Change My Mind

Author's Note: Hey everyone and welcome back to Change My Mind! So, I might gloss over a bit of canon stuff to get to other parts as well as to be able to get to the rest of the storyline! I hope you enjoy! On with the fic!

Chapter Two: Face to Face: Former Lovers

Chapter Summary: Shouta and Toshinori meet face to face for the first time in two years as the Entrance Exams for U.A. begin.

The final staff meeting before the Entrance Exams. Toshinori inhaled sharply, stepping into the room just after Nezu did. He had stayed within his Hero Form, keeping the grin on his face. The other teachers were in the room, almost all of them but one looking back at him.

It had been two years since he had laid eyes on him. Shouta Aizawa hadn't changed much. His hair was a tad longer, he looked even more exhausted than before. His arms were crossed over his chest and eyes locked to the table below. Aizawa was refusing to look up. Toshinori could tell as much. It was always something that Aizawa did. It was the exact same action he did two years ago. The day he handed Toshinori divorce papers. He didn't look Toshinori in the eyes that day. He didn't look at him in the eyes when the two had gotten into arguments. When Toshinori was hospitalized by All for One.

He was sure it was a type of defense mechanism that Aizawa had. If he was being honest, Aizawa had never really been expressive in the first place. Always either hiding behind his capture weapon or just not allowing it to show on his face in the first place.

He could feel Aizawa's tension from where he was standing, but no one else in the room seemed to notice. Instead, just continuing to look at him. Speak to him. Nezu was taking charge of the conversation as Toshinori kept his eyes on Aizawa.

After a moment, Aizawa peeked over, making eye contact with him.

It was like it always was.

Yet, Toshinori only had eyes for him. Almost forgetting completely about what he was even doing here. That they were the only two within the room. Aizawa didn't have to say anything to him, but just looking into his eyes was enough. Somehow, it had brought Toshinori back crashing into reality as he let his grin a bit bigger and his back a bit straighter.

He was able to tell what Nezu was saying as Nezu said, "Of course, all of you are aware of All Might's condition, and as U.A. teachers we need to ensure that this remains a secret." Nezu stated. The mammal turned, looking at him, "All Might, if you'd like to release your form, no students will see you like this."

Toshinori had did just that, releasing his muscle form and giving a breath of relief as he felt his body start to relax. The dead silence came next as the teachers blinked at him for a second. "I knew you were injured, but man… you look rough, All Might." Present Mic stated, jaw dropping for a second. Toshinori spotted the way that Mic had turned his gaze to Aizawa.

Toshinori was almost afraid of looking to Aizawa. This current body was the same thing that Aizawa told him what he feared would happen. "Don't worry, All Might, we will keep your secret." Midnight stated, also casting Aizawa a concerned look.

Aizawa was still looking at him, but his eyes were wide now, mouth dropping open slightly. As the others continued to speak. Aizawa still hadn't said anything to him as Nezu continued to go over what Toshinori believed they might have already talked about.

A partial way through the meeting, Aizawa had suddenly stood up, looking down at the table as he mumbled out that it was getting closer to the time to go to the Judge's Room. Nezu agreed, patting All Might on the leg.

As the others prepared to leave, Toshinori looked back at Aizawa, but he had been the first person to leave the room. Slipping past him without so much as a glance.

Toshinori sighed.

What else was he expecting here?

Still, there was a ping in his chest. Was he really thinking that he would be able to walk in here, give a smile and Aizawa would look happy about it? Probably not, but he could have hoped that Aizawa didn't look at him with just pain filled eyes.

Toshinori sighed, shaking his head as he turned and followed to go towards the room where they would be overseeing the Entrance Exams.

X

Shouta never expected that the minute he actually laid eyes on Toshinori again, that his body would look like that. The exact thing that he had feared would happen if Toshinori kept down the path he was going. There was something that broke in him in that moment. Solidifying that he had made the right decision two years ago. Toshinori hadn't listened to a thing he had said. Just like always.

Shouta had decided to stay towards the back, leaning back against the wall as he watched the process of the Entrance Exams. Use the exams as a good way to keep his mind off of what he had just seen. How much it hurt seeing Toshinori look so frail even though he knew it was far from the truth. The Written Exams were already completed, and they had moved onto the next test. The Practical. There were a few that stood out to him almost immediately. A couple that caught his eye.

But there was one.

Shinsou Hitoshi. Quirk: Brainwashing. His quirk wouldn't fair well in the exam against the robots. There was nothing he could do. There was a moment where Shinsou had utilized his ability, by using it to get others out of the way of the robots. That was the only thing keeping the boy afloat. Shouta had taken his chance to go through the applicants. Shinsou had been one of the few who not only put the Hero Course but also General Studies. Like he knew that he would fail the Practical to get in. The Practical was completely biased to those with flashy quirks or ones that were not suitable against machinery. Though, this is what they had to be able to test the students.

There needed to be a change to the exams. Young aspiring heroes like Shinsou would slip through the cracks because of it. He had made a mental note to seek this kid out after the exam was over.

It was towards the end of the Practical. The time ticking down slowly but surely when the zero-point robot had been sent out. One boy who immediately made Toshinori flash before his mind. He gritted his teeth as he did the most heroic act of all of the examinees in the area. It had taken one punch to knock the villain back, shocking many of the judges in the room.

Though, it had cost the boy greatly. He peered over to the monitors that held the names of the examinees as he watched the judges starting to give out rescue points. Midoriya Izuku. Despite his heroic action, it was clear as day how badly his body had been injured. Both of his legs broken in an instant and the arm he had used to punch with also breaking. It was like either his body wasn't used to his quirk, or he was completely untrained. If he managed to weasel his way into the Hero Course, he would have a long way to go. There was something there. He could see it, but there was more recklessness. Liability. How could someone go that long without so much as having some control over their power?

If he made it in, it was not going to be easy for the kid.

Shouta's eyes narrowed as he watched it. This kid was going to get in on rescue points because of that.

Shouta let his gaze move over to Toshinori, seeing the pride on his face. Toshinori knew something about that kid. Maybe, it was because their power seemed to be very similar. Just from the bit that Shouta had seen. It was hard to tell exactly what it was.

Soon it would be time for them to go over the results and for the next few days, they would go over acceptance and rejections. Forty students would be accepted into the Hero Course. A select few would be from the Recommendation Exams. Split either between his class which was 1-A or Vlad King's being 1-B.

At least, for the time being, he could continue to use this as his distraction.

He wasn't going to let Toshinori's presence at the school change anything. Even if it hurt seeing him now.

X

At the end of the day, he had caught up to the young boy, Shinsou. Offering up to teach him other ways to work around his quirk. What he could do to achieve the path of Heroics if he wanted.

He had seen the surprise on the boy's face the second he made his offer. After speaking for a bit, Shinsou had accepted. Shouta didn't know if this kid was going to make it yet, but there was a bright future lingering there.

After he had spoken to him, he had returned to the Teacher's Lounge to gather his belongings that he had left there, preparing to leave for the day. As he was heading outside, all the examinees were already gone. Just leaving the faculty still at the school. He hadn't even made it that far out of the building before he heard the footsteps behind him and the voice he was hoping wouldn't have caught up to him. "Shouta?"

Shouta exhaled sharply, letting his eyes shut for a moment as he braced himself for this conversation. He turned to see Toshinori standing there. Looking hopeful for a moment as he shifted from foot to foot. "What do you want, Toshinori?" It came out a bit harsher than Shouta had actually meant for it to be.

Maybe it was because he was angry.

Angry that Toshinori came waltzing back into his life like nothing had happened.

That his body looked like it was starting to give out on him just like he had feared.

There were so many emotions going through him as he gazed at his ex-husband. Toshinori looked nervous as he held his hands up, appearing as if he was trying to either defuse the ticking timebomb that was Shouta's anger or knowing that Shouta wasn't happy to see him.

"You look well, Shouta." Toshinori stated.

Shouta gritted his teeth, "It's Aizawa now. We are coworkers, nothing more." Shouta snapped. "It doesn't matter if we have some sort of history."

"Some sort of history." Toshinori replied, laughing for a moment. The same laugh that made Shouta's stomach twist. One that used to be so contiguous to him.

Shouta shoved the feeling away, casting him a look. "You know what I meant."

"I know." Toshinori stated, grinning for a moment before he was rubbing at the back of his head. "I wanted to speak with you… away from everyone else."

"I don't." Shouta shot back, turning on his heel to walk away. He froze as he felt Toshinori's hand curl around his wrist. He stopped, looking back at the blonde. "All Might." He hissed. From the tone of his voice, Toshinori had instantly dropped his hand.

"I know what you're thinking." Toshinori stated, "But you don't have to worry about it. I'm okay."

"Because this is okay." Shouta muttered, scoffing for a second, "I told you this is what I couldn't watch happen. We know about the time limit. Three hours. That injury impacted you so much that you can only be a hero for three hours? And you expect me to look at you with some smile on my face and be happy to see you?" He turned, gritting his teeth as he hissed out, "You're living in a dream, All Might."

He knew it was harsh, but it was the only way that he could stump Toshinori long enough that he could walk away. If he stayed any longer, if he looked at him any longer, he would say something completely different. He wanted to be happy to see him. He wanted to tell him just how much he still loved him even after all this time, but he couldn't. Not when Toshinori proved him right.

He wasn't going to subject himself to it.

He could live with knowing that Toshinori was at least okay. That he was doing okay with his life. Even if it made him so angry to see his body practically rotting away. Toshinori was still doing what he loved. Toshinori was the Symbol of Peace. Shouta still married him knowing that Toshinori would always have that ideal at the forefront of his mind. No matter the cost.

But he couldn't stand watching him tear himself apart.

It's why he left in the first place.

Now, Toshinori was back in his life and it's all that he would be able to see now. All that concern and worry would be back.

From that moment on, Toshinori was nothing but a coworker and that was it.

No matter what their future held now. He wouldn't sway.