Aizawa couldn't believe just how much everything had changed for him since meeting Midoriya. Not just for him, personally, but with class 1-A as well. It had started that first week, when Uraraka had hugged him, thanking him for making the quirk packets- and they were immensely helpful, Aizawa had been able to see the improvement by the very next training session. But it was that moment, the hug, that Aizawa knew something had shifted not only Midorya, but in the class as well. Everyone could see how started the man was by the action, lost and confused on how to respond. It had taken him a few moments before he relaxed and returned the hug. When he had stepped away from her embrace, he ruffled her hair, an odd smile on his face. It wasn't the wide grin they had gotten used to seeing on the energetic man, it was just a small quirk of the lips, corners upturned only barely. It was his eyes though, that made the expression so strange. They held such a sadness to them, the weight of the grief hidden behind those deceptively bright eyes was almost tangible. The man looked a heartbeat away from shattering to pieces. Like he desperately wanted to cry, but had forgotten how.

It was painful to look at.

"You're very welcome."

That's what he had said, but he was the one who looked grateful.

From that day onward, his students had found any excuse to hug Midoriya. It wasn't exactly professional, but Aizawa let it slide.

As much as Midroriya had seemed to adopt the class, they had adopted him right back, and Aizawa would be lying if he said he wasn't a little bit pleased by that.

He had been worried, however briefly, that bringing Midoriya in would be a disaster. Whether because of the man himself, or the reaction of the students, he hadn't been sure. But then they'd gone and proved all his worst fears unnecessary.

This group did always seem to surprise him.

Maybe one day Aizawa would learn not to underestimate them, both in capability and character.

Hell, even Bakugou had calmed down since Midoriya had arrived, and that was something he thought he'd never se-

"I knew it! Shouta's got a crush~" Nemuri singsonged, startling Aizawa from his thoughts. He whipped around to glare at the woman, turning away from where he'd been staring- apparently not so subtly- at Midoriya chatting with Toshinori. They had all made their way back to the teacher's lounge after the meeting in Nedzu's office since there was still time in the lunch hour.

No doubt Midoriya was going over more training ideas with the hero, since the man was supposed to be taking charge when they went to the USJ in a few days. That was what the meeting had been about as well, just hammering out a few last minute details.

"I do not," Aizawa stubbornly denied, knowing the slight flush to his cheeks was giving him away despite his refusal.

"Mmhmm, sure, whatever you say Mr.I-Can't-Keep-My-Eyes-Off-Him." Aizawa sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. Now was not the best time to have this conversation, in the middle of the teacher's lounge where anyone could overhear, but maybe it was finally time he came clean to his two best friends.

He couldn't believe he was even considering it, thought he'd take this secret to his grave, but he found himself wanting to talk about this with his friends. He never imagined that he'd get a soulmate.

And then he did.

He never imagined he'd actually want said soulmate.

And then he did.

He had finally come to terms with his feelings and so was thinking about asking Midoriya out on a date this weekend. He had even requested Saturday off since he'd been pulling so many late night shifts hunting a vigilante that had been oddly silent for weeks now. He had nothing new to go on, and wouldn't have anything new until the mysterious man showed up again, so he figured he could take one night off, that it wouldn't matter in the grand scheme of things.

He gave Nemuri a serious look, hoping she understood that he wasn't messing around now.

"Drop it, Nem." She looked startled, but nodded anyway, closing her mouth and not saying whatever it was she had been about to say- no doubt something raunchy and highly inappropriate.

"You and Hizashi want to grab a drink after work today? I have some time before I'm on duty again tonight." Nemuri narrowed her eyes at him, lips thinned in suspicion.

"You're buying." It wasn't a question. She now looked a little pissed. Aizawa sighed. She might have had suspicions before, but now she knew he'd been keeping something from them, something important, and he was going to have to ply her with drinks before she was ready to forgive him.

"Sure." He knew his friends didn't like when he kept big things to himself, because they were supposed to trust each other, supposed to have each other's backs no matter what- but this had not just been his secret to keep. Sure, he had been freaked out at first, he hadn't wanted to tell them because he hadn't thought it would actually go anywhere, but now that it was, Aizawa wanted to let his friends know about the huge change to his life. But, well, Midoriya deserved his privacy, and he owed nothing to Aizawa's friends.

He should check in with the man before they left for the day, make sure it was okay with him to bring Nemuri and Hizashi in on what had happened.

"Make sure to tell Hizashi." And with that Aizawa left, headed back to his classroom a little early so he'd have time to think about what to say. Not just to his friends, but Midoriya as well. If the man didn't want him spilling the beans, he wouldn't. But he didn't want to lie to his friends any longer either.

Aizawa was already on his second beer when Nemuri and Hizashi sat down across the table from him. He got there first to make sure he got a table that would afford them the privacy they needed for this conversation. It was in the back, he could see all the exits from his seat, and it was far enough from other tables that they shouldn't be overheard.

"So, what's so important we had to meet here to talk?" Nemrui was giving him a hard stare, lips pursed in annoyance. Clearly Hizashi had talked her down from outright anger. Aizawa stalled a few seconds longer, taking a long sip to try and delay the inevitable. Midoriya had given his blessing for Aizawa to tell his friends whatever it was he wanted to tell them, but now that it came down to it, Aizawa was nervous. He wanted to tell them, really he did. Wanted to finally have some to talk to about the crazy situation he had found himself in, and dare he say it- someone to ask for advice. He wasn't exactly experienced in relationships, and he didn't want to fuck it up- not for a second time, at least.

Putting his drink back on the table, Aizawa sighed, finally making eye contact with the irate woman.

"You were right Nem, I do like him." There. He'd said it. Ripped the band-aid off. Unfortunately, that wasn't the only secret he needed to spill tonight.

He could see Nemuri gearing up, ready to grill him, because she knew that wasn't all it was either.

Aizawa wouldn't have asked to meet at a bar to talk if it had been and his friends knew that.

Hizashi, the softy that he was, would never call him on it though. The man preferred the 'he'll talk when he's ready approach' but Nemuri knew that was bullshit and 9 times out of 10, 'when he's ready' meant 'never' for Aizawa.

"I like him-" he'd said it twice now, and each time it settled something in him, firming his resolve. He took a deep, steading breath before continuing.

"I like him, and he's my soulmate."

While he had been nervous to drop this particular bomb, now that he had, he could fully enjoy the shocked and dumbfounded expressions on his friends' faces. He took another long sip of his beer as he waited for them to pull their jaws off the table.

"What-"

"How-"

"WHAT-" He winced as Hizashi lost control of his quirk for a second, drawing attention. He quickly hushed the man and gave an apologetic wave to those around them. They waited a few moments to make sure the other patrons lost interest before Nemrui and Hizashi were scrambling over each other to talk, questions coming so rapid fire from both of them that Aizawa honestly couldn't make out a word either of them were saying.

He motioned for them to quiet.

"How about I just start at the beginning?" They both nodded rapidly, giving Aizawa their full attention.

And so he did.

Aizawa groaned as he woke up with a pounding headache. He'd had way too much to drink last night. After recounting the story of their meeting and the subsequent shit show that that was, Aizawa had needed something stronger than beer to get through the rest of. Admitting he had fucked up and was bad at relationships? Old news, no big deal. Admitting just how soft he'd gone in only a few weeks for a man who he still didn't know all that much about? That he liked him so much he was willing to try at an actual relationship? Yeah, not so much.

Nemuri, of course, was relentless in her teasing, and Aizawa was pretty sure his face was now permanently stained red, but she was also very supportive. Hizashi too.

He couldn't stop the pleased little smile that spread across his lips as a warm feeling flooded his chest. He may give them a lot of shit for the antics they pull, but they really were his best friends, and he would not have made it as far as he had without them.

"How is our little lovebird this morning!" Nemuri bounced into the teacher's lounge, speaking much too loudly. Aizawa let out another groan as he buried himself back into his sleeping bag. Was it not enough that he'd already had to deal with noisy reporters this morning? His class had been lively too, excited over picking their class reps. He'd quickly left Midoriya in charge and fled to the quiet of the teacher's lounge. And now he had to deal with Nemuri too?

"Shut up." He takes it all back, his friends were the worst.

Hizashi snickered from beside the grinning woman.

"Come on, Shou, you promised we'd talk more during lunch today since we've got the lounge to ourselves."

Nedzu was having a meeting with the 2nd year and up teachers today about upping their training regimens with the help of their newest staff member. While Midoriya himself wasn't in attendance, the meeting was mostly about getting the other teachers warmed up to the idea of his help. Vlad was sitting in too, despite teaching first years, since Midoriya would mostly likely be assisting 1-B too, once Nedzu got the ball rolling. Honestly, Aizawa was surprised it had taken the rat this long to bring it up to the other staff since it was likely this was the original role Nedzu'd had in mind for the man anyway. He was only with Aizawa's class because of the bond, and it was clear after just a week how much Midoriya's analysis was able to improve the students' skills, so no doubt the principal wanted him to work his magic on the other students as well.

On the other hand though, it was no surprise that pro heroes were wary of an unknown, so perhaps the extra time served to ease their worries, at least slightly.

"Yeah, yeah. I know. Fine." Reluctantly, Aizawa got out of his sleeping bag and put it away, moving to plop down on the couch instead. Hizashi and Nemuri following suit.

Not only was he too inebriated last night to have the conversation they needed to have, he also had wanted to give them both time to digest everything he'd told them so that the conversion they did have would be a productive one.

It was only logical.

"What do you want to know?" Biting the bullet, Aizawa gave them free reign to ask whatever it was they wanted to know, a rare opportunity.

Surprisingly, it was Hizashi who asked the first question.

"How are you doing with all of this, Shou? I know you said you like him, but this is a huge change, not something you're usually great with." The man gave him a commiserating wince, and Aizawa just nodded. He was well aware of his aversion to change.

"I told you how I reacted at first, so obviously I was distressed. But, after getting to know him a little over these last few weeks, I don't feel that way anymore. At the very least, he's someone I want to get to know better, someone I want in my life. Someone I would want in my life even without the bond." Hizashi's eyes were watering comically and Aizawa bit back a snort.

God, the man really was a huge softy.

"Have you told him that yet?" Nemuri asked next. Aizawa shot her a glare for asking such a stupid question.

"Of course not. I just met him!" Sure, he wanted to ask the guy out on a date, but getting all mushy, admitting how much Aizawa wanted the other in his life? No doubt it would scare the man away! It was too soon to admit such feelings, of that, Aizawa was sure.

Nemuri mumbled something under her breath about him being an idiot, but he chose not to hear it.

He knew Midoriya better than they did, and he knew it was too soon.

The man was just starting to settle into his place at the school and with the students, and with him. They bantered, they had lunch together, they discussed training strategies. It was good. They had fallen into a comfortable pattern and Aizawa didn't want to throw a wrench into all of that.

"You know, you will have to tell him eventually. Preferably sooner, rather than later. If you wait too long he's going to think you're not interested, given your track record." Aizawa must have made some kind of face, because Nemuri pinned him with a fierce stare.

"What?" she asked tersely.

"Well… I didn't not tell him…" Aizawa hedged.

"Explain, now." And of course, that wasn't going to cut it for Nemuri.

"We had a talk, after I apologized. It wasn't anything firm, but we both agreed to be open to seeing where our bond may lead us. I would say he knows I'm interested, at least." Nemuri gave him a considering look, like she was weighing carefully what to say next.

"I suppose that's something, right?" Hizashi offered, to ease the tension.

"I was- I mean well, I am- thinking about asking him out this weekend." And he knew he was going to regret this, but- "Any date recommendations?" Nemuri squealed, previous mood quickly forgotten, and jumped up in her excitement. Hizashi laughed as Aizawa slid further down the couch, trying to sink back into it and disappear to hide his embarrassment as the woman paced back and forth, quickly rattling off several ideas.

None of them good.

He was right, he shouldn't have asked her. Who goes lingerie shopping on a first date?

Hizashi was practically rolling on the floor in laughter.

At least one of them was getting some amusement out of all of this.

However, the light-hearted mood quickly evaporated when an alarm started blaring through the speakers in the ceiling.

"There has been a Level 3 security breach. All students please evacuate outdoors promptly"

They were all out the door in seconds, Nemuri rushing to the cafeteria to check on, and if need be guard, the students there. Aizawa and Hizashi headed towards the front entrance, they had a feeling they knew what had set off the alarm.

"They're illegal trespassers, you know. You could call them villains. Think we can beat 'em up?" Hizashi leaned over to whisper in his ear. Both had relaxed a little once they'd found the trespassers were only reporters, but something still wasn't sitting right with them. How had they gotten in in the first place?

"Don't do it, Mic." Aizawa cautioned his sometimes hot-headed friend. "They'll write up a bunch of half-truths about you. Let's wait for the police." It was their best option, given the situation.

"Yeah, yeah." Hizashi waved off, showing he was never really serious about it in the first place. Aizawa let out a sigh of relief. It wasn't always easy to tell if the loud-mouth was joking or not.

While he was a softy, he took his job as both a teacher and pro hero very seriously. It didn't matter that these were only civilian members of the press, they currently presented a threat to his students and Aizawa knew Hizashi wouldn't hesitate to take one down if they made a wrong move. And it wasn't that Aizawa wouldn't do exactly the same thing, but the difference was he had a capture weapon, he could restrain a civilian without punching them out, thus avoiding any potential controversy. Really, Nemuri should have probably been the one to come with him to the gate, if it came down to needing to restrain civilians, but if someone had slipped past them and had headed to the students, she was also the best suited to take them out quickly and quietly.

So for now, he would just have to hope that the media behaved themselves until the police arrived so that there would be no need for punching.

"Ah, finally." Hizashi let out a sigh of relief next to him as Tsukauchi and several other officers appeared from behind the crowd, and Aizawa silently agreed.

Finally, they could put his whole mess behind them and get on with their day.

As he finally headed back to his classroom, he wondered, absentmindedly, who had been chosen for class rep. Hopefully Iida wasn't one of them, the boy would probably take it way too seriously.

Nedzu narrowed his eyes as he took in the damage to the front gate, paws clasped behind his back.

"How were the ordinary members of the press able to do something like this?" He wondered out loud to the staff with him. They offered no insight- not that he expected them to- but he could tell they were thinking the same thing, their expressions grim.

"Someone instigated this," he continued, "Did someone evil slip in, or was it intended to be a declaration of war?"

Nedzu suspected it might be some combination of the two. He'd have to go over all of the security footage with a fine tooth comb to see if he could figure who was responsible, and what it was they wanted.

Perhaps he'd enlist Izuku's help on the matter…

No one messed with his school and got away with it.

Omake, Mina tries to help in a very Mina way:

"Yo! Sensei!"

"...Yes?"

"You should read this to Aizawa-sensei!"

Izuku looked at the note, bewildered.

"Why?"

"Because you're both oblivious."

"Huh?"

"Nevermind, just do it ok? Pleaseeeeeee."

"Alright, alright."

Izuku, blushing.

"What're you doing out here with all that ass?"

Aizawa, confused. 1-A, half shocked, half holding back from bursting out laughing.

"What?"

"Double cheeked up on a Thursday afternoon-"

Aizawa, deadpan. -"It's Wednesday."

"Hella ass."

Moment of silence

"Let me guess, Mina?"

"Yeah."

sigh