Shouta Aizawa sat at his desk as he looked over the papers in front of him. He read the names as he filed each one away with a bittersweet smile.
All of them had come a long way since their first day and he was proud of them. He was proud of Bakugo who had learned how to work with others.
Todoroki had learned how to be a kid and just exist, without worrying about his dad.
Midoriya had stopped breaking his bones and made his quirk his own, on his way to become the new symbol of peace.
Kaminari showed how smart he was instead of always being the class clown.
Mineta had changed considerably from his first year. He now actually respected peoples personal space and had made friends in the class.
All the kids in his class had grown up so much in the three years they were at U.A. he was immensely proud of all of them.
They'd all gone through some tough times after AllMight had died. Along with the passing of Present Mic as well.
Both had died protecting the students in a horrific battle only a year ago. Shouta threw himself into his work after his husband and boyfriend passed worrying his students.
Hitoshi Shinso who had been adopted by Shouta and Hizashi a few years before knew he had to do something about it.
He'd called his classmates having been transferred into the hero course and they put together a slide show of memories with the help of Nemuri Kayama and Tensei Iida and the rest of the teachers at U.A.
He smiled at the memory as he got to the end of the stack taking a breath as he thought about what he was going to do.
He always thought that when he left it would be because a villain had finally gotten the best of him. Or he would just go to sleep and not wake up.
He looked at the picture on his desk and smiled sadly. Hizashi insisted that they take the picture to commemorate their first date with Toshinori. It had Toshinori being squished between the two as they kissed his cheek.
"They made it, just like you both knew they would. I can't believe I lost both of you only a year ago."
Shouta stood up and looked out the window at the kids walking across campus. He smiled before looking down at the picture.
"I think it's time. With you two gone and this class leaving I don't think they need me anymore." He said running his finger over the glass. "This is the year I retire."
He set the picture back on his desk as he grabbed his papers putting them in his bag before heading to the principal's office.
He took a breath before knocking on the door. He looked at his boss and nodded politely as he went to take a seat.
"Aizawa? I'm surprised to see you. How may I help you?"
"I wanted you to be the first person I told." He said looking at his boss with an unreadable expression.
"What do you wish to tell me?" Nezu said with his hands folded in front of him.
"Honestly, this is harder than I thought it was going to be. I've been thinking about this for a while. After everything that's happened in the last three years it's about time I retire."
Nezu blinked shocked at what he said. "Did you just say what I think you said?"
"I did. I know it's a shock it was a shock when I first thought about it. I would've retired last year after Hizashi and Toshi…I made a promise to myself and these kids that I'd be their teacher until graduation. They've all come a long way since then. They'll all be graduating this year so I'm leaving."
"Are you absolutely sure this is what you want to do? You're the best teacher at this school. I'd honestly hate to lose you, you're responsible for some of the greatest hero's out there."
"Thank you Nezu, I'm glad you feel that way. I have enjoyed being a teacher, but I will be retiring from teaching and being a pro hero." He said folding his hands in front of him.
Nezu sighed as he jumped down walking around to the male in front of his desk. He regarded him before clearing his throat as he nodded to him. "Alright then. I'll respect your decision however there will always be a place for you if you decide to come out of retirement." He said patting his hand.
"Thank You Nezu, I'll inform the students and the other teachers myself. Thank you for letting me work here all these years."
"It's been a pleasure working with you Eraserhead."
Aizawa bowed to him as he got up and walked out of the room going to the teachers' lounge that had gotten really dull in the past year.
There were only three other teachers in the room one who was one of his best friends. The other two had gotten close to him after they lost two of their own last year.
He looked over at Kayama, Ectoplasm and Ishiyama. He cleared his throat getting their attention. "I have something to tell you all."
"You feeling okay Eraserhead?" Ishiyama asked noticing his friend wasn't his usual stoic self.
"I wanted to tell you all myself before the media gets ahold of it."
"Eraser, is there something bothering you?"
"Aizawa, you're scaring me."
"I'm retiring after graduation." He said bluntly as he looked at his friends. "I will no longer be a teacher or a pro hero after this school year ends."
"Is someone forcing you to retire?" Nemuri asked as she walked over to her friend.
"If they were, I'd be fighting it with everything I have. This decision is of my own free will. After everything that's happened these past few years it's time. I can't stay here any longer not after losing them."
"Aizawa if you're retiring because you think what happened is your fault then you're sorely mistaken." Ectoplasm said from where he sat on the couch.
"I can assure you that I do not blame myself for their deaths. There was a time where I will admit that yes, I did, however that time has passed. It's for the best, my class has proven they're ready and I don't see any class better than them."
"Aizawa have you talked to Nezu? I'm sure he'd give you some time off if that's what you need."
"I just came from there, I told him first. You helped me through the toughest time of my life. It's time I sit on the side lines, although if you need help with a class or anything you can call me."
"I never thought I'd see the day when Shouta Aizawa retires." Nemuri said putting her hand on his shoulder. "Have you told the class yet? Or Hitoshi?"
"I'm going to wait to tell them just a little longer."
They nodded to him before he said goodbye and headed home. He walked out of the school and got in his car before driving to his house.
As he walked inside, he looked around seeing that it looked like how he lived before he was with Hizashi and even Toshinori. They weren't together long but it was enough to leave an impact. There was some differences mainly from Hitoshi keeping up certain habits.
He smiled sadly as he walked to take a shower figuring out how to tell his students.
He wanted to tell them all together and wasn't sure how to get in touch with all of them. At least not without worrying them. So, he waited until their graduation night when everyone would be in the same room.
He looked at all of them seeing how they started out on day one and how they looked now. He took a breath as he stood up and cleared his throat.
They all looked to him quieting down giving him their full attention.
"I don't normally do this nor do I normally say this. I have known you for three years and you have grown up in front of my eyes. I am so proud of the men and women you have become. I can't wait to see what you achieve as hero's." Aizawa said as he took a stack of envelopes out of his drawer. "I have written you all a letter to express exactly how proud of you I am."
Koda stepped forward clearing his throat as he had found his voice over the course of these three years. "Mr. Aizawa, we wanted to thank you for being our teacher and putting up with us these last three years."
"You have inspired us in our lowest points, and we have loved having you as a teacher." Sato said speaking up from his seat.
"We're super glad that you were our homeroom teacher we can't wait to see the pros you train next." Sero said oblivious to his teachers retirement.
Everyone else started coming forward and telling him how they felt about having him as a teacher. Shouta felt bad for keeping this secret from his son, but he didn't want him to have to lie to his friends.
"Alright, alright. That's enough it's time for the ceremony. Go on and head out." He said having passed out the letters already.
They walked out cheering with each other and he watched them.
He was wearing a suit instead of his hero uniform seeing as he'd retired as a pro officially the day before.
He walked out behind his class closing his door for the last time making sure they had everything. He sat up on stage and he could tell his students had read his letter telling them that he was no longer going to be a teacher or a pro hero.
After the ceremony it was time for the speeches from the heroes present.
Nemuri went first congratulating everyone on making it this far. Ectoplasm and Cementoss had similar speeches and then Nezu congratulated the kids on graduating and working as hard as they did along with the rest of the first-year teachers.
Next it was Aizawa's turn and he walked up to the stand as he cleared his throat.
"Good evening everyone. Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins. Today has been coming for a while now. I have watched your children grow into the young men and women they are today. It has been a pleasure being class 3-A's home room teacher."
"I can't wait to see what they do as pro heroes or whatever career path they take from here. As you know last year, we lost two wonderful teachers. One of them was my husband Yamada Hizashi, the other was my boyfriend, they will forever be remembered in my heart. After a great deal of consideration, I notified Principal Nezu a few weeks ago that I would be retiring this year."
The crowd erupted in shock, surprised to hear him say that whispering amongst themselves.
"Not only as a teacher but also as a pro hero. From this moment on I will live my life as Aizawa Shouta. Pro hero Eraserhead hung up his gear last night for the last time. This is more of an emotional night than normal."
"To my students I wish nothing but happiness and prosperity in every challenge you take from this moment on. I probably shouldn't say this, but this year's graduating class is the best class that I have ever taught. I hope you all know how proud I am to have had you all as students. Thank you for three wonderful years of teaching." He said before he moved to sit down letting the ceremony close.
The classes got up and hollered as they all headed to go meet their parents before going to the after party that the school was throwing for them.
Shouta stood off to the side not wanting to get caught up in the crowds of people.
He watched his students talk to their families and their partners before he took his leave. He braved the crowds and got to his car without being confronted by anyone.
That was the last time anyone ever heard from Pro Hero Eraserhead. In fact, that was the last time anyone ever remembers seeing Aizawa Shouta, except those closes to him.
There had been sightings here or there that could've been him but there was no definitive proof.
The graduating class moved on to their own paths forging new families and new friendships living their best lives. They always ended back up in Japan every year.
All of them at one time or another always flew back to see their old classmates or their teachers. The public lost track of Aizawa Shouta after a while.
That is until the news broke after Hitoshi Aizawa-Yamada and Denki Kaminari announced they were getting married.
After that day Aizawa went back into the shadows, he'd make small appearances for all his kids.
He thought of his last class as his family which is probably how he survived if he did. He'd met a few new people, but no one matched up to Hizashi or Toshinori.
When the news broke that Aizawa-Yamada Shouta had been found dead by his son and son-in-law the entire country of Japan was shocked.
They held a service for him a week later burying him next to his husband and boyfriend. All his former co-workers, pro hero's and teachers alike were in attendance along with his last class and their partners.
Tears were shed that day only being rivaled by the day they lost the symbol of peace and Present Mic. The skies were covered in clouds for weeks after that letting the inhabitants mourn.
It seemed even the villains knew not to mess with the pros for a while as the crime rate dropped considerably.