Chapter 11: Athen's Offering to Crete
"Alright you hellions," Aizawa called out. "The Autumnal Equinox festival is today and we're all going."
"What?" Kaminari asked, tilting his head.
Half the class were celebrating while the other half looked at their teacher dumbfounded. Hitoshi couldn't help but to wonder if Aizawa was having them all go as some type of icebreaker activity to break the class tension.
"You heard me," Aizawa grunted. "Classes are over for the day, so go change into appropriate outfits and meet up in front of the dorms. I'll join you after grabbing Present Mic and changing myself."
Everyone quickly filed out of the room, and Hitoshi had half a mind to text Mei to see if she wanted to join them, but ultimately decided not to, given how focused she'd been on a couple projects lately. His friend group quietly trudged up the stairs, ignoring everyone fighting over the elevator and quickly changed before heading back outside and waiting for everyone else.
All three of them had dressed in more traditional clothing for the festival with neutral colored kimonos and hakamas, yet each had a different, uniquely-designed haori on top. Katsuki's had orange and red flames dancing up the length while Shouto's had red and white flowers embroidered throughout the cloth. Hitoshi's own haori was all black with a shiny purple thread crane embroidery on the back and small detailing on the sleeves. He could tell that his friends' were more expensive, but he pushed down the shame at the fact that he'd gotten his at a second hand store for only a couple hundred yen.
"Hey boys, I invited your friend to come with us," Aizawa said, walking up to them.
Hitoshi turned to his teacher to see that he was also wearing traditional clothes, his haori having a cat design embroidered on it, which seemed very fitting. Yamada and Mei were with him, both also in traditional clothing. Mei was wearing a pink flowery kimono and Yamada was wearing a haori with sunflowers printed on it.
As soon as Mei approached them, Aizawa and Yamada stepped off to the side to talk quietly with one another.
"Oh, I'm so glad you all wore traditional clothes too," Mei exclaimed, pulling at her kimono sleeves. "It's been forever since I've worn this, but my mom's made me pack it 'cause we can't go to any ceremonies or festivals without wearing them."
Katsuki shrugged. "My parents are kind of the same. They really just use it as an excuse to promote their clothing brand though." He reached into his haori and grabbed the tag to show them that it did indeed have his parents' brand name. "The whole outfit was made by them, actually."
"Damn, I keep forgetting your parents are big name designers," Hitoshi said, whistling in appreciation.
"Oh, I guess I'm also promoting your parents' business," Shouto said after studying the tag. "I think all of the traditional clothes I have are made by them."
"Wouldn't be surprised given who your dad is," Katsuki said with a shrug. "He's special ordered a lot of clothing from my parents since they work with support companies to proof the fabrics they use."
Shouto hummed in response as the dorm doors opened. A couple of their classmates started piling out of the dorms, and Hitoshi's group stepped to the side, behind the teachers as they watched everyone slowly gather in front of the dorms. Most of their classmates were wearing casual clothing, but there were a couple others that were wearing the more traditional wear. Iida was wearing a navy blue haori with a wave design, Aoyoma was wearing probably the most glittery haori ever made, and most of the girls had come out in kimonos. Momo's was the most extravagant and most definitely the most expensive with its red and gold detailing making gorgeous designs of cranes and flowers. Jiro's was almost as extravagant, and Hitoshi wouldn't be surprised if it had been a gift from the former with its purple detailing of wisteria and swans.
The two girls spotted them and immediately headed over with a soft smile and smirk respectively.
"Hi Momo, Jiro," Shouto greeted.
"Hi Sho, everyone," Momo said, smile growing. "Were you all expecting this?"
"Not at all," Katsuki huffed.
"I think they're using it as an excuse to break some of the tension," Hitoshi admitted. "Not that I think it's going to work."
"Your teacher threatened to restrict my hours in the lab if I didn't come out," Mei said. "Figured that meant I could take a couple hours off."
The group started laughing and Hitoshi went back to watching people come out the door. He immediately made eye contact with Mina, who was stepping out, and her eyes brightened as she took in the group around him.
"Incoming," Hitoshi warned.
"Kats!" Mina called excitedly, running up to them and pulling along Kirishima and Kaminari. Sero followed behind, chuckling at the excited girl. Mina was the only one in the group in traditional wear with a black and gold floral kimono. The boys were all wearing T-shirts and jeans in their own varied styles.
"What's up, Raccoon Eyes?" Katsuki asked, raising an eyebrow at the group.
"We wanted to know if we could walk around with you guys at the festival!" Mina said. "It's been a while since we all hung out." Her face dropped a bit with the last statement and Hitoshi felt a bit bad that they'd practically lost one of their friends. But, then again, they weren't sticking up for Izuku.
"Do whatever you want, I don't care," Katsuki huffed before turning to Mei. "Are you seriously bringing projects with you to the festival?"
Mei looked up from the tools she was tinkering with, offended at the question. "When do I not bring a project with me?"
"That's exactly my point, Goggles," Katsuki said, rolling his eyes.
"She probably just needs something to fidget with like I do," Kaminari offered, pulling a fidget cube out of his pocket. "It helps me actually focus on what's going on around me better."
"You!" Mei shouted, running up to Kaminari and grabbing onto his arm. "I'm keeping this one."
Hitoshi sighed and shook his head. "Mei, you can't just lay claim to people like that."
"Yes I can," Mei sniped back, hugging his arm tighter.
Kaminari laughed, albeit awkwardly as he handed Mei the fidget cube. "I guess it's fine."
"She's going to take that apart and build a bomb," Shouto warned in a joking manner.
Kaminari's eyes widened. "Wha- how?"
"She'll find a way," Shouto said, nodding with his typical stoic face.
Kaminari looked absolutely terrified, but before Hitoshi could point out that Shouto was joking, Aizawa spoke up.
"Alright! Everyone's here, so we're heading out," their homeroom teacher announced.
"Everyone needs to stay in pairs, if not groups, and check in with one of us every hour," Yamada added.
The class let out a chorus of agreements and they finally headed out and left the school grounds. The festival was all around the town, so Aizawa had them walk so that they could check out any booths that were set up on the mountain UA occupied before heading into the main festival itself.
As they all walked around the festival, their other classmates kept wandering closer to them and speaking just loud enough so they could all hear.
"I'm so glad they finally locked up the traitor."
"I still can't believe that Midoriya could do that to us."
"Good riddance. I feel safer knowing we don't have villains in our class anymore."
"Only one villain is gone. Those four are probably villains as well."
"I bet Shinsou joined our class just so he could take Midoriya's place as traitor."
Hitoshi couldn't hold back his laughter when Jiro spat her gum out and it landed on Aoyoma's haori without him noticing. Momo reprimanded her, though the whole group found it hilarious. More often than not, they all had to make a group effort to stop Katsuki from blasting the offenders away from them. Granted, Hitoshi, Shouto, and Mei had to be held back, too. Mei especially when they realized that she had actually taken apart the fidget cube and turned it into an explosive. Kaminari thankfully confiscated it after she threatened to blow up Uraraka's dorm when they got back.
The end of the festival was a blessing for the group, but Hitoshi couldn't help but be thankful that their group was growing. Katsuki's friends had apologized profusely about not stepping up for Izuku and promised that they'd speak up whenever they heard the others talking bad about him or them. It was a little late, but Hitoshi could tell their apologies were genuine, and they were honestly hilarious to hang out with since their favorite activity was to push Katsuki's buttons.
Shouta sighed as he trudged up the stairs in his traditional haori, holding hands with his husband.
"At least it's not raining," Hizashi offered.
"It was for the past three years, so I'm surprised that it's actually nice out tonight," Shouta added.
"It made it a good night to take the kids out," Hizashi said, squeezing Shouta's hand lightly.
"Yeah, except they're all still fighting," Shouta sighed, dropping his head.
"The boys seem to be hanging out with more people again though," Hizashi said. "They were hanging out with Bakugou's old friends, Yayorozu, and Jirou."
"I had to give out five detentions, Hizashi," Shouta complained. "Five. Outside of school hours."
"I know, I'm sorry," Hizashi tried to comfort.
"Let's just go pay our respects," Shouta said, shaking his head as they reached the top of the stone steps.
They walked the familiar path towards the stone grave that they visited regularly ever since high school. Hizashi squatted down and placed the red spider lilies they'd bought at the foot of the grave and their petals glistened in the moonlight resembling blood.
"Hey 'Boro," Shouta said softly. "Miss you as always." He kneeled on the cold stone path lining the graves and Hizashi kneeled next to him.
"You won't believe the craziness that's happening at UA this month," Hizashi chuckled. "Every time we think it's going to calm down, it only gets crazier."
"I wish you were the home room teacher instead," Shouta whispered. "I just know they'd love you… and they probably wouldn't be such brats either," he added with a chuckle.
Hizashi chuckled at the last comment, shaking his head. "Either way, we miss you and wish you were still here with us."
"We stopped by your mom's today," Shouta said with a gentle smile. "She's still as lovely and welcoming as ever."
"We made sure to bring her some red bean cake and green tea ice cream. She still loves getting your favorite sweets," Hizashi added.
"Hizashi even made the cakes himself. I was only trusted with the ice cream because we bought a machine finally," Shouta laughed. "Somehow I didn't break it, so I hope you're proud."
"Of course he is, Sho," Hizashi said, grabbing his hand and squeezing it.
"We'll probably be back next week or so to complain some more about the hell class," Shouta said, bowing to the grave.
"We love you Oboro," Hizashi said, following his husband's movements. "Don't ever forget that."
They both stood from their kneeling positions and discreetly wiped the tears that had silently tracked down their faces. Turning from the grave, they intertwined their hands again and left the graveyard with heavy hearts.
"I don't want the kids to lose Midoriya like we lost Oboro, 'Zashi," Shouta whispered.
"They won't lose him, Sho," Hizashi promised, bringing up their linked hands and setting a soft kiss to the back of Shouta's hand. "We'll get him back. He'll come home and be with his friends and his new boyfriend and we'll find the real traitor."
"I really hope so, 'Zashi. I really hope so." Shouta placed a kiss on the back of Hizashi's hand and they continued their walk back to UA in silence.