Work Text:
Hitoshi was happy with his life now. He had friends. He had amazing dads. And most of all he had a job he liked. A job that meant spending every second of it near cats.
Life couldn’t be better. But apparently that thought made whatever deity out there show him how it could be a lot worse.
How did said deity decide to do that?
Through Kanno-Sensei, one of his middle school teachers. The middle school teacher who would make his life hell. The middle school teacher that was the worst of them all.
As soon as she entered the store Hitoshi looked over. It had been a quiet afternoon, so anyone entering the store he would look at.
His blood froze. There was no one else at the counter, meaning he couldn’t just hide in the back until she left. While Izuku was in fact there, this wasn’t his job. This was Hitoshi’s job.
He knew Izuku would let him leave until Kanno-Sensei was gone. Izuku would understand if he were able to tell him.
But Izuku was on the other side of the store napping in cat form. And Hitoshi had no time to walk over to ask him to take over.
Kanno-Sensei walked up to the counter. “So I’ll ta- Shinso?!” Hitoshi cringed. He wasn’t Shinso anymore. He was Yamazawa.
“Um, actually it’s Yamazawa.” He corrected, both because it was his name now but also to try and throw her off. Maybe just maybe his changed family name would make her believe she had mistaken him. “What can I get you today?”
He was mistaken.
“How dare you ask me a question! I know it’s you Shinso .” She shot the name out like venom. “You know very well you aren’t allowed to ask anyone anything.”
“I just need your order ma’am.” Hitoshi stated. He just wanted this interaction to be over. To go back to how life was literally minutes ago.
“You will not be taking my order! I demand to have a different server.” Kanno-Sensei all but screams.
“I’m the only one available.” Hitoshi braces himself, preparing for the screaming. Kanno-Sensei starts to turn red with anger.
“I know for a fact there is someone else available.” She yells. She continues speaking before Hitoshi can reply. “I was going to be nice and wait until after I ate but you just couldn’t wait could you? Get me your manager now!”
“Give me a moment ma’am.” Was all Hitoshi said before leaving the counter. He went over to the cat tree, feeling Kanno-Sensei’s eyes burning holes into his back.
Hitoshi picked Izuku up. Izuku opened his eyes, questioning. “One of my middle school teachers needs the manager.” Hitoshi whispers. Izuku lazily shuts his eyes again.
Hitoshi turns around and walks back to the counter. He places Izuku on the counter.
“The manager.” Hitoshi says, watching Kanno-Sensei get redder with rage.
“Is this some kind of fucking joke ?” She shouts at him, making Hitoshi flinch. “Do you seriously think I’m that dumb? I swear you’re just trying to make it easier for me to get you fired!”
“Ma’am, I’m being serious. This is the manager.”
“Just wait until your real manager hears about this. Not only are you a fucking villain , you have horrible customer service. I have half the mind to call the cops on you.”
At that Izuku shapeshifted into his human form. Kanno-Sensei jumped backwards, surprise all over her face. “I don’t like people threatening my employees.”
Izuku was living his best life. When he didn’t have things to do as a manager, or have things to do as a hero student, he got to relax as a cat in his little cafe.
He had laid down on one of the cat trees when Hitoshi’s shift starts. Tuesdays were always quiet so Izuku hadn’t bothered to roster anyone else for the afternoon. Pretty quickly into Hitoshi’s shift Izuku fell asleep.
He was having a dream about transformers appearing in the middle of UA, both autobots and decepticons, when he was rudely awakened by yelling. Before he could even think to check it out he was picked up.
He opened his eyes to see Hitoshi, face trying to look emotionless. But Izuku knew him. He could see the fear in his eyes, the distress that had no reason to be there.
“One of my middle school teachers needs the manager.” Hitoshi whispered to Izuku.
Izuku closed his eyes again, thinking. He knew Hitoshi’s middle school teachers were bad. All Izuku wanted to do was kick them out and never have to deal with it again.
Then he thought of something else. Something that would embarrass anyone with an ounce of human decency. And although he doubted any of Hitoshi’s previous teachers had any, it would make him feel better to have a dramatic entrance of sorts.
He felt himself get set down on the counter. He opened his eyes to see he was facing the teacher, who was about to burst with anger if her face was anything to go by.
She started shouting at Hitoshi again. Izuku laid there. He wasn’t going to let this go on for too long for Hitoshi’s sake, but just long enough that when he shifted back into a human it would humiliate said teacher.
But as soon as she called Hitoshi a villain, even going as far as to threaten to call the cops, Izuku snapped.
He shifted back to human form, immediately glaring at her. “I don’t like people threatening my employees.”
It only took a moment before she regained her composure. And by composure he meant her anger.
“I’m not the one threatening anyone.” She lied. Izuku squinted his eyes at her. “He has a villain’s quirk. He shouldn’t be allowed to be near anyone let alone asking them questions. Also get me your real manager. A child like you can’t be a manager.”
“And why’s that? Tell me why I’m obviously not the manager.” Izuku asked, ignoring the quirkist comments for the time being. He’ll tackle them later, when lawyers are involved.
“Well you must be the same age as that villain.” She stated, staring at Hitoshi. “That’s not even mentioning how unprofessional you were being.”
Izuku glared at her. “And tell me how I was being ‘unprofessional’?”
“Well you were using your quirk. I should just call the police on you right this instant!” She started yelling near the end, causing both Izuku and Hitoshi to flinch.
“Ma’am, please keep your voice down. You might startle the cats.” She rolled her eyes. “Although I have a question for you. Do you watch the UA sports festival?”
“Of course I do. Who doesn’t these days?” She huffed out.
“Well you obviously weren’t paying all too much attention. And to think you were nitpicking every little detail a second ago.” Izuku smirked, pleased as her face turned even redder than before. Whether that was due to anger or embarrassment, he didn’t know. He was willing to bet it was both though.
“Why the fuck were you even asking? I need to talk to your manager immediately. No more of this… this fucking nonsense!”
“It’s always humbling when you aren’t recognised. Don’t you agree Toshi?” Izuku turned to look at Hitoshi, deciding to ignore the Karen, knowing it would only make her more furious.
“There was so much recognition after the first week. And you’d think someone who hates me this much would’ve realised.” Hitoshi responded, obviously understanding Izuku’s plan.
“What the fuck are you talking about?!” She screamed. Izuku rolled his eyes, making her redder. Izuku didn’t even think a face could get that red but here he was witnessing it.
“Well if you paid attention you’d realise I won the sports festival. And Toshi here got second place.” Izuku explained. The Karen went pale.
“R-really?” She said in such a quiet voice, Izuku almost didn’t hear it. And without the side effects of his quirk he doubted he would have.
“Yes really. I need you to leave my cafe immediately due to how you were treating my employee.” She didn’t move, only stared. Izuku was getting fed up with this. “I don’t think my teachers would appreciate being called- oh there she goes.”
The Karen left before Izuku could even finish. He looked behind him to Hitoshi. “You good Toshi?”
“Yeah I’m fine now. Thanks Izuku.”