."

"Good." Shouta smiled.

Hitoshi looked his Father over.

"You okay to walk?"

He nodded.

"If we take it slow I'll be good." Shouta offered a smile but Hitoshi could clearly see the pain he was trying to hide behind it. "Let's go."

Hitoshi got the door of the gym, pushing the door open while being sure to keep an eye on his Father.

"I'm honestly okay, Tosh, you don't need to worry."

"I still would anyway."

Shouta smirked.

"You're a good kid."

Hitoshi unwrapped his capture weapon from around his neck, the fabric causing him to sweat from the training.

"Oh by the way, did I tell you I learnt how to do your capture weapon swingy thing."

Dad furrowed an eyebrow.

"When the hell did you do that?"

"On the way to Nighteye's when I was late."

"Toshi... you could have hurt yourself."

"I didn't though." He grinned, actually quite proud of himself. "Although my dismount could do some work."

Shouta smirked.

"As proud as I am that you managed to do it could you promise me you won't do it again until I'm there with you to train you how to do it safely."

"Yeah that's fair, I only did it because I was really late and my legs were gonna' give out."

Dad turned to him.

"Are you really going to walk me all the way to the front door, I'll be fine on my own?"

"Yes." Hitoshi nodded determinedly.

Shouta smiled.

"Hey, Hitoshi!"

He turned to the source of the familiar voice to see Mirio walking over waving.

"Senpai."

Mirio clapped him on the back with a smile.

Shouta seemed to take the interruption as the perfect excuse.

"Mirio, remember to get your agency forms back in."

"I will, sorry for the delay, sensei."

"No problem, I'll see you later, Tosh."

Dad walked off before he could protest.

Hitoshi rolled his eyes.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine; let me guess, Sir sent you to check on me?"

"Maybe... but I was already planning to come see you anyway."

"I'm fine you know, you don't need to be worried or whatever, I'm not angry with Sir or anything like that."

"Actually, he wanted me to give you this."

Mirio handed over a stack of pages stapled together.

"It's the notes from the meeting you missed."

"Thanks."

"No problem."

Hitoshi looked at the time on his phone.

"What are you doing here so early?"

"I like to get some training in before school starts; us third years start later on Fridays."

"Sounds nice." He smirked.

"You guys definitely don't though, you should go get cleaned up and changed before the bell rings you don't have that long left."

"Yes, Dad…" Hitoshi teased.

Mirio burst out laughing.

"That's a good one!" His watch began to beep. "Well I better get moving too, I'll see you at Sir. Nighteye's!"

He gave a wave.


Just before his last lesson before lunch Hitoshi's phone buzzed, it was a text from Hizashi.

'Meet me in the Staff Room at lunch :)'

Hitoshi smiled.


"You summoned me?" Hitoshi entered the staff room with a smirk.

"Hey, Tosh!"

Zashi walked over and gave him a quick hug.

"How you doing, you okay?"

He nodded.

"Just worried about Dad."

Hizashi offered a soft smile.

"Thanks for making him take it easy, Shouta is always the first to look after someone else and the last to take care of himself and admit to his own pain."

"He should be able to talk about it, why doesn't he?"

Hizashi sighed.

"I think it's just second nature by now, he's been through… a lot over the years to the point where he's just never taught himself out of keeping everything in." He paused. "I promise he'll be fine, he just needs some painkillers and some sleep, he's usually back to his usual self the next day."

"You sure?"

Hizashi nodded.

"He's strong."

"Okay."

"So, onto what I 'summoned' you here for. Tomorrow is my first show back so I was wondering if you wanted to come with me to see how it all happens?"

Hitoshi's eyes widened.

"Seriously?! I- I could do that?"

"Of course, you are a big fan of the show after all." He winked.

Hitoshi beamed, throwing himself at his Papa in a squishy hug.

"Thank you!"

Hizashi smiled.

"No problem, kiddo, in glad you're excited." He notices Hitoshi's lack of bag. "Did you being lunch?"

He shook his head.

"Toshi..."

"I know, I, I just forgot."

Zashi reached into his pocket and pulled out a note before placing it in Hitoshi's hand.

"Go and buy some food."

Hitoshi tried to hand the money back but Zashi was having none of it.

There were voices outside the door from the corridor. A flash of green and yellow followed as Zuku and Kacchan walked passed bickering.

"Hey!"

The voices stopped before they reappeared in the doorway.

"Yeah?"

"Have you two eaten yet?"

"No we were just on our way down there."

"Perfect timing, right, Tosh?"

"You being dumb again, Purple Hair?" Kacchan teased, clearly having read the situation.

"Shut up." Hitoshi shoved the money into his pocket and headed for the door.

His cousin smirked.

"Meet back here after final bell?" Zashi shouted after him.

Hitoshi smiled.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world."