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“Kirishima’s a what?” Kaminari asks, wide-eyed. His entire expression’s one of bafflement and he’s practically yelling into his phone.
On the other side of the line, exasperation creeps into their homeroom teacher’s voice. “He’s a five-year-old,” Aizawa drawls. Kaminari repeats the words in his mind, as if it’d make more sense if he does. “At least temporarily, he is. A kid lost control of his quirk and for now, Kirishima is a kindergartner. It will only last for a few hours, but Fat Gum is going to drop him off at Alliance Heights in about ten minutes. I need you to wait for him at the main entrance and babysit him until the quirk works off.”
Kaminari blinks. He opens his mouth, ready to say something… anything, and abruptly closes it again. He has no idea how to react to this; when he woke up that morning, he could never have guessed that this would be on his to-do list.
“Kaminari?” His teacher asks.
Mentally kicking himself back to reality, Kaminari blurts out, “Uh, sure!”
The grin on his face spreads slowly, morphing into one that’s a mix between worry and entertainment. Despite how unfortunate this must be for Kirishima, Kaminari thinks, this is going to be fun. He can already imagine all the blackmail material he’ll be able to gather from this.
As soon as the kid’s dropped off, Kaminari is proven right.
Blackmail material number one–Kaminari had no clue that Kirishima had pitch-black hair, hair that falls around his face and practically overshadows the anxious eyes that he looks at Kaminari with.
Really, the only indication that this was his best bro was the strange sharp teeth and his scar. Five-year-old Kirishima cowers behind Fat Gum, hands clenched around the hem of the pro-hero’s jacket.
Interesting, Kaminari thinks.
Word travels fast.
The students of class 1-A are invested in the situation, most of them coming down to the common room to at least get a good look at the kid. They call him Eichan, because that’s what he asks to be called, and Kaminari wonders when he stopped introducing himself with that cute, cute name. The only one who refuses to call him that is Bakugou, who insists he’s not going to use such a dumb nickname.
It’s only when Eichan blinks at him with huge, puppy eyes that look more offended and hurt than anything that Bakugou gives in.
“Fine,” Bakugou hisses, and Kaminari fights the urge to burst out laughing. Thankfully, he’s able to hide it behind a cough.
And so, class 1-A has a new member for the day, and he goes by the name of Eichan.
Eichan’s not as timid as Kaminari initially thought. He’s quiet at first but he quickly warms up to the class. The girls coo over him, call him adorable and stroke his hair, and Eichan pouts, obviously bothered by all the attention.
“You’re suuuch a precious boy, Eichan!” Ashido squeals.
“E’hm not a boy,” Eichan complains, his words squished together because of how Ashido’s squeezing his chubby cheeks, “E’h’m a man. The manliest’h man.”
“Oh, of course!” Ashido says, quickly. The smile that she offers is apologetic and sincere. “You are the manliest man, and always will be.”
Eichan’s lips curl into a huge smile and the twinkle in his eyes is undeniable. He looks so proud at being called manly, standing up straight and giving Ashido a huge thumbs-up.
Just like the present Kirishima, Eichan easily adapts to the group. Kaminari’s tasked with babysitting him, but he barely has to do a thing because their other classmates don’t seem to want to leave his side, at all. When Kaminari returns from the kitchen with a carton of milk, Eichan’s on the couch, squeezed comfortably between Bakugou and Ashido–and on Ashido’s other side is Sero.
Eichan appears relaxed, his eyes transfixed on the screen as a move that stars All Might plays. His hands are planted neatly on his lap and he oohs and aahs at the movie at all the correct times. Kaminari walks over just in time to see All Might break a villain’s leg. Damn, he had forgotten just how brutal these movies were.
The couch isn’t large and it seems to fit its current occupants just right, but Kaminari doesn’t care–he forces himself in the small space between Bakugou and the armrest. Everyone else, even Eichan, makes room for him. None of them are bothered by being squeezed together on the couch except for Bakugou. Predictably, Bakugou tries to push Kaminari away, threatening to blow his head off but Kaminari distracts his explosive friend by whispering, “Should he be watching this? Is this even okay for his age?”
A part of Kaminari wants to ask Bakugou what he’s even doing here, scrunched up on the couch and socializing. Of course, Kaminari decides to keep his mouth shut and not call the guy out–it’s clear he’s only concerned for their best bro, and Bakugou makes that obvious by how he checks the time every few minutes and by how he so often casts sidelong glances at the five-year-old Kirishima.
“Why ask me!?” Bakugou hisses back, unsettled. “He was the one who insisted on this movie.”
Annoyed at Bakugou’s outburst, Eichan turns to frown at them. He puts up a chubby finger to his mouth and says, “Shhhh! Too noisy!”
Bakugou freezes and gapes at the child. “What the fu–” His curse is cut short when Ashido reaches behind Eichan and flicks him on the shoulder. Ashido's eyes are shining with amusement, but she still has the sense to remind Bakugou not to curse in front of the five-year-old. It seems to do the trick as Bakugou grits his teeth and leans back, sinking into the couch with a scowl.
“This part is really cool,” Sero comments, bringing Eichan’s attention back to the movie. It’s a scene where All Might heaves a car off a group of trapped civilians. Eichan makes an adorable oooo sound and clasps his hands over his mouth, enthralled.
It’s undeniable that the entire group is mesmerized by his innocence. Ashido can’t stop taking pictures, Sero can’t stop starting conversations, and even Bakugou watches Eichan with a smile playing on his lips.
“This is the best part!” Eichan squeals, slapping those beside him–Bakugou and Sero–on the shoulders.
Then, it becomes evident why this is Eichan’s favorite movie of all time… because right behind All Might is the one and only Crimson Riot. The tall and bulky hero appears, red hair gelled into spikes, a mask over his face, cape flapping in the wind.
“Holy shit,” Kaminari whispers, “I didn’t realize just how much Kirishima’s into this guy!”
Ashido giggles and pats Eichan on the head. “You like Crimson Riot, huh, Eichan?”
“Uh huh!” Eichan pumps his fist in the air.
On the screen, more villains arrive. The civilians scream in panic, running in all directions even as All Might and Crimson Riot implore them to remain calm. The scene becomes more intense as a fight breaks out.
“Do you want to be like him?” Sero quips, referring to Crimson Riot.
Sero regrets his question immediately because Eichan’s mood drops drastically upon hearing it. Just like that, Eichan’s shoulders stiffen and he plants his closed fists on his lap, his stare transfixed on the floor. An uncomfortable silence spills between the group.
“What’s wrong?” grumbles Bakugou, eyes narrowing.
“Uhm,” Eichan squeaks, voice barely audible. “I’d never be a cool hero like Crimson Riot. My quirk’s boring and I’m too weak.”
Bakugou’s face contorts in annoyance, frustration quickly bubbling to the surface. He opens his mouth and Kaminari realizes that their usually explosive friend might make it worse, because despite meaning well, Kaminari’s not sure Bakugou will be able to find the right words this time around.
“Hey, Eichan!” Kaminari interrupts before anyone’s able to say another word. “Want to see something cool? Ashido! Show him Red Riot’s interview from last week?”
Eichan looks up with wide eyes and repeats, “Red Riot?”
“Good idea,” agrees Ashido. She fishes for her phone and quickly pulls up Youtube to search for an interview Kirishima had done a week ago. He had been in his internship with Fat Gum and had helped chase down a notorious villain. The media had caught him afterwards for an interview–it had been quite cool, really. “Here, kid! Take a look!” Ashido exchanges spots with Sero and plays the video, holding her phone in front of Eichan.
The moment seems to stretch as Eichan watches and listens to his future self speak. Kirishima answers the questions with a certain type of shyness, but when the interviewer asks him to show off his quirk, he does so with confidence.
“We have similar quirks,” Eichan says, softly. His eyes twinkle as he watches in earnest. “He’s… he’s so cool. He’s like Crimson Riot, really manly.”
Oh, wow. The squad can’t help but exchange glances with each other, all of them taking Eichan’s response in. It’s endearing, really–Eichan watches, entirely entranced, gasping when Red Riot shows his unbreakable form as per the interviewer’s request.
Then…
Eichan sniffles. It’s soft, barely audible, and he rubs his eyes with the back of his hand and sharply inhales.
“W-why are you crying?” Bakugou splutters, bewildered.
Ashido and Sero exchange panicked looks and Kaminari jolts, too.
“I’m not crying!” Eichan retorts.
He’s definitely crying. Sero gives a sheepish laugh as Ashido collects her phone from the child and buries it in her pocket. Their plan had failed in a spectacular way–they had wanted to show Eichan how cool he was in the future, yet it seems that for some reason, that had backfired. They all thought he’d be entertained and motivated, instead… this happened.
“I’m never going to be that m-manly!” Eichan hisses, scrubbing his face. “Red Riot’s s-so cool, his quirk is like mine but s-stronger… I’ll never be like him.”
Bakugou covers his mouth with his hands and collapses on the couch, laughing–the sounds come out muffled. Kaminari and Sero are seconds away from bursting out in laughter, too. They barely keep it in, faces contorting as they gather up all their willpower. Ashido glares at all of them, mumbling something about stupid boys who have no sympathy.
“Eichan!” Ashido puts her arms around his shoulders and squeezes him, causing the child to squeak in surprise. “You’re going to be just as good as Red Riot, I promise!”
“H-how would you even know that…” Eichan mumbles.
“It’s true!” Kaminari pumps his hand in the air. “You’re going to work hard, strengthen your quirk, get top ranks at the U.A. entrance exams–”
“How do you know that!?” Eichan repeats, impatient.
“We just know, trust us,” Sero chirps. “A lot of people will look up to you because you’ll be strong and kind.” The look that Eichan wears is confused, and Sero repeats, “trust us.”
“It’s true, brat,” Bakugou manages to choke out in-between his laughing. “You’re going to be so fucking manly.”
Eichan’s silent, relaxing in Ashido’s bear hug. It’s gradual, but their points somehow get through to him, and he wipes away the wetness on his cheeks and nods. Ashido sighs in relief and ruffles his hair.
“I want to see more,” Eichan whispers, grinning. “More of Red Riot.”
“Sure, kid,” Kaminari nods. “We can definitely watch more!”
Ashido finally lets go of Eichan to scroll through her phone and to cast a video of Kirishima on the television–this time of one of the class’s training sessions where Kirishima had repeatedly thrown himself off a cliff, only to harden right before crashing into the ground. It sends rocks flying everywhere and Eichan watches, eyes wide and mouth parted; he’s entirely focused on the screen, and this time, he smiles and cheers. This time, he’s convinced he can be just like the manly guy on the screen, the one that his new-found friends called Red Riot.
Kaminari glances at everyone else. Sero’s watching the screen, too. Ashido’s cheering with Eichan. Bakugou’s silent but has a smirk on his face. It’s quite nice, Kaminari realizes–Kirishima’s found great friends, himself included.
...doesn’t mean he’s not going to tease the hell out of his bro once he’s back, though. He can’t