Horizon: I forgot to mention, I wrote this story in 2019. Like before the Shirakumo reveal :(
"What the hell are you little shits looking at?"
"Akahana, you should watch your language around the students!"
"Nn?" She rubbed her eyes, barely awake. Oh. Not good. I dozed off standing up? The female hero shook her head, fingers trailing through her hair. "Did I say something? Sorry. I'm kind of out of it."
"You don't look so good. Why don't you go lie down while I finish up this class?" All Might suggested.
Akari shook her head again. "I can help. I'm sorry about dozing off." She saw the startled looks on the students' face and raised an eyebrow. Did I talk in my sleep or something? I hope I didn't say anything embarrassing.
Tucking her thumbs into the belt loops on her costume, she tipped her head back and yawned. The sunlight was bright overhead and she was outside with All Might, doing a small introductory lesson to a class of second year students in the hero course. Being late afternoon, she knew that she only had to hold on for a little while longer, but it was still a struggle to stay awake.
Her blond colleague was wearing his trademark smile, standing beside her and trying to forget the venomous tone she had used earlier. "Still not used to daylight?" he asked, not looking her way.
"It's not just the light. Nighttime is so much quieter. Every time Hizashi talks, it's like his voice is piercing my skull. I love the guy, but ouch." A faint warmth radiated from her cheeks when she said this and she quickly turned her face to the side. "Stuff like this is no problem for the symbol of peace though, is it? Were you ever a nighttime hero?"
"I've worked at night, but not exclusively."
The two heroes stood in silence for a moment, watching the students interact and try the exercises that All Might taught them. The warm sunlight was making Akari even sleepier than before and the gentle breeze did nothing to convince her this was not the ideal place for a nap. Pushing her crimson locks away from her face, she glanced over at her fellow teacher.
He was watching the students with an obvious look of pride and it made her half-smile to herself. Her fingertips brushed over the capture weapon on her belt, skimming over the silky ribbon and making her pulse race. You would look so good in red, she thought faintly. The half-smile bloomed into a smirk without her even noticing, but it was obvious that All Might was suddenly unsettled by something.
"So are you going drinking with the other teachers?" He asked this after class, as they were walking back to the teachers' room.
"I don't know yet. Kayama asked me to go, but this day has been pretty exhausting already. I don't want to think about adding liquor to fatigue and trying to stumble my way home." She snickered quietly to herself. "You don't drink, do you, Yagi-san?"
"No, but I'm going along for the company."
"Hm." Akari ruffled her hair and sighed. "I guess I should go then."
The idea was to go home and change into something casual before meeting up at the bar. However, the second that Akari saw her bed, she just wanted to sleep. She flopped onto her back on the soft surface and sighed, stretching her arms over her head. Who needs alcohol when things like this exist? Her eyes slid closed as she smiled to herself, nuzzling into the plush blanket.
Her eyes snapped open when she felt the bed dip a little. Akari's sharp blue eyes met a pair of deep emerald ones and she frowned at the man's grin. "How'd you get in?" she muttered, turning onto her side away from him.
"You gave me a spare key," he reminded her, holding up a small red keychain. "Come on! You can't spend the first night of the school year like this! Let's go have some fun! Everyone else is probably there already!"
"Nn." Akari felt his hand close around her wrist and she let him pull her so she was sitting upright. "Hizashi, no."
"Hizashi, yes! Come on! Up we go!" He dragged her off of the bed so she was standing and grinned. "What are you going to wear?"
"Pajamas."
"You're not wearing pajamas! Fine; I'll find something for you!"
She sat on the edge of the bed again, watching her friend go through her closet. I just want to sleep. I've done enough today. Looking at him with his hair pulled into a loose bun, she tried not to laugh. He looks nothing like he does when he's in his costume. That wild cockatoo hairstyle…
"Here we go!" Yamada turned to face her, holding out a shirt and pants. "Go put these on and then we'll go! Don't make me wait too long, Akari, baby!"
With a sigh of resignation, she trudged into the bathroom to change clothes. It was a simple black t-shirt and jeans so she was at least grateful that he respected her wish to be comfortable. She changed clothes and ran a brush through her thick, crimson hair to untangle it.
"One drink," she stated as they set off. "Okay? One drink and then I'm going home. I'm tired."
"I thought you were a night owl, Akari! Come on! If you're worried about getting hit on, I'll walk you home!"
She snickered. "And put myself in more danger? No…thanks."
"Whaaat?! What's that supposed to mean? I'm always a gentleman!"
"Which is what makes you so dangerous. What happens when I let my guard down?" she joked.
The man tilted his head and grinned. Pushing up his glasses to meet her gaze directly, he leaned in close. "Well, I'd give you a night you'd never forget~"
Akari's face started to heat up and she tried to laugh it off, but it was difficult. "Sure. Heh. We'll see what happens then, won't we?"
Shift P.O.V
"Akari, there you are. I didn't think you'd make it tonight." Kayama left the table to go greet their red-haired colleague.
He languidly turned his head to look and saw that she had arrived with Yamada. The blond's arm was draped around her shoulders and he was wearing a grin. When he caught Aizawa looking their way, he started waving. The woman at his side was yawning and wore a particularly groggy expression. Did he drag her out of bed for this?
"You guys came together? What's going on with you two?"
"Nothing like that. Hizashi just thought I'd cancel if he didn't drag me here," Akahana muttered. She smothered another yawn and looked toward the table. A lazy sort of smile crossed her lips and she waved. "Yagi-san!"
Across the table from him, Aizawa saw the man wave back. He lowered his gaze to his beer and shrugged it off. Akahana was weird. She had been weird since he met her in high school and had never ceased to be weird. However, this snubbing was a little bit irritating.
"Whoa, Shouta! You've got Akari beat! I thought she was dressed the comfiest!" Yamada teased him. The blond took the seat beside him and Akahana sat next to All Might, still looking half-asleep.
"You're too loud," he muttered.
"See? I'm not the only one that thinks so, Hizashi." The red-haired woman thanked Kayama and half-grinned when a mug of beer was set in front of her. She seemed to catch Aizawa looking at her because her grin fell and she appeared almost guilty. "I'm just having one drink," she assured him.
"I don't care. Just don't show up for homeroom with a hangover."
"C'mon, Akari! You said you'd be fine if I walked you home!" Yamada argued.
"I never agreed to that." She sipped her beer and began to relax more.
Aizawa enjoyed his drink slowly, feeling tired and observing the other teachers at his table. The other instructors were there as well, at the tables around theirs, but his level of fatigue could only allow him so much concentration. Across the table, All Might was talking to Akahana about something that had happened during their afternoon class. It was hard to hear, but whatever it was, it made the woman laugh uncontrollably. She pressed a hand over her mouth, her eyes closing and face turning pink. When her eyes opened again, the brilliant blue orbs were wet with unshed tears and shining with amusement. As her hand moved away, he saw her lips turned up into a small smile.
"Enjoying the view, Shouta?"
He shifted his gaze to Yamada, who was watching him with a grin. "What?"
"You've been staring at Akari all night!"
"No, I haven't." The man lowered his eyes to his drink and he absently rubbed the back of his neck. I'm not staring, he told himself. I just can't remember if that's how she laughed before.
"You can say it! She's pretty cute, right? Akari's got that fiery look! Makes me want to say "YEAH"!"
Aizawa winced at the loud sound right beside his ear and turned to glare at Yamada. Across the table, All Might was looking startled and Akahana was trying to smother a laugh. "We're in a public place."
"Okay, okay!" He flashed a grin in Akahana's direction, making her tremble from holding back laughter.
Despite her claim to only have one drink, the redhead indulged in two of them. She left the bar at the same time as Yamada and Aizawa so the three teachers walked in a small group. The dark-haired hero could see that, even after drinking, she seemed to be mostly sober. Which was good. Dealing with a hungover assistant teacher would be annoying.
Releasing a large yawn, the woman stretched her arms over her head and arched her back. "Ngh! Aaah! I'm going to sleep well tonight~" she purred.
"You're still going to be tired tomorrow." Aizawa spoke from experience.
"Let me sleep over and you'll be really tired~" Yamada joked.
Akahana raised an eyebrow. There was a hint of pink in her face as she ruffled her hair with a hand. "Hizashi…I'm so tired. Are you trying to flirt or-?"
"Seriously?!" He lowered his glasses a little, surprise plain on his face.
Aizawa could not help the smirk that tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Keep your voice down. It's late and we're in a residential area."
The blond rolled his eyes and moved closer to their female coworker. "You must be pretty tired if you can't tell if I'm serious, babe."
She was about to say something, but there was a chiming sound from her pocket. The woman drew her phone out and sighed in frustration. "I've got to go."
At the same time, his phone chimed with a message as well. "I'll see you there." Aizawa saw her nod and set off to get ready.
