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Eri pauses before they step out into the cold, once again doubt twisting in her stomach and coming out of her mouth. “It’s okay?” She turns her head up just in time to catch her older siblings exchange smiles with each other.
“Yep!” Hitoshi says. “Dad said it’s okay as long as we’re in bed before he gets home from patrol.”
“We’re not staying up that late though, since we have a party tomorrow, right?” Ochaco, swings Eri’s mittened hand lightly.
“Mmhmm.” Eri nods, Hitoshi squeezes her other hand. She’s been a little nervous about the birthday party planned for her. She’s never had a party before, and some of the ones in her books seem like there’s supposed to be a lot of people. A lot of people who are going to be talking to her, and looking at her, and it seems really overwhelming. But Mic – er, Papa says it doesn’t have to be like that, it can be small – and she was able to pick who is going to come. Mirio and Izuku promised they were going to be there and she asked if Papa’s Mamas could come and they said they would too.
(She’s only met them twice, but they’re really nice, and she’s gotten so much better at sign language since the last time she’s seen them.)
But, Eri’s still worried. What if… what if it’s not fun? Or what if it is fun, but she forgets how to smile? She’s gotten better at it, but it still doesn’t come easily. Everyone would be so sad if they made a great party but she messed it up by not smiling.
Ochaco says she doesn’t have to worry, but it still churns in her gut like butterflies.
The snow crunches under their feet, but they have bundled up well against the cold. There’s a tree not far from where the dorms are that has a platform raised up in it. Daddy had shown her siblings, and they in turn have shown her. It’s been there since Daddy and Papa were students. It’s got a really nice view of the school, and a lot of Daddy’s students take turns hanging out up there and letting Eri sit with them. But this is going to be her first time going up there after dark.
“Do you want to float up?” Ochaco asks, and Eri nods.
“I’ll catch you up there.” Hitoshi uses his capture scarf to pull himself up onto the platform and turns, arms open and ready to grab her.
“On three! One, two, three!” Ochaco taps Eri who giggles as she becomes airborne. Ochaco gives her a push towards Hitoshi, who catches her easily, making sure she doesn’t lose balance when Ochaco cancels her quirk.
Eri helps Hitoshi unpack his backpack while Ochaco floats herself up. There are blankets, a couple of thermoses of hot chocolate, and most importantly – the radio. Eri thought that was all in that was in the pack, but her hand touches on something else and she pulls out what looks like a mess of wires with a confused look.
“What’s this?”
“A surprise.” Hitoshi clicks a button on a box at the end of the wires and they light up. “Fairy lights!” He detangles them, letting Eri hold the box portion and click the button until the colors change and flicker. When he finishes, Ochaco sends the lights floating around them with a flourish.
“Wow!” Eri laughs, poking at some of the lights making them squirm through the air like fish. “They’re so pretty!”
Ochaco pulls a thick and colorful blanket over her shoulders, spreading her arms wide. “Come sit with me, Eri!”
Eri crawls onto Ochaco’s lap and lets her wrap the blanket around them both. Hitoshi sits close with his own blanket, fumbling with the radio. It’s too early for Papa’s show, but Charmer’s radio show is nice too. So, they listen to that with the sound low.
It’s cozy sitting here, with her new siblings. She doesn’t get to spend as much time with them as she does with Daddy. But she really likes them a lot – Ochaco is one of the best people to get hugs from. And even though Hitoshi looks a little grumpy, he’s really nice and funny – and always has a new cat picture to show Eri.
She dozes off at some point, snug between her siblings because she feels Ochaco move and hears Hitoshi murmur: “It’s about time, we’re gonna have to wake her up.”
Eri shifts. “I’m awake.” She sits upright in Ochaco’s lap, swaying slightly, a bit sleepily.
“It’s time? Oh, it’s time for Papa’s show!” She sits up and fumbles for the radio, turning the sound up as Papa opens his show. She’s never gotten to listen to it live, but Hitoshi has pulled up the recordings on the laptop sometimes.
“…We’ll begin the music in a few moments, first I have a surprise for one of my very favorite listeners – and for that we’re going to have to take a call – are you there, my faithful lavender listener?”
“Yeah, we’re here.”
Eri’s head spins when Hitoshi’s voice comes out of the radio, and beside her, she spies the phone immediately. “You’re calling Papa’s show!”
Her voice echoes through the radio a second later and Papa laughs.
“Yes, sweetie! Hi!” Hitoshi hands her the phone and she has to remember to talk into the phone and not the radio.
“Hi, Papa!”
“Hi, sweetie!” Papa repeats and he laughs again. “I’ve got another surprise for you! It’s his radio debut! Say hi, babe!”
The radio is quiet for a moment but then – “Hi, sweetheart.”
“Daddy!” Eri squeals in surprise. She can feel Ochaco laugh behind her.
“We wanted to be the first to wish you happy birthday, so—” in unison both of her new parents say: “Happy Birthday!”
Eri flails, her heart fluttering, she turns to her siblings helplessly. Hitoshi smiles softly – mouthing thank you. Eri regains her voice to order to shout. “Thank you! Thank you, Daddy! Thank you, Papa!”
“We love you, honey!” Papa replies.
“Go to bed now, we’ll see you in the morning,” Daddy says and Hitoshi laughs.
“Goodnight, Daddy! Goodnight, Papa!”
“Goodnight, honey! And sleep well, all my darlings! We’re going to start the music now, thank you listeners for letting me be a devoted dad on air. I’d do anything for my kids, and that’s the best way to start our musical segment – for my youngest daughter – ‘Anything for You’. Love you so much, my little princess!”
Hitoshi hangs up as the music starts – a song that Papa sings sometimes when she can’t sleep. Ochaco starts singing along, elbowing Hitoshi who snorts but starts singing along too. Eri knows almost all the words so she sings along too, not evening feeling embarrassed when she misses the lyrics.
“Are you still nervous about your birthday?” Ochaco asks, snuggling Eri close as the song ends.
She shakes her head. “Nope!” She points to her face. “I’m going to be smiling forever.”