Archive of Our Own

This was far more than Shouta had ever expected his life to be. He was married to love of his life, he had a wonderful son, and now, another child on the way. If you told teenage Shouta that this was his future, he would have laughed and scoffed and rolled his eyes. This was not the life he imagined for himself then. Once upon a time, all he wanted was to be a hero. A hero without pomp and circumstance, a hero without anything to “drag him down,” with nothing to keep him from achieving everything he wanted.

How quickly dreams can change. That dream evolved literally the moment he thought he would never see Emi again. Suddenly, all he wanted was to wake up next to her—to wake up next to her for the rest of his life. In those first few years she was gone, he imagined a life where he married her, where they had children, where they saved the world together, and came home to a family of their own.

He thought it was such a cruel joke of his own doing that he realized what he truly wanted only when it was out of his grasp. Coming home to an empty apartment, and sleeping in an empty bed was more terrible when he knew how it felt to sleep beside her.

But here she was now, breathing deeply next to him, face peaceful and content in sleep. He loved her. He loved her more than he ever thought he could love anything or anyone. Not for the first time, he thanked every god who was listening that she was back in his life.

When she and Kaito announced she was pregnant, he couldn’t find the words to express how happy he was. He kept hugging his son, and kissing his wife, and smiling at them both. And when they had retreated to their rooms, he showered Emi with more love all night long. His hands traveled down to her still flat stomach, rubbing lightly at where he imagined his second child was growing.

***

“Mmm,” Emi mumbled, shifting in her place.

“Did I wake you, baby? I’m sorry,” he whispered.

“Tickles,” she giggled groggily. “Why you awake, handsome?”

“Couldn’t sleep,” he told her, putting a little more pressure on the circles he was tracing on her stomach.

Emi smiled. “Excited?”

“Very. I love you so much.”

“I love you, too, daddy.”

“Oi. Don’t say it like that,” he teased, making her laugh. He loved making her laugh.

“Oooohh would you prefer…sir? Master?”

“You’re ridiculous,” he rolled his eyes.

Emi giggled, giving him a light kiss. “You ready for the next nine months? It’s going to be…a ride.”

“Bring it on.”

“Hmm you say that now! But eventually, I’ll get super cranky. I’ll cry at a broken cookie. I’ll cry at everything! I’ll be so gassy, and woah, the farts are gonna be something else—”

Shouta laughed loudly.

“I’m serious! I’ll be complaining that everything smells terrible. I’m going to need to pee every five seconds—”

She was interrupted by Shouta kissing her deeply.

“I know,” he smiled at her. “Kan has four children. And I heard all of the things that happened to Tomoko every time she was pregnant. It was…eye-opening.”

“It’s different when you’re experiencing the pregnant woman firsthand.”

“I know. And like I said: bring it on.”

“You’re cute,” she pouted.

“I mean it. Go ahead. Fart all you want!”

“Even if they smell really terrible?”

“Oh yeah. I will be ready with a fan to blow it away from myself. I’ll start bringing tissues everywhere, too, for when you start crying for no discernable reason.”

Emi laughed, caressing his face.

“After all, you’re doing all the work.”

“You helped,” Emi teased.

“Ah, but my role in the actual baby-making was very easy. And very enjoyable. The actual creation of the human will be all you. Least I could do is…well, whatever I could do.”

He kissed her again.

“I love you, mama.”

“I love you, too.”

“God, you two are so cheesy. It’s sickening,” Kaito groaned as he ate breakfast Saturday morning. His parents were giving each other googly eyes, his father reaching over to touch his mom’s stomach every five seconds. “She’s not even showing yet!”

“I’m just excited,” Shouta grinned. “Besides, one day, you won’t think this is gross.”

“Yeah, guppy,” Emi agreed. “You’ll fall in love one day, and you’ll be staring at them all googly, too.”

“Eurgh,” Kaito made a face. “Must you do it at the breakfast table, though?”

“At least you’re seeing positive parent relationships,” Emi told him, sticking her tongue out.

“Oh, mature, mother.”

Shouta smiled at his son, chuckling at the face he made. “You have plans today, kid?”

“Yup!” Kaito answered. “Got a project to finish at Sasaki’s.”

“Be safe, okay? Text both of us once you get there!”

Kaito nodded, standing to put away his plate. “Don’t worry, Mama.”

“I’ll never stop worrying about you, guppy.”

Emi walked into the home office, where Shouta was grading papers before he headed off for patrol. She was taking a nap when he arrived, and she knew he didn’t like disturbing her rest. But he left for school before she woke up to go to work that morning, and so this was the only time she would see her husband. She missed him the whole day.

“Hi, honey,” she said, leaning against the door frame.

“Hi, ba—” Shouta paused, eyes wide and zeroed in on her stomach. “Bump!”

“Huh?”

“Bump! Baby, you have a bump!” he smiled widely, standing from his chair to approach her.

“I do?”

“Yes!”

She was wearing one of his shirts and some shorts, and she couldn’t believe he could see any change.

“How do you even know? Your shirt is big on me.”

“Because I know how you look in my shirts, baby. And I promise, your stomach has grown.”

She lifted the shirt to see, and sure enough, there was a bump. It was barely noticeable under big shirts and jackets, but it was there. It was pretty much parallel to her boobs.

“Impressive observation skills, Eraserhead,” she giggled, giving her husband a kiss.

Shouta kept his hands on her stomach, stroking softly before leaning down to give it a kiss. He always used to think it was ridiculous when fathers-to-be would kiss the mother’s belly, but here he was, doing it. Just the thought that a human he helped create was there was enough to make him giddy. He didn’t know if the baby could sense the kiss, but what could it hurt, right?

“I wonder how far you’d bounce if I hit you with my belly when it gets really big…”

“What?” he chuckled.

“You know, like…boop!” she said, thrusting her stomach forward.

“I married a clown.”

“Yes. You did,” she grinned at him. “You enjoy it, though, don’t deny!”

“I’m not,” he smiled. “I like sharing a home with two clowns. Soon to be three.”

Emi laughed. “I hope this one at least looks like me.”

“You know what? I doubt it,” he said, making her pout. “The Aizawa genes are pretty dominant.”

“Oh, you’re dominant, alright.”

“Stop it!” he laughed. “Besides, Kaito is literally you in Aizawa Shouta skin. There is little about that boy—aside from his looks, that came from me.”

“That’s more nurture, I think.”

“Hmm,” he pondered, kissing her cheek. “Still. Whomever this one takes after, I’d bet they’d be just as perfect as their niisan. We make pretty good babies.”

Emi giggled, giving him a light kiss. “We do, don’t we?”

Emi was humongous. Of course, Shouta would never tell her that. But watching her literally waddle like a penguin, that was the only word he could think of. She always wore these Spanx-like things. Maybe they were Spanx. But apparently, they helped lift her stomach up so it was easier on her back. Because the belly was heavy. He could believe it was heavy. She looked like she was carrying a sack of rocks in front of her all the time.

But she was so beautiful. Even when she was sweaty and grumpy. Even when she sobbed loudly when her favorite spot on the couch was “too soft.” Even when she tried to have sex with him before he even entered the house (they ended up doing it on the couch, don’t tell Kaito). Even when she didn’t want to eat what she literally asked for.

Even—and especially, when she hated how she looked.

***

He walked quietly into their bedroom, expecting his wife to be asleep like she usually was when he got home from patrol. He was exhausted, and just wanted her in his arms. To his surprise, he found her sitting on their bed, sobbing her eyes out.

“Baby? Emi?” he asked in a panic. “What’s wrong? What happened? Is it the baby?”

“No!” she wailed. “It’s me!”

“What?” Shouta was wide awake now.

Emi looked up at him, her eyes wide and filled with the most immense sadness he’d seen so far. It made his heart hurt.

“I—I look…I’m so ugly…”

Shouta took pause, staring at his wife. He knew, implicitly, that telling her it was silly of her to say that was the wrong thing. Even if he really felt that way, because she was so beautiful. But she was sad, and he needed to understand before he could help.

“What do you mean, Emi?” he asked softly, sitting on the bed beside her.

“I just…it’s so stupid! But I saw myself in the mirror while I was changing into pajamas, and I just—I’m so huge. And my boobs are all painful and saggy. And my legs are full of stretch marks, and I can’t see my feet. And my hair is all weird, and I have acne, and I just—just—how can you love me?”

She wailed loudly, face red as she sobbed her eyes dry. Shouta was thankful Kaito wasn’t home; he would have worried too much and it wouldn’t have helped. He put an arm around her shoulders and kissed her head.

“I know that if I tell you you’re not ugly or fat, that you won’t believe me right now,” he whispered into her hair. “Even if it’s the truth. I’m sorry you’re feeling all…eugh today, baby. I’m sorry you’re feeling this way.”

“I do feel all eugh. I’m so eugh today.”

“Hmm…can I try kissing the eugh away?”

Emi gave him a small smile. How was able this man able to do this every time? “You can try…”

He smiled back at her before lightly peppering her face with kisses. He kissed her eyelids, her cheeks, her chin, her nose, her ears, and her lips. He lay her down and kissed down her neck, and her chest. He peppered light kisses along her breasts, and all over her big stomach. He kissed her stretch marks, and her swollen feet.

“I love you, Emi,” he told her, helping her on her side so he could spoon her. “Thank you for keeping our baby safe and healthy. I promise you are beautiful. So beautiful.”

“You’re so cheesy,” she sniffled.

“But you’re feeling better,” he teased.

“I am,” she smiled, looking over her shoulder. “Thank you.”

“Anytime. And I mean it, baby. Anytime.”

***

“So…you still think I’m attractive?”

“Honey,” Shouta said, amused. “We literally had sex this morning. Sex I instigated. We were almost late for work.”

“Yeah, but—”

“My love,” he told her softly, stripping down to his boxers. “As long as blood can flow to my dick, it will get hard at the thought of you.”

Emi laughed loudly; her previous drama forgotten. “Oh, my Romeo! So romantic!”

“Aren’t I?” Shouta teased, pulling her to his chest. “Swoon at my feet!”

Emi put the back of her hand dramatically against her forehead, tossing her head back as far as she could while lying down. “Oh, my hero!”

The two of them laughed, Shouta peppering kisses along Emi’s neck.

“I think I’m horny for you right now,” she pouted.

“Oh, are you?” he smirked. “Well, then. As your husband, it is my sworn duty to make sure your every need is met.”

He ground his hips against her leg, smiling wider when she laughed louder at his already stiff member.

“Told you,” he smirked.

“I look like a whale,” Emi huffed, sitting at Shouta’s desk in the Teachers’ Lounge. She was on maternity leave, and Shouta only had one class that day.

“A very sexy whale,” Shouta reassured her, finishing up something on his computer.

Emi rolled her eyes. “Shut up!”

“What?” he looked at her. “I’m serious. You are very sexy, baby.”

He leaned over to give her a kiss, happy when he saw it made her smile.

“Look at you,” they heard a sultry voice cooing in their vicinity. Kayama had stalked over, smiling slyly at the couple. “How adorable. You’re a changed man, Aizawa.”

“Ugh, Midnight—" Shouta began, but Kayama ignored him.

“And you are very sexy, Aizawa-san,” she purred at Emi. “You’re glowing, if I may say so myself!”

“Thank you, Kayama-san!” Emi giggled, before winking at the R-Rated Hero. “The glow is because I have such an attentive husband…”

“Oh?” Kayama’s eyes widened. “Good to know he makes sure that you’re…attended to.”

Both women giggled, making the dark-haired man between them grimace.

“You’re both terrible,” he mumbled, making them laugh harder.

It was so near her due date, Shouta was perpetually nervous. He was reassured that everything would be fine, but he hated leaving her alone at home, even for short periods. It was his second child, but his first fatherhood experience. Kan was very helpful and very reassuring, having gone through it thrice already. Iida was, in contrast, of no help at all. He was obsessed with researching all of the things that could go wrong in a “mature pregnancy,” and what could happen on the day, because Emi “had a cesarean section the first time.” Kan kept telling him not to do that, but Shouta supposed it was Iida’s weird form of support—to help him prepare for any possibility. Still, Shouta was worried enough. Hizashi was just excited to be godfather. Really, that was all the input he ever gave.

But he was excited, too. For all his worry and nerves, he was excited more than anything. And in love. He was so in love, with Emi, with Kaito, with his unborn child, with his life.

Emi was peacefully napping on their couch, having fallen asleep while they watched a movie. It was mid-afternoon on a Saturday, and Kaito was out with friends. Her soft snores tickled his ear. She was wearing a crop top, exposing the skin of her belly. It was always so fascinating to watch her stomach, Shouta thought. To truly realize that there was a person inside another person. What an incredible human being his wife was.

“What on earth are you doing, you silly man?” he heard her say. He hadn’t even realized she had awoken, too busy taking a video on his phone.

“I’m taking a video of your belly; it’s so…cool when the baby moves.”

“Cool, and weird, I think,” she giggled, looking down. Sure enough, her skin was expanding, pushing up and out as the little one inside her moved around.

“Does it hurt?” he asked softly.

“Sometimes. It’s more uncomfortable than anything. Especially when it’s my bladder she’s kicking.”

“She?”

Emi shrugged. “Or he. I alternate.”

“I’ve always just said…’it,’” he said thoughtfully. “You think it minds? He? She? I didn’t want to assume. Might get upset.”

“You’re ridiculous,” she laughed. “And cute.”

She gasped suddenly, holding the side of her stomach. “Ooohh, baby also thinks dad is funny. That was quite a reaction.”

“Oh, yeah?” he smiled, touching her stretched skin. “You think daddy’s funny, little one? That’s at least one person in this household, I think. Are you gonna be on my side? ‘Coz your niisan is a giant mommy’s boy. I need someone on my side.”

Emi giggled profusely, watching her husband talk to her stomach.

“But your niisan is cool,” he continued. “That’s all your mom’s doing. He’s so excited to meet you. I am, too. I’m going to apologize in advance if I might be a little strict. I’m old, and you’ll be the first baby I actually have to care for. Your mom’s an expert, though, so neither of us have to worry.”

Emi smiled at Shouta, reaching out to run her fingers through his hair.

“I know I’ve joked about the Aizawa genes being strong, but I still hope you take after your mother. Your poor niisan is already stuck with my face, we don’t need you to join in the misfortune.”

The baby moved again, and Emi laughed. “I wonder if he’s agreeing or protesting.”

“Maybe both. It doesn’t know what I look like yet…”

“Hmm,” she smiled, before directing her attention to her bump. “Don’t believe your father. He is very handsome. So sexy, too! And your niisan is a very good-looking boy. Lots of girls and boys have crushes on him. So, don’t you ever think for a second that looking like an Aizawa is a misfortune.”

“You’re too sweet to me,” Shouta mumbled, leaning over to kiss Emi on the lips.

“I’m just telling the truth. I do hope she’s funny, though!”

“She will be. Physical Aizawa genes may be strong, but clown genes are stronger.”

Emi laughed loudly, her eyes falling shut in glee, and her nose scrunching. She was so beautiful.

"I wish the rest of the world could see this side of you," she giggled.

"Ha!" he answered. "No. This Shouta is for my family only."

“Dad, are you scared?” Kaito asked as they sat in the U.A. car. They were on their way to pick Emi up. It was time. It was finally time.

“Yeah,” he told the boy honestly. “I am…very scared. And very nervous.”

“You should be excited, too, though!” Kaito giggled. “You’re gonna be a dad!”

Shouta looked at the teenager, whose eyes were shining in joy and whose smile was so achingly like Emi’s. “I already am a dad.”

“You know what I mean!” the boy said, rolling his eyes.

“No,” Shouta smiled. “I really don’t. I’m going to be a dad again. But I already am one. I was also very nervous to meet you the first time, you know.”

Kaito looked at him skeptically.

“I really was! Whether a newborn or a teenager, meeting your child for the first time is daunting, I think. Both times, I wondered: will the kid like me?”

He reached over to ruffle the teenager’s hair. “Easier to meet my youngest, I think, since he or she is a baby still. My eldest was a teenager who already had an idea of who I was. The fear of whether or not I’d be liked was more real with you.”

“I didn’t hate you.”

“And we have your mother to thank for that. You didn’t feel particularly strongly for me, either. Which, I suppose, was better than hate.”

They smiled at each other a little longer as the car approached their street.

“You know what, dad?”

“Yes, son?”

“I’m excited, too. I’m excited and scared, too.”

There was a lot of waiting. Shouta was both relieved it wasn’t an immediate emergency, but also a little tense. It could happen at any moment. Emi was trying to breathe in deeply and rest on a bed, he was checking papers to distract himself, and Kaito was doing homework.

The “wait” went by both quickly and slowly at the same time. Two hours later, and Emi was being wheeled into the labor room. She was in pain now, and Shouta knew this because her face was twisted into an expression he never wanted to see on her again. That, and she was screaming. Very loudly. And shrilly. And Shouta felt completely, absolutely useless. He tried massaging her back and her arms, but after a while, she shooed his hands away. He wanted to be useful, but the nurse kept glaring at him every time he hovered too close.

Another nurse pulled out a chair and parked it beside Emi’s bed. “Sit,” she ordered. He sat.

The midwife, by that point, was trying to get Emi to “hoo” and not scream. He honestly had no idea what else to do. Emi had tears in her eyes, and she was hooing like an owl. Shouta found himself hooing along.

***

“Baby, are you sure you don’t want an epidural?” he asked softly. His wife just shook her head. She was pretty much passed out and numb when she had Kaito, she told him. She wanted to feel this one. But Shouta could see that she was starting to regret it, not that she would ever admit it. She was nothing if not stubborn.

Wiping his sweaty hands on the smock he was given, he realized most of the people in the room had converged by the end of the bed. Oh. Go time. He decided to stay by Emi’s side, because one, he didn’t think he’d be of any use down there. And two, she had a death grip on his hand, and there was no way he was going to be allowed to let go.

Emi’s hooing was now more interspersed with screams and wails of “it hurts!” and Shouta decided to just keep quiet. He didn’t know what he could say to make her feel better. He was also an anxious ball of nerves. The maternal death rate in Japan is one of the lowest in the world, so he should feel secure. But when it’s your own wife’s life on the line, any number above zero was not reassuring at all.

***

From his vantage point, he could see a head. Then shoulders. They say the shoulders were the most difficult part, and if the grip Emi had on his hand was any indication, “they” were right. Finally, he could see a whole tiny human. It was covered in a yellowish membrane, and what he could assume was blood, too. Its face was scrunched, and that was all he could see before it was taken away to be cleaned. Shouta was ushered out as a doctor proceeded to attend to Emi.

He stood there, in the hallway just outside of the room, in a daze. It took forever, but also happened so very fast. He wasn’t exactly sure what happened. Yes, his wife gave birth. But…wow.

“Sir?” the doctor came out of the room, a smile on her face. “Congratulations.”

“Is she okay?”

“They both are. Both your wife and your daughter,” the doctor kept smiling. “You can go inside again.”

“Daughter?” his eyes lit up, and he let himself smile.

The doctor nodded, motioning toward the door.

He entered, and there they were. Emi was sweaty and pale, and her hair was plastered all over her head. But she had a smile on her face as she looked down at a bundle in her arms.

“Hi,” he said softly, approaching the bed. “You okay?”

“Mhm,” she smiled up at him, eyes weary with exhaustion. “Little tired.”

“You were amazing. It was all amazing,” he smiled at her, leaning down to kiss her forehead.

“Hold her?” Emi asked, tiredly.

Shouta’s smile grew nervous, but he reached out to take the bundle into his own arms. She was so small, so light.

“The doctor said…daughter?” he asked Emi, who nodded as she stared at their baby.

***

He looked into the blankets. The yellowish membrane was gone, and so was the blood. She was pale pink, eyes scrunched close, a soft tuft of black hair peeking out from her head. He chuckled.

“Told you Aizawa genes are strong.”

“Yeah, yeah, she has your hair,” his wife rolled her eyes, still smiling.

The little girl reacted to the rumbling of his voice against her, opening her eyes and letting out a little coo. Shouta felt something shift inside him, like his heart grew ten times its size.

“Hi, little love,” he whispered to her. “I’m your dad. We’ve had conversations before. But it’s so good to finally meet you face to face.”

He heard Emi giggle, before she pressed a kiss against his shoulder. “Tanaka-san would be so happy to know they share a birthday.”

“Yeah?” Shouta looked at her surprised. “Today’s Tanaka-san’s birthday?”

“Yup.”

“We could…do you mind…do you think he’ll mind if…”

“If…?”

“We name her for him?”

Emi’s eyes grew wide. “Are you sure?”

“Only if you agree. I think…that man has been such a huge part of your life—of yours and Kaito’s. And the advice he’d given me is really one of the reasons we’re here right now.”

“He would love that,” she smiled at him. “Natsu…”

“How about…Natsume? Would that be good?”

“Oh, Shouta, that’s beautiful.”

Emi had tears in her eyes, and he gave her a kiss. “I’m still so hormonal.”

He chuckled. “You will be for a while, I think. But it’s okay. I’m here. And so is Kaito. And so is Natsume.”

“Natsume,” she began, reaching up to stroke a finger lightly against the baby’s cheek.

“Hello, Natsume,” Shouta whispered. “Welcome to the world.”

“Kaito,” he called to his son. Kaito was fidgeting in a chair in the waiting room, fiddling with his phone. He looked up when he heard his name. “Come meet your sister.”

Kaito’s eyes lit up like festival lights. It made all the nerves and worry and exhaustion in Shouta’s bones disappear. His eldest. His boy. His son was going to meet his sister for the very first time, and Shouta was excited for both of them. A sibling was one thing he never had, but always wanted. His parents didn’t have the financial means to support more than one kid, so he was an only child. And he was happy to be able to give his son one.

“A sister?” Kaito breathed out, smile bright and nervous. “I have a baby sister?”

Shouta nodded, pulling the teenager into a one-armed hug. “You ready?”

“I hope she likes me.”

“She’s going to love you.”

“You think?” Kaito asked, looking up at his father.

“I know. It’s hard not to love you, kid.”

Kaito smiled, slinging his arm across Shouta’s shoulders. His son was nearly as tall as he was. A few more months, and they’ll be the same height.

“I wish I got her like, a gift or something? Don’t older siblings do that when they meet new siblings?”

“Hmm I think your ‘welcome to the world’ gift could wait a day or so. She won’t mind.”

“Alright. Let’s go!”

It had been three weeks since they brought Natsume home, and it had been the most wonderful and most chaotic two weeks of Shouta’s life. Emi was experiencing baby blues, which were standard, according to the doctors, but Shouta was worried it was something more.

Baby blues usually lasted about two weeks, but Emi didn’t seem to be getting better. She ate far less than usual, and her mood swings were so severe, even Kaito was worried. At night, he could hear her sobbing as silently as she could, and he thinks she’s not getting enough sleep. And it was worrying how disconnected she was with Natsume most of the time. She would breastfeed the baby, but rarely would she take her to soothe her. But what truly had both Shouta and Kaito on edge was that she hadn’t laughed since the day she gave birth. And Emi not laughing was always a cause for concern.

Kan told him it might be postpartum depression, and that Tomoko suffered it after their twins were born, for a month before they realized. Shouta wasn’t sure how to approach the subject, but he was relieved he didn’t have to.

***

He came home from doing the groceries to Natsume screaming in her bassinet, and Emi crouched by the coffee table, sobbing.

“Baby?” he said, panicked, dropping the grocery bags and rushing to his wife. “Baby, what happened?”

“I don’t know!” she wailed. “No, I know. Shouta, I need to go to a doctor…”

Shouta took Natsume in his arms, rocking her gently as he knelt back down beside Emi. “Honey, please. What do you mean?”

Emi pouted, wiping at her eyes. “This didn't happen with Kaito, and I thought it would happen then, so I prepared for it, but it didn't. But I didn't know it would happen this time, and now, look at me! Something is wrong! I don't know why, but I have such a hard time being with her, and I know I love her, but I can't? Why?”

She said that all quickly and in one breath, but Shouta understood. “PPD?”

Emi shrugged. “I just have to go the doctor.”

Little Natsume was still crying, but she was less loud now in her father’s arms.

“I’m so sorry, little one,” Emi tearily whispered to her daughter. “I’ll get better so I can take care of you properly. I'll be a better mom.”

“You're a wonderful mother, Emi. You already are. You’re not doing this on your own anymore,” Shouta whispered, kissing Emi’s head.

“I didn’t do it alone with Kaito, either,” she gave him a watery smile. “But I guess...I had more people then? I don't know...”

“Do you need more people? I can ask my mom to stay here for a while. I can ask Nezu for an extended leave.”

“Sho, it’s okay.”

“Baby, no. It’s not. Please. Let me help.”

"We can go to the doctor?"

Shouta kept soothing Natsume, while pulling Emi close to him.

“Alright,” he said. “But please, let me help. I worry. Please. I worry.”

She stroked his cheek, planting a kiss on it, and caressed Natsume’s hand (who had calmed down). “Thank you, Sho.”

“Hmm. No. Don’t thank me. I am your husband. It’s my job.”

Emi smiled, nodding and wiping her face.

“Now, would my girls like something soupy for lunch today?”

He stood up and helped Emi to her feet.

“Momma would,” Emi tried to smile, following her husband and daughter into the kitchen. “Little Natsu wants milk, though.”

Both of Shouta’s parents came over and stayed to help for over six months. They were a huge help. Emi was able to go to therapy, and was able to go back to work healthily. They wanted to stay more days, but they couldn't leave their home in Kyoto unattended for any longer. Emi wouldn't stop thanking them, and they kept telling her it was nothing to them to be there for her. After all, they also got to spend time with both their grandchildren. How could they refuse?

“I know I needed all the help I could get when I had Shouta. We’re not meant to do this alone,” his mother told Emi. “Even if it is your second…still a 16-year difference!”

“Might as well be another firstborn, to be honest,” Shouta’s father laughed.

“How did you get to be…you?” Kaito asked, motioning to his father. “They’re so fun!”

Both elders laughed harder, to Shouta’s chagrin.

“Oh, darling, we don’t know either!” the older woman said. “He was always a sullen child.”

“Always scowling, always grumbling.”

“Would have thought he was switched in the hospital if he didn’t look so much like his father.”

Right at that moment, Natsume giggled loudly. Everyone in the room turned to look at her, matching wide smiles on their faces.

“Oh, you think that’s funny, princess, huh?” Shouta cooed. “You think it’s fun to make fun of daddy? You’re supposed to be on my side!”

He cuddled her close to him, angling himself so Kaito could also lean in. The teenager tickled her chin, making her laugh harder.

“Nuh-uh, you’re on niisan’s side, right? It’s you and me!”

Both men heard a shutter sound and turned to see Shouta’s mother grinning sheepishly, her phone out and pointed at them.

“Well, you can’t blame me,” she said. “It’s not every day I get to see my baby boy being a dad. A wonderful one, too, by the looks of it.”

Shouta blushed as Kaito giggled.

“He is a very good dad,” Emi told them, smiling at her family.

Shouta heard the beginnings of Natsume’s whines, and he pulled himself out of bed. He had insisted that he be the one in charge of her whenever she woke up in the early hours, as he was used to odd times from underground hero work. His night patrols had significantly lessened, as had his classes. It was time to take a step back, he thought. After more than a decade of teaching the next generation of heroes, and scouring the late-night streets for villainous activities, it was time to be a husband and a father. He was still a teacher and a hero, of course, just less active. Apparently, he had influenced a few of his old students to go the underground route, so the night was as protected as the day. And he had also influenced a few to be teachers, like Kaminari, something he was surprised but so very happy about.

He found that he didn’t mind it as much as he thought he would. He hadn’t retired, but he always thought he would struggle with taking a step back. But spending more time with his children made it all so worth it. He and Kaito had lunch together more often, and they’d bonded over things besides snacks, like TV shows, and figuring out new hero moves for him. And the opportunity to watch Natsume grow was unparalleled.

He picked his baby girl up from the crib at the end of their bed, and shushed her gently, leaving the room to make his way to the kitchen.

He heard a door open and close behind him, and Natsume fussed, giggling as she looked over his shoulder.

“Hi, Dad,” he heard Kaito say softly, his son approaching them by the stairs. “Hi, princess.”

“What are you doing up?”

“Needed to pee. I just came out of the bathroom when I heard you and Natsume leave the room. I want in.”

“In what?” Shouta chuckled as the three of them made their way down the stairs.

“Whatever it is you two do. Can’t sleep anymore.”

“Well, the little princess sometimes is hungry at this time. Mom has a bunch of bags of breast milk in the freezer. Heat a bag up for us, please.”

Kaito did as he was told. “Does breastfeeding hurt?”

“I would imagine so. Sometimes, your mom has tears in her eyes when she feeds Natsu. And even when she’s not feeding, they get really tender.”

Kaito made a face. “Why am I asking about my mother’s boobs anyway? Ew.”

“Hey,” Shouta chuckled. “In this instance, I will insist you listen and swallow your awkwardness. These are things you have to consider one day. Her body has changed in ways we can’t even imagine. It’s important to remember that.”

“Like when she had the depression?”

“Yes. Like that.”

“Having a baby fucks your body up a lot, huh.”

“Watch your language. But yes, it does. But apparently the pain is worth it.”

“Hmm,” Kaito hummed, putting the milk into a small bottle while Shouta bounced Natsume in his arms. “I was 9.4 pounds. That’s big. I looked it up, you know, when Mom was pregnant. 9.4 pounds is almost the weight of a bowling ball. Or a microwave. Or a bag of sugar.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah. That must have been rough for Mom…”

“Mm.”

“You know, I went to a shrine to pray that Natsu wouldn’t be big.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. They had to cut her open to get me.”

“Mhm.”

“I didn’t want her to have to be cut open again. I read that it gets really dangerous.”

“Hmm.”

“I love Mom. She’s awesome.”

Shouta smiled. “She is, isn’t she? Very awesome.”

***

They walked into the living room, making themselves comfortable on the sofa. They decided to make some instant ramen for themselves, as a very late snack.

“We usually watch some TV until we fall back asleep,” Shouta said.

“Oh, yeah? What’s on tonight, let’s see.”

They settled in, Natsume wide awake between them, babbling happily at the sounds and lights.

“How’s school?”

“Good. Math is still the worst villain in the world, but all my other classes are pretty great. You don’t ask Yamada-sensei about me?”

“Sometimes. But I always would rather hear about you from you.”

“I liked having my grandparents over, by the way. Like, I’ve met them before, but having them here for that long a time was pretty nice.”

“Yeah? They love you a lot. And apparently, making up for lost time. I hope you said thank you for all those gifts.”

“Of course, I did!” Kaito said, mock-offended. “I was a little embarrassed at the amount of money they kept sneaking into my bag whenever I came home, though.”

“Like I said, they’re making up for lost time.”

They ate in silence for a few more minutes. They took turns getting Natsume to finish her milk; she was wide awake now.

***

“Hey, dad?”

“Yeah?”

“You’re happy, right?”

“I am, yes. Why do you ask?”

“I dunno. Coz…you don’t do as much hero work anymore like you used to. You used to be everywhere; you know?”

“Well…that was when my life revolved around my career. I have something else I live for now.”

“What? Your family?” he giggled.

Shouta smiled. “Yes. Exactly that. I have my family. I have my wife, the love of my life. And we have two kids I adore. I have a family that I will love and protect with everything I have. Once upon a time, I wanted to save the world, and the world was big and difficult to equate. And I thought I needed to do most of the saving on my own. But now…now I know I am not alone. I truly know it. I haven’t saved the whole world, but the world is too big to save in one go.”

Kaito looked at him with a pondering expression.

“What I’m trying to say,” he continued. “Is that I have acknowledged that my contribution to saving the world is not only my hero work, it is also the students I’ve taught that have become greater heroes than I ever dreamed they would be. And I dreamed them to be very great. And it’s with that acknowledgement that I can relax, I can take a step back, and know the world is in good hands. And that I can be here, in this home, with the three people my life now revolves around.”

“That’s cheesy,” Kaito teased, but his eyes held a softness in them.

“Yeah,” Shouta shrugged. “But it’s true. You, Natsume, and your mother are the loves of my life. And I am very, very happy to step back from all of that. Besides, I haven’t retired yet.”

“Yeah, but you will one day. It’s going to be weird without Eraserhead.”

Shouta ruffled his son’s hair. “Yeah, but they’ll have Boombox. That’s your hero name, right?”

“I mean, yeah? So far, yeah. I wanted Hertz, originally. So I could go, ‘You’re in for a world of…hertz!’ when I face villains, and it made the whole class groan and laugh. But Midnight-sensei said no.”

Shouta chuckled. “I think Boombox is good. Although, I would love to have seen Midnight’s face when you said that line.”

“She didn’t laugh,” Kaito giggled. “She just looked at me like she was tired.”

They both laughed at that, and Natsume, sensing joy, laughed with them.

“You don’t even know what we’re laughing about, princess,” Kaito teased, pulling his baby sister onto his lap. “But you just like laughing, huh?”

Natsume giggled, blowing spit bubbles into her niisan’s face.

“Oh, gross,” the teenager groaned, making Shouta chuckle as he reached over to wipe her face with a tissue. “I wonder what Natsume’s quirk’s gonna be? You think she’ll want to be a hero?”

“Too soon to tell. As for her quirk, who really knows? You didn’t get either Outburst or Erasure. Like I didn’t inherit either of my parents’ quirks. Maybe hers will also be something different.”

“I’m excited to find out, actually.”

“So am I,” Shouta smiled.

“I hope she’ll want to be a hero!”

“Hmmm I think…I’d be fine if she didn’t. You wouldn’t?”

“I guess it’d be okay. I mean, it wouldn’t be fair, right? To tell her what to be? Mom never told me what I should be.”

“You’re right. It wouldn’t be fair.”

“Besides, dreams can change pretty quickly, right? Like you and Mom…your dreams changed.”

“That’s true.”

Kaito was silent for a while, bouncing Natsume on his lap, making her stand on his thighs.

***

“Dad?”

“Hm?”

“I’m…kind of…curious. About how my dreams are gonna change.”

“You don’t think it’s too soon to think about that?”

“I guess? But…I guess I’m not scared, really. But I’m not excited either. I know it might happen. Dunno in what way, obviously, but who knows, right? I just…wonder.”

“Don’t wonder too much, kiddo,” Shouta pulled him closer. “You’ll get stuck in the what-ifs. Maybe it will happen, but don’t think about it too much, yeah?”

“Yeah. I won’t,” he smiled up at his dad. Natsume smiled with him. “For right now, I’ll be a hero. And I’ll be a really good one.”

“I don't doubt that.”

***

Emi woke up the next morning to an empty bed and an empty crib. Knowing exactly where her husband and daughter were, she pulled herself up to get ready for the day. When she passed Kaito’s room to find it empty, she giggled. Oh, her family.

Walking into the living room, she was greeted by quite the sight. Looking at the bowls of instant ramen and the bags of chips on the coffee table, she couldn’t find it in her heart to be angry. Her husband was sprawled on the sofa, Natsume on his chest. Kaito was splayed out on the other end, a blanket thrown over him. All three of them had identical expressions: mouths slightly open, jaws slacked, and brows just a little furrowed. And identical manes of black hair tousled in the exact same ways. The soft snores coming out of their mouths harmonizing in the same rhythm.

“I am a cloning machine,” Emi sighed to herself, smiling mischievously as she took a photo, making sure her phone was on silent. She left the three of them to their rest, heading to the kitchen to start on breakfast.

“Shhh, Natsu, we have to be quiet,” Kaito said, putting his finger to his mouth. Little Natsume mimicked him, slapping a tiny hand to her lips and trying to say “shh,” which came out more like a “bpft!”

But Kaito nodded his head. “Yeah, like that.”

It was early on a Sunday morning, and Kaito had insisted that Natsume sleep in his room the night before. He set up a futon on the floor, creating a border of pillows so they could sleep there together. He had, actually, ulterior motives.

It was Father’s Day, and he wanted to bring Natsume to “help” him prepare something for their father. Their mother was in it, of course, and helped him convince Shouta that Natsume would be fine with one night with her niisan. Of course, it wasn’t without a lot of strict instructions and reminders from Emi beforehand.

And now they were in the kitchen, Natsume sitting in her high chair, munching on a piece of fruit. Kaito was by the counter, frosting the cake he made the night before. He didn’t bother piping out a greeting, instead sticking one of those pre-made cardboard greetings into the middle. He set the cake on the breakfast table, in the middle of a spread he cooked himself. There was fried fish, eggs, a large steaming bowl of rice, and bowls of miso soup. It all smelled so good, and after working the whole morning in the kitchen, he was hungry.

Texting his mother that everything was finally ready, he wiped Natsume up to make her look presentable. He was glad he had the foresight to cover her pretty onesie with a large t-shirt before giving her fruit.

“Alright, what is it?” he heard his father’s voice coming down the stairs, his mother’s giggles following it.

“You’ll see, Sho! Just head to the dining area!”

***

Shouta turned the corner, and stopped in shock. In front of him was a breakfast feast. Behind the table were his children. His eldest with a wide grin on his face, and sweat on his brow, holding his youngest in his arms and making her wave at him.

“Happy Father’s Day!” he cheered.

“Dadada!” Natsume cheered with him, making his wife laugh.

“You made all this?” Shouta asked in shock, approaching his children.

“Yup! Natsume helped!”

“Oh, did she?” he cooed, taking his daughter into his arms. “You helped niisan make breakfast, huh, princess?”

“She did,” Kaito teased the baby, booping her little nose. “She was very bossy; gave all the instructions!”

“Wow! So, you’re the reason this meal looks very yummy, princess?”

“’ummy!” Natsume yelled, raising her arms. “Dada, ‘ummy! Ni!”

“It does look very yummy!”

“Kek!” she continued, pointing to the cake in the middle of the table.

“The cake also looks delicious!”

“We did a good job, huh, Natsu?” Kaito said, grinning at his sister.

“Ya! Ni!” she grinned back at her brother.

***

“Thank you, kiddo,” Shouta said softly, bringing Kaito in for a hug with his free hand. “Let me hold you guys a while.”

Kaito wrapped his arms around his father and sister, letting his father have his moment. “Thanks for everything. You haven’t technically been my dad for very long, but you’ve been a really great one. I couldn't ask for better. I really couldn't. Thanks.”

Shouta held back his tears, placing a kiss on Kaito’s head, and another on Natsume’s.

“I have been many things, but being your dad is my favorite.”

“Cheeseball,” the teenager teased, snickering at the eye roll he received.

***

“Emi!” Shouta called to his wife, who was busy taking photos and videos of the moment. “Come join us.”

“Yeah, Mom! Join us!”

“Mama!”

Emi giggled, scurrying to their side of the table to join in on the hug.

“You,” Shouta told her. “Love of my life. Mother of my children. Thank you. I love you.”

He leaned down to kiss her chastely on the lips, keeping his arms around his children. The two grown-ups laughed as Kaito groaned and gagged.

“Okay!” he said loudly. “Enough sap, please! Aizawa group hug!”

***

The family of four squeezed each other tighter, before Kaito declared that it was time to eat. They sat at the table, partaking in the teenager’s masterpiece. He regaled them with stories from school, Emi reached to squeeze her husband’s hand, and Natsume’s laughter rang in the air.

Shouta had never felt so much love.