Check Me Out

by CrypticBeans

Raising one child, fostering another and running a book store is no easy feat. Especially when Hizashi has to balance his two other jobs but he's doing it! Or so he believes. It's only when he finds himself meeting Shouta Aizawa that his world seems to flip over and spin on its head.

16. Fall, Fall, Fall

"Oh, wow, you look exhausted."

Hizashi glanced up to find Taishiro pausing in the doorway of the break room with wide yellow eyes flickering over him with a worried expression pinched at the other blonde's face. A frown pinching at the corner of his lips as brows squeezed together tightly with his lunch held in his hands. A rather large bento box with feathers decorated over soft blue. He didn't want to do this. He didn't need to hear how shitty he looked. He didn't want to hear it. And so, he sighed before looking away. "Thanks."

"No, I mean it! You look like shit today, Hizashi, and you've been running yourself ragged for the past week since Halloween! What's going on? Do you want to talk?" Peeking up through his hair as his lips pursed together to keep his lip from jutting out into a pout. This is exactly what he didn't want. Burying his face into his arms, there was a heartbeat of silence before the chair next to him was screeching backwards. "I mean, if you don't want to talk that's fine! But if you are, I'm here to hear you out."

It was quiet then with the blonde beside him fussing with his bento box to which he peaked out of the corner of his eye at. Watching the other blonde tug the box apart in sections and opening the tops of them. The scent had his stomach growling, thinking of his own lunch he'd left at home in the fridge after his frazzled morning. November was so easy to lose himself in, but he found himself tired. Very, very tired. And God knows he's been frazzled since Halloween because he- "I almost kissed a guy."

Yellow eyes flicked over to him when he dropped his gaze down to the table before him when he drummed his fingers against the smooth surface with his mouth pressed against his forearm. It was quiet again when a section of the bento was pushed towards him. A row of onigiri sitting before him when Taishiro nodded at it to which he sat up right slightly and reached out for one when the other blonde lifted roll with it hovers before his mouth. "And? What's wrong about that?"

"This guy is a friend of mine. I've only known him four months and I don't even know if I have a crush on the fucking guy, you know?" He sighed out then lifted the onigiri he held up and took a bit of it with the goal to stuff his mouth with the rice as the seaweed crunched comfortingly. It was some kind of meat inside, he wasn't sure, but it was good. It had him chewing quickly when the blonde popped his salmon roll into his mouth. Chewing when he then swallowed and sighed. "It's a mess, Tai. A fucking mess."

The other blonde chewed quickly before swallowing himself when he held his hand up to refuse the tray of onigiri when he tried pushing it towards him. Looks like he'd be eating four other onigiri for lunch then. He shrugged before taking another bite of the one he held in his hand when Taishiro spoke up. "I don't see what the problem is. I mean, have you walked through the signs of a crush? Have you sat down and actually thought on them? I mean, have you talked to anyone about it?"

"I mean, no r'lly." He mumbled around his mouthful when he shifted in his seat to sit up properly rather than remained hunched over the table as he chewed quickly before swallowing. Licking his lips to remove it of any bits of seaweed or rice before he then sighed out. "No, I'm not some teenage girl who's going to go through a fashion magazine for those crush tests. I don't feel like I have too! I should just know, shouldn't I? I mean, Shouta is a close friend by this point, he really is and is quickly becoming a best friend!"

"Well, sometimes we don't know crushes when they're right in front of us, now do we?" He blinked when Taishiro popped another roll into his mouth when the blonde chewed quickly at his mouthful. His Adam's Apple bobbed when he swallowed when chopsticks were pointed at him. "Not everyone can recognize a crush, you know? But I mean, have you considered it the other way? Have you considered, even once, this whole time that this Shouta has a crush on you?"

What? He blinked at the other blonde when he felt heat rushing to his face as he stuffed the rest of the onigiri into his mouth as he ducked his head down. Shouta having a crush on him felt impossible. Absolutely improbable. But then would that explain Halloween night? A night he played over and over and over trying to find where he'd failed to see the signs? He couldn't blame the wine as they were hardly buzzed. Swallowing his mouthful, he peeked at the other blonde. "That's impossible. He doesn't have a crush on me."

"How would you know that? Are you him?" He blinked when Taishiro put his chopsticks down for a few small meat skewers with one held out to him. Meat with peppers breaking it up. Accepting it from the blonde, he lifted it up to bit into the meat with that heat burning in his cheeks. "You don't know if he likes you like that, Zashi. The matter of the reality you're in is you need to figure out what you feel for him. It could be strictly platonic and if it is then you need to shut down whatever's happening between you two."

Staring down at his skewered meat, he scooped an onigiri up and placed it in Taishiro's lunch box when the blonde hummed softly at him. He knew he had to figure this out; what he felt for Shouta. What those balled up feelings in his chest were for the black-haired man before they went any further. He knew that. Sighing out, he peeked up at Taishiro who happily stuffed another roll with a bite of his skewered meat into his mouth. Chewing. "Do you believe in attraction at first meeting? Like, not love, but attraction?"

Taishiro gained a thoughtful expression as he chewed his food before his Adam's apple bobbed in another swallow. Lifting his tumbler up to sip at the liquid within in one, two, three gulps before setting it back on the table when the blonde hummed softly before tilting his head slightly with that thoughtful expression. "I suppose I do. I think you can meet a stranger and find them attractive. I think it's very possible to be physically attracted to someone at first meeting. Why? Is that what you think you're dealing with?"

"Yes? No? I don't know. I mean, when I first met him, I was barely keeping my head above water with the kids and stuff when all of a sudden there's this exhausted, homeless handsome guy standing in my shop! And I think, from the first time, I've always been attracted to him in a weird way. I find him very handsome now and I think about him more than half the time." He paused then lifted another onigiri up with a sigh. "But it doesn't explain the other stuff. It doesn't explain why I like him so much."

"Well, have you walked through it? I know your friend, Kayama I think it was, was complaining about you talking about him so much, right?" He nodded when he stuffed another bite into his mouth which he chewed quickly when the other blonde tilted his head again with that thoughtful expression. He was honestly cute like that. God, why did it have to be Shouta? Why couldn't it be anyone else that walked into his shop? "What other stuff do you mean? You've never talked to me before about it before. I can help if you want?"

Chewing his mouthful, he swallowed before putting his food down then pushed his chair back to stand then walked over to the counter to grab the iced tea bottle, he'd left there during his pacing. Returning to the table, he cracked it open then took a sip. Alright, how did he say it? How did he explain it? Swallowing his tea down he then met those yellow eyes. "I think about it a lot since Halloween. Kissing him. What it'd be like if he just pulled me in his lap or what he'd do if I just sat in it? What his hair would feel like around my fingers?"

"Mhmm? What else?"

"I just sit, and I think about this man and these weird moments. About the few times when there was this weird tension that's just building up and up and I don't know what to do about it, you know? Like I keep thinking what if things had gone differently on Halloween? What if I was prepared? What if I knew what he wanted? What I wanted?" A quiet hum left Taishiro who propped his chin on his hand when he sighed out. "And I think of all the other times I find him handsome. And cute. Pretty. And he doesn't even know I'm trans."

"Well, this tension, I think you could consider it romantic tension? Sexual tension maybe? I mean, not to get personal with my own boss, but have you thought of him in a sexual way? Is it more than thinking he's handsome? Do you look forward to talking to him? Do you look forward to seeing him? Hearing from him? I mean, best friends work that way, but do you think it's something more?" His face burned when Taishiro then pointed his half eaten skewer at him. "Think before answering. Think good on it."

Didn't Taishiro get that it's all he's been thinking about since that night of his dinner party four months ago? Didn't he realize this was all he was thinking about this man? About their interactions? He didn't want to snap at the blonde but God it was frustrating. Feeling like he was running into the same wall over and over. But was it romantic tension? Was it sexual tension? Or was he just imagining it? There was that time in the bathtub, but it had been a flicker. A brief moment. He peeked at the other blonde with a sigh. "Yes."

"You look forward to seeing him?"

"Yes."

"You look forward to hearing from him?"

"Yes."

"Does talking to him make you happy? Does seeing him make you happy? Do you look forward to the next time you get to see him?"

"Yes! Of course I do! We're friends!"

"But do you get butterflies in your stomach? Do you feel that whole romantic tension of tingles and electricity? Do you want to touch him? Feel him? Do you want to kiss him, Hizashi? Be honest with yourself, this is a safe space after all. So, do you feel like any of this aligns with you?

Fucking hell this man is good.

He twitched at the thought flickering idly across his muddled mind when he felt heat crawling into his cheeks with his lips pursing together. Fighting that urge to jut his lower lip into a pout at the pin point accuracy of Taishiro's words. It was a resounding yes all around and he hated it. Because was it so odd to think this way? Did it mean he had a crush? He felt the butterflies. He felt the tingles of anticipation and the electricity. He felt it all. He sighed then lifted his hands up to cover his face. "Yes."

"Then you need to open yourself up and admit you have a crush. Or the start of one anyways because I feel this runs deeper than you're admitting or acknowledging." He groaned into his palms at the other blonde's words. God, how was this more productive than a conversation with Nemuri? Then with Oboro? Was the other blonde right? Or were his friends too afraid to mention it? "Romantic tension seems to be your problem if you don't feel sexually towards him. But either way you need to get your ducks in a row, Hizashi."

"I know!" He groaned into his palms as he slid his fingers beneath his glasses, but he knew the smudges would be over his lenses when he looked through them again. He slumped then let his head fall onto his folded arms with a thud. He didn't want to think about this. He didn't want to keep replaying Halloween night in his head. He wanted to be normal about Shouta but was Taishiro, right? "I guess I can kinda, sorta, maybe see that it's like a crush type thing with Shouta but what do I do about it until I really know?"

"You live your life." He peeked through his fingers as Taishiro finished off two spears he held before placing their skewers in his box. Damn, the man was plowing through his lunch with bits of rice clinging onto chubby cheeks. Why couldn't he have a crush on someone like Taishiro? He frowned slightly when the blonde then pointed at him. "If you're unsure if it's a crush or not, then I say don't change anything. Keep an eye on yourself. On him. Because while I don't know this Shouta, he could have a crush on you. It's possible."

"How can that be possible? I don't see it! Because Shouta is interesting, he's got the whole tall, dark, exhausted handsome angle going! I mean, he's not taller than me but, like, how can he have a crush on me? I don't have much going for me with two kids, running a store, and my radio show! I mean, compared to me, Shouta is far more interesting! He's been doing this weird flirting thing that I can't tell is flirting, you know? But how can he like me when I haven't done anything that could create a crush?"

"A crush is in the eye of the beholder, Hizashi, and you might never know why or if he has a crush on you. But if you're asking me, I'd dare say that you have many redeeming qualities. You're intelligent, bubbly, approachable, friendly, and to boot I'd dare say you're easily one of the most handsome men I've ever met. You have your quirks and charms that appeal to others, Hizashi, you just can't see it." Taishiro then popped a roll into his mouth finishing them off when he devoted himself to the onigiri before him.

Three perfect triangles that had his mouth watering when he picked up the half-eaten one with heat burning in his cheeks. Stinging in the tips of his ears. It was strangely embarrassing to hear Taishiro list off his supposed redeeming qualities like that in such a causal tone. Stuffing half the onigiri into his mouth, he chewed quickly at the tender meat and rice. The crunch of the seaweed. He'd have to get the recipe and make it for the boys. He swallowed then peeked at the pink cheeked blonde. "You really think so then?"

"I know so. If anything, you've probably have many faceless and voiceless admirers. But -and please don't think I'm sticking my nose in it- you need to tell this Shouta that you're transgender. It's very misleading, you know, if he were to get into your pants and see you know what's down there rather than what he's expecting of another man." Taishiro paused then before picking up a roll then holding it out for him to take which he happily leaned forward to pop into his mouth. "Just tell him when you're sure you have a crush, yeah?"

"Mmmhmm!" He wanted to say the goal was to tell Shouta he was a female-to-male transgender person before they even touched upon anything romantic but that's what they were doing, wasn't it? The dinner party? The afternoon Shouta spent over here for the first time with Eri? The picnic in the park? Halloween night? He chewed the roll quickly before swallowing when he licked his lips when Taishiro lifted his onigiri up to bite into. "Do you think I should date around? Like, go on first dates to see if I have a crush? Would that work?"

"Mmmm." The hum was quiet as Taishiro chewed his mouthful before he swallowed with a subtle bob of his Adam's Apple when he reached for his drink which he gulped at when he stuffed the rest of the onigiri into his mouth before reaching out for another. Damn, the sure were filling that's for sure. Taishiro then tapped his chopsticks thoughtfully against his bento box with a quiet hum before speaking up. "I'd say try. Think about it! But if you feel you're ready then I definitely say try to see if you are just wanting to fulfill something."

Was he trying to fulfill something? He had not a clue, but he chewed his mouthful when he swallowed then reached for his tea as he stuck the straw between his lips and gulped at the sweet liquid before sighing out through his nose when he put his cup down then smiled softly at Taishiro who was quickly clearing out his bento box. "Thank you. Honestly, it's nice talking to someone who has an unbiased opinion and doesn't know Shouta. Thank you for talking this out with me, Tai."

"Of course! You're welcome, Hizashi!"

"You know you can call me Zashi, right? Hizashi sounds way too formal and we're friends, aren't we?" Yellow eyes widened at him then as if he had offered him the greatest gift. Cheeks puffed slightly from the food within, he couldn't help but grin when Taishiro chewed quickly in order to swallow when he twisted the straw of his tea with his grin widening. "After all, I've called you Tai twice now so surely formalities can go out the window, can't it? Call me Zashi from now on, yeah?"

The blonde struggled to swallow with his Adam's Apple bobbing before he reached for his drink. Gulping it down once, twice, to clear his throat up no doubt and he happily lifted an onigiri up to bite into with a hum at that tender meat within God, it was good. He really needed the recipe of it from the other blonde who gulped before thumping his chest lightly before beaming at him with a droplet of his drink dribbling down his chin which he swiped at as he cleared his throat. "You got it! I'll call you Zashi from now on!"

"Good. Now let's finish up eating, yeah? I'd like your help with a few shelves in my office if you don't mind?" The other blonde beamed brilliantly at him with a sparkle to yellow eyes that had him smiling back when he took another bite of the onigiri in his hand. He couldn't deny he still felt like shit. He still felt confused. Upset in an odd way. But talking to Taishiro was a blunt conversation that he hadn't had with Oboro and Nemuri yet. It was nice. Unbelievably nice to have someone kick him in the ass to get him going to figure this out.

---

"Hey, Dad! Can we have some apple slices and peanut butter?"

"On it, kid!"

Hizashi pushed back his seat in the dining room to push himself up with his laptop screen glowing at him. He made his way around his chair to shuffle across the dining room into the kitchen towards the basket of remaining apples. He'd taken the boys apple picking the day before Halloween and they were finally getting to the bottom of the bags they'd picked. He reached out to scoop up two apples then shuffled over to the sink to run them under the water as he searched for any holes in the apples before placing them on the counter.

Then he reached into the cabinet for the boys sectioned plates that clattered lightly when he placed them on the counter as well. He reached for the cutting board then plucked a knife from the block and he began cutting into the apples to dice them into spears for them. He really ought to buy one of those apple slicers with the coring center. He'd never thought to buy one when he could easily cut up an apple with a knife. But he had to admit they might just be more convenient when it came to being ready right out the gate.

He made quick work of coring the apples which he tossed into the trash then began to cut the wedges into slices for the boys with a quiet hum as he placed them neatly on the plates. He then reached into the cabinet up next to the sink for the peanut butter. He tugged at the cover before unscrewing it when he reached into the drawer beside him for the spoons. The thuds of socked feet ran down the hallway towards him where he glanced over his shoulder with a smile when both of his sons came rushing forward.

Small hands reaching out to grab the hem of his sweater. Holding onto him as they waited for him to finish doling out the peanut butter when he paused before spinning with both boys giggling. Small feet pressing to stand on each of his feet, he waddled over to the fridge with arms wrapped around his waist as he reached out to open the fridge where he reached in for the bags of grapes. Green for himself and Hitoshi and red for Izuku. He shut the fridge door then spun on his feet again earning himself giggles from both boys again.

Delighted. Joyful. Izuku and Hitoshi then tightened their arms around his waist with hands gripping fistfuls of his sweater into small hands. Holding onto him tightly when he toddled back to the counter with heavy thuds of his slippered feet ringing out as he navigated them forward. Grinning down when heads tipped back to reveal brilliant grins with missing teeth. Izuku had lost two of his bottom teeth while Hitoshi had lose two upper teeth and a bottom. Adult teeth growing in took their time but they were adorable smiles.

He placed the bags on the counter where he tugged them open and plucking a handful of green grapes off of the vine. He placed in the right upper section of Hitoshi's plate then opened the red grapes. He tugged a handful off of the vine before placing them on Izuku's plate with arms unwrapping from his waist and feet climbing off of his. He handed Hitoshi his plate with green grapes rolling when the boy chirruped a thank you before rushing across the kitchen. Holding his plate of apple slices and grapes carefully.

Then he handed Izuku his plate with wide green eyes looking up at him before taking the plate with a similar thank you chorus leaving the boy before he rushed off after his brother. Closing up the bag of red grapes, he snuck his hand into the bag of green grapes to pluck a small fistful out for himself before sealing the back then cradling both bags in his arm. Popping a grape into his mouth, he hummed at the crunch followed by the juices of it spreading over his tongue as he opened the fridge again.

Tossing both bags inside when his gaze flicked to the wine bottle that remained unfinished from Halloween night. He winced at the quiet reminder before snapping the fridge shut harder than he intended judging by the bottles rattling inside. He turned his feet away from the fridge when he popped another grape into his mouth. He didn't like to think of Halloween night; it wasn't awful, but it had been so painfully awkward after that rejection. He'd been gearing to say no. Shouta drank far more than he should.

It was the first time he'd seen the man fully drunk and he'd all but been flooded with guilt over the sight of it. He knew he was the reason the black-haired man let go of his inhibitions. He knew it but neither acknowledged the awkward embarrassment that lingered between them. Neither acknowledging the moment on the blanket that still hung heavily in the air around them. Unspoken. Unacknowledged. Shouta had been looser lipped than usual while he was drunk; complaining about his work and the amount of grading that needed to be done.

He was more open about his relationship with his sister. About his mother. He'd listened while Shouta guzzled glass after glass of wine and that tension had hung in the air. There was a tension that settled onto him throughout the night when Shouta refused to meet his gaze. When he'd glance up to find dark eyes flicking away from him. As if ashamed to be caught staring. Shouta had become quieter around his fourth glass when he cut him off. The black-haired man had seemed unhappy. Bashful. Embarrassed.

There was another of those tense moments when the black-haired man had been leaning towards him. And it was that point that he'd coaxed the black-haired man inside. He'd all but forced the man to take his shoes and coat off before grabbing spare blankets and pillows along with a small trashcan for the black-haired man. All but forcing him to sleep it off on the couch with Eri out like a light next to her father in the pack and play. Shouta had mumbled his thanks as he laid out on the couch as the TV murmured.

Playing episode after episode of Bluey flashing onto the TV. And the black-haired man, clearly drunker than intended, had reached up. He could still recall the way his hand had touched his cheek. Fingers drifting below his glasses before rubbing the back of them over his hot cheek. How fingers clumsily tucked his hair behind his ear. Fingers drifting lightly, delicately over the edge of his ear where his jewelry and hearing aid rested when the black-haired man's lips had parted. Fingers tracing along his jaw.

He'd been stunned into stillness again when the black-haired man then tugged his hand away. His face hiding away with rosy cheeks turning a deep shade of red when Shouta sighed out three words that left him reeling. Three little words that twisted up inside of him. In such an airy, warbling tone Shouta had sighed out a drunken slur of 'you're so pretty' before his lashes had fluttered down onto his cheeks. Out like a light before he could begin to process the fingers that had drifted over his skin. His ear. His jaw.

Leaving him to stumble away quietly with his heart throbbing in his chest where he'd stuffed the left over pizza and wine into the fridge. Refusing to think about it at the moment. Shuffling into the dining room with his slippers dragging over the floor, he sat down in his chair once more. Sighing out when he popped a third grape into his mouth. Shrugging his shoulders as if he could shrug away the memory of that night. He didn't want to completely forget it, but he didn't want to dwell on it longer than he already had.

God, his temples throbbed from the number of times he plaid that night over and over. And now Taishiro was implying Shouta had a crush? It had him groaning under his breath at another layer to pick apart, but could that explain it? The terse jokes that bordered on flirting? The way Shouta had nearly kissed him? Would have kissed him if it wasn't for that fucking cricket? But that still left him with the questions on if he wanted the black-haired man to kiss him. If he had a crush on the man. If Shouta somehow had a crush on him.

It's not like he could march up to his friend and demand to know if he had a crush on him or not. There was a delicacy to the topic of crushes that needed to be respected. And what if Shouta said yes? It would lead to a whole new situation that he would need to unravel with the help of his friends and family. That was a situation he feared when their friendship was still so fresh. So new. But what if Taishiro was right? What if Shouta did have a crush on him for some damn reason? He didn't see why he would but it was a possibility, wasn't it?

Something that was unanswered. Unacknowledged on his end of things. Crushes, he found, should always be dealt with a sense of sensitivity. It's not like he could just march up to Shouta and ask him point blank if he had a crush on him. Not when the question could be turned around on him in return. And he didn't understand the bundle of emotions in his chest yet but they grew. They swelled. Aching, aching, aching. He needed to have his head on straight before he could even think of having a conversation like that.

Swallowing his mouthful, he popped the last four grapes into his mouth clumsily with the quiet crunch of his chewing filling the small dining room. He settled into his sit with his fingers lightly tapping the mousepad before rolling his fingers over it to light up the dimming screen of it. Glancing at the website he had up for his store, an in-progress development, he could appreciate how bare bones it was, but Oboro was working on it. He was touching it up, much to his delight, and he was loving the results so far.

In fact, they had agreed to create new business cards with the website QR code and link on it when the website was up and running. Doing online orders was going to be a whole new task for himself but he was more than eager to begin selling online as well as in store. It was going to be a game changer, that much was for certain. To take pictures of the shop and fill the page out together after taking those pictures tomorrow. To get some reviews from the customers that came by daily to sit in his window seats.

Curled up in back of the store where they curled into seats with coffees and books in hands. It was a slow process, but he likes how it looks so far. Glancing over the image that Oboro had sent, he closed the window out then slid his fingers over the mousepad to open a new tab where he clicked on his link to his email. Humming quietly as he chewed quickly while swallowing bit by bit, he swallowed down his mouthful once he deemed it safe. The last thing he needed was to choke on a mouthful of grapes.

He reached for his steaming tea beside him to take a sip to wash down the rest of it as a hot path made its way down his throat through his chest. Pooling into his stomach. Making him all too aware of how empty his stomach was after his lunch with Taishiro. He did have his lunch in the fridge, he could eat for dinner, and he could whip up something simple for the boys tonight. Hitoshi and Izuku never protested their mac and cheese and hotdog nights. Or the mac and cheese with chicken nuggets nights.

They weren't the healthiest options, but he didn't mind spoiling them with it once in a while as compared to the elaborate meals, he made every other night of the week. Though he'd been slacking here lately in that department by choosing the copout meal of ordering out which, of course, children would adore. After all, who wouldn't want a pizza night? A night of chicken fingers and fries? He sighed to himself as his email loaded up again where he scrolled his fingers over the mousepad to click on the blue-haired man's email.

And he swore, right as he clicked on it to load up, that a new email blipped to the top of his list to which he blinked but it was far too quick. There and gone with Oboro's email filling the page asking if he liked the progress so far. Times on when he could come by with a friend of his that worked in professional photography. He quickly taped on reply and wrote out a quick email to the blue-haired man with the affirmations. Claiming a time for the blue-haired man's friend to come by the shop the next weekend.

Would it be someone he knew? Or didn't? He had not a clue, but he closed out the email with Oboro to the one sitting at the top of his inbox. It was from the local high school, much to his surprise, as he clicked on the link as he began to read the email. It started off as any other official email would with a 'Dear Mr. Hizashi Yamada, we send this email to reach out and make contact with the hope of' etcetera. He let his gaze scan down to the body of the email. And he found his mouth dropping open slightly as he read the email.

Once.

Twice.

It had his hands trembling when he fought the urge to throw his head back and scream. To shriek and dance about the house. When his mothers had supported him through going back to college for the substitute teaching certification, he hadn't thought it would come to much use. That it would be a useless diploma hanging on his wall that would never be used. But he was wrong. This email proved it wrong. They were contacting him to fill the role of an English teacher from now until the Christmas holidays.

It had him tapping his feet excitedly beneath the table as he read over the email again. And again. He didn't think he'd ever see the day when his substituting certification would come into play, but he found his fingers sliding over the mouse pad down to the reply button which he clicked on. Taking a deep breath, the stretch his fingers out, he let out that breath slowly. Carefully. And he began to type out a reply to the man that had reached out to him about this. Why was the name Toshinori Yagi so familiar?

The other name on the document down by the bottom, Nezu, was a familiar name as well but he couldn't bring to mind yet why it was familiar. He quickly typed out what he hoped would sound like a proper message to the school in response when he then sent it off. He happily tapped his feet on the floor with his knees grazing the bottom of the table with his joy when he caught the faint buzzer of the dryer. He slid out of his seat once more before spinning on his slippered feet to rush into the kitchen.

Taking brisk strides down the hallway where he entered the living room to the boys half eaten plates on the table and eyes fixed on the TV. He'd say he wanted to have them play outside but he had laundry to get done and he never feared letting the children play in the back yard. They knew better when he was busy than to go in the front yard and play given the risks of it. But they were fixed on their show as he shuffled past with whines leaving the boys when he passed by the TV as they moved to look around him.

He wanted to roll his eyes at their dramatic responses when he tugged open the small door leading to the utility room where he flicked the light on then grabbed the empty basket. Tugging open the dryer door, he began to grab at the hot clothing to stuff into the hamper while the TV sounded out behind him. Making quick work to get the dryer emptied out and the hamper filled up, he slid it behind him then turned his attention to the washer. Flipping open the top he began to shift the laundry from the washer to the dryer.

All but bouncing on his feet with the excitement tracing through him at the sudden opportunity laid at his feet. He'd never thought of being a teacher. It hadn't been on his radar but getting that substituting certificate with Nemuri seemed to be working in his favor today. He just wished he could recall why those names of the teachers sounded familiar. Nezu. Toshinori Yagi. It had him humming curiously as he quickly moved between the washer and dryer, tossing in the wet clothes quickly into the drum.

He then scooped out the bag of socks to toss into the dryer. Humming softly to himself as he worked quickly to get the second load in, then grabbed at his box of dryer sheets. Tossing in two, he snapped the door shut then twisted the knobs before it powered to life. The quiet tumble of the clothing was a comforting sound as he scooped the basket up then stepped out into the living room. He shut the utility room door behind him then lifted the basket up to make his way across the living room with whining protests from both of his boys again.

Impatient for him to move out of the way. Not wanting to miss a thin on their show. He clicked his tongue at them which had pouts forming on lips when he made his way out of the living room with the basket in hand. He wanted to call his mothers and tell them the good news. Tell Nemuri and Oboro that his certification and degree were finally going to come into play when he thought they never were. Surprisingly, there wasn't a lot of substitutions in the district they lived in. One would think but no, there hadn't been a need.

Not much of a want for substitutes but he was more than happy to take up the role of an English teacher. It would be easy to follow the lesson plan already in play until December. He was more than happy to spend the next two months subbing. He made his way quickly down the hallway to the kitchen where he flew through it to the small hallway of his where soft music spilled out into the hallway. He'd been listening to music, on his phone, before he'd gone to the dining room with his laptop to look over his emails.

Making his way into the bedroom, he sat the hamper down with three heads raising from the bed to look at him sleepily. It had him smiling at the large deep blue, light blue, and copper eyes aimed his way of Cappella, Sterling and Twix. His phone was laying on the bed, halfway beneath Twix's ass but he turned on his feet to instead rush out of his bedroom into the hallway once more. Making his way with brisk strides into the kitchen to the dining room to scoop his laptop up where he shut it slightly before turning to run.

Rushing on his tiptoes across the kitchen quickly with the boys shouting at their TV show when he ran down the small hallway into his bedroom. Back into the softly lit area with its music quietly playing, he closed the laptop then placed it on his dresser. Rushing over to his bed to sit on the edge, he scooped his phone up with Twix startling then darting off of the bed as he launched himself across the room the hall with a jingle of his collar. Running off like he had held fire under the cat to get him to move out of his spot.

Such a skittish boy. He blinked before sighing softly when he then placed his phone down next to him on the bed within reaching distance. Turning his attention to the laundry before him as he took out a shirt that he began to fold. Humming quietly along with the soft music he had playing, he happily tugged another piece of fabric out of the basket where he happily began to fold it. Tonight, they'd be Face Timing with his mothers, and he'd tell them then that he had a new job he'd be starting up Monday morning.

He'd have to wake up earlier in the morning to make sure that he was awake, had breakfast on the table, and got the boys ready. High school, from what he remembered, started earlier than elementary school, didn't it? Could he call Nemuri and Oboro over to stay with the boys until their bus came for them? He hummed at the thought as he picked up a pair of pants that he folded in half then folded up into a neat square. He then hummed softly in time with the music as he tapped his feet lightly when he tugged the hamper closer to him.

He was more than happy to accept that offer; when would be the next time he got the chance to use his certification he'd spent nights studying for? Grinded desperately while trying to kick his business off of the ground while his mothers watched his toddler son? He wanted his degree to mean something just as he wanted his business degree to mean something. He didn't want all that studying, all the double courses, to go to nothing. To be wasted. He knew his mothers would be over the moon about it when he told them about it tonight.

Reaching into the basket for the big bag of socks and underwear that he placed on the bed beside him in order to focus on the bigger articles of clothing. He folded them quickly with the quiet sound of the TV and the boys cheering drifting from the living room to him. Whatever cartoon they were watching had to be good. He hadn't gotten a good look at it, but he was sure that whatever it was it at least kept the boys busy while he was folding laundry. Keep them preoccupied before they came rushing for him.

He wanted to shout about his new job opportunity that would, quite honestly, keep him away from the store for a few months. He would have to plan out from here going forward just how much time he could allot to the store. From what Shouta told him about his teaching job, there was plenty of grading both homework, classwork, tests and pop quizzes that would keep him busy. Shouta always seemed so tired by the end of the day when they would text back and forth after teaching. As if it drained him.

And he had not a doubt that teaching was a highly taxing job. That it would either stretch or shrink his patience for the younger generation. He could only imagine how tiring it had to be to be grading all the time. To keep track of the lesson plans. He hoped he'd hear more from the school about what his job outlook was going to be. When he could start and when he would start. He needed to know these facts before he could go blindly into a job just because he was excited over the thought of using one of his degrees.

He hummed quietly when he pulled another pair of pants out of the hamper then folded them quickly when his gaze flicked up to the laptop when he stood. He knew it might be impossible that they emailed back so soon on a Thursday afternoon, but it was better to keep an eye on it, wasn't it? He stood up with a few shirts folded over his arm when he made his way over to his dresser. Doing so in a few long steps to flip open the screen of his laptop and unlock it with his email glowing up at him once again.

And much to his surprise, there was indeed another email waiting for him. He blinked when he clicked on it to find more information waiting for him about the position. Hours, what his pay would be for the two months, what his scheduled days would be like. When he could start, which was bright and early Monday morning like he thought it would be. He'd had the feeling it was one of those positions that would be tagged for him to start as soon as possible. And there it was, written in the email for him to read.

And he found his fingers trembling when he rolled his fingers over the mousepad to click on the reply option before he began to type. The light clicks of his fingers hitting the keys was deafening in the bedroom over the soft, pulsing beats of some lo-fi song he had playing. He typed out a response that he hoped danced on the right levels of enthusiasm, gratefulness and determination to show up without being overeager. Being pushy. Either way, he was sure the next time he got an email would be a confirmation email.

That he'd get a more in depth description about his temporary position at the school for this month and the next. Until Christmas break. He was more than happy to then spin on his feet back to the bed with two long steps before dropping back onto the edge of the bed. His hands trembling with that excitement as he folded the two shirts draped over his arm quickly then stacking them neatly on the bed next to him. A load of Hitoshi and Izuku's clothing was always quick to get through and he'd have to shuffle upstairs to put it away.

The boys always crammed it in their drawers which led to jammed drawers. He hummed quietly as he rocked his knee slightly while he folded the laundry with his fingers itching to reach for his phone. To text someone about the job opportunity and to brag. To squeal, theorize, and plan his outfit for the next two months. He didn't want to wear just suits as he didn't want to be too overly formal, but he also wanted to appear nice for the job. Put together. He knew that teacher outfits often had an impact on students.

Nothing big but he knew that teachers could be judged on what they'd wear into the classroom. He'd been a student who always admired his teachers outfits but had always heard the gossip of others chattering on about outfits that were deemed awful or tacky. Much like his face, his entrance would be judged heavily by these teenagers he'd be teaching. He should work out an outfit and his approach to the classroom now, shouldn't he? To at least go over it mentally? He could always reach out to Nemuri about it.

He wanted to at least make an impression just once on his new classroom of students when he walked into the school come Monday morning. He'd have to talk to Nemuri and Oboro about possibly coming over so he could have them watch the boys in the morning when he inevitably left for work. To at least see them off onto the bus given that both adults were on the pick-up and drop off list. It had been that way since he appointed the couple as God parents to Hitoshi. Surely if he contacted them then they'd be okay with it?

They'd never hesitated to tell him if they couldn't and it's not like he could depend on them always. He could try driving the boys first thing in the morning before zooming over to the high school. The last thing he wanted was to be late on his first day of work. But how would he handle the store? He needed to sit down this weekend and plan out how much time he wanted to divide between the store and his work as a substitute. Then there was Izuku and Hitoshi. He couldn't deprive them of the attention they'd been looking for lately.

Surprisingly, his boys had been clamoring for his attention lately. Wanting it desperately. Wanting his focus on them more than anything which he had been giving them more than anything. He'd been pouring his time, attention and affection in to his sons whenever he could. Playing with them outside whenever they requested it of him. Trying to lose himself into his fatherly role for once as he did his best to spend minutes and hours humoring his boys. Listening to thier elementary school drama's with an attentive ear.

Anything to forget about the brooding emotions he'd felt since Halloween when he'd rejected Shouta. And that's what he'd done, isn't it? He'd rejected the kiss. Rejected him. But it'd be wrong to kiss him when he didn't know what he wanted, wouldn't it? It would be giving false pretenses to Shouta, wouldn't it? It would be showing interest when he hadn't begun to accept that he might have a crush on the man. It would explain everything yet admitting it to himself felt oddly hard. It felt difficult to admit his crush to himself.

As if he was scared that it would change their friendship right when he was enjoying it the most. Four months. He'd known this man for four months, but he wasn't ready to see the death of their friendship over a simple crush. But what if Taishiro had been speaking the truth this afternoon? What if Shouta had a crush on him? He knew it was entirely possible to be best friends and have a crush on one another. It'd lead to a relationship, but did that mean they stopped being best friends? No. He didn't think so.

After all, Nemuri had told him one too many times that Oboro was her best friend. Her husband was her best friend, but he was also her best friend. So surely, somehow, it all balanced out? He couldn't remember the last time he could say that his boyfriend or girlfriend of the past was his best friend. It had been a very long time since then, but did that leave him clueless? No. He didn't want to be. But Taishiro had been telling the truth as bluntly as anyone could; he needed to get his shit together.

He was a mess in other areas in his personal life. A life where he was just Hizashi. Not a father. Not a store owner. Just a man who needed the kick in the ass that he got this afternoon. And he had to face up to it now rather than let it grow so overwhelming and ruin things between them. If Shouta wanted to kiss him then surely he felt the same? The coat? There was something between them that went beyond friendship. If Shouta wanted to kiss him then there was something there. That much was undeniable.

How long did he make the black-haired man wait? He'd asked Halloween night for time to think before they talked about it. And he'd sworn he would. He just needed to get his shit together. He knew he felt something for the man; after all, why let his world sink down to this point? Where Shouta ran around and around in his head while he replayed every interaction like a compulsive woman desperate for love? For anyone desperate for love? A crush. Was that what this has been the whole time? Is that how he's been feeling?

Starved for love? Or for someone to fuck him? What did he feel for Shouta? He knew they started as friends, there was no denying that, but was it a crush now? It had the back of his neck burning at the thought but there was no way best friends acted like this. Their lines were blurring. The sound of his deep breath had him tearing out of his thoughts when he forced his hands to fold the pants he held in his hands. Here he was now! Thinking about the man again! It had him groaning under his breath at that prick of irritation with himself.

He was glad that Taishiro had been so brutally honest with him this afternoon. He was so unbelievably happy he'd been. He needed to talk to Shouta in person about that rejection Halloween night and he needed to be clear headed. He needed to know what to say. He already knew it wasn't' that he didn't feel the same but rather that he'd been so scared. He'd been taken aback. Shocked. In the moment, he'd panicked because he didn't know what he wanted. He'd admired those full lips for months now.

Admired their plushness, their shape, many times during their conversations. It'd make him a damn liar to say he didn't imagine kissing Shouta. That he didn't imagine at least what it'd be liked to have those large hands sliding down his back to tug him into his arms. What it'd be like to have that vanilla cologne wrapped around him as he was held close to Shouta. Pressed up against that broad chest of his. What it'd feel like to have those broad shoulders beneath his arms as he was tugged close to him.

What it'd be like to have those full lips coming down on his to slide against his. That he didn't imagine what it'd be like to twist his hands up in those black curls of his as hands slid over his back. His waist. What it would be like to have Shouta hold him close in bed. How warm he'd be in his arms. What it'd feel like to give in to that attraction that he'd felt when they first met. An attraction that was building up, up, up until he couldn't help but wonder. Fantasize about having that deep voice in his ear panting at him.

Praising him. Begging him. Crooning, wailing, moaning, groaning and whining his name. To have Shouta all to himself without the worry that someone else would come snatch him up. He wants nothing more than to know. He'd be a fucking liar to say he never imagined it in recent time since that afternoon Shouta had given him his coat. He'd be worse than a liar. Because he wants it. He wants to know bad what this man could give him. What he could give him. But he never acted up on it for his own uncertainness.

He thought them to be idle day dreams lately but the black-haired man seemed to be sharing in them without his knowledge. And he had been shocked by it. He knew that the fingers tracing over his cheek and jaw, his ear, drunkenly might've been simple ramblings. Hell, he knew he'd said some things while drunk he didn't mean. But did this mean anything? Possibly. If Shouta had a crush then the black-haired man wasn't going to come out and say it yet, was he? But how long did they wait on these crushes of theirs?

He refused to believe in crushes at first sight but he knew the first step to getting his shit in line was admitting he had a crush. And he knew he had one. It had his cheeks warming at how silly it felt; here he was, a grown man of twenty-six and father of two, with these childish thoughts. A grown, mature man sitting here trying to figure out if he had a crush on another man. It had him scoffing when he reached into the basket but the warmth in his cheeks refused to dissipate. He'd admired Shouta in many different lightings.

From the soft lighting of his porch to the afternoons golden light. The brilliant sunlight that highlighted those slightly frizzed black curls that swayed against his upper back. The way those full lips moved as he spoke and how they tilted up into his manic grins and smirks. The sparkle to his dark eyes when black lashes fluttered in an almost coy manner. Shy. The small shadows those lashes managed to cast on his cheeks when the lighting was just right. When it hit his face so perfectly he couldn't help but admire it.

The way his head ducked down when his face turned red or how his shoulders scrunched up towards his ears. How quickly he was to panic in his quiet way before cutting conversations off coldly. How the black-haired man seemed to hold onto his words when he spoke. How those dark eyes held onto his when his own would dart back and forth. How kind he was to Izuku and Hitoshi. How sweetly he cared for his daughter. How those stocky hands of his called his attention and how dry his fingertips were when they brushed over his cheeks.

The look in his gaze when he would tuck his hair behind his ear. His hands hit clumsily off of the laundry basket had him tearing out of his thoughts. His day dreaming that was leaving him hot in the face as he reached into the basket to quickly fold another shirt. Tugging it closer to him with the faint sounds of his sons singing along with the intro or outro of the show they were watching in the living room. He was half out of his mind with his imaginings. What the hell was he doing? What in the world was he thinking?

He didn't understand how effortlessly he could think of this man only to feel his stomach and heart fluttering in unison. He really just needed to get it together. In the past, he never let crushes mess with him like this. And here he was afraid to think it let alone say it out loud but if things were indeed pointing to it. To him having a crush then what use would it be to deny it? To reject it? If anything, he felt better at least putting a name to the unintelligible bundle of emotions in his chest. A crush was the simple answer.

A cop out that he needed at the moment to keep himself sane at least somewhat. He sighed out softly as he stacked the clothes neatly beside him with the bed bouncing lightly when he placed down a wadded up shirt much too hard. So, what did he do? From here on out, what did he do about this crush? How did he look Shouta in the face knowing that it was a crush that he had? What if Shouta had a crush on him? Did he let that change their friendship? Did he let it change the way that he viewed Shouta?

Or did he merely carry on the way he did any other time? Any other day? Did he hang out with Shouta like normal? It had been so unbelievably long since he'd had a crush on anyone, and he was fumbling. Floundering to find reason, to find an idea, on what he did from here on out. He could confess. But what if he was wrong? What if Taishiro was wrong? But he couldn't be, could he? Not with how Shouta had been the one leaning in for that kiss. Sighing out to himself, he folded the shirt in his grasp before reaching in for two pairs of pants.

Draping one over the edge of the hamper, he quickly folded the pants in his hands as he listened to the cheerful singing from the living room just barely making its way to him. Tugging the pants draped over the edge of the hamper, he quickly folded them when he turned to the bag beside him. Tugging it open to dump the contents out onto the bed with a quiet sigh to himself. Socks and underwear spilling out in an array over the dark comforter of his bed when he then turned back to the half-filled hamper.

He was tearing himself apart. Trying to make sense of everything over the past four months only to find that he was giving himself a headache. A tension settling into the back of his neck and aching in his right temple like an ache spreading over his scalp. He wanted nothing more than to take a nap. Could he possibly convince two six-year-olds to come lay down for a nap? Especially when they were insisting that they were too old for naps? He could have them watch TV in here with the doors locked while he napped.

Surely that wouldn't be too much to ask, would it? All this thinking on crushes, the ifs and buts driving him up the wall, he found himself itching for a hit off of his weed pen. Off of a cigarette on the back porch. His fingers twitched when he forced himself to quickly continue folding the small shirts and pants in the hamper. A quiet groan at the other load in the dryer of his clothing waiting to be done. And then he needed to check bathrooms for towels to do a load of towels. God, all he'd been doing was laundry here lately.

Always cleaning. A never ending task that had him groaning again when he let himself slip into the familiarity of folding. Not thinking. He didn't need to think much more about Shouta Aizawa, his crush, or the possibility that Shouta might have a crush on him. He didn't need to wrack his brain on this any longer, did he? He should be figuring out what type of decorations to grab for his shop to set it up. Thanksgiving? Fall still? Did he take the pumpkins and skeletons down and merely leave the fall aesthetic up?

Or did he shift to a more winter wonderland theme? It was a tough question that he'd get opinions on from Nemuri and Oboro. To see what they'd say about it. He knew he liked the fall aesthetic he had going, and November wasn't exactly winter, was it? Not until the first snow fall. Leaves were still falling so surely, he could just take down the pumpkins and skeletons. Keep up the fall display he had going for them. After all, it was hardly the cloudy wetness of winter, yet it still felt like fall outside. So surely, he could keep his decorations up?

He'd still get those opinions just to hear some feedback. Fuck, how was he going to balance this? His kids, his social life, his job at the bookstore and the substituting job? He dragged his teeth over his bottom lip as he began wondering if he bit off too much by eagerly accepting the job. His excitement fading slightly as he folded the clothing quickly. What did he do? It was too late to back out when he'd agreed to this but surely, he could make it work, couldn't he? He'd have more than enough time for both!

After all, he worked on his radio show on Fridays and if he can handle two jobs like that then he can certainly handle three. It was all about planning, about learning, and adapting to being out of the house, his store, all day at the school. He folded a pair of pants quickly with a quiet hum as the music changed. A peppy, lighthearted song that had him tapping his feet and bouncing his knees lightly in time with the beat of the song. He just needed to not over think this. He could handle it, he knew he could.

It was all about setting up a schedule with himself for where he needed to go, what times he needed and to chart it all out. Plan his days at the shops, possibly for the weekends rather than during the work week seeing as he'll be in a classroom from morning to afternoon. He wouldn't be able to work a proper shift at the store, but he could still pop his head into it to make sure all was running smoothly. He wasn't about to abandon his store just because he'd be working at the school. There's no way he'd do that.

This time, however, he'd have to remember to bring his lunch with him if he wanted to eat. He doubted he wanted to stand in the cafeteria or to buy his own lunch on the fly when he could make a perfectly good lunch. He could do this. He could one hundred percent do this. Just plan it, follow through, and he'd be golden. After all, how hard was it truly going to be? How hard would he wring himself dry? He blinked when he noted the basket that he bent to reach for the clothing near the bottom of it.

Damn, was he really folding that fast? Regardless, the last thing he'd have to worry about was getting the clothing put away in the boys drawers rather than letting them cram the fabric in. And then he'd sit down with his laptop to plan out how his work week was going to look for the next two months. God, that felt like an eternity; two months of floundering through a new work week and a new work schedule. He was more than confident that he could handle it, but sleep was going to be taking a hit until he found his footing.

Caffeine, he was sure, was going to become his best friend to help him through the next two months. Folding the laundry quickly, he glanced over when his phone pinged. And it had his heart jumping right up into his throat at the sight of Shouta's name on his screen. God, how long had it been since he'd seen Shouta's name on his phone screen? They'd both taken some time apart but the other day they'd begun talking sporadically. Today too. His hands wavered with the shirt he held in his hands when he took a deep breath.

What if Taishiro was right? What if he wasn't seeing the whole picture? What if he was just spooked from the almost kiss that night? How those fingers had traced over his cheek, jaw and ear when the black-haired man called him pretty? He couldn't deny that he still felt hurt that Shouta had taken off with Eri long before he'd woken up. He dragged his teeth over his lip when he stared down at his phone. It was an option to talk to someone first about his teaching gig. Who else would understand than another teacher?

He bit down on his lip when he folded the shirt in his hands before placing it on the bed. He then reached out for his phone when it pinged a second time to which his heart happily jumped to choke him when he unlocked his phone screen when he took a deep breath. Letting it out slowly, he tugged his thumb over the screen to tug his notifications down to tap on the black-haired man's text which took its sweet time loading up. And he shifted in his position on the foot of his bed to sit back properly onto it as their chat loaded up.

Shouta: hey zashi r u busy?

Hizashi: Hey! I'm not completely busy! Mostly doing long at the moment! 😀 Why, what's up?

Shouta: i just

Shouta: i rlly wnt 2 apologize for halloween

Shouta: i fucked up the night, ik i did & not 2 mention i got wasted while there & i wasnt being a very good friend

Hizashi: Sho, it's totally fine! I mean, I don't think you fucked the night for us! It was still nice! But that was a week ago! You don't gotta keep apologizing for it!

Hizashi: I mean, I wish you hadn't taken off before I woke up, but I understand it! If anything, I don't know how you weren't mad that I screamed in your ear like that!

Shouta: well, u DID have a bug on ur hand so i get it lol

Shouta: can we just forget it? tht night as a whole?

Hizashi: I'd like to say yes but I find I don't WANT to forget it.

Hizashi: But we can talk about this face to face next time, okay? I don't think it's the type of conversation I'd want to have over text, you know?

Shouta: i completey get it. we can tlk face 2 face about it then when ur ready?

Hizashi: Yeah, when I'm ready we'll talk on it, okay? Until then don't feel bad! I'd feel awful knowing that YOU were feeling bad 😫

Shouta: tht feels like some unfair tactic ur using. tht i cnt feel like shit or else U will feel like shit

Hizashi: Oh, hush! No unfair tactics here! I'm just saying if you feel bad then I'll feel bad is all 😣

Shouta: S said by a man who is using unfair tactics 👄

Hizashi: Pshhh, you're insane if you think I'm using unfair tactics! I'm just saying, I don't want you feeling like shit over something you don't GOTTA feel like shit about, you know?

Shouta: how bout we just both feel like shit? solves all the problems doesnt it?

Hizashi: I meannnnnnn it COULD but I'd rather not feel like shit when I'm talking to you and I'd rather you not feel like shit when I'm talking to you

Shouta: fair fair

Shouta: i'd rather not feel like shit while talkin

Shouta: so y not tell me whts up? wht hve u been getting up 2 huh? knowin u its something real interestin 😁

Hizashi: Don't be a sassy sally about it!

Hizashi: But yes! I actually have some really, really awesome news to share! I feel if I don't, I might explode!

Shouta: well dont do tht 💀

Shouta: whts this awesome news thts going to make u explode if u dont share it?

Hizashi: Oh! It's nothing just that my substitute teaching certificate is going to be coming into good use! I got put on!

Shouta: oh? my goodness, super dad is getting anther job? how is this certificate comin 2 good use? 😲

Hizashi: I just got an email from a high school to substitute! I start on Monday and work throuhg til Christmas break!

Shouta: tht IS awesome! congrats on ur lucky break into the hell tht it i teacher lmao 😝

Hizashi: Oh, hush I say! I'm EXCITED for this, Sho! I've never done teaching before, but this is a new change that I get to try! It's amazing!

Shouta: ur right, ur right i apologize for poking fun

Shouta: im sure u'll hve a blst being a teacher wont u?

Hizashi: I'm sure I wil! Ah, I can't wait until Monday! I gotta plan my outfit out and what I'll need! Ah, it's so exciting! Any tips?

Shouta: they r teenagers

Shouta: dont let them give u shit, ok? they dish it out u give it right back 2 them 2 let them know UR in charge

Hizashi: Awesome! I mean, I'm sure I can stand my own against some high schoolers! So, is there anything else?

Shouta: actually ya

Shouta: wht district r u working 4?

Hizashi: Oh! I didn't look but the names were familiar! Let me goeuhergiokngr

Shouta: ?

Shouta: goeuhergiokngr?

Hizashi: Ah, sorry, sorry! I dropped my phone! But, um, I'll get the district name in a sec! Izuku is screaming and Hitoshi is crying I gotta go!

Shouta: no problem! go check on the boys! u can tell me l8

Hizashi didn't spare his phone a glance when it dropped to the floor as he threw it on the bed to run across his bedroom to the small hallway where he slammed into the wall with a thud. His feet slid over the floor as he ran towards the sound of screaming and crying as he ran down his hallway into the kitchen. His feet, however, slid out beneath him causing him to crash to the floor with a deafening thud that had him shouting at the sparks of pain. "Fuck! Fuck, what's wrong? What's going on! Izu! Toshi!"

His voice boomed into the hallway as his slipper flew off his left foot, but he hardly paid it mind. He lurched to his feet to run down the hallway to the living room doorway to find the table flipped over, Izuku screaming with tears rolling down his cheeks. Holding his arm to his chest at an odd angle while Hitoshi sobbed next to him with pearly tears running down his red cheeks. He didn't understand at first when Hitoshi wailed. "Dad! Dad, Daddy, it's my fault! I told'im too! I told'im too!"

"Told him to do what?" He shouted as he rushed into the room with Izuku wailing as he squatted down before the boy to reach out with hands sliding over his hair. Hitoshi was sobbing so hard his little body was wracked with them as he hiccuped from the force of his tears. He reached down to touch the oddly angled arm of Izuku's only for the boy to scream at him with pain. Unadulterated pain. "Izuku, honey, what did you do? What were you doing?"

Izuku didn't answer him. Instead, his little body seemed just as wracked with sobs as Hitoshi when he gently brushed his hand away to find a sickening bump under his son's skin. Bone? Did he break his arm? If he did then how badly did he break it? He was panicking with hands trembling when Hitoshi sniffled when he glanced up. His face was red; puffy with tears gushing down his cheeks. Snot rolling over his top lip when he reached up to rub it away with a sniffle. "I to-told him to ju-jump off the back of the couch!"

"Why?" He hated how scathing his voice sounded as he stood up to glance at the back of the couch which sat at an angle when Hitoshi burst into tears. A snotty line left on his forearm as the boy held onto the hem of his small sweater with hiccupping sobs leaving the indigo-haired boy. He tried to take breaths but the bump on his son's arm was leaving his head spinning at the idea of a bigger, dangerous break when he looked to Hitoshi. "Look, I'm not mad but we gotta go, okay? Tell me what happened?"

"We-We was watching the show an-and they did a big jump and Izu wanted to do-do it! So, I told him too!" Hitoshi wailed as he hiccupped horribly when he reached out to scoop Izuku into his arms with the boy wailing out as he cradled the boy close to him while reaching his hand out for Hitoshi. The indigo haired boy was inconsolable. He just had to be grateful that Hitoshi hadn't done the same thing. "It's all-all my fault, Daddy! Is-Is his arm gonna fall off? Is it gonna fall off?"

This had Izuku screaming his wails into his neck at the thought when he fought the urge to wail himself at this horrible situation. God, why did he take his eyes off of the boys? Why did he go to his room to the laundry? He felt frazzled when he reached out to caress wild indigo locks gently with a trembling hand. "No! No, Toshi! It's not your fault! I promise, this is just a-a freak accident but I promise that it's not all your fault! Let's go, we gotta get your brother into the car!"

He rushed across the living room with a small hand slipping into his as he rushed them to the front hallway where he tugged his hand from Hitoshi's to grab the car keys that he crammed into his pocket. Tugging the door open, he had Hitoshi walk out first while he flew out after him. The ground frigid beneath his foot but he didn't stop as he locked and slammed the door behind them. He was flustered as he dug into his pocket to drag his keys out as he unlocked the doors then reached for Hitoshi's hand.

He all but dragged the wailing boy to the car as they made their way down the front walkway to the driveway. He tugged open the back door where he tugged Hitoshi over and the wailing boy climbed weakly into the car and shuffled across to his seat. Hiccupping over his sobs much like Izuku as he tucked the boy carefully into his seat then tugged the seatbelt across his chest to tuck into the buckle. He reached over to take the seatbelt from Hitoshi's shaking hands to tuck it into the buckle with a click.

Climbing quickly out of the back seat and slammed the door. Muffling the wails within until he tugged open his driver's side door. Sliding into the seat, he jammed the keys into the ignition as he slammed his door shut. He put the car into reverse as he adjusted his mirrors, looking over his shoulder at the street before reversing fast as he dared out of his drive way. Tires squealing against the road when he put the car into drive and shot forward. Slamming his foot on the gas as they shot forward quickly

He glanced in the mirror at the sobbing boys. Their faces were puffy, mottled red, with tear tracks running down cheeks and snot dripping down to top lips as they wailed. It was worse. God, he shouldn't have taken his eyes off of them. He should have done the laundry in the living room. He should've kept his fucking eyes on them and now Izuku had a broken arm. All because he was doing laundry in another room. Talking to Shouta. He sped forward down the road with the engine purring at them deafeningly

And he felt tears burning in his own eyes at the panic screaming at him that he needed to drive, drive, drive. He needed to go faster. He needed to speed up. He needed to get them to the hospital before God forbid something happened to Izuku's arm further. The last thing he needed was for Izuku to freak out and flail the damn thing. He didn't understand how he broke it but the bump under his skin was more than alarming. It was damn near grotesque and the last thing he needed was for either boy to notice it.

To scream and wail about it. He sped as fast as he could with cars honking as he flew past when he reached that small corner store of his but he didn't care. He didn't care, care, care when he had two boys who were utterly distraught in his back seat over an accident. He didn't know how he focused in that sharp turn as they wailed but he did it. All he had to do was get them to the hospital. He was sure everything would work out if he just got them there. Glancing up at the mirror he frowned to himself.

Glancing at those red, snotty faces of his children had him tightening his grasp on the steering wheel. Fuck, he wished he hadn't left them alone. He wished he had just done the laundry in the living room like he always did. Instead, he went to his bedroom to fold them and moon over the idea of his crush on Shouta. On the possible crush Shouta could have on him. He was riddled with guilt as Izuku held his arm while he sobbed in the backseat. He wanted to say this could absolutely happen to anyone.

That it wasn't just him, but he couldn't say that. Not when his son was wailing in the back seat holding his broken arm up that was rapidly starting to bruise to highlight the bump of his bone pressing into his skin. God, how did he break his arm like that? How rough was his fall? How did he catch himself like that with enough force to break his arm? His heart hammered against his chest when he focused on the road before them. The hospital wasn't that far; a good twenty-five minute drive from his house, thank God, but it felt further.

Time felt slower. He felt like he was battling his way to the hospital as he bounced slightly in his seat with his hands tightening on the wheel. He just had to get there, get there, get there. And then Izuku would be perfectly fine once he was in to see the doctor. He'd be in a cast for quite a few months but at least it meant that his son would be okay. And that's all he wanted; for his son to be alright. To be safe. And he couldn't stop that guilt from festering as he sped down the road with his eyes locked out the windshield.

His sons whimpered and cried in the back seat. God, he couldn't let Hitoshi shoulder all the blame. He couldn't let him believe it truly was all his fault. He drummed his thumbs anxiously on the steering wheel when he took a deep breath before letting it out slowly. Calm. He needed to be calm and get to the hospital. Everything else can come after he was sure that Izuku was okay. Everything would still be where it was left when they came back home. For now, he just had to get to the hospital and ensure that his son was alright.

Then he'd focus on everything he'd been fussing, worrying, and mulling over in his bedroom. Izuku was his number one priority; same with Hitoshi. His stomach dropped sickening at the light pop when Izuku wailed out from a subtle shift, no doubt, and he pushed on the gas pedal to up their speed. He just had to get there. It had him filled to the brim with anxiety when moments before he'd been relaxed. Calm. He knew he just had to keep his head. Keep his head on his shoulders and get them to the hospital.

He'd worry about everything else later.