"Alright, it's time to go home," Maijima suddenly called out.
The announcement broke Izuku from his concentration on the gadget he was working on. The greenet looked up to read the clock and was surprised that the Support teacher was right. Huh, guess time flew by when you were busy tinkering. He quickly put his materials away eager to go home and see his mom. But as usual Mei took a bit more convincing to leave her newest precious baby.
"Come on, Mei-chan," Izuku pleaded as he cleaned up around her. "We've got to go. You can work on that tomorrow."
"Five more minutes," Mei replied, still leaning over and working on her baby.
The greenet let out an exasperated sigh before saying, "No, Mei-chan. Five minutes for you is actually an hour at least. Now let's go. You can work on the ones you have a home, okay?"
The reminder of her other babies managed to motivate her enough to pack up and ready to leave the studio with only minor patches of grease here and there. They all headed out of the studio as Maijima locked the door behind them. The trio walked through the halls and off campus heading for the train station.
"So Mei-chan's going to be working in her studio," Izuku commented as they went, said pinkette in her own little world deciding which baby to work on first. "What do you have planned for tonight, Hitoshi?"
The reason he asked was because he had figured that his friend would have gone home with their teachers. Not that he had to now that they lived together. But it would be more convenient than public transportation if they were all going to the same place.
"Actually, I was wondering if I could go to your place for a bit?" Hitoshi answered in a questioning tone.
"Oh, sure!" Izuku chirped happily, always loving having his friends over. "Anything in particular you want to do?"
"Just hang out and, uh, maybe pick up some stuff?" the taller boy said hesitantly.
Green eyes widened at the hint to the things he was keeping safe for his friend. At first, he hadn't known why Hitoshi had asked him to but after learning about his situation he could figure why. However, Izuku knew that he wasn't at the center anymore and was in fact with their caring and supportive teachers. That Hitoshi was safe and in good hands. Hero hands.
"We can do that," Izuku replied with a warm smile.
"Cool," Hitoshi said with an appreciative half grin. "Thanks, Green Bean."
"No problem, Purple Panda," the greenet answered with a playful and supportive fist bump to his taller friend's arm.
"Wait," Mei interjected as she came to a sudden stop in front of the station. The pinkette gave her two friends in the tier of best the stink eye. "Purple Panda? Since when did Hitoshi get a nickname?"
"Um…two weeks ago?" Izuku answered apprehensively.
The nickname had been made on the fly and was meant to be embarrassing. That had totally failed because the jerk actually liked it but that was fine since it was a good fit anyway. Though he guessed this was the first time he had said it out loud around Mei.
"TWO WEEKS!" the pinkette shrieked, earning curious stares from passersby.
"Calm down, Mei-chan," the Quirkless teen pleaded with placating hands.
"Noooo~, Izuku, it's not fairrr~," she complained with a pout, grabbing his arm and shaking him pleadingly. "You have Green Bean and now Hitoshi has Purple Panda. What about me? Aren't nicknames best friend stuff?"
"Th-they are, Mei-chan," Izuku replied, nodding as she let go. "We can figure a nickname for you. For sure! Um, how about…"
"Pink Gremlin," Hitoshi interrupted with a thoughtful look on his face.
The two inventors paused at the suggestion. It was weird but also fit Mei perfectly. She was an absolute gremlin when it came to Support and her babies. The number of explosions that happened in the studio were evidence of that. She was a demon of a Support Engineer and would take the world by storm with her inventions. It was just…perfect.
"I like it!" Mei said with a gleeful grin. "Green Bean, Purple Panda, and Pink Gremlin."
"The Freakateers together once again," Hitoshi said with an affirming nod. "Might as well come up with one for our D'Artagnan too while we're at it."
"We so should!" Mei chimed in excitedly. "Hmm, but what? His two-tone hair kind of throws off the whole color theme."
"Sobaroki," Hitoshi suggested. "Cause you know, he's constantly eating soba."
"Sobaroki?" Izuku questioned with a smirk. "Really?"
"Yes, really. That or Sluuuurp," the brainwasher shot back with a challenging but friendly glare. "Or we could go with any of the ones we came up with for his Hero name. I still stand by Sholato."
"You're ridiculous," the greenet giggled as he shook his head.
"How about Candy Cane?" Mei offered. "Or Peppermint!"
"Hmm…I could get behind Peppermint," Hitoshi said with a nod. "Peppermint Stick? Peppermint Swirl? Nah, he doesn't have a swirl. What do you think, Izuku?"
"Um, Peppermint…Prince?" Izuku suggested, thinking of how regal his friend was at times while others he could be a complete dork. But an adorable dork.
"I like it!" Mei cheered with a fist to the air as they arrived at the station. "Excellent. Now all of the Freakateers are nicknamed. Well, I've got to go. Bye!"
With a quick wave, their excitable friend was rushing off to her train so she could get home to her babies as soon as possible. Hitoshi and Izuku watched her go in amusement before heading to their own train.
"So Peppermint Prince, huh?" the brainwasher said as they went. "I guess it works. He is the son of a high-ranking Hero. Sort of prince like."
"Oh, uh, yeah, I guess," the Quirkless teen replied though that hadn't been his reasoning nor would he ever connect Shouto to anything related to his father. But Hitoshi didn't know about how life in the Todoroki house was like.
"You know another name you could call him?" Hitoshi said with a teasing tone causing the shorter boy to eye him suspiciously. "Doki-Doki-Todoroki."
Izuku glared at his friend but pointedly did not react any more to the taunt. Even if he was admitting to himself that he liked Shouto as more than a friend, he would not succumb to his jerk of a friend's teasing. Thankfully the rest of the way to his apartment was filled with friendly chatter and sharing of memes and other internet things on their phones. Cats being among them of course. Soon they were off the train and walking down the street, up the stairs, and into the Midoriya home.
The boys took off their shoes before heading towards Izuku's room. Hitoshi noted the new additions to the gallery Inko had created hanging beside the article about the cleaned beach. The gold medal from the Sports Festival was displayed proudly over a collage of article clippings. As for the one for Hosu, while it was still weird that his brother knew the Villain, Hitoshi could not deny that it was an iconic pose as Izuku was pictured pinning the wrapped-up Hero Killer to the ground.
Distracted by the gallery, Hitoshi didn't notice the lack of the All Might name plate on Izuku's door. So when he walked into his room expecting the usual shrine to the Hero, the complete and utter lack of anything All Might froze him in his tracks. The greenet kept on going dropping his bag on his bed as if nothing was wrong or different. While Hitoshi stood there gawking at the now Hero merch ghost town that was his friend's room.
"Holy shit," the brainwasher let out in shock.
"What?" Izuku asked, looking at his friend confused.
"What the hell happened to your room?" Hitoshi countered as he walked further into the room and looked around.
"Oh, I decided to…change it," the short boy answered as he turned away from the other and fiddled with his backpack.
"When?" he asked as he unceremoniously dropped his bag to the floor. He swore the shrine had still been a thing last time he was there for the sleepover.
"The Monday after the Sports Festival?" Izuku answered, still not looking at him.
Two weeks ago? For real? Hitoshi thought in surprise before he asked, "Why?"
"Because…," the greenet began but paused.
He hadn't really talked about what happened with his friends since that day and there wasn't much he could say what with all the secrets involved. But this was his brother asking and out of anyone would understand the hurt and disappointment he had felt from the Number One Hero's rejection. Even if the man had apologized today, the initial hurt still stung. Izuku took a breath to steady himself before opening up to his friend.
"Because All Might said he didn't believe that a Quirkless Hero was possible even after I won the Sports Festival."
Tears budded in his green eyes as he spoke his truth. Yagi had apologized and had changed his opinion following the events in Hosu, but it did not change the fact that he hadn't believed in him twice before. Friendly hands maneuvered him around into a comforting chest as caring arms wrapped him into a warm hug. The Quirkless boy latched onto his brother and cried into his shirt.
They stood there holding each other as Izuku let it out. He clung to his friend as Hitoshi shushed him and assured him that everything was okay. The taller teen even ran his fingers through the shorter boy's green curls because he knew it brought him comfort. The contact helped assure Izuku that someone was there for him as well as allowed Hitoshi to show his support. While also providing the brainwasher a distraction from his strong desire to order the Number One Dumbass to do stupid shit for hurting his brother.
Once Izuku calmed down, Hitoshi pushed him away just enough to see his face as he asked, "You said 'didn't' so does that mean he changed his mind?"
"Y-yeah," Izuku answered as he wiped some stray tears away. "He apologized to me today for what he said. That was what the meeting was about while you waited in the teachers' room."
Hitoshi nodded though he was still pissed at All Might for upsetting his friend. At least he did apologize, he guessed, but again how dare he make Izuku cry. He may be the Number One Hero but he lost points in Hitoshi's book for being a dick. The purple haired teen was so going to send Izuku a ton of cat memes and pictures with some for sure featuring the fur babies in the EraserMic household.
"Well, even if he apologized, I get why you cleaned house," Hitoshi commented, taking a scan of the bare room before looking back at Izuku. "Though I gotta say I don't get why you kept it after he turned you down the first time. If it were me, I would have chucked it all as soon as possible."
"I didn't actually 'chuck it'," Izuku said, earning a confused look from the other. "I, uh, I sold it with mom's help. Got a good deal from a collector who insisted on paying higher than I asked for. They seemed nice and honest though I wasn't looking to make so much money off of it. I'm just happy that someone will get to enjoy it even though I didn't want it anymore."
The purple haired teen nodded in understanding. At least Izuku got something out of losing what amount of admiration he had left for his childhood idol. Hitoshi still thought out right tossing it or destroying it in some way like burning would have been cathartic. He himself never experienced that since he never had much over the years but he had done something similar mentally with his thoughts whenever he was forever removed from a home.
At least with him traveling light due to lack of things, it always made the transition back to the center easier. Though it was minutely the tiniest bit possible that he might not have to worry about that now which was why he was here, but first he needed to comfort his friend. To remind him that there were people who believed.
"I'm sorry Ass Might said that to you," Hitoshi said. "But don't let his bullshit push you down. I know you can be a Hero and so do our friends and teachers. Even Auntie does. And even…Stain does."
The mention of the Villain spiked tension in the air. Hitoshi watched his brother who pointedly did not look up at him. Not that he blamed him because it was an awkward topic. Hell, it had been weird to learn that Izuku personally knew and had met up with the Hero Killer on more than one occasion. But he also couldn't help but be grateful for the murderous man's support for his friend. Had he not encouraged Izuku as he did, Hitoshi may have never met him.
Izuku was such a big part of his life now to the point that it was difficult to picture it without him. He wouldn't have had someone who could relate to the discrimination he had faced growing up. He wouldn't have had a training partner nor would he have been in that training room where they had caught the eye of Eraserhead. And without that training or connection, neither of them may have ever placed as high as they did in the festival nor would have transferred into the Hero Course as fast. So many things could have been different if Izuku had not met Stain on that roof.
"You don't have to talk about him if you don't want to," Hitoshi insisted as he gave his brother's shoulders a comforting squeeze. "You knowing a Villain does not change my opinion of you. Izuku, you are my brother and we're both going to be Heroes together. You and the Hero Killer being on a first name basis won't affect that. Got it?"
Fearful green eyes peeked up at him searching for any deceit, but Izuku wasn't going to find any. Not from him. Hitoshi meant every word and stared earnestly into his brother's eyes to prove that. The staring contest continued in silence as the minutes ticked by until the tension in the Quirkless boy's shoulders lessened.
"Th-thank you, Hitoshi," Izuku let out, his voice crackly from crying but a small smile was on his face. "I'm sorry for keeping it a secret but I just…"
"Didn't know how to say it," Hitoshi finished, earning a nod from the other. "I get it. I kept my own secrets from you with the whole foster care thing. We don't have to share all of our secrets with each other. Just what we, ourselves, are comfortable with sharing. Okay?"
"Okay," the greenet replied quietly with a small nod.
"Good, glad we've got that settled," Hitoshi said, letting out a sigh of relief. "Now, um, about why I'm here?"
"Oh, right," Izuku said, snapping into action as if he hadn't just been crying.
He rummaged in his dresser digging through his own things. From the drawer he pulled out the now pile of Hitoshi's belongings he was keeping safe for him. The folded Eraserhead and Put Your Hands Up hoodies topped with the Present Mic themed aviator sunglasses and his silver medal. The greenet turned around and presented the stack to his friend.
"I'm guessing this means it's going well there?" Izuku asked as he passed the pile.
"Yeah. I, uh," Hitoshi answered as he took his stuff in his hands. He paused for a second distracted by the fact that these things were really his. Especially the medal that he had earned. "I think I'm in a good enough place right now even if it's only been a few days. The cats are great and Aizawa and Yamada are…nice. Kind of awkward living with our teachers but it's not so bad since I've gotten to know them since school started."
Enough to know they won't steal or break my stuff at least.
"They are good Heroes," Izuku offered, placing a hopefully comforting hand on the other's arm. "Good people. I know I feel better knowing that you're staying with them. That they'll take good care of you."
"Yeah," Hitoshi replied though he still had that doubt that it would last. But he would savor it for as long as he could. "I should be okay keeping these for now. But, uh, if I ever needed you to, could you…"
Before he could finish, Izuku cut him off with a squeeze to his arm and a warm smile as he said, "Of course, Hitoshi. Whatever you need."
"Thanks," he said, sporting his own small but grateful smile.
The greenet gave him a nod before letting go. He busied himself taking things out of his backpack as Hitoshi packed his things away. As they were finishing their tasks up, they heard some noise coming from the hall.
"Izuku, I'm home!" Inko called out as she walked through the door.
"Welcome home, mom!" Izuku called out as he stopped what he was doing to go greet her.
Hitoshi did a final check of his bag before slinging it on his back. It was a bit stuffed and a little heavier but nothing he couldn't handle. The weight was more emotional if anything. Personal possessions filled with precious memories. Ones that he had been worried about losing back at the center, but not now with his new living situation.
It was still new and he didn't know how long he would stay, but this was Aizawa and Yamada. Eraserhead and Present Mic. They were teachers, mentors, Heroes. Surely, they of all people could be trusted with his personal crap. Besides it would help fill up the too empty room with things that were his. Bringing some sense of comfort and permanency even if it was just a hopeful fantasy. Plus, he was sure Yamada would like it. Which reminded him to text their group chat to let them know he needed to be picked up.
With his stuffed bag on his back, Hitoshi gave one last look around Izuku's weirdly bare room before joining the others in the hall. The two Midoriyas were chatting as he approached. Izuku smiled at him as per usual and Inko extended her arms for their customary hug. Hitoshi gladly accepted the hug not one to turn down her motherly affection.
"It's good to see you, Hitoshi," Inko said as they parted. "How are you? How's home?"
"I'm fine," Hitoshi replied. "And home is…good. They're, uh, they're good. To me."
"I expect nothing less from the men who have helped Izuku out so much," the mother said with an approving nod before her expression turned serious. "But if they ever do anything to hurt you or treat you badly, you are to come here. Understand? I don't care if they are Pro Heroes. No one hurts someone I consider a part of this family. No one hurts my son."
The brainwasher stared at her wide eyed. This small unassuming woman would stand up against two trained and experienced Pro Heroes to protect him. The concept was both amusing and overwhelming at the same time. But he also could totally see her doing it too. Even using her Quirk to pull objects towards her smacking the Hero in between along with her own fierce motherly powers. Yeah, Inko was a bad ass.
Wait…son?
"You…do you really think of me as a…?" Hitoshi asked but couldn't make himself repeat the word. It was the first time someone had called him that since his birth parents before his Quirk manifested.
The mother gave him a sad but caring smile as she pulled him into another hug. This one longer and full of emotion. The brainwasher shakily wrapped his arms around her still absorbing what she had said. Inko squeezed him tight as she reached up to card her fingers through his purple hair. Something he had seen her do to Izuku on a number of occasions. It was…really nice. No wonder his friend liked it so much.
"Of course I do, Hitoshi," Inko insisted. "You may be fostered by Aizawa and Yamada, but to me you are my son, Izuku's brother. If they hadn't beaten me to it, I would've taken you in myself once I found out. Just know that if they don't want you, I do."
It was so difficult for him to believe that was true. Why would she want him? Not even his own birth parents had wanted him. Nor any of the other families he had been passed around to wanted him. Always passing the buck because no one want the kid with a Villain Quirk. That was until UA. Until Izuku.
His brother in all but blood was the first to accept him for him since before he got his Quirk. His first friend who introduced him to his other friends. Through him he got to meet Inko, Aizawa, and Yamada. The latter two who were now his guardians and the former who considered him a part of her family. It was just…so much all at once. Ten years of no family to having essentially two within a matter of weeks. Seriously, universe, what gives? Not that he was complaining though. It was a really nice change. Unexpected but nice.
"Thanks, Auntie," Hitoshi whispered into her shoulder as they hugged. "I would…if I could, I would be proud to be your son."
Inko let out a pleased hum as she held him tight. A sniffling sound drew Hitoshi's attention to his side to see Izuku watching them with a teary-eyed smile. The brainwasher let out a wet chuckle at the sight before gesturing his brother with a prodding nod to join them. Izuku practically launched over to them and wrapped both of them in his arms.
The trio stood there for a while soaking up each other's company and embrace. Just a mother and her sons reveling in their found family. Eventually the tears ran out with even Hitoshi letting out some. Guess they came as a package deal when becoming a Midoriya even if it was unofficial. But Hitoshi guessed he could deal with it as long as he could keep these people in his life. With one last group squeeze they parted.
"Does that make Mei our crazy sister?" Hitoshi joked as he chuckled while wiping his tears away.
Izuku gave the concept a moment of thought before giggling, "I guess it does."
"I would gladly have a genius for a daughter," Inko said with a fond smile.
"A mad genius," Hitoshi snarked before turning to Izuku with a smirk. "She gets it from your side of the family."
"You calling us crazy?" the greenet challenged with a playful glare.
"Definitely," the brainwasher jeered earning a stuck-out tongue.
"It is said that all the best people are," Inko quipped as she wiped a stray tear away before turning to Hitoshi. "Would you like to stay for dinner?"
"No, I should get going," Hitoshi answered just as he got a notification on his phone. Looking at it he saw that it was Aizawa saying he was outside. "Actually, my ride is here now."
Inko gave a nod before reaching up to cup his face as she said, "Remember you are always welcome here. Day or night, rain or shine. Our door is always open to you."
The purple haired teen gave a nod to which the mother nodded again and gave a gentle pat to his cheek before letting go. As she left for her room, Hitoshi turned to Izuku who smiled up at him.
"Like mom said, come over whenever," Izuku reiterated as he offered his fist to bump. "We're here for you no matter what."
"Thanks, Green Bean," Hitoshi said for the nth time today as he bumped said fist.
"No problem, Purple Panda," Izuku replied as they lowered their hands. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"See ya," the brainwasher said while putting on his shoes.
He gave one last wave as he walked through the door which Izuku reciprocated before closing it. Hitoshi turned and walked down the stairs to find the same nondescript car they had driven to school in. Approaching the passenger side, he opened the door and slipped inside placing his bag by his feet. Aizawa was in the driver seat and gave him a once over as the teen strapped himself in before heading off.
They drove in silence for a short while as neither were one for pointless conversation. Why waste moments of precious silence with frivolous small talk? It was so much better to savor the quiet peace and leave them to their own private thoughts. Though apparently Hitoshi's weren't so private despite his usually hard to read blank face. But considering the tired man had one of his own it wasn't that surprising that he was able to read his.
"What's up?" Aizawa asked as they drove.
"Huh?" the teen let out, confused.
"Something happened," the man stated, glancing at him briefly before turning back to the road. "What was it?"
"Oh, um, you've seen Izuku's room before, right?" Hitoshi asked earning a nod from his guardian. "Well, it's…different now."
The tired man quirked an eyebrow and asked, "How so?"
"It's…emptier," he answered with furrowed brows. "All of his All Might stuff is gone."
Aizawa's eyes widened slightly for just a moment before changing back to his blank but understanding expression.
"I see," the tired man said with an even tone though his grip on the steering wheel tightened. "Though I'm not really that surprised."
"Why?" Hitoshi asked, not expecting that reaction. But then again, he had gone to the meeting with Izuku when All Might apologized.
"He and All Might had a…falling out of sorts," Aizawa answered vaguely. "It was after the Sports Festival and they had a meeting that did not go well. Though he did apologize to him today so there's that."
Hitoshi nodded knowing the man left out a lot that had happened but the teen had sort of a gist from what Izuku had said. The purple haired teen couldn't help but scowl remembering Mei texting him that Izuku came in to the studio looking sad. That someone associated with All Might had made him an offer that just came off as insulting. To which Hitoshi's solution to cheer his friend up was to bombard him with cat pictures. What? It worked for him.
But there was one thing that confused him now. Izuku had said that meeting after the festival was with someone named Yagi who was an associate of All Might. However, Aizawa said that he had met with All Might himself. Neither of them mentioned Izuku meeting with two people, only one. So why did Izuku meet with a representative in one meeting when All Might clearly could have just done so himself from the second? It seemed strange that a mere associate could do so much damage to the Quirkless teen's admiration for the Number One Hero. Unless…
"Wait, does that mean that Yagi guy Izuku mentioned is All Might?" Hitoshi asked.
He noted the man's hands gripping the steering wheel even tighter in surprise at the name. Aizawa didn't answer to confirm nor deny but the subtle reaction was enough for the teen. So All Might was this Yagi person who had made an insulting offer to his best friend. It pissed him off that the Number One Hero could be such a Quirkist prick. But then again, he did apologize for being an ass which made the situation a little better. Did nothing for the tarnished view Hitoshi now had of the Symbol of Peace. Guess even the greatest Heroes could succumb to prejudice at times.
"If it's supposed to be a secret, I won't say anything," Hitoshi assured, earning a hum from his guardian. "Anyway, Izuku doesn't have any All Might stuff anymore. Said he sold it to some collector and got a good chunk of change for it."
"That's good," the tired man replied with a nod as the conversation ended.
The rest of the ride home was silent save for the radio quietly playing in the background. It wasn't awkward per say but more contemplative. Both were thinking about the Quirkless boy who had looked up to the Number One Hero so much only to be disappointed. To the point of selling all of his All Might collection that he had working on collecting for over a decade. A harsh ripping off of a bandage that showed seemingly perfect Heroes were not so perfect underneath.
Hitoshi didn't know all of the details and wouldn't pressure his friend on what happened. But he would be there for Izuku no matter what as he had with him. They were brothers in all but blood after all. Regardless of what did happen, All Might had hurt his friend and he would not forgive the man for that, apologies be damned. No one messed with his brother. No one. So if he treated the Hero coldly from now on, well let's just say he was asking for it.
The arrival at their building and the trip up to the apartment was now oddly routine. Still strange and novel but not as much as it had been a little over a week ago. Now Hitoshi knew exactly where to place his shoes and which room was marked as his, for the time being at least. The attention seeking cuddle monster DJ trotted up to them demanding pets. Aizawa leaned down to run a hand down the orange cat's spine before walking further into their home. Hitoshi finished taking off his shoes before scooping up the affectionate feline in his arms. See cat, must hold.
"Zashi, we're home," Aizawa called out at they entered the kitchen only to find it empty.
"In here!" the blonde's voice shouted from another room. Which turned out to be Hitoshi's as they found Yamada surrounded by boxes. "Welcome home! And just in time! Look Hitoshi, some of your new things showed up today!"
Purple eyes widened at the sheer amount of stuff that was in his…the room. Some were big, some were small, but it was just so…much. Were they seriously going to be able to fit all of this stuff?
"I know, I know. It's a lot," Yamada said with a gesture of surrender. "But I am a master organizer and we'll get it all set up just right for you. This is your home, your room. We want you to be here and we want you to be comfortable."
Hitoshi tried not to let his confusion and disbelief of the situation but once again, Aizawa was able to read him like book.
"It's true, kid," the tired man insisted, carefully placing a supportive hand on the boy's shoulder. "We wouldn't have you here if we didn't want you to be here. This is as much of your home as it is ours. We're here for you, Hitoshi."
Hesitant purple eyes peered up in stoic but sincere black before turning to more expressive but equally as sincere yellow-green. A part of him still didn't believe that this was actually happening. That he was becoming a part of their family. Hitoshi had been satisfied with the found one he had with Inko and his friends. But could it really be? Could he be getting a real one of his own? It was still a fleeting hope but the flickering flame grew just a little brighter.
"Thanks, I, uh, appreciate it," Hitoshi said as he rubbed the back of his head nervously. "All of it. You don't have to but yeah, thanks."
"Of course, kiddo," Yamada assured with a caring smile. "Our home is your home. And this room is yours to decorate as you wish. Any ideas?"
Hitoshi took a moment to think. It had been a long time since he even considered making a room his own. There didn't seem much of a point since he never stayed for long. Not since he had lived with his birth parents. But here…maybe he could? It was still new and fresh yet he felt safer here than he had anywhere else. Cuddling with cats while being looked after by people who cared or at least they said they did. So maybe, just maybe.
"Uh, yeah," the teen replied before taking off his bag. He placed it on the bed and reached inside. "I, uh, I have this."
Hitoshi held up his silver medal as an offer of possible decoration. He wasn't really one to brag but he had earned this.
"That would be perfect, Hitoshi!" the blonde cheered while clapping his hands together excitedly. "We should get that framed, yeah?"
"Sure," Hitoshi answered with a shrug. Again, he wasn't one to brag but it wouldn't be a terrible idea. "I'm not so good with that kind of stuff, but um, you could ask Izuku's mom for ideas, maybe? She has a sort of…gallery at home."
"More than the beach?" Aizawa interjected with a questioning quirked brow.
"Yeah," Hitoshi replied with a nod. "There's one for the Sports Festival and for Hosu now too."
The tired man hummed in answer not surprised by the doting and documenting mother. He wouldn't be surprised if the picture he had snuck during the day's Rescue Training made an appearance in the 'gallery'. Not a bad idea for marking her kid's achievements. Perhaps they could do something for Hitoshi as well? He knew his husband would be enthusiastically up to it and would spare held the personal project.
For now, they got to work on setting up some of the kid's room. Opening boxes and either assembling whatever furniture they had or putting anything else like clothes and such where they needed to go. It was all quite domestic really. Two aspiring fathers taking care of and spending time with their foster son. The black-haired man allowed a fond smile briefly grace his stubbled face as he watched his husband interacting with the kid. One they could hopefully officially invite into their family as their adopted son if the teen accepted. Only time would tell.
That night while Hitoshi was settling in more at his new home, Izuku had a pleasant dinner with his mom. Inko and him enjoyed talking about their days over home cooked food. Once they were done eating and cleaning up, the mother and son settled on the couch for a movie. Eventually they called it a night and exchanged a hug before retreating to their respective rooms. However, while the two families were settling in for the night, across town there were others still hard at work.
...
Tumblr blog name: ja0-s-blank-canvas-fic
Notes extension: post/680724587908153344/part-2-chapter-52-the-comfort-of-family