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When Hizashi received the call, he had only been in bed for an hour. After his radio show, he hadn't had time to get any sleep, but had to go to an impromptu teachers' meeting in the U.A.. Shouta had sent him straight home afterwards, saying he would pick up Eri and take care of everything. Hizashi was extremely grateful to him for that, because by now it was almost 6:00 p.m. and he could barely keep himself awake.
But when Nemuri rang him from his deep sleep, he knew it was important. She had only told him it was about Shouta and Eri and that it wasn't "really" bad, but he should still come to U.A. immediately. So Hizashi got up, put on a way-too-big shirt and sweatpants and trotted out the apartment door, still reaching for his DJ jacket on the way out. Luckily, the walk to U.A. wasn't too far and the cool air was doing him good.
When he arrived, Nemuri was already waiting for him in the hallway.
"Hey Nem. What's up?" the blond asked, yawning sleepily. "Hey Hizashi. Like I said, it's nothing bad, but it might make your evening plans a little ... let's say 'more complicated'."
"The only planning I have is to go back to bed and sleep for a day."
"Yeeeeeeeeees, that might be difficult," Nemuri said, playing nervously with her hands, but Hizashi didn't notice.
"So, where are Shouta and Eri? I want to get back home as soon as possible."
"Then come with me. I'll take you to them."
Nemuri instructed him to follow her with a wave of her hand. They walked through a long corridor, at the end of which was the teachers' lounge. Hizashi was too tired to ask any questions or make small talk. When the "R-Rated Hero" opened the door to the teachers' lounge, Hizashi could already see Shouta and Eri.
Eri was sitting on one of the office chairs with a scowl on her face and her arms crossed in front of her chest. Shouta turned his back on them and when Hizashi stepped through the door, he turned around, beamed all over his face and ran towards him with a joyful "PAPA!". Hizashi's mind and body were too sluggish to react, so Shouta yanked him to the ground with him as he threw himself around his neck. He lay buried under Shouta for a few moments before groaning and looking up into his husband's wide grinning face.
"What the....?"
"I said it was a bit complicated," Nemuri teased, barely holding back a laugh.
"What happened to you, Shou?" asked Hizashi his husband, who was still sitting on the floor with him.
"I'm not Daddy, Papa."
Hizashi still didn't understand.
"What the...?"
"It's me, Papa: Eri."
The blond's eyes widened and he stared at Shouta, stunned. Or rather, Eri? Or Eri inside Shouta's body?
"What the fuck?"
"HIZASHI, don't you dare use words like that in Eri's presence." Eri had jumped down from the chair and yelled at Hizashi in a sugary sweet girly voice, causing him to flinch in fright. And so did Shouta on his lap, clinging to him anxiously.
".......Shouta?" Hizashi pointed a finger at Eri and stared at her in disbelief.
"I'm glad you finally realize it too. Eri and I switched bodies."
"But how....?" Hizashi turned to Nemuri.
"They were attacked when Shouta picked up Eri. The attackers were quickly and easily subdued, but one of them was still able to activate his quirk and did "this," she pointed at Shouta and Eri. „It's probably temporary, but we don't know how long it lasts."
Hizashi had a headache. He gently pushed Shouta off of him and straightened up. Shouta did the same, but continued to cling to his arm. "I don't like it when Daddy yells," he whispered softly.
"Sorry my angel, but I had to intervene before that blond iti...... guy, would say anything else wrong," Eri justified herself, glaring angrily at Hizashi. Her arms again crossed in front of her chest.
"He's in an extremely bad mood because of this incident," Nemuri whispered to the blond, who still let his gaze wander back and forth between Shouta and Eri in confusion.
"I notice," he brought out pressed, then turned to her, "So what am I supposed to do now?"
"There's nothing we can do for them," Nemuri replied with a shrug. "They're healthy and unharmed. Just take them home and by tomorrow morning, maybe the whole mess will be over."
Hizashi just nodded mutely, but Shouta, still clinging to his arm, was obviously pleased. "Ow yes, home. I'm awfully hungry, Papa, and besides, I'm a little tired already."
"Ok....... I'll take them both with me then."
"Feel free to contact me if anything unusual happens," Nemuri offered.
"You mean more unusual than my husband and daughter switching bodies?"
The "R-Rated Hero“ rolled her eyes before turning away and, on her way out, blowing another kissing hand to them.
"Bye Aunt Kayama," Shouta called after her, waving happily and received a broad smile from the purple-haired woman in response.
Hizashi looked to Eri, who was still glaring angrily at him.
"I can't help it, Shou. So please don't look at me like that."
Before his counterpart could say anything back, Hizashi turned around and moved his steps towards home.
"Let's go you two."
Shouta stayed on his arm as Eri trudged furiously after them. Hizashi deeply regretted that Hitoshi had a date with his friends tonight and he didn't want to disturb him under any circumstances. The blond was so happy that his son got some friends to hang out with. He would handle the situation on his own. How hard could it get?
At some point on the way to their apartment, Shouta had broken away from Hizashi's arm and walked beside him, happily skipping and humming a nursery rhyme.
"Everything is so small from up here, Papa."
Hizashi smiled, even though the whole situation was still surreal. He glanced over his shoulder. Eri was walking a few feet behind them, looking like she was about to kill someone. The blond man sighed and finally unlocked the door of their apartment.
Shouta hopped inside excitedly, took off his shoes and put them next to the little pink ballerinas and hung his jacket on the children's coat hook before running further into the apartment humming happily. Hizashi put Shouta's shoes in the shoe closet and hung his jacket on the coat rack and his own right along with it without saying a word.
He looked at Eri, not sure if he should offer her, or him, help. But Eri was still looking at him angrily from her red child eyes and Hizashi decided that he was too tired to argue with Shouta, over whatever.
"Papa, I'm hungry. What's for dinner?" Shouta stood in the kitchen with bright eyes, looking at him expectantly with childlike curiosity.
"We have leftovers from yesterday," the blond replied sleepily. "I'll heat them up for you." He went to the refrigerator and took out a couple of cans to heat up in the microwave. Shouta looked over his shoulder curiously as he did so. His daughter seemed to have surprisingly few problems with being in the body of one of her fathers.
As Eri stomped into the kitchen as well, Hizashi asked, "Would you like something to eat, too, Shou? There would be plenty left."
"No, thank you," was the short answer thrown at him and he shrugged his shoulders and was content with that.
After Shouta had eaten, it was finally time to go to bed. Hizashi sighed with relief and took Shouta to the kids room, but when his eyes fell on the purple crib with pink and white bedding, he took him to the bedroom instead. He put out fresh nightclothes for him and Shouta didn't hesitate to get ready for bed.
"Papa, why can't I sleep in my bed?"
"Because with your current size, I'm afraid you won't fit in there, darling. But next night, I'm sure you'll be able to sleep in your own bed again." Hizashi's smile was exhausted and he was glad that his little daughter was handling the whole situation so well. Unlike Shouta.
Hizashi just wanted to get this evening over with.
"Go brush your teeth right now, please, and remember to take Shouta's toothbrush....... Or maybe I'd better just get you a new one from the chamber."
"Can I use my toothpaste?"
"Sure thing, honey. That's no problem."
After Shouta disappeared into the bathroom with his new toothbrush, the blond turned his attention back to Eri, who was sitting on the sofa and pouting. Hizashi dropped down next to her, which threw Eri off balance.
"Watch it!" she hissed, but Hizashi could hear in her voice that she had at least calmed down a bit.
"Sorry, babe, but I'm not in the mood to argue with you right now. I wouldn't even know about what, either. Because for once, I didn't do anything." He dropped his head on the back of the sofa and closed his eyes. There was silence between them for a while. It was Eri who broke that silence.
"I'm sorry, Zashi. It's just....... just so humiliating. You seeing me like this just makes me uncomfortable."
"It's all right, Shou. I'm too tired to worry about it or to make fun of you," the blond replied sympathetically. "I'm sure everything will be back to normal tomorrow. Maybe I'll make a few jokes then." Eri's gaze said it all.
Hizashi heard the bathroom door open and got up to put his daughter (in his husband's body) to bed.
"Did you brush your teeth properly, my little listener?"
"Yes Papa. Will you read me a bedtime story?"
"Of course. Go ahead. I'll get a book from your room." Hizashi smiled gently as he took a storybook from the shelf and went back into the bedroom. Shouta was already tucked in bed, happily awaiting him with a bright smile. One story turned into two and eventually three before Shouta finally fell asleep, with his head on Hizashi's lap. Gently, the blond laid his daughter on the bed and covered her again neatly. He briefly considered kissing her goodnight, but then let it go.
When he came back to the living room, Eri had fallen asleep on the sofa aswell. He carried her to her bed and dressed her in a plain nightgown before covering her with the pink and white blanket and leaving the kids room. Out of habit, he still turned on her nightlight.
He thought about going into the bedroom, but it didn't feel right somehow, so he lay down on the sofa, pulled a thin cloth blanket over him and was sound asleep the very next moment. The last 24 hours had been just too much for him.
He awoke the next morning to someone shaking him by the shoulder. With difficulty, he opened his eyes and saw Shouta, whom he instinctively pulled in for a kiss. The moment of realization hit him like a sledgehammer and he immediately backed away from his husband. Adrenaline flooded his body.
"Are you you, or are you.....," he asked hesitantly.
"It's me, Zashi. Everything is back to normal," Shouta reassured him, placing a hand on Hizashi's cheek. " Eri's still asleep and I thought since we didn't have time for each other last night, we could enjoy some time and rest together now."
The blond sighed in relief and nodded wordlessly, but with a laugh on his lips.
"I wasn't sure for a moment if all that really happened yesterday or was just a dream."
"It wasn't a dream, Zashi, but now, as I said, everything is back to normal."
Shouta snuggled under the covers, his back against Hizashi's stomach, who tenderly cradled him in his arms. He pressed his face into Shouta's black hair and took a deep breath.
"What do you think about another hour of sleep, Shou, or at least until Eri wakes up?"
"Sounds like a perfectly logical plan," the black-haired replied with a laugh, snuggling even closer to Hizashi. It wasn't long before they were both asleep again.