"You wanted to speak with me, Aizawa-sensei?"
"You held back at the Sports festival.", Eraserhead accused his problem-pupil. To give him credit, Yugasa did his best to not appear as a problem-child but Shouta knew better. After all he had done something similar as a student.
Yugasa didn't even refute his statement and looked at him with blank eyes.
"You could at least deny it." Yugasa just stared at him. Well, it had been worth the try.
"Do you already know where you are going to do your internship?" If Shouta squinted hard and crossed his eyes, he could almost see a reaction on Yugasa's face. How was this teenager so hard to read? (And why had he learned to be this blank in the first place?)
"No." There was no inflection in the answer, no invitation to further conversation but also no rejection of it. It was just as empty as the face.
"I would like for you to do the internship at the U.A. under me. You don't have to, of course. Whether you accept or deny won't have any impact on the classes." This time Shouta was sure to have seen a hint of something in the eyes.
Yugasa didn't say anything for quite some time and when he responded it was only one word. "Why?"
It was the question Shouta had feared. His answer would probably make or break Yugasa's decision. The boy had an uncanny ability to read between the lines and see beneath the obvious, so he had to tread carefully.
"I can help you with staying out of the spotlight and introduce you to others in the community." Yugasa just stared unblinkingly. Why had Shouta even expected something different?
"Our Quirks also have some similarities, so I thought you could benefit from my advice." Yugasa blinked.
"Why do you want that?"
Because you probably saved my life in the USJ and I want to repay you at least a bit. Because I am not sure of your moral code and want to observe you.
Because you show signs of trauma and I'd like to help you.
Shouta said none of those thoughts.
"Because you have tremendous potential and I like to see it realized. Shinsou Hitoshi from the General Studies course will also be doing his internship here. I think you could help each other."
People like Yugasa reacted better to kindness when there was (seemingly) an ulterior motive for it.
Another blink. "Thank you for your offer Aizawa-sensei. When do you want an answer?" Yugasa bowed a little.
The contrast between the emptiness and the politeness was just as jarring as it had been the first day.
"Just tell me by the end of the week, if that is okay for you?"
Yugasa nodded once and left after wishing him a nice day. What a strange child.