Chapter Text
As the stressful day finally came to an end, Aizawa and Hizashi bid their goodbyes to their ward, promising to return as early as possible to take him home. Shoto watched the door to his room slowly close behind his teachers, feeling something dark settle in the pits of his stomach as the realization finally kicked in that this was real. He would not be going back to his father.
But as the thought started to settle, a twitch of uncertainty gripped hold of him. He had no idea what would happen moving forward. He knew his father; he could always figure out what would happen with him, could tell his feelings by the look in his eyes, and knew what to say to keep himself at least somewhat safe. Aizawa and Yamada were complete wild cards to him. He had no idea how things would go living with them. It was unfamiliar territory, and the unknown filled him with both fear and curiosity.For a moment, a terrifying and painful thought crossed Shoto's mind: What if he messes this up? What if his guardians decide he isn't worth their struggles? Tears welled up in Shoto's eyes at the thought. He had never felt so alone before, and it scared him.
Without warning, the door to his room opened, catching his attention. A nurse rushed in, seeing his distress. "Oh, kid, what's wrong? Are you in pain?" Shoto silently shook his head, too upset to voice his feelings. The nurse carefully took a seat next to him, making sure to keep a respectful distance. "Okay, so you're not in any physical pain, but there's still something wrong, right? Can you tell me what it is? Maybe I can help."
Shoto took a moment to think over her words, but one look into her kind, reassuring eyes was enough to crumble his resolve. He confided in her, sharing his worries and fears as she listened, offering comfort and understanding. In that moment, Shoto found solace in being heard and understood, easing the weight of his anxieties.Once she finished speaking, the nurse looked at him with a solemn expression, carefully weighing her words before she spoke. "I think I get it, sweetheart. You're scared, right? But this fear you have right now, it's different from what you're used to, isn't it? Before, you knew what you had to be scared of, but this is new. Everything happened all at once, and you're not sure how to deal with that, and that's perfectly okay."
She placed a soft hand on Shoto's shoulder, causing him to look up at her. "I mean, your life has had the same routine for at least the last ten years, and then you lose an arm, fall into a coma, and when you wake up, you find out that you get to leave the bad situation you're used to for a chance at a better life. Anyone would find that scary and overwhelming. But you're not alone. Mister Aizawa and Mister Yamada care about you."
A small smile crept onto Shoto's lips at that, something that didn't go unnoticed by the kind nurse. "Those two have been here every day since you got here. They fought for you, and if you ask me, honey, if you call them, they will do everything in their power to make you feel better, because that's what parents are supposed to do."
The poor kid felt shy all of a sudden. "Parents?" His voice was quiet, but she heard him anyway in the quiet room. "Yeah. I see a lot of families here, parents fretting over their kids and kids worried for their parents. And if there is one thing I know, it's that these two, I think they would be great parents for you, if you want that, that is."
Shoto felt a mix of emotions as the nurse's words sank in. A sense of comfort and hope began to blossom within him, knowing that he had caring people in his life who were willing to support him through this uncertain time. The thought of having parental figures who genuinely cared for him brought a warmth to his heart, and he realized that he wasn't as alone as he had thought. The nurse's reassurance planted a seed of optimism within him, a belief that perhaps a brighter future was within reach, guided by the compassion of his newfound guardians./p> /p>Shoto took a moment to ponder over the nurse's words and came to the frightening realization that he would really like to have Aizawa and Yamada as his guardians. Suddenly, the woman stood up again. "I have to go now, honey, but if you still feel scared, you should call them." And with that, she was off, leaving Shoto alone once again. He retrieved his phone and scrolled through his contacts until he found his homeroom teacher's number. He bit his lip, contemplating whether or not he should really make the call. But before he could talk himself out of it, he pressed call.
It only took a mere one and a half rings before his teacher picked up. "Shoto? What's wrong, kid?" Aizawa's soft voice helped settle some of his anxiety, but his worries still persisted. After taking a deep breath, he replied, "I'm fine, I just... I got a bit anxious, I guess, and... it's stupid, really. I shouldn't have bothered you." There was a short moment of silence from the other line, and for a second, he thought Aizawa had hung up on him. But soon, another voice spoke up. "Hey now, little listener, you are never a bother to us. We're here for you if you need us. Do you maybe want to tell us why you were feeling anxious?"
Shoto could feel a knot form in his throat. He didn't want to tell them. They had been nothing but kind and loving towards him, and yet he had these terrible thoughts about them. Apparently, he was silent for a bit too long because before he knew it, Yamada was talking again. "All right, I'm gonna guess that's a no, huh? Don't worry, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. Just know that we will be here to listen if you change your mind, okay?"
The boy gave a soft hum in response, but it seemed that was enough for his teacher. "All right then, kid. How about I tell you about the time Shota almost got arrested for trying to kidnap a cat from a cat café?" That piqued his interest, and while he could hear Aizawa's protests in the background, he happily agreed to the offer.
And with that, Aizawa and Hizashi stayed on the phone with the kid for hours, talking about everything and nothing until they could hear soft snoring from the other line. The two heroes shared a soft smile as they bid goodnight to their kid. The boy had a long, difficult road ahead of him, but they would stick with him no matter what. This heartfelt connection and the reassurance from his newfound guardians brought a sense of peace to Shoto's heart, paving the way for a brighter tomorrow. As the next morning dawned, Aizawa and Yamada arrived at the hospital to bring Shoto home. They made their way to his room, their anticipation mixed with gentle understanding of their ward's current situation. Since Shoto was now temporarily using a wheelchair as he recovered, they had made quite a few necessary adjustments to make things easier for the boy..
Upon entering the room, they found Shoto carefully packing his belongings, a mix of apprehension and eagerness evident in his eyes. A small, genuine smile graced his face as he saw his guardians enter.
"Hey, Shoto, are you ready to come home with us?" Aizawa asked, his voice conveying empathy and support.
With a nod, Shoto responded, "Yes, I'm ready."
Together, they gathered his belongings and prepared to depart. As Shoto let himself be wheeled out of the hospital room, he experienced a surge of emotions, leaving behind the memories of pain and uncertainty. The unwavering support and encouragement from Aizawa and Yamada filled him with the courage to confront the challenges awaiting him beyond the hospital walls.
As they made their way to the car, Shoto gazed up at the sky, feeling a sense of renewal and hope blossoming within him. Despite his temporary reliance on the wheelchair, he recognized that a new chapter was unfolding. Aizawa and Yamada stood by his side, instilling in him the strength and conviction to surmount any obstacle.
Embarking on the journey home, Shoto couldn't help but feel an overwhelming gratitude for the steadfast support of his guardians. They had shown him that his current limitations did not define him, and together, they could navigate whatever lay ahead. With each passing moment, his determination to embrace the future surged, knowing that he was not alone.
Upon finally returning home, Shoto's heart was filled with a profound sense of gratitude and optimism, knowing that he would not only be physically allright , but also emotionally uplifted by the care and support of Aizawa and Yamada. As they crossed the threshold, Aizawa led him to his new room, promising a complete tour of the apartment later, but advising Shoto to take some time to settle in. Stepping into his new space, Shoto was met with a heartwarming sight that instantly lifted his spirits. The room was adorned with a beautiful celestial theme, featuring twinkling stars that adorned the walls and linens, creating an atmosphere of serenity and hope. However, what truly captured his attention was the sight of his bed, which was adorned with a colorful array of plush toys, each exuding an inviting charm. Among the collection of plushies, one in particular stood out to him - "Minka." As he carefully picked up the small toy, he was overwhelmed with a surge of mixed emotions, feeling a sense of comfort and longing for his sister. Aizawa explained, "Your sister asked us to keep Minka safe for you." Gratitude washed over Shoto, and he whispered a soft "thank you" to his teacher, warmly embracing him in a gesture of deep appreciation. With the support and warmth of Aizawa and Yamada, Shoto felt a newfound sense of determination and strength, ready to face the challenges that lay ahead as he set his sights on shaping a brighter and hopeful future.