"Look! Look! Shota-san, look at this!"

Shinso watched as Eri flailed the teaser wand, making the tabby chase after the tail end made of feathers. He turned his gaze towards Eraserhead who was chuckling as he watched her play with the chubby cat. When the feline finally had enough of the game, it walked away soundlessly, making Eri pout in disappointment.

"It went away…"

Aizawa looked around the café, eying the rest of the cats lounging around lazily. "It probably got tired. Maybe it wanted a nap."

Eri continued to sulk, flopping down onto the underground hero's lap as she crossed her arms. "But I still wanted to play."

"They'll come around eventually." Aizawa dropped a hand over her head.

Shinso watched as Eri turned to wrap her arms around Eraserhead's torso, hearing the older man let out a huff at the sudden movement. He looked on silently as his mentor sighed in resignation; the little girl making herself more at home on his lap. He brought his gaze back down on the book in his hand, still stuck on the first page.

Now that spring break was here, Aizawa-sensei was no longer as busy. That meant they could spend more time improving his technique and mastery of the cloth binds. Today was supposed to be an exercise on maneuvering through the streets using the weapon. He'd gotten so much better at it, and had been looking forward to showing off his new set of skills. Unfortunately, Midnight-sensei, who was Eri's assigned babysitter for the day, had been called on by the hero association early this morning. He clicked his tongue.

Why did they always have to call heroes last minute?

Aizawa-sensei had no choice but to cancel training, offering to treat him to a meal instead. He wanted to turn down the invitation, thinking that the older man could probably use some rest in his own home; but when he heard they would be dropping by the cat café again, he couldn't say no. He sighed.

Shinso would never admit it out loud, but he absolutely loved spending time with the underground hero outside of school and training. They wouldn't talk much, but when they did, it was always… memorable. They would sit in silence most of the time, but it didn't feel suffocating. It was actually… comforting.

"Shota-san, did you forget to comb your hair again?"

Shinso watched as Eri jumped off the UA professor's lap, standing behind him to run her fingers through his hair. "Where's your hair tie?" He heard her ask over the older man's shoulder.

"Don't have it." Aizawa replied, shrugging at the little girl's efforts to make him look more presentable. He didn't understand why she always fussed about how he looked.

Shinso watched Eri take a thin pink pony tail out of the shoulder bag she carried, carefully scooping Eraserhead's hair in her tiny hands as she threaded them through the elastic band.

"There!" Eri smiled, moving to stand in front of her guardian to check his appearance. "Now you look so cool!" She beamed at him.

Aizawa looked away, rubbing a hand on the back of his neck. He let out a noncommittal sound, never really knowing how to respond to any of the little girl's praises.

Shinso watched as Eri pulled Aizawa up to stand so they could head towards the other group of cats on the opposite side of the room. He saw his mentor drop down slowly onto a cushion, crossing his legs underneath him as the little girl jumped on his back, threading her arms around his neck.

"That one looks like you, Shota-san!" Eri giggled, pointing at the pure black cat that was giving them a tired, uninterested glance.

Aizawa reached his palm out, encouraging the anti-social animal to come over, only to have it snap its head to one side, strolling back into its box by the corner of the room.

Eri hummed thoughtfully at the exchange. "It's not very nice, is it?"

"That's how cats are. They're very honest." Aizawa shrugged, turning his head to one side to eye the little girl still draped over his back. "If they like you, they'll show you. If they don't, they won't bother." He reached a hand up over her intertwined ones across his chest. "They don't get attached easily, and they're very independent."

Shinso continued to watch their exchange, noticing how much their interactions have turned into that of a father and a daughter over the course of a year. He sighed, growing steadily annoyed with himself for being… jealous. He knew it was completely irrational to feel that way towards the little girl, but she was just so upfront with her affections, and the underground hero never seemed to mind. He blinked, wondering what would happen if he also– He shook his head.

Nope. He would not go there.

Aizawa-sensei was his mentor, not his dad. The worse thing he could do was ruin their dynamic because he was stupid enough to let his personal feelings get in the way of his professional life.

Shinso brought his attention back to his book, irked that he was still just on the third page. He couldn't even remember what the first two had been about. He gave up, flipping it shut as he ran a hand over his face. He stuffed it in his bag with half a mind to leave, when he caught sight of Eraserhead eying him from the other end of the room.

He watched the older man raise his brows at him, waiting for some sort of response to his unspoken question. He shook his head at him, turning his attention back to the cat by his leg that was slowly waking up from its slumber. He could still feel Aizawa-sensei's gaze on him, but he pretended not to notice.


Shinso sighed for the umpteenth time that day, eying the sleeping little girl in his mentor's arms as they walked through the streets.

"Everything alright?"

Shinso turned his gaze towards Eraserhead, feeling oddly exposed under his appraising glance. He nodded wordlessly, earning an exasperated sigh from the underground hero.

"Sorry about today." Aizawa eyed the younger boy quietly walking alongside him. "I know you're disappointed we weren't able to–"

"It's fine, sensei. It wasn't something under your control." Shinso shrugged, tucking his hands inside the pocket of his jeans.

Aizawa sighed again, knowing full well that Shinso felt somewhat upset over the unexpected change of plans. What he didn't understand though, was his protégé's tendency to always bury his sentiments. "Toshi." He called out, stopping in his tracks, making the purple-haired boy look up at him in surprise. "If something upsets you, it's okay to say it."

"I'm not upset." Shinso insisted, never understanding why Aizawa-sensei would always push him to just… express himself.

What would admitting to anything achieve anyway? Saying out loud that he was frustrated with the day's outcome wouldn't change anything. It would just create unnecessary conflict when it was nobody's fault to begin with. Besides, he was used to this kind of predicament. His mom would always cancel plans last minute because of work engagements, so he knew how to deal with it.

Aizawa felt Eri slowly slipping off his shoulder. He tilted his head to one side, nudging her closer to the curve of his neck before turning his gaze back to Shinso. "I called Hizashi. He's free to look after Eri tomorrow." He paused when he saw the younger boy snap his head towards him; eyes wide and expectant. He fought back a grin. No matter how dishonest his protégé was when it came to his feelings, his face always gave him away.

"We can train tomorrow."

Shinso looked away, nodding his affirmation, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly to try and snuff the strange desire to jump in the air.

Aizawa watched as Shinso walked away, heading towards the sleek black car that stopped right next to them on the side of the road. A chauffer stepped out, nodding towards them as he pulled the door open.

Shinso paused by the vehicle, turning back to look at Eraserhead. "Let's get you home, sensei." He tilted his head towards Eri's sleeping form. "It would be difficult for you to commute with her in your arms."

"My house is in the opposite–"

"It's fine." Shinso insisted, moving away from the open car door, gesturing towards it to urge his mentor to get in before him.

Aizawa sighed, nodding his thanks – first at Shinso, then at the smiling chauffer. He knew the purple-haired boy wouldn't take no for an answer.


Shinso watched as Aizawa-sensei and Eri stepped out of the car; his chauffer bowing at them as he held the door open. Eri had woken up at some point during the ride, and ended up playing with the sunroof of the car. He sighed. The day went by quicker than he realized.

"Thanks for the ride." Aizawa called out, tilting his head down to eye the purple-haired boy sitting quietly on the leather-covered upholstery.

"You're welcome, sensei."

Aizawa eyed the younger boy in silence. He could tell something was still bothering him, but if he really wasn't going to say anything, then he wouldn't pry. "Take care, then." A nod was all he got as a reply.

Shinso watched as the chauffer shut the door, moving back to the driver's seat as Eri and Eraserhead began to head towards the front door. They looked every bit the picture of a father and a daughter. He sighed. Eri sure was lucky. It must be nice–

He stopped that train of thought, tearing his eyes away from the scene. He ran a hand through his face repeatedly, annoyed with himself. Eraserhead was his mentor, not his dad for crying out loud. He seriously needed to keep his feelings in check.

A loud scream brought his attention back to the window, seeing the little girl running towards the vehicle in panic. "Toshi-nii!" She knocked her fisted hands against it urgently. "Toshi-onii-chan, I forgot something!"

Shinso unlocked the car slowly, careful not to hit her as she moved away from the swinging door. "What is it, Eri?"

"Hug!" She exclaimed out loud, grinning at him widely. She had her arms stretched open towards him, marching in place as she waited.

In that moment, Shinso never hated himself so much.

He stepped out of the car, bending down on one knee to hug Eri against his chest, gently tapping his fingers against her back.

How could he have allowed himself to feel so bitter towards her?

"I'll see you around." He pulled back, watching the little girl tilt her head to one side, making the strands of her hair brush against the horn on her forehead.

"You're not gonna hug Shota-san?"

Shinso blinked, eying Aizawa's equally stunned form standing a few paces away.

"Shota-san!" Eri called out loud as she turned around to grin at Eraserhead, pointing squarely towards Shinso's face. "Hug!"

Aizawa sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he stared at the little girl exasperatedly. "Eri, I don't think he would want–"

"Let's get this over with, then."

The mirror image of his protégé rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly as he looked away made Aizawa blink. He brought his hand down to his side immediately. They were so in sync it wasn't even funny.

Shinso walked towards Aizawa, eying the ground the entire time, not able to bring himself to scrutinize the expression on his mentor's face. "I mean, Eri said we should so…" He paused to finally look up at the underground hero tentatively, bringing his hand down as he shrugged his shoulders. "But if you don't want–"

Shinso felt a hand reach for the back of his head, pulling him in gingerly. He felt his forehead collide with his mentor's chest; fingers moving over his hair, patting him softly. He blinked several times, trying to hold in the sudden influx of emotions he couldn't quite label.

Could he… hug him back?

Would that be okay?

Shinso brought both his arms around Eraserhead little by little, scared that any sudden movements would ruin the moment. When the underground hero made no protest, he closed his eyes, pressing the side of his face against his torso. An arm encircled his shoulders, pulling him further into the warmth that made him feel so unbelievably safe. He squeezed tighter, holding onto the reassuring presence as if his life depended on it.

'Thank you so much', he wanted to say. If it hadn't been for the man before him, his dream of becoming a hero never would have been possible. 'I won't take any of this for granted', he wanted to add. He knew he was lucky. Out of everyone Aizawa-sensei could have picked, it ended up being him. He didn't understand what the older man saw in him, and why he bothered with him at all; but he would die before he'd let himself waste this once in a lifetime opportunity.

I won't disappoint you.

Aizawa pressed the side of his chin against his protégé's head, closing his eyes as he continued to tap a hand over his hair. He felt the younger boy tighten his hold against him further, not wanting to let go.

'You've worked hard', he wanted to say. He wasn't a lenient teacher. He didn't coddle Shinso, and he wasn't the type to spoon-feed him answers either. Training was always hard, but the purple-haired boy never gave up. 'You did well', he wanted to add. Not once did he hear the younger boy complain about anything. He would take whatever challenge was given to him, accomplishing it no matter the difficulty.

Aizawa never really understood why Shinso would go so far for his childhood dream, but he would die before he would allow such a promising kid to be labeled unworthy of being a hero just because he didn't fit the mold. The kid was every bit deserving of that title.

I'm proud of you.

Shinso didn't want to pull away. He wanted to stay a bit longer. Just a few more seconds. He just…

He just never wanted this moment to end.

"Take care on the way home, kid."

Shinso felt Aizawa move slightly, releasing him from the hug. He nodded awkwardly, unable to look him in the eye. He could tell the corners of his eyes were moist; unable to comprehend why he had been so close to crying.

Shinso turned around, walking towards the little girl who was still smiling at him. He patted her on the head in silent gratitude. Thank you, he stopped himself from saying.

"Hm!" Eri nodded her head at him, as if she heard the thought out loud. "Shota-san gives the best hugs!"

Shinso failed to fight the smile that formed on his lips. Yes. Aizawa-sensei's hugs were the best.

He made his way back to the car, rolling down the window to give them one more wave of goodbye as the vehicle moved away. He looked on as they went inside, closing the front door behind them. He turned around on his seat, still eying the cozy house that grew smaller until it was nowhere to be seen. He sighed.

Shinso never knew his dad. His mom told him he passed away from an illness back when he was just three years old. He's seen pictures of him, and he's visited his grave during special occasions; but the concept of what a father was had always been abstract to him.

Until now.

He sighed again, no longer able to deny that the image of Eraserhead was all he could think of at the mention of that word.


End of chapter 4!

I have to admit, I am slightly tempted to increase the chapters of this story lol but I really wanna finish it before the year ends, so I'll try my best to keep it at five!

Thank you for reading :) Reviews are highly appreciated ^^