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"That little family you created is everything. The rest is just noise."
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
The sun was basking down on Hitoshi, threatening to melt him into a puddle of eyebags and sarcasm. Not a single cloud adorned the sky and the sound of annoying hero students was almost covered by the cooing of the warblers.
A familiar ache lingered in Hitoshi's bones, wobbling under his skin. The ache of a day's hard work and the satisfaction of knowing that his dreams were just about peeking over the horizon; that the training with Aizawa- his foster father- was paying off as his bruised muscles re-knit themselves with a new-found ferociousness. Progress was slow, but continual. Every day the physical strength in his body rose in proportion to his determination.
He smiled to himself softly before replacing it with his signature scowl to uphold appearances. He couldn't have people thinking he was soft. No way. But today had been rather...satisfactory. Not fun, he was here to learn how to be a hero, not to make friends.
But he couldn't deny the warmth in his chest when he remembered the way Mina had pouted when she spilled her udon down her blazer. Or the look on Bakugo's face when he swore that he didn't find that chilli pepper sauce spicy. Class 1A seemed crazy, scary even, but he couldn't deny the sense of belonging that flooded his veins when his classmates looked at him like he was...normal.
But of course, he wasn't smiling as he set off from the UA campus and headed towards Aizawa's apartments. Not smiling at all. Definitely.
His unkempt hair ruffled in the spring breeze and he shoved his hands in his pockets as he strolled down the road, one earphone in, one out, some random rock band playing in his ear.
The streets hummed with the general chatter of 3PM on a Wednesday, when Hitoshi suddenly heard a distant... chirping...? Squeaking...? No, it was decidedly a meow, he realised.
He swung his head round a few times before he laid eyes on scruffy black blob in a cardboard box down the alleyway to his right.
How cliché. He thought. An abandoned cat in a box in an alleyway.
But despite his nagging thoughts, he couldn't help but stroll towards the box, eyes looking around to make sure his softness wasn't being captured. He couldn't have his nonchalant, mysterious vibe being interrupted.
"Psst," he beckoned quietly, eyes darting around in fear that one of his classmates was somehow secretly photographing him.
"Hey you, cat," he asked dumbly before realising that the cat will not in fact understand nor speak Japanese.
He sighed and crouched by the box, all worries being dissolved at the sight of wide, emerald eyes. The kitten was essentially a black void, it's tiny nose sniffing Hitoshi's hand as it squints. It was no longer than Hitoshi's forearm overall and its tail was small but happy as it stood upwards.
The kitten stood on its back legs, pawing at hitoshi with gentle but dirty toe beans. It appeared slightly underweight and Hitoshi's heart throbbed with adoration at his cute little face.
Hitoshi knew what needed to be done. He snapped a photo on his phone and sent it to Aizawa who responded with just a thumbs up emoji. That settled things. Hitoshi reached out to pick up the box but the kitten started mewling so he opted to reach in and hold it to his chest. The kitten purred with the force of a motorbike as Hitoshi trudged home, gently stroking its head with one finger.
He didn't even have to knock on the front door when he arrived home, Aizawa already swinging it open to reveal himself in pink sweatpants and a black long-sleeve. He widened the door and Hitoshi walked in, gently toeing off his shoes and slipping into his cat slippers.
"Hey 'Zawa," Hitoshi said, moving into the lounge.
"Hello Hitoshi, and hello to you too," Aizawa said, leaning down slightly to be eye-level with the kitten and giving him a little stroke on the head. He sat Hitoshi down on the couch and pulled out a wipe, gently cleaning any dust and dirt from the kitten, pausing to give it a chin scratch from time-to-time.
Aizawa and Shinso engaged in calm and peaceful small-talk for some time, perhaps 10 minutes or perhaps 50. Hitoshi finds he loses track of time when his heart is pulsing from the joy of belonging. He feels so incredibly safe and homely that he's all-consumed by contentment.
"So you believe that Tokoyami was trying to encourage you?"
"Yes, that's what I could gather from his... unusual speech. I'm pretty sure he thinks that's why we won the battle in the end."
"Well I'm glad my class is being... supportive. Of course I had no doubts, but they can be rather unconventional in their methods."
"Yeah, I know." Hitoshi opened his mouth to speak again, but he first heard the pitter-patter of eight paws on laminated floor. He turned to see Sushi and Sashimi plodding into the room with curious faces. No doubt, they can smell the new addition to the family. The soot-black kitten wriggled from Hitoshi's arms and jumped onto the rug where it nuzzled against its new family.
"Seems as though they like each other," Aizawa stated, brushing a bit of dirt from Hitoshi's arm.
"Yeah," Hitoshi breathed out, before leaning back into the sofa, his eyes trying to slink shut. Aizawa put the TV on low and continued to talk gently to Hitoshi as they enjoyed each others' presence.
"I'm sure Hizashi will be thrilled to see the surprise addition to our family."
He said 'our family'.
Hitoshi leaned slightly closer into Aizawa's side, before Aizawa reached an arm around him and pulled him close.
"You did well today, kid. I'm so proud of you."
Hitoshi didn't try to hold back his smile as he drifted off. This was nice.