They had made it a few blocks from Hatsume's workshop when Midoriya asked the question, eyes overshadowed by his hair as he looked anywhere but at Aizawa.

"Do you really think Hatsume-san will introduce me to her daughter next time?" The hesitance in his voice, striking at Aizawa like a physical blow, rang heavy with every word. How much had it taken from his young student to ask him that? To force the words past the anxiety that Aizawa could see in the rigid set of his shoulders?

Had Aizawa been anyone else he might had mistaken the question for something else, confused the twisting of Midoriya's hands as they walked for another kind of nervousness. Knowing the root of the issue and knowing what to say about it were, unfortunately, two different things, and Aizawa found himself thrown off balance once more.

Time and time again he had told Midoriya that he didn't send his students into situations they weren't prepared to handle, but he had never stopped to consider whether he was holding himself to those same standards. As a pro hero he didn't always have the luxury of being prepared for the crises he found himself in. Every pro tried, of course, but sometimes circumstances just didn't allow it. Fights were time sensitive, people were in danger. You acted and hoped that you were good enough, could think far enough ahead, for everything to work out.

As such, Aizawa hadn't stopped to think about whether or not he was fully prepared for everything that came along with mentoring a student outside of the confines of Yuuei's hero course. Could he teach Midoriya how to fight? How to read a situation, analyze his options, make decisions in the heat of the moment? Yes. The way that Midoriya had acted during the kidnapping incident had proven that, and he continued to make progress with every meeting.

But at Yuuei, Aiawa was never the sole teacher. He had his homeroom, and while he tried to get to know the students in his care well enough to help them reach their potential, in the end he wasn't the only pro hero they had to rely on. He helped them train and study, but he never got close to them.

Aizawa kept himself far away from his students' personal matters as possible, and that was the way he like it. He hadn't stopped to think about whether his situation with Midoriya would be any different, hadn't stopped to consider that he might have to help Midoriya with things that didn't have to do with fighting villains or self defence.

Struggling to keep his expression blank, Aizawa bit back a sigh. Hizashi would be so much better at this than him. His friend would take one look at Midoriya, hear the unspoken question in his voice, and know exactly what to say to make things better. Aizawa on the other hand…

He hadn't been lying when he told Bakugou that Midoriya hadn't told him much about their relationship. He had danced around the question, his familiar nickname for the other boy coupled with the way he seemed to flinch at the prospect of explaining saying far more than he probably realized. It would have been enough for Aizawa to get a decent picture of the situation had Inko not stepped in with the words that Midoriya had refused to voice himself.

"I had hoped that Izuku training with you would be the last push Katsuki needed to stop but…" Inko's words had trailed off but her meaning was clear. She had tried to shield her son from the cruelty that came from his classmates for being quirkless, but she couldn't be with him every moment of the day. There was nothing she could do when the school and the other children's parents did nothing to curb the bullying that Inko knew had to be going on but never witnessed.

Aizawa had been friendless himself until he had met Hizashi, and while he wouldn't say that time in his childhood had been pleasant he knew that it must have been very different for him than it had been for Midoriya. His isolation had been, in part, self inflicted, and he had never been bullied, his classmates too afraid of his reaction to try anything.

Midoriya though-he had wanted that close friendship more than anything and had every door slammed in his face because of something he had no control over. Children could be cruel, but only because their parents were incompetent. Things would only get worse when he reached Yuuei, parents lashing out at the quirkless boy who had gotten in on recommendations while their children had tried and failed. Other students taking their lead, angry at their own deficiencies.

"Aizawa-sensei?"

More time had passed since Midoriya had spoken than Aizawa had realized. They were almost back to the apartment now, Midoriya staring up at him, embarrassment coloring his face.

"I'm sure she will, kid." Aizawa answered.

"It-It would be nice to talk to someone else about those comics. I don't know anyone else who knows about them."

Aizawa hummed his agreement. "Do you know what we're having for dinner tonight?"

Midoriya brightened at the distraction, launching into an explanation of all the food his mother had planned on making, his smile wide in the fading light.

Midoriya would meet Hatsume Mei, Aizawa decided. Even if it meant he had to arrange the meeting himself.

Yamada-san beat them to the apartment.

It had been strange at first when the pro hero had insisted on being called by his name when he wasn't at Yuuei or on duty, but seeing him sitting at their kitchen table out of costume, his long hair pulled up in a messy bun, made the shift easier for Izuku.

Aizawa wore the same thing pretty much every time they met, the differences between his casual clothes and his hero uniform nonexistent. The contrast between "Present Mic" and Yamada Hizashi, on the other hand, was striking. Izuku almost didn't recognize the pro hero the first time he had come home to find Yamada-san talking to him mother about a mystery series they had both read. Each subsequent visit had made the image sit a little more comfortably in his mind though, until coming home to spot one hero or the other at their table had lost all novelty.

He should have known his mother would make a habit of adopting pro heroes.

"Shouta! Izuku-kun!" Yamada's voice boomed as Izuku toed off his shoes. "I didn't think that you would be back so soon! Did you have fun at Natsumi's shop?"

"It was great!" Izuku answered, making his way into the kitchen to hug his mother. Aizawa followed slowly, taking the mug of coffee Yamada offered with a nod before joining him at the table. "Hatsume-san said that she would try to finish everything up in the next week so I could start practicing."

Inko picked up her own drink as she stirred a pot on the stove. "I trust Aizawa-san's judgement, but Izuku you will be careful with all of this, won't you? Promise me?" Although Izuku hadn't know that they would be making a trip to a support shop so soon, he had shown his mother the list he had come up with for his assignment. He didn't blame her for being worried.

"I'll be extra careful, Mom. I promise."

"He won't be touching anything until we've gone over how to use Hatsume's inventions safely, Inko-san. And we won't be adding them to his training menu all at once either."

Smiling softly, Inko set her tea down and turned back to the counter. "I know my son will be safe in your hands, Aizawa-san. Now why don't you go wash up and help me with these vegetables? I need to keep an eye on the oven."

"While they're doing that, let's go to the living room, Izuku-kun," Yamada suggested. Izuku knew he was trying to whisper, but the words came out just barely lower than his usual volume. "I brought those pictures I told you about last time."

Aizawa had already started to stand following Inko's instructions, but he froze, head snapping in Yamada's direction as his friend's words registered. "What photos?"

Izuku watched, eyes wide, as Yamada laughed, waving Aizawa's question off with an exaggerated shrug. "Just some old photos from our Yuuei days. Nothing important."

"Hizashi-" Aizawa started, taking a step towards them.

"Aizawa-san, if you don't mind hurrying. I do need those vegetables soon if I'm going to finish this soup in time for dinner." Inko's voice cut through, back still turned towards them. "Izuku needs to stick to that meal plan you assigned, after all."

Aizawa looked from Yamada to Inko, suspicion clear on his face, but he sighed, running a hand through his hair as he glared at Yamada. "Of course, Inko-san."

The moment Aizawa turned away from them as well, Yamada shot Izuku the victory sign. "All in a day's work."

"What was that?" Aizawa's voice fell flat over the sound of the tap.

"The vegetables, dear."

Aizawa sighed again, but didn't say anything else as Inko gestured them towards the door.

Izuku struggled to hold back his laugh, biting his lip at the scene. Yamada didn't even bother trying, leading Izuku into the next room shaking.

"If only his students could see that!" He laughed. "They wouldn't be so afraid of him then."

Izuku sat at one end of the sofa, Yamada moving to sit beside him as he reached for the photo album on the end table.

"Principal Nedzu mentioned something about that. His students aren't really scared of him, are they?"

Yamada traced the letters on the front of the album. "He's a tough teacher. You would know that better than most, Izuku-kun. And he has a well deserved reputation for expelling students that don't meet his standards. The students who don't like him because of those actions don't seem to realize that he only pushes them so hard because he cares about their safety, and since he doesn't care much about their opinions of him as long as they stay safe he doesn't do anything to fix that perception."

Izuku could understand that. Aizawa wouldn't waste time worrying about whether or not he was liked when he had things he thought were more important to take care of, but it still didn't sit right with Izuku that almost none of his students appreciated the chance they had been given by being in Aizawa's class. Izuku had only been working with him for a few weeks in hours crammed around school and already he had so much progress.

Aizawa's students at Yuuei spent more time with the pro than he did. Why couldn't they see what Izuku saw?

"Now let's take a look through this album, Izuku-kun," Yamada said, drawing Izuku out of his thoughts. "I don't know how long your mom can keep him distracted, and I'm sure you have questions.

"Is it really okay?" Izuku asked. Aizawa hadn't seemed happy with the idea of his friend showing those pictures off, and while Izuku was curious it wouldn't be worth it if it made his mentor unhappy.

"He doesn't mind," Yamada assured him, flipping the book over. "It's not always obvious, but Shouta can be a little dramatic sometimes. If he truly didn't want me showing you this, he would have said something when I stopped to grab it from his apartment."

The album spread open between them seemed different in light of that new information. "This is his?"

"He would deny being sentimental about our school days, but the proof is right here, isn't it?"

The first page had a shot of Yamada and Aizawa standing outside the main building, the UA sign visible high in the background. Dressed in their school uniform, Yamada had an arm slung over Aizawa's shoulder, a wide grin spread across his face. Aizawa wasn't smiling in the photo, but he wasn't pushing Yamada away either, seeming comfortable with the way their shoulders pressed together.

"This was taken at the end of our first year!" Yamada explained. "You can tell because Shouta doesn't look quite as sleep deprived as he does by the end. I don't think his insomnia had set in by this point."

Izuku filed that bit of information away for later. "How did the two of you become friends?" He asked. "If you don't mind me asking?"

"I would say I'm surprised he hasn't told you this story already, but we both know he doesn't like to talk about himself. Which is fine because I get to brag about him twice as much to make up for it." Yamada looked away from the book, towards the kitchen where Izuku could hear Aizawa speaking softly although he couldn't make out what exactly he was saying. "We met the day he transferred into the hero course and-"

"Transferred into the hero course?" Izuku immediately felt guilty for interrupting, but the words had slipped out before he could think them through. He knew people could transfer into the hero course from Gen Ed. He and Aizawa had talked about it on the way to Hatsume's shop. When Izuku had done his research on the other courses at Yuuei he had read about the four students who had transferred, but none of the reports had given those students' names.

Aizawa had been one of those students?

Startled, Yamada's attention shifted back to Izuku. "He didn't tell you that?"

Izuku shook his head. "He spoke a lot about not liking the format of the exam but…"

It was hard to imagine. For so long when Izuku thought of a hero the image that came to mind had been All Might, but now, knowing Aizawa, whenever the topic came up in school his mentor was always the first person he thought of. The fact that someone had once upon a time told Aizawa that he wasn't cut out to be a pro hero was baffling. Incomprehensible.

"The exam wasn't exactly the same as it is now, but the basic concept hasn't changed. Shouta's quirk isn't good against hunks of metal, and they didn't give points then for simply destroying your opponents. They put him in the Gen Ed course until the sports festival. When he made it to the finals of the last event they had no choice but to move him to the hero course."

"And he was put in your class?" Izuku asked, mind still reeling.

Yamada nodded, smiling down at the photo still open between them. "I was the class representative. They sat him next to me hoping I could help him get adjusted to the new course. I haven't been rid of him sense."

"Why didn't he-" Izuku cut himself off, swallowing the lump in his throat. Aizawa was his mentor, but he didn't owe him anything beyond that. He shouldn't expect to be told everything about his life outside of training.

"Uh-uh, Izuku-kun," Yamada said, poking Izuku in the cheek. "Stop that. I've got practice reading people who overthink things, remember? I know exactly what little rabbit hole your mind just decided to wander down. Shouta didn't bring this up because to him it's a detail that isn't important anymore. Words? Those have never been how Shouta has shown he cares. Actions though-Shouta's actions say a lot more about what matters to him than words ever will."

Yamada repositioned the photo album, turning the page. "Now look at this picture! I had to sneak it in the middle of class, but it was totally worth it. Shouta napping in class with his eyes open. How could I pass up such an opportune moment for a selfie?"

Marlo sat at the door waiting for him when he got home.

He could see Mochi laid stretched out on his sofa. He could hear Maru or Leo scratching at their post.

But Marlo sat right inside the doorway by his shoes, and that was never a good sign.

In all honesty, he should have moved apartments by now. Midoriya had found it, and Aizawa had never gotten confirmation on whether the villains who attacked them had known where it was. Something had stopped him every time he thought about packing up his stuff though, and the longer he put it off the less he wanted to do it.

"What is it, Marlo?" He asked. The cat in question meowed at him-not an emergency then-and darted into the living room. Feeling better knowing that his life wasn't in immediate danger, Aizawa slipped out of his shoes and padded after his cat.

The light on his answering machine flashed red, and Aizawa felt his stomach drop. Only two people had his landline number, and Aizawa had just left Hizashi at the station. Which meant Nedzu needed to talk to him, but didn't want to deal with the fallout of his first reaction.

This was bound to be pleasant.

Aizawa rubbed a hand over his eyes. He had been looking forward to trying to actually sleep that night, but it seemed those plans were about to be ruined. Already cursing Nedzu for whatever news he was about to deliver, Aizawa hit play.

"Good evening, Aizawa-sensei!" The overly excited voice of the principal filled the apartment. Marlo sneezed, running out of the room. "I didn't want to bother you during your dinner with young Midoriya-kun," and Aizawa shouldn't even be surprised at this point that the principal had known where he was, "but I just wanted to call and say that I need you to stop by my office first thing tomorrow morning. It seems that last group of students expelled from your homeroom has been making a bigger fuss about their situation than normal, and I've come up with a grand way of killing two birds with one stone, as the saying goes. It's a bit unorthodox, but I'm sure it will benefit all parties involved greatly! No need to return my call now. I'll be preoccupied the rest of the night, I'm afraid. Enjoy the rest of your evening."

The machine beeped signaling the end of the message, and Aizawa cursed. Unorthodox solution. Two birds with one stone. Aizawa could see where this was going. Nedzu had made the right decision not calling him on his cell, because right now he wouldn't have wanted to hear anything Aizawa had to say.

Nedzu was about to throw Midoriya to the wolves, and thanks to that paperwork there was nothing Aizawa could do to stop him.

AN: Up Next: Nedzu's Challenge + Bakugou does some soul searching

Also, I'm in college and my classes will be starting up again on Monday. I'll try to stick to my update days as much as possible, but chapters might be a little late while I'm adjusting to my new course load. If you have any questions about the story or want to get updates about the next chapter's progress I'm on Tumblr at either theslytherinpaladin or my bnha sideblog dekuthegreatesthero

Thanks to everyone who commented last chapter!