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Aizawa was pretty sure parent-teacher interviews were the work of the devil. Really, if he had a problem with a student he would have already informed their parents or guardians. And if he hadn’t made contact...then everything was well. No news was good news, really. Aizawa supposed that with the students living in dorms this year, it was a little more necessary seeing as how little the parents actually got to see their children but still, that didn’t excuse every other year he’d been dragged through hell and back.
This year was no different, with times to set up and schedules to go out. He preferred to arrange the times himself rather than let parents decide because he’d had one too many family bust-ups in the hallways over the years. Luckily this year’s class didn’t seem so bad, but Aizawa still hated to think what would happen if someone like Bakugou, or even Midoriya, ran into Endeavour. They could be as rash and thoughtless as each other on occasions. Better to keep those three apart.
And besides, he had other things to worry about. Like the actual parent-teacher meetings and what things needed to be discussed.
Plus he had to make sure students weren’t in detention - rare - or extra study classes - more common, thank god - because Aizawa never had a meeting without the student in question present. One, it let the child hear what he needed to tell them in an environment where they might actually listen and two, he’d had too many parents in the past go home and lie about what he’d said in an attempt to scare their children or push them harder. By having them both in the room, there was an honesty there that couldn’t be achieved any other way.
The majority of the class was simple, really. Kirishima’s family left him with a headache after all their loud cheering and claps to their son’s back. Iida’s family had been subdued and Aizawa had carefully worded each sentence to avoid making any reference to Tensei or Iida’s actions in Hosu. Aoyama, Ashido, and Kaminari were told to study a little harder and take things more seriously; although apparently Kaminari struggled with dyslexia and a smidge of short term memory loss, which the doctors had put down to frying his brain too many times as a young child. Aizawa had taken note of that but really wished his parents had mentioned it somewhere in his enrolment form. He would have gladly gone over things a couple of times if he knew that’s all it would take for Kaminari to retain it.
Uraraka’s family had been contacted by skype, seeing as how a train ticket was just for the sake of a half-hour to hour long meeting. Uraraka had been so grateful, though she’d only mentioned it after her parents had ended the phone call. Mineta’s parents were informed that one more lewd act or even comment would have him on the way to expulsion, and Kouda’s told that his rabbit was helping all the students with their stress levels and did Kouda have any more pets that would be happily relocated to the dorms?
Aizawa would be lying when he said he wasn’t relieved to find Bakugou Masaru outside his office at the pre-arranged time. He was calmer and more reasonable than his wife and handled Bakugou in his own measured way. Bakugou’s grades were as exemplary as always and Aizawa was sure to highlight the friendship he’d made with Kirishima, Masaru looking surprised upon hearing Katsuki tutored the other boy. Aizawa left out the most recent fight between Bakugou and Midoriya, but did mention the progress they’d made since then; not friends, but not enemies anymore either. There was no longer that kill-on-sight instinct.
Midoriya had been easy, in-out with just a caution to be more careful and a comment on how easily Midoriya made friends. Midoriya Inko had burst into tears there, Midoriya quickly cutting off her stammers and shushing her all while throwing a furtive look Aizawa’s way and right, there was definitely something to look into there then.
Todoroki was the one he’d put the most thought and effort into, making a few phone calls and arrangements before passing the time onto Todoroki himself. The boy had turned up a few minutes early and sat himself in a chair passively. He didn’t seem panicked or anything - he never did - but there was a layer of uneasiness resting just below the surface. Looking up when the door opened, Aizawa saw the exact moment Todoroki realised the footsteps were too light to be that of Endeavour and turned around with a frown. And just like that, he was shooting to his feet.
“M-mother!”
Todoroki Rei gave a soft smile, resting a hand on Todoroki’s shoulder before gesturing back to his seat. “Come now Shouto; we don’t want to hold Mr. Aizawa up.”
Todoroki looked so bewildered but did as asked purely on instinct. Aizawa bit down a smirk. It had taken him several phone calls to find out if Mrs. Todoroki was allowed to leave the hospital - apparently under certain circumstances the answer was yes and he may have lied about the circumstances. He’d had to provide a car to collect her but Aizawa would take that over having to deal with Endeavour any day.
As he had with Iida and Bakugou, Aizawa chose his words carefully when going over Todoroki’s school performance. And if he perhaps focused on every trait Todoroki had that Endeavour didn’t just so he could make them seem as different as possible, well there was no one to call him on it. The good qualities that they shared he added on, but stressed the better way Todoroki utilised them. Unlike Iida, he brought up Hosu, if only to show how Todoroki had come to his friend’s aid and how he’d put their safety over his “duty”.
Mrs. Todoroki had been rather emotional by the end, a watery smile on her face and a handkerchief twisted in her lap. Todoroki looked like he wanted to protest and undoubtedly drag himself down but Aizawa never gave him the chance.
“Todoroki’s made friends with quite a few students, his closest friend being Midoriya,” he wrapped up, shutting his folder and leaning back in his chair. “Midoriya’s a good boy; a tendency to be reckless but he’s kind-hearted and selfless. They both pull each other out of their shells and seem to gain self-confidence from the other.”
“Midoriya…” Rei repeated. “I’ve heard that name. He was...the Sports Festival, wasn’t it? Oh, and Hosu, of course.”
Aizawa raised an eyebrow. He’d honestly expected Todoroki to mention him more than that.
“He’s my friend,” Todoroki murmured, shooting his mum a look that was rather hard to read. “I...he’s helped me with a lot of things.”
Something seemed to click, Rei making a little “ah” sound. “So this is the “someone” you always speak of. Midoriya, is it?”
If Aizawa didn’t know better, he’d say she was teasing. He didn’t know if Todoroki had ever experienced teasing before. “Midoriya Izuku,” he huffed out, arms folded and clearly embarrassed.
“He sounds nice,” came the offer, Todoroki unfolding his arms and nodding. Counting that as the end of it, Aizawa ushered them both to the door, saying his goodbyes in the hallway only to glance sideways when he heard another door open. He really shouldn’t have been surprised at who stepped out of the door - i.e. Midoriya and Toshinori.
“Oh,” Midoriya said upon noticing them, eyes lighting up and scurrying forwards. “Todoroki! Are you-” His steps came to an abrupt halt upon seeing the other person with them. “Is this your mum?”
Todoroki nodded, turning to the woman in question. “This is Midoriya. Midoriya, this is my mother, Rei.”
Rei extended a hand, Midoriya shaking it before starting up at a hundred miles an hour. “Mrs. Todoroki, it’s so nice to meet you! Todoroki has told me a lot about you; you seem wonderful! He said you were what made him decide to become a hero and that’s great because Todoroki’s an amazing hero! Did you know he saved me and Iida from-...uh, I mean! No, um...he came with me to rescue Kacchan and that was really brave and he-”
“Midoriya, breathe.”
Midoriya flushed at Aizawa’s words, bowing, apologising, and taking two steps back all at the same time. Toshinori chuckled, resting his hands on his pupil’s shoulders. “That’s enough, my boy.”
Midoriya nodded sheepishly. “Sorry Mrs. Todoroki. I’m sure you wanted to say goodbye to Todoroki and-”
He was cut off again, only this time by a hand resting atop his head and a gentle smile. “I’m glad Shouto has a friend like you.” Mrs. Todoroki then handed her umbrella to Todoroki. “I’ve got a lift back so please, walk Midoriya back to the dorms with you, Shouto.”
Todoroki glanced at the rain outside before nodding. They then began their goodbyes and Aizawa was mildly impressed at how Toshinori immediately kept Midoriya’s attention so they had the illusion of privacy. He clapped Midoriya on the back once they were done, steering him to Todoroki’s side before joining Rei. “May I walk you to the car?” he enquired.
It looked as though she would say no until the sudden recognition came, eyes widening slightly. “Ah, All Might. Shouto looks up to you a great deal.”
Todoroki may have thought he was safe several metres down the hallway but no, Aizawa saw the way his ears turned pink. Good god, another fanboy. He needed a new career.
***
It didn’t make it any better when, that Friday afternoon, Midoriya grabbed Todoroki by the arm as he was leaving and asked if he could come up to the hospital with him, that he had flowers in his locker and a scarf his mum had crocheted. It didn’t make it any better at all.
Not one bit.
***