Retirement homes, god how Aizawa hated retirement homes. He hoped and prayed when he got too old his boys wouldn't just dump him into one of these hell holes. Retirement homes already reeked of disinfectant, but the disinfectant was a ruse to hide the underlying smell of old feces and urine.
"Whenever you're ready, Hitoshi." Aizawa told his son as they stood in front of Ishii's bedroom door. "We're both going to be right here if you need us."
Originally, Higashi was going to meet up with them today, but circumstances surrounding his job forced him to cancel. Which was fine, they didn't need him. They were going to stay so Hitoshi could say goodbye to Ishii for one final time.
Hitoshi wiped his sweaty palms on his school pants, they didn't have time to change after school, before he pulled his hair back into a ponytail and used the hair tie on his wrist to tie it back. "Okay, I'm ready." He said when the hair tie snapped into place. He reached over for the door to Ishii's room and walked inside.
"Is it time for my snack already?" came the soft and wary voice of Ishii Shinsou.
Hitoshi paused just a few feet from her. His body no longer responded as he stared at his biological grandmother.
She was bedridden, something he figured out but just didn't expect to see. She was hooked up to so many tubes and machines that it was hard to keep track of it all. Ishii hardly had the strength to lift her head so she can only lamely turn it to look at Hitoshi. Her eyes were milky white in color, but had some vision in them as the moment she saw him her eyes just lit up.
"Dai…"
Hitoshi cringed almost immediately. His mouth felt sealed shut as he just stared at the woman laying before him. His fingers twitched at his sides and he just looked at her unable to bring himself to say anything.
"Where have you been? I've been so worried about you." Ishii brought her hand out with the palm facing up. She wanted his hand to hold. Hitoshi felt his body freeze as he raised his hand up, but didn't extend it out to his grandmother. "You're late for dinner." Ishii commented with a small smile on her face. For just a brief moment Hitoshi saw this scene from outside his body, but the experience didn't last for long.
He sucked in a slow and deep breath before he finally forced his hand over to Ishii. His hand trembled as he lightly placed it in her palm. Her skin was soft, wrinkled, and cold to the touch. She smiled at him as Hitoshi took his seat across from her.
"You need to get a haircut. It's so frizzy and long. Too long." Ishii commented as she looked at him. With her long spindly fingers she reached over towards Hitoshi and lightly ran two fingers through a lock of his hair that was hanging out of his ponytail holder.
"I like it long…" Hitoshi's voice sounded forign in his ears as he whispered this to Ishii. His voice shook slightly and he sucked in a deep breath.
Ishii snorted at him. She "Such a rebel, Dai."
Hitoshi couldn't help it, the air just became so heavy that he had to break the silence, he laughed out a shaky and scared little laugh. "Was I?" He choked out. 'I hate this. I hate this so much.'
"Oh yes, you always disobeyed me. Always stayed out after dark, despite me telling you to be back home at a certain time… yes, you're such a little trouble maker, but that's okay. I love you all the same. My little Dai… Huh?"
Suddenly, Ishii became aware of Aizawa and Izuku standing behind Hitoshi. When she did, Hitoshi saw recognition light behind her muted eyes. "I remember you…" She said suddenly while pointing past Hitoshi. A small little smile gracing her lips. She moved her hand up and down a couple of times as she grinned a little wider.
Hitoshi followed her finger and realized she was pointing at-
"Me?" Izuku pointed at himself while he looked from Aizawa to Hitoshi in surprise. "Oh no, you're mistaken-" Izuku quickly waved his hands in front of his person as he gave an awkward smile at Ishii.
"No… You never made my bed right, nor my coffee. It was always way too sweet when you made it."
"Ishii-" Hitoshi quickly spoke to bring his grandmother back to the present. "Grandma- mom- let's change the subject-" He didn't know who to be right now. Hitoshi Aizawa? Hitoshi Shinsou? Or Dai Shinsou? It's all too complicated.
"-I mean she's nice enough, but it's not hard to make a coffee-"
"-Please, let's talk about something else." Hitoshi quickly interrupted her. "That's nobody, in fact they were leaving." Hitoshi looked over his shoulder at Izuku and his father. There was a moment of confusion before the two of them both just backed out of the room at his request. Hitoshi let out a relaxed breath once the door shut behind them. Why they even came in behind him was beyond him.
Hitoshi focused back around at Ishii and quietly placed his other hand on top of Ishii's. Maybe he could just rip the bandaid off and leave before he's forced to stay even longer. "I can't stay for long. I just wanted to come back to tell you goodbye."
"Oh, Sukotto, we have all the time in the world… all the time in the world…" Ishii whispered as she looked up at the ceiling now. Her eyes far away in another time.
'Sukotto… Sukotto Shinsou? My grandfather?' Hitoshi only ever heard that name once before, but was never given the privilege of meeting him as Sukotto passed away shortly after Hitoshi was born. He didn't even remember what Sukotto looked like. Even if he tried to concentrate on the man's image in his mind. It just came up blank.
Ishii smiled as she focused back around to Hitoshi now. "You're just as handsome as the day I met you." She reached over and touched Hitoshi's cheek.
Hitoshi reached up and touched the back of her hand. "I'm going to have to go." He whispered in a soft voice. "It was nice seeing you again." Hitoshi slowly started to stand up, but Ishii frowned at him and it made Hitoshi stop. Especially when Ishii grasped his hand and held it with enough grip to make him pause.
"Wait, Dai… don't leave me again; I don't think my heart can take it."
Hitoshi didn't know what happened or what came over him but he felt tears suddenly perk into the corners of his eyes. He felt both sad and angry all at once. A part of him, a deep and angry part of Hitoshi hidden away in the very corner of his soul wanted to yell at her. He wanted to say: "You had him for over thirty-five years, I hardly remember him! Dai was murdered in front of me and it wasn't fair" Hitoshi was angry, yes, but there was another little voice in his head that was talking now.
'She's in the same boat as you, don't you dare forget that. You lost your father, yes, but she not only lost her son but doesn't even remember losing him. Can you imagine being told day after day that your son is dead? Only to forget it.' It was Hitoshi's conscience talking and everyday it sounded more and more like Aizawa.
So, Hitoshi sat back down with a soft sigh. "I won't be gone for long." He finally managed to choke out before wiping his tears away again. "In fact, I'm sure we'll be meeting together again fairly soon. Sooner than you might think, actually."
"Well… that makes me happy, Dai. You've always been such a good son to your momma. Though you rarely visit me these days." She patted the back of his hand lovingly.
"...I need to go." Hitoshi finally pushed himself fully out of the chair. If he stayed any longer he knew he was going to have a panic attack or a crying fit. "Just know… that I love you and goodbye, for now." Hitoshi turned his back to her and he bit his wobbling lip to keep it still.
"Oh…" Ishii let out a sad noise. "Well, If you're leaving, can you bring that woman back? She knows how to make my coffee the way I like!"
Aizawa and Izuku stayed outside of the door. Aizawa shoved his hands into his pants pockets and Izuku tilted his head to the side. "That was weird." Izuku finally said after a few seconds.
"Yes, but she's elderly and possibly dealing with Alzheimers." Aizawa sighed with a soft shrug. "Confusion is, unfortunately, common." He then looked at his son out of the corner of his eye.
Aizawa would be lying if he said it didn't bug him. She looked directly at Izuku and said: "I remember you." It left a bad taste in Aizawa's mouth. As far as he was told (and as far as he knows) Izuku and Ishii never spoke to each other aside from today. Not only that but Ishii called Izuku a 'she'. Meaning she didn't see Izuku; Ishii saw a woman. A woman that must have looked an awful lot like Izuku.
"Hey, I saw a vending machine at the help desk. I'm going to get a canned coffee. Do you want a soda?" Aizawa inquired as he looked at Izuku.
Izuku let out a soft hum. "Uh… sure? A pepsi. If they have one."
"Okay." Aizawa shoved both hands into his pockets. "Hitoshi likes cherry cola, right?"
"Yep!"
"I'll be back." He grumbled as he started walking away. Of course he wasn't just going to get a couple of drinks. He had his own motives and he wanted to know if he was right. 'You're being stupid, Shouta…' The little voice in his head whispered. 'I know it's probably just a woman with green hair that made Ishii think of Izuku, but still… what if this woman could be the missing piece?...'
Izuku was an enigma as well as his biological family. Nobody ever claimed him up as their own (their loss), but running his DNA through the system turned up nothing, but he wasn't from out of the country meaning his family was somewhere in Japan. Yet, nobody came for him. Not a single soul. So, what family doesn't want their kid or nephew back?
Aizawa approached the front desk. There was a frizzy yellow haired bookkeeper with the face of a green lizard and scales to match, sitting at the desk. She seemed to be chewing gum. Loudly. With her mouth open. Aizawa was already feeling his irritation rise. He quietly put his hand on the desk and leaned down a bit. "I just have a question."
"If it's abuse concerns I can give you a phone number-"
"-No." Aizawa put his hand up, stopping her right there. "I just need to ask. Is there a woman with green hair that works here?"
The lady looked at Aizawa and slowed down her gum chewing, but didn't stop it, she then sized him up and down with her eyes. "No." she stretched her voice as she continued to look him up and down. Aizawa huffed in irritation and reached into his pocket. He then pulled out his license.
"I'm a prohero. I don't want a lot. I just want an honest answer to my question. She should have olive green hair and maybe green eyes and freckles to match."
"Looking for the baby mama to that boy of yours?" The bookkeeper leaned back into her chair with a biggest grin on her face as she continued to obnoxiously chew her gum.
Aizawa could only let out a mirthless breathy laugh in response. "Something to that effect, I guess."
"Well, I hate to tell you, sugah, but as far as I know, nobody here, nurse or otherwise, has green hair, eyes, or freckles. But, if you're looking for another baby mama-"
"-And we're done. Thanks." Aizawa swiftly turned and walked away from the frizzy haired bookkeeper. He stalked over to the vending machine and bought the soda he said he would. Once done he walked back to Izuku.
As Aizawa was walking up to Izuku, he saw Hitoshi exit out of his grandmother's room. Hitoshi was quietly wiping the tears away from his eyes, and once he was out in the hallway he gave himself a good shake.
Izuku saw the tears fairly quickly and hugged Hitoshi tightly. Hitoshi put on a brave face and sniffled softly before wiping the rest of his tears away with his palm. "I'm fine. It's fine." Hitoshi sniffled again. "Just a lot of emotions at once."
"Did you get to say goodbye?" Aizawa inquired as he threw the cherry cola to Hitoshi. Hitoshi nodded as he nervously tapped on the tab of the soda.
"Yeah, as best as I could anyway. She didn't just see me as Dai. She saw me as Sukotto Shinsou, my grandfather." Hitoshi whispered. "That somehow feels better than being mistaken for my dad." He ran his fingers through his ponytail before sighing out. He then opened the can of soda and took a sip. "Ca-can we just go now? Please. I don't know how much longer I can take being here."
Tuesday rolled around fairly quickly, as it was the next day, and it was time for them to get their grade for the big assignment. Their group waited anxiously with baited breath as the teacher made her rounds returning each assignment to each group of students. When finally, she dropped theirs off and…
A big red A shone brightly on their combined assignment and Hitoshi couldn't help it, he was grinning.
"High five!" Kaminari offered as he raised his right hand up. Izuku took up the mantle on that and slapped Kaminari's palm with his own.
"Ah!" Izuku shrieked out in pain as he was, inevitably, shocked by Kaminari. "Fuck, that hurt!" Izuku shook his hand violently. Hitoshi let out a surprise laugh at this.
"I'm so sorry!" Kaminari put his hands over his mouth in shock.
"It's fine!" Izuku shot back up in a second. "It was just a… shock. Heh!" Izuku grinned at the pun to which Kaminari gave Izuku a thumbs-up in response.
Hitoshi smiled softly as he leaned back in his chair. "We did good."
"That's what you say."
Hitoshi's eyes must have rolled all the way to the back of his head as Akisho's voice grated against his ears. "What do you want?!" Hitoshi rolled his head back so he was now looking at Akisho upside down. "Ugh, I don't know how, but you'd somehow look uglier upside down." Hitoshi hissed as he sneered at Akisho.
Akisho returned the sneer in full as he crossed his arms. "I'd say the same to you, but you've always been ugly. A face only a mother could love- oh wait."
"Fuck you."
"I'd never give you the pleasure."
"What do you want, Akisho?" Izuku asked as he crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes.
"You three have been pissing me off lately. I know the three of you tried to get into UA, and I know UA is low on standards but you three are just too below the bar. I'll be laughing when you get that rejection letter." Akisho sniggered. "You'll all be the laughing stock of this whole school, then again, you three have always been that."
"And when you get your rejection letter we'll make sure you never forget it." Kaminari could only grin as he crossed one leg over the other all while shrugging at Akisho.
"I would never apply to that school." Akisho snarled as he got into Kaminari's face.
"Really? Because I'm pretty sure I saw you at the entrance exam. What? Did Shiketsu high turn you down?"
"Keep it up, Sparky! I can make you do whatever I want if you test me too hard."
"Try it. And you'll be standing in the middle of the main hallway naked." Hitoshi swiftly threatened as he stood from his chair now. He immediately wedged himself between Kaminari and Akisho. Akisho's nostril rose in a sneer as he took a step forward so he and Hitoshi were practically nose-to-nose.
Izuku came up to Kaminari's right and put himself slightly in front of the blonde as well. His arms crossed. "I appreciate it, guys, but I'm sure I can take Akisho myself." Kaminari gave an awkward laugh as he said this.
There was a heavy silence between the two as Akisho and Hitoshi only glared at one another. "Go back to your boyfriends, Tora." Akisho hissed as he turned his back to Hitoshi. "We all know what you and Izuku do in your spare time. It's disgusting."
"Go fuck yourself." Hitoshi waved Akisho off. "You know, you're so obsessed with my brother and me it's almost scary. It's like… you have a crush on us or something."
"Ugh. I'd rather lay with my own dog than have a quirkless touch me." Akisho turned back to face Hitoshi before focusing back on Izuku. Akisho sneered one last time at Izuku before he then walked away flipping them the bird as he did so.
It was Izuku that spoke next. His eyebrow raised as he watched Akisho leave. Izuku didn't look so threatening now as he relaxed and put his hand to his chin in thought. "Interesting."
"What? That he's still a dicknoodle?" Hitoshi asked as he went to sit back down. "Because, I'm not surprised."
"No it's not that… it's… nothing… maybe I'm just thinking too much into things." Izuku then gave a shrug in response as he grabbed his bag and placed it in his lap. "It's just strange is all."
Saturday afternoon, 1:47pm to be more specific was when Izuku and Hitoshi both got UA's response letters. They're dad was away at UA to finish up his roster for next year's class. He'd be back before too long. To say both boys were excited was an understatement. They both looked at their envelopes that sat on the dinning table while holding onto each other's arms.
"I'm scared, I botched my exam- I- I don't know if I can do this…" Izuku breathed out nervously while he clung to Hitoshi for dear life.
"I know how you feel… should we… open them both at the same time?"
Izuku shook his head. "It's a projection, I know the type. They'll just speak over each other and we won't hear it."
Both brothers looked at each other then back at the envelopes afraid they might combust into ash any minute now. "Should we wait for dad?" Hitoshi breathed out while he clung at Izuku's arms, digging his nails into his brother's soft flesh.
"...No. It's a bandaid… we need to rip it off. To know if we got in or not. I'll… just take mine to my room and you'll take yours. This way, it'll be a surprise, right?"
"I guess."
Though no brother made an attempt to remove himself from the other as they just stared long and hard at the packages on the table. Finally, with shaky hands, Izuku let go of Hitoshi's arms and reached for his letter. He paused just before grabbing it. His hand hesitated over the envelope before he simply snatched it up.
"Alright…" Izuku mumbled before he turned for his room. "I can do this…"
He shut his door and seconds later he heard Hitoshi's own footsteps before his door shut as well.
Izuku sat down at his desk and eagerly ripped the package open. The little projector instantly popped out and Izuku nearly dropped it in shock. Once it was secured in his hands, he gently placed it down on his desk, sat up straight, and pressed play.
A little projection flickered for a second before All Might appeared right in front of Izuku. He was beaming from ear-to-ear with that familiar smile. "Hello, young Tora. Or should I say young-er Aizawa! That was quite a…shock to learn, my boy." All Might awkwardly rubbed the front of his neck before shaking his head.
"Regardless of all that! I'm sorry for not getting in contact with you sooner, however, from what was…graciously told to me by Young- old Aizawa- no that doesn't feel right….You'll be surprised to learn that starting this upcoming new school year I will be teaching at UA! " Someone from the otherside of the camera got All Might's attention. "Huh? I'm not grandstanding- Okay- okay. I'm moving along."
All Might focused right back around to the camera. "Regardless of all of that! Getting the move on as they say. You will be happy to know that you passed the written exam with flying colors!"
Izuku knew that he had passed the written exam, his issue laid with the physical exam. The one he botched horribly. Izuku's leg started to shake up and down as he tapped his fingers anxiously against the edge of his desk.
"However, we both know on the practical test you only managed to score six points. Which isn't exactly what UA was looking for…"
Izuku sighed and let his head hang. He failed, pure and simple, he had one chance and he blew it to smithereens. Tears perked into the corners of his eyes and he squeezed his eyes shut tight. Hopefully there'll be room for him in the General Studies at this point.
"That being said. Though it is clear that you failed the practical exam, you'll be pleased to learn that there were other points you earned."
Izuku looked back up at the projection. 'Other points?' he could only think as he stared at All Might; with wide wet eyes."You see Young Izuku, we, the judges, were looking for more than just smashing robots to bits and bolts. We were also looking for heroic people to earn rescue points."
Young Izuku, you rescued that young girl even though it would have been easier for you to turn and run with the rest of the students. You risked life and limb for her and for that, you get rescue points that bring your score up, but it doesn't end there. Remember the girl? Well, guess what? What goes around comes around in my book. Have a look."
The scene on the projector changed and it showed the girl that Izuku had saved that day. She seemed to be approaching Present Mic. 'who's recording this… and why?' Izuku thought for just a brief moment before he shook his head and focused on the scene in front of him.
"Well, hello, little listener! What can I do for you today?" Present Mic had asked as he smiled at the brown haired girl.
The girl blushed a little as she rubbed the back of her head. "That boy that they wheeled away on a stretcher, I wanted to know if he was alright?"
"Oh! Yeah, he woke up not that long ago, actually. He'll be just fine!"
The girl sighed at that. "That's a relief. I was really worried about him. I also wanted to ask a question. Is it possible for me to transfer some of my points over to him? You see, Mr. Mic. He would have gotten more points if he hadn't had stopped to help me and I feel guilty!"
Present Mic grinned at the girl before patting her head. "You don't need to worry about that, little missy."
That was when All Might came back on screen. "It's really touching and for her willing to sacrifice her points and for the fact that she helped rescue you as well. She also gets rescue points and it doesn't just end with her either! That Iida boy, the one who managed to grab you out of the sky before you hit the ground. He also gets rescue points!" The image flickered over to a video of Izuku falling only to be swiftly caught by Iida.
'If I ever get my phone back. I need to thank him a thousand times over. He really saved my hide back there.' Izuku really didn't think about it at the time, but watching his own limbs flap aimlessly in the wind as he plummeted, unconscious, to, what would have been, his death. He owed a lot to Iida.
All Might turned his head. "Yes, I'm getting to it." All Might seemed to huff in annoyance before turning back to the camera once more. "Young Izuku, you didn't pass the practical exam, but what you did do was pass the entrance exam with a grand total of sixty rescue points. So combined with the points you had accumulated, you made sixty-six points. More than enough to pass! Welcome, Izuku Aizawa, to UA high school!"
Izuku felt a feeling of euphoria flood his entire nervous system as happy tears now sprung into his eyes. 'I-'
His door slammed open and he turned to Hitoshi.
"Did… did you-?" Hitoshi was out of breath and he was smiling. By god, he was smiling ear-to-ear.
"I passed!"
Hitoshi let out a happy cry as he let out his own tears of happiness. "So did I!"
"You did it!" Izuku shot up from his seat like it was on fire as he rushed towards Hitoshi. Both boys felt, and looked like, school girls as they embraced and happily jumped up and down.
"We did it!" Hitoshi laughed with him and Izuku kept the long embrace going. "We're going to be heroes!"
"We're going to be heroes!"
"We're going to UA High school!"
"Fuck yeah we are!"
Of course Aizawa knew ahead of his boys that they had gotten into UA. However; the way he found out was less than ideal.
There he was, sitting at his desk in the teachers lounge, looking over his roster for the new school year. He took down names and identified their quirks. At the same time Vlad was a little less than happy about his own roster, so much so that he let Aizawa know about it numerous times.
"I swear Nedzu gives you the ones with the best quirks, Aizawa. My students, their quirks… they're okay. But look at yours. You got a boy who can make explosions! Or even Todoroki! That boy can make both fire and ice! And what do I get?... A boy that can make…" Vlad sighed heavily before continuing. "Sticky balls pop off of his head…"
Aizawa snorted. "Sucks to be you, I guess." Was all Aizawa could say about it as he went back to his roster. He then stopped dead in his tracks. "That… can't be right…" Aizawa frowned as he reread the names in front of him.
Hitoshi Aizawa.
Quirk: Brainwashing.
Izuku Aizawa.
Quirk: Superpower/Object attraction.
"Hm? Got a student with a lame quirk finally?"
"... This has to be a mistake…" Aizawa was up and out of his seat in a second. "I mean, It's not a mistake that they're in the hero course; I'm glad they got accepted but- They shouldn't be with me." Aizawa felt more like Izuku as he muttered and walked away from Vlad and the teacher's dorm all together. The roster was still in his hands as he immediately made his way to Nedzu's office. Despite it being Saturday, Aizawa knew Nedzuwas in his office.
As he walked his confusion turned to anger. 'This is no accident. That rodent just lives for drama.' Aizawa scowled as he picked up the pace. 'He has to know this can't fly. They're my sons! I can't be their teacher. They have to go to Vlad!'
Buuut then there was that other part of his brain. Vlad can't train them! I've been training them for years now. I know how they work. I'm their father-Ah. See, that. That right there is why I can't train them.'
He almost felt torn about this.
Aizawa knocked on Nedzu's door. There was a moment of pause before- "Come on in!" Aizawa opened the door. As he was walking up Nedzu spoke. He was grinning, but it was a feral grin, one Aizawa knew all too well. "Ah, Shouta. How are you liking your roster for next year?"
"You put them in there on purpose!" Aizawa snarled as he slammed the roster down on the desk. "Hitoshi and Izuku cannot be in my class."
"I disagree!" There wasn't even a moment of hesitation on Nedzu's part. He then turned in his chair and hopped down. "Aizawa, you know your boys better than anybody. Who better to teach them?"
"It opens the door for rumors of nepotism if word got out-"
"Then keep their last name as Tora, I don't mind." Nedzu reached up for his tea cup. Which he took a sip on. "Keep it hidden if you must."
"I can't-"
"Besides, somebody has to watch Izuku with that new quirk of his. We all saw it, his bones break like twigs. He needs you, Shouta. You can erase his quirk at a moment's notice. Vlad can't do that."
"Fine. Fine! I can see Izuku. Hitoshi is different. He doesn't need me to teach him."
Nedzu smiled that little feral smile once again. Aizawa could see it, the joy behind those beady little black eyes. "I can't separate twins! It's unbecoming." Was all Nedzu had to say about that before he turned and sat right back down in his seat. He took one long over exaggerated sip of his tea before placing it back down on its saucer. "Is there anything else, Aizawa?"
"... No…" Aizawa let out a long and heavy sigh. "No, I guess not." he seethed out as he snatched his roster back up.
"This year is going to be fun." Nedzu giggled with joy before he cackled. He cackled so hard that his tea cup shivered so violently in his little paws that the liquid was threatening to spill over the sides.
'Fucking sadistic little rodent…' Aizawa rubbed his temples as he stalked out of Nedzu's office. "This year and the two following it is going to be a nightmare."
