Two of a Kind

Hitoshi studied the pouch Fumei gave him

He heavily considered not giving it to Aizawa like he was asked because it felt too pandering, or was a desperate act to make Aizawa acknowledge him. Fumei said it was something to ease their stale relationship and while Hitoshi agreed that their mentor-mentee relationship wasn't what he expected, he had no qualms against it either.

Eraser Head has always been a private type of hero. He didn't share more than what was needed, and was one of the few modern heroes that kept his career and private life separate. He didn't change that even after he became a teacher. He definitely wouldn't change that for Hitoshi.

Admittedly, Hitoshi did want to know more about Aizawa. Trust was a two way street, and for that to happen, Hitoshi wanted to know more about the person, not the hero training him.

Hitoshi knew that Aizawa believed in him, but was that enough for him to be trusted? Aizawa was a great mentor, he knew what Hitoshi needed to improve on, and how he would make him improve upon it, but he was still very detached. He was just another student.

Replaceable.

Aizawa disappeared for almost a week now. Hitoshi knew he must have an important business he can't share with him, but a little message wouldn't hurt. It was in times like this that Hitoshi felt like his days with the hero were nothing but a fever dream.

Amidst his complaints, Hitoshi's phone suddenly rang. "Speak of the devil."

.

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Eraser Head: just got your messages [Sent 3 52 AM]

Eraser Head: sorry [Sent 3 52 AM]

Eraser Head: been busy [Sent 3 52 AM]

Eraser Head: dont check phone when I have work [Sent 3 52 AM]

Eraser Head: nice to read you didn't slack off while I was away [Sent 3 53 AM]

Eraser Head: meet later [Sent 3 53 AM]

Eraser Head: bring the scarf [Send 3 54 AM]

.

.

Hitoshi couldn't fight the smile that tugged at his lips. They were going to train again. He texted Yasogami about the mask in case it was finished, but was disappointed it'd take a few more weeks. Hitoshi supposed he had to settle with the scarf for now.

Awaseru-sensei informed them of the fast approaching exams and halted any training, secret or otherwise, lest they want to be suspended. He glanced at Hitoshi, silently telling him that he was included in that ultimatum.

Hitoshi ignored it, of course.

Aizawa was his mentor now, and while he understood Awaseru-sensei's concern, Hitoshi's class standing wasn't all that bad. He could manage a few late nights to study if he really needed it.

Come free period Tatsumaki desperately cried to Koharu about English. Okami admitted that she needed help in Modern Literature. Nusumi just threw all her tests on the table, and surprised them with red circles all over.

"Seriously?" Fumei sighed. "How do you expect to be heroes with these grades?"

Tatsumaki rolled his eyes. "You're one to talk. You're great at everything except math."

"Numbers are my curse. How about we have a study group then? Teach each other and all that." He glanced at Hitoshi with a silent plea. "If I fail and are not allowed to train them anymore, it's on you."

A chorus of agreement rang among them despite Hitoshi's reluctance to join and they agreed to meet Fumei's apartment this weekend.

As soon as the bell rang, Hitoshi packed his stuff with all intentions to meet with Aizawa. Fumei held him back, seemingly aware of his plan. "Leaving so soon?"

"Yes, now let go."

Fumei narrowed his eyes. "Don't overdo it, make sure to study or else Awaseru-sensei might kick you out for real."

"I rank higher than you. I think I'll be fine."

"Alright, show off, don't need to rub it in," Fumei said. "But seriously, I mean it. Don't forget to hand him the pouch."

Hitoshi stopped. Oh, right. Fumei did ask him to do that. He can't really remember why, just that Fumei wanted it to reach Aizawa's hands. "Not now," he said. "I'll do it next. It'll be weird to give him something when we're not even that close yet."

"Hitoshi," Fumei smiled with his eyes closed. "Listen to me. Give it to him, please."

There was ringing in his head, maybe ears. He looked back at Fumei and heard him say please again. Some foreign feeling rose to his chest, when he thought about not giving the pouch to Aizawa today. It was rather crappy.

"Fine," he sighed. "I'll help you with your little boy crush, but you owe me for it."

Fumei turned red. "It's not a crush!"

Aizawa was surprised to see Shinsou running laps on the treadmill when he arrived. A good fifteen minutes on it too. "You're early."

"Sorry," Hitoshi immediately apologized when he noticed him. He hopped off the track. "I thought I could –"

"No," he stopped him. "Use it. This week isn't the only time I might leave, so if I lose contact, just continue training here." He increased the slope and speed of the treadmill, and Hitoshi adjusted accordingly. "Where's the scarf?"

"In the case."

Aizawa studied the replica on his hand and assessed the material closely. Given the years he's had with his own capture weapon, Aizawa knew its weight and texture like it was a second skin. This was a near perfect imitation of his support weapon. "A student made this?"

"Yasogami," Shinsou said through ragged breaths. "Said it's what he's good at."

The support student definitely had talent. Most of the design and parts of professional hero equipment were strictly kept under lock and key. If they weren't already owned by development studios, the only ones capable of repairing them would be the mechanics who created it themselves.

Now Shinsou claimed a freshman was able to recreate a pro-hero equipment through mere sight alone. It was amazing, and rather dangerous. He'd be sure to bring it up to Maijima later. A small box was stashed underneath the cloth which held a thin circular patch. Aizawa never used anything like it when he started so the addition was intriguing. An upgrade, he thought.

"What's the accessory for?"

"It's a control unit," the younger explained as he finished his warm-up and pressed the circular tape on his right temple. "Helps me control the scarf with my mind. Don't you have one like it?"

Now Aizawa was impressed. Not only did that Yasogami kid recreate his hero gear, but he also made it easier for Shinsou to use and learn it. The unit was a training wheel. He grinned and handed Shinsou the rest. "Not when I started, no. I had to learn by myself without the tech."

Shinsou's eyes sparkled in awe at him, then moved to take off the patch. Aizawa pushed the patch back. "Keep it on. We'll practice without it out once you've gotten used to the malleability."

"Okay."

"You're lucky to have that friend," Aizawa said. "Without that chip it'd take months before you could make that fly."

Shinsou scoffed. "I wouldn't really call him a friend, but yeah, I am lucky."

Aizawa noted Shinsou's recurring reluctance to call those that support him as friends. A lonesome hero was nothing new. Many considered him as such too, and plenty of self-absorbed heroes – bless those young ones – find friends as nuisances rather than a means of strength.

Aizawa once did the same at Shinsou's age. He saw no point in them and more often than not, they acted as distractions. People liked Aizawa, but he kept them as far as he could throw them. He was fortunate enough to have met people that supported him regardless of how distant he kept them. They were not a lot, but they helped him reach his goals and more.

They helped him discover what kind of hero he wanted to be.

Aizawa would call Hizashi his friend, but he was, first and foremost, an annoyance and consistent thorn to his side. Kayama was more of a drinking buddy than a friend, but she's helped him enough times to be considered as one as well. All Might was still in the hot seat. They've known each other for years, but only now started to work so close together.

Aizawa had nothing bad to say against The Symbol of Peace, he just can't say he liked the guy's teaching style, nor knew of him enough to consider him as anything more than a colleague.

Regardless of his own experience, Aizawa hoped Shinsou would open up to more of his peers soon. They could teach him far more valuable things than he ever could as his mentor. "Either way your… peer had his work cut out for him. It's well made. You've tried it yet?"

Shinsou nodded, and Aizawa's lips quirked up a little. "Good, show me."

Shinsou took off with the weapon around his shoulders and took out a couple of bottles inside his bag. Something circular and fluffy fell out as he did but was left unnoticed.

Aizawa bent down to return it, but stopped when he realized what it was. He stared enviously at the silver tabby coin pouch and carefully picked it up. It was a limited monochrome colored Tsuchineko fur lined pouch. There were less than a hundred of them released in Japan, and for some reason, Shinsou was lucky enough to have one.

Aizawa tried not to think too much about it as he slipped it back into Shinsou's bag. He thought about bringing it up later, just so he'd know where to get one himself.

When he joined Shinsou outside, the kid just finished lining up for his demonstration. "I practiced a little with throwing, but not so much as targeting. I thought maybe we could focus on that today?"

"I'll see if your throwing is good enough to learn targeting, then we'll talk."

Shinsou bashfully turned away, but nonetheless nodded. He took the appropriate stance and lightly jumped on his toes to get a rhythm moving. Aizawa watched him closely. The distance between his feet and the way he held out his arms messed with his center of balance, but it was enough to make the cloth soar forward..

The weapon traveled through air in a half hardened, and flexible state then completely missed its intended target. It slipped between the bottles and hit a tree.

Shinsou clicked his tongue, either out of frustration or embarrassment and rolled the cloth up his arm to retrieve it.

"That the best you can do," Aizawa teased.

"Let me try again."

Aizawa waved his hand. Let it be known that Eraser Head believed in giving others a second chance.

Shinsou repositioned himself, then took time to prepare himself. He bounced on his toes and stared at his target. Aizawa could see the focus on his eyes and crossed his fingers. Shinsou switched his stance and swung his arm. The cloth shot out in a flexible curve then solidified halfway through its arch. It flew faster than before but still failed to successfully knock a bottle down. Shinsou clicked his tongue as the weapon lay limp before him.

It wasn't an impressive leap in action, and Aizawa knew Shinsou still relied on the control unit to dictate the weapon's malleability but it was the efforts that mattered. Shinsou was determined to learn it, and however small his progress was, it was enough to send the weapon a few meters away from him.

Aizawa knew Giro's protégé helped Shinsou yesterday (Giro was very talkative) and hoped they did more than this, but beggars can't be choosers. "That's it?"

"That's it," Shinsou mumbled.

Aizawa knew he sounded disappointed and unimpressed, and in some ways was, but not completely. He was impressed by Shinsou's solitary progress, and was perfectly satisfied with Shinsou's motivation to keep learning. However, he also knew Shinsou yearned for praise and approval. If he wanted Shinsou to keep pushing he shouldn't give him that satisfaction. Regardless of how much he wanted to.

Shinsou returned to the throwing line, and Aizawa fixed the former. "Your arms are too stiff, which makes them harder to move within a second's notice," he started. "With this weapon, speed is everything. Keep them relaxed and open. Focus all the strength on your hands. What controls the weapon isn't your arm, but your wrist."

He stood to mirror Shinsou's stance and slowly demonstrated the proper throw whilst he talked. Aizawa folded his throwing arm about a fist away from his chest and swung it outward. He kept his arm outstretched in a flatline towards his side; no further no less. "When you release it, keep your arm strong and forward. You can throw anywhere in between this, but if you exceed beyond your shoulder, you'll definitely lose control of it."

"To reach further and add power to the throw, always remember to come from a wider arc." Aizawa bent his folded arm a little over his opposite shoulder and flung out his arm. "I don't expect you to be able to control where it goes yet, but I want you to increase distance and power with your throws. We'll do target practice another time."

"As for your stance," he kicked Shinsou's legs apart, and pulled him upright when the latter swayed at the sudden change of balance. Shinsou muttered a quick apology. "Keep them in the same width as your arms, and place your weight on the opposite leg as your throwing arm. Once it becomes second nature, you'll move quicker and aim better."

Aizawa looked Shinsou in the eye, and the latter looked away, embarrassed. He just quickly ran down everything he learned in the past six years in under a minute. He didn't expect Shinsou to get all of it on the first try, but certainly hoped he got some of it. Aizawa did not like to repeat himself.

"Right."

"And last, since you've got that training wheel on you -" Aizawa pulled down the scarf just a few inches below Shinsou's diaphragm. He tapped the control unit on the younger's temple and said, "Keep it up when you use it."

"Why?" Shinsou frowned. "It's already hard to make it form one way and back."

"So you can protect yourself," Aizawa explained as he stepped back to demonstrate, "and quickly change from attack, defense, or capture fronts."

Aizawa's long black hair and scarf flared up as though disregarding the laws of gravity. Shinsou watched in awe as the bulk of the weapon suspended itself around Aizawa's frame in midair. It covered him, like a small shield that could easily bend and mold itself to wrap around any nearby threat. Aizawa retracted them all back and gestured for Shinsou to try it out.

Shinsou's eyebrows creased as he tried to think of what Aizawa wanted him to do. The scarf responded erratically to his thoughts. It would lift a few inches above his shoulders, then fell right back back down. Aizawa watched Shinsou try and fail repeatedly, never once moving to stop him, until he saw the latter's face contort in obvious frustration and impatience.

Being the homeroom teacher of one of Yuuei's most hot-headed freshmen, Aizawa knew that attitude well. "That's enough." Shinsou gasped, and looked at him as though he did something wrong.

"No, I can -"

"We'll do that next time. I hoped you'd be able to do it with the control unit, but it seems it was still too much," he said. "Don't worry, it's a technique I learned when I was already a pro-hero. I just thought you'd like to try it while the training wheel was on."

Shinsou frowned at the repeated word, and nodded in understanding. "So today… we are?"

Aizawa smirked and threw one end of his capture weapon towards Shinsou's feet. Shinsou jumped in shock just as the metal struck solid ground. "Throws, what else?"

Shinsou sighed as though it was the most obvious answer. "I'll keep using the bottles then?"

Aizawa shook his head. "No, you're going to capture me."

"I – uh – seriously?"

"Seriously," he echoed. "Unless you want to do something else?"

"No! No! I'll do that."

Aizawa pocketed his hands to give Shinsou a fair advantage. Shinsou frowned at it, somehow insulted by the kind gesture. Aizawa almost chuckled. The kid didn't want to be given special treatment it seemed.

Shinsou quickly incorporated the corrections given to him regarding his form as he went for the attack. Aizawa could see the kid trying hard to break old habits, but at least he heeded his advice. He didn't need to dodge Shinsou's first throw as it veered off course immediately.

Shinsou apologized and immediately resumed his stance. His next few throws also missed, often curving the wrong way, or falling out of momentum halfway through the distance between them. Shinsou increasingly got frustrated and became more desperate in his throws, making him revert to old habits.

Aizawa paid no expense to yell at him for every mistake.

Determined to prove himself, Shinsou bit back down any rebellious comment he had and corrected them.

After what may have been an hour later. Aizawa finally saw progress. Aizawa very briefly tilted his body away from the cloth that flew inches away from his arm. Shinsou gasped as Aizawa resumed his position and quickly retrieved the weapon with a well-rehearsed tug.

Aizawa narrowed his eyes. He's getting used to that.

"Again," he instructed. "If you can wrap it around me, you're allowed to have a break. If it just hits me, then you'll have to try again."

Shinsou's eyes lit up and very determinedly, focused to get this next attempt right. He stood upright with his left arm perfect tucked over his other shoulder and the other dangling freely to his side. His stance mirrored the length between his arms, and he leaned back on his weaker leg.

Aizawa smiled as Shinsou bounced on his toes twice, then crossed both legs to build momentum for the throw. The cloth whipped in the air, its trajectory headed straight and narrow towards him. It zipped past his shoulder, solid as metal, but suddenly curved and looped around his upper body as though it had a mind of his own.

Hitoshi pulled from the other end to secure his catch, and Aizawa nodded. "Well done," he said softly.

Shinsou beamed at the rare compliment, albeit didn't really smile. His body language simply looked more pleased than dejected like the last hour. "Thank you."

"No, none of that. You did that all on your own." They both settled near the gym and leaned back on the wall. Shinsou looked a lot more spent than Aizawa was with the repeated exercise, but didn't seem ready to call it quits yet. He still had that look in his eye that screamed he wanted more.

Aizawa checked the time on his phone and was surprised to find it later than he thought it might've been. He wanted to at least start on capture exercises tonight, and he didn't know when he'd be called out for an emergency again. A repeat of this may take some time again if that were true. Still, as he watched Shinsou's ragged breaths he figured it was enough for the night.

"After you've cooled down you're free to go."

Shinsou frowned. "If it's alright with you, sir, I want to train more."

"You have classes tomorrow."

"You were gone almost a week."

"Fair point," Aizawa said guiltily, "but I won't let you overwork yourself." While Aizawa firmly believed in the ethos of pushing his students to their limit; he also understood the necessity of rest. He already had one student that completely disregards his order to not overexert himself. He won't have another.

Shinsou silently drank his water, occasionally looking over to Aizawa, who was also silently drinking from his tumbler, like he wanted to say something but didn't. It was enough to make Aizawa lose his own patience.

"I'm not going to bite you know," Aizawa said.

"Ah – It's just hard to think of anything to talk about with a hero."

Aizawa shrugged. "We're people, we talk about anything."

"Uh well… where were you the entire time?"

"Work," he answered as vaguely possible. As much as Aizawa wanted to explain himself to his student, he couldn't divulge that information to a civilian; regardless if he was a hero in the making. Shinsou shifted uncomfortably. "I can't tell you anything more."

"Classified hero information," Shinsou nodded, "I understand."

"Ask something else."

"Okay, how about… Your spare time, what do you do?"

Aizawa couldn't help but roll his eyes. This felt a whole lot like twenty questions, a game he hasn't played since Hizashi tried to get him a girlfriend in a hero mixer. "Different things. If there's no paperwork, I sleep."

Shinsou laughed. "Me too, and biking, but mostly sleeping. I have insomnia so it's hard to get a decent amount of shut-eye when I need to."

Aizawa hummed acceptably. He didn't expect Shinsou to answer his own question, but welcomed the personal trivia. It was an acceptable way to build rapport between them.

"What about food?"

"Coffee with cereal oats."

Shinsou blinked in slight disbelief and chuckled, unsure of how to respond. "I don't think that's what most consider as food."

"I like it. It's food"

Shinsou coughed back a laugh. "I guess. I like cold udon, then."

They continued with this cycle for about twenty minutes more, until Shinsou seemed to run out of questions in his arsenal. Most of the questions were harmless, but when it came to revealing something Aizawa wasn't comfortable with, he simply kept his mouth shut. Shinsou thankfully took the hint and simply answered the question himself then moved on.

It was a bit surreal revealing all these small personal things to Shinsou when the majority of it wasn't even known by his class. The contexts of both settings were different. Mentoring Shinsou privately allowed for a more intimate relation as opposed to teaching all twenty students of 1-A. Forming a bond with one person was a lot easier than with an entire class. Aizawa wondered if he could be charged with favoritism with how much he favored Shinsou right now compared to the rest of his problematic class.

Class 1-A had spectacular heroes to be, but they weren't the best at being teenage students. They were reckless, they always ran headfirst into battle, and they absolutely did not listen to him unless given appropriate consequences to be afraid of. Shinsou simply listened.

Oh, what he'd do to get most of his students to behave like him.

"Is there...anything you want to know about me?" Shinsou asked in their silence, and Aizawa thought about it.

Aizawa wasn't really the type to ask unless it was absolutely necessary. He didn't need to know superficial things about Shinsou because he already knew how he thought, his motivations, and his character just by watching him struggle. He had a few inquiries, but nothing to bother himself with. "Nothing that I don't already know."

"Oh… alright..."

Aizawa bit his lip. That was the most crestfallen the kid has ever sounded in front of him. He never thought it possible given how determined he was to please and impress him, but Aizawa's distant way of mentoring seemed the wrong way to handle Shinsou. He coughed to redeem himself. "Well there is one thing. That student that helps you."

Shinsou frowned. "Which one? There's quite a number of them."

"The one that trains you and your other classmates."

"Oh, Fumei," Shinsou gaped. "What about him?"

"Nothing much, just interested in calling him up to watch over you whenever I'm away for long." Shinsou paled up, and Aizawa had no idea why he reacted that way. "I know you've worked together long enough to know what works and what doesn't. I also want someone to detail your progress."

"I can do that on my own."

"I know, but a little outside help won't hurt," Aizawa said. "You're still a general student. If you get hurt while practicing without my supervision, that's on me. So, if you ever want to practice. I want someone to watch over you, peer or otherwise."

Shinsou nodded. "Fumei understands my quirk far better than anyone, sometimes even more. His training works, and it did help me improve, but I prefer yours."

"Flattering as that may be, I can't always be here. If it's alright with you, I may request you to bring him from time to time."

"Sure I guess, if you ask me to."

"Great," Aizawa said. "That's enough rest, let's get back to work so I can send home right away."

Shinsou shot up and walked back to this throwing line while Aizawa stayed behind the water bottles still lined a few feet away from the former. They attempted distance capture again, and to Aizawa's surprise Shinsou adapted faster than before. His precision still needs a lot of work, but his control on the power and his own form was starting to take shape.

Aizawa tried to limit the times he actually complimented Shinsou as to not keep giving him the reinforcement he so desperately craved. Shinsou needs to learn that he didn't need to prove himself to anyone and simply did his best to improve himself. He needed to be the hero he wanted to be, not because someone told or expected him to.

Another half hour later, Hitoshi has learned to extend his weapon to at least 6 feet away. He still had difficulty controlling the malleability and mostly kept it solid during every throw, but shorter distances proved much easier to mold.

As Aizawa prepared to leave, Shinsou offered him the Tsuchinkeko coin pouch the former picked up earlier. "What…?"

"It's a coin pouch, of a cat," Shinsou said. "I heard you like them so I thought I might give it to you, as thanks."

"I know what it is," Aizawa said. "You know, you don't have to give me anything for training you."

"I know, I wanted to give you something either way. A token, for believing in me."

Aizawa glanced down at the cat's black beady eyes, and found that the longer he stared, the harder it became to deny. He was a professional goddammit, surely he could resist a measly coin purse. He wasn't a girl, but he most certainly loved cats. "As much as I want to accept it in kind, that's a limited edition. I can't possibly accept something as expensive from a student."

Shinsou blinked, looking surprised at the object on his hand, as well. "I don't mind. I already have something like it." He pulled out his phone and showed off a Tsuchineko black cat chain dangling from the side.

Clearly, Shinsou shared his enthusiasm for felines. "That's a key chain, and this is a limited edition. They are not the same."

"Please," Shinsou begged, almost uncharacteristically. Now Aizawa felt bad refusing it.

He'd accepted gifts from students in the past but only because they were under special occasions such as Valentine's Day, Christmas, or in some cases, his birthday. Even then he was reluctant to take them as he saw no importance to materialistic goods. Most of the time, he gave them away for free to Hizashi, who always accepted them to add to his never-ending pile of clutter at home.

"This is the only time, got it?"

Shinsou nodded then simply walked ahead after Aizawa took the pouch from him. His student never once again mentioned the pouch, nor Aizawa's common love for cats the entire walk back.

After the parted ways, Aizawa stared at the pouch intently. Goddammit it was so adorable.