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After the specialized training course had come to an end, the Pro Heroes in training and veteran Pros respectively took a much deserved break. A lot happened today and everyone needed some down time. Especially in the case of Shinsou Hitoshi. He worked extremely hard during this course both mentally and physically. And it all finally paid off when it was announced that he would be ascending to the hero course in his second year. It was all he could ever hope for, and it made him so happy that he actually teared up. However his own tears of joy were eclipsed by the absolute eyeball waterfalls from Midoriya – who was proud of his peer for succeeding his hard won goal. But that's not here or there.
Focusing on one particular Pro Hero who was on his break, Shouta Aizawa went outside on campus grounds to sit out on one of the benches. It wasn't as cold today as it was yesterday so the erasure Pro could enjoy the outside. As he sat down he leaned his head back and let out a tired sigh as he closed his eyes to rest them. Man was it a chore to watch over that course. He felt tired just watching those kids.
Impressively enough that problem child Midoriya didn't hurt himself too badly. But God that kid breaking out into tears over everything made his ulcer act up. To his credit though he cried for a legitimate reason, which out of prideful joy towards Hitoshi's great success of earning enough credits to get into the hero course. And truthfully, Aizawa couldn't hold back his own swell of pride that he felt for Shinsou's accomplishment...
“Aha, there you are Aizawa! Present Mic was right when he said you'd be here.” Said a baritone voice from just behind the underground hero. Aizawa knew that voice, all too well. So well that he didn't have to open his eyes to address the person talking to him.
“Does that cockatoo have me wired, or does he just stalk me?” Aizawa asked to the person standing behind him.
“Aha, ha, ha! I prefer to think that Mic is just intoned with you given how long you both have known each other.” Said the person with a hardy laugh.
“Yeah? Well tell him to be less intoned when I'm trying to catch some z's and he wants to tell me about some new freaking pop band at two A.M.” Aizawa replied.
“I'll be sure to do that. Anyway, won't you open your pretty eyes? I'd like very much to see them.” Said the person, their baritone voice taking on a tender tone.
“Tch. My eyes pretty? I think the cold temperatures are affecting your brain...Toshinori.” The erasure Pro said and slowly opened his eyes, head still craned back, to see his lover Toshinori Yagi – also known as retired former #1 Pro Hero All Might.
“I happen to be wearing a wool beanie to protect my head, thank you very much. And your eyes are indeed very pretty. They're like little black pearls.” Toshinori said as he walked around the bench to sit next to Aizawa.
“Pfft! Oh my God, where did you get that from?” Aizawa asked with an amused snort.
“No where. I'm being sincere! Your eyes always reminded me of black pearls. Even when we were training at the academy. But at the time I was far too shy to tell you so.” Toshinori replied.
“Really?” The underground hero asked in slight surprise.
“Mhmm. Plus with your reputation I was afraid that you would wrap your scarf around me and hurl me all the way to the Okayama Prefecture if I did tell you.” Toshinori said with a grin to which Aizawa playfully punched him in the arm.
“Screw you. I don't have a reputation to make anyone afraid of me.” Aizawa said.
“Yes you do. Or have you forgotten exactly who it was that struck the fear of God into a staff of rude and inattentive food workers at the Hibachi grill to the point that you gave them religious awakenings?” Toshinori asked, raising a thin blonde eyebrow with a knowing glance.
“I won't dignify that question with a response while not having proper legal aid. But I will say this; if those little brats got their heads out of their asses and quit sending each other memes and hashtags about some new catchphrase they wouldn't have been scared into competency.” Aizawa stated.
Toshinori just laughed in reply at that. The two men sat on the bench in comfortable silence, looking up at the now bare branches that have lost their Sakura blossoms and leaves due to the winter weather and the warm grey colored sky. No snow had fallen but the wool white clouds looked like they were preparing for a chilly downfall of frozen rain. After a minute passed the retired Pro spoke up.
“Shinsou did wonderfully in the specialized course today.” Toshinori commented.
“Yes, he did.” Aizawa replied plainly.
“I understand that you're to thank for that. After the tournament last year when Midoriya beat him you took Shinsou away with you. And the next time the other students saw him they commented on how he looked...er, what do the kids call it? Swollen?” Toshinori asked which made Aizawa once again snort out a laugh.
“Ha, ha! It's “swole”, Yagi. It means being extremely buff or muscular. But you were close this time.” Aizawa said.
“Oh, really?” Toshinori asked with a happy expression.
“Yep. Definitely a step up from the time you actually called the students 'home slices' as you greeted them and even tried to freaking pose like you were hip.” The erasure Pro stated with a grin.
“I-I didn't know that was out of style! It was commonly used when I was younger! Plus I think I looked rather 'down with my bad self'' as I posed.” Toshinori defended, coughing up blood in a show of embarrassment. But that only made Aizawa laugh more.
“Oh my God, stop! Just stick to telling dad jokes, Toshinori.” Aizawa said as he continued to laugh.
Toshinori pouted at this but then it quickly turned into a smile. It was always nice to see his beloved genuinely smile and hear him laugh. He's always so serious and tightly wound up that he almost never gets to see Aizawa this relaxed. So it's refreshing.
“Well, like I was saying, you played a significant role in young Shinsou becoming so skilled. Even commissioned to have a scarf like yours made for him.” Toshinori said. With his fit of laughter over Aizawa was able to recompose himself enough to respond.
“That's right. And Hizashi gave him an old voice mimic device he used during when he was a sidekick. Said that Shinsou could make better use of it with his Quirk than him.” Aizawa explained.
“He was right about that. Now he's going to start on the hero course his second year. Say...wasn't that around the time when you got into the hero course yourself also?” Toshinori asked.
“Sure was. And I was about Shinsou's age, too. We got a lot in common. He even likes cats. He's got this really cute tortoiseshell named Chamomile he let me see. She hit it off with my Persian/tabby mix boy Regalia during a play date.” Aizawa explained contentedly.
“How nice. Well, young Midoriya is also improving. He's taking the Quirk of One for All to brand new heights. Perhaps he will even do things with it that I never could when he becomes a Pro Hero.” Toshinori said.
“When, not if? You sure put a lot of stock in that problem child.” Aizawa said.
“Maybe. But then again you're the same way – helping out a student who isn't even apart of your class to train him to be a hero in spite of everyone saying he has a villain's Quirk.” Toshinori pointed out.
“Tch. I'm the only one with a Quirk similar to Shinsou's that could connect with him enough to help. It was a...”
“...logical move.” Aizawa said.
“...logical move.” Toshinori said.
The erasure Pro snapped his head to look at the retiree Pro, shocked that he parroted what he said so smoothly. Toshinori looked at Aizawa out the corner of his eye and gave a knowing smirk. Then he wrapped his arms around the other man and pulled him closer.
“Did you ever consider that maybe you helped young Shinsou more out of the kindness of your heart, despite your false claims of not having one, than out of the fact that it was merely logical?” Toshinori asked. Aizawa blinked a few times in surprise at his lover's boldness before he relaxed into his hold and smiled a bit.
“Maybe. But I'll never tell anyone that aloud.” Aizawa said.
“Not even me?” Toshinori asked with a mock pout as he pressed their foreheads together.
“If you promise to take me to that Hibachi grill for dinner, now that those people actually do their job, maybe I'll tell you then.” Aizawa replied with a playful wink.
“My dear Shouta, you have a deal.” And with that Toshinori gave his lover a kiss on the cheek which was gladly returned.
It's safe to say that Aizawa and Toshinori couldn't have chosen better proteges to carry on their legacies.