Shouta's phone began to buzz.

"Unknown Number." The robotic voice stated.

He furrowed an eyebrow but answered regardless.

"Hello?"

"Oh, hi, it's uh, it's Mihoko Shinsou, the detective gave me you and your husband's numbers, I hope that's fine."

"Yeah, no problem, hi."

"Um, we were wondering if Hitoshi might like to meet with us? If he doesn't want to that's completely fine, we just... we just really wanna' see him. Obviously you both can come along too, from the police station I'm guessing he wouldn't be interested if you didn't."

Aizawa felt for them, he couldn't even begin to imagine what it must be like to lose your son for so many years, probably having even come to terms with the fact he could be dead, to then have him appear on national television and get the chance to meet him once again, just to then be effectively blanked by him.

Thank god they went ahead with the festival or they never would have known.

Since their trip to the pizza place Hitoshi had been even quieter on the parents front, simply shrugging off any questions he or Hizashi tried to pitch him. He had a bad feeling Hitoshi might just flat out say no to going out with them even if they came along.

Maybe they'd have to put their foot down and tell him he was going. Could they do that? Probably not. After all he was both a teenager, so he could just do what he wanted anyway, they were legally his guardians but not his parents; he didn't have to listen to jack shit they said.

The short of it was if Hitoshi had no interest in seeing his parents then he just wouldn't.

"We'll talk to him and call you back."

"Thank you."

Getting Hitoshi to agree had been a nightmare but none of that mattered now, they were here and everything was just as awkward as he had expected.

Shouta was stood at the counter as he waited for his drink.

Footsteps approached.

"It's Aizawa, right?"

Mihoko.

"Call me Shouta."

She seemed to pause before a few seconds later her hand came to rest on his.

"What are your plans for Hitoshi?"

Wait…

"I don't have any." He spoke like a puppet on a string.

Did she, have the same quirk as Hitoshi?

"Why him?"

"I wanted him out of that cell."

"You're related, to that Shūgo guy on the news. I saw the article."

"I am."

"Have you had contact with him since fostering Hitoshi?"

"No."

"What are your feelings about him?"

"He can go rot for all I care, three months can't come fast enough."

"Have you been treating him well?"

"Yeah, Hizashi's been worried because apparently he's too skinny but he's been working on it with him. He eats more than he used to so we have to make more trips to the store than we did, and he's starting to ask questions, both signed and spoken. In general he's talking more too so at least the training we've been doing with his mutism is working."

Shouta heard her breath shaking.

"Is he okay?"

"He's scared a lot of the time but he's working on it, being friends with Kacchan and Zuku is really helping so he has people to hang out with at school, and he knows he can just come to the staff room if he needs us. He has nightmares of being with the League, and there's still some students who treat him bad but the Principal and I are trying to weed them out. He's a great kid though and he'll get through all this."

Mihoko sniffled.

"If he wanted to be with us would you let him?"

"Yes."

That seemed to catch her off-guard.

"Why?"

"Because you're his parents."

"Do you want him to go?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because we love him."

Mihoko retracted her hand from his and the control vanished.

He immediately shot her a furious look as he snatched his hand away, practically growling.

"How dare you! You had no right to do that!"

"I needed to know the truth."

"My life is nothing to do with you."

"I had to make sure."

"You could have just asked."

"People lie."

"I don't lie, not about that."

Shouta grabbed his now ready drink from the counter.

"If you dare even try to do that to Hitoshi-." He began.

"I won't."

"Why don't I believe you?"

"He's my son."

"And right now I'm his legal guardian."

Shouta walked off.

Hizashi noticed his husband's anger immediately.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." He replied sharply as he sat down downing half his sadly non-alcoholic drink. "Where's Hitoshi?"

"In the bathroom, and it doesn't look like nothing."

"Do not let her touch Hitoshi, okay?"

"Wait, what?"

He was interrupted as Mihoko returned to the table.

"Ahh, I was just talking to Hizashi about UA, did you know they're teachers there? I knew you did Put Your Hands Up Radio but I never knew you taught as well."

Mihoko didn't reply.

Shouta scoffed before downing the rest of his glass.

"So what's your quirk, Hajime, anything exciting?"

"Shouta…" Hizashi quietly scorned.

"Diagnosis, I can tell just by looking at someone what they're suffering from."

"Wow."

"How about yourself, if you don't mind me asking?"

"I can erase quirks. It's helpful because if someone catches me out once I'm always ready the second time." Shouta stated, purposely turning to look at Mihoko as he said the second part.

Hitoshi returned to the table.

"You okay kiddo?" Before he could answer, and without even knowing if he had, Shouta continued. "Good, here you can have my seat I'll go on the end."

Shouta shuffled along allowing Hitoshi the seat in the booth beside Hizashi which, more importantly, was further away from Mihoko.

He could sense the fact that Hajime was starting to notice his wife's discomfort and was ready for the oil to hit the pan. Hizashi could say what he wanted to him later about being difficult but he was in the right.

"Hitoshi." She finally spoke up. "I want you to come with us."

Shouta's eyes widened.

"What?!" Hajime exclaimed.

"Hizashi take Hitoshi outside."

"No you're not taking him anywhere!"

Hizashi thankfully ignored this as he guided the teen out from the table.

Shouta gave Hitoshi's arm a squeeze of reassurance as he passed.

"Mihoko, what are you talking about?"

"I can't do this; I can't watch them keep our son from us."

"They're not keeping him from us they fostered him."

"He's our son!"

"Hitoshi will always be our son, always, but he hasn't been ours in a very long time, Mihoko." His voice shook. "The last time we saw him he was not even two-years-old, a lot has happened since then. We need to do what's best for Hitoshi, yes?"

"Yes, it's just so hard to see him."

"I know but all you're going to do is scare him away if you don't give him time."

Mihoko began to cry.

Hajime pulled her close.

"I know it hurts to think about, but can you remember what it felt like when we first lost Hitoshi, how there was that hole in our lives we knew we'd never be able to fill and didn't want to? You would never wish that upon anyone, no one should have to go through what we went through back then. If we make Hitoshi choose, if we give him that choice, what happens to them? Hitoshi is as much a part of their lives as he was a part of ours and I don't ever want to make them lose him too." He paused. "While you were talking at the counter Hitoshi was signing about how he's at the top hero school in the country, that he's friends with Aizawa's brothers, and their Mom's make him pro hero themed bento boxes with little rice ball All Might's, they have two cats named Jelly and Cream, and he's just started decorating his room, apparently he's painting it purple." Hajime wiped away tears from his eyes. "Our son is happy and after what the police told us don't you think he deserves that?"

Mihoko turned to look out the window.

Hizashi and Hitoshi were sat down at one of the umbrella shaded picnic tables on the stretch of grass outside the restaurant watching something on the voice hero's phone and laughing, Hitoshi huddled in against him, a sight which looked so natural.

"Is he safe?" She asked, voice shaky.

He took a breath.

"The League have been quiet recently, the police monitoring has only found extremely light activity of its members and so far nothing suspicious. I know the recent events would suggest otherwise but UA is built to keep out people like them and inside he's surrounded by a wealth of pro hero teaching staff as well. If the League want Hitoshi they'll have to go through Hizashi and I first."

Hajime cleared his throat.

"Everything the police said... what they said he went through, how could anyone come out the other side from that, especially a kid?"

"It hasn't been easy for him coming to grips with integrating into everyday life, but those months were they let him go to UA seemed to really resonate with him. Hitoshi is determined to be a hero and it seems he won't let post traumatic stress disorder slow him down."

"He has PTSD?"

"It's a given considering his treatment in their captivity, same with the mutism, he's functioning remarkably well for only a few months of being free from the League. The nightmares scale with some nights being worse than others. We don't even try to make him go to sleep on those occasions, we just sandwich him between us on the couch with blankets and the cats and watch a movie."

"Could he not see a therapist?"

"Hizashi and I want him to but the kid is terrified of the idea and on top of that even if he wasn't the police refuse to allow him anyway. Apparently they don't want him talking about confidential information regarding the League."

"He should come first."

"We're not trained in mental health or anything like that but we've taught a lot of kids. Hitoshi knows he can talk to us and we'll listen. He doesn't speak up about it often but I know Hizashi spent the night with him in his bed calming him down."

Mihoko sniffled.

"You really love him, don't you?"

Shouta was silent for a few seconds before he spoke up.

"I do, so does Hizashi."

"After everything that's happened to him he deserves to feel safe and he feels that with you." She sniffled. "So you look after our son, okay?"

He nodded firmly.

"With everything I have."

"Good because I'll come after you if you don't." Mihoko teased, taking a packet of tissues out of her bag and trying to clean herself up. "I'm sorry, I messed everything up, I must sound so horrible."

Shouta shook his head.

"You sound like a mother who loves her child and is prepared to stand up against anyone to protect him, there's nothing bad about that."

"I won't blame him if he wants nothing to do with me."

"Hitoshi's a good kid, he'll be more worried about you then he will be about that."

Shouta quickly sent a text to his husband saying everything was good before they returned a minute or so later. He could feel the unease radiating off the teen as he sat down.

"It's okay, Hitoshi, they just want to talk." He softly reassured.

"Yeah, your Mom and I have been talking and we think it's best that you get to stay with Aizawa and Yamada. They're both amazing people and we're very lucky that they found you because they're doing such an amazing job. We just wanted to know though if it would be okay if we could come and visit you sometimes, just every so often?"

"He says yes." Hizashi translated.

Mihoko and Hajime smiled.

"Hey, it's okay little listener."

Shouta guessed that Hitoshi must be getting a little upset as he heard his husband shuffle along the bench closer to the teen.

"And you can call us anytime if you just want to talk, or ask us anything, we'll always be at the end of the line."

He found himself a little close to tears himself.

Stood in the parking lot after the meal Mihoko opened the trunk and pulled out a bag. She held it out to Hitoshi.

"This is for you."

Hitoshi looked inside to find a folder of photos.

"We got them all scanned for you so you could have your own copies. They're all from when you were little; most of them are of you but some are your old room, your Grandma holding you, and your first birthday."

Hitoshi smiled.

"Thank you."

Mihoko went to hug him but restrained herself.

"Sorry, you don't have to-."

Hitoshi wrapped her arms around her.

And after that there wasn't a dry eye amongst them.

"We'll see you around, Hitoshi." Hajime smiled as he got a hug of his own.

"Bye."

The couple waved as they climbed into their car before starting the engine and driving out of the parking lot, giving the horn one last honk just before they disappeared out of sight.

Aizawa released a deep breath as he walked over to his husband and his foster son. Wrapping an arm around each of them he pulled them close against his side, Hizashi's head coming to rest on his shoulder as the sun set on the horizon.

"I'm the luckiest person alive." Hitoshi's small, tearful voice spoke up. "I used to have no one and now I have four people who care about me so much they're willing to fight for me and it's…" He paused. "Thank you."

"You don't ever have to thank us, Toshi, we're the lucky ones." Hizashi added.

"Our lives would be a whole lot emptier with you, kiddo, remember that."