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“I talked about you yesterday.” Shouta said as he gazed up at the overcast sky, “To Kyama, of all people. Not the one we know.” he sighed as he pictured a raised eyebrow in his mind, “It’s a long story, don’t worry about it. The important thing is that I told your story. She cried real tears.” he felt moisture gather in his eyes. His vision became blurry as his gaze traveled down to the black stone marker. Shouta gave a bitter smile as his first tear fell, “About damn time huh?”
“Dad?”
Shouta turned with wide eyes to see Hitoshi standing next to the gate. The teen was looking all around the area. Shouta imagined it wasn't the nicest place for someone going to Hero School to see. A special graveyard for sidekicks slain in the line of duty. Most buried here weren't even over 20 years old. Shouta turned back to the marker before him and tried to blink away his tears, “What are you doing here Hitoshi? I thought you had homework.”
“I finished it.” slow steps approached Shouta’s right, “Pop said you were gonna be late for dinner and that I should come get you.” the footsteps stopped just behind him, “Shirakumo?”
Shouta stiffened. It had been a long time since he’d heard anyone but himself utter that name. The way Hitoshi spoke it was clear he was simply reading the name for the sake of doing so. Shouta tried not to be angry, “He was someone I went to school with.” Shouta managed to force out of his dry throat
“The dates...was he still in school?” Hitoshi sounded slightly horrified
“Yes. We were on work study together. He saved a group of children before a piece of falling debris…” Shouta couldn't say it. Not in front of his son, “Hero work is dangerous.” was all he could think to say
“That was never a secret.” Hitoshi says as he kneels down and bows his head in prayer
“Yet you never see statistics on students killed in action.” Shouta reached out again and let his hand slowly follow the engraved words, “There really is too much trust in the Hero system. Things like this are overlooked.”
“When I become a Hero I’ll bring stuff like this to light.” Hitoshi says as he stands and puts a hand on Shouta’s shoulder, “Come on, we’ll be late for dinner.”
“Right.” Shouta reaches out and pulls his son tight to his side as he turns to go
“Aizawa-kun?” Shouta freezes when the last voice he wanted to hear meets him. But the eyes he hates so much aren't fixed on him. They’re fixed on his son. Midnight, in full Hero outfit, stands at the gate with flowers in her hands.
“Miss Midnight?” Hitoshi shifts so he’s slightly in front of Shouta. It’s almost cute that he thinks he can protect Shouta, “What are you doing here?”
“I came to pay respects to a lost friend.” her eyes drift up to Shouta and widen, “I know you.”
“We met when Hitoshi was taking his entrance exam. I’m his father.” Shouta says as calmly as he can
“No, that’s…” and finally, after all this time, her eyes filled with recognition, “Shouta?”
“No, it’s Aizawa-san.” Shouta corrected sternly as he pulls Hitoshi back and starts to head for a different entrance gate on the other side of the large lawn, “I’ll leave you to your false rituals. We’re late for dinner.”
“What was that?” Hitoshi flinched and Shouta felt his control slipping, “Do you have something to say to me?”
Shouta gave Hitoshi a little push. At a worried look he offered a weak smile and muttered, “I’ll be along in a few minutes. Don’t worry, everything will be fine.” Hitoshi left than and Shouta turned to face an angry looking Midnight, “I think you heard me perfectly clear. Or do you expect me to believe you feel grief for what you did?”
“What I…” Midnight looked shocked and enraged all at once, “How dare you imply something like that. And on today of all days.”
Shouta let out a bitter bark of laughter. He could feel his body sliding into a more threatening posture out of instinct, “That is the biggest load of shit I’ve heard in awhile. But I wasn't looking to trade jokes with you. I came here for my friend.”
“You mean victim.” Midnight’s grip on the flowers was so tight some of the stems were bending, “You killed him Shouta.”
“It’s Aizawa-san.” Shouta gritted out from between clenched teeth, “And no matter how many times you say that lie aloud it will never make it true. You’re the reason he died. You dipped out on patrol and held up His Purple Highness on purpose. You looked me square in the eye and called me selfish for not being able to save one of my best friends. By the end of that week it was like I might as well have dropped that building on him myself!” his rage is mixing with his sadness. Tears are forming in his eyes but he doesn't care. All he can focus on is the blood pounding in his ears and the growing look of fear on Midnight’s face as he slowly starts to walk in her direction, “But it was you!” he points an accusing finger at her and lets his Quirk flare slightly, “I lost everything because of you! I became what I am because of you!”
“And what is that exactly?” the Hero asked, letting the flowers fall to the ground while taking a defensive stance, “Someone stupid enough to confront a Hero?”
Shouta snorted as he came to a stop back next to Shirakumo’s grave, “Heroes don’t do what you did.” he lets his hand land heavily on the black stone, “This is what Heroes do. They die for the sake of others. They leave behind people they love. They don't climb corporate ladders and popularity charts. Heroes.” he snorts again and lets his hand fall heavily to his side as the gravity of everything lands on his shoulders
“Is that what you think of your son?” Midnight asked, her voice almost mocking. Like she was trying to prove some stupid point, “That he’ll become just like me?”
“He could never.” Shouta says surely as he stares her dead in the eye, “Because he understands what being a True Hero means. And hopefully he’ll have better choice in friends than I did.” with that Shouta turns and walks for the exit. He can hear her trying to call him back. Trying to draw him into a fight that she could no doubt twist in her favor. But seeing Hitoshi a few blocks away gave Shouta something else to focus on. And by the time he reached his son he was smiling slightly, “So, what did your Pop make for dinner?”
Hitoshi takes one last look behind Shouta before turning and heading down the street, “Fish and rice. He figured you’d prefer something simple today.”
“Such a smart man that Yamada.”